Sire:
By way of Nueva España this Audiencia has informed your Majesty of
occurrences up to that time; and although this letter will be very
uncertain, as it must go by way of Portuguese India, it has seemed
best to write it, giving an account of what has happened since,
as it is so important.
By the last letter of this Audiencia, dated on the fifth of July of
this year, we gave your Majesty an account of three mandarins from
the kingdom of China who had come to this city, and the innovation
which they had instituted, on account of which the governor and
captain-general considered the plan of fortifying this city, and
providing, in case anything should happen, the supplies necessary
and suitable for its defense and safety. This caused some disturbance
among the Chinese, who began to confer among themselves, in secret,
concerning the means of insurrection. Although great care was taken by
this Audiencia and the governor to keep them quiet, and to relieve them
of the fear which they were said to have on account of the aforesaid
precautions, it was not sufficient, and following their resolve,
on the night of the last St. Francis' day, at about eleven o'clock,
they revolted. They chose for their leader a Christian Sangley named
Joan Untae, who, according to the investigations made in regard to him
by this Audiencia, appears to have revolted in the name of one Joan
Baptista, governor of the Chinese. On him and the others exemplary
justice has been rigorously visited. The Chinese gathered on the other
side of the river of this city to the number of ten or twelve thousand,
many other people remaining in their Parian and fortifying themselves
as well as they could. On this night they burned several houses,
and the orchard of a citizen of this city named Captain Estevan de
Marquina, with whom they commenced, killing him and his wife and four
children and several servants. From here they went to a village called
Quiapo, on the other side of the river, which they burned, killing
several Indian children and women. The governor and captain-general
noticing this, and knowing what had happened on the preceding days
when there had been considerable disturbances, notified Don Luis
Dasmariñas, formerly governor of these islands, who lived in a place
called Minondog, sending him some troops so that he might keep watch of
the enemy. On the next morning Don Luis was reënforced by a number of
people picked from the citizens of this city, and with these he went
to meet the enemy in the place where they were located, which was
very near the village of Tondo. The Spaniards went out from there,
and having fought with them, as it was a country where there were
many thickets and heavy woods, and which was mountainous, the enemy
surrounded them with such a number of men that they could not retreat;
and at last Don Luis was killed, with more than a hundred Spaniards.
Later, the next Monday, the enemy met, and after their custom drew
lots, as usual in war; and finding these in their favor and learning
from them, as they say, that they would take this city, they decided
to go on to the Parian, and united with the people who remained
there. With great force and impetuosity they attacked this city, in
several parts of the wall, with many contrivances which they brought
along to assault it. Those inside defended themselves well, killing
many of the Chinese and doing all they could in our defense. The
Spaniards succeeded in setting fire to the Parian, obliging them to
retreat to a stone chapel, the erection of which had been begun,
twenty paces from the wall, named Avocacion de Nuestra Señora de
la Candelaria, where our men made a sortie to meet them and caused
them great loss. When the Chinese saw that they could not maintain
themselves there, they divided into three bands and went inland,
doing much damage. An attempt was made to reach them still, for
which purpose one of the old captains of this city, called Don Luis
de Velasco, was sent with a good force Of soldiers. He attacked them
one morning at dawn and killed more than three hundred. On the same
day, when he returned with the intention of doing them more damage,
he went so far into the enemy's country that they killed him there
with four or five other soldiers and two Franciscan friars. The
enemy placed and fortified themselves in a very strong place called
San Pablo de los Montes, about fifteen leguas from this city, more
or less. They sent to meet him there the captain and sargento-mayor
of this camp, Christoval de Axqueta. He, with a hundred Spaniards,
a number of native Indians, and some Japanese whom he took with him,
having located them and had a few engagements with them, invested and
took their fort, killing many of them. Those who could escape fled,
and all those who had remained were overcome and killed. Thence he went
on to the other army which was situated in a place called Vatangas,
about six leguas from the first. There our men used their utmost
efforts to overcome them. Finally, both on account of the laudable
efforts of the captain, as he is one of the best soldiers of this camp,
being a veteran and a good warrior, and likewise by the good behavior
of the soldiers and the help of the natives, they killed all the enemy
without losing a man, which was a very fortunate ending. This was the
end of this incident, but it has caused much anxiety as to what may
be expected from China. On this account provision is being made and
everything necessary is being put to rights and the fortifications
are being repaired. The governor and captain-general is aiding with
great pains and diligence, and he will give a longer account to your
Majesty of this incident, to which account we refer you.
The citizens of these islands have been very ready on this occasion
in lending aid, as have likewise the natives of this district,
particularly those of the provinces of Panpanga, Laguna, and Bulacan.
Father Fray Diego Guebara, prior of the Augustinian convent of this
city, is going [to Spain] on the affairs of his province, by which he
was chosen and elected for that purpose, as he is a religious of much
virtue, learning, and most Christian life, for which reason he was sent
to establish the order in Xapon. He did so very satisfactorily. From
him your Majesty, if you be so pleased, may order information on the
affairs of this country, of which he will give a full account, as he
is well informed in all things. There is nothing else which we can
report to your Majesty. May our Lord protect your very Catholic person
according to the needs of Christendom. Manila, December 12, 1603.
_Don Pedro de Acuña_