Frigates was lanched: and three more will be ready, against the fleete depart from hence. They are very bigge and excellent of sayle, which will carie 150 men a piece with souldiers and mariners, And hauing good ordinance, there are fewe or none of our enemies that can offend vs. For wee shall both leaue and take at all times when we list. But it behooueth your maiestie to send both souldiers and mariners to man the Frigats. For we haue great want of souldiers and mariners, with tackling, ankers, powder, shot, caliuers, and all kinde of furniture for them. For these things are not here to bee had for money: and likewise to send some great ordinance for the Zabras. For the merchants ships are so weake and so vnprouided, that they haue almost none to defend themselues. Also we shall be constrained to giue the carena againe vnto al the ships; for they are very weake by reason of the long voyage: and the mariners and souldiers are wearie with their long trauelling and keeping of them here. Thus if it would please your maiestie to command with all expedition that these souldiers and mariners with all kinde of other furniture might be sent vs, then the fleete may set forward and so proceede on their voyage. God preserue your Catholike royal maiestie. From Hauana the 20 of October 1590.
Your maiesties seruant, whose royall feet I kisse.
Iohn de Orimo General of your Fleete.
A Letter sent from the Gouernour of Hauana Iohn de Trexeda, to the King of Spaine, the twentieth of October 1590, touching the wants of that place.
By three shippes which departed from this Harbour since the
Fleetes arriuall here, I haue giuen your maiestie at large to
vnderstand, what hath happened as much as I can, and what thing
is here to be done in this citie, and what your maiestie must
prouide. And now once againe I will returne to put your
maiestie in minde thereof.
The newe fortification in Hauana. I beseech your maiestie command to be prouided and to be sent hither two hundred Negros, if you will haue this fortification to goe forwardes: because your maiestie is here at great charges with the master workeman and the Officers. And for want of Pioners the worke goeth not forwardes. For as the worke goeth dayly forward and increaseth farther and farther, so we want men to
