ablaze upon the one defeated by Captain
Molina, so that he was forced to ungrapple. Those two burning vessels
bore down upon that of the Dutch admiral, with whom Pedro de Heredia
had grappled, and whom he had already defeated and most of whose crew
he had killed. When he saw the two burning galleons bearing down
upon them, they threw off the grapples and separated. Consequently
the admiral had opportunity to escape, but in so bad a condition that
his vessel sank next day, according to the report of some Indians and
Chinese who saw it. Captain Sebastian de Madrid, on going to grapple
with another galleon, was killed by a musket-ball; and when his
vessel was about to grapple, Don Juan de la Vega, with the galleon
"San Marcos," came between. Those aboard the "San Felipe" thought
that he would grapple, but he made for the open sea, whereupon they on
seeing it went after him. Captain Azevedo grappled the other galleon,
and after fighting gallantly, the grapples were thrown off, whereupon
both Dutch galleons took the opportunity to escape. That battle was
the most bloody ever seen, for all had come with the determination to
die rather than surrender, and they did so. "San Felipe," "San Juan
Bautista," and "San Marcos" went in pursuit of the three galleons of
the enemy; but since flight has so many advantages to the one escaping,
the enemy threw overboard all their cargo into that sea, and, their
sails being wet, the sea became narrow for them, notwithstanding it
was so wide; and when dark night came, they changed their route and
our ships lost sight of them. Thereupon the "San Juan Bautista," the
"San Felipe," and the "San Marcos" changed their course, and returned
two days later for the evil result that disturbed that victory.

The commander determined to return to Manila, for their drinking-water
was gone, and the galleon "San Miguel" was leaking badly, and they were
unable to overcome the leak at the pumps, while the galleon of Pedro de
Heredia arrived at the mouth of the bay in very bad condition. Next day
two other galleons belonging to the enemy, which had not been present
during the battle, reached the place where it had been fought. They had
a Japanese prize-ship, laden with flour. Ignorant of the past event,
they spied the "San Marcos" coming. One of them went to reconnoiter
the latter, and upon seeing that it was our vessel went to advise its
companion. Both bore down upon our vessel, whereupon it turned its
course