t should go out, founding their opinion on
the ignominy and taunts that the enemy flung upon the Spaniards, the
reputation that we would lose among so many nations who were watching
us, the need of provisions that the enemy were making them endure,
and the design of the latter to await the ships from China in order to
enrich themselves from the merchandise that the Chinese were bringing
to Manila. Those vessels were to come by April, and, besides the
general danger of depriving the community of the necessities brought
to it by the Chinese, many of the inhabitants were interested in the
said ships. Although this last could be obviated by sending advices
to China, the captain-general refused to do it, although he should
have done so, because of the harm that might ensue to your Majesty's
service, the common welfare, and the great harm that would result to
the enemies. [42] For opportunity was given to the enemy to enrich
themselves exceedingly with the spoils [of the Chinese], at the expense
of the community; then, too, the Chinese were losing so much there by
favor of their friends, since they would be ruined. The cause of that
error was that, in that former year when the other Dutchman came with
five vessels thinking to stay there until he pillaged the Chinese (for
he bore instructions to that effect), advice was given the Chinese so
that they should not come. They obeyed the advice and did not come,
and as the enemy went away, the inhabitants conceived that they had
signally erred, ruined the city, and deprived the royal treasury of
the great sum that the duties on the merchandise brought by the Chinese
would be worth. For that reason Alcaraz neglected to do that, although
it was so desirable, whence so great injuries have resulted. When he
who is governing heeds the murmurs that may be raised against him,
and consequently neglects to take the measures that are advisable
and to which he is obliged, such troubles generally follow.

Returning to the case [under consideration], almost all the city urged
the preparation of the fleet, and it even came to such a pass that
injunctions and protests were served on him by means of the entire
ecclesiastical estate. Innumerable difficulties were represented
to Licentiate Alcaraz: one that there were many repairs to make in
the fleet, which had come in quite bad shape; that it even lacked
considerable of its sails and rigging, and what was left was rotten;
that, as no ship had come