brigantines,
a number of caracoas, and champans to carry food. With this fleet
it was confidently expected to subdue not only Jolo, but all the
hostile islands.

The Jolog group consists of many islands, but the principal one, where
the king lives, has a hill in the middle of it like a volcano. It
has only one very steep ascent, and is an impregnable point, and as
such it is regarded by all. Accordingly, when the Indians are visited
by enemies, they fortify the hill, and then imagine themselves secure
against any force. But when, about two years ago, Admiral Don Cristobal
de Lugo had burned their villages, and they knew that the Castilians
were about to attack them, they had fortified the hill strongly,
mounting thereon the guns that they had taken from the [Spanish]
shipyard. The master-of-camp believed himself sufficient to take that
hill alone. Accordingly as soon as he arrived, he landed, and heading
them, led his men up the hill without delay. That fleet was accompanied
by one of our religious, father Fray Fulgencio, an excellent preacher,
and a very good worker, who was preeminent among the others who
went. There was also a Recollect father named Fray Miguel, who did
not move from the side of the master-of-camp. The latter, finding
himself almost alone on the height and near the stockade, many
sharpened stakes and bamboos hardened in the fire were hurled at him,
so that the master-of-camp fell, while others of the more courageous
were wounded, and some killed. Thereupon, had the others ascended
and entered, as the attack would have been less difficult after that
first fury, they would have gained the fort, which had but few men, as
was afterward learned; but they remained inactive. The master-of-camp
arose, and retired without doing more than this; and with this result,
that that fleet, that had made every one afraid, returned. My opinion
is, that the Spaniards were punished for the arrogance that they must
have displayed there; and that along those coasts, and at the expense
of the wretched subjects, they tried to find the pearls of the king
of Jolo, which were said to be most beautiful. And accordingly this
was proclaimed, to the sound of drum, in the port of Ilong-ilong
and in Sugbu, and a reward promised to whoever would seize them;
for they considered the victory their own already, and shouted it
forth before obtaining it. If they, as Christians, had gone with
good intent to punish those Mahometan enemies f