cannot permit the departure in the fleet,
if the cost is to be charged in this way. I supposed that the going
of Father Bilbao and his companions would be at the expense of his
Majesty, as it has always been.

I am now writing to Father Simon Cota that I have received that amount
from your Reverence; and although by means of your order I have paid
the debt already contracted, and have also funds to defray immediate
expenses that cannot be avoided, yet, for the needs that are certain
to arise in the future, I shall require help to the amount of more
than two thousand reals, because it is better that I should have too
much than too little. And things are so expensive in all this country
of Spain, that to collect and convey the fathers to Sevilla will cost
even more than the sum I estimate. Your Reverence will kindly send
the amount to me at the time and in the manner most convenient.

Sad was the news that yesterday came to this court concerning the
loss of our fleet, [2] and such has been the grief that I do not
know how to describe it to your Reverence. The president wept like
a child, more especially because, to make this news worse, other
bad news came from Flandes at the same time; this information was
that the Hollander was setting out, or had already set out, with his
twenty-five galleons. The president himself told this. He already
considers our possessions in Philippinas and Yndias as lost; for it
seems as if courage has deserted these men, and that no means for
further aid remain. May God our Lord forbid this, and encourage them,
in order that they may take heart in this difficulty, that valor and
fortitude may be shown in the cause of God our Lord and of the king,
and that the enemy may not prevail. There is no lack of people who are
already encouraged, and are seeking remedies and forming plans. Your
Reverence will kindly inform me of such plans as may occur to you,
for those who are trying to give courage in this emergency desire
light on all projects.

The loss of our fleet is known here only in a general way. Your
Reverence will please give me all the particulars, and inform me
whether our Lord took our fathers unto Himself, which we much fear
from the reports. Still, because their death has not been verified or
related in detail, the masses which should be said in this province
for Father Bilbao, in the other two provinces for their two fathers,
and in the province of Philippinas for all three, have not