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.
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
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The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.