In proportion to the satisfaction which the news of this victory
caused in Manila was the resentment of the Sangleys when they heard
of the death of their comrades. Eager for revenge, those on the lands
of Sagar [56] rose in arms, and hurried that establishment; and then
they summoned [to join them] the Chinese who were scattered among
the other estates, as far as Manila. A large number of them arrived
at daybreak on Tuesday, November 29, at the residence of Meyhaligue,
to which they set fire. At the same time when we heard of this new
enemy, we learned of the arrival of Sargento-mayor Don Juan de Arceo,
victorious, with all his men; and orders were immediately given to
him that, without entering Manila, he should proceed to Santa Cruz,
to occupy that post and check any commotions among the Sangleys who
were there or those of the Parian--preventing them from joining and
uniting their forces by way of the river.
In order to be ready for everything, the governor also went to Santa
Cruz with Master-of-camp Don Lorenzo de Olaso, on the possibility that
the enemy (who were running, not marching) would attempt an entrance
by way of Santa Cruz--as they actually did, not having had warning of
the arrival of our troops, or knowing how ready the city was to resist
them without the soldiers. The Chinese at Santa Cruz who were friendly
were told that they might go down the river, with their vessels, to
the shelter and protection of the fort; and those who were not were
told to do as they pleased, so that they might be thoroughly aware how
little importance was attached to their revolt. Many others went on
board their boats, to the number of some two hundred; professing to be
loyal, they asked permission to go out and fight their own countrymen,
in order to drive them back. Those who had charge of them had strong
suspicions of their undertaking and intentions, but the governor gave
his consent; and in his very sight those Chinese approached and joined
the traitors, and began with them to take possession of Santa Cruz--now
declared enemies to us, although they had a little while before been
pretended friends. Half the street they held as their own, the careful
arrangements of the governor giving them all this space so that our men
might manage their guns more safely. The Spaniards began to fire these
so skilfully, and to oppose the enemy so valiantly that, many of the
Chinese being killed, they found themselves compelled by the force
of our resistance to turn and run, displaying no little swiftness
in their flight. The governor left their punishment to General Don
Juan de Esquerra and his brother, Admiral Don Francisco--the first
with some horsemen, the second with his infantry company and some
other footmen, who intercepted the enemy on the rear--at the same
time ordering the master-of-camp to fortify himself in the church of
Santa Cruz, planting in it some strong artillery, so that he might
be well prepared for resisting the insurgents, and for checking
the designs, suspected although not manifest, of the Chinese in the
Parian. Immediately all that company [of infantry] fell apart, so as
to give room for the free handling of the cannon; and, the village of
Santa Cruz being set afire, the Spaniards and Indians pillaged it. [57]
In it were the troops from Manila; and when they reached the lands of
Meyhaligue the horsemen, infantry, and Japanese attacked the Sangleys;
the latter fighting with barbarous desperation, were aided by the
great number of their men in stations and ambuscades. They killed
some of our men, among these Captain Agustin Tenorio, Captain Juan
Martin[ez] de Avendano, Adjutant Cristobal de Saldado, and Alferez
Pedro de Soria; and others were wounded. Thirteen [58] Japanese
were killed, who could not be relieved [in time] by the valor of our
horsemen--which, although great on all occasions, in this one even
surpassed itself. Those who died sold their lives dearly, and those
who survived risked their lives nobly. The danger was alike for all,
and their courage equal; but their fate was not the same. Finally,
those who remained alive thought themselves fortunate that they could
retreat, considering the great number of those who attacked them,
the exhausted condition of their horses, little used to such raids,
and the advantage of position which the insurgents had over them. The
latter, although they saw many of their men stretched on the field,
held that loss as gain--since they were so numerous, and constantly
saw more men joining them--on account of the decrease of the Spaniards'
number by death, of which they made haughty boasts, cherishing hopes of
greater successes. The governor commanded that the troops and artillery
that were in Santa Cruz should that night be withdrawn to the city,
in order not to leave Manila in danger from a sudden insurrection
in the Parian, which was momently feared; also to leave the enemy
in perplexity--having seen that fortification by day, and not being
aware of the [Spanish] retreat so that they might not dare to approach
the river, or attempt to pass it, in the night. He commanded that the
bridge over it should be removed, and the boats that were there broken
up, so that the Chinese [of Santa Cruz and the Parian] might not cross
to each other; at the same time he gave orders that, if there should be
any tumult in the Parian, it should be demolished by the artillery on
the city walls. The whole city remained in suspense and uncertainty,
which was greatly increased by seeing how numerous grew the forces
of the insurgents. These, made arrogant by their recent exploit,
roamed through all the [surrounding] districts, nothing escaping their
cruelty. Several times they attacked the church and convent of Tondo,
[59] which was fortified; but our people in it were prepared for them,
so that, having lost many men, they saw themselves obliged to desist
for the time from their intention. They undertook to make themselves
masters of the church at Binondo, [60] but with the same result;
for the Sangley mestizos who were in the church, desirous of giving
proof of their loyalty, resisted the enemy, who accordingly regarded
their attempt as impracticable, or [at least] exceedingly difficult.