I do not
deceive myself, of all the many troubles and misfortunes that were and
are suffered by the inhabitants of those islands, since the year 1637,
when the trade began to dwindle because of the harshness at Acapulco
in the visitation of Licentiate Don Pedro de Quiroga y Moya--troubles
predicted, without doubt, by the ashes that rained down throughout
those islands in the year 1633, which was followed by a general
famine. In the year 1636, no ships came from those islands. In the year
38, the 'Concepcion' was wrecked in the Ladrones. In the year 39, the
two ships which were being sent back from this kingdom were lost on the
coast of Cagayan, and the Sangleys rose in revolt. In the year 1640,
the volcanoes burst open and some villages were entirely engulfed;
and many other damages resulted. It would appear that Heaven itself
was announcing new troubles and was sounding to arms against those
islands. For throughout that archipelago one could hear distinctly
aerial combats with artillery, and skirmishes with musketry.

"In the year 1644, occurred the so terrible earthquake which destroyed
and overthrew two-thirds of the temples and buildings of Manila, and
buried many persons among their ruins. In the year 46, the ship which
was returning from this kingdom to those islands was wrecked. In that
year and in that of 47 no ships could come here, for the Dutch held
those seas, and they were committing great depredations and robberies
in those islands. In the year 49, the ship 'Encarnacion' ran aground
while returning, and was lost with all the cargo aboard it, while some
of the people lost their lives. There was no ship in the year 1650,
for that which was coming had to put back into port. 'Nuestra Senora
de Guia' was almost wrecked among the islands when returning, with
great loss and damage on the goods carried. No help was sent to those
islands in the year 51-52. Let so many misfortunes be considered, and
whether so many losses demand extraordinary reenforcements. Let one
consider what must be the present gloomy conditions in those islands
since the reenforcements have failed there for so many years. Let one
consider whether an extraordinary and all-surpassing reenforcement
is now rightly due and demanded, and according to the command of his
Majesty. For, as appears by his decrees, he ordered in past years, on
hearing of some of the above-mentioned troubles, that those islands
be reenforced, even though the usual money an