ld not better their condition, but that this with
excessive hardships would only delay their end, many fore-stalled
death by inflicting it upon themselves--some by hanging, and others
by plunging into the river.
Without delay his Lordship went to the gate, most fortunately for
the Sangleys and with great benefit to the community, as the result
showed; for if he had not been present at the gate, the fear of being
besieged which all felt, would have led them to engage in hostilities
with the Parian and use their arms, compelling the governor to
give them his entire attention. But his Lordship in so difficult a
crisis which demanded prompt and resolute action, took counsel with
past experiences and present necessities, his keen and quick mind
attentive to everything. Knowing well that this disturbance was caused
by fear, he was unwilling to make it greater in the outcome without
dissuading [the Sangleys from revolt] by acts of clemency--since an
encounter with the Parian must of necessity make both [parties among
the Sangleys] declared enemies, and desperation would render them
terrible as had been experienced in former insurrections. Moreover,
our people would be obliged to use time and people when both were
scanty for the emergency that we were expecting of further conflict;
since the guards necessary for fortifying the city were inadequate,
on account of our pursuing the rest of the fugitives. Accordingly, the
governor prudently preferred to leave them uncertain and in expectancy
rather than in declared and resolute attitude, since in the former
condition they were easy to subdue, which in the other case would
involve a great expenditure of military supplies--which would of
necessity be greatly impaired when, for a long siege, all abundance
is moderation. [For economy is needed:] of provisions, when there are
no funds in the treasury, and no harvest in the villages with which
to supply the city with food; and of men, when there are not enough
to man the walls--to say nothing of the severity of fighting and of
the inclemencies of the weather with their exposure to the rains.
His Lordship left the Sangleys reassured, and the rage of the Spaniards
checked; he retired to the storehouses from which he immediately
despatched a champan with a strong force of men in pursuit of the one
that the Sangleys had stolen, and furnished all the military posts
with abundance of supplies. It was past one o'clock when he returned
to th
|