been
ordered. I, for my part, have many to say for them if dead--or if
alive, in case our Lord has spared them. It has also been said that
the cargo of the flagship floated ashore. I hope that our boxes of
books which were in it were spared, for, so far as such things are
concerned, I feel the loss of them greatly, although their loss is not
to be mentioned in connection with that of our fathers. If the Divine
Majesty has chosen to inflict this heavy blow upon us, _supra modu,
sed domini sumos et iustos est et rectu iudiciu eius_. [3] Such a
fleet, and so well adapted for the grand service of God! And those
three apostolic men, going with such zeal--if in such a cause, they
have already ended in a death resembling martyrdom, blessed be the
Lord! From here the authorities sent some person, I know not whom,
as comissary to recover what was lost from the flagship which ran
ashore. Your Reverence, being near, will know whether any particular
measure is necessary for our interests, etc.

When your Reverence remits the money spoken of above, do not send it
through our Father Figueroa. For, although he assures me that the last
order is good, since it has been acknowledged, yet he asks for forty
days' time, which is very long. I say this because to your Reverence I
may speak freely and confidentially, for you know the good father. I
have already determined not to trouble Father Figueroa about my own
money, because I drew it for my private expenses, and it must be used
in this way only, as I told him before I went to Rome. He now charges
to me items of expense not conformable to this arrangement, although
justified from his standpoint--for the good father is a saint and most
faithful in everything, though not very prompt or skilful in accounts
and correspondence, as is well known. Because I have written at length,
and more especially because I am so disturbed by grief at the news,
I close this letter to your Reverence. May God guard your Reverence
as I desire.

The [_word illegible in MS_.] procrastinate here, and indicate that we
are bound to have contests and wrangling with our fathers, wherefore
there is much to fear lest they delay me, and frustrate my plans to go
with a few [religious]. Now, too, with what has befallen the fleet,
I think that these lords must perforce undertake the preparation
of another large one, to go via the Strait, and that people there
will desire us to come. I am prudent and on the lookout, and wi