was there at that time.  The latter said that the governor had captured him in a battle with the Portuguese.  I do not discuss that battle, in order to consider only the essential thing pertaining to us religious, namely, the planting of the faith, the fundamental reason for this history.  But in passing, I merely observe that our forces gained many glorious victories over the Portuguese, for the latter were exceedingly sorry to have the Castilians for so near neighbors, and tried to drive them out.  Perhaps they were influenced in this by having as neighbors those who had a better right and reason to the Molucas than themselves.  This, I think, must have been why our Lord favored the Castilians’ cause the more.  Perhaps had the Portuguese examined the matter more closely, they would not have given the Castilians so many occasions for glory, nor have demanded investigations so greatly to their satisfaction—­or rather, [as it proved,] their loss.

Resuming, then, the thread of my history, I say that this Bornean youth, who was well versed in affairs of the islands and knew their chiefs, because of his continual communication with them, wished to repay the Spaniards for the kind treatment that they had given him—­or rather he wished to obtain their good will, in order to regain his liberty.  He began to treat for peace, and to harmonize discordant spirits, so that affairs might be meliorated, by reason of what the Spaniards requested.  He assured the islanders of the great moderation which the Spaniards would exercise toward them, and that they would commit no wrong or violence.  He accomplished this with so good grace, that he brought the chiefs Sicatuna and Sigala before the commander.  These chiefs drew blood with our men, and made a lasting peace.  But none of these exploits was important, because they found it all tiresome and inconvenient to continue of one mind.

Already was the season well advanced, and our commander was anxious about the affairs of Nueva Espana.  He desired to give a good account there of his expedition, and feared lest, by the delay, they might doubt his success or care.  He was right in correcting this wrong, because, although no doubts arise where confidence is, yet all the kingdom was in great suspense; for the patache “San Lucas,” which sailed with our fleet, had scarcely gone two hundred leguas from Puerto de la Navidad, when it maliciously separated from the others.  After pillaging those islands, it returned to Nueva Espana, and said that a storm had separated them, and that, without doubt, all the rest of the fleet was lost.  For that reason, then, the commander, to allay the fears caused in Nueva Espana by the delay, called a council, according to his custom.  There he proposed the questions that had arisen concerning that matter, which he himself had already considered.  He besought all to counsel him in this as to what would be best for their convenience, honor, and reputation, and as to what means should