odrigo de Vilastigui; of "San Felipe,"
Captain Sebastian de Madrid; of "Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe," Captain
Juan Bautista de Molina; of "San Lorenco," Captain Azevedo; and command
of the galleon "San Marcos"--which was called the almiranta, as it
had been with Don Juan de Silva in the expedition which he made to
Malaca--was given to Don Juan de la Vega, son of Doctor Vega, auditor
of the royal Audiencia. There were many disputes over his appointment
as admiral, for many of the commanders to whom it was due claimed it,
especially Don Diego Quinones, who had been brought from Oton for that
purpose, although he had not recovered from his musket-wound; also
Hernando Munoz de Aramburo (who had come as admiral of the caravels),
and Francisco de la Serna--who had gone as commander of the ships,
and at the restoration of the country was a very great soldier, who,
with twenty gentlemen, served in that expedition at his own cost. Also
for certain reasons, which I can not well recount, those captains
were at odds, a mistake that caused much regret later, when there
was no remedy. It is certain that no one would have escaped who would
carry news of the enemy. Yet, so that it might not appear that they
were shunning the opportunity, they offered their persons. Aramburu
went as associate of the commander, being skilful in war. Don Diego
was given a galley and the title of _quatralvo_. [43] Don Alonso
Enriquez took another galley, with the title of commander [_general_];
Don Pedro de Almazan, another. The galleon "Salvador" was flagship,
the best and largest galleon ever seen in the sea. It carried fifty
large pieces of artillery, many of them of twenty-five and thirty
libras' caliber, but most of them of eighteen. The fleet left port
on the eighth of April, in pursuit of the enemy. That afternoon,
which was Saturday, it anchored at the mouth of the bay in order
to ascertain the location of the enemy. They had heard already that
the enemy had plundered many Chinese and had filled their ships with
great riches. It was ascertained from a spy, who was the one who sent
advices of what the enemy was doing, that two ships were six leguas
from there, and the rest at Playa Honda. That report was false, and
was the reason why the most fortunate victory that could be desired
was not obtained without bloodshed, and without any one escaping, as
will be seen in this relation. On receiving this news the commander
began to trim his sails, in order