The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 38, 1674-1683: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume 38, 1674-1683: Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
I have already told how the governor, Don Sabiniano Manrique de Lara,
hearing at Manila of the uprising and disturbances in the province
of Pangasinán, commanded that an army and some vessels be assembled
as promptly as possible, so that our arms might by land and sea
punish the conspirators; and how he appointed as commander of the
land forces Francisco de Esteybar--a valiant and fortunate soldier,
a native of the town of Mondragon, in the province of Guipúzcoa--and
of the armed fleet Felipe de Ugalde, also a brave soldier, and a
native of the same province of Guipúzcoa. Don Sabiniano gave them
orders that, in the emergencies that might arise in the campaign,
each might act for himself, without waiting for the opinion of the
other commander--for this reason, that often excellent opportunities
in war are liable to miscarry. The instructions of Don Sabiniano
were so judicious and clear that to this, more than any other cause,
is due the speedy pacification of those provinces. At this time
the Zambals--who, eager to plunder the rich province of Ilocos,
and encouraged by the victory over its alcalde-mayor, had continued
the pursuit of the conquered--arrived at Narvacan, where they waited
some time through fear of the resistance which they would meet in
the pass of Agayayos; but they were soon relieved from this fear by
the very man, Don Pedro de la Peña, who had remained for the guard
and defense of that pass. He tore down the stockade, and very gladly
went to offer them a free passage; accordingly, they went on without
further hindrance. This treason of Don Pedro de la Peña was the whole
cause of the Zambals being able to raid the villages of Ilocos, from
Vigan on; for this post of the Agayayos is so difficult of passage that
it only affords easy entrance to one man, and a horse can go through
with difficulty, between two great cliffs, which are inaccessible by
the summits. And since the Zambals must pass through it one by one,
it would have been impossible for them to succeed in penetrating it,
with even a very few men to defend the entrance. But this traitor to
his country was like Conde Don Julián in España, who gave free passage
to the enemies. Don Pedro paid for it with his life, on the gallows;
but that province even now bewails the harm [that he caused it].
On that same day letters arrived at Vigán from General Felipe
de Ugalde, written to the alcaldes-mayor of Ilocos and Cagayán,
informing them of his arrival by sea for the succor of the province
of Pangasinán, and of the arrival of General Francisco de Esteybar
by land. On account of the absence of the alcalde-mayor, Don Alonso,
the letter which came for him was opened by the bishop, and his
illustrious Lordship and his companions were delighted at the good
news, and full of hopes that they would soon enjoy peace; but their
joy was quenched by the information which soon followed that the
Zambals had already arrived at Santa Catalina, a visita of Vigán.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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