Bulakan was also the scene of battle between the Spaniards led by Simón de Anda y Salazar and the British led by Captain Slay during the short British occupation of Manila. The British sent an expedition of 400 British, 300 Malabar Negroes and 2,000 Chinese allies. The Spaniards, with the natives of Bulacan, made a gallant stand but were defeated. Captain Slay eventually took over the town but did not last long.