Besides these there were found guilty in the affair Fray Joseph de Vides, a native of Mexico, who had been instructor of the novices; and Fray Pedro de Herrera, a native of Medina del Campo, who had been professor of theology, and who now was prior of a convent.  As these two were not so guilty as the others the friars took from them the cowl, and sentenced them to six years at the galleys in Maluco; and to suspension [from mass] for one additional year, on account of the reverence that is due to so high and divine a mystery.  They were handed over to the secular tribunal, and were put upon galleys.  But in a few days they escaped, and embarked upon a small ship in company with Fray Andres Encinas and the lay brother who had freed him from prison.  All four set out together upon the return to Malaca, in order to go from that place to Goa, Espana, and finally to Rome.  Such is the unfortunate event which was reported last year to the pope, the king, and all the world alike.  This year report will be made of the justice meted out to the malefactors. [19] And as more than four lies will be written, I have thought it best that your Reverences should know the affair just as it occurred, nothing being added or omitted. [20]

Events at Ternate

Since this was written, advices came from Ternate that brought us some news which I will add here.  The aid that was sent from this city to the Malucas Islands arrived, and those who carried it found in the passage two Dutch ships awaiting them, to prevent their entrance to our fortifications, and even to take the supplies, if possible.  They made an attack and our people thought best to withdraw; but after some days they returned by another route, to land the supplies if they could.  They again found the Hollander in the road and, being attacked a second time, they fought, made a great effort to pass, and succeeded—­although the enemy so pursued one ship, the admiral’s, that it ran aground in the island of Tidore.  Most of the people were saved, but some the enemy killed with musket-shots, and some, who threw themselves into the water, perished.  Captain Alonso Martin Quirante, who was in our stronghold of Tidore, hurried out and prevented the enemy from taking anything from the ship.

Many of the provisions that were in the ship were lost, among them almost all of those that the father, as I mentioned above, was taking for our fathers.  In the thick of the battle this father was the first to be wounded.  He was struck on the arm by a splinter, but his wound was of little consequence.  The soldiers, however, will not because of this loss be in want this year; for the English went [to the Malucas] with a shipload of rice to trade for cloves, and the viceroy sent six galeotas of provisions from India.