enemy, the king of Espana.  He encouraged him by this hope to hold out until then.  He assured him that he would overrun all those seas from Maluco, and would extend his empire to China, without any opposition from the Filipinos or Japanese.  For this purpose he requested the king [of Borneo] to renew friendship with Mindanao, and to give the king of those islands to understand that he was a friend to the Dutch, and consequently to facilitate the ports, commerce, and friendships that were necessary for their voyages.  That was what was advisable above all considerations of the state.  He said that he should be warned and assured that nothing was attended to with more lukewarmness in Espana, than to strive or attempt to preserve the greater part of their provinces, or at least, any form of union.  Therefore, all the farthest colonies that recognized their crown, ought to esteem highly the delay with which they help and deliberate from Espana.  For while they are believing, or examining in order to believe, the news of events, affairs are assuming another condition; and hence neither Spanish counsels nor arms arrive in time.  The greater part of these things had been taught to his Highness by experience, and the writer’s desire to serve him obliged him to write those things to the king.  Antonio de Sylva added that he knew with certainty that the king of Ternate had not neglected to take any of the precautions that the Dutchman asked him to take; and that he had even proposed to his men to go to fight far from their islands.  Although it was never feared that they would be bold enough to do so, on that occasion Don Pedro was made more anxious by this information, because the city had been left so weakened by the Sangley affair.  He was trying, moreover, to supply their lack, so that the late evils might not again happen; for it was so necessary to further by another road the trade of Filipinas, and to provide for its domestic security, in order to be able to take the field.

But time, which is wont both to take away and to give hopes, consoled Don Pedro in those afflictions, and brought him in a few months from Nueva Espana some ships of private persons, and afterward, in good season, the ships of the regular trading fleet.  They reached Manila on St. Matthew’s eve.  In them were the Spaniards who left Espana for that undertaking, together with more than two hundred others whom the viceroy of Nueva Espana, the Marques de Montesclaros, sent to Don Pedro, together with the other military stores and money, in accordance with the royal decree.  Some of this came in charge of Brother Gaspar Gomez, who was received with incredible joy.  He presented to the governor all his despatches.  Care was immediately taken to lodge the captains and soldiers, and assign them quickly to their stations, so that all might believe that the only thing intended with them was the safety of the Filipinas, which were threatened by the emperor of Japon and by the conspiracies of