The Order of the illustrious St. Augustine which resides in these islands, has need of austere [28] friars from Castilla to carry on the conversion which they have wrought in this land, and have commenced in Japon.  Some friars of ability will be necessary to help them, considering that those who become friars in Mexico are not esteemed in this country.  For this reason the said order is sending father Fray Diego de Guevara, hitherto prior of the convent in this city, to bring religious here.  He is a thorough religious himself, and zealous for the good of his order.  This convent of your Majesty, and of the minor friars of our father St. Francis, deprives itself of him for the greater good.  I humbly beg your Majesty to be pleased to command that the said father be sent back, without delay, so that he may continue to carry out his earnest desires; for in this he does great service to God and to your Majesty, whom may our Lord protect for the welfare and growth of Christendom.  Manila, from this convent of Nuestra Senora de los Angeles; December 19, 1603.

Fray Joan de Garrovillas, definitor and guardian.

THE SANGLEY INSURRECTION

Letter from the Audiencia

Sire: 

By way of Nueva Espana this Audiencia has informed your Majesty of occurrences up to that time; and although this letter will be very uncertain, as it must go by way of Portuguese India, it has seemed best to write it, giving an account of what has happened since, as it is so important.

By the last letter of this Audiencia, dated on the fifth of July of this year, we gave your Majesty an account of three mandarins from the kingdom of China who had come to this city, and the innovation which they had instituted, on account of which the governor and captain-general considered the plan of fortifying this city, and providing, in case anything should happen, the supplies necessary and suitable for its defense and safety.  This caused some disturbance among the Chinese, who began to confer among themselves, in secret, concerning the means of insurrection.  Although great care was taken by this Audiencia and the governor to keep them quiet, and to relieve them of the fear which they were said to have on account of the aforesaid precautions, it was not sufficient, and following their resolve, on the night of the last St. Francis’ day, at about eleven o’clock, they revolted.  They chose for their leader a Christian Sangley named Joan Untae, who, according to the investigations made in regard to him by this Audiencia, appears to have revolted in the name of one Joan Baptista, governor of the Chinese.  On him and the others exemplary justice has been rigorously visited.  The Chinese gathered on the other side of the river of this city to the number of ten or twelve thousand, many other people remaining in their Parian and fortifying themselves as well as they could.  On this night they burned