continuing the permission which they before had from the previous
governors to carry, in some cases, arquebuses and other arms; and as
they have proved to be good and faithful, the object has been attained.

In the said letter of the eleventh of July, 1602, I informed your
Majesty that I had not found a single armed galley, or crew therefor;
and that I had only fitted up a galeota, and that I was arming it
with the few condemned criminals who were here, and with those whom
I brought from Mejico and others whom I had joined with them. This
vessel remains still in service, for although I had resolved to set it
aside in some other business, as it was old and poorly designed and
needed a great deal of repair, on this emergency of the Sangleys it
appeared to me best to maintain it--and likewise a new one of nineteen
benches which I built and had armed, and another small galeota which
I had here, which used to be in Cebu. Although the latter was not
designed for a galeota, I had it so fitted up, and it will serve for
the present. Another galeota, of twenty-two or twenty-three benches,
I am having finished to serve as flagship; it will be launched inside
of twenty days, and will, I believe, be very good, according to the
curves which it has. Accordingly I shall arm four vessels--the new one,
this one which is being finished, the old one which was here, and the
little galeota (which has no more than fifteen benches). I have much
confidence in them in case the Chinaman should come; because great
loss could be inflicted on his ships, before he could disembark and
get ashore; and in any event they will be of use, for, although they
must be manned with Sangleys, this will necessitate greater prudence,
and all will be well arranged.

It has been a great help to me that I brought with me from Cartagena
and Nueva Hespana several skilful men experienced in regard to galleys,
who have been known to me from the time when I sailed with them from
Hespana--especially Captain Francisco Romanico, captain of one of
the armed galleys of the fleet on the Yndia route. As I knew him well
and was certain that he was a man of long service and great activity,
with much experience--for I have seen this on many occasions, as the
adelantado of Castilla would tell you if he were alive, as he set much
store by him--and fearing that I should find affairs here ill-provided
for, I persuaded him to come with me and leave the galleon, as it
was all for the se