An Historical View of the Philippine Islands

Chapter 2

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Of the complete Conquest of the Island of Zebu, and of some Towns in other Islands.

The day following that, on which the Capitana sailed, a Moor of Borneo, called Cid Hamal, established in this island, arrived in our camp. He recommended it to the General, to invite Tupas to a conference; and upon this being done, he accordingly presented himself a second time, with some of the chief men of the island, and the conference terminated, in their resolution to preserve a good understanding with the Spaniards. They paid homage to the king of Spain, promising, that the squadron should be supplied with provisions, at the price usual among themselves, and granting land, and every means of founding a Spanish city, with fortifications for its defence. Amity thus restored, the Indians began to re-build their town, and a very short time, exhibited the pleasing sight, of the individuals of two different nations, establishing themselves at a little distance from each other.

The Zebuans lost all apprehensions of the Spaniards, and came to their town to sell fruit, goats, and provisions. Among the least reserved was Tupas, who, under the pretext of accompanying other chiefs, visited the General, making him presents; and so contrived that his women should visit him likewise, dressing themselves in rich clothes, with ear-rings and bracelets of gold on the feet and arms, and accompanied by a great concourse of men and women; which visit was not ill received, the General always treating them handsomely. Tupas likewise, gave Legaspi his niece, who was a widow, and other women to attend him. The General directed them to be instructed in the Christian doctrine, and they embraced our religion, and were baptized. The niece of Tupas, had the name of Isabel given her, in memory of the deceased lady of the General, whose name this was, and in a little time she was married to Maestre Andrea, an officer of the squadron.

The provisions which they had in the island of Zebu, were not sufficient for the Indians and their numerous guests; in consequence of which, Legaspi directed Tupas, to send two chiefs to the island of Panay, to purchase rice. Whilst these men were on their mission, the Spaniards sailed, in vessels which they had constructed at Zebu, on an expedition against some towns, belonging to the enemies of the Zebuans, and were enabled to send some rice to those in the camp. The Moors likewise of the island of Lucon, who came for commercial purposes to Zebu, sold them two hundred baskets of this grain; but as the return of the two ships which had gone to Panay, was still delayed beyond the expected time, Legaspi was compelled to put every man on an allowance, which produced great discontent among the people, and some even adopted the resolution of escaping with the patache San Juan, with the intention of lying in wait behind the islands, to rob the small barks that came there for commerce, and with their spoils to retire to France. The authors of this conspiracy were Pablo Hernandez and Juan Maria Venecianos; and they were joined in it by the pilot Francis Pierres Plin, Jorge el Griego, Maestre Andrea, the husband of Tupas"s niece, Geronimo Foxa, and some foreigners. They fixed on the 26th of November, 1565, for their undertaking, intending previously to endeavour to disable all the ships, in order that they might not be pursued. It pleased Heaven to r.e.t.a.r.d their scheme one day beyond the time fixed, and Juan Maria Venecianos repenting of his treason, discovered the conspiracy to Colonel Matheo del Sauz. The conspirators were immediately all apprehended, except Pablo Hernandez, who escaped into the country among the Indians. The whole underwent an examination, and Legaspi ordered that Francis Pierres Plin, and Jorge el Griego, should be hanged by break of day. It was his intention to have followed up the punishment of the conspirators, and he was proceeding to hang Maestre Andrea. The clergy, however, entreated him to pardon him, on account of his near relationship to Tupas, to which he a.s.sented. Pablo Hernandez, pressed by hunger, was compelled to deliver himself up, and as he was the ringleader, he was executed in the middle of the day by proclamation, and his head placed on a pole, as a warning to others. A pardon was granted to all the rest in the name of the King, and by this due mixture of severity and lenity, the minds of the General and the friars were tranquillized.

Famine, at this time, was likely to be the lot of the Spaniards, as the chiefs who had been sent to Panay had not appeared; and as six more paraos had been despatched for the same purpose, it was apprehended that they had entered into a combination with the first, to reduce the Spaniards by famine. In this situation, Captain Martin de Goite set sail, with the intention of taking by force, from the enemies of the Zebuans, as much provision as could be procured, and executed his plan with so much success, that by Christmas he sent to the camp a small vessel laden with borona (bread made of Indian corn and millet). This proved the most acceptable new year"s gift, which could have been offered under their circ.u.mstances; by degrees provisions became more plentiful, and the people began to revive, and forget the famine they had endured. The chiefs now made their appearance from Panay with the rice, but they a.s.signed little of it to the Spaniards, and the largest quant.i.ty to the Indians.

The General was well aware of the treachery of the Zebuans, of the little faith to be placed in them, and their doubtful intentions; but he dissembled his sentiments, as they were necessary to his views, and our camp was tolerably well supplied. By the expeditions, which Martin de Goite and others made round the adjacent islands, it was discovered that some of the towns courted the friendship of the Spaniards, while others planned their destruction by famine, for which purpose all the provisions were conveyed to the mountains. The Moors of Luzon, however, found it their interest to bring sufficient rice to Zebu, and Legaspi, who did not wish to see a recurrence of the same danger as had happened, sent the Colonel in search of provisions to the neighbouring islands; but here he encountered another inconvenience, in leaving too small a force for the defence of Zebu; the consequence of which was, that a plot was formed to seize a vessel belonging to the Moors of Luzon, at that time trading at Zebu, to murder all on board, and escape with the vessel to the Moluccas, where the Portuguese would willingly receive them. Juan Nunes de Carrion, and Miguel Gomez Cavecillas, were executed for this piece of treason, after due repentance of their villainy. Captain Martin de Goite, with the provisions he forwarded, at length sent information, that many nations were desirous of becoming va.s.sals of the King of Spain, and the Colonel soon after arrived with above one thousand fanegas of rice, after having stopt at the islands of Mindanao, Negros, and Panay, where he ransomed a Mexican Indian, who had been in the squadron of Villalobos, and had been taken prisoner. Captain Juan de la Jela, who had likewise gone out in search of provisions, had the good fortune to discover the ship San Geronimo, which he conducted to Zebu; a circ.u.mstance which filled every one with joy, mingled with regret, at the thoughts of the tragic scenes which had been acted on board that ship.

The Royal Audience of Mexico had despatched the ship San Geronimo from Acapulco to relieve those at Zebu, and to advertise them of the arrival of the Capitana at that port. They sent as captain of the ship Pedro Sanchez Pericon; as second in command, Juan Ortez de Mosquera, and as pilot the mulatto Lope Martin, who was sent for the express purpose of being punished by Legaspi, for having separated, intentionally, from the squadron in the patache San Lucas. Pericon and Mosquera had been, before the commencement of the voyage, inimical to each other, and in its progress their mutual antipathy was augmented. The pilot, Martin, dreading the idea of being confronted with Legaspi, entered into a plot with Mosquera, and they gained over to their party most of the crew, among whom was Philip de Ocampo, a brave man, but of the worst character. Thinking their strength sufficient, they commenced their operations by being insolent to the commander, and one night they killed a horse which he had brought in the galleon. The friends of Pericon conjured him to be on his guard, as they concluded that those who had begun by killing the horse, would end in murdering him, if he was not sufficiently vigilant. But Pericon"s confidence was too great, and he slighted the advice of his friends. The conspirators by this forbearance increasing every day in boldness, at last resolved to put in practice their diabolical design of murdering the commander, and getting possession of the vessel; accordingly one night, after having placed guards on those of the crew whom they could not confide in, Mosquera entered the captain"s bedroom, accompanied by two seamen, one of the name of Bartolome de Lara, and the other Morales, and ordered them to stab Captain Pericon and his son, a young man about twenty-five years of age, who had a sub-command in the ship. They effected their purpose, and threw the bodies overboard; and placing some chests on the deck for the accommodation of the people, Mosquera thus harangued them: "Gentlemen, let us recommend to Heaven the souls of Captain Pericon and his son; they came by their death for reasons which, when we arrive at Zebu, shall be given to General Legaspi; every thing shall remain unaltered, and I, as a good subject of his Majesty, will conduct the ship to that island."

Many days had not elapsed before Mosquera and the pilot quarrelled; it was a difficult task for the latter to reconcile himself to his situation, and put on the mask of friendship to the former. He whispered to Mosquera in confidence, that the people were much irritated at the murders which had been committed, and among other things, he proposed to tranquillize them, by putting in irons some person who had been concerned in the affair, and afterwards to discharge him, under the authority of a notarial process, drawn up for that purpose, declaring his innocence. This appearing a plausible measure enough, Mosquera, with this view, foolishly convened the ship"s company, and the pilot seized upon him, and put him in confinement. The day following he ordered breakfast, of which Mosquera partook in his irons, and when finished, he requested the pilot would set him at liberty, as there had been time sufficient allowed for the ceremony. The views of the mulatto, however, were very different; he ordered him to be hung at the yard-arm, without giving him time to confess, observing, that Divine Providence had ordered he should die without partaking the sacrament, as had been the case with the two whom he had murdered. The mulatto now remaining captain of the ship, Philip de Ocampo, who was his favourite, made a speech to his companions, telling them, "That Captain Lope Martin did not intend going to Zebu; that those who were desirous of accompanying him, should go to a part of the world where all might acquire great riches, but that those who were of a different opinion, should be set on sh.o.r.e on an island in the immediate neighbourhood of Zebu, from whence they might easily reach Legaspi." All were silent, and nothing was done till they arrived at the islands of Barbudos; when Lope Martin landing on one which was desolate, gave out that it was necessary to careen the ship there, but his real intention was to leave most of his companions on this island, exposed to famine.

He was not, however, able sufficiently to conceal his intentions. The Friar Capellan, a venerable priest, suspected him, and consulted with Juan de Vivero on some means of averting this blow. Rodrigo de Angle, the mate of the ship, a man of approved courage, determined to appeal to his Majesty, if it cost him his life, broke the matter to others, and eventually drew to his party Bartholome de Lara, by promising to make him captain of the ship, although he had no such intention. Rodrigo finding he had gained most of the crew on board to his side, weighed anchor, and hallooed to those on sh.o.r.e, that all the true and faithful va.s.sals of his Majesty might embark immediately, and that the ship belonged to the King. By this means all were received on board but Lope Martin and Philip de Ocampo, and about twenty-five others, among whom were some loyalists, who were unable to reach the ship in time.

Bartholome de Lara, disappointed in his expectations of being made captain of the ship, began to form a party, and was joined more from necessity than otherwise by Hernando de Morales, his accomplice in the murder of Pericon and his son; but the new captain contrived means to try and hang them, after which the crew remained free from further molestation, and they arrived at Zebu. The General Legaspi, to deter others, hanged the notary Juan de Zaldivar, for being accessory to the aforesaid murder. He rewarded Rodrigo del Angle, Garnica, and Juan Enriquez, with all the loyalists, and granted a pardon, in the name of the King, to all those who had acted any subordinate part in this transaction.

The Colonel, at this time, had gone to ratify a treaty of peace with some of the towns, and falling in with a small Portuguese galleon of superior force, which bore down upon his patache, he was compelled to escape as well as he could. About the same time, two Portuguese vessels having appeared off Zebu, Legaspi ordered them to be acknowledged as friends, and invited into the harbour, but they excused themselves, and prosecuted their route. These proved afterwards to be ships belonging to the squadron of Pereyra, which was coming against the Spaniards, but being dispersed by storms, they could not pursue their first intentions. The General fortified his camp, and entertaining no fears of the Portuguese, he despatched Martin de Goite on an amicable treaty with some adjacent towns, and to receive the tribute of those who had already submitted. He likewise sent the Colonel to Mindanao, for the purchase of cinnamon, to be shipped to New Spain. This expedition was unfortunate in the death of this great man, who was a severe loss to the Spaniards. He caught a fever, and being in great danger, he told Morones, his second in command, and to whom he entrusted the ship before he died, that he suspected an intention of mutiny among the crew; the object of which was, to go off with the patache, because they had not been allowed to purchase cinnamon for themselves, and which being the only valuable object for which the voyage was undertaken, belonged to the King, as being the first purchase made of that article. Legaspi paid him the usual funeral honours in Zebu, and punished those who were found to be concerned in this mutiny. He likewise named as his successor Martin de Goite. The General sent Morones to Caraga, and Pedro de Herrera to Leyte, for tar, for careening the ships. The Indians of this island are excellent porters and labourers, and our soldiers had such confidence in them, that leaving their arms, and relying on their friendship, they received the tar in an unguarded manner. This, however, in the end, cost them dear, as on a sudden they found themselves surrounded in an ambuscade, by eight or ten Indians to one Spaniard; and Matheo Sanchez Gaditano not being able to extricate them, the Indians murdered all but one Spaniard, who escaped to relate the news of this tragedy. Whilst this was pa.s.sing up the country, others came down to plunder the ship, who finding our people in unsuspecting security, possessed themselves of their arms, and destroyed every thing they could not take away.

On the 10th of June, 1567, there arrived at Zebu two Portuguese caracoas, with letters from Captain Pereyra to Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, in which he observed, that he supposed they were the Spaniards who had taken refuge in Zebu, in consequence of bad weather, and were unable to return to New Spain, as had happened to those of the other Spanish squadrons which had navigated those seas; and on this supposition he invited them to the Moluccas, where he promised to receive them with every degree of friendship, and furnish them with proper necessaries to prosecute their voyage.

Such were the contents of his letter on the occasion, but some invalid Spaniards who came with the messenger, affirmed that Pereyra had been despatched by the Viceroy of India to drive the Spaniards out of Zebu, and not being able last year to effect it, in consequence of the storms they had encountered, they had remained in Tidore with the intention of completing it this year. Our General, aware of the snare which Pereyra was laying for him, answered this specious letter with corresponding dissimulation, and that he had given notice to his court of the capture of these islands, and was in daily expectation of hearing from his sovereign. Surrounded by these interruptions and difficulties, the General sent to Acapulco the patache San Lucas, Captain Juan de la Isla, requesting such a.s.sistance as might prevent the threatened suspension of their intercourse with New Spain, and which appeared highly probable. The Augustine friars sent, on this occasion, Friar Pedro de Gamboa to solicit some additional aid for the conversion of these infidels, who had already begun to be baptized, and which, they urged, would securely establish the authority of the Spaniards in the Philippines, but the friar never arrived, having died on the voyage.

On the 20th of August, this year, Philip de Salcedo arrived with two ships, and accompanied by his brother Juan de Salcedo, who had been of great use in the first conquest of these islands. The General was rejoiced at the arrival of such considerable relief, at a period when he had reason to think Pereyra intended to attack Zebu. When Legaspi saw, however, that the Portuguese did not make their appearance as he expected, he despatched his grandson, Philip de Salcedo, to Acapulco, with directions to go by the route of the Ladrone Islands, where he was shipwrecked; but, all the people being saved, he built another vessel, and returned to Zebu in such happy time, that he made up for his disappointment, by the importance of his appearance, at the period of Pereyra"s arrival, on the 30th of September 1568, with a squadron of three galleons, two galeots, three fustas, and twenty smaller vessels. Every thing, however, on this occasion, indicated perfect amity; the Generals visited reciprocally, and held meetings, to ascertain whether these islands were in the line of demarcation of Spain, or not, with the view of avoiding hostilities. Pereyra, by an artful line of conduct, protracted these discussions, in order to gain time, if possible, by stratagem, to get possession of the port and of our camp, as he found it could not be effected by force. Disappointed, however, in his views, he returned on Christmas-eve to the Moluccas, having been dismissed with great civility by Legaspi.

CHAPTER VI.

ANNO DOM. 1569 to 1571.

Of the Conquest of Manila.

The supply of provisions having been very short, in consequence of the Portuguese, in some measure, blockading the port, the General, to guard against being exposed to the same danger a second time, determined to change his position, and establish himself in a more fertile country than that he then occupied. He ordered the camp to be immediately removed to the island of Panay: with this commission he charged his grandson, Philip de Salcedo, who was very cordially received by the natives, because he had formerly a.s.sisted them against their enemies, and enabled them to make many prisoners. Captain Luis de la Haya was ordered to go with his detachment, to the river Araut in the same island; Captain Andres de Ybarra to the island of Masbate; and the Colonel was ordered to remain in Zebu. In the interim the camp was established in Panay, and the patache San Lucas remained at Zebu, preparing to depart for New Spain. Juan de Salcedo ordered his brother Philip to Panay with another vessel, which conveyed the books and effects of his grandfather, all of which were lost in a storm; which loss, although he felt it severely, Legaspi bore with exemplary patience and fort.i.tude.

Philip de Salcedo having loaded the patache San Lucas, sailed from Zebu, and, in a few days after her departure, fell in with the San Juan, which had sailed from Acapulco, and was commanded by Captain Juan Lopez de Aguirre; Salcedo returned with her to Zebu, and, on the 10th of July, sailed a second time on his voyage. By the San Juan the Augustine fathers had sent Friar Herrera, having appointed him a provincial, or clerical head of a province, which was the first they had established in the Philippines. Their intention was by this appointment, to increase the importance of the religious orders, and induce higher respect from the new converts; the effect, accordingly, was the addition of many to the number, stimulated too, by the example of Tupas and his son: Legaspi stood G.o.dfather to Tupas, who was christened Philip, in compliment to the King of Spain; and his son was christened Charles, and had, as his G.o.dfather, Juan de Salcedo. The feasts which were held on the day these two new Christians were baptized, contributed, at the same time, to the conversion of many others. This was a measure of great expediency, although the duty of the fathers became necessarily so much more enlarged. It was determined that a friar, whose name was Juan Alba, should be sent to attempt the conversion of the isle of Masbate; and another, by the name of Alonzo Ximenes, to the river Araut, in the island of Panay, where he made many converts. Friar Martin de Rada remained in Zebu, and the rest of the clergy accompanied the General in the conquest of Manila.

The General Legaspi arrived at Panay, accompanied by the Colonel, who, however, immediately returned to his command at Zebu, together with his wife, who had just arrived from New Spain with Captain Juan Lopez de Aguirre, in the ship San Juan. Legaspi was received by the natives of Panay with every demonstration of joy, and they appeared more sincere in their professions than those of Zebu. He constructed, with all expedition, some works, to enable him to resist the attempts of the squadron of Pereyra, and check the proceedings of a swarm of pirates, which had issued from Jolo and Borneo in twenty vessels, called vireyes, and had captured a Spanish vessel, with the crew. The Colonel attacked these pirates with nine proas: he took four vireyes, and would have taken the whole, had not seven of his vessels been too much astern. Having forwarded the account of this engagement to the General, he was now at liberty to a.s.sist the inhabitants of Aclan, who had sustained considerable injury from the pirates of Mindoro. In the month of January, 1570, Juan de Salcedo sailed on this expedition with thirty Spaniards and many friendly Indians. He entered the town of Mamburao, and, having made himself master of it, compelled the inhabitants to ransom themselves with gold; after which he proceeded to the isle of Lucban, where the pirates of Mindoro had taken refuge, and had protected themselves by some indifferent works; he, with ease, forced their intrenchments, attacked them with fire-arms, and, as they were unable to resist this mode of warfare, they agreed to ransom themselves with gold, as the inhabitants of Mamburao had done. Salcedo divided the spoil among his soldiers and the Indians, and returned to Panay, to give an account of this expedition.

The General, who was determined above all things on the conquest of Manila, named the Colonel as commandant, and sent with him his grandson, Juan de Salcedo, with an hundred and twenty Spaniards, and many friendly Indians, to accomplish it. They sailed from Panay the beginning of May 1570. The Colonel went directly against Manila, but Juan de Salcedo turned aside to the country about the lake of Bombon, which is now called the Province of Batangas, to treat with the natives. He sent the usual peace-offerings, but they answered him with their arms. He engaged them, and would have succeeded, but received so severe a wound in his leg from an arrow, that he was compelled to abandon his enterprise, and follow the Colonel to Manila. The Colonel made terms with the Rajah, who was a good old man, and whom history calls Raxa Matanda, that is, the old Rajah; he had a nephew of the name of Raxa Soliman, who, likewise, made terms with the Colonel; but little dependence could be placed on him, as he evidently was no friend to the Spaniards, and had, as it was supposed, secreted provisions. He was accused, likewise, of exciting the Indians to murder the Spaniards, while on sh.o.r.e, which obliged our people to behave with great circ.u.mspection toward them. One day Raxa Soliman even ordered his men to fire upon our shipping, and, after having done us considerable damage, he embarked on board a large junk, and left the river, firing at us as he pa.s.sed [17]. The Colonel instantly landed, leaving Juan de Salcedo in charge of the ships, and, with eighty men, stormed the fort which the Indians had at the mouth of the river, and where at present stands the fort of Santiago. He ordered his soldiers to attack the guns, and they were so fortunate in their attack, as in their first onset to kill the princ.i.p.al artillery officer, who appeared to be an European, as he was seen to cross himself before he died [18]; the remainder, were by the vigour of the a.s.sault, compelled to fly towards the town, which they burnt in their retreat, that the Spaniards might not profit by their success. Among other things, a foundery for cannon was destroyed, and it was supposed they had thrown many pieces of artillery into the sea, as only twelve, and a few falconets (a piece so called), were found in the place. The old Rajah was not a party in this disturbance, as neither he nor any of his people were engaged; and his fidelity was proved, by his having displayed from his house a white flag, during the time the action lasted. The Colonel, fearing that if he remained longer, he should encounter the south-west monsoon, and be unable to return, retired immediately to Cavite, to do the needful repairs to his ships, and in two days sailed for Panay.

On the 23d of June of this year, Captain Juan de la Isla arrived with three vessels, in which came the Friar Perrera with two other religious, viz. Friar Diego Ordunez, and Friar Diego de Espinar, who came to labour in this new vineyard. Despatches were brought by them from his Majesty, by which Miguel Lopez de Legaspi was const.i.tuted President of the islands of the Ladrones, and he was recommended to settle the Philippines; at the same time his Majesty bestowed portions of lands, with their inhabitants, on all who might be engaged in the conquest. With a view to put these orders in execution, Legaspi first despatched from Panay, the same Captain Juan de la Isla, with two ships to Acapulco, and sailed for Zebu, where he ordered it to be proclaimed, that he intended to erect the town which had been built into a city, and to give every encouragement to increase the population, directing those who wished to settle in it to go before the notary, to be enrolled by five hundreds. On New Year"s day, 1571, he named two ordinary alcaldes, six regidores, a notary, and two alguazils, who immediately took the customary oath on entering their office, and he strictly enjoined them the discharge of their respective duties. He likewise directed that the town, which had till then been called San Miguel, should be named the City del Santissimo Nombre de Jesus, in memory of the discovery of the sacred child, as before related. He settled the manner, in which rewards should be distributed among the tributary Indians, who were in the neighbourhood of the city, and left them under the care of the treasurer, Guido de Labezares, in order that he might have the opportunity of finishing a stone fort, which he had ordered to be constructed. All these and many subordinate objects, being attained by the end of January, he returned to Panay, to attempt from thence the conquest of Manila.

Immediately after the President arrived at Panay, the Colonel, attended by all the officers and soldiers, joined him, leaving in Masbate the Padre Alba with six men, and in Dumangas Padre Ximenes, in charge of the new conquests. The Padre Herrera, with other religious, accompanied the General in his expedition against Manila, on which he sailed the 15th of April; and in the island of Lutaga he reviewed his force, and found they amounted to two hundred and eighty soldiers, consisting partly of his own people, of those of the Colonel, of Captains Andres de Ybarra, Luis de la Haya, and Juan de Salcedo. He pa.s.sed by the island of Mindoro, and settled the tribute which the natives were to pay to the King of Spain. Here he had the opportunity of saving a Chinese vessel called a Sampan, from foundering; and he received the crew, with that kindness and warmth of feeling, so natural to the Spaniards.

The Chinese acknowledged the kindness of the Spaniards, and formed a friendly connection with them. The President continued his voyage, and entered Cavite, where he waited the arrival of those who had fallen astern; meantime he treated with the natives of the place, and received them as va.s.sals of the King of Spain. Two days after he arrived, he entered with all his squadron into the river of Manila. The Indians, thinking the Spaniards had returned, to punish them for the resistance they had made to the Colonel, set fire to the town, and with their effects fled to Tondo. The President sent the Colonel to bring them to terms, who, arriving at their camp, gave them to understand, by means of an interpreter, that the Spaniards had not come with the intention of doing them any injury. On learning this, some began to quench the flames, and others went in search of the old Rajah; and Lacandola, the chief of Tondo, immediately went with others to wait on Legaspi. He received them with a smiling countenance, and told them that he came as a friend, provided they acknowledged the King of Spain, as their king and natural lord and master, who would receive them under his protection, and relieve their distresses. The princ.i.p.al motive, he said, which induced his Majesty to send him there, was to propagate the true worship of one all powerful G.o.d; that he had brought several sacred characters with him for that purpose, and shewing them Padre Herrera, said that he was the princ.i.p.al of those, who were to be their teachers. They promised to become va.s.sals of the King of Spain, and hear the law which they were to be taught; he hinted to them that he did not see Rajah Soliman with them: they replied, that he dared not appear after what had happened with the Colonel on the first expedition; but if he would pardon him, he would immediately appear, and promise obedience, as the rest had done. The General not only promised to pardon him, but sent him a message to that effect, without, however, being able to remove his apprehensions at that time.

But on the 18th of May, Rajah Soliman arrived, accompanied by his uncle Rajah Matanda and Lacandola, making many apologies for what had pa.s.sed. The General pardoned and received him as a va.s.sal of his Majesty, and as such he was registered by the notary, Hernando Riguel. Legaspi immediately commenced his arrangements for founding a new city, and directed the Indians to finish the fort they had begun in the mouth of the river. Behind this he erected a large building, which served as a palace, with a church and convent for the religious, and an hundred and twenty smaller houses for the remainder of the Spaniards, intending this city to be the seat of government, both spiritual and temporal, of the islands. The whole of this, the Indians engaged to accomplish with great despatch, but it was found necessary, to employ the Spaniards to a.s.sist them in it. A good understanding being thus established, between the natives of Manila and Tondo and the Spaniards, Manila was taken possession of on the day following, the 19th of May, 1571, when, in a temporary church, the feast of the blessed Virgin Mary was celebrated, who, from that circ.u.mstance, was named the patroness of the new city.

The peace which Rajah Soliman and Lacandola had made, was, on their part, by no means sincere, for the Indians of Macabebe and Hagonoy, appearing at the mouth of the harbour of Bancusay, with forty caracoas (an Indian vessel), proceeded to the house of Lacandola. These men jeered at and reproached the Indians, for submitting with such readiness, to such an insignificant number of Spaniards, promising, if they were disposed to shake off the yoke, that they should be a.s.sisted from Tondo and the neighbouring country, and not leave one Spaniard alive. The President, supposing those Indians who had arrived, had come to solicit peace, sent two Spaniards to a.s.sure them that they might present themselves to him without fear. The chief of the Indians, after listening to these amba.s.sadors, leaped on his feet, and drawing and flourishing his cimeter, he said, "The sun gave me life, and I must not be disgraced in the eyes of my women, who would detest me, if they thought I was capable, of being on friendly terms with the Spaniards." With this speech he quitted the house, without waiting to go down by the ladder, for, with great boldness, he leaped out of the window into his caracoa, calling out to the Spaniards, "I expect you in the bay of Bancusay." Legaspi determined upon punishing such conduct, and sent against him the Colonel Martin de Goite with eighty Spaniards, in some newly constructed small vessels. The Indian chief was true to his word, and waited for them where he had said, with his squadron. The battle began, and he fought with great valour; but, in a short time, being killed by a musket shot, the rest dismayed, fled with great precipitation; our people pursued, and made many prisoners, among whom were the son of Lacandola, and his nephew, by which his deceit and dissimulation were sufficiently manifest; the President, however, sent them home, without the punishment they merited for their treason. After this engagement, the natives became so much afraid of the Spaniards, that many chiefs came to Manila begging peace, and offering to become va.s.sals of the king of Spain. By this time, the works which had been ordered in Manila were considerably advanced, and, on the day of St. John the Baptist, the President, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, founded the city as the metropolis of the Philippine Islands, appointing two ordinary alcaldes, twelve regidores, an alguazil mayor, and a notary, who all took the customary oaths, to discharge the duties of their respective offices with justice. This ceremony took place while Philip II. was King of Spain, and Pius V. was in the fifth year of his pontificate, the first governor being the President, Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The public square was now marked out, with the situation of the convent of San Augustine, and the subordinate arrangements were left to the magistracy. Legaspi ordered the city to be called Manila, of which his Majesty approved, giving it a coat of arms. This city is placed in fourteen degrees and a half of north lat.i.tude, and is thought to be the antipodes of the river Saint Ann, in Brazil, which is in the same lat.i.tude in the opposite tropic of Capricorn.

CHAPTER VII.

ANNO DOMINI, 1571.

Of the Government of Miguel Lopez de Legaspi.

Manila being founded, and most of the towns of the surrounding district, in amity with the Spaniards, the Governor sent the Colonel to Pampanga, to reduce that province to the Spanish yoke, but he had no sooner arrived at the river Betis, on his way thither, than he was compelled to return, without being able to reduce either the town of Betis or that of Lubao; for it appeared that Rajah Soliman and Lacandola, who had gone with him to serve as interpreters between the Indians and him, had conducted themselves treacherously. This fully appeared by Lacandola leaving the Colonel, and returning to Manila without leave, for which the Governor ordered him to be put in irons, and, to increase his punishment, told his relations that he would not let him at liberty but at the Colonel"s request; even then he did not accede to it without confiscating all his artillery, consisting of fifteen pieces of cannon, large and small. About this time Rajah Matanda fell sick, and requesting to be baptized, a clergyman of the name of Juan de Vivero administered this sacrament to him by the name of Philip: he died of his disorder, and was buried with great solemnity. On the 17th of July, Don Diego Legaspi, a nephew of the Governor, arrived; he was sent by Captain Juan de Aguirre to the aid of his uncle, having a short time before come to Panay with two ships, which the Viceroy of Mexico had sent to these islands as a reinforcement. The Governor ordered the Colonel to proceed to Panay, and despatch these ships to Manila, and afterwards go to Zebu, and bring his family to the capital. Whilst the Colonel was executing this commission, Juan de Salcedo was sent to reduce the people of Cainta and Taytay, two small towns high up the river Pasig, which had refused to acknowledge the Spanish authority, and had strengthened their position by some fortifications covering their towns. He carried Cainta by a.s.sault, with the loss of only two killed and five wounded, but with great slaughter on the part of the Indians, upon hearing which, the inhabitants of Taytay immediately surrendered. He afterwards marched to a town on the borders of the lake Bay, and of the same name, and summoned the inhabitants, but they answered him with their arms in their hands. He had with him Padre Friar Alonso de Albarado, who had accompanied Ruy Lopez de Villalobos in his expedition; had returned a second time to Mexico; and again had accompanied the other five religious, of the order of San Augustine, to Manila. This venerable person the Colonel sent, to a.s.sure the Indians, that he did not wish to employ his arms against them, and that he had commissioned the Padre Friar Alonso, to accommodate matters, requesting them immediately to deliver up their town of Bay. This in the end was acceded to, and was followed, by the submission of many small towns, on the borders of the lake. Juan de Salcedo went further up the country behind them, and found the people of Mahayhay, fortified by nature so securely on a hill, that they could defend themselves against a great force, with no difficulty, by rolling down immense stones. Having, however, reconnoitred it, he perceived a path less rugged than the rest, and where they seemed more negligent. By this path he surmounted the difficulty, and appeared above them, when they were seized with such a panic, that they fled precipitately, without making any resistance. For two days more, Juan de Salcedo was detained in this part of the country, pa.s.sing through the villages, which, however, he found deserted, the inhabitants having taken refuge in the mountains. He in consequence returned to Bay, where he had left most of his people. It was understood, that in the country of the Camarines, there was a town called Paracale, where there were mines of gold. He sent back to Manila Padre Albarado, and some of the Spaniards; and having a few soldiers only, he encountered a great many difficulties, in undertaking the conquest of this town. Many days having elapsed, without hearing from them at Manila, the Governor despatched Major Antonio Hurtado in search of them, and he found Juan de Salcedo in Paracale, with all his people, very much weakened, in consequence of the hardships they had been exposed to, and the sickness with which they had been attacked. Salcedo returned with Hurtado to Manila, on which occasion there were great rejoicings, as he had been supposed dead, and the loss of a man so much loved and respected would have been severely felt.

About this time the Colonel returned from Zebu, having first subdued the province of Pampanga. The Governor now apportioned the conquered districts and towns, among the respective officers, who had so well earned that reward, reserving to his Majesty the usual tribute only. He directed, that the Indians should pay a moderate rent, to those new proprietors of land, and the Spaniards were enjoined, not to exact any thing above the rent so settled. In a little time it was discovered, that the Indians would not pay the tribute; and that the Spanish proprietors, had been guilty of many vexatious acts against them, which had produced revolts in various places. In Bohol, Panay, and in Marinduque, the Indians had killed several Spanish factors and soldiers. To prevent these disturbances from spreading, the Governor sent Captain Luis de la Haya, to examine into the matter, and to punish the aggressors. He executed his commission with such prudence, that, without exasperating the Indians, he chastised the murderers, and left the towns in complete subordination.

At the beginning of the year 1572, there arrived, with a great deal of rich merchandize, those Chinese whom the Spaniards had saved from shipwreck, in the island of Mindoro, together with many others of that nation, who brought damasks, satins, taffeties, silks, porcelain, and other things, with which the foundation of a lucrative commerce with Acapulco was laid. These Chinese, whom we call Sangleyes, from two Chinese words, hiang, lay, which signifies travelling merchants, continue to this day the commerce with Manila, and many have settled in these islands, where, however, they have frequently been troublesome, as will be seen in the sequel. About the time these merchants arrived, the Augustine friars intended to hold their second provincial chapter, and the first which had been celebrated at Manila; and at this it was determined, to send some of their order to China, to establish a religious intercourse between the two nations. The Governor agreed to this, and was desirous, at the same time, to send an emba.s.sy to the Emperor; but the Chinese would not agree to take it to China. The Friar Alvarado, however, who was the most desirous of the undertaking, began to study the language, that he might be able to convert and baptize the Chinese merchants, who seemed disposed to settle in Manila; this plan he had adopted in Tondo, where he had administered the sacrament to numbers. In this provincial chapter it was agreed, that Padre Herrera should be sent a second time to Mexico, in order to bring more clerical aid to this province; they likewise chose as provincial, the Padre Friar Martin de Rada, and elected a capitular of the convent of Manila; they established clergy in Zebu, Masbate, Otong, Mindoro, Tondo, Calumpit, and Lubao. Soon after this, convents were founded in the districts of Taal, Bay, and Pasig, and many visitations were made, by which it was ascertained, that the number of the clergy increased so much, that it became necessary, to separate the parish priests from the friars.

The greater part of this quarter of the island, being reduced to complete obedience, to the King of Spain, and nothing being known of the northern part of it, Juan de Salcedo offered to make the discovery, at his own risk. He collected men and ships, the Governor allowing him forty-five soldiers, with necessary ammunition. He sailed from Manila on the 20th of May, 1572; on the third day, he arrived at Cape Bolinao, in the province of Zambales, where he found a Chinese junk or sampan, and a party of Chinese, who had got possession of a chief and some Indians, with an intent to carry them to China. Juan de Salcedo re-took them from the Chinese, and gave them their liberty, which action so gratified the feelings of the natives, that they became immediately va.s.sals of the King of Spain, and solicited to be placed on the same footing, as the people of the other districts. Pa.s.sing from thence to Pangasinan, he coasted the whole of that province, and that of Ylocos, until he arrived at Cape Boxeador, examining all the ports, bays, and landing places, near which his squadron was able to approach, and it consisted of many, but very small vessels. He was desirous, of preserving a good understanding with the Indians, and most of the towns on the coast, received him in a very friendly manner, and supplied him with provisions, which he stood in need of; but on his entering the rivers and creeks, he found great resistance from the inhabitants of the districts bordering on them. He attacked them on several occasions, putting them to flight with great ease, and sent to them, desiring them to leave the mountains, with a promise of his friendship. Some, however, not relying on the promises of the Spaniards, could not divest themselves of their apprehensions, while others readily came down, submitted, and agreed to pay the tribute. In this manner he was proceeding, and had almost subdued these two large provinces [19], intending to pa.s.s on to Cagayan; but he was opposed by his own people, who became weary of the expedition. His second in command, Antonio Hurtado, proposed that he should go on, and prosecute his original plan, but Juan de Salcedo, although he desired it much, thought it better to accede to the representations of his soldiers, and they returned by the same route, confirming in their obedience the towns which had submitted. On his arrival at Bigan, the natives received him with so much cordiality, that he prudently determined on the step of founding there a Spanish city, for the purpose of controlling the neighbouring country.

Having, with this view, ordered the natives to cut sufficient timber to build a fort, and accommodations for those who chose to remain, he became desirous of executing the original project, which he had abandoned, of pa.s.sing on to Cagayan. He left in Bigan his second in command, with twenty-five soldiers, and, with the seventeen that remained, he commenced this arduous undertaking, departing in three vessels on the 24th of July. Having pa.s.sed Cape Boxeador, he entered a river where he found a mud village of salt-makers; he desired them to call their chiefs, as he wished to be on good terms with them, and after many messages they appeared with their Rajah, who was a very handsome man, and whiter than the rest of the Indians. Juan de Salcedo came up to him with open arms, intending to embrace him; but the barbarian, unaccustomed to such a mode of salutation, believing that he wanted to catch him, took to his heels and fled, and on no entreaty would he be prevailed on, to leave the mountains. Our people, therefore, hoisted their sails, and arrived at the river of Cagayan. They sailed up this river a considerable way, and found a populous district; but they dared not attempt any hostility against the inhabitants, as they were so few in number in comparison to the natives, and they resolved to return to Manila by that side of the island, in order completely to ascertain the whole extent of Luzon. They proceeded about one hundred leagues, without discovering any population, or any thing but a rocky sh.o.r.e. They coasted it until they arrived at a bay, which Juan de Salcedo thought had been named Amanto, having been there when he went to Paracale. In this, however, he was mistaken, but as that bay was very near, he arrived in a few days at it. Here he went on sh.o.r.e; and travelled on till he came to the towns on the lake, where he embarked on board a small boat with only four rowers. The boat was on the point of foundering during the pa.s.sage, and the Indians deserting her by swimming away, he would inevitably have been lost, had not a proa, with some friendly Indians, pa.s.sing by, immediately relieved him. Arriving at Manila, he received the melancholy intelligence of the death of his grandfather, on the 20th of August, 1572, accelerated much by the vexatious and multifarious duties of his office. He was interred in the church of the Augustines, with the magnificence due to his character and station.

By the death of Legaspi, the treasurer, Guido de Labezares became governor ad interim, by a decree of the Royal Audience of Mexico, and which decree was found among the papers of the deceased. A few days after Labezares had succeeded to the government, Manila suffered severely from a hurricane, which destroyed almost all the houses, these being built of canes, and drove back the two ships which had been sent to Acapulco, but which, after the storm subsided, sailed again for New Spain, carrying accounts of the death of Legaspi. The new Governor sent Colonel Martin de Goite, to reduce the revolted natives of Ylocos, which was done with little trouble, and he brought away the tribute of the king in gold, compelling them to ransom themselves, for a sum far exceeding that amount. This he was enabled so easily to do, by the exertions of Juan de Salcedo, who, at his own cost, had subdued nearly all this province, and who, as the Colonel represented, ought to be allowed to reap the fruits of his labours; but Guido de Labezares was prejudiced against him, and would not employ him until he was undeceived as to his merits. He then sent him to the conquest of the Camarines, which he effected with ease, and founded near the river of Vicol a Spanish city, calling it Santiago de Libon. He appointed as chief judge Captain Pedro de Chaves, with eighty soldiers. While Juan de Salcedo was making these conquests, the governor ad interim was exploring the whole of the Bisayas: he attempted to restrain within proper bounds the avarice of the factors, but it was without effect, as the moment he was gone they returned to their old practices. Meanwhile a ship from Acapulco arrived with three Augustine friars, men who were much required, not only for the purpose, of converting to the Christian religion, the natives of the conquered countries, but likewise to preserve the tranquillity of the different towns, and which could not be effected solely by force of arms.

When the Governor ad interim returned to Manila, he sent an emba.s.sy to the Rajah of Borneo, but without effect, as he had no wish to be on terms with the Spaniards. He likewise divided the province of Ylocos between the Colonel and Juan de Salcedo, who had been employed in that expedition. In the beginning of the year 1574, Juan de Salcedo sailed to take possession of his portion; he founded in the district of Bigan the city Fernandina, where he built a house for himself. While he was accomplishing this object, a large squadron of vessels pa.s.sed by, which had taken a galeot and twenty men he had sent in search of provisions; and presuming that their intention was to attack him, he began to fortify the town, but seeing they prosecuted their route, he took it for granted they were going against Manila; and having collected together all the Spaniards he had in Ylocos, he embarked for the capital to the a.s.sistance of the Governor. This was the famous expedition of Limahon, by which Manila was nearly lost, but a short time after its foundation.

Limahon was a pirate of such renown, that the Emperor of China had sent against him three different squadrons, and he was in fact so pressed on all sides by this force, that having captured a Chinese junk coming from Manila, who informed him of the new conquests by the Spaniards, he determined to sail for this country, and be crowned King of these islands, in order to be secure, by this means, from the Emperor"s attacks. He arrived at the island of Corregidor, which is in the mouth of the bay, the 29th of November 1574, with sixty-two junks, in which he brought one thousand five hundred women, two thousand soldiers, and a great many seamen, sufficient artillery, muskets, and swords. The Spaniards had no intimation of his arrival at Corregidor, and the same night his second in command, who was a j.a.panese of the name of Sioco, landed with six hundred men, with which he entered, and attempted to take possession of Manila. In the attempt to land his men he lost three boats, which were swamped by the surf; but he effected his object, without being at all discovered by our people. He first landed at Paranaque, supposing it to be Manila, but soon finding out his mistake, he began his march to it by the beach, his vessels following him, and at day-break he arrived at Manila, where he was discovered by the Indians. They made all haste to the Colonel, who lived close to the royal gate, where the college of St. Joseph now stands, and informed him, that there was an immense body of Moors of Borneo coming by the sea side. The Colonel, however, as he had no reason to conclude, that the Borneans considered themselves, in direct hostility with the Spaniards, gave no credit to it, till he saw the Chinese enter by the gate, close to his house. Three soldiers, who were placed as guards there, attempted to resist them, but they were soon overpowered by mult.i.tudes, and one only escaped, severely wounded.

The wife of the Colonel looking out of the window, thought they were Indians come against them, and called out, "Here the dogs come, we are all dead." The Portuguese interpreter, who accompanied Sioco, enraged at this reproachful epithet of the lady, ordered the house to be set on fire. The Colonel, who was ill, immediately on this got up, put on his armour, and unsheathing his sword, leapt out of the window in the midst of his enemies, who received him on their swords, and cut him to pieces. They killed the wife of a common soldier, whom they found in the house, and left for dead Dona Lucia Corral, the wife of the Colonel, but she afterwards recovered from her wounds. Sioco pursuing his march, encountered some Spaniards who were on their way to a.s.sist the Governor, and seeing that there were few opposed to him, he formed his men into a half moon, and charged the centre of the Spaniards. The engagement was long doubtful, when eight soldiers being killed, the rest must have shared their fate, had they not been joined by twenty more, under the command of Captain Alonso Velasquez, the aid-de-camp of General Amador de Arriaran, and Gaspar Ramirez, aid-de-camp of the Colonel, who charged the Chinese so furiously, that Sioco was obliged to retire to his boats and join Limahon, who had anch.o.r.ed in Cavite. Sioco justified his ill success in this action, by saying, that the people were tired by their long march along the beach, which excuse Limahon admitted, and determined on another a.s.sault on the third day. This affair having happened on St. Andrew"s day, the Spaniards attributed it to the intercession of that Saint, that they had not all fallen into the hands of the Chinese, and expressed their grat.i.tude, by choosing him patron of Manila, inst.i.tuting an annual solemn feast on the occasion. Limahon"s delay of the second attack, was the means of saving all, as it gave time to Juan de Salcedo, to join with his force from Ylocos. He arrived in the bay, in the night of the same day of St. Andrew, and understanding that Limahon was in Cavite, he did not attempt to enter there, but landed on the Pampanga side of the bay. The day following, in the evening, he met with two Indians, who had escaped from the engagement, and informed him of all that had happened; he immediately made sail, and entered Manila that night. When he was at the mouth of the river, he ordered the trumpets to be sounded, and placed a great number of lights about his ship, to induce the enemy to believe, the approach of considerable relief to the Spaniards, who saluted him in form, all of which caused great alarm to the Chinese. The Governor ad interim, was so pleased with the diligence of Juan de Salcedo, that he appointed him Colonel, in the room of Martin de Goite.

The same night, Limahon weighed anchor from Cavite, and pressed on to Manila, and Sioco disembarked the following morning, after having sworn by an oath to his General, that he would either die in the attempt, or that day be in possession of the house of the Governor. He directed his march to the fort, which our people had constructed of timber, f.a.ggots, and barrels of earth, and he divided his troops into three bodies. He ordered one to march down, through the princ.i.p.al street of the city, to the square, where he expected the Spaniards would sally out of the fort, and engage them; and in this expectation, he sent another body, by the side of the river round the fort, and the third, which he commanded himself, he led along the beach. The division which had been ordered down the princ.i.p.al street, arrived in the square, and in order to induce the Spaniards to sally from the fort, they set fire to the houses. Fortunately the Spaniards did not quit the fort, though they saw their houses burning, but contented themselves with playing their artillery upon the Chinese, doing a great deal of mischief. Sioco, finding that it was not possible, to draw the Spaniards from their fortifications, and having lost many of his men, ordered the division that had arrived at the square, to a.s.sault the fort, at the same time leading on his own. Such was the mult.i.tude of the Chinese, against so few on our part, that the palisade was forced, and they entered through a part, which Ensign Sancho Ortez defended, and in which he was killed, performing prodigies of valour. Immediately the Governor heard of this, he repaired to the fort, attended by the Colonel; they cut their way through the Chinese, and having entered it, repulsed the invaders with great loss. The Chinese, panic struck at this, retiring by degrees towards the sh.o.r.e, the Spaniards followed them close, making great slaughter among them; but, to our great misfortune, our people suddenly abandoned their advantage, at the sight of Limahon"s squadron, which had just entered the river, but had not been able hitherto, to take part in the action.

Limahon observing this, ordered his ships off, in order that his men might become desperate, on finding themselves deprived of all protection from him: the contrary effect, however, was produced by it, as they were seized with such a panic, that they could not face their enemies, but formed themselves on the sh.o.r.e, and received the fire of our artillery, which was discharged repeatedly upon them, determined rather to wait death with firmness, than return into the engagement. In this they would have persisted, had not Limahon arrived with four hundred fresh men. As all was not lost, he ordered some of his people to burn a ship and galley, which, with a few other small vessels, were drawn up on the beach, and which, when they had destroyed the houses, they had forgot to burn with the rest, and he made a false attack on the fort, in order to compel the Spaniards to sally out, to hinder the operation. The Colonel guessed his intention: he, however, sallied out with fifty men, against those only who were proceeding to pillage the city, and put them to flight precipitately. Limahon seeing that his plan had not succeeded, having lost many men, and finding that his princ.i.p.al captain, Sioco, had been killed, he embarked his troops, and, under favour of the night, returned to the river Paranaque, where he killed all the Indians, he found a.s.sembled in any hostile way, and, before day-break, he set sail, and did not bring to, until he came to the province of Pangasinan; where he entered into an amicable arrangement with the chief, forming an encampment, and fortifying it with a strong palisado on an inlet of the river Lingayen. The Governor was determined to follow him into the province, but he found it necessary first to restore the fortifications of the city, and likewise to quell a sedition of the Indians, who, on this occasion, shewed how little they could be depended upon.

The natives of Manila, whilst the Spaniards were engaging the Chinese, robbed their houses and maltreated their slaves; those of Tondo killed some Sachristans belonging to a convent, and they would have done the same with the clergy, but that they could not have concealed it. Those of the island of Mindoro, however, imprisoned the friars, and took them to the mountains, where they were not bold enough to murder them, till they saw how the action with Limahon would terminate, and how things would be adjusted. Rajah Soliman and Lacandola, the chief of Manila and Tondo, apprehensive that the Governor would punish them for this ill conduct, retired to Navotas, where they fomented a rebellion. In order to quell this the Colonel, accompanied by Friar Marin, set out immediately, and when Lacandola understood they had arrived, he sent to them to request the friar would repair to a station about three leagues distant, where all the chiefs were a.s.sembled, and where they were desirous of treating of a reconciliation with the Spaniards. The friar Marin determined to proceed to the station which they mentioned, and there he met all the chiefs, who received him with much joy, but they could not be persuaded to see the Colonel. Lacandola alone abandoned his fears, in consequence of the promise the friar had made him, and left Navotas with an intention to present himself, but he found that Juan de Salcedo had returned, and directed his way to his house. Salcedo encountered two ranks of armed men on the banks of the river, near the house of Lacandola; he boldly went up to them, and took away their lances and arrows; when, Lacandola arriving, he said, "What is the meaning of this? why are these men armed?" The Indian made many excuses, and promised to wait on the Governor the day following, in company with the friar Marin. The Governor admitted the excuses, and presented Lacandola with a silk mantle and a gold chain. Won over by this treatment, Rajah Soliman, in four days, presented himself to the Governor, and the sedition was thus terminated. Captain Rivera subdued the people of Mindoro with the same facility.

The Governor being relieved from the anxiety, which the restlessness of the Indians had occasioned, determined to follow Limahon to Pangasinan. He found, on mustering, that the soldiers in Manila amounted to two hundred, and about two hundred more were scattered through the provinces of Bisayas and Camarines; from among these he manned the squadron, with two hundred and fifty Spaniards, and he added one thousand five hundred friendly Indians. On the 22d of March 1575, the Colonel sailed with this armament to Pangasinan, and, on the 29th of the same month, in the night, arrived in the river Lingayen. The day following he sent Captain Pedro de Chaves to take possession of the ships belonging to the corsair, and Captain Gabriel de Rivera to reconnoitre his fortifications. Chaves executed his commission with ease, as the Chinese fled from their ships, the moment he boarded them. Rivera attacked the works, firing upon them, and making a dreadful carnage. Limahon, observing what pa.s.sed, ordered his men under cover of a grove of date trees, where they might defend themselves more easily. Captain Chaves sent a.s.sistance to Rivera, and a most sanguinary engagement commenced. Rivera at last routed the Chinese, compelling them to retire to their fort, which he would have scaled, but, finding the palisade too lofty, he had recourse to the expedient of ordering his men to rush in a body against it, formed as it was of date trees driven into the earth. This they did with such force, that they broke through, opened the gate, and entered the fort. The Chinese then retired within the second palisade, which was the quarter of Limahon. The Spaniards ought to have attacked the inner fort, before the Chinese had recovered from their panic; but their avarice prevailed, and they dispersed themselves through the different houses, which had been built within the first palisade, plundering them, without attempting any thing else. Limahon was not slow in taking advantage of this error of the Spaniards, and, attacking them with four hundred men, he drove them out of the works with great loss, thus paying dearly for the indulgence of their habits of plunder. Ashamed of this defeat, our people returned a second time to the a.s.sault, when they retook the first line of works, but being unable to force the inner one, they burnt the houses of the Chinese, and going on board their boats, they retired to where Pedro de Chaves was posted. Here, finding one of the junks unserviceable, she was set fire to, and a retreat of the whole body was made good, to the post where the Colonel was stationed, with the rest of the armament.

Juan de Salcedo, convinced of the difficulty of taking the fort by storm, and desirous of being as sparing as possible, of the lives of his Spaniards, considering the difficulties they had to encounter, determined on attempting to reduc

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