nd forced us close to this city. God fought with us,
and delivered us, for the good of this Christian community, which is
steadily growing in this region. There is no doubt that if God had
not blinded them, so that they should not succeed in their mode of
warfare, it would not have taken them two hours to kill us all in
Manila, and make themselves masters of all this country without the
least risk to themselves. This did not come about through any neglect
on your Majesty's part to command the Audiencia of these islands
to drive out these infidels, nor through lack of advice from here,
but it was due to the fault of your Majesty's chief officers here,
in not complying with what your Majesty has ordered them; so they
have put this country in the greatest danger, and perchance will
cause its entire and irremediable ruin in the near future.

Even since this, the enemy from Mindanao, who are naked savages,
have come and carried away many hundreds of captive Indians,
many of whom straightway became their servants. Nothing is heard
in these islands but the accounts of misfortunes. These matters,
and the many expenditures that have been made and are still going
on in your Majesty's royal exchequer in these islands, as well as
many other serious affairs, demand, Sire, that your Majesty send a
general inspector here, and choose for this a man who is of great
integrity and with great reputation for purity from all taint of
greed. If this inspection be not made, there is no redress for this
land. All the said Chinese, about fifteen hundred, have been killed,
except it be a few who have been kept as slaves in your Majesty's
service. The Spanish residents of this city greatly aided in the
fighting, and in their conscientious behavior and in prayer the Indians
were very loyal--as also the Christian Chinese, except some seven or
eight of them. It is not known how this affair will be considered in
China. If the alcaiceria of the infidel Chinese is again permitted,
I assure you that a second uprising will surely occur. Let them come,
but remain in their ships and sell their goods. Your Majesty should
not trust the Spaniards, on account of their greed, in anything which
may prove the ruin of this country. I can do no more than advise.

This letter is brought by a father of the Order of St Augustine, named
Fray Diego de Guevara, prior of the convent of San Augustin here. His
order is sending him on its own affairs, which are serious and c