went in pursuit of it, but although they searched the neighboring coasts twice, they did not sight the vessels, or discover what direction they took.  The last time when they went to run along the coast, they met a ship; and, as it seemed to be the patache, the galley pursued it with sail and oar, but found it to be a vessel from Macao.  The bishop of Macao, [33] of the Order of St. Dominic, was coming on business of great importance for the welfare of that community.  Thinking our vessels to be Dutch, they fled at their utmost speed, and threw overboard all their cargo, although it was valuable, in order to make the vessel lighter.

News of the victory reached Manila at two in the morning.  At that hour the bells were loudly chimed and the people uttered many expressions of joy.  Next day a very solemn procession was made, as a token of thanksgiving.  The procession marched from the cathedral to our church, where a sermon was preached.  It caused great consolation throughout the city and in all those who were present.  After the sermon the governor sent letters to each order, thanking them for the prayers that they had said for his success.  The one that came to me read as follows: 

“We discovered the enemy this morning, and the battle began at seven o’clock.  It lasted about four hours, and during that time, our Lady and the glorious St. Mark showed themselves favorable to us.  For we obtained the victory with the surrender of their flagship to ours, and their almiranta to ours.  Fire was set to the other ship, and it was burned.  Thus the battle was ended with but slight loss to us, and some wounded.  I confess that this victory has been given me by reason of the prayers of your Paternity and those reverend fathers, whom I thank for their care in this, and assure them that I shall consider the same in what pertains to my office, by aiding whatever may be of pleasure to your Paternity.  May our Lord preserve you, as I desire.  From this vessel “San Juan Baptista,” April 24, 1610.

Don Juan de Silva.”

And inasmuch as he makes mention of our Lady and St. Mark, I must not neglect to report a matter that seems worthy of consideration.  At the beginning when the war was discussed, the governor had a dream.  In it, he saw a venerable man, who told him that he would obtain a glorious victory on St. Mark’s day.  Although it seemed too late to go to attack the enemy, as it was thought that he had already gone with his ships full of plunder—­which meant to go with shouts of victory, yet on this account the governor hastened to sail before the day of the holy evangelist, with the intent of punishing the enemy.  However, he could not prepare the fleet as was necessary before April 21.  Making an attempt to attack the Dutch on Friday, the twenty-third, they could not, for the reason above stated, of losing their anchors.  Consequently the time went by until the twenty-fourth, for us, Saturday, the day of our Lady.  The governor