their Creator, who is the only true God.  Although his Grace had many excuses for putting him to death—­inasmuch as they killed one of his Grace’s Indians in the said village of Mindanao and had discharged many arrows at the Spaniards all along the river, both by day and night—­yet he had no desire to harm them, notwithstanding his opportunities therefor; for he could have burned their villages, cut down their palm-trees, and seized and killed many people, and that whenever he wished.  Consequently they should understand that he bore express command from the very illustrious Doctor Francisco de Sande, governor of all these islands, not to harm them in any way, and hitherto he has not done so.  Should the said Limasancay refuse to come to make peace, he should not prevent the other chiefs and natives of this river from coming to render obedience to his Majesty.  His Grace has heard that, because Limasancay will not consent to come, no one else dares to come to make peace.  The said Dato Bahandil having heard and understood all of the foregoing, answered that, having had war with Limasancay and having made peace but recently, he did not dare to go to talk with him or any other of his village; for, if he had any trouble with him, the latter would immediately order him to be killed.  Therefore he declined to go.  The said captain asked him, since he would not go, to find some one in his village who would go to tell the said Limasancay all the above, saying that he would pay this man.  Likewise Limasancay should be told that his Grace was building a fort in his said village, and that he did not intend to leave until the king should make peace.  Dato Bahandil went, saying that he would return with the answer within two days and that he would try to despatch the said Indian to the said Limasancay.  The payment for this man was given to the said Dato Bahandil.  I certify to all the above.  Witnesses, Pedro Brizeno de Eseguera, Melchor de Torres, and Pedro de Brito.

Grabiel de Ribera

Before me: 

Diego Lopez Carreno, notary of the fleet

On this said day, month, and year aforesaid, while the said captain, in the said village of Mindanao, was holding a conference there with the said Dato Bahandil and other chiefs of the said village—­wherein he discussed all the matters above stated, and declared—­before the said captain and in the presence of me, the said notary, and of the greater part of the people of his fleet, a volley of poisoned arrows was discharged from the other side of the river and fell near the said captain and among the others.  By great good fortune none of those with the said captain were wounded.  Thereupon the said chiefs, seeing this shameless conduct of the Indians, begged and persuaded the said captain to send men and soldiers to kill the said Indians.  Persuaded by them, he ordered some soldiers to fire a few arquebuses in the direction of the firing of the said arrows, in order to stop further volleys.