could muster--about
fifty-four Spaniards--to endeavor, although at the risk of much
labor, to get the start of them, and warn the people of Manila,
and help them place the artillery in position, and do other things
needful for the defense of the city. The captain set out to carry this
determination into effect with all haste, from which it resulted that
the city and all its inhabitants were not completely pillaged and
destroyed. However, it was not possible to avoid all damage; for,
as their vessels were small, and the rowers few in number and not
picked men (since their hasty departure did not allow a choice), and
as they were going from one region to another to get food--all these
things combined prevented them from arriving as soon as they wished,
or as was desirable. Limahon, being well provided with provisions and
all other necessities, and favored with good winds, kept the lead
of them, arriving at the bay of the city of Manila on St. Andrew's
eve in the year one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. Here he
cast anchor that night with his fleet. As he knew that the success of
his undertaking lay in his quickness, and in action before he should
be seen by the inhabitants of the city, or perceived by those in its
neighborhood, he embarked--being aided in this by the darkness of the
night--four hundred picked soldiers, of whose courage he was thoroughly
assured and satisfied, in small boats, commanding their captains to
exercise all diligence in arriving at the city before daybreak. He
despatched this detachment with orders to fire the city first of all,
and not to leave a single man living in it. He promised to join them
at the first light, in order to help them should it prove necessary,
as was the case. But, since nothing is done contrary to God's will or
permission, it was not possible for the pirate Limahon to attain his
end with the four hundred soldiers, as he thought to do; for all that
night the land-breeze blew, becoming ever stronger as night deepened,
and proving contrary to their desires. Consequently they were unable to
disembark that night, although they tried to do so, striving with all
their strength and cunning to sail against and overcome the wind. Had
it not been for this, without any doubt they would have attained their
evil purpose quite easily, and the city and its inhabitants would
have been destroyed; for Limahon's plan and desire, as was manifest
in the order given to his captains, was to