m some
deed of arms in that place, or something else that would have meant
evil to our forces and fortifications.

I was also advised from Japon that a squadron of Dutch ships was to
sail thence to run along these coasts, in order to hinder the commerce
of the Chinese ships, awaiting and robbing them on their way. In order
to obviate this mischief, I prepared two strong ships, one patache,
and two galleys, with which to make the said coast safe. I gave warning
to China; and thus, in consequence, many ships and merchants of China,
thanks to God, have arrived in safety. That squadron is in charge of
Admiral Joan Baptista de Molina, a man who has served many years, and
who has served here with especial courage and good fortune. And since
every one in this country considers that he is the one who deserves
most, and in order to avoid the punctilios of those who hesitated in
embarking and in taking charge of those vessels--desiring, perhaps,
under pretext of this to remain ashore--I gave out that the squadron
was to be in charge of Don Luis Fajardo, my brother. Thereupon all
followed him, and he obeyed the orders of the said admiral, Joan
Baptista de Molina, like the meanest soldier of those who embarked
with him. The enemy must have heard of it, or they must have had more
important business to look after, for they did not approach these
coasts. On the contrary, it has been learned that they lost one of
their large vessels (than which never better sailed), at the head of
the island of Hermosa; and that, for the last two years, they have
obtained nothing from this coast beyond the destruction of what had
been made for equipment of our vessels, and the loss of the ships
that have been wrecked. I am thoroughly convinced that opportunities
will not be lacking in which, coming to blows, they will lose more,
if God help us; for their attachment is strong to the profit that
they claim from these pillagings, as well as from those that they
made in former years.

Had not the Dutch been so embarrassed by the so ruinous wars that they
have had with the English, beyond doubt a greater number of vessels
would have come here. According to what I have just heard from a
Spanish pilot, whom the Dutch held prisoner, and who escaped from
the ships that fought with us, those two nations [_i.e._, the Dutch
and the English] were negotiating a peace, in order to be able to
come here with a great number of vessels, or for other advantages to
them