even if he should endanger his ships and men while
doing it. Limahon was at once informed of all
this, through certain secret friends. As he saw
that the plan to pursue him was being pushed forward
in all earnestness, and that he was inferior to his
enemy in point of ships and men, he determined not
to await the latter, but to withdraw from that coast.
In his flight he betook himself to a remote island,
Tonzuacaotican by name, forty leagues from the mainland,
and lying in the pathway to the Felipinas. Limahon
remained in this retired island with his fleet for
some days, without daring to return to the mainland,
for he knew that the king’s fleet was guarding
the coast; and although he despatched a few vessels
on marauding expeditions, they did nothing of importance—returning,
on the contrary, pursued by the king’s powerful
fleet. He made some sallies with part of his
vessels from this island, robbing all the vessels that
he encountered, which, with their cargoes of merchandise
and other articles, were sailing between the different
islands, or between the islands and the mainland.
Among them he happened to meet two Chinese merchant
vessels plying from Manila to China. Immediately
he had the holds of these vessels searched, finding
the rich cargoes that they carried, which consisted
of articles of gold and Spanish reals of four to the
peso, given to them in exchange for the merchandise
carried by them to the islands. Limahon informed
himself thoroughly of the characteristics and wealth
of the land, and especially of the Spaniards in the
city of Manila—who in all did not exceed
seventy, because the others had left Luzon for the
exploration and colonization of new islands.
Then—ascertaining that these few were living
without any fear of enemies, and therefore had no
fort; and that their artillery, although good, was
not in position, either for defense or offense—he
determined to go thither with his entire fleet and
following, in order to kill them; and to make himself
master of the island of Manila and its environs, where
he thought to be safe from the power of the king,
who was trying to capture him. In accordance with
this idea, he set about this enterprise with the utmost
possible despatch.
Departure of the pirate Limahon for the Felipinas,
and arrival at the city of Manila. Chapter IIII.
The pirate resolved to go to capture the Felipinas
Islands, and to make himself master and king of them
all, first killing the Spaniards—a thing
that seemed easy of accomplishment, because of their
small number. He was convinced that he could
live here quite free from anxiety, and without his
present fear of the great power of the king, because
these islands were so far from the mainland. Leaving
those islands where he had sought shelter, he set
sail toward those of the Felipinas, passing those
islands called Illocos, [25] near to a town called
Fernandina, founded recently by Captain Juan de Salzedo,
who at that time was lieutenant-governor there.