_The gouernour of Manilla purposeth himselfe to abide
the assault of the Chinos, to whom they gaue the
repulse: then Limahon returned and planted himselfe
vppon the plaine nigh the riuer Pagansinan._
At this time, by the order of his majestie, was elected for gouernour of
these Ilandes Philippinas, Guido de Labacares, after the death of Miguel
Lopez de Legaspi, who understanding the great fleete and power of
Lymahon the rover, and the small resistance and defence that was in the
citie of Manilla, with as much speede as was possible he did call
together all their captaynes and dwellers therein: and with a generall
consent they did determine to make some defence for to resist them as
well as they could (for the time that the enemie did remaine in the port
aforesaide): for to the contrarie the Spaniardes should loose great
credite, if that they should forsake and leaue the towne, so long as
their liues did indure. For in no other place in all the ilandes there
about, they could haue any securitie. With this determination they put
this worke in execution, and spared no person, of what qualitie and
degree so euer he was, but that his hande was to helpe all that was
possible, the which indured two dayes and two nightes, for so long the
rouer kept his shippes and came not abrode: for these woorthie
souldiers vnderstoode, that remayning with their liues their labour and
trauaile would soone be eased.
In which time of their continuall labour, they made a fort with pipes
and bordes filled with sande and other necessaries thereto belonging,
such as the time would permit them: they put in carriages foure
excellent peeces of artilerie that were in the citie. All the which
being put in order, they gathered together all the people of the citie
into that little fort, which they made by the prouidence of God our
Lorde, as you may beleeue, for that it was not his pleasure that so many
soules as were in those ilands, baptised and sealed with the light and
knowledge of his holy faith, should returne againe to be ouercome with
the deuill: out of whose power hee brought them by his infinite goodness
and mercie: neither would hee that the friendship should be lost that
these ilands had with the mightie kingdome of China. By which meanes we
may coniecture that the diuine power had ordained the remedie of
saluation for all that countrie. The night before the enemie did giue
assault vnto the citie, came thether the captayne John de Salzedo,
lieutenant vnto the gouernour of the townes of Fernandina, who, as
aforesayde, came with purpose to ayde and helpe the Spaniardes that were
then in Manilla. Whose comming, without all doubt, with his companions,
was the principall remedie, as well vnto the citie, as vnto all those
that were within it: for considering that they were but fewe, and the
great paines they tooke in making the last resistance, and the labor and
trauaile they had in the ordayning of the fort for their defence, with
other necessaries, against that which was to come, ioyning therewith the
feare that was amongst them of the assalt past: surely they had neede of
such a succour as this was: and surely by the opinion of all men, it was
a myracle of God, doone to bring them thether. So with the comming of
this captaine with his people, they all recouered newe courage, with
great hope valiantly to resist their enemies: for the which incontinent
they did put all thinges in good order, for that the rouer the morning
following, before the breake of the day (which was the second day after
hee gaue the first assalt), was with all his fleete right against the
port, and did put a lande sixe hundreth souldiers, who at that instant
did set vppon the citie, the which at their pleasure they did sacke and
burne (for that it was left alone without people, as aforesayde by the
order and commaundement of the gouernour, which for their more securitie
were retyred into the fort).
So hauing fired the citie, they did assalt the fort with great crueltie,
as men fleshed with the last slaughter, thinking that their resistance
was but small. But it fell not out as they did beleeue, for that all
those that were within were of so valiant courage, that who so euer of
their enemies that were so bolde as to enter into their fort, did paye
for their boldnesse with the losse of their liues. Which being seene by
the Chinos they did retire, hauing continued in the fight almost all the
day, with the losse of two hundreth men, that were slaine in the assalt,
and many other hurt; and of the Spaniardes were slaine but onely two,
the one was the Ancient bearer, called Samho[3] Hortiz, and the other
was the bayliefe of the citie, called Francisco de Leon. All which being
considered by Lymahon the rouer, who being politike and wise, and saw
that it was losse of time and men, to goe forwardes with his pretence
against the valiauntnesse of the Spaniardes (which was cleane contrarie
vnto that which had proued vnto that day), he thought it the best way to
embarke himselfe and to set sayle, and goe vnto the porte of Cabite from
whence he came. But first hee gathered together all his dead people, and
after did burie them at the ilande aforesaid, where as he stayed two
dayes for the same purpose.
[3] Misspelt for Sancho.
That being doone, he straightwayes departed from thence and returned the
same way that he came, till he ariued in a mightie riuer, fortie leagues
from the citie of Manilla, that is called Pangasinan, the which place
or soyle did like him verie well, and where he thought he might be sure
from them, who by the commaundement of the king went for to seeke him.
There hee determined to remayne, and to make him selfe lorde ouer all
that countrie, the which hee did with little trauaile, and built
himselfe a fort one league within the ryuer, where as he remayned
certayne dayes, receauing tribute of the inhabitants there abouts, as
though he were their true and naturall lorde: and at times went foorth
with his ships, robbing and spoyling all that he met vpon the coast. And
spred abroade that hee had taken to him selfe the Ilandes Philippinas,
and howe that all the Spaniardes that were in them, were eyther slaine
or fledde away: wherewith hee put all cities and townes bordering there
aboutes in great feare, and also how that he had setled himselfe upon
this mightie riuer Pangasinan, whereas they did receiue him for their
lord, and so they did obey him, and paide him tribute.