The other four vessels carried four, five, or six medium-sized guns; the galleys, what they generally carry.

Besides these vessels there were also two galliots and other small boats laden with provisions, and sheltered by the fleet, and ready to render assistance should occasion arise.

By day, and even by night, there was continual prayer and entreaty in the city, in one place and another, for the successful outcome of the affair.  There was also a very solemn procession on Friday morning, in which our Lady of Guidance [Nuestra Senora de Guia] was carried to the cathedral church from her chapel, which is about one-eighth of a legua distant.

The fleet anchored outside the bay.  Although they intended to sail at dawn on Friday to give the enemy a rude awakening, [28] they were unable to do so; for on weighing anchor, at midnight, they were delayed a long time, and happened to lose four anchors—­one from the almiranta, and three from the small vessels.  This did not fail to cause uneasiness; but at last the Spaniards were able to sight the enemy on Saturday, between six and seven o’clock in the morning.  The enemy’s flagship was riding with two anchors, and the other two vessels were somewhat farther out to sea.  At this juncture, our fleet began to prepare for the battle.  Orders were given for the crew to make their confessions to the religious aboard the vessels.  There were sixteen of these from the religious orders which are in Manila—­two fathers of St. Dominic, seven of St. Francis, three of St. Augustine, and four of the Society of Jesus.  In addition there was another religious, a Trinitarian, [29] who accompanied the governor, and a secular priest.  The soldiers proved very valiant and devoted on this occasion.  They uttered many expressions of joy at finding themselves near the enemy.  It seemed as if they were about to attend weddings and balls with great pleasure and delight, rather than to fight with vessels so powerful and well-equipped with artillery.  Their greatest anxiety was lest the enemy should run away when he saw our fleet; but there was nothing to fear, for they were encouraged doubly to fight for the honor of God and the fame of the Spanish nation.  Both of these, in a certain manner, depended on this battle in districts so remote:  the honor of God, because the Chinese were looking on and saying, “Now we shall see who is more powerful, the God of the Castilians, or the God of the Dutch;” and besides this, as the Dutch were about to take a great part of the silk that they were intercepting, to Japon, where they already had a trading-post, their trade would be established firmly in that land, and that new field of Christendom would be in danger of heresy (which spreads like a cancer), in addition to the daily calamities to which it is subject under pagan lords.  The honor of the Spanish nation was also concerned, because the temper of many of these peoples is, “Long live the conqueror!” and they do not dare to stir