for defense or offense--he
determined to go thither with his entire fleet and following, in order
to kill them; and to make himself master of the island of Manila and
its environs, where he thought to be safe from the power of the king,
who was trying to capture him. In accordance with this idea, he set
about this enterprise with the utmost possible despatch.

Departure of the pirate Limahon for the Felipinas, and arrival at
the city of Manila. Chapter IIII.

The pirate resolved to go to capture the Felipinas Islands, and to make
himself master and king of them all, first killing the Spaniards--a
thing that seemed easy of accomplishment, because of their small
number. He was convinced that he could live here quite free from
anxiety, and without his present fear of the great power of the king,
because these islands were so far from the mainland. Leaving those
islands where he had sought shelter, he set sail toward those of
the Felipinas, passing those islands called Illocos, [25] near to a
town called Fernandina, founded recently by Captain Juan de Salzedo,
who at that time was lieutenant-governor there. Four leagues from
this place, Limahon met a small galley sent out by the said Juan
de Salzedo after provisions, with but twenty-five soldiers aboard,
not counting the rowers--both soldiers and rowers being in very
small numbers, for they felt quite secure in this region, and had
no suspicion of meeting enemies. When the pirate Limahon's fleet
discovered the galley, they came down upon it, invested it, and
taking it easily, burned it, and killed its crew, without excepting
a single person. After this capture, Limahon continued his voyage,
according to his plan, and passed by the town of Fernandina, but
not so secretly that he escaped being seen by its inhabitants. The
latter informed the above-named lieutenant-governor of it, expressing
their astonishment at seeing so large an assemblage of vessels,
a sight never before witnessed in those islands. To him also, this
was a cause for wonder, and he was not a little troubled at what it
might mean. Seeing that these vessels were directed toward the city
of Manila, and thinking that so great a fleet, coming from such a
direction, could portend no good to the inhabitants of the city (who
were living in security and were but few in number, as we have said
above), he resolved to set out immediately with the greatest despatch
possible, and with the greatest number of men he