The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.

The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 325 pages of information about The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55.
to enter, ordered each one to be given a certificate granting him life; and had them told that he who did not have one of these would be regarded as one who had come from the enemy’s camp.  After this resolution the governor and Audiencia left the Parian on Monday at noon.  On the morning of that day, some Spaniards and four hundred Japanese had left the city, at the governor’s orders, to attack the enemy.  They did so and killed more than fifteen hundred men, and burned all their food.  This obliged them to break camp and to return toward the city, marching in three squadrons, numbering fifteen hundred men.  Every moment they were joined by bands of two hundred and three hundred.  They assembled in a town called Dilao, situated about three musket-shots from the city, at twelve o’clock in the morning.  They united all their forces, and carried on operations from a very strong large stone house, which was the chapel of Nuestra Senora de Candelaria.  Two days before, her image had been carried into the city in most solemn procession.  On that day it rained heavily, and as those in the houses were fearful lest the enemy would set fire to their dwellings, they had removed the nipa [20] with which they were covered.  In the houses built of stone and tile there was not standing-room, as all or most of the people gathered there, both women and children, and those incapable of bearing arms.  All was confusion and lamentation, because of this, and since more than sixteen hundred Sangleys were in sight of the city.  Most of the people distributed themselves along that part of the wall; and in the cavaliers and ravelins were mounted pieces of artillery.  Until now no resolution had been taken whether to put to the sword those Sangleys who remained in the Parian, or to set the Parian afire, or to let the people benefit from the sack of it, which was worth more than eighty thousand pesos.  However there was no opportunity for this, as the enemy’s camp was so near, that now those Sangleys in the chapel were communicating with and going to those in the Parian, and those in the Parian to the chapel.  Consequently it was resolved to burn it.  This was done with great haste, for Divine justice was apparently showing that such sins as were committed there were deserving of such a penalty.  When the Sangleys who had remained in the Parian perceived that it was burning, they packed up as much of their possessions as possible and went to the other side of the river, where stood the residences of the wealthy merchants.  That afternoon a council of war was held in the enemy’s camp.  They determined to send late that night Sangleys in pairs to the walls, to ascertain whether we had any artillery, and whether all the people manning the walls were Spaniards; for they thought that this was not possible, unless we had brought the images of the saints which were in the church.  They did not think wrong, either way, for they were a thousand holy religious, who had laid aside their holy habits for such an occasion,
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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.