Last year the governor of the Filipinas sent to Macan to buy a very handsome galleon which was there.  Those who went for the purpose bought it, loaded it with merchandise, and left Macan for the Filipinas on July 2, 619.  They encountered such violent storms that at the end of two months, after having been in great danger of shipwreck, they returned to Macan without masts, and with a large part of their merchandise so wet and rotted that it was worthless—­damages frequently sustained under such circumstances.  They once more equipped themselves, and this year left Macan in the month of May.  They had a very difficult voyage, but at the end of more than twenty days they succeeded in making port in Cavite, on the seventh of June, the first day of Pentecost.  The galleon is a very fine one, and it will be very useful when occasion arises.  It brought much very rich and valuable merchandise.

From Great China also have come many ships with silks and other merchandise.  All these goods have been necessary, and indeed they have not even sufficed to supply the lack of merchandise which, because of the wars of the past years, has been very extreme in this city of Manila.  There have been, moreover, some losses.  If the wars with the rebellious Hollanders should entirely cease, the wealth and grandeur of these islands would be remarkable.  Indeed, in spite of these wars and the losses that have been sustained, Manila is a very grand city; and there are few cities in Europe that surpass it in trade and traffic, for almost the whole world comes to these islands.

Since writing this, I have learned that a large junk (a certain kind of ship) set out from Japon with a large quantity of provisions and munitions of war, and with five hundred infantry, whom the Hollanders were bringing to supply and reenforce their strongholds in the Malucas.  But God was pleased that they should run aground on the coast of Japon, where everything was lost, and nearly all the people were drowned.  A galleon likewise set out from Japon with a Dutch patache to come to these coasts, to steal whatever they could, as they have done in years past.  But God frustrated their attempts by running the galleon aground on Hermosa Island, which is between Japon and this country.  It is said that all those on board were drowned.  Although this is not known surely, it is a fact that many were lost.

May God confound their arrogance, in order that this land may raise its head; and that the faith of Christ may be spread throughout many provinces and kingdoms into which the holy Evangel would enter were it not hindered by these heretics, who have hitherto been such a stumbling-block and so great an obstacle in these parts.

It has occurred to me to write this to your Reverences as a consolation to many people who wish to know about affairs here.  May God keep all your Reverences, to whose holy sacrifices and prayers I earnestly commend myself.  Manila, June 14, 1620.