_Limahon doth send 400 souldiers before for to burne
the citie of Manilla, and they were resisted by other
men._
For all the contradiction of the winde this same night, the foure
hundred Chinos did put themselues within a league of the citie, vpon S.
Andrewes day, at eight of the clocke in the morning, whereas they left
their boates and went a land, and in great haste beganne to march
forwardes in battaile a raye deuided in two partes, with two hundred
hargabuses afore, and immediatly after them other two hundred pickemen:
and by reason that they were manie and the countrie verie plaine, they
were straightwayes discouered by some of the citie, who entered in with
a great noyse, crying, Arme, arme, arme, the enemies come! The which
aduice did little profite, for that there was none that would beleeue
them: but beleeued that it was some false larum doone by the people of
the countrie for to mocke them. But in conclusion the enemies were come
vnto the house of the generall of the fielde, who was called Martin de
Goyti, which was the first house in all the citie that wayes which the
enemies came. And before that the Spaniardes and souldiers that were
within the towne could bee fully perswaded the rumour to be true, the
enemies had set fire vpon his house, and slewe him and all that were
within, that none escaped but onely the goodwife of the house, whom they
left naked and verie sore wounded, beleeuing that she had beene dead:
but afterwards shee recouered and was healed of her woundes. In the
meane time that they were occupied in their first crueltie, they of the
citie were fully resolued of the trueth, although all of them, with this
successe unlooked for, were as people amased and from themselues; yet in
the end they sounded to armour, and did provide to saue their liues.
Some souldiers went foorth vppon the sandes, but in ill order as the
time did permitte, and slewe all the Chinos that they did meete, and
none escaped: which was the occasion that the rest did ioyne themselues
together, and put themselues in order to make some resistance against
their enemies, who with great furie entred into the citie, burning and
destroying all before them, and crying victorie.
[Sidenote: A good praise of others.]
This is the proper resistance of the Spaniardes when they doo finde
themselues in such like perilles: and this was doone with such great
courage, that it was sufficient to stay the furie of those which vnto
that time had the victorie: and to make them to retyre, although there
was great difference in number betwixt the one and the other.
The Chinos in retyring lost some of their souldiers, but vnto the
Spaniardes no great harme, and in this their defence did notable actes.
This being considered of the Chinos, and that their boates were farre
off, for that time would not giue them place to bring them any nearer,
they did resolue themselues to leaue assault in the state that it was
in, and put themselues in couert, and there to refresh themselues of the
trauaile past, and afterwarde to returne with their generall Captaine
Lymahon, to prosecute their intent, which they thought to bee
comprehended with great ease. So when they came vnto their boates, to
avoyde any danger that might happen, they embarked themselues and
returned vnto their fleete whereas they left them. And not long after
they were departed, they might see them rowe with great furie towardes
their shippes, and when they came vnto their captaine Limahon, they did
aduertise him in particular of all that had happened, and how that by
reason of the contrarie winde, they could not come thether in time as he
had commanded them, and according vnto their desire, which was the
occasion that they could not bring to passe their pretence, and that by
reason of his absence they had referred it till a better occasion did
serue. Their captaine did comfort them, and gaue them great thankes,
for that which they had done, promising them in short time to bring to
effect their euill intent; and straightway commanded to weigh anker, and
to enter into a port called Cabile, which is but two leagues from the
citie of Manilla. Thither they of the citie might plainely see them to
enter.