30, 635, your Majesty
commands that I continue in the efforts made by my predecessor, Don
Juan Nino de Tabora, and the plans that he had formed to expel the
Dutch enemy from the island of Hermosa, and to unite the forces of
Yndia with those of these islands. This latter undertaking, Sire,
is very difficult; and the former is no slight thing. For if the
enemy were at that time commencing their fortifications, these are by
this time completed and very well defended; and unless your Majesty
send here a thousand Spanish soldiers, I have not the force in these
islands to drive out the Dutch from Hermosa. The Portuguese of Macan
desire that this be done, because the enemy inflicts damage on them
in the voyage to Xapon. But the fact that the enemy maintain a post
there does not at all embarrass or hinder the crown of Castilla; for
the Chinese do not fail to come in twenty-four hours to the forts of
your Majesty that are on this side the sea, bringing the necessary
merchandise and supplies. That island, Sire, is of very little use
to your Majesty, and it serves only to consume a large part of the
revenues; for the Indians of the said island are [too] ferocious to be
reduced to our holy Catholic faith, and it only serves to keep occupied
there two hundred and twenty Spaniards, and a company of Indians from
Nueva Segovia, and several vessels. But as it is so injurious to the
reputation of honorable soldiers to abandon the posts which others will
seize, I am--notwithstanding that, as a soldier, I have considered
the little or no importance of that post--maintaining and aiding it
with thirty thousand pesos a year, until your Majesty shall command
what may please you. As for joining our forces with those of Yndia,
Don Juan de Silva, in the time when he was governor, maintained the
forces of these islands in a very flourishing condition; for he was
able to build and assemble ten powerful galleons and two pataches,
with which he undertook to join the viceroy of Yndia to destroy the
Dutch and drive them from these seas. Although he set out, he did not
find any preparation on the part of the said viceroy; and by waiting
for it he lost an excellent opportunity when the enemy had left their
station. It is said that he died from grief at having spent so much
and achieved so little result; and that this was the cause for the
islands having fallen into so great poverty, and for your Majesty's
royal treasury being so embarrassed. For the gove