He demanded proofs, documents, papers, title-deeds, but the friars had none of these, resting their case on his concessions in the past.
Cabesang Tales' constant reply was: "If every day I give alms to a beggar to escape annoyance, who will oblige me to continue my gifts if he abuses my generosity ?" From this stand no one could draw him, nor were there any threats that could intimidate him.

In vain Governor M---- made a trip expressly to talk to him and frighten him.

His reply to it all was: "You may do what you like, Mr.Governor, I'm ignorant and powerless.

But I've cultivated those fields, my wife and daughter died while helping me clear them, and I won't give them up to any one but him who can do more with them than I've done.

Let him first irrigate them with his blood and bury in them his wife and daughter!" The upshot of this obstinacy was that the honorable judges gave the decision to the friars, and everybody laughed at him, saying that lawsuits are not won by justice.