Sire: 

In two ships which left here for Nueba Hespana last year, 1604, General, Don Diego de Mendoca, of my order, [6] wrote to your Majesty in duplicate, giving information of all the events which had happened here.  It pleased God that the flagship should return to port, after having suffered from a tempest during which it was obliged to cut off the mainmast.  It returned to this port today, four months after it had left it, although without any loss of the property which it carried, [Marginal note:  “Let him be informed that this letter has been received and that the council has been advised of what he reports.”]

The ship “San Antonio,” the almiranta, which left port first, has not been heard from up to the present time.  It is regarded as certain that it was lost, by having struck upon some desolate island or some shoals as it was driven by the tempest.  A few days before the arrival of the flagship, there were seen on the coast of this island opposite Manila, and on the Babuyanes, which are some islands in the province of Cagayan, a quantity of bales of cloth from the lading of the almiranta.  It is accordingly inferred that the ship was lost on its way to port here, during some very severe storms which took place during that season and in that region.  Still, some hopes were entertained that it might have made its way to Nueva Espana, although with a very small amount of cloth; but these hopes were lost with the coming of the two ships on which arrived the master-of-camp, Juan Desquivel, and the officers of the expedition for Maluco.  These vessels, having left Acapulco on the twenty-second of March, reached Cavite on the seventeenth of the present month, and reported that they had no news of the said almiranta.  This has been a very great loss and one which has thrown this kingdom into almost incredible misery.  The return of the flagship has added to its wretchedness, because the citizens have nothing from which to obtain money from Nueva Espana, since their goods have not arrived there.  The documents which were sent in the flagship last year go in it again; and in this ship I send duplicates, which your Majesty may give commands to be shown to you.

The matter of the payment of the Indian tributes was settled by the Audiencia, by me, and by the archbishop and the religious orders, in conformity with the directions given me by your Majesty.  The assessment which was made accompanies this letter; and therewith will cease many wrongs which have been inflicted upon the natives, and the encomenderos and collectors can satisfy their consciences, if they desire. [Marginal note:  “Let this section be filed with the papers which gave occasion to it, and with the report which has been sent, and let the whole be delivered to the fiscal.”]