When news was received of the damage inflicted by the enemy, two Spanish fleets went in pursuit of them—­one from the island of Cebu, and the other from that of Panay.  But such was our misfortune that they were unable to encounter the enemy by any means.  Thus did the latter go away, laughing at the robberies that they had committed and greedy to make others.

Don Fernando de Silva, who was then governing, because Don Juan Nino had not yet arrived, despatched a small fleet this year to the lands of those enemies, to punish them.  Their country lies near Borney, to whose king they are subject.  But inasmuch as they have no fixed house or dwelling, as they generally live in their boats, today here and tomorrow there, nothing was done.  Consequently, Don Juan Nino, upon his arrival, ordered our fleet prepared in the island of Oton, so that when that enemy came it might attack them.  The enemy came, and our fleet sailed out; but half of the caracoas were wrecked in a storm.  However, our fleet reforming pursued the enemy, but were unable to overtake them; for as their boats are light and have two prows, in order to escape they do not have to turn their boats about, but only to change the rowers and so return.  At least, the result obtained was that the enemy did no damage this year in these islands, and did not capture anything.

The island of Mindanao, which is one of these Filipinas Islands, has rebelled against us; and its chief places have easily accepted the law of Mahoma, which was brought there from the Malucas by the Ternatans.  They have done us no damage this year.  On the contrary, we have done them considerable.  Captain Benitez has made some very successful raids in their country, and has killed many and captured others—­who are made slaves, in accordance with the old-time usage of this country, on account of the damages which we have received from those enemies.  Now the governor has offered to conquer that island, which is not a very difficult thing to do; but there is always so much attention to be paid to the Dutch, that he has as yet been unable to attend to this.

The Dutch enemy, together with the English, went to attack Macan during former years with seventeen ships.  They landed many men on the shore, but the affair turned out so badly for them that they were forced, after many men had been killed, to retire and to raise the siege.  But the Portuguese, fearing that the enemy would attempt another year what they had not been able to accomplish then, set about enclosing the city with an excellent wall (for it had none before), and sent Father Geronimo Rodriguez [28] to Manila for some good artillery, which Don Alonso Fajardo gave him.  A master founder also went there to make many other pieces, which have been founded; and the city is placed in a very good state of defense.  The Portuguese also asked for a good captain and some infantry for whatever occasion might arise.  Don Alonso Fajardo gave them as many as one hundred infantrymen,