they have been written so often by so many men, and are so evident and well known; and in order to conquer or conserve, or to make war in any manner, that reenforcement and money are needed.  As there is so great a need of both these things and of small boats, as I wrote your Majesty in those letters that you acknowledged, I heard that the rebels of Olanda were coming to these islands with fourteen ships and a number of caracoas.  These latter are the craft of our enemies of Mindanao, and they do the most harm to these natives.  Although it appeared impossible to make sufficient preparation to resist them and prevent the depredations which were to be feared from so large a squadron, I resolved to exert my utmost efforts in order to attend to our defense, notwithstanding my lack of all things necessary for it that should have been sent me.  Almost at the same time as the news, arrived the rebels.  They had only five ships with high freeboard, to which were added two others, also large ones, a part of four vessels that we heard were to come from Japon—­according to what was learned from that kingdom through the fathers of the Society, and by way of Terrenate, and from some prisoners captured along this coast, not far from here.  The latter, landing in order to reconnoiter the country, so that they might land some Dutchmen on it, fell into the hands of a company that I had placed in ambush with the great desire to gather information and learn the designs of the enemy.  In short, it was learned from those advices, and especially from those from Japon, that not only was it their intention to pillage the ships from China (whence proceeds the commerce that sustains this island) and commit the depredations of former years, but also to await the vessels from Nueva Espana, in order at once to conclude and finish everything.  That obliged me to make the night day with my continual toil, so that the Spaniards who were scattered throughout these islands might be prepared and collected; and artillery cast, which was lacking to me for what was necessary (even a place where I could get the metal and the alloy).  Then the workmen on two ships, the construction of which had been ordered, had to be urged to greater haste and all that was necessary supplied, so that either one or both of them could be finished in time to serve on the occasion then presented; and a ship of moderate size, which was the only one I found in this bay when I entered it, had to be repaired.  The latter was so old that it was necessary almost to rebuild it.  Also I did the same with a small patache and the galleon in which I came, and the Japanese vessel which also came with me from Nueva Espana.  It needed not a little repair, and gave me a great deal of trouble with its owners, so that they should lend it.  But finally they lent it, and now I have had it bought at a very cheap price.  With it, and one of the new ones which were finished in time (which is the one now about to sail to Nueva Espana), and those