cretary of his Excellency, Don Fray
Miguel Garcia Serrano, archbishop of the Filipinas and member of his
Majesty's council, and notary-public of the ecclesiastical court of
this archbishopric, attest and witness truly that this copy was drawn
from another that appears to have been authorized by the bishop of
Malaca, Don Goncalo de Silva, signed with his signature and sealed
with a seal, which appears to be that of his arms. This is a certain
and true copy, and has been corrected, revised, and collated with
the said original copy from which it was drawn. For its validity,
Don Juan de Cevicos, precentor in the holy metropolitan church of
this city of Manila, and judge-provisor and vicar-general in it and
its archbishopric for the said his Excellency, affixed his signature,
interposing his judicial authority and decree. It is sealed with the
smaller seal of the aforesaid. As witnesses at its correction and
revision were Father Thomas Saravia, secular priest, and Luis Mendes
de Leon, gospel priest, citizens and residents of this said city,
on July last, one thousand six hundred and twenty-one.

_Don Juan Cevicos_

In witness of truth:
_Gabriel de Muxica Buitran_

Letter to the King from Geronimo de Silva

Sire:

A detailed relation of the condition and affairs of these islands
having been sent to your Majesty in the vessels despatched to Nueva
Espana in August of last year, God was pleased that, after some
months of navigation, the almiranta should put back in distress on the
thirteenth of November, mastless and badly racked, because of the many
hurricanes and the bad weather that it met on the high seas. That was
a most severe loss for this city, since the chief sinew of its support
at present is nothing but the trade of those two ships; for as the
times go, there is now no other recourse. It is considered as certain
that the flagship made the voyage, although there is no more certainty
than trust that God has taken it to safety; for since it was already
so late, and the monsoon of the vendavals had set in, it has not as
yet returned from Nueva Espana, nor has any other advice come. That is
no little cause for anxiety to this wretched city, in addition to the
ravages of enemies and other disasters that ordinarily afflict it. May
God in His mercy ordain what is most advisable for His holy service.

Governor Don Alonsso Fajardo, having despatched the vessels of
Castilla, began to undertake the aid for Ter