turned toward the Recollects by way of the convent of San Francisco
to that of Santo Domingo; and by the college of Santo Tomas returned
to the cathedral. The said prayers were continued until Lent.

In the midst of these pious exercises the ambassador from China found
us: this was the same religious as before, Fray Victorio Riccio. To
the salute which he fired his Lordship commanded answer to be made
with ball, as one who, having been challenged, awaited the envoy on
a war footing; and despatched to the shore the sargento-mayor of the
garrison to tell him that, on account of the hostilities which he
had announced in the name of Cot-sen, we had expected him to come as
an enemy and were prepared to receive him with the sternness that is
customary in war, and that he must inform the governor of the nature
of the despatches that he carried. The ambassador answered that he
came in peace; and by the news which he at once related it was learned
that, only a few days after his Lordship had placed his forces under
the powerful protection of the holy archangel, Cot-sen had died.

That ruler was ready in all the strength given by ships, men, and
provisions to deliberate according to the news that he should receive
from here upon the measures that would have to be taken, when the first
Sangleys [from Manila] arrived. They, driven by fear and urged on by
desperation, scorning the cannon-shots that were fired from the castle,
seized a royal champan which was ready to sail; and those Sangleys who
had left [the Pasig River] in the talisays, for whom there was no room,
seized other champans in the channels of Mariveles. These fugitives
regarded as already executed that of which their fear persuaded them;
and they told the corsair that the governor had commanded that all
the Sangleys should be slain, not only the traders but those who were
living in this city. At this he was kindled to such anger that he
immediately undertook to sally forth for vengeance without heeding the
obstacles that he would now meet in the expedition from unfavorable
weather. It seemed to the Chinese that with only half of their fleet,
even though the other half should perish, they could carry abundant
force for the enterprise. Upon this disturbance of his mind came the
rebellion of his son whom he had commanded to be slain; [53] and the
mandarins of his city, Vi-cheo, [Fuh-chau, or Foo-chow] protected the
son, having resolved to defend him. With these anxieties