many men fled through those surrounding kingdoms.  And, when he most needed sailors, more than two hundred of them fled because of ill treatment and because they were deprived of one-half their rations.  He imposed many taxes upon the Indians, with great oppression to them on account of the food that was ruined because it was not needed so early.  As a result, he brought the country to the extreme of poverty, even worse than if the enemy had sacked it.

On the other hand he sent to Japon for metals with which to cast artillery, and for saltpeter for powder; and they brought him what he had sent to ask.  In two years he cast one hundred and fifty large pieces of artillery; but he had no master who understood it, and consequently the pieces were so poorly made that none of them stood the test.  I saw twenty pieces out of thirty-six burst at the first shot, as the gunner, one Pedro Castano, who is in this court, will tell; consequently they did not dare to test the cannon with the royal test.  There was an excellent founder there, named Don Diego de Prado, who had made considerable artillery in Lisboa.  Silva refused to accept him, but on the contrary let him go to Espana by way of India, although he should have diligently looked for him.  He is a friar here now, named Basilio.  They were unable to get a piece that could be used, although they tried in various ways.  They continued these efforts until certain Japanese built some ovens, in their own fashion, and made some bellows which forced in a great quantity of air.  Those produced better artillery, although some of these pieces also burst, for they did not hit upon the alloy of copper in accordance with its quality.

Don Juan de Silva persisted in his intentions; and, seeing after two years had passed that the master-of-camp Azqueta had not arrived, and that it must be believed that he had been drowned, he sent a father rector of the Society of Jesus, named Juan de Ribera, [41] and Captain Don Diego de Miranda, a Portuguese, to Goa, so that, in his name, they might ask the viceroy for the said galleons; and they did so.  Although with great objection and opposition from the city of Goa, the viceroy gave them four galleons and four galliots, with very few and badly disciplined crews.  What took place in India in regard to that matter is a pity.  Your Majesty needs to make many reforms there, because of the danger of losing that country through the poor discipline of the soldiers, as they themselves confess, and warning of this has been given in many memorials.

They started for Manila, and arrived at Malaca and at the Strait late and in bad weather.  The commander did not dare pass on, although he was urged and pressed to do so by the rector of the Society.  Matters came to such a pass that the commander told the father that he would put him below decks, and the soldiers tried to kill him, for they said that he was going to drown them.  Thereupon they remained, and returned to Malaca, advising Don Juan de Silva that they were there awaiting his order.