[39] Apparently a reference to Manuel Estacio Venegas, a favorite of Fajardo's, whose downfall Letona relates in sect. 59. [40] Vascongado: a term applied to the people or products of the Spanish provinces of Alava, Guipúzcoa, and Vizcaya (or Biscay). [41] A phonetic rendering of one of the numerous names of a noted Chinese corsair--generally known as Kue-sing or Ko-xinga; La Concepción also gives, as his original Chinese name, Tching-tching-cong, and Coseng and Punpuan (in Diaz, Cogsin and Pompóan) as other appellations. He also says that Kue-sing (the name meaning "adopted son of a king") was adopted by the emperor Congun, who had no sons. The accounts of various writers do not agree regarding the early history of this adventurer; but that given by our text is apparently corroborated by other accounts of Kue-sing's achievements and exploits during his later years. Detailed relations of his career, and of his attempt upon the Philippines, may be found in Diaz's Conquistas, pp. 461, 551-555, 616-637; Santa Cruz's Hist. de Filipinas, pp. 271-278, etc.; Murillo Velarde's Hist. de Philipinas, fol. 270b-275; La Concepción's Hist. de Philipinas, vi, pp. 345 (sc. 355)-359, and vii, pp. 38-56; Ferrando's Hist. PP. Dominicos, iii, pp. 12-17, 29-41, 47-67, 78-98; Montero y Vidal's Hist. de Filipinas, i, pp. 313-322, 329. Ferrando calls Kue-sing the "Attila of the East." [42] Vittorio Ricci (Spanish Riccio) was a relative of the noted Jesuit, Mateo Ricci. He made profession as a Dominican in 1635, and was a student and afterward a teacher in the Dominican college at Rome. Meeting there (1643) the noted Fray J. B. Morales, Ricci decided to return with him to the East, and arrived at Manila in 1648. There he ministered to the Chinese for seven years, when he was sent to the China mission. He was much favored by the noted Kue-sing (or Ko-xinga), who obliged him to become his ambassador to Manila (1662). Returning to China, Ricci found that Kue-sing was dead, and persuaded the latter's officers that it was to their interest to maintain peace and commerce with the Spaniards--for which purpose they sent him again to Manila, as here narrated. In 1664 a persecution arose in China, and the missionaries were summoned to Peking. Fearing to obey, as he had been on Kue-sing's side, Ricci fled to Formosa, and afterward (March, 1666) returned to Manila--where he was imprisoned for some time. Afterward he held various important offices in his order, and aided in the compilation of Santa Cruz's continuation of Aduarte's history. He died at the Parián, February 17, 1685. See Reseña biográfica, ii, pp. 461-464. [43] The letter of Kue-sing, and the governor's reply, may be found in Diaz's Conquistas, pp. 625, 626, 629-631; and Murillo Velarde's Hist. de Philipinas, fol. 271, 274.