found out that these defenses were there, and had seen them, they
went out of the bay with all their boats. Having come back to it a
few days later, and seen that the preparation of the capitana and
almiranta galleons was in good condition; and that we had also a
moderate-sized ship, another smaller, two galleys, and another on
which the work was more backward (which are the vessels that can
be made ready), they went out again--going now along the coast,
and now in the mouth of this bay, without separating or dividing the
fleet so as to be out of sight of one another. If they had done this
without guarding against encounters, I would have engaged him with
the capitana and almiranta galleons, which are the ships that could
be manned, although with difficulty on account of the few men whom I
have here; for I had to leave the maimed and sick, and some as guard
for the gates of the city, which takes as many as are necessary for
all the vessels. Even if they were not divided, I should have tried
my fortune with him, but having made all preparations and efforts,
and issued proclamations to assemble the Spaniards who could be found
for this purpose, those who gathered in Cavite, aside from the paid
soldiers, would not number seventy; nor were there more than four
hundred soldiers outside of the maimed and sick, and one company and
a detachment from another--amounting to about a hundred men, more
or less, who remained in this city, prepared also to embark. These
had been brought as detachments of the companies from Nueva Segovia,
Cibu, and Oton--all of which will appear by the depositions of paid
officers and the secretary of the governor, which accompany this, with
the papers referring to the above mentioned matter. [_In the margin_:
"The matters contained in this clause are the concern of the Junta,
and have been examined there." "Examined; the Junta is taking care to
send reenforcements; and let him be careful to maintain what he has
there in so good condition as may serve for whatever occasion may