in the boats, who were continuing to summon them peaceably to make peace.  Therefore father Fray Andres de Urdaneta, he who was calling upon them for peace, made a harangue to the people, saying that they were apostates, and that war could be made against them legitimately.  The governor disembarked there, with the opposition of the natives.  After having planted a colony there, many Indians of the neighborhood, and even those of Cubu, came in peace to render him obedience.  Thus a true report was made to his Majesty, for many Indians became friendly in these islands and made submission without war being waged upon them.  Nor would it have been made against any others, without first quietly and pacifically calling for peace, making much of them, and giving them clothes, articles of barter, food, and other small articles, which they asked for.  If afterward any occasion arose for making war for the pacification of the friendly Indians who were disturbed by the others who were not friendly, it cannot be said on that account that a false report was made to his Majesty; for whatever was going on in the land at our arrival there has been written to him, and true reports of what has happened have always been sent him.  Therefore, by the above, it is clear and manifest that true and faithful reports have been made to his Majesty.

The “Opinion” says further that no land among all these islands has come with a just title into the power of the Spaniards.  To this we have only to reply that we came to these districts by his Majesty’s order, and therefore are here, obeying his royal mandate; and, as we are not lawyers, we shall cease discussing the justice, title, or cause that his Majesty has or can have in these islands.  In what concerns the robberies and injuries that have been committed (if any have been) in this land, the natives have given the occasion for it, some of them being traitors and breaking the peace, as they have broken it at different times, especially in this city of Manila.  The master-of-camp, Martin de Goiti, having come hither the first time and entered in peace, and having made and ratified it with the rajas of Manila, without the Spaniards on their part giving them any occasion, the natives tried to kill the latter, discharging at them five or six pieces of artillery, the greater part of which hit the junk on which was the said master-of-camp.  Thus the Spaniards were forced in self-defense to fight and enter the city, as it was entered.  And, if the city was burned, it was for the security of the few Spaniards who had entered it, that the natives might not attack them among houses closely joined together.  The same natives confessed that they themselves had begun the war.  Further, as for assaulting villages at night, this has been done in the case of rebellious villages that defied the Spaniards.  It was necessary for the security of our friends to break and crush their pride, to avoid greater evil.  If some have gone to excess in this matter, it is the individual excess