for the prince and the mandarins; and we here remain in
peace, affairs settled as they were before, and the fear [removed]
that an enemy so powerful and at our very gates must occasion us.

LETTER FROM GOVERNOR SALCEDO TO FRANCISCO YZQUIERDO

Summary of this letter, written from Manila, dated July 16, 1664,
giving information regarding the condition of the islands at his
arrival, and the measures that he had taken.

He states therein that he set sail from the port of Acapulco on
March 25, 1663; and after a prosperous voyage they sighted the
cape of Espiritusanto. There a vendaval storm came against them, so
violent that it carried them to Cape Engano; and on July 8 he landed,
made the ship secure, unladed all the money sent for the situado,
and made arrangements for its transportation to Manila. The governor
was gladly received there, and took possession of the government and
the authority of captain-general, on September 8, 1663.

He found the islands in most wretched condition--the Spaniards as
yet hardly reassured after the insurrections of the years 61 and 62,
and the natives irritated by cruel punishments. The royal treasury
was so exhausted that it contained no more than 35,000 pesos; the
magazines were destitute of provisions, ammunition, and other supplies
for the relief of the fortified posts and the soldiers. A few months
before, the soldiers had received part of their pay--each one who
had eight pesos of wages being paid one peso, and others receiving
only a ration of rice and meat. But the governor found the officials
of all classes still unpaid; and he had no ship to send to Nueva
Espana, because the vessel sent thither by his predecessor had put
back to port. The commerce [of the islands] with all the neighboring
countries was paralyzed, and the said commerce must again be revived,
for without it Manila could not exist.

He states that he had ordered timber to be cut for repairing the ship
that would go to Nueva Espana, and for the construction of the forty
galleys that were needed for the defense of the islands from the
Moro pirates that infested them--who were still more daring since
the abandonment of our forts on account of our fear of the Chinese
Cotseng. The governor ordered that wheat shall be sowed, since this is
so necessary to the manufacture of sea-biscuit for the ships, and in
order not to depend upon foreigners for the supply of this article. For
the same reasons, he caused an