It is a plain Case, that the coming of these Mandarines must raise a Jealousy, Jealousy of the Chineses. and make it be concluded, that they came upon another Design, than what they declar’d. The Chineses are sharp and mistrustful, and it was not to be believ’d, that their King should send them on that Errand, nor the Fiction likely to be credited by the Spaniards. At the same Time, eight Chinese Ships arriv’d at Manila with Merchandize, and declar’d, That the Mandarines come as Spies, because the King of China intended to break off all Trade with the Spaniards, and send over a mighty Fleet of Ships that could carry an hundred Thousand fighting Men, to possess himself of that Place, and that this Expedition would be some time that Year. The Governour redoubled his Care for the Security of the City, and order’d the Mandarines to be well treated, but not to be suffer’d to go out of the City, nor to administer Justice among the Sangleys, or Chineses, as they had began to do, which they seem’d to resent. Then he sent them Word, that they must dispatch their Business, and return speedily to China. All this was done, without any Signs of Jealousy shown by the Spaniards, or that they saw into their private Designs.
The Mandarines visited the Governour again, and then he was more Second Visit of the Mandarines, and the Governour’s Answers. plain; and making something of a Jest of their Coming, said to them, That he wonder’d their King should give Credit to the Chinese they brought Prisoner; or if it had been true that any such Gold were in the Philippine Islands, that he should think the Spaniards would suffer it to be carry’d away, the Country belonging, as it did, to the King of Spain. The Mandarines answer’d they believ’d as much; but that their King had sent them, and they were oblig’d to come, and to carry him an Answer. That having done their Part, according to their Duty, they would return. The Governour being willing to make short Work of it, sent the Mandarines, with their Prisoner and Servants to the Port of Cabite, which is two Leagues from the City. There they were receiv’d with the Noise of our Cannon, purposely fir’d at their Landing, which they admir’d, and did not conceal their Surprise and Fear. When landed they ask’d the Prisoner, The Chinese Prisoner prov’d a Cheat. whether that was the Island he had told the King of: He, nothing daunted, answer’d, It was. They reply’d, Then where is the Gold? All that is in it, rejoyn’d he, is Gold, and I will make it good. The same Answer he made to several other Questions put to him; and all was writ down in the Presence of some Spanish Commanders, and trusty Naguatatoes, or Interpreters. To conclude, the Mandarines order’d a Basket made of Palm-Tree Leaves to be fill’d with that Earth, to carry it to the King of China; and after dining and resting, return’d to Manila. The Naguatatoes or Interpreters, declar’d, That the Mandarines pressing the Prisoner to answer directly to the Purpose, he told them, That the meaning of what he said to the King was, that there was abundance of Gold, and other Wealth in the He explains himself. Possession of the Spaniards and Natives of the Philippine Islands; and if he would furnish him with a Fleet well mann’d, he having been at Luzon, and knowing the Country, would undertake to make himself Master of it, and return to China with the Ships laden with Gold. This, with what the Chineses had said before, seem’d more likely than the Invention of the Mandarines.
Don F. Michael de Benavides, then Archbishop Elect of Manila, who understood the Chinese Language, was of this Opinion. He had been in their Country, was acquainted with the Subtilties of the Sangleyes, and suffer’d their Torments and Cruelties. It was presently Judg’d, that the Mandarines came under that Colour to view the Country, and to lay the Foundation of their Insurrection and Mutiny there. These certain Judgments are grounded on the Irrational Disposition of the Sangleyes, or Chineses, which, not to mention other Proofs, will sufficiently appear, by some few Part of a Letter concerning the Chineses.Periods of the Long Letter Ferdinand de los Rios, of whom we have spoken before, writ to Manila, from the Port of Pinar in Canton, where he was upon the Service of the Church, and of his King. For these Infidels, says he, have the Light of Nature more clouded than any other People in the World, and therefore there is need of Angels, and not Men, to deal with them. For the better conceiving what a sort of Country ’tis we are in, I shall only say, that this is the true Kingdom of the Devil, and where he may be said to govern with absolute Power. Every Sangley, or Chinese, seems to be possess’d by him; for there is no piece of Malice, or Fraud, but what they attempt. The Government, tho’ outwardly it appears good, as to Order and Method, for its Security; yet when you once have Experience of its Practice, you will find it is all a Contrivance of the Devil. Tho’ they do not here publickly rob, or plunder Strangers, they do it another worse Way, &c.
Chineses design the Conquest of the Philippines. This Jealousy conceiv’d against the Sangleyes, who, once for all, are the Chineses so call’d by the Spaniards at Manila, was verify’d; for it was afterwards known, that the Captain of the King of China’s Guards had begg’d of him the Conquest of the Philippine Islands, at the Perswasion of that Chinese they brought Prisoner. The Governour treated the Mandarines civilly, and mistrusted their Designs, keeping a watchfull Eye over them. However there wanted not some-body that ask’d them, what they thought of that Fellow’s Invention, since they had seen that the Place he mention’d was so far from having any Gold, that there were not the least Tokens of any such Thing to be found in it; and since it was so, they ought to make him give it under his Hand, that he had told his King a Lye. One of the Mandarines bid him do so, and he taking the Pen form’d The Prisoners Declaration. three Characters, which, explain’d in our Tongue, signify’d, If the King pleases, it is Gold; and if not, it is Sand. Being press’d farther, he declared, That he had inform’d his King that Gold was produc’d there to incline his Majesty to entrust him with a good Fleet, wherewith he might take Revenge of the Christian Sangleyes, who had done him many Wrongs. Little Notice was taken of all this, and tho’ the Authority of the Mandarines seem’d to corroborate it, all was look’d upon as Folly, for none believ’d that they design’d to carry on a War out of their Country. The Mandarines return’d Home, having, as is believ’d, communicated their Project to the Sangleyes that were settled there, who at Manila, and in the other Islands, were above 30000.
Chineses take Aynan by Treachery. The same was practis’d by the Chinese King in the Island of Aynao, or Aynan, a most fruitful Country, and near to his Kingdom, where the Chineses crept in under Colour of Trade, as they did at Manila, and possess’d themselves of it to this Day. This Island has such a plentiful Pearl Fishery, that in the Year 1600 the King caus’d 1500 Arrobas, that is, 375 Hundred Weight of them to be taken up. This will not seem incredible to such as know, that not long before, in four Months Time, he gather’d 1700 Monstrous Quantity of Pearls. Vessels that row’d, for this Fishery, every one being oblig’d to take a Pico, that is, five Arrobas, or Quarters of an Hundred, to gather a sufficient Quantity of Pearls to rebuil’d a Royal Apartment that had been pull’d down in that King’s Palace. He built it again, covering the Walls and Roofs with Clusters of Pearls, and Birds, Beasts, Fruits, and Flowers, all made of that precious Substance, set on Plates of Gold. The Truth of this Fact appears by an Authentick Writing, which gives an Account of it; for being likely to be judg’d Fabulous, it was requisite to authorize the Relation.
Precautions taken at Manila. The Governour did not altogether look upon the Design of the Mandarines as a Piece of Vanity and Folly, tho’ he conceal’d his Thoughts; for he made some Preparations, and among the rest hasten’d the repairing of the Walls of the City; which having suffer’d much by the Fire, when the Arms were also lost, he made up that Defect the best he could, and the Sangleyes were assisting in it. It is to be observ’d, that those People have a separate Government among themselves, in the Philippine Islands.
At the Time that Don Pedro, the Governour, was most intent upon the War against the Molucco Islands, there happen’d such an Accident at Manila, as Encan a Chinese of great Subtilty. might not only have diverted it, but utterly destroy’d the whole Province. A Man was then living, who stay’d at Manila, when the great Pyrate Limaon, of whose Life and Actions there are Printed Relations, came to Manila. He was then an Idolater, and, as was reported, serv’d the Pyrate in a leud Capacity. His Name was Encan, born at Semygua, in the Province of Chincheo; and was baptiz’d under the Government of Santiago de Vera, who gave him his Surname, and he was call’d Baptist de Vera. He prov’d a subtile Dealer, and successfully Active, by which Means, following Trade, he gather’d immense Wealth, and was Great with the Governours of the Philippines. Through his Interposition, the Sangleyes propos’d to Don Pedro, that he should allow them to repair a Parapet of the Wall, which was finishing, at their own Expence; for that they, as a Part of the Publick, would do his Majesty that Piece of Service; and every one of them offer’d four Royals, that is, two Shillings, towards the Work. This Piece of Service, and the Favour of the Citizens, Encan had purchas’d by good Turns, made the Suspicion conceiv’d of their Conspiracy vanish, or at least be little regarded.
His crafty Practices. He was respected by the Spaniards, and belov’d by the Sangleyes, had been their Governour several Times, and had many Godsons, and other Dependants. At this Time he cunningly kept within the City, to secure Things by his Presence; but from thence he stirr’d up the People, and laid his Design, by Means of his Confidents. He thought fit to know what Number of People he should find to put it in Execution, and that he might muster them in private, order’d that every one of his Country-Men should bring him a Needle; pretending he had Occasion for them for some Work. The Sangleyes, either guessing at the End for which these Needles were gather’d, or else ignorantly obey’d Encan. The Needles being put into a little Box, the Number of them was so great, that it encourag’d him to undertake a far different Work than he had propos’d.
The Governour still forwarded the Work of the Walls; rais’d Men; and directed the Justices to furnish themselves with Provisions, and Arms, to relieve the City. Near the Parian, which is the Quarters of the Chineses, Don Pedro strengthens himself. there was another Ward, inhabited by Japoneses, who are Enemies to the Sangleyes, with whom they are continually at War in their own Country. The Governour summon’d the Heads of them, and artfully div’d into their Inclinations, to discover, what Use he might make of them upon Occasion, and whether they would assist him against the Chineses, in Case Japoneses promise to assist the Spaniards, and alarm the Chineses. they came to a War. The Japoneses, proud of the Confidence he repos’d in them, and of an Opportunity of serving against their Enemy, answer’d, they were ready to dye with the Spaniards. This discreet Precaution occasion’d some Harm, for the Japoneses revealing the Secret, or adding some Circumstances in the Relation, it was given out, that Don Pedro, with their Assistance, intended to cut off the Sangleyes; and some of the Japoneses told them as much, that they might fly, and reward them for the Intelligence. Many of them had Thoughts of absconding in the Mountains, the Rest were frighted, and those who intended to revolt, found an Opportunity to perswade the others to joyn with them, and encourag’d the unsettled with fair Promises. In short, most of them consented to the Rebellion, and appointed S. Francis’s Day, when the Christians were all at Church, Conspiracy of the Chineses. celebrating that Festival, for the Time of rising. Others were for having it done at Night, when 25000 of them were to break in and murder our Men.
Notwithstanding their Secrecy some Discovery was made. John de Talavera, Discovery of it. Curate of the Village of Quiapo, inform’d the Arch-Bishop, that an Indian Woman, with whom a Sangley, or Chinese, was in Love, had discover’d to him the Plot laid for S. Francis’s Day. It was also reported, that a Woman-Black had said, there would be a great Slaughter, and another Conflagration, like the former, on S. Francis’s Night. These and other Advices were presently made known to the Governour and Council. A sufficient Proof was to see the Chineses sell all, to their very Shoes, and compound their Debts, tho’ this was rather lookt upon as a Design to The Governour’s Precautions. be gone, than to commit any Treason. To dispell their Fear of the Spaniards and Japoneses, the Governour made them some Speeches himself, and caus’d the same to be proclaim’d in all Parts, ingaging the King’s Faith and Security; but nothing was of Force to quiet them. Three Days before the Feast of S. Francis, above 400 Anhayes Merchants stay’d in the City, because they could not dispose of their Goods. These seeing the others in Disorder, on Account of the Report, that the Spaniards and Japoneses design’d to massacre them, sent a Message to the Governour, by Chican, Anhayes in Fear, assur’d. one of the Province of Anhay, or Chincheo, whereof that City is Head. He came to him by Night, for Fear of the other Chineses; and acquainted him with the Dread, and Confusion they were in, without knowing what Course to take, and therefore they came to him for Advice and Protection. He having hear’d him, gave all possible Security in his Answer, and the next Day went himself to talk to his Companions, whom he satisfy’d in a very obliging Manner, assuring them, that the Spanish Nation never was guilty of executing, or consenting to such Villanies. This Discourse satisfy’d them; but still those who had Mischief in their Hearts did not desist.