ngered by the many annoyances and injuries that
they had received; especially the natives, of whom it could be feared
that they would revolt at any news of an enemy, and what would most
encourage them would be to see the city without defenders or artillery.

_Item_: That he was taking a route very foolishly chosen, because the
season and monsoon (as it is called) for seeking the enemy was already
past; and he was going with a known risk of suffering shipwreck,
or of accomplishing nothing.

_Item_: That it was advisable for him to inform the viceroy of his
expedition, as your Majesty ordered, and in the meanwhile to continue
to provide himself with everything necessary. The following year he
could leave, as was advisable and as your Majesty ordered. In short,
they reminded him of many other difficulties; but none of them were
able to make him postpone his purpose. Doctor Vega gave him a memorial
which is printed, in which he declares all the above and many other
arguments; and the fiscal issued many injunctions and protests against
him. They became so angered that he tried to arrest the fiscal, who
absented himself, together with many influential persons. The city
was very much in danger of being lost, and was divided into factions
and different opinions; although it is true that all desired Silva's
absence. After so many difficulties, and after having defied them all,
Silva left the city with his fleet, leaving the walls dismantled,
as above stated. When he embarked, many men of those that he had
provided from the inhabitants of the city, and single men, were not
to be found, for they had run away.

Scarcely had he left Manila when news came that a Dutchman with five
ships was coming, and within one week he came to anchor at the mouth
of the bay of Manila. It was our Lord's pleasure that the Dutch
did not learn the city's condition, which would have placed us in
the greatest embarrassment and danger. The Dutch remained there one
fortnight, and then, learning that Don Juan had gone toward their
forts and factories, they set out for them. In the opinion of all
it was the greatest misfortune that the news had not arrived sooner,
so that our fleet could have gone to meet it; for not a single ship
would have escaped; and, had he followed them to Maluco, he would have
destroyed their forces without difficulty--as Don Geronimo de Silva,
his cousin, wrote to him, whose letter I have. I heard afterward from
the same man that