He built with stone the fortress of Nuestra Senora de Guia [Our Lady
of Guidance], within the city of Manila on the land side, and for
its defense he caused some artillery to be founded by an old Indian,
called Pandapira, a native of the province of Panpanga. The latter
and his sons rendered this service for many years afterward, until
their deaths.

During the administration of President Sanctiago de Vera, the
Englishman Thomas Escander, [36] entered the South Sea through
the Strait of Magallanes; on the coast of Nueva Espana, close to
California, he had captured the ship "Santa Ana," which was coming
from the Filipinas laden with a quantity of gold and merchandise of
great value. Thence he proceeded to the Filipinas; entering through
the province of Pintados, he came in sight of the town of Arevalo and
of the shipyard where a galleon was being built for the navigation
of the Nueva Espana line. Wishing to burn this vessel, he made the
attempt, but he was resisted by Manuel Lorenzo de Lemos, who was
supervising its construction. The Englishman passed on, and went
to India, whence he took his course to Inglaterra, having followed
the same route which the Englishman Francisco Draque [Francis Drake]
[37] had taken several years before. The latter had, in like manner,
passed through the Strait of Magallanes to the Peruvian coast, where
he made many prizes.

At this time, the Audiencia and the bishop thought it advisable
that some person of sufficient and satisfactory qualities should be
sent to Espana, to the court of his Majesty, to give a thorough and
detailed account of the state of affairs in the Filipinas Islands,
and to request that some necessary measures might be taken concerning
them. The court was especially to be informed that, for the time being,