The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 36]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 36

Francisco Mesina should go ahead, and that the
matter should be settled with him.
While the religious were making these efforts, his
Lordship took all suitable measures by way of preparation for any event. He sent for Master-of-camp
Don Juan Macapapal, who in the disturbances in
Pampanga had proved his constancy and devotion in
his Majesty's service, and ordered him to bring
three hundred picked bowmen, the best in his villages; and he commanded that two hundred veteran
soldiers be selected from the villages of Pampanga.
From two o'clock were continually arriving the cavalry which the governor had ordered to be brought
from the ranches 4 in order to relieve the Sangleys
of the Parian from their fears; for the coming of
these horsemen would guide the fugitives from the
mountains in their decision. His Lordship charged
the religious orders to send some fathers in order that
they might assist the Spaniards, and by their authority check the insolent acts of those who might try to
harm the Sangleys, in order that the latter might not
be further upset by their misfortunes. This was a
prudent decision; for, even with all this foresight,
it was almost impossible to defend the Sangleys from
the robberies which were attempted by negroes and
base fellows at the risk of frustrating his Lordship's
pious efforts. Among these were not lacking some
persons from whom more might be expected, who -
some in person, and some by means of their servants
- furnished their own houses very well [from the
spoils of the Sangleys].
47 "From the cattle-herds on the ranches, and other men who
were skilful in managing horses, he formed a cavalry troop of 400
men, in command of Don Francisco de Figueroa" (Murillo
Velarde, Hist. de Philipinas, fol. 273).