The galleon “San Yldefonso” became the flagship.  The season was already advanced, and especially for the galleys, which need more calm weather to enable them to navigate.  Accordingly, the galleys were despatched ahead July 26, under command of Don Pedro Alcarazo.  On August 17, the chief part of the fleet, namely, the galleons and pataches, left port.  Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora was in the flagship; master-of-camp Don Lorenzo de Olaso in the almiranta; in the “Pena de Francia,” Sargento-mayor Alonso Martin Quirante, an old and well-tried soldier; in the ship “Rosario,” Captain Lazaro de Torres, a daring man in war; and in the other two pataches, two other captains.  Each vessel carried a quantity of artillery, each galleon having more than forty very large pieces.  There were many and very courageous men; although when they saw that contrary weather was setting in it did not fail to dishearten them, as was immediately seen.  For scarcely had they left the port of Cavite (even before emerging from that bay), when so fierce a storm overtook them that the fleet was in danger of being wrecked.  One patache sprang a leak, and commenced to take in water so badly that it was forced to make port and remain there.  The governor—­seeing that as the season was so late, it was quite possible that he could not get to the island of Hermosa and return to port with the fleet; and as quite a long period had passed since any reenforcement had been sent to our fort on the same island of Hermosa; and since he imagined that they were suffering very great need of everything necessary—­in the probability of what might happen, determined to send Captain Lazaro de Torres ahead with his little vessel the “Rosario,” which was carrying a large quantity of food.  As it was a small, swift-sailing ship, he hoped that it would surely arrive, which was not looked for in regard to the rest of the fleet.  We shall relate the experience of this vessel later.

Our fleet proceeded on its course, but with so contrary winds from the north that they [as it were,] consumed the vessels; and the seas ran mountain high toward the heavens, so that one would believe that they were trying to engulf them.  They reached Cape Bojeador, although after considerable danger.  That is the end of the island of Manila, where one crosses to the island of Hermosa.  At that point the storms increased so violently that, a council of the pilots having been called, all thought that they should put in to port; for it was impossible to go any farther until the next year, when the expedition could be undertaken at a better season.  They put back, and the fleet reentered Cavite on September 6.  That was considered as not a little [good fortune by the Dutch]; for, as was afterward learned from some Dutchmen, whom the Portuguese of Macan captured, the enemy on the island of Hermosa were very weak and determined not to fight, but to leave their fort at the arrival of our fleet.  Now the Dutch will be in a state of readiness, so that it will cost a triumph to capture the fort; and, even, may it please God that we can gain such a result.