the high constable Graviel de Rrivera, the ensign-in-chief
Gaspar Ramirez, and many other soldiers in the said fort.

_Martin de Goite_

Drawn in my presence:

_Hernando Riquel_

Collated with the original, which is in my possession.

_Hernando Riquel_

[_Endorsed:_ "Possession taken of the island of Lucon in his Majesty's
name." "Possession of Luzon."]

Letter from Miguel Lopez de Legazpi to Felipe II

Sacred Royal Catholic Majesty:

With Captain Joan de la Ysla, who arrived at this river on St. John's
eve last, I received a letter from your Majesty from the Escorial
[34] dated the sixteenth of November, of the year sixty-eight, with
the despatches and the favors that your Majesty was pleased to grant
this camp. For these and for other things that we expect from your
Majesty, all these faithful vassals of your Majesty, and in their
name for all, kiss your Majesty's royal feet and hands. We pray God,
our lord, to give us time and opportunity, as loyal vassals employed in
your royal service, to merit being the instruments of the augmentation
of your royal crown, with increase of new realms and dominions; and
that in the fortunate days of your Majesty the Christian faith may
be planted, grow, and increase in these lands, where the infidelity
and rule of the Devil, our adversary, so long prevailed.

With the ships that left here last year (sixty-nine), under Captain
Felipe de Salcedo, I sent your Majesty a report of everything that
happened until then and the affair with the captain general of the
Portuguese fleet. They write me that this same Felipe de Salcedo
took this despatch to your Majesty on a despatch boat that was sent
from Mexico, for this purpose, whereby your Majesty will have seen,
learned, and understood what occurred here. We have had no word here,
since then, of the Portuguese; nor do I believe that they will return,
because they were much harassed, and also I am certain that none
of those that went from here will have any desire to return. That,
however, is no reason why I should neglect what concerns your Majesty's
royal service. I await them within three months in this archipelago,
which is the time in which they can come; and so I live with as much
foreboding as if I had them before me.

By other letters I have entreated your Majesty, informing you of the
necessity in this archipelago for boats with oars; and how important
they will be for the further discovery of other things of