All the infantry was giving as a whole great satisfaction, and throughout this year not one has gone over to the enemy, although that was formerly very common, and although the captains and other persons complain or the temper and harshness with which the master-of-camp, Lucas de Bergara Gaviria, treats them.  I affirm, sir, that even so zealous a servant of the king ought to show some toleration; and, moreover, that can be remedied with a word from your Lordship.  I remember also that last year, by his going to Terrenate, he resuscitated that country, and since then until now the soldiers have had food, obtaining all that is sent them from Manila.  This, sir, is what I can briefly say of the condition of Maluco, which through His Divine Majesty, I hope is to make progress since the happy arrival of your Lordship, whose person may God, our Lord, preserve to us for long years, as He can do, and as is necessary to us.  From this house of the Society of Jesus at Cavite, August 10, 1618.

The humble chaplain of your Lordship,

Father Manuel Ribeyra

Copy of a letter written by Lucas de Vergara Gaviria, Governor of Terrenate

On the eleventh of the present month I despatched the ship “San Buena Ventura,” in which I informed your Lordship of occurrences here.  That same night the ship “Santa Margarita” reached this port from Manados with the cargo brought by the fragata “San Miguel,” which returned to those islands.  This ship brought the orders that its commander says were given him by Francisco Rosales, master of the “San Miguel,” in which your Lordship orders a quantity of cloves to be prepared to send to Eastern Yndia, in order that it may be exchanged for the supplies necessary for the fleet; and that two thousand three hundred pieces of Chincheo cotton are sent for it.  I answer that I have them, and assert that your Lordship ought to have that master punished; for he did not give those orders to the accountant, Pedro de Almansa, when he left the ship at Manados to come here.  Had he done so, there would have been, notwithstanding the season, some cloves which could have been bought, although not all the quantity ordered, and although it could not have been done when they arrived.  At that time the selling had already been finished, and the Spaniards who lived there had a great quantity of goods in their houses on account of the scant supply of cloves; for the harvest was not so great as was expected.  Consequently, as soon as I received the order sent me, I ordered a factory [i.e., trading post] to be established, and your Lordship’s orders to be executed.  However, these four months no cloves can be traded; for until the end of that time the trees will not bear.  Consequently, although great efforts be made, we shall not be able to send to Yndia until next December or January.  Besides that, there would be great delay in buying forty-five bares [32] of cloves with cotton alone, which would be the amount at the prices current this year.  In order that this may be done more quickly, it has been decided to put with them other kinds of cloth bought in Yndia, since these Moros wish to have a choice, some asking for one kind of cloth, and others for another.  Thus all manner of care possible will be given to this matter.