Page 310
THe Gouernour answered these Letters by the same Messengers that brought them: vsing termes full of courtesie and authoritie. Hee rehearsed the rebellion of the Sangleyes, from the beginning: Hee iustified the defense of the Spaniards, and the punishment that was executed vpon the Offenders. Hee said, that no Common-wealth can be gouerned without chastising the bad, nor without rewarding the good. And therefore that he did not repent him of that execution: because it was done for repres∣sing of them that thought to destroy vs. That the Visitour should bee Iudge, what hee would doe, if the like case should happen in China. That the griefe that he had was, that he could not saue certaine San∣gleyes [ 10] Merchants Anhayes, which died among the offenders: But that this was vnpossible to be reme∣died; because the furie of warre doth not giue leaue to kill some, and to saue others, especially being not knowne of the Souldiers in the heate of battell. That vsing mercy to those that remayned aliue, condem∣ned them to rowe in the Galleyes: which is the punishment, which is ordayned among the Castillians for those that haue deserued death. Yet if it seeme in China that it ought to be moderated, hee would grant them libertie. But let it be considered, said Don Pedro, that this may be a cause, that in not chasti∣sing so great an offence, they may hereafter fall againe into the same. A thing that would shut vp all accesse vnto fauour. That the goods of the Chineses that were slayne are in safe custodie. And that it may be seene, that no other affection moueth mee then that of iustice, I will shortly send them to be deli∣uered [ 20] to the right Heires, or vnto such persons as of right they belong vnto. None other respect moueth mee to any of these things, but that of reason. Whereas you tell mee, That if I will not set at libertie those prisoners, licence will be granted in China to the kinsfolke of those which died in the Rebellion, to come with an Armie to Manila, it breedeth no feare in mee. For I hold the Chineses to be so wise, that they will not be moued to such things vpon so weake a ground: especially none occasion thereof being giuen them on our part. And in case they should be of another minde, wee Spaniards are a People which know very well how to defend our Right, Religion, and Territories. And let not the Chineses thinke, that they are Lords of all the World,* 1.1 as they would haue vs thinke. For wee Castillians, which haue mea∣sured the World with spannes, know perfectly the Countreyes of China. Wherefore they shall doe well to take knowledge, that the King of Spaine hath continuall warres with as mighty Kings as theirs is, [ 30] and doth suppresse them, and putteth them to great troubles. And it is no new case, that when our ene∣mies thinke that they haue vanquished vs, they finde vs marching and destroying the Confines of their Land, and not to cease, vntill wee haue cast them out of their Thrones, and taken their Scepters from them.* 1.2 I would be much grieued with the change of the commerce: But I beleeue also that the Chineses would not willingly lose it, since that thereby they obtayne so great profit, carrying to their Kingdome our Siluer, which neuer faileth in trucke of their merchandise, which are slight things, and soone worne out.
The ships of the Englishmen, which arriued on the coast of China, it was determined not to receiue: because they be no Spaniards, but rather * 1.3 their enemies, and Pirats. Wherefore if they come to Ma∣nila, they shall be punished. Finally, b••caus•• wee Spaniards doe alwaies iustifie our causes, and doe boast [ 40] our selues, that it cannot bee said in the world, that wee vsurpe other mens possessions, nor inuade our friends, that shall be fulfilled which is here promised. And from hence forward let them know in China, that wee neuer doe any thing for feare, nor for threats of our enemies. Don Pedro concludeth, offering continuance of amitie by new bonds of peace with the Kingdomes of China: and that he will set at li∣bertie in due time the Prisoners which he held in the Galleyes: albeit he thought to vse them, as he did, in the voyage of Maluco; which he put in execution with speed. And all this he precisely performed.