The above-mentioned captain, Alonso Martin Quirante, made an ambuscade, in which he killed twenty-one Hollanders and captured four.  Of the enemy, twenty-five Hollanders and many of the Indians of their following deserted to our fortifications.  Although the king of Tidore has always been very favorable to us, the prince his son has been very friendly and of much importance to the Hollanders.  But our Lord has been pleased to destroy these friendly relations in this way.  The Hollanders, for what reason I do not understand, hanged one and drowned four of the people of Tidore.  On account of this the prince has been so opposed to them that he has sworn to avenge himself, and to do them all the injury that he can.  And he will do this, without doubt, because he is very valiant.

So much for the Malucas.  To this may be added the fact that the admiral Heredia had made, at his own expense, a beautiful, though not very large, ship with which to serve his Majesty whenever occasion might offer.  Just as soon as it was launched upon the sea, it was overtaken by a storm so severe that it foundered and was lost.

I forgot to say that one [Marginal note—­Sequeyra’s ship] of the two ships that were despatched last year for Nueva Espana, but did not arrive there, was separated from the other.  It must be known that a certain de Sequeira, a Portuguese of the Order of Christ [del Habito de Christo], went in it as captain.  He had come as general of the fleet which five years ago the king sent by way of the cape of Buena Esperanca, [21] and he carried a cedula from his Majesty to the effect that they should send him back at once by the same route.  Instead, they detained him four years in this city, much against his will.  At last they sent him as captain of this ship in order that he might go to Espana by way of Nueva Espana.  They loaded upon this ship goods of high value, although not a great quantity of them, because the vessel was small.  He began his voyage with favorable winds astern, and when he had reached the latitude of more than 30 degrees, he saw that he might turn toward India; but, the brisas beginning to vex the ships, he ordered the return, and, arriving at these islands, disembarked some Castilians whom he carried but who did not wish to go with him.  He steered for Malaca and India, in order to go, they say, to Espana upon the voyage which his Majesty had ordered.  He arrived at Malaca and died, I think, in Cochin.  Nothing more is known [of him], nor [is it known] what will be done with the goods that he carried.

The ships from Nueva Espana arrived very late, at the beginning of July.  It was fortunate that the vendavals were very much delayed this season; for, if they had begun when they usually do, it would have been impossible for the ships to reach these islands this year.  But God chose to bring to us the governor [22] who was so much desired.  A grand reception, with many costly triumphal arches, was prepared for him in Manila.  But he embarked from the port of Cabite in a galley, and entered quietly into the palace through a postern gate near by, and therefore the whole reception fiesta was a failure.  And when they desired him to go out of the city again, in order that he might enter with solemnity, he said that he did not wish them to carry him in procession as if he were a penitent, and so he remained there.