Now the galleon
from the shipyard entered the bay, and the preparation of the entire
fleet was completed. It consisted of four galleys very well manned,
and four very handsome galleons. The flagship mounted more than forty
pieces, the almiranta more than thirty, the third galleon an equal
number, and the fourth as many as twenty. In addition to these there
were two pataches, each with as many as a dozen small pieces.
While our armada, thus prepared, was daily in readiness to set sail,
the governor sent out in two directions to reconnoiter the enemy. The
news brought back by the spies was that the Hollanders had reached
a village of Indians on the coast of Ilocos. They entered the church
and committed a thousand sacrileges, particularly that of cutting off
the nose of a figure of Christ. They found a large quantity of wine,
delivered themselves up to it, and became veritable wine-sacks. They
say that if twenty soldiers had been there at the time, they might
have played grand havoc with the enemy. The Hollanders finally set
fire to the place and withdrew to their ships. Only one remained on
shore to sleep off his intoxication. When he awakened and saw that the
ships had already set sail, he cast himself into the water--of which
he had need, in order to water the great quantity of wine he had cast
into his stomach. He saw that the ships were far away, and in order
not to drown he was forced to return to land. Here the Indians caught
him and took him to Manila.
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