General Francisco Bravo de la Serna, who came aboard the flagship that put in at Japon, gained the good will of the ruler where he put in, by his diligence, discretion, and sensible procedure, aided by the munificent presents that he gave to the king.  Consequently the king received him as hospitably as if he were in your Majesty’s lands, giving him whatever he needed at moderate prices.  When the general wished to leave, the king gave him permission, without his having received any ill treatment.  That was considered a good outcome, and was all the more so because, when he reached these islands and learned that the enemy had taken the passage in order to enter the port of Cavite, he took the flagship to the most hidden place that he could find.  Having made port in haste, he unloaded the silver and stored it inland; then, while anchored, he took ashore all the rest of the cargo.  That was the compensation of these islands and the fund with which the fleet was prepared; and without it the galleons could not have been equipped.  Therein is made evident the good service that Francisco Bravo rendered your Majesty.  He also rendered service on this expedition; for he embarked on the flagship, and took with him twelve men at his own cost.  His presence proved of great importance, for he attended to his orders with great energy, exactness, and labor, while his advice and counsel were among the best that the general had.  The latter declared the same to me, and that Bravo should be highly esteemed for the manner in which he distinguished himself in your Majesty’s service on this occasion.

Licentiate Manuel de Madrid y Luna, auditor of this royal Audiencia, has aided me in this campaign, accomplishing those things with which I charged him.  Last year, when that enemy came to this bay, he helped to cast the artillery; and he worked at it day and night, until they had cast so many pieces that they sufficed to put the fort of Cavite in a state of defense.  Two of his brothers and one cousin have died in this land in your Majesty’s service—­one in the Sangley insurrection, and two on this noble occasion.  One brother was commander of the galleon “San Phelipe.”  As soon as the battle began, he was wounded by a musket-shot and lived little more than one hour.  It is considered certain that more would have been accomplished with this galleon; had not the said commander been killed.  On that account, and for the good accomplished by his services in this royal Audiencia, the said Licentiate Madrid claims that your Majesty should grant him as a reward permission to marry some of his seven daughters and three sons in Mexico.  That is the greatest wealth that he takes from these islands.

Captain Andrea Coello came from India in a patache in July last year with despatches from the viceroy.  That enemy having come and taken position in the entrances of this bay, he offered to serve as ordered, whether on land or on sea, with his person, patache, sailors, and soldiers; for his profession was to serve your Majesty in war.  He remained until the royal fleet was ready to sail in search of the enemy; and the said captain supported the sailors and soldiers with his patache and with the moderate aid given him.  He took part on that occasion, and acted as an honorable and valiant soldier, attending with exactness to all his orders.