ice
to the governor of these islands; for in no other way is there any
relief, either with royal decrees or orders from your Majesty--or in
any other way--by your Majesty ordering the said governor that the
ships sail from this port for Nueva Espana by St. John's or St. Peter's
day; [18] for they can do it, as they used to do. In this way no
shipwrecks will occur, just as there were none before. The losses
and shipwrecks caused by not observing this cannot be told, I will
mention as an example only the case of the present year. Inasmuch as
they sailed late, two hundred and eighty persons died in the flagship,
and all the rest arrived in a dying condition. They were over seven
months just now on the return trip, after their escape from the Dutch
enemy then assembled where they fought. Because they were not able to
enter the channel to go to their usual port, as they were late, and
because the winds contrary to them had begun, they were driven ashore
and there the two hulls of the ships were wrecked. There was the one
noteworthy thing, namely, that with only six pieces they fought the
enemy, who had three ships. The loss was immense; besides the hulls,
a great amount of property was lost--more than four hundred thousand
pesos--and it was a miracle that everything was not lost. Written in
this convent of Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria, at Dilao, outside
the walls [of Manila], August 7, 1620.

The most unworthy servant of your royal Majesty,

_Fray Pedro de San Pablo_, provincial minister.

Letter from the Audiencia of Manila to Felipe III

Sire:

At the end of last year, 619, this royal Audiencia reported to your
Majesty a portion of the numerous excesses and imprudent acts of Don
Alonso Fajardo, governor and captain-general of these islands. For
that purpose it despatched, by way of Yndia, Captain Pedro Alvares,
government and War secretary of this kingdom, with the same document
that is herewith enclosed. Although this despatch was attempted
twice it did not succeed, because the governor, suspecting it,
exercised great vigilance to prevent it--as in fact he did, a certain
sailor revealing it while confused. But, although he made no little
investigation and practiced extortions to verify the matter, he
was unable to ascertain who the person was, or why he was going,
because the matter had been managed by a priest. And although a
long relation can be made here of his objectionable acts, we shall,
in order