Jesuit missions in the Philippines. Chirino's work is begun in the
present volume, and will be concluded in _Vol_. XIII.

The presence of Van Noordt's fleet in the Oriental archipelago renders
the Spaniards apprehensive that their possessions therein may be
attacked, especially that of the rich Spice Islands. Accordingly the
viceroy of India determines to send a fleet to drive out the Dutch from
those seas; and (May 5, 1601) notifies Tello of this. On September 1,
1602, a council of war is held at Manila, which decides to furnish
aid for this expedition against the Dutch; its commander has already
captured and subjugated Amboyna. This is followed by a list of the
supplies furnished to the Portuguese fleet; their value amounts to
over twenty-two thousand pesos, including eight months' pay for two
hundred soldiers and a number of seamen. An official statement (dated
October 2) enumerates the proceedings of the Manila authorities in
raising these troops and supplies, and notifies the Portuguese envoys
to be ready to convey this aid to the fleet. On October 26, Governor
Acuña writes to the king a report on the piracies committed by the
Moros. They have made several successful raids, and it is necessary to
provide defenses for the islands against these attacks. An expedition
had been planned against the Moro pirates; but the governor and his
military advisers have deferred it, for the sake of aiding the Maluca
expedition. Acuña is going to Arevalo, to despatch the ships and men
for that purpose. He is doing all in his power to aid the enterprise,
but fears that it will be a failure. Acuña asks permission to aid
sick and needy soldiers from the royal treasury.

Alonso Fernandez de Castro, a lawyer, furnishes (1602?) a
paper containing "principal points in regard to the trade of the
Filipinas." He notes the decrees forbidding Mexicans and Peruvians