haste with which the citizens
who had wealth in their possession undertook to hide it away. Their
desperation was completed by the interpretation which the common
people gave to everything--irresponsible soldiers, with mestizos,
mulattoes, and blacks, telling the Sangleys that they were to
have their heads cut off, as if they were men already sentenced to
death; and inflicting on them many injuries and uttering a thousand
insults. Such circumstances as these concurring in the insurrection
of the year 1603 necessarily caused it, as Doctor Morga observes;
and on this occasion their fear of the like proceedings led them
to a similar desperation. They heard that the twenty-fifth day of
May was to be that of their destruction, because the cavalry troops
were to arrive on the day before. Some of them--the most worthless
class, as butchers and vegetable-sellers--began to talk of extricating
themselves from he danger; but those in the Parian displayed no courage
for any measures, for, as their interests are so involved in peace,
they never have incurred the hazard of war except under compulsion.

On the night of the twenty-fourth, the governor received information
from the castellan of Cavite that the Parian was to revolt on the
next day; but on that very night it was quite evident that their
determination was not to revolt, but to flee as best they could from
the death which they regarded as certain. For on that night all the
talisays [45] (which are the fishermen's boats) departed in flight;
and although General Don Francisco de Figueroa talked to the Sangleys,
endeavoring to calm their minds, it was not possible to remove their
fear. They excused themselves by saying that they knew that on the
next day all their heads would be cut off. They said that in planning
the insurrection it had been agreed that they would not separate;
but they had formed an organization to be prepared, their shops made
secure, and such weapons provided as they could find for this purpose.

On the next day, May 25, his Lordship being anxious at this went out
with only four captains to stroll through the Parian, to learn their
intentions by observing what arrangements they had made. He found
them all very peaceable, and their shops open; they were furnishing
supplies therein, and most of them were eating breakfast. In various
places they entreated him very submissively to protect them, because
the blacks threatened them, saying that they were to be s