r it has cost me most dear and was
so disastrous to me that I lost by it my father and a great amount of
property, and met other losses to which I shall not refer. For this
reason, I desired to prosecute this expedition after the death of my
father; but I could not do so, on account of the great fear and dread
of hostile Chinese and Japanese. As a man, Sire, I can but desire the
accomplishment of that thing which my father and I had tried to achieve
and had almost succeeded in doing. But may our Lord not permit that
this or any other enterprise should be abandoned, for lack of desire
and effort to secure a result so desirable for the said objects;
and may it come through the hand and means which God shall choose,
and by which He shall be served. May His Divine Majesty guard your
Majesty as He can, and as we all desire and need. At Manila, June 8,
in the year 1602.

_Luis Perez Dasmarinas_

[_Endorsed_: "April 27, 1604. To the Conde de Lemos. Suitable provision
has already been made; at Valladolid, [58] May 14, 1605."]

Sire:

As I was in doubt whether the letter which I wrote last year regarding
the matter in this was received by your Majesty, I give an account
of the same matter in this letter.

Toward the close of the previous year, 1600, there entered into
these islands, by way of the Strait of Magallanes, Oliver de Nort,
a Hollander, with two ships of war belonging to Count Mauricio. He
took prizes and caused damage, until he established himself at the
mouth of the bay of this city, intending to await the merchant ships
from China, and the galleon "Santo Thomas" from Nueva Espana, with
the silver for two years belonging to the business men of this kingdom.

As military affairs were at that time little cared for in these
islands, and there was no sort of preparation, the royal Audiencia
of your Majesty, at the petition of the president, Don Francisco
Tello, was obliged to take measures to provide aid in so urgent a
necessity, with all possible haste and efficiency. For this end I was
commissioned to go immediately to the port of Cabite, and place and
keep it in a state of defense; and to arm several ships, with which
to meet the pirate and divert him from his intention. Accordingly,
I did so to the best of my ability, and put two ships of moderate
size in readiness in a short time, there being no others.

The president ordered me again in your Majesty's name, and in
writing--as he considered that by no