lace, and as they sent from there
to ask me to help them with six large pieces of artillery, I sent it,
and the aid reached them. The people of that city have shown themselves
grateful for this, and send in return the value of the said pieces,
invested in useful and necessary articles for the service of your
Majesty, which have already been received. Immediately upon sending
the guns I had six other larger ones cast, for from twenty-five to
thirty-pound balls, and incomparably better. For we are continually
becoming more skillful in foundry-work and in working the metals;
so that, of almost forty pieces which have been cast in my time, with
the assistance and care of Don Hieronimo de Silva, commander of the
artillery, only one has been a failure. [_In the margin_: "Let him
be thanked for what he mentions here, and let him continue to act
thus when occasion may arise. As for what he says of the artillery,
it has seemed very satisfactory; and let him continue to cast pieces
as he may have need of them, as he says he is doing."]

The reenforcements which this year went to Terrenate arrived there
safely, thanks be to God; and a small ship which routed the enemy with
two or three large ships of war, which he keeps there at the entrance
to those forts, came back thence with Captain Antonio Gomez, who had
the responsibility of conveying the succor, and collected and made
it ready very well with one galley. [_In the margin_: "This is well,
and let him always try to send to these places as much as he can, both
of troops and other things which are ordinarily sent; for he knows how
important a thing it is to keep the forts there in proper condition."]

With this was sent the ordinary quantity of rice and provisions, and
even considerably more; and likewise arms, munitions, clothes, cloth,
and money, and more than a hundred and twenty Spanish soldiers, who
are to remain there. This year I shall try to send more and better
relief than I was able to this time--and earlier than ordinary,
for then it will run less danger from the enemy.

The master-of-camp, Don Luis de Bracamonte, writes me from those parts
that he has news of many vessels of the enemy, and that he has put
those places into the best state of defense that he could--although
there was not much that he could do, because they were in good
condition before, and never so well supplied with troops, money,
and other necessary things as they have been at this time. [_In the