It is both a tragedy and a cause for celebration that our captain, Magellan, has died. The fool that took us from danger to danger is gone, but so is the leader that has brought us this far around the world. On the 26th, the Mactan leader, Zzula, sent his son with the goats to give to Magellan, with the offer of peace. Magellan did not find the offer suitable however, and that night he and sixty armed men set off with another of Cebuans to fight in battle.
Magellan was certain that his superior weaponry would win the battle. He gave a final offer of peace, provided the Mactan’s would accept the name of Christ, but they refused. I watched from the ship as 49 of the men attacked a village, but they had thousands of men, and Magellan and his men were crushed mercilessly from all sides. Magellan ordered men to burn down the villager’s homes, but this only served to angry the natives more.
From the ship we debated whether to send reinforcements, but we were all bitter for the pain we had been put through, and so we did nothing but watch as he and his men fell. I watched in terror as natives swarmed him after being struck by lances. So a noble but foolish man died.
Magellan was certain that his superior weaponry would win the battle. He gave a final offer of peace, provided the Mactan’s would accept the name of Christ, but they refused. I watched from the ship as 49 of the men attacked a village, but they had thousands of men, and Magellan and his men were crushed mercilessly from all sides. Magellan ordered men to burn down the villager’s homes, but this only served to angry the natives more.
From the ship we debated whether to send reinforcements, but we were all bitter for the pain we had been put through, and so we did nothing but watch as he and his men fell. I watched in terror as natives swarmed him after being struck by lances. So a noble but foolish man died.
No comments:
Post a Comment