inas on July 2, 619. They encountered such violent storms
that at the end of two months, after having been in great danger of
shipwreck, they returned to Macan without masts, and with a large part
of their merchandise so wet and rotted that it was worthless--damages
frequently sustained under such circumstances. They once more equipped
themselves, and this year left Macan in the month of May. They had
a very difficult voyage, but at the end of more than twenty days
they succeeded in making port in Cavite, on the seventh of June,
the first day of Pentecost. The galleon is a very fine one, and it
will be very useful when occasion arises. It brought much very rich
and valuable merchandise.

From Great China also have come many ships with silks and other
merchandise. All these goods have been necessary, and indeed they
have not even sufficed to supply the lack of merchandise which,
because of the wars of the past years, has been very extreme in this
city of Manila. There have been, moreover, some losses. If the wars
with the rebellious Hollanders should entirely cease, the wealth and
grandeur of these islands would be remarkable. Indeed, in spite of
these wars and the losses that have been sustained, Manila is a very
grand city; and there are few cities in Europe that surpass it in
trade and traffic, for almost the whole world comes to these islands.

Since writing this, I have learned that a large junk (a certain kind
of ship) set out from Japon with a large quantity of provisions and
munitions of war, and with five hundred infantry, whom the Hollanders
were bringing to supply and reenforce their strongholds in the
Malucas. But God was pleased that they should run aground on the coast
of Japon, where everything was lost, and nearly all the people were
drowned. A galleon likewise set out from Japon with a Dutch patache
to come to these coasts, to steal whatever they could, as they have
done in years past. But God frustrated their attempts by running the
galleon aground on Hermosa Island, which is between Japon and this
country. It is said that all those on board were drowned. Although
this is not known surely, it is a fact that many were lost.

May God confound their arrogance, in order that this land may raise
its head; and that the faith of Christ may be spread throughout many
provinces and kingdoms into which the holy Evangel would enter were
it not hindered by these heretics, who have hitherto been such a
stumbling-b