Among the enemy’s flags were two that contained characters in the Sangley language, which, translated into our Castilian vernacular, read as follows: 

“The leader and general of the kingdom of Espana ... [23] so that all the Chinese take part together in this affair and obey us by destroying root and branch these hostile robbers, whom we have against our will, both Castilians and Japanese.  We the Sangleys swear that after the conquest of this city we shall share the lands, even to the very herbs, with equal shares, as brothers.”  That which gave the traitor Bautistilla more courage in undertaking so great a treason was a stratagem and subtilty which he employed to know those on his side.  This was to order each Sangley to bring a needle and deliver it into his hand.  This they did, and he put the needles in a little box.  He thus ascertained that twenty-two thousand one hundred and fifty Sangley Indians could gather in Manila on the last of November, the day of St. Andrew, patron of this country.  He had determined and ordered that the insurrection be made on that day both in this city and in the other districts of these islands.  But upon seeing the governor raising the wall and taking other precautions, because of the many rumors about the mandarins (who had departed to their own country, and which the governor did not believe), the traitor determined to make the attempt on the day of St. Francis, since our Lord permitted it thus for our welfare.  Blessed be He forever!  Amen!

On the tenth of December, Captain Marcos de la Cueva left this city as ambassador to the kingdom of China, accompanied by one hundred and forty Spaniards and two friars, in order to inform the eunuch who is the viceroy at Canton of the above events.  Many thought that he ought not to go, for if the matter were learned there, and war-vessels were to come, then the island would be supplied with men to be able to receive them in the same manner; and if they came for peace they would be received in peace.  In the latter case they were to be informed of the truth of the matter, to which the Christian law binds us, and told that we did not intend to take their possessions, or refuse to pay them what was owing them.  Nevertheless, he went, ordered to do the contrary by the Council.  May God direct everything for His holy service.

On the seventeenth of February of 604, the said ambassador, Marcos de la Cueva, put back to port on account of a storm that struck him, which caused his vessel to spring a leak.  He was again sent out in another and very good vessel with one hundred and fifty picked soldiers, under the leadership of Captain Cueva, a very honorable and brave soldier.  He left on Thursday, the twenty-fifth of the said month, in the ship “Santiaguillo,” which was quite well equipped for whatever should happen—­a very necessary thing.  He arrived at the trading-post where there are Portuguese who trade with the Chinese, and delivered his letters to them, in order that they