Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/520

476 SPANISH HISTORY anil took the place. An archbishop, who was go- vernor, retired to the citadel, which was not te- nable, and he therefore came and delivered him- self up to the conquerors, with whom he entered into a capitulation, surrendering the whole of the Philippines to the King of Great Britain, and se- curing to the inhabitants their liveSy liberties, pro- perties, and domestic government, on payment of the enormous contribution of a million Sterling, or rather four millions of Spanish dollars, and an understanding that the town should be given up to pillage for three hours. The town was ac- cordingly given up to plunder, which, by the Spanish account, lasted twenty-four hours. A contribution on the rick city of Manila, which the sanguine avarice of the captors had rated at four mil- lions of dollars, w^ould never realize one-fourth the sum, though some of the church plate was melted down, and the unfortunate archbishop contributed his personal plate and jewels. This dignitary, in the power of the English, was compelled to give an order for the balance on the treasury of Ma- drid, but his bills were most reasonably and justly protested, a treatment which the captors had the audacity to complain of as a breach of faith. It is difficult to conceive by what misapplication of lan- guage the sum extorted was called a ransom, if, particularly, the town was given up to three hours plunder, and was kept possession of, as well as a JO