Note 1 — Letter from Fernando de Silva to Felipe IV

I have received advices from Macan by six galleotas, which have arrived with goods; they are demanding that a check be given to the progress that the enemy are making in their fort on the island of [88] Hermosa.1 They say that it is finished, and made of stone, sand-banks, and brick, having six bastions and at the edge of the water a platform with six cannon. The bay is eight leguas around, and an anchoring-place is on the north side. The fresh water is below a redoubt two leguas from the fort. The bar is thirteen feet under water with reefs, so the large ships remain outside. There is much to be gained in all kinds of trade with the natives, in purchases of deer-hides and merchandise for Japon. This port is in twenty-two degrees. Their object in fortifying it now was that this place commanded the passage of the ships from Chincheo to this city. They have accomplished their end through the presents which they have given to the mandarins, and the threats to rob them, as hitherto—namely, to secure the silks and carry them to Japon and Holland, as they are now doing, and take them away from this country, in this way ruining it, for there is nothing of importance except this commerce. This loss is clearly shown, for in fifty ships which have arrived at these islands, there were not forty picos of silk brought, while the enemy had nine hundred, excluding the woven goods; and, if it were not for what has come from Macan, the ships [for Nueva España] would have nothing to carry.