ve lost in all the aforesaid respects among
all the nations with whom they have relations--especially with that
of the Japanese, who place their honor and ground for self-praise
in war. It would appear that they will not be well esteemed there,
nor even pleasantly received by their creditors--with whom, as we
understand here, they were indebted for about three hundred thousand
ducados for their preparations and the relief of their forts, having
assigned to the creditors their pay from a good prize that they were
to make, which must have been this galleon.

Then, in order that everything might turn out well, our Lord guided
the patache--which was coming as almiranta--without its meeting an
enemy. However, from the severity of the weather, the same thing
happened to them as to the flagship; but they lost no cargo, for
that vessel was so small that I bought it for not more than one
thousand pesos.

Although some think that those ships did not have a more satisfactory
voyage because they left Acapulco April 4, in my opinion that could
not have been avoided; for they reached that port late because
their voyage thither was long and troublesome. Notwithstanding that
they had been despatched, they would have found, when they arrived,
vendavals already in these islands, as these commenced so early, as
I have said. Although the viceroy wrote requesting greater haste in
those despatches, yet because they are sent late from there, they also
arrive late here, even if no such events happen as the above. It is
almost impossible for the ships to leave here early, if the arrival
of those from Nueva Espana is delayed, unless no opportunity be
given the inhabitants to receive their share of money and letters,
which is a thing that they would feel keenly.

[_Marginal note_: "War. What you say in these sections is reduced
to three points. Firstly, the thanks that you give and should have
given to our Lord for the good success of the flagship, and the same
has been done here. May He be praised for all, and thus it is to be
hoped, in His divine mercy, that He will be in all other events; for
the just end and cause to which all is directed is His holy service
and the extension of the holy Catholic faith. The second main point
is of the utmost importance, and is regarding what has been written
you, with the remonstrances required by the case--namely, that if the
flagship and almiranta sail late, it is impossible that they can be
despatched