Page:The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803 (Volume 11).djvu/130

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
[Vol. 11

and so few supplies with which we could send help, it was unanimously agreed to give no aid whatever to Maluco, but to undertake the no small task of preserving this land. Notwithstanding, I am thinking of sending reenforcements of supplies, powder, ammunition, and other military supplies such as can be given, also a dozen musketeers. As that land belongs to your Majesty, it is but just that your Majesty's servants and vassals should make all possible efforts to aid it. I assure your Majesty that if you are not pleased to provide this realm with a goodly number of well-armed troops and with money from Nueva España, according to the demands made by him who shall be governor—who, since this fort is placed in his keeping, can well be entrusted with twenty thousand pesos more, in control of the officials of your Majesty's royal exchequer—we may find ourselves hard pressed. I fulfil my duty by giving account thereof to your Majesty, and by defending this land as occasion may arise therefor. In whatever I find to do, here or elsewhere, I shall strive to serve your Majesty well; but if on account of my little strength, I should be somewhat remiss, I beg your Majesty to understand that I could do no more.

At the news of the English, it was urgently necessary to aid Cebu. But as we did not have it to send, and the presidio of La Caldera,[1] with its eighty Spanish soldiers (who go more than a legua by water),[2] was in danger; and since the English and

  1. ↑ Marginal note: "That the troops and artillery are to retire from the fort of La Caldera, and proceed to Cebu, as they are needed there; and the fort is burned."
  2. ↑ Spanish, que van por el agua mas de vna legua; apparently some word or phrase is missing. Montero y Vidal (Hist. de la piratería, i, p. 144) says that the fort of La Caldera was two and
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