Governor Don Juan Nino de Tavora, who just arrived in these ships that came from Nueva Espana with reenforcements, shows excellent valor and zeal for the service of your Majesty; and if God grants him life to execute the good purposes that he evidently possesses, I doubt not that these islands will not only lift their head, but that they will return to their former grandeur.  He has entered on his government with a secure foothold, since he finds them free from the Dutch enemy—­who have allowed us to breathe this year, and have given opportunity for more ships to come from China than for several years past.  The same has been true of the ships from Goa, India, and Macan.  All of them have entered the port of Cavite; so that already this community appears another and a very different one from what it was before.  I trust, with the help of His Divine Majesty, that the governor will aid it, for the proofs that he has hitherto given are those of an excellent governor and Christian, and one fearful of his conscience.

Although we have had no Dutch enemies this past year, powerful enemies of the inhabitants about these islands have not been wanting to disturb the natives and those whom they capture suddenly in the villages of the coast.  It is a thing that I have experienced myself, suffering so great anguish that I thought I should lose my life in it; for I found myself surrounded by thirty-four caracoas and galeotas of Mahometan enemies—­Borneans, Joloans, Camucones, and Mindanaos—­about one hundred leguas from this city of Manila, while going to visit my district at a village called Cabotagan.  They assaulted me at five in the morning, while I and all my retinue were asleep.  We awoke at the clamors, and had no other resolution or opportunity to take than to flee to the mountain; for we were abed, as I have stated.  I secured my habit and girdle, which was a not slight act of mercy from the Lord, because of what I afterward suffered in the mountain, until the necessary clothing and food were brought to me and my followers from Manila.  Although Governor Fernando de Silva exerted himself by sending men and several vessels in different directions after the enemy, he did not have the good luck to fall in with them.  The new governor, Don Juan Nino de Tavora, tells me that he will make every effort to chastise those barbarians and assure the coasts.  I trust thoroughly that he will succeed in his holy purpose, because he has so well understood that it is greatly to the service of our Lord and of your Majesty. [In the margin:  “Thank him for his care in visiting his bishopric, and say that we are assured of his zeal, and trust that the same will be exercised in the future—­in consideration of which, account will be taken of his person as opportunity offers, so that he may be promoted.  Have a letter sent to Don Juan Nino, telling him what the archbishop writes of him; thank him, and let him advise us of what has been done.”]