A.D. 

 1590. 



THE ENGLISH VOYAGES 



the countrey people go very richly apparelled both in 



silkes and gold. But here we have order from the king 



of Spaine, that a Spaniard may not dwell in China, above 



3 yeres, and afterwards they must returne againe into 



Nueva Espanna, and other souldiers must come in their 



places. The countrey is very unwholesome for us 



Spaniardes. For within these 20 yeres of 14000, which 



have gone to the Philippinas, there are 13000 of them 



Not above one dead, and not past 1000 of them left alive. There is 



thousand Spa- ^ .^^ -^^ ^^^^^ ^j^-^j^ -^ ^^ harbour, called Macaran, 



mavds tti the ^ , . . . 



Philippinas. which the king hath given to the Spaniards freely : which 



shall be the place where the ships shall come and trafficke. 

 For in this harbour there is a great river which goeth up 

 into the maine land, unto divers townes and cities, which 

 are neere to this river. And thus troubling you no 

 farther I rest. From Mexico the 20 of June 1590. 

 Your obedient sonne, Sebastian Biscaino. 



[III. 561.] A Letter of Bartholomev^ Cano to Peter de Tapia 

 in Sivill, from Mexico the 30 of May 1590, 

 touching the state of Nueva Espanna, and the 

 Fleet of that yeere. 



Ecause I have answered your letters which I 

 have received in the last Fleet, as touch- 

 ing that matter I have no more to say. 

 The occasion of my writing unto you at 

 this time, is to give you to understand, 

 that those commodities which came in the 

 last Fleet, were sold at the first good 



cheape, and those that bought them, got much by them. 

 For now at this instant white Roan cloth is solde for 8 or 

 9 reals a vare. The cause of this was, by reason there 

 came a caravel of Advise from Havana; which brought 

 us newes, how the armie that his majestie did send for 

 England, was all spoiled and cast away : and therefore 

 they of Spaine did write that there would come no Fleet 

 from Spaine hither this yeere : And this is the cause that 



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