to ask
for this soldier; but the reply has not yet come. Many people were
of the opinion that, if soldiers had been in these islands in any
great number, a fleet should be sent to attack the said king--both
for the reason already given, and because he was a tributario to
your Majesty, and has refused to pay tribute. But with the few
troops in these islands, no expedition can be made, nor do we who
are in Manila feel at all secure, with the forces that we have in
this kingdom. There are many enemies and but few Spaniards, and
the latter are dying in great numbers every day. Also, for lack of
troops, punishment has not been meted out for the insolence which, as
I reported to your Majesty last year, had been perpetrated by the king
of Mindanao. In the past few days the Indians of Cibu have revolted,
and have killed the encomenderos who were collecting the tribute,
and other soldiers. They seized the women, and detained them for a
long time, until the alcalde-mayor of that island, with a number of
friendly Indians and fifty or sixty Spaniards, attacked and chastised
them. Some were killed in the encounter, and those most guilty were
hanged. Thereupon the said alcalde-mayor wrote that that island was
pacified. It lies more than one hundred and fifty leagues from this
city. Later, on the seventh of last June, there came further advices
from the said alcalde-mayor, to the effect that the natives of said
islands, with other neighboring peoples, had conspired to burn the
city, and kill all the Spaniards who might be there; and that several
of the principal authors of the plot have been captured, and steps are
being taken to arrest the others. Your governor sent him instructions
as to what he should do.

Four or five months ago two soldiers came from the city of Segovia,
located in the province of Cagayan. They were sent by the alcalde-mayor
of that province, bringing word that the province was all in rebellion
and that the Indians had killed many Spaniards. The natives were so
bold and daring that they entered into the city to murder and rob. He
begged for reenforcements of troops and ammunition, or that province
would be depopulated. It is the most important of these islands as
it is the nearest to Japon and is within fifty leagues of the coast
of China. Reenforcements were sent by the master-of-camp, Pedro de
Chaves, with four or five ships and fifty soldiers, besides what
supplies and ammunition they could take. We have rec