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. 13]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. I3

gleys to trade with the Castilians, the country has
been enriched to the extent to which the said Sangleys have labored therein. They have built the
walls, and made houses and gardens, and other things
of great advantage to the Castilians. Nevertheless,
the Castilians had no consideration for these things,
and have felt no gratitude for these good works, but
have so cruelly slain all those people. Although we
wrote this statement two or three times to the king,
he replied to us that, although he was grieved by
what had happened, there were three reasons why
we should not avenge ourselves or make war upon
Luzon. The first was that the Castilians had long
been friends of the Chinese in this region; the second is that it was uncertain who would be victorious,
Chinese or Castilians; and the third and last reason,
that the people slain by the Castilians were a base
people, ungrateful to China, their native country, to
their parents, and to their relatives, since so many
years had passed during which they had not returned
to China. The king said that he did not consider
these people of any value, for the aforesaid reasons;
and he merely commanded the viceroy, the eunuch,
and me to write this letter sent by this ambassador,
that the people of Luzon may know that the king of
China has great kindness, great patience, and great
pity, since he has not commanded them to make war
against the people of Luzon. His justice is plainly
to be seen, since he has punished the deceit of
Tiognen. As the Spaniards are a wise and prudent
race it must be that they would be grieved for having
put so many people to death, and will repent thereof
and will show justice to the Chinese who have survived. If the Castilians show justice to the Chinese,