to your Majesty with reference to the advices which I have received from the king of Tidore.  He states that the king of Terrenate had sent to invite the Dutch, offering to permit them to build a fort and a factory in his country, in order to make them willing to assist him against the said king of Tidore, against the Portuguese, and against us.  Accordingly the forts there and in Ambueno are in danger.  The one at Tidore is a matter for jest; and the commandants, as well as the commanders of galleons, think of nothing but merchandise and of making their fortunes.  The same thing is true throughout the whole of Yndia.  If this news should prove true, there would be much difficulty in this enterprise.  May God turn all things well for His cause.

The forces of the regiment of the master-of-camp, Esquibel, have received their pay for a year in advance, as the viceroy informs me by his letter.  At the present time more than half the year has passed, and by the time they leave Oton the whole year will have been completed.  Inasmuch as in the order for this expedition which your Majesty commanded to be given, I noticed that the Marques de Montes Claros was directed, in case the forces should be retained in the service of your Majesty for a longer period than the said year, to send me money to pay them in case I advised him thereof, it seemed well to me to advise him of this matter immediately, and to tell him that during the coming year he should send me what is needed for a thousand men in addition to the sea force.  It is plain that this will be necessary for by the time that the fleet leaves these islands the [soldiers’] year will be at an end.  I therefore beseech your Majesty to be pleased to give him imperative commands to fulfil this requirement; since soldiers in a country of enemies, and so far from their own country, serve badly if they are in need.  Thus many important opportunities might be lost, and even considerable disadvantages might be experienced without there being any possibility of remedying them.  If the enterprise turns out prosperously—­as by the grace of God I hope it will—­I expect that it will provide the means for maintaining the conquest, for paying all the expenses which have been and shall be incurred, and for affording a large quantity of cash surplus in addition to the expenses, besides repairing the losses incident to this affair.  In particular, I think that to drive the enemy from the Maluca Islands and from the inlands of Banda will be of great advantage for our affairs in Flandes, since the rebels of Olanda and Gelanda harvest the product of these islands and draw from them great wealth, by means of which they carry on war and become rich.  I, therefore, again beseech you to be pleased to give commands that this expedition may be adequately provided with supplies.  I also beg that what is necessary for the expenses of the fleet and for other requisite objects may likewise be sent.  I further request that for the regular expenses of the government a liberal supply may be placed in the treasury of the islands on a separate account, since the treasury is so needy and so heavily burdened with obligations.