Blancard, was ransomed this year. The Dutch gave eighty thousand pesos
for him last year; and now they have given fifty-two Spaniards held
captive among them, one hundred natives friendly to us, the fragata
and all its cargo, and six thousand pesos in money.

I have endeavored to make this relation very faithful for the greater
glory of God our Lord. May He preserve your Paternity [43] for the
welfare of all the Society. Manila, July 1, 1610.


_Gregorio Lopez_




LETTER FROM SILVA TO FELIPE III


Sire:

In the capitana "San Juan Bautista," which sailed from this port on
the twelfth of July last, I gave your Majesty an account of everything
that had occurred up to that time; I likewise did so by the Dutch
almiranta, which left four days later. But as it was not so good a
sailing ship as the capitana, and did not weather the storms so well,
it was delayed several days, without being able to get outside the
island of Fortun. I ordered it to return thence to this port, as it
appeared that it was not fit for a freight ship, and because it was
necessary for the service of your Majesty, owing to new developments,
which I shall here detail. A fortnight after the ships were despatched,