First, that the ships be despatched by the middle of June, and that this be an inviolable law; that a fine of six thousand pesos be imposed on the governor, to which your Highness shall immediately condemn him if he do not despatch them then.  The reason why this is so necessary is because the vendavals generally set in at some time in the month of June; and if they catch the ship in the port, it cannot sail until that first monsoon passes.  That usually lasts fifteen or twenty days, or one month.  If they are caught outside during this weather, they can sail until they reach the district and altitude where they find the usual winds, with which they can make their said voyage easily.  Consequently, they will pass Japon, which is the point where all the difficulties of the said voyage lie, with good weather.  If the said monsoon ceases, and the ships are caught inside the bay, as a general thing another wind, the brisa, begins to blow, so that they are detained.  Consequently, when they make the said voyage, and reach the neighborhood of Japon, it is already September or October.  Accordingly it is necessary to run great risks, and they must suffer many storms, with which the ships lose their rigging, are wrecked, or have to put into port in distress.  If they proceed on their course, inasmuch as they encounter the rigor of winter, and because of their high altitude and their departure from a warm land, many men die; their gums decay and their teeth fall out. [98] If so great severity is not exercised, this matter will not be remedied.

Item:  The ships sail very unevenly, and heavily laden, so that one-half the ship’s stores are left above decks; and as the sailors are unable to attend to necessary duties or to move about in the ships, in the first storm the stores are all carried into the sea; and the men left without necessary food, especially live fowls, which means their very life.  On account of their heavy cargoes they are unable to set all sail or to resist squalls, so that they founder, put into port in distress, are wrecked, or are long delayed on the voyage.

Again they often sail poorly repaired, because of the fault of the shore-master [patron de ribera] who has charge of them.  It is necessary to remove him from that post; but, although the city has tried to do so, it has been unable to secure redress.  Thus, it is said, the ship “San Antonio,” which was wrecked in the year six hundred and four, carried rotten timbers throughout; and in it were drowned over three hundred persons.  That said year of six hundred and four, General Don Diego de Mendoca made port in distress, and gave the information of which I present a copy here; he said that he was carrying rotten masts.  Inasmuch as this matter is very long, it will not be discussed here; for, as I am a priest, it is not advisable for me to do so.  In order that the neglect that there has been in this matter may be seen, never have the governors or royal officials investigated who has been the cause, or why the ships have put back in distress or have been wrecked; for that would mean to make a report against themselves.  More than four of them would have been punished rigorously had they made reports, and had your Highness known the culprits.