he vessel to continue its voyage, because
of a present of three hundred pesos, given them by the Japanese. In
the beginning of April an edict was issued for the men of the fleet to
make ready. As many as one thousand sailors and soldiers were enlisted,
and many Indians for service and as common seamen. Besides these men,
the governor intended to take two hundred other soldiers of great
courage and valor; on those soldiers he placed great reliance. These
are about two hundred martyrs, whose relics repose in the [church of
the] Society of Jesus in a side chapel. The governor had the reliquary
newly fitted up, with great care; and placed himself with courage under
the care and protection of those martyrs, considering the victory
as his, with such volunteers. The fleet left Cavite on Wednesday,
April 21, between ten and eleven, in search of the enemy, who were at
Playahonda, twenty leguas from Manila. The governor embarked in person
in the fleet, as its commander. His presence inspired the soldiers not
a little, and incited many volunteers to accompany him. On this and
other accounts, which are deeply felt, they regarded his going as very
important, and almost absolutely necessary. His lieutenant was Juan
Juarez Gallinato, who has come this year as master of this camp. His
admiral was Don Fernando de Silva, a courageous and spirited youth,
nephew of the governor. As the admiral's lieutenant and captain of
the almiranta went the sargento-mayor of Maluco, Pedro de Heredia,
who last year overcame the galliot in which the Dutch commander, Pablo
Blancard, [26] was sailing, with seventy of his men. The captains
of the small vessels were: of the "San Yldefonso" (the largest),
Juan Tello de Aguirre, regidor of this city; of the "San Pedro,"
Captain Guillestigui--both of these men Biscayans; of the "San Pedro y
San Pablo," Juan Pardos [27] de Losada, a Galician gentleman; of the
"Santiago," Moreno Donoso. Of the two galleys, Captain Romanico was
lieutenant; and Captain Juan Rodriguez commanded the consort.

The artillery was as follows. The flagship "San Juan Bautista" mounted
twenty-six pieces: four of the new guns, which were eighteen-pounders;
and twenty-two good guns, from four to twelve pounders.

The ship "Espiritu Santo," the almiranta, twenty-two pieces: three of
them of the said new guns; seventeen, from three to fourteen pounders;
and two swivel-guns.

The other four vessels carried four, five, or six medium-sized guns;