destroyed. But since I lack such resources, and the time is passing
in which I expected the aid which your Majesty has offered to these
islands--having sent the pilots to Malaca to guide and bring them
here from there--I shall be obliged to make the best of the little
which I have, and to take the best precautions that I can. I am
raising and fortifying a few stretches of wall which are necessary,
expelling the Japanese, and lessening the number of the Sangleys--who,
although there appear to be a great many of them, will certainly,
by the proper management of the licenses, and care in obliging the
Sangleys to secure them, be much fewer than I found here, and than
have been here for many years, on account of those who have died and
left the country and the few who have come in my time. In every way I
shall do my best to drive out as many as I well can so that the country
may be less burdened with suspicious people; and shall likewise take
other necessary precautions which may be in my power. In these efforts
I feel sadly the lack of money; but in times of such need I have been
obliged to try to obtain it in the most guarded and cautious ways. I
am not a little glad to have with me at such a time Master-of-camp
Don Hieronimo de Silva, both on account of his good counsel and aid,
and likewise because if I should fail in this country there would
be someone to defend it; and your Majesty may be certain that he
will do this with the favor of God, and that with this everything
will turn out well. I beseech your Majesty that, confident of this,
you will continue sending the said reenforcement, and will hasten its
coming by way of Nueva España to Panama--sending infantry and money,
the things which cannot be supplied here. [_In the margin_: "This is
well; and let thanks be given him for the excellent courage which he
shows. As for the information that he gives, he has learned the reason
for the fleet not leaving, and the accident which happened to it;
accordingly, let him exercise all care to take what precautionary