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]

1649-1666] EVENTS IN MANILA, I662-63

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battalion of Spaniards, Pampangos, Mardicas,49
Japanese, and creoles, he left them all mocked and
humiliated who had attributed to cowardice the forbearance dictated by his prudence. He set aside
only the regiment of Pampangos, arquebusiers and
bowmen; and committed the exploit to the Pampango master-of-camp, Don Francisco Lacsamanaleaving in the lurch those who attached so much
importance to the enterprise, and who attributed his
delay to fear. Unaffected by considerations of mere
policy, his Lordship moved in accordance with right
and the light of truth which belongs to those free
from prejudice; he had carefully considered the enterprise and saw that but little [poisonous] humor
remained to be corrected. He therefore chose to
make it evident that his delay was not for the sake
of temporizing but to show clemency; and that, able
to resist no longer, he was using rigor against those
who in so many days had not availed themselves of
49 These were Malays who had accompanied the Spaniards from
Ternate, where they formed a village, their name meaning "free
people" (Pastells's ed. of Colin's Labor evangelica, iii, pp. 266,
812). La Concepcion (Hist. de Philipinas, vii, p. 102) says:
"Under this name [i.e., Mardicas, or Merdicas] are included
natives of Ternate, Tidore, and Siao; of Manados, Cauripa,
Celebes, and Macasar. They were allotted a dwelling-place at
Marigondon, on the great bay of Manila... and theirs
is the island of Corregidor, from which they give warning of the
ships that they descry, by signal-fires." He says that they speak
three languages- Spanish, Tagalog, and their own dialect; and
"regard themselves as the spiritual sons of St. Francis Xavier, to
whom they are singularly devoted-a feeling inspired by their
forefathers, who had known him and witnessed his marvelous
works." Ferrando says (Hist. PP. Dominicos, iii, p. 94) that
these people have preserved their own dialect, usages, and customs; and up to recent times had not intermarried with the
Filipinos of neighboring villages.