ere we were in evident risk of our lives--yet
he did not do it. On the contrary, he went away with all speed, and
returned to the mainland to the station of Mareyuma; consequently
we could not find him, and he could not receive orders from me, his
commander, concerning what he was to do in such matters as following
the aforesaid enemy (in which a great opportunity was lost), as well
as in other things in the service of his Majesty which ought to have
been done.

Seventh and last. Although the aforesaid admiral ought not to have
allowed out of his convoy the vessel which he had captured and taken
from the enemy, so that it might not be lost again on account of
his having put very few men on it, he left it; and, under pretense
that he was sending it to be repaired, he ordered it to the island of
Luban with other intentions--where on the same day, near night-time,
there appeared the flagship of the enemy, which, if it had seen this
ship, could have seized and taken it easily, because it was without
defense. Then, without having been repaired, it left Luban and returned
to the aforesaid admiral's ship at Mareyuma.

Of all this your Lordship is sufficiently informed through the reports
which have been sent to your Lordship about the aforesaid event, and
through the investigations made by the alcalde-mayor of the province
of Balayan, in whose territory and under whose jurisdiction the event
took place. Your Lordship will also be informed by the searchings
and investigations which your Lordship ought to make concerning the
aforesaid case and every particular of it, personally and very soon,
before the guilty ones pervert them so that the truth may not be
understood. They have been preparing for this, holding investigations
before themselves in the admiral's ship, about their own affairs
and business; but opportunity ought not to be given for these,
nor any attention paid to them, for they are void and fraudulent,
and malicious.

I ask and pray your Lordship to do and perform in this matter, since
it is of such quality and importance, whatever may be proper in the
service of God and of his Majesty, so that those may be punished who
are guilty in a matter of such harm and loss, and that our lord the
king and the gentlemen of his Council of the Indias may be informed
faithfully of all that has happened and of what has been done--since,
as far as I am concerned in this matter, as there no longer remains
to me any authority or