s who were killed here when they revolted were not thirty
thousand, or even half as many.

As for the statement that after the death of the Sangleys was known
in China, many mandarins joined in a concerted petition to the king
that they might be allowed to avenge those deaths--accusing the
Spaniards of being cruel and ungrateful, and charging us that after
the Chinese had aided us to erect our walls and other buildings,
and in our gardens (all to our profit), we ought not to have done
this--to this I reply that the Spaniards are not cruel of heart, and
never make war upon anyone without just reasons. We regard ourselves
as a just people and as having a standing in the world; and we would
be greatly grieved if it could be said of us with truth that we have
done wrongs or injuries to anyone--especially to our friends, and
to those who are sincerely friends to us. Thus in the case of the
Sangleys who were here, we treated them as brothers and sons; and,
without any precaution, we permitted them to enter our houses at all
seasons and at all hours, as if they had been Spaniards. So true was
this that, if God had not delivered us by revealing their treachery,
they might for that very cause have been able to succeed in it.

I have noted the answer given by the king of China to letters written
by the viceroy and others with regard to this matter. I think that he
ought to be fair in all matters, and that he should not be influenced
to make war on Luzon without first knowing whether we are in fault or
not; for if he should do otherwise we could not say, as we have said,
that China is prudently governed.

The viceroy also writes to me that, since the Spaniards are a sensible
and prudent people, we must therefore be grieved for having slain
so many people, and repent thereof. He also informs me that if we
deal justly with the Chinese return the Sangleys who have survived
the war, and pay the money due on the goods taken from the Sangleys,
he will maintain amity with us and will send merchant vessels every
year. If not, the king will not permit ships to come, but will command
a thousand war-vessels to be built, manned with soldiers--both the
relatives of those who are dead, and men from the other nations and
kingdoms who pay tribute to China; and, without mercy on anyone,
they will make war upon us, and afterward the kingdom of Luzon will
be given to that people which pays tribute.

To this I answer that, although in truth we ar