nt out to seek that of the enemy, was going out to sea, picking up
Sangley ships. When it saw our fleet, without going back to theirs,
it cast loose a very rich junk which it was towing astern, and took
to flight. The captain of this vessel, they tell me, the Dutch put
to death for having fled. Two other vessels arrived at the port of
Malayo on the eighth of June. These had found occasion to fight with
our fleet; and accordingly they arrived dismantled by cannon-shots,
and with many wounded men. These brought the news that only six of
their vessels had fought with eight of ours and three galleys; and
that their commander's ship and two others were lost, one going to
the bottom and the other two being burned. Their commander escaped in
a boat which they saw was being followed by two of our galleons and a
galley--although they did not know the result, since neither this one,
nor two others that are lacking from the ten, have appeared here thus
far. Of six hundred men whom they took from the forts which they have
on these islands to put in the ten boats, when they were at Manila,
only a hundred came back alive. These two damaged ships are being
put to rights, and in all they have five at present in these islands,
with few men; so that if a part of our fleet had come, and followed
up the victory, they might all have been captured. This loss has made
both the Dutch and those of Terrenate very sad and cast down, for they
were in hopes to come back rich and victorious. A few silks and other
goods were brought in the ships which escaped and they sold them to
us very dear, although not so dear as they cost them. What they are
considering now, and urge for the consolation of those of Terrenate
and the other nations friendly to them, is that they are going to
collect a great fleet which they have in Ambueno, and in the Sunda;
and with the whole fleet they are to attack the forts of his Majesty
before our fleet arrives from Castilla and from the Filipinas. This
you already know of. Beside this, they are putting their fortresses
in the best state of fortification possible, together with the posts
which they hold; for they see that the natives here are very lukewarm
in their friendship, and they fear that when they see our fleet more
powerful than theirs, the natives will drop their friendship and try
to win ours. The king of Tidore and I consider it certain, judging
from what we have heard from themselves, and particularly from those