[_Addressed:_ "To the Sacred Catholic Majesty, King Don Felipe our
lord, from his camp in the islands of the West."]

[_Endorsed:_ "To his majesty. xxixth of May, 1565. From Miguel Lopez
de Legazpi and other persons, from Cubu, on xxixth of May, 1565. Seen,
and to be added to the rest. 65."]

Sacred Catholic Majesty:

First and foremost in this present letter, we inform your majesty,
with the loyalty and fidelity which we always display, of our great
need of help, which your majesty must condescend to have sent us
speedily, considering that we have so great need of it in order to
attain what is so much desired by us in the service of God, our Lord,
and in that of your majesty.

The great service which the venerable father Fray Andres de Hurdaneta
has rendered to God, our Lord, and to your majesty is worthy of great
praise and many thanks; for he instructed us in all things, both
spiritual and temporal, during the whole voyage, and because no other
except him sailed in the fleet who did instruct us. Therefore, all of
us, your majesty's faithful servants--both the officials of the camp
and all your vassals generally--humbly beseech and beg your majesty to
consider his great services and merits; and as soon as he has given
your majesty an account of all that has happened in these regions
hitherto, to order and command him to return, in order to prosecute
this undertaking, which is of so great import to the service of God,
our Lord, and to that of your majesty--inasmuch as it is fitting for
the future, as he is one who has so well understood everything that
is occurring in all places, and as therein he may attain the result