attacked the Sangleys, of whom they killed more than
four hundred. Their master-of-camp retreated
to a little elevation near by, after defending himself
with great courage. Our men rested until morning
of the next day, when they went to give them the “Santiago,”
and killed fourteen hundred. Three hundred fled,
and hid in the thickets and woods there-about.
Our men fortified themselves with the food that the
enemy had there. On the morning of the following
day they went in pursuit of the three hundred who had
hidden and attacked them, and not one of them was left
alive. This victory was obtained without the
death of more than twelve Christian Indians.
Our camp rested for three days, and on the fourth began
to march to another village, on the seashore, called
Batangas. There they found a troop of twenty-five
hundred hostile Sangleys with ships and boats, with
the intention of going to their own country. After
five days’ march our leader sighted the enemy,
whereupon he ordered a halt and drew up his men.
On the morning of the next day he gave battle with
great fury, and killed one thousand one hundred and
two Sangleys. The rest, badly crippled, sought
refuge in the mountains in the interior. The
Spaniards did not go in pursuit of them, for they
were very tired after their six hours of fighting,
while some were wounded. Consequently Sargento
mayor Ascoeta sent an Indian chief, one Don Ventura
de Mendoca, with two hundred Pampanga Indians, to
pursue them. In a few days all the Sangleys were
killed. After this good result and victory the
sargento-mayor retired with his camp, without losing
a man outside of twelve Indians and one Japanese,
while seventeen Spaniards were wounded. The most
dangerously wounded was the captain of the guard,
Martin de Herrera, who was wounded with two spear-thrusts
through the thighs. He has proved himself a very
honorable and gallant soldier on all occasions.
The sargento-mayor immediately sent a messenger to
the governor, to tell him of the victory. This
was on the twelfth of November, at eleven o’clock
on St. Martin’s day. After the arrival
of this news another piece of news, of no less importance
to this country, was received, namely that the king
of Mindanao wishes peace with us. As security
he sent his son and his nephew as hostages, and with
them all the Christians captive in his land.
He offered to help the governor as a true friend.
It is a notable thing that even the animals have tried
to show the mortal hate that ought to be extended
toward this canaille. Many thanks have been and
are given to our Lord for all. Hence the most
holy sacrament has been exposed for forty days.
Every monastery has observed its octave with great
solemnity and processions, accompanied ever by their
good mother [i.e., the Virgin] and the propitious
St. Francis, by whose help we have obtained the victory
on all occasions offered us. The plans of the
Sangleys were as follows. On the day of St. Francis,
both workmen and merchants were to enter as usual into