Some fathers of St. Dominic and of our Society were going in the fleet with the intention of remaining in the island of Hermosa, in order to engage in the conversion of its natives who are heathen.  As servants of our fathers were also going two disguised Japanese fathers, in order to see whether they might go to Japon by way of the island of Hermosa.  Their provincial had sent them for that purpose from Macan; for, as the door of Japon is so tightly closed, Ours seek extraordinary means to enter there, to aid that afflicted Christian people.

But let us return to follow our galleys.  One can well guess how they would fare, when so large galleons suffered from the storm.  They were struck very severely, but they made their voyage nevertheless, until they sighted the fort of the Dutch enemy on the island of Hermosa.  From there, they put back to this island of Manila, in the province of Ylocos, because of the violence of the weather.  While in port there, they had so fierce a storm that, having been hardly used by the past storm, their seams opened and they went to the bottom.  Twenty convicts were drowned, and three Spaniards.  The other men, even the commander himself, got away by swimming, and, as the land was near, they were able to reach it without much difficulty.  That disastrous news reached this city October 20.

We come now to the ship “Rosario” in which Captain Lazaro de Torres was sailing.  It made its voyage, although not without trouble.  It reached our fort on the island of Hermosa, and its arrival gladdened and rejoiced our men greatly, for they were in great need of food.  It had been more than a year since aid had been sent to them from Manila.  At the ship’s arrival, it was found that a disaster had overtaken our men.  It happened that there was a chief on the river of Tanchuy, not far from our fort, who professed great friendship for our men for his reasons of state, which are not wanting even among barbarians.  Those reasons were that that chief had wars of long standing with another chief whose domain was on the other side of the river; and he wished to have our men on his side, for whatever might happen.  Our men trusting to his friendship, and forced by the necessity that they were suffering, the commander sent Captain Don Antonio de Vera with twenty Spaniards to the said river of Tanchuy to bring back rice to our men; for that is the ordinary bread, and that country abounds plentifully with it.  Captain Antonio de Vera and his twenty Spaniards remained one or two months with the chief of Tanchuy, who, although he feasted them, did not conclude by giving them the provisions to return.  The captain began to fear some detention, and sent to our fort for more men, in order to negotiate with arquebuses what they were unable to compass by kindness; but these were not sent.  The chief concerted secretly with his opponent, and made peace with him.  One day he took Captain Don Antonio and the other Spaniards out