little reputation--or to say better, lost much--in not defending
themselves. But since it is not my intention to meddle with another
jurisdiction, I shall not discuss that.

Don Juan de Silva left Manila with ten galleons--larger than have
been seen in Europa--and four galleys, on February 28, 1616. He laid
his course toward the Strait, as he thought that he would find there
the four galleys from Goa, in accordance with the order that he had
sent. He learned what had happened in the Strait; and although he
might have gone to Bantan, in Xava Major, to avenge the injury, since
he might expect to find the enemy there--and he might at least have
destroyed that factory and exacted satisfaction for what had been
done--he did not choose to do so, but left the galleons anchored
in the Strait, while he went to Malaca with the galleys. There he
was received under the pall with great solemnity, honored with great
festivities, and called that city's savior, since the ships had taken
flight because of his coming. Don Juan became sorely perplexed, and
could not come to a decision as to whether to careen his vessels and
wait until the following year for the viceroy of Goa, or whether to
return to Manila. Death overtook him in that perplexity, on April 19
of the same year.

He left orders for the fleet to return to Manila, and to convey thither
his embalmed body. Thereupon our fleet returned. It was in as bad shape
as if it had been a year at sea; for at that part of the Strait where
it was anchored the air was so unhealthful and the water so poisonous
that the soldiers began to sicken immediately, and to die swollen up
and yellow; and some days forty or fifty of them were thrown into the
sea. All asserted that had they remained there one fortnight longer,
not enough men would have been left to manage the sails, nor could
they have brought back the galleons--which returned without anchors,
for the few that they carried were lost in the currents, which are very
strong. And had they not found nineteen anchors, which they bought,
they would have perished.

Chapter VIII. Of the opposition to Don Juan de Silva from all the city,
and the opportunity that he lost by not taking the advice that they
gave him.

Strange are the judgments of the Most High, and nothing happens by
chance that His infinite providence does not register. The Portuguese
regarded as certain the coming of Don Juan de Silva to the Strait with
his fleet, and