e palace; and before he took any rest or sat down at his table,
he appointed General Francisco de Esteibar as chief master-of-camp,
to act if occasion should arise for a military campaign, and that
there might be, either for that purpose or for affairs in the city,
an officer to take his own place when absent.

While the governor was at the warehouses the first embassy sent by
the Sangleys found him; it came by Father Francisco Mesina, who said
that those who had crossed over to Santa Cruz were in the greatest
uncertainty, and would return to their obedience if he would pardon
them. During the time which the father spent in this mission the
scoundrels who had approached the gate, and in the first onslaught
had killed two Spaniards, finished crossing the river; these fled
in confusion by way of the Parian, and completed the terrorization
of the other Sangleys, most of whom therefore went out to Sagar and
others to Meysilo.

Father Mesina returned with pardon for them and found it necessary
to pursue them. He continued his endeavors by means of the father
mandarin, [46] giving him a paper written in the Chinese language [to
assure them] of entire safety. Although the latter set out with it,
he did not reach the Sangleys, and Father Francisco Mesina sent his
despatch by a messenger whom he encountered, placing it in the hands
of a boy who carried it; for lack of a horse, he himself remained
at Meyhaligue.

Fathers Nicolas Cani and Bartolome Vesco, who mounted on good horses
had been pushing ahead since noon, went as far as San Francisco
del Monte where they encountered some troops. They fell in with
the soldiers and talked with them about bringing in the Sangleys;
it was finally decided that Father 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 [47] in order to relieve the Sangleys
of the Parian from their fears; for the coming of