opportunity for this, as the enemy's camp was so near, that now those
Sangleys in the chapel were communicating with and going to those in
the Parián, and those in the Parian to the chapel. Consequently it
was resolved to burn it. This was done with great haste, for Divine
justice was apparently showing that such sins as were committed there
were deserving of such a penalty. When the Sangleys who had remained
in the Parián perceived that it was burning, they packed up as much of
their possessions as possible and went to the other side of the river,
where stood the residences of the wealthy merchants. That afternoon a
council of war was held in the enemy's camp. They determined to send
late that night Sangleys in pairs to the walls, to ascertain whether we
had any artillery, and whether all the people manning the walls were
Spaniards; for they thought that this was not possible, unless we had
brought the images of the saints which were in the church. They did
not think wrong, either way, for they were a thousand holy religious,
who had laid aside their holy habits for such an occasion, and they
were encouraging all with holy words and valorous deeds, and now with
musket, now with arquebus, pike, or spear, and sword and buckler,
were standing as sentries and helping on the walls day and night. The
enemy began to make grimaces and gestures within musket-range, making
obeisances, and doing other things worthy of their shamelessness. In
reply, they remained there as if born there, so that of the many
Sangleys who came, it was found that only one escaped, and that all
were killed with the balls fired at them from the walls; for both day
and night, no one took his eyes from the enemy, who went retreating
to the river in the midst of his camp, for the other side of it was
defended by a wall, and that precaution was not a bad one, if it had
availed anything. Thursday morning, on the seventh or the said month,
the governor and council of war determined to attack the enemy. Between
eight and nine o'clock, one hundred and fifty Spanish arquebusiers and