been destroyed during this year
of six hundred and five, and more by the other fire that occurred in
the year six hundred and three--they determined to have one thousand
five hundred infidel Chinese stay here for the rebuilding of the burned
part, and the service of the city. They commanded me by an act to give
permission to the said number of infidel Chinese, choosing them from
the crafts which should appear to me most necessary. This I did with
exactness and fairness, being personally present, and not entrusting
this task to any other person. In this way, the said number will not
be in any way exceeded; it has appeared necessary and sufficient,
and it will be important for the service of God and of your Majesty
that this number be not exceeded in years to come. May God protect
the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, July 5, 1605.

The licentiate _Manuel de Madrid y Luna_

[_Endorsed_: "To his Majesty; Manila, 1605: The licentiate Manuel de
Madrid y Luna. July 5." "That, by commission of the Audiencia, the
inspection of the ships of the Chinese Sangleys has been attended to;
and by order of the said Audiencia, considering the great necessity of
labor and repairs, permission was given for a thousand and five hundred
of them to remain in that city, as they are very necessary. And in
compliance with this they will be allowed to stay for this purpose,
without the said number being exceeded. March 22, 1607. This measure
is in the letters of the governor."]

Letters from Pedro de Acuna to Felipe III

Sire:

On the twenty-fifth of February of the current year, 1605, there
arrived in the port of Cabite a ship from Nueva Hespana, and in
it Brother Gaspar Gomez of the Society of Jesus, with news of the
decision which had been reached regarding the matter of Maluco;
the order for this military service also came. There were, besides,
in the said vessel about two hundred infantry, in two companies,
of those who are to go on the expedition. Their arrival was very
seasonable and caused much rejoicing in these islands, because it
occurred at a time when we had received news by way of Macan that an
army was being prepared in China to come here. [4]

The diligence shown by the viceroy of Nueva Hespana in despatching
these advices, and informing me of the condition of the embarcations
there, was of great value in assisting me to prepare some necessary
supplies; for nearly everything has to be obtained from different
pr