to cause any commotion,
unless a strong fleet came from China, on which they could rely. Talk
continued to increase daily, and with it suspicion; for some of the
Chinese themselves, both infidels and Christians, in order to prove
themselves friends of the Spaniards, and clean from all guilt, even
told the Spaniards that there was to be an insurrection shortly,
and other similar things. Although the governor always considered
these statements as fictions and the exaggerations of that nation,
and did not credit them, yet he was not so heedless that he did not
act cautiously and watch, although with dissembling, for whatever
might happen. He took pains to have the city guarded and the soldiers
armed, besides flattering the most prominent of the Chinese and the
merchants, whom he assured of their lives and property. The natives
of La Pampanga and other provinces near by were instructed beforehand
to supply the city with rice and other provisions, and to come to
reenforce it with their persons and arms, should necessity arise. The
same was done with some Japanese in the city. As all this was done
with some publicity, since it could not be done secretly, as so many
were concerned, one and all became convinced of the certainty of the
danger. Many even desired it, in order to see the peace disturbed,
and to have the opportunity to seize something. [6] From that time,
both in the city and its environs, where the Sangleys were living
scattered, these people began to persecute the Sangleys by word and
deed. The natives, Japanese and soldiers of the camp took from them
their possessions and inflicted on them other ill-treatment, calling
them dogs and traitors, and saying that they knew well that they
meant to rebel. But they said they would kill all the Sangleys first,
and that very soon, for the governor was preparing for it. This alone
was sufficient to make it necessary for the Sangleys to do what they
had no intention of doing. [7] Some of the most clever and covetous
set themselves to rouse the courage of the others, and to make
themselves leaders, telling the Sangleys that their destruction was
sure, according to the determination which they saw in the Spaniards,
unless they should anticipate the latter, since they [the Sangleys]
were so numerous, and attack and capture the city. They said that
it would not be difficult for them to kill the Spaniards, seize
their possessions, and become masters of the country, with the aid
an