The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898

 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, Volume XXIV, 1630-34

 Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord Bourne. 

CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXIV

 Preface 11

 History of the Augustinian order in the Filipinas Islands (concluded). Juan de Medina, O. S. A. ; 1630 [but printed at Manila, 1893]. 29

 Documents of 1630-1633

 Royal letters and decree. Felipe IV; Madrid, December 4-31, 1630. 183 Letter to Felipe IV from the bishop of Cebú. Pedro de Arce; Manila, July 31, 1631. 188 Royal orders, 1632-33. Felipe IV; Madrid, January-March, 1632, and March, 1633. 192 Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Niño de Tavora; Manila, July 8, 1632. 197 Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. [Unsigned]; Manila, July 2, 1632. 229 Letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcetas, and others; Manila, [undated, but 1632]. 245

 Documents of 1633-1634

 Papal bull concerning missions. Urban VIII; Maduti, June 28, 1633. 263 News from the Far East, 1632. Fray Juan García, O. P. ; Sevilla, 1633. 273 Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; Manila, August 14, 1633. 279 Report of archbishop on the bakery of Manila. Hernando de Guerrero; Manila, August 3, 1634. 295 News from Felipinas, Japon, and other parts. [Unsigned]; Manila, August 20, 1634. 297 Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; Manila, August 10, 1634. 301

 Bibliographical Data. 339

ILLUSTRATIONS

 Augustinian convent at Manila; photographic view from a plate in possession of Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid. _Frontispiece_. Interior of Augustinian church, Manila; photographic view from plate in possession of Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid. 61 Map of the island of Hermosa or Formosa, a portion of China, and of the island of Manila or Luzón; photographic facsimile of engraving in _Boletín de la Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid_, for February, 1882 (Madrid, 1882), xii, no. 2; from copy in the Library of Congress. 151 View of volcano and town of Ternate (with inset showing fortress of Gamma-Lamma); photographic facsimile of engraving in Valentyn's _Beschryving der Moluccos_ (contained in vol. I, _Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien_, Dordrecht and Amsterdam, 1724), first part, p. 4; from copy in library of Wisconsin State Historical Society. 281

PREFACE

More than half of this volume is occupied with the concludinginstallment of Juan de Medina's early Augustinian history. He recountsthe leading events therein, from one provincialship to another, and furnishes biographical sketches of the more prominent membersof the order: and he relates various important secular events, especially those bearing on the work of the missionaries. The moststriking occurrences in this period (1602-30) are the coming to theislands of missionaries from the Recollect branch of Augustinians, the assassination of the provincial Sepúlveda, the frequentattacks on the colony by the Dutch, and certain revolts among thenatives. Miscellaneous documents, dated 1630-34, comprise the rest ofthe volume. Affairs in the islands are in fairly prosperous condition, in the main; the insurgent natives have been pacified, the religiousorders are at peace, the Dutch have been quiet of late, and theJapanese trade shows some signs of revival. More missionaries areneeded, as also more care in selecting them. The treasury is heavilyindebted, and has not sufficient income; and trade restrictionsand Portuguese competition have greatly injured the commerce ofthe islands. Of painful interest to the Philippines are the cruelpersecutions that still rage in Japan. 

Medina, continuing his history, recounts the choice of Lorenzo de Leónas provincial of the Augustinian order, and his subsequent deposition;but this is stated in brief and cautious terms. In 1602 Pedro de Arce(later bishop of Cebú) is elected to that high post; Medina extolsthe virtues and ability of this noted prelate, and relates manythings to show these. He then proceeds to give another version of thedifficulties connected with the second election of Lorenzo de León, one side of which was told in _vol. Xiii_; Medina takes sides withthat provincial, and regrets his deposition from office, but contentshimself with a statement of the bare facts, and some general comments. 

In 1606, missionaries of the discalced (or Recollect) Augustiniansarrive in the Philippines. The missions established by them areenumerated, many being ceded to them by the regular Augustinians;their labors extend even to Cuyo and Calamianes, and eastern Mindanao, among the Moro peoples. León's unexpired term as provincial is mostworthily filled by Pedro de Arce. In 1608 he is succeeded by Fray Pedrode Solier, a man of great ability and zeal, who conducts the affairsof the province well, and brings the religious therein under stricterdiscipline. Certain differences arise between the two Augustinianorders, and an inspection of their houses and affairs is orderedfrom Rome. For those in Filipinas is appointed (1609) Fray Diego deGuevara, who had been sent to Europe some years before as an envoyfrom the city of Manila and from his order there. He sets out forthe Philippines with a large reënforcement of missionaries; but notall of these are permitted to embark at Acapulco. Medina gives briefsketches of the characters and lives of these men, and some accountof Guevara's proceedings as visitor of the province. The provincialSolier is exonerated from blame, incurred through erroneous reports ofhis conduct, but is obliged to go to Spain to render an account of it;he does this so well that he is made bishop of Porto Rico. In 1611 FrayMiguel García is elected provincial of Filipinas, and administers hisoffice very acceptably. Another reënforcement of missionaries arrivesin 1613; their outfit for the journey is so meager that they barelysurvive its hardships. By vote of the chapter of 1611, the intervalbetween its meetings was extended to four years. Much discontent arisesat this, and the act is revoked, the next chapter meeting in 1614. Anattempt is made to reduce the number entitled to vote therein; thisis done, although in the face of strong opposition. At the chapter of1614, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda is made provincial; his severity ofrule is onerous to his subordinates. The Dutch send a fleet to Arévalo;the Spanish commandant there takes to cowardly flight, as do all hisforces, and the enemy burn the town. The missionaries seek refuge inother places; and their convents shelter and feed homeless refugeesand hungry soldiers, to the extent of their resources. After theenemy's retreat, the fathers return to their missions, and encouragethe Indians to resume their former homes and labors. Another attack bythe Dutch, on Otón, is repulsed by the Spaniards, after a desperateresistance; and the latter build an excellent fort there, to defendthemselves from such raids. 

Fray Jerónimo de Salas is elected provincial in 1617, but dieswithin three weeks' time, and Sepúlveda succeeds to his post. Hisrigorous rule arouses much resentment; and he obstinately refuses, even when advised and warned, to give up his office. Finally, inAugust of that same year, Sepúlveda is murdered by three religiousof his own order. One of these escapes from the islands; the othertwo are hanged. Another meeting of the chapter is held (October 31, 1617) and Fray Alonso Baraona is made provincial. 

Archbishop Vazquez de Mercado dies, and is succeeded by the AugustinianPedro de Arce. The Dutch make an attempt (1618) on Luzón, but aredefeated by Ronquillo at Playa Honda. Juan de Silva's death is followedby the loss of the galleons that he had taken to Malaca. The Moropirates of Mindanao ravage the islands; a Spanish fleet is sent againstthem, and destroys many of their craft. An Augustinian friar persuadesthe survivors to surrender; these are afterward enslaved. Medinagives some account of Baraona's management of affairs as provincial. 

In the chapter of 1620 Juan Enríquez is elected provincial; headministers his office with discretion and faithfulness. Variousevents in his term are recorded by Medina. In that period the RecollectAugustinians establish themselves in Cebú and Mindanao. An insurrectionarises in Bohol, originating among the native sorcerers or priests;the Jesuit missionaries there induce the Spanish authorities at Cebúto send troops against the rebels, who are subdued by the aid of theHoly Child in Cebú. Another rising in Leyte is also put down, and theislands are saved for Spain. A severe earthquake is felt in all theislands, and does much damage. The constant danger of attack by theDutch greatly hinders the coming of missionaries to the islands. Thehardships and dangers experienced by a band of these gospelers aredepicted by our writer. 

In 1623 Fray Alonso de Méntrida becomes provincial, attaining in thatoffice great renown, and displaying much ability and zeal. Medinaenumerates, here as elsewhere, the missionaries received by thisprovince from Spain. The next election raises to this dignity FrayHernando Becerra; but his health is very poor, and he dies soon afterbecoming provincial. His temporary successor, Méntrida, is opposed bymany, and is finally obliged to resign, the intervention of GovernorNiño de Tavora being required to settle the affair. The governmentof the order is now taken by Fray Francisco Bonifacio, "the mostpacific creature that has been in Filipinas. " Medina relates some ofthe hardships and dangers that the missionaries in that country mustencounter; the hostilities between the Joloans and the Spaniards, under Tavora; and the burning of the Recollect convent at Cebú, soon followed by the like destruction of the Augustinian conventthere. Medina goes to Manila, and obtains for his Cebú convent enoughaid to rebuild its house and church, and supply all their necessaryequipment, even better than before. He describes the expeditionsto Formosa under Silva and Tavora, the latter (a futile attempt)being accompanied by an Augustinian religious; and the burning of theParián. The Augustinian missions at Maluco and Cavite are abandoned. 

In 1629 Fray Juan de Henao becomes provincial, at which time arisevarious controversies in the order. To settle one of these, an envoyis sent to Rome, Fray Pedro García; but he dies before reachingNueva España. The archbishop of Manila is carried away by a fever;Medina eulogizes his virtues and ability. He gives an account of theunsuccessful expedition against the Joloans, led by Olaso; it "returnedto Manila the laughing-stock of all the islands. " The burdens imposedon the Indians for its equipment have occasioned much distress andmany deaths among them; and its failure causes those of Cagayan totalk of revolt. The year 1630 is unusually stormy, and all the shipson the Acapulco route suffer disasters and loss of life. Religiousare unwilling to risk their lives in crossing the Pacific, and themissions in the islands suffer accordingly. A ship built at Caviteis so poorly constructed that it partially capsizes at the time ofsetting sail, by which great loss of property and life ensues. Medinais so fortunate as to escape to shore--one of many like deliverances, which he proceeds to recount, as also a miracle performed by the"Santo Niño" at Cebú. 

The persecutions in Japan still continue, yet religious go thither indisguise, at the risk of death. An expedition is sent out from Manilato capture any Dutch vessels that may be encountered on the coastsof Siam and Camboja. Their destruction of a Japanese junk occasionsvarious embassies between the Philippines and Japan--the last of thesein 1631, desiring to resume trade between those countries. This andsome other occurrences in that year seem to have been added laterby Medina to his manuscript, which purports to have been written in1630. In 1629 an expedition is fitted out by the religious orders tosend missionaries to Japan, but it proves a failure. The canonizationof Japanese martyrs is the occasion for magnificent spectaclesin Manila--processions, dances, comedies, etc. Irritated by harshtreatment from an arrogant Spanish officer, the Indians of Caragánrevolt, killing the Spaniards, among whom are several missionaries;but troops from Cebú are sent there, and quell the rising. 

Resuming the miscellaneous documents of that period, letters are sentto Manila (December, 1630) by the king regarding various matters thathave been referred to him. Felipe orders that certain offices shallbe sold; that the natives must pay at least part of their tributesin kind; and that the salaries of the auditors be more promptlypaid. Command is given that war-ships in the islands be no longerbuilt so large as hitherto, as they are expensive, unwieldy, and insome circumstances useless. A letter to the auditors gives directionsfor the method of procedure in trying certain cases of appeal; andanswers some questions which the auditors had asked. Bishop Arce, of Cebú, writes to the king (July 31, 1631). He congratulates Felipeon the birth of a son; comments on some royal decrees just received;recommends a person as schoolmaster in the Manila church; and advisesthe appointment of the royal fiscal as protector of the Sangleys. 

Early in 1632 several royal orders are despatched to the colony. In aletter of January 27, the king writes to Tavora on several matters:the monopoly of the sale of playing-cards, the sale of offices, andthe salary of the acting archbishop. A decree of March 25, addressedto the municipal authorities of Manila, warns them to enforce theroyal decrees as to the proper consignment and registration of goodssent to Mexico; and another, issued on the following day, orders thatsecular priests from India be not allowed to go to the Philippines. 

The usual report of Governor Tavora (July 8, 1632) is in threesections, the first devoted to general affairs of government. Hecomplains that the remittances from Nueva España are painfullyinadequate for the needs of the colony and its troops; and that heneeds more soldiers than are sent to the islands. The royal visitor, Rojas, is doing very careful and thorough work in inspecting theadministration of the colony, but is arrogating to himself too muchauthority in regard to the expenditure of public moneys; accordingly, Tavora appeals to the king against some of Rojas's decisions, andargues for allowing a reasonable amount of liberty in this matterto the governor and Audiencia. This is especially necessary becausethe colony has so many enemies that it must always be in a stateof defense, and its people cannot wait to receive royal orders whenan enemy is at their gates. A controversy between the royal and themunicipal officials regarding their respective rights of precedencehas been duly settled. The relations between Manila and Japan, latelystrained by the capture of a Japanese junk by Spaniards, are now morefriendly, and some trade between the two countries is being carriedon. The Japanese have shipped a number of lepers who are Christiansfrom that country to Manila; the Spaniards accept this charge, and makeroom for the lepers in the hospital for natives. The king is asked toaid in the expenses of their care. Tavora describes his relations withthe peoples on the opposite mainland; makes recommendations regardingcertain offices; explains the condition of the vessel which sank atManila in the preceding year; and defends himself from accusationsof illegal participation in the Mexican trade. 

Another section treats of military affairs. Tavora (who writes but afortnight before his death) thanks the king for preferment bestowedupon him, but fears that he will not live to enjoy it; and informsFelipe of the heavy losses that he has incurred in coming to Filipinasand acting as governor, asking that some arrangement may be made forthe settlement of his more pressing debts. Trade with the Japanese isbeing resumed. The post of general of artillery is superfluous, andshould be abolished. Affairs in Hermosa are prospering; the provinceof Cagayán is pacified, and severe punishment has been inflicted on therebellious natives of Caraga. The relief expedition to Ternate has beensuccessful, and the Dutch power seems to be waning in those seas. Butthe only effective check upon the Dutch enemy is found in the Spanishestablishments in the Philippines and Moluccas, for which Tavoraurges more systematic and reliable aid from the home government--notonly for the sake of the Philippine colony, but even more for thatof all India, which is in danger of ruin if the heretics be not heldback. The governor has made a successful beginning of shipbuildingfor the islands, in the country of Camboja. Certain disputed mattersconnected with the military service are referred to the king. 

Some ecclesiastical affairs are also mentioned. The archbishop-electhas had some difficulties in securing possession of his see, and theAudiencia has decided against him. The religious orders refuse to obeythe royal decree as to changes and appointments of missionaries. Thesee of Camarines has long been vacant; Tavora suggests that thisdiocese be abolished, annexing its territory to those of Cebúand Manila. The religious orders are in peaceable condition. Moremissionaries are needed in the islands but Tavora urges that morecare be exercised in selecting them. He asserts that his solicitudein this respect has incurred the ill-will of the friars toward him. 

The usual Jesuit chronicle is furnished for the years 1630-32. Thewriter notes the general peace enjoyed by the Philippine colony, who have not been molested of late by the Dutch; also the rebellion(now being quelled) of the Indians in Caraga. The Japanese offer toreopen trade with Manila; but this writer regards all their friendlyproposals as a veil for intended treachery toward the Spaniards. Thepersecution of Christian teachers and converts in Japan is stillfurious; and this subject occupies most of the document, in aletter from a Jesuit in that country, Father Christoval Ferreira, to the Manila provincial. This relates the tortures inflicted on fivepriests and two women, but without avail, to induce them to give upthe Christian faith; also the martyrdoms of many others. This accountis of peculiar and pathetic interest because its writer, Ferreira, was the only one of the Jesuits arrested in Japan who became, underthe strain of torture, an apostate; this occurred a year after hewrote the letter. 

The ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila write to the king (1632), urgingthat royal aid be given to the cathedral, in consideration of itspoverty and needs. They complain that the highest positions in thediocese are filled by friars, to the neglect and discouragementof the native-born seculars who are being educated in the twouniversities at Manila. The cathedral needs a permanent subsidy forits current provision of wine, etc. , and a special grant to finishits sacristy. Its service is painfully inadequate; to save theexpense of salaries for additional canons, the cabildo recommendthat some of the missions and benefices now held by the religiousorders be turned over to the cathedral. They recommend royal favorfor certain priests in Manila, and especially praise the labors ofthe Augustinian order in the islands; more missionaries are neededthere, especially for the Augustinian Recollects. The writers commendalso certain military officials; but they denounce the treasuryofficials for having permitted contraband trade of enormous extentwith Mexico. They remonstrate against the appointment of Fray Guerreroto the archbishopric; and highly commend the character, abilities, and work of the royal visitor Rojas. 

A papal bull concerning missions is issued (June 28, 1633) by Urban VIII. After citing previous decrees of the Holy See respectingthe despatch of missionaries to Japan and the Philippines, and theirjourneys between those countries, Urban grants permission to the headsof religious orders to send missionaries to the countries and islandsof Eastern India by other routes than that of Portugal. He also warnsthe religious thus sent to observe uniformity of instructions to thenewly-converted heathen, "especially in matters relating to morals, "and "to restrict their teaching to general principles. " They must basetheir instruction on the Roman Catechism and Bellarmino's "ChristianDoctrine. " They are empowered to administer the sacraments to theChristians in Japan; and are strictly forbidden to engage in anyform of trade, directly or indirectly. The superiors of orders aredirected to enforce the penalties herein imposed on religious who mayviolate this prohibition; and disputes arising between orders are tobe settled by the bishops of the respective countries, who are alsodirected to enforce the observance of these decrees. 

A Dominican at Manila, Juan García, sends (1632) to Sevilla such newsas he can gather soon after his arrival in the islands. In Japan, it issaid, the emperor has imprisoned many Dutchmen; and, with the declineof their influence, he has become more lenient to the Christians, sending them into exile instead of putting them to death. But anyfriars or preachers captured there are horribly tortured. The Dominicanmission to Camboja has been unsuccessful. Formosa is being conquered bysoldiers, and Dominican friars are making some conversions there. Someof these preachers have gone to China, where the field is enormous, but full of promise. 

Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, governor _ad interim_ between Tavoraand Corcuera, sends a report to the king (August 14, 1633). Thefirst section relates to military affairs. The forts and troopsin the islands are enumerated. It is somewhat doubtful whether theoccupation of Formosa should be maintained. More care should be takenin sending reënforcements to Ternate, and Heredia should be supersededas governor. The galleys belonging to the government are useless, and Cerezo will dispense with all save that at Ternate. There isquarreling over the legal status of the army men in the courts, which should be defined. 

Another section relates to general affairs of government. Cerezo againpoints out the importance of the trade with China and Japan. Therelations of Manila, however, with Japan are no longer friendly--acondition of affairs for which the governor blames the "zeal withoutdiscretion" of certain religious who, disobeying the royal decrees, go to Japan as preachers. He asks the king to command the religiousorders to send no more friars to that country. The trade withChina is falling off, mainly because the Portuguese of Macao haveabsorbed much of it. Cerezo recommends that their trade with Manilabe prohibited. He comments on the scantiness of the male population;commends the administration of Rojas, the royal inspector; and makessome minor recommendations to the king. 

In regard to the public revenues, Cerezo states that the treasuryis burdened with debts; the shipyards are bare of supplies; andthe contraband trade with Mexico has attained large proportions. Tocheck this latter evil, the governor recommends that all money sentto Manila be openly registered at Acapulco, imposing on it a duty offive per cent; and a different system of inspecting the Philippinecargoes there be adopted. 

In compliance with royal command, the archbishop of Manila reports(August 3, 1634) on the public bakery at Manila. He finds it wellbuilt and managed, and recommends that all ovens in the city shouldbe merged in this bakery. 

A Jesuit letter from Manila (August 20, 1634) gives interestingnews from Japan. The persecution there is still very cruel, and manymissionaries have been arrested lately; but the emperor is becomingfor the time more lenient, through the influence of certain omensand of his cure from an illness through the prayers of the captivemissionaries. The writer hopes, therefore, that Iyemidzu "may be theConstantine of the church" in Japan. 

The annual report of Governor Cerezo for 1634 begins with affairs ofthe revenue. The treasury officials refuse to obey the orders leftfor them by Rojas; the governor therefore arrests them, which soonbrings them to terms. Nevertheless, he excuses their disobedienceto some extent, on account of the rigorous and difficult natureof Rojas's orders; he instances some of these which embarrass bothhimself and the royal officials. The king has ordered an additionalduty to be levied on goods exported to Nueva España; the citizensobject to paying this, and finally the matter is temporarily settledby a council of the authorities, both civil and religious, until thehome government can take action. The governor reports that the royalvisitor Rojas did not really accomplish much for the treasury; butexaggerated his own services. He also reminds the king of his formersuggestion for checking the illegal despatch of money to Filipinas. 

As for affairs of government, there is the usual conflict betweenthe Audiencia and the governor, which hinders the latter in thedischarge of his duties. They interfere with his authority, try tosecure the trial of the Chinese lawsuits, acquit delinquents, andmeddle in municipal affairs; and he intimates his desire that theybe despatched to other branches of his Majesty's service. Cerezoasks for enlightenment in several difficult matters connected withthe respective jurisdictions of himself and the Audiencia. Thisyear the Portuguese of Macao have failed to trade at Manila, andthe Chinese, although they have brought considerable merchandise, furnish but little cloth. The expedition sent to Formosa is badlytreated by the Portuguese at Macao, of which Cerezo complains tothe king. He describes the island of Formosa, the Spanish settlementthere, the nature of the people, and the reasons why a Spanish postwas established there; he regards this enterprise as useless andundesirable, and states that the soldiers in that island are neededat Manila. The persecution of Christians in Japan still continues;Cerezo doubts the supposed improvement in the shôgun's attitudetoward them, and recommends that no more religious be allowed togo to that country. He describes his method of procedure toward theChinese, both resident and non-resident; he endeavors to treat themwith justice and kindness, and recommends a suitable person for thepost of their protector. Liberal aid has been sent to the islandsthis year from Mexico. 

In military affairs, Cerezo recommends the abandonment of Formosaand other unnecessary forts, and the concentration of the Spanishforces at Manila. The fort there is in fair state of defense, but thewall of the city is in ruinous condition, and the governor is havingit repaired and strengthened. He recommends that some galleys bemaintained at Otón or Cebú, to keep the Moro pirates in awe: and thata new commandant be sent to Ternate in place of Heredia, who has shownhimself unfitted to hold that office. A mutiny has occurred there, which he has cruelly punished; and he is blamed for an insurrectionin Tidore which has replaced its king with another who is friendly tothe Dutch. The port of Cavite must be well maintained and provided withsupplies. No ships from India have arrived, probably because the Straitof Malacca and the neighboring waters have been infested by the Dutch. 

Little is said about ecclesiastical affairs. "The orders are conductingthemselves in an exemplary manner, except that they often usurp theroyal jurisdiction, under pretext of defending the natives, and takeaway the authority from the alcaldes-mayor. " The acting archbishopis commended, and recent appointments are mentioned. 

_The Editors_

March, 1905. 

 HISTORIA DE LA ORDEN DE S. AGUSTIN DE ESTAS ISLAS FILIPINAS

 (Concluded)

 By Fray Juan de Medina, O. S. A. , Manila, 1893 [but written in 1630]. 

_Source_: Translated from a copy of the above work, in the possessionof the Editors. 

_Translation_: This document is translated (and in part synopsized)by James A. Robertson. 

 HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN ORDER IN THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS

 By Fray Juan de Medina, O. S. A. 

 (Concluded)

CHAPTER XXX

_Of the first election of our father Fray Lorenzo de León_

With the fourth of May, 1596, all the capitular religious of thisprovince of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús of Filipinas assembled, andwithout much debate cast their votes for father Fray Lorenzo deLeón, [1] a native of the city of Granada, and son of the houseat Méjico, whose learning, ability to preach, and other goodqualities made him very well known, and caused him to be electedwithout opposition. Accordingly he won the contest as provincial, to the general liking of all the religious of the province, boththose voting and those who had no vote. All were assured that hewould govern rightly because of his prudence, and beyond doubt hisgovernment was all that. The province during his term had the honorand repute that was proper. Since his method of procedure was alikefor all the religious, it was necessary in the following chapter toretire the provincial to his devotion; and one may infer that in thatit acted more for the common welfare than its own. 

Thereupon, the voting religious being assembled, cast their votes, without any opposition, for Fray Juan de Montesdoza, [2] son ofthe house at Méjico, a native of the city of Utrera, near Sevillain Andalucia. He was a most excellent provincial, for one alwaysrecognized in him a remarkable integrity of morals, and he was muchgiven to prayer and divine worship. He endeavored as earnestly aspossible to give his whole being to the order, and not to be foundlacking in his ministry. He visited his entire province wheneverpossible; and that which has always been most annoying to theprovincials in respect to its visitation--namely, the province ofBisayas--was not troublesome to him, for he visited it. He did nothesitate at the suffering or the dangers of navigation, which attimes is wont to be especially perilous, because of the many stormsthat generally invade the islands, and the not few enemies. He wasconsidered lost, for he was not heard of for more than four months; forthey wrote from the Bisayas that he had already embarked for Manila, and he had not arrived. Finally, the Lord was pleased to bring himto our doors when he was least expected. God is a Father of pity, and attends to His children (and more to His servants) when theyfind themselves most in need of Him. He was received in the conventof Manila by many people, for all revered him as a servant of God, loved him as a father, and respected him as a true prelate. 

On the twenty-second of April, 1602, the chapter was convened inthe house at Manila. Father Fray Pedro Arce, who is now bishop ofthe city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesús, and who has twice governedthe archbishopric of Manila, was elected in it. Father Fray Mateo deMendoza presided at that election, while father Fray Juan de Montesdozawas the absolute provincial, as we call it, or the freed one, since nowhe is no longer provincial. The first definitor was Fray Agustín deTapía, the second, Fray Bernabé de Villalobos, the third, Fray Diegode Zerrabe, and the fourth, Fray Diego de Salcedo. As visitors wereelected Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya and Fray Francisco Serrano. [3]All, having assembled, as our rules ordered, enacted very wholesomeregulations, and provided for the province with those mandates, which were seen to be more necessary at that time, in order to checkthereby the boldness of certain men, who were giving room for thedecay of the province, which in nothing loses more than by permittingit to relax in its rigor. For even there it is said that the bow mustsometimes loose the string which holds it bent, in order to give itrest and so that it may not break. I grieve over this, that it issaid in the order, so that at times some reasonable recreation maybe allowed; but in that which touches the essential aspects of it, it does not seem right that it be lost, for never have I seen thatwhat is once lost in point of religion is regained. It appeared, therefore, easier to our father St. Ignatius to found a new orderthan to reform an old one, where its members were already used tosuch and such a manner of life. It is a hard thing, when established, to reduce them to a greater degree of virtue. And since those menmust remain in the same order, it is always an impossible thing toreduce them to that which they have never observed. .. . 

Father Fray Pedro de Arce, who was chosen at this elevation, was sucha person that, were I to praise him, I think, that my tongue woulddo him an injury, for another pen and another language must tell hisvirtues. He came to this province as a lay brother. He was ordainedhere and completed his studies, and always gave signs of what he wasto become; for his modesty, his charity, his devotion, even while abrother, appeared so conspicuous, and were increasing in such a manner, that not only were the islands full of his good name and great virtues, but they even came to the ears of Felipe III, who presented him forthe bishopric of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While in this country, the decree of the year 1610 was sent him, which caused the holy manconsiderable vexation, so that he did not know what to do; for itseemed a grievous thing for him to abandon the quietness of his cell, and to exchange it for the majesty of a bishop, to which he was notinclined. Accordingly, he resigned the bishopric into the hands ofthe father master Fray Pedro Solier, [4] who was provincial at thattime. The latter considered that if he [_i. E. _, Fray Pedro] were toaccept it honor would come to the order, advantage to the city ofSantísimo Nombre de Jesus, and service to his Majesty, the king oursovereign, who having heard of the holiness of the person in question, was considering himself as very well served in that the father shouldaccept it. Consequently, when he returned to the holy superior--whomhe supplicated on his knees, with the decree in his hand, to allow himnot to accept it--the provincial ordered Fray Pedro, by his obedience, to comply with his Majesty's commands, and to render him thanks forit, and that he would do the same for what pertained to the order;thereupon the former accepted, and gave up his cell, in which therewas nothing of importance. Although he was prior, and exercised thehighest duties of the province, he was ever the keenest advocateof poverty, and so great a giver of alms that even now, although abishop, he must be restrained; for he gives everything away, and hehas no greater happiness than when some needy person begs from himand enters his gates. 

What then would this holy provincial do? One sees with how muchcare he would watch over his flock, striving to maintain themwithout quarreling, and observing in everything the entirety of therules. With the obstinate, he was rigid and severe; with the humble, most humble; with the afflicted, he held himself as a pious fatherwho desires their good, and consoled them. As far as was possible, he followed the advice of Fray Pedro de Agurto, his successor in thebishopric, as he was so holy and learned a man. For since the affairsof the province had somewhat declined, and in visiting he found somereligious who were prohibited by the rules--and, in fact, tryingto remove them--the holy prelate counseled him that such religiouswere men of weight, and that he should receive their renunciationssecretly; and that when the intermediate chapter should be assembled, then he should show them and provide those convents. Thereby would hebe fulfilling his obligation, and would also be considering the honorof those religious, who if they were removed before, would be injured, as it would be understood that it had been because of their demerits;but it was a customary thing to do that in chapter, for it was apparentto all that religious were changed at that time. He did this as thebishop had counseled him, and thus the matter was remedied as far aspossible without any scandal. 

He visited the entire province, and went to that of the Pintados--whichwas his own, where he was reared, and where he had been priorof Panay, Octóng, and Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While he wasmaking the visitation there, it happened that news was broughtthat the inhabitants of Mindanao were coming with a large fleet todestroy the islands. This tidings was certain; and another fleetwas prepared with all possible despatch in Sugbú, in order thatthe Spaniards might defend themselves, and if possible, drive theenemy from the islands. Although diligent efforts were made in this, when our fleet set sail already had the enemy rounded the islandof Panay. Our fleet, which consisted of seven caracoas and four orfive barangays, followed the enemy. They reached the islets of Asur, where they heard that the enemy had passed there, with the intention ofburning the city of Arévalo and the village of Octóng, with all theirprovisions. The captain and commander of our fleet was Captain Salgado, then alcalde-mayor of Sugbú. The two fleets met near Pan de Azúcar[_i. E. _, "Sugar Loaf"]. The Spaniards were very resolute. The enemyformed themselves in a crescent with sixty caracoas. So senseless werethey that they untied their captives, threw them overboard, and cameto attack our boats. I know not the captain's design or purpose, thatmade him dally with the enemy, so that the latter were shouting outspiritedly and imagining that they were feared. The father provincialand his companion, Fray Hernando Guerrero, [5] talked encouragingly tothe petty leaders, and encouraged and even shamed them so much that, already late, they gave the signal to attack. Thereupon, the enemysought shelter, and after steering their caracoas to where theythought that they had more safety, they divided. The captain didnot pursue them nor do more than to go to Arévalo. On that accounthe lost a good opportunity and much credit. He should have continuedto pursue them; for, when night fell, the caracoas of the frightenedenemy remained along those coasts. The commander could easily haveoverhauled them with our caracoas, and could have given the enemy ablow that would have done much to finish them; but he failed to doso. The efforts that he finally put forth, and the attack, are owingto the resolution and bravery of our father Fray Pedro de Arce, inwhich one may consider his desire for the common good. For, althoughhe might have sent other religious, he went in person, and put no valueon his own life. [6] He returned to Manila, where he finished his term, creating the desire in the fathers to see him provincial forever. 

In the chapter that elected our father Montesdoza, procuratorswere sent to España and to the Roman court. The papers and title ofdefinitor of the chapter were given to our father Fray Lorenzo de León, who has just finished his provincialate. He embarked at the port ofCavite, made the trip to Nueva España safely, and likewise to thecourt of King Felipe III, of blessed memory. He did not go to Roma, but sent his papers from España. He was very well received at court, for the papers that he carried from the islands were excellent, and inhis person he merited everything. They were very desirous to appointhim archbishop of Manila, and it is even said that they begged him toaccept rewards, and congratulated him. But that shadow was dissipatedinstantly, as there was not wanting an evil-minded person to spoil itall by a malicious tale. For father Fray Lorenzo de León had ever thename of a most devout religious; and as such the province of Filipinas, which at that time was most noted for its religious devotion, electedhim as its superior and provincial. But who can free himself froman evil tongue, and an ill will? For the loyal man lives no longerthan the traitor desires. His hopes were frustrated, a matter thattroubled him little, as he was a humble religious. He undertook toreturn [to Filipinas], and our king gave him commission to bringover a ship-load of religious. He received letters as vicar-generalof the islands from Roma, so that he might always preside at thechapters held there. He had letters as master, and his academicdegree; and brought a dispensation from our most reverend [general], so that, if elected as provincial the second time, he might serve;for the rules prohibit him who presides from becoming provincial. Hereached Méjico, although without that so notable ship-load, whichhe failed to bring, because of various casualties; with him came, however, one who was sufficient to render that vessel glorious, andeven the entire province. This was the holy martyr, Fray Hernando deSan José. [7] Together with him came father Fray Hernando de Morales, father Fray Felipe Gallada, father Fray Pedro del Castillo, fatherFray Martín de San Nicolás, [8] all from Méjico, and brother FrayAndrés García. The heads of the Inquisition in Méjico appointed him[_i. E. _, Lorenzo de León] commissary for the islands. With thesehonorable titles and honors he came to Manila, one year before thechapter was held. He gladdened by his coming all the sons [of theorder], and all the others, for the order knows no distinction, but embraces us all with the same love and charity. His prudence, his good government, and his great devotion were remembered; andsince he bore letters ordering him to be obeyed as vicar-general, therefore the number of prelates was increased. Thus presiding inthe following chapter, in 1605, he received votes as provincial, in rivalry with father Fray Estéban Carrillo [9]--one of the mosteloquent preachers in the islands; and the best loved by all, bothgreat and small, who has ever been known. Finally the astuteness, or rather, the diligence of certain ones prevailed, and father FrayLorenzo de León became provincial _pro secunda vice_ [_i. E. _, "forthe second time"]. 

CHAPTER XXXI

_Of the second election as provincial of master Father Lorenzo de León_

With the advent, then, of the year 1605, in the latter days of April, our fathers assembled in the islands, as is the custom. On the Fridaybefore the third Sunday after Easter, our father Fray Lorenzo de Leónwent to take over the presidency by virtue of his letters-patent, and they were found to be such as were required. In consequence, hewas received as president of that chapter, over which he presided, notonly as president, but as vicar-general. The election resulted in [thechoice of] his person, as above stated. In it, the first definitor wasfather Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya; the second, father Fray EstébanCarrillo; the third, father Fray Pedro de Aguirre; and the fourth, father Fray Roque de Barrionuevo. Father Fray Miguel de Sigüenzahad the vote for president in this definitorio, and as visitors wereelected father Fray Mateo de Peralta [10] and father Fray FranciscoSerrano. All assembled, they ordained and enacted the acts that theyjudged advisable in accordance with that time. All those acts showthe sincerity of those who enacted them, and they provided not onlyfor the welfare of the order, but for that of the native fathersunder our charge; for surely, under our shadow they increase andare sheltered. And if religious were lacking, what would become ofthem? Beyond doubt they would be like the wretched boat exposed tothe fury of the winds, which has no greater security upon the watersthan where the winds choose to carry it. For this one orders them, that one petitions them, and another one seizes and knocks them about;but with the protection of the religious they are free from all theseannoyances. Very conformably with this, religious were establishedin the missions in order to teach them and often to protect them. 

Our father provincial entered upon the exercise of his office withthe same wisdom and prudence as in his first term, attending toit with all his might. However, his second term was not apparentlyso successful as the first--caused perhaps by various casualties, which have no place here, and do not affect the matter at all. Inshort, the affair was running badly and the body of the province wasbecoming laden with humors. I well believe that our father knew it all, and that he could have been less rigid, and that without dividingthe forces that were forming. He thought that they were religious, and he the superior; and that all dissent, however violent, would beonly murmur--just like certain huge clouds that predict great storms, but finally and at the end, the entire storm is expended in cloudsof dust, thunders, and lightnings, so that that storm ends with onlynoise. But such did not happen here, but the matter went farther; andthe father definitors, within one and one-half years, after meeting, deposed our father Fray Lorenzo de León. They sent him to España; buthe remained in the province of Méjico, without wishing more than toserve our Lord, and ended his days there, as one may understand of sorenowned a religious, leaving his cause in the hands of God. I leaveit likewise; for, if we glance at the definitorio which assembledthere, there is no doubt that it was one of the most sober-mindedcouncils ever assembled in the province. And even were there noneother in it than our father Fray Pedro de Arce, who presided in it, he was sufficient to ensure that; but it was much more creditable, for the others were very erudite. Father Fray Juan Bautista de Montoyawas the most notable man in laws and moral causes that has been in theislands, and was no less a very great theologue. Father Fray EstébanCarrillo, as we have said already, was a great orator, and the otherfathers were very learned. On the part of our father provincial, it was known that he was very devout, very punctual in attendingto his obligations and that his first term was considered as mostsuccessful. Hence, without taking from anyone what belongs to him, we leave this matter with God, who has already judged it, and He hasbeen pleased to take all those concerned in it. Bishop Fray Pedro deAgurto was at his bishopric in Sugbú at this time. He was desirousof remedying what was already becoming established, and even lefthis city for that purpose. But when he reached Manila, he found thatthere was no remedy. He sorrowed greatly over this blow at the order, for, as the true religious that he was, he felt, as keenly as death, whatever misfortune came upon the order. In the world this proceedingwas discussed with the charity that is exercised in other things;but, when everything was over, it was also erased from memory--andmore, as the government of our father Fray Pedro de Arce followedimmediately, who exercised the office of rector-provincial for thatone and one-half years, and his fame and well-known virtue filledeverything with fragrance and good-will. 

[The order of discalced Augustinians in Spain petition for leave to goto the islands in 1605. The petition granted, a number of them set out;and, after waiting at Sevilla for some time for vessels, reach Mexico, where they are entreated to found a convent. Refusing this request, however, they continue on their journey, reaching the Philippines, in 1606, under the leadership of Juan de San Jerónimo. "They weregiven a house outside the city in a garden [11] that had belongedto Don Pedro de Acuña, who governed these islands. .. . But those whotreated the said fathers most generously were Ours, for we gave themour best and brightest jewel, namely, San Nicolás, allowing them tofound their convent in his name. This meant wholly to enrich them andto leave us poor. " Further, a layman named Don Bernardino, captain andcastellan of the port of Manila, builds a convent for the new order"sufficient for forty religious. " At death he and his wife also leavemoney to continue the work, and the new order begins to multiply. ]

Since then those fathers have continued to establish convents here. Foras they were the last, and the islands are in the conditions underwhich Miguel López de Legazpi left them, there was not before any placewhere they could settle. However, outside Manila, they possess a smallhouse called Sampaloc, because it has many tamarind trees. There theyminister to a few Tagáls, and one religious lives there generally. [12]It has a stone church and house. They have a garden with a stonehouse and its chapel (where one religious lives), near the walls ofManila, in the suburbs. Opposite the island of Mariveles, in the samedistrict of Manila, they have a Tagál mission. It is but small, and, with its visitas, does not amount to four hundred Indians. But fartheralong the coast, they have two Zambal missions of settled Indians, which are situated nearer here than Ilocos. One is called Masinlocand the other Bolinao. [13] Each one must have more than five hundredIndians. They have also extended from here to other islands. They musthave three convents in the islands of Cuyo and Calamianes, more thansixty leguas from Manila. Those islands are full of people, so that, if they would come down from the mountains, many missions might beestablished; for in that region the islands are innumerable. Thereis the large island of Paragua, and thence succeed islands and isletseven to Burney, the largest island known in all this archipelago. Butthere is little hope of entering it, for the king and all the coastIndians are Mahometans. But those living in the upland and mountainsare even pagans. By the above, the ease with which this damnable poisonhas extended will be apparent. Had God's mercy been retarded a triflelonger in hastening the steps of the Spaniards, the latter would havefound no place to settle; for as I have remarked, long experienceshows that the Mahometan will not receive the Christian law which isso contrary to his hellish customs. The religious suffered many thingsin those islands as they were exposed to a thousand temporal dangers, and to enemies, with whom the whole region swarms. Those missionshad seculars; and although they did their best, yet at present thatregion has another luster, for it appears that the religious, beingmore in number, are more suitable for this work. 

Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce gave the fathers another mission in theisland of Negros, opposite the island of Panay. I think it their bestmission, as it is located nearer us. It has two religious, who do verygood work. The bishop gave them also many missions in Caraga, wherethey will be able to spread. Later, we shall conclude this subject withwhat the fathers have built in Cavite, the port of Manila, in honorof San Nicolás--namely, a house and church, which is the best there. 

[About the time that the Recollects sail Father Master Solier ispreparing also to go to the Philippines. He has been given "equalpower with him whom the province sent as procurator, in case of thelatter's death. " The procurator dies at sea, whereupon Father Solierassumes his office. He sails with twenty-six Augustinian religious, eight of whom remain in New Spain--where they suffer many things, for the government of affairs there falls into the hands of thecreole fathers. ]

Those who remained were well received in Filipinas, where they weredesired. They were distributed among the convents, as seemed bestto our father Fray Lorenzo de León. But as soon as this contingentarrived, the discussions that had been aroused increased; so that, as we have seen, the intermediary chapter deprived him [of his office]as above stated. 

CHAPTER XXXII

_Of the election of our father Fray Pedro de Solier_

Our father Fray Pedro de Arce, acting with that uprightness thatalways characterized him, for the period that remained to govern, assembled his chapter, in pursuance of the orders of our rules, namely, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of April, 1608. In thischapter, there did not fail to be its little animosities, occasioned, in my opinion, by the fact that the province found itself so far outof swaddling-clothes, that it had enough people and workers to giveand to found another province. For, as we have seen, men of grandabilities had gone from España and from Nueva España, while habitshad been given to many good men in Manila. Consequently, there weremany men on whom to set the eyes. Father Fray Estéban Carrillo wasa man of the talents which we have already mentioned, and receivedvotes. The father president also received them, and so grand a manwas he, and so admired, that opinions were not lacking that he mightbecome provincial. But the father Master Solier, although he wasyoungest of all in years, was apparently well liked for his character, and his labors in navigations, and the service which he had rendered tothis province in bringing it so glorious men. Finally, God was pleasedthat he should win in the contest, and become provincial. The fatherpresident had to confirm this action, giving him a dispensation forthe years that he lacked. Then, proceeding to the other elections, thefollowing definitors were elected: first, Fray Francisco Serrano;second, Fray Pedro de Salcedo; third, Fray Jerónimo de Salas;and fourth, Fray Hernando de Trujillo. [14] The visitors who wereelected were father Fray Juan de Villalobos and father Fray MiguelGarcia. In council with the president, provincial-elect, and therector provincial, they arranged [the affairs of] the province, both in order to provide the convents with heads, and to-adjust otherthings pertaining to the spiritual welfare. And in fact, consideringthe enactments of other chapters, it seems that they attained somuch excellence in this chapter, that if it did not surpass them, at least it shone out strongly--especially a letter which our fatherMaster Solier sent to the provinces, so learned, spiritual, and sosuitable to the times that it could not be more so. Its warnings wereso necessary, not only for that time, but for any most importantthing. I cannot excuse myself from writing here the chief thing, so that one may see the desires for the increase of their order, and the love with which they discussed matters touching the natives, which shone forth in those fathers. In the time of our father Solier, the province had a very good reputation, for it made itself fearedand respected. Consequently, there was no difficulty in receivinghis mandates and enforcing them, so that the province was greatlyreformed. The great devotion of our father Fray Miguel García, whowas then chosen as prior of the convent of Manila, aided him. Hewas later provincial, and after that he went to España, where hisMajesty presented him as bishop of Cagayán. He returned to theseislands with a fine company [of religious], and in the islands wasappointed archbishop of Manila. .. . 

Thus, then, as I have said, the convent of Manila did not differ atall in divine worship from the most devout house in España; for theexercise in the choir was continuous, both day and night, and therewas no cessation, unless necessity demanded it, when some of itcould be dispensed with; for so did our rules decree for that. Theinfirmary was so full of all comforts, and so well cared for, thattruly there was nothing lacking of anything which the sick asked, or that the physician demanded. I being attacked by a sudden illnesswhen I arrived at these islands, because of the change in climate, so great was the attention with which I was cared for that it couldnot have been more in the house of my parents, although they werevery wealthy. Consequently, I became better very soon, and was wellenough to go to the province of Bisayas; and, although I was unworthy, it must have been the will of the Lord that I should come. The fathersmade strenuous efforts to have me remain there, and even our fatherprior himself, Fray Miguel García, would have liked me to remain asmaster of novitiates. That which grieves me is that I have served theLord so very little, although I have been offered enough opportunitiesin which to serve Him. 

Two years after the provincialate of our father Solier began, avisitor-general arrived, to visit this province in behalf of hisHoliness and our most reverend father-general, and to reform it. Forthat purpose he was given permission to bring twenty-four religious. Hewho came as visitor was father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, who diedafterward as bishop of Camarines. He was most religious, and devoutbeyond belief. While living in the convent at Madrid, he was there anexample and model to all those excellent men who are never lackingin the convents of the capital; and, as that place is the _non plusultra_ of the world, one would think that all were keeping the bestmen for that place. 

[A professed religious of Salamanca, Guevara, after his arrivalat Manila, serves in several capacities--as reader in the Manilaconvent, prior of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and prior of Manila. Helives an austere life. While prior of Manila occurs "the rising ofthe Sangleys, which was ended with so great glory to the Spanishnation. For the Spaniards were so few, while the Chinese were so manythat those who assert the smallest number say that they exceeded fourthousand. Finally they were killed and destroyed throughout thosedistricts, and their possessions and houses were ruined and burned, a thing regarded as marvelous. For they might have killed the Spaniardswith great ease, as the latter were quite unprepared, not expecting anysuch thing. The city desired to advise his Majesty of the fortunateoutcome of the matter; and that in regard to those who have enteredManila through the gates, it has always been extremely fortunate, andhas always triumphed over its enemies, but never been conquered. Ourfather Fray Diego Guevara was chosen, and he accepted very willinglywhat the city requested, in all having the approbation of our fatherprovincial. It was learned that a galleon was to be despatched fromMalaca to India, while it was not the season here for despatches. Hetook as companion a choir-brother named Fray Diego de Urive, [15]a native of the town of Consuegra in Mancha. " Arrived at Malaca, theyfind the galleon gone. They go to Goa, thence to Ormuz, and accomplishthe journey to Rome overland. "Clemente VIII rejoiced greatly atreceiving him, and much more at the good news from the islands ofthe West. " The general of the order gives Guevara a warm reception, and allows him to depart for Spain. "At that time some differencesarose between Ours and the Recollect fathers of our order, who werenow commencing to settle. Thereupon an ordinance from Roma orderedan inspection. On petition of the royal Council, the visitation wasentrusted to father Fray Martín de Perea, an illustrious member ofthe province of Castilla, who had been assistant of España. Ourfather Fray Diego de Guevara was chosen as his associate. Thefather-visitor entrusted to him, because he himself was busy, thevisitation of several convents of the discalced fathers, in which heacquitted himself with great discretion. While engaged in the saidoccupation, Filipinas affairs must have made some stir--and so great, that news thereof came to the royal Council of the Indias. I thinkthat the great devotion of the fathers then in chief authority, didnot appear so well to those to whom time had given more license thanwas fitting. Therefore they wrote imputing to their prelates what itwas very fitting should be punished. " The president of the Council, Count de Lemos, after consultation with Father Juan de Castro, of the Augustinian order, secures the necessary papers from Romeand sends Father Guevara to the Philippines with authority to makea general inspection of the order. He sails from Sanlúcar, June 22, 1609, taking with him a company of religious, among them Medina. Thevoyage to New Spain is made without incident. ]

CHAPTER XXXIII

_Continuation of the preceding chapter_

[The missionaries are well received by their brethren in Mexico. Butthey despair of getting vessels for the islands, "for already theywere long overdue"--that is, the vessels from the Philippines, whichare to return thither again. However, within a short time the "SanAndrés, " bearing two Augustinians, Fathers Carrillo and Plaza, arrivesin port. They bring a tale of storms and almost shipwrecks. "Thealmiranta suffered eleven hurricanes, and all had already lost hope oflife. The vessel miraculously made the voyage through the courage ofthe pilot Toral, and that of father Fray Estéban Carrillo--who, lashedto the mizzen-mast, with a crucifix in his hands, consoled the crew, and animated and encouraged them. He always shared his food with thesick. " Of the other two vessels of the fleet, the flagship runs agroundin Japan, but the crew are saved. "It was one of the greatest lossessustained by these islands. Don Rodrigo de Vivero was returning inthe vessel. He had governed the islands for one year, in behalf of hisuncle Don Luis de Velasco. The latter sent him for that purpose untilthe governor should be nominated in España. " The vessel "Santa Ana"is repaired and makes the voyage the succeeding year. "The arrival ofthe almiranta gave great comfort to Nueva España; for, as these vesselsare of great profit, their loss is felt more than that of those comingfrom España. All together the latter do not in any way compete withthose coming from Filipinas. " The almiranta and another vessel, the"San Francisco" of Peru, return that year to the islands. The viceroyrefuses to allow all the religious who have come for that purpose toembark. The following religious embark in the "San Francisco. "]

1. Father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, visitor-general. 

2. Fray Diego de Uribe, his associate, who afterward studied andpreached in the Ilocan language. He died as prior of one of theIlocan convents. 

3. Fray Agustín de los Ríos, native of Extremadura, a zealous servantof God and an eloquent preacher. He returned to Nueva España, insearch of health, and afterward lived for some years there withoutit, in the hope of returning; but he died in that country, fromepilepsy. But it is always thought that he, who was so spiritual, must have died to enjoy God. 

4. Father Fray Hernando Becerra, one of the most learned andsubstantial men who have gone to the islands. In but little time hehad filled all the principal offices of the order, such as reader oftheology, chief preacher at Manila, associate of the provincial andof the visitor-general, prior of many convents, visitor, definitor, provincial with visitor (which he had been before), and prior ofManila. But he exercised the office of provincial scarcely twomonths. He was very judicious, and therefore acquired the aboveoffices. God took him to Himself; for he left all envious of his death. 

5. Fray Pedro de Herrera, of excellent mind. Although he could havebeen great if he had wished, like his pupil, our Father Becerra (bothof them from Valladolid), yet all do not have equal fortune. Thisfather was unfortunate. Our father general, before whom he presentedhimself, deprived him of his habit, but after seeing that he didso unjustly, returned it to him; but Father Herrera was much brokenbecause of so many troubles. He was the best Tagál linguist known. 

6. Fray Andrés de Ocampo, of Córdoba, an excellent religious. Heministered in the Pampanga speech, and enjoyed good priorates. Hedied while returning to España. 

7. Fray Silvestre de Torres, of the same company, came the nextyear. He was a native of Granada. He went to Japón and learned fromthe sanctity of the holy martyr Fray Hernando de San José. Later, when the religious were expelled from Japón, he came to Manila. Hewas chief preacher of Sugbú, and later of Manila; and had a missionamong the Tagáls. He died by falling from a window. And since theLord took him in such fashion, from his piety one will understandthat that was the most appropriate hour for his salvation, as he hadlabored so assiduously. 

8. Fray Andrés Jiménez, of Murcia. He came the same year as theabove. He returned to Nueva España, but, not finding any refuge there, he came back to the shelter of Filipinas--where, partly in the provinceof Ilocos, and partly in that of Pampanga, he has done his utmost, according to the talent that God gave him. 

9. Father Fray Juan Boan came four years ago. He has been veryfortunate; for one would believe that they went to meet him withhonorable duties, in which he has ever carried himself to the honorof the habit and the esteem of the natives, who have always lovedhim. He has made material advances for the province, acting with greatmildness, and it is hoped that he will continue to do so more and more. 

10. Father Fray Pedro de la Peña, a native of Burgos, and an excellentreligious. He read theology in Manila, with great credit. He heldexcellent priorates in Pampanga, and before these held some in Ilocos, where he was vicar-general. He was elected definitor of Roma andprocurator of the province at the Spanish court. He died at seain 1631. 

11. Fray Pedro de Zuñiga, one of those whom we can honor most, sincehe obtained glorious martyrdom in Japon. I refer to his life. 

12. Fray Juan de Medina, of Sevilla, missionary to the Bisayans. Thisis he who writes this history. I confess that the province has honoredme beyond my deserts with offices and honors. 

13. Fray José de Vides, a creole of Nueva España. Unfortunately hewas deprived of the habit with father Fray Pedro de Herrera. He wentto Roma by way of India, and it is not known where he stopped. 

14. Fray Pedro de Mendoza, of Mechoacán, missionary to the Ilocos. Healways refused a priorate (although he could have obtained many, had he wished), and also the office of provincial. But he is humilityitself, and I think that he will give us an opportunity. 

15. Father Fray Juan de Sahagun, of Salamanca. He has held priorates, and has lived up to the measure of his strength. 

16. Fray Francisco Figueroa, of Córdoba, a Pampanga missionary. Hehas carried himself well, and is esteemed and loved by all. 

17. Father Fray Juan Ruiz, Bisayan missionary in the Bisayas forseveral years; and then our God took him to Himself. 

18. This was father Fray Juan de Ocadiz, who was hanged for the murderof our father Fray Vicente. It would appear that that murder wasneedful to him for his salvation, for his penance during the entiretime of his imprisonment was incredible. And his preparation fordeath was remarkable. It has been the Lord's will to have given himHis glory, since, to pardon one, He wishes repentance alone. _Si autemimpius egeret pænitentiam ab omnibus peccatis suis, quæ operatus est. .. Omnium iniquitatum ejus, quæ operatus est, non recordabor. _ [16]

When the violent murder of the provincial was divulged, an auditor wentto [the fathers of] St. Augustine, by order of the royal Audiencia, to inquire into it. All the religious were assembled, and when allwere in the hall of his Paternity, the auditor ordered all of themto kiss the hand of the dead provincial. On kissing it, father FrayJuan de Ocadiz began to tremble, etc. , and confessed his guilt. 

19. This was brother Fray Juan Bautista, a native of Genova, but adevoted servant of God, as he has proved in the time while he haslived in the Filipinas Islands, in the confidential offices that theorder has entrusted to him. [17]

Our father visitor-general, seeing that many religious were necessary, and that very few were going to Manila, resolved to bestow somehabits in the port of Acapulco. It served no other purpose than tobring to the table those who had to leave it next day, and to give abetter passage to those who would have come exposed to the wretchedlot endured by the soldiers; and, when they wish to give habits, there is no lack [of men] here in Manila. Therefore, scarcely werethey come to Manila when they left. That year the first archbishopwho has belonged to the islands sailed, namely, Don Pedro Vazquezde Mercado, a secular. He had been bishop in Nueva España, and, although any office there is better, accepted this office, as he hadbeen reared in Filipinas (where he had enjoyed prebends and health), and because his Majesty ordered it. 

No other order came then. The voyage was fortunate, for, withoutfurling our sails, day or night, we reached Manila, June 6, 1610;and no voyage like ours has been made here since, as we sailed onMarch 25. Both vessels were very swift, the winds strong, and therain-showers must have been a help. 

We were welcomed cordially in Manila, as they were not expecting acompany, for the procurator sent by the province--namely, the fatherreader Fray Juan de Pineda [18]--was detained in Nueva España. When wearrived, already the favor bestowed upon the province by his Majesty(in a time when, as ran the news, little was expected) was alreadybeing extended; for the news that circulated through the court wasnot very reliable. But his Majesty, better informed, attended toeverything as a pious king. He sent religious to the province, and gavethe bishopric to Don Fray Pedro de Arce, as above stated. He gave alsoan alms of two thousand pesos to the Manila house, and joined to it avisitor-general, with orders to attend to whatever needed remedy. HisMajesty should be considered as a most kind benefactor of the orders, and very thankful for the services that our order has performed inthese regions for him. 

The first thing given attention was the examination of the papers ofour father master Fray Diego de Guevara. When they had been examinedin the definitorio, there were no objections possible. Therefore, with humble mien, the venerable father definitors were very obedient, and complied with the letters of our most reverend father. Theywere much beholden for the favors received from our pious king, andserved him likewise in this thing that he ordered. Thus was our fathervisitor-general received by the definitorio. He was visitor-generalfor the entire province, since necessarily the body must obey themovements of its head. 

Our father visitor was especially charged by the court to inquire intoour Father Solier's acts; and, if necessary, he was to deprive himof his office and declare it forfeited. But he found matters quitedifferent from those reported there, for he found Father Solier'sprovince under his government very much reformed, and his devotionadmirable. For our Father Solier was in all things a remarkable man;and by his letter to the province and his systematic conduct of it, and the manner in which he conserved it, one can see how well he playedhis part. Thus if he had lost any of his luster in his dispute with thechapter of the past _intermedium_, he more than made it up. And thisbeing so understood by our father visitor-general, he congratulatedFather Solier highly, and honored him to the utmost. 

It appears that our Father Solier was obliged to give account ofhimself. Therefore leaving the province so well conducted with aso honored superior, who came to it to honor and to investigate it, he determined to go to the kingdoms of España. Accordingly, havingobtained leave for this from the father visitor, he set sail thatyear, with authorization from the province to take care of its causesand plead them in the court. Then, accompanied by father Fray Lúcasde Atienza, [19] an aged religious, and at that time prior of theconvent of Ibabay in the Pintados, he set sail in the vessels whichleft that year, in the first part of August. The galleon "San Juan"was to sail; it had been built to fight the Dutch enemy. Gaining thevictory on St. Mark's day, April 24 of the same year, it had beenrepaired again and was to make the voyage. One of the Dutch vesselscaptured was to go as almiranta; but it did not make the voyage, as itwas unseaworthy. The trip was prosperous and the father reached España, attended by the same fortune. There he gave so satisfactory an accountof himself that not only did they not find him deserving of reprimand, but honored him, by making him bishop of Puerto Rico. Later he waspromoted to the archbishopric of Santo Domingo. He gave the proofs thatall the order promised itself from his great goodness and fervor. Hiszeal in conducting the affairs of this province of Filipinas was verygreat. He always recognized this province as his mother, and as thatfrom which his higher station had originated. Therefore, although nowa bishop, he looked after the interests most important to him, namely, the sending of ministers and missionaries. And indeed he did this bysecuring a fine company, whom he sent in charge of father Fray Juan deMontemayor, a most illustrious preacher, who was living in Andalucía, and wished to come to these regions. He considered the offer madeto him, to be prior of that company, as not bad; and conducted it tothe Filipinas, as we shall see later. 

The father master Solier appointed our father Fray Miguel García(then prior of Manila) his vicar in the province of Filipinas;and left for him letters-patent, and all the authority that hecould. As we have said, he could not have left anyone more suitable, nor one who more completely filled the vacancy made by Father Solier'sdeparture. Father Garcia governed during the one remaining year [ofFather Solier's provincialate], with great prudence, and proved whatan excellent provincial he would have made. Yet he was not, on thataccount, neglectful of his house of Manila, but governed it withstrictness, which even became greater. He enriched the choir withbeautiful stalls of inlaid work and wood, which, after many years, are still in excellent condition. He built the largest room in Manila, namely, the porter's room. Afterward, while provincial, he aided in thefurther progress of the work. That house owes more to him than to anyother. Our father visitor chose as his associate father Fray EstacioOrtíz, [20] who had also been his associate when he went to beginthe [work of the] order in Japón. As he knew his talents and prudencethrough that long association, the father visitor thought that he couldmake no better choice of one to whom to entrust an office of so greatsecrecy than this man whom he considered so good. Therefore as soon ashe reached Manila, he appointed Father Ortíz as such, and therein hedid exceeding well. For, as has been proved, he is the most prudentman who has come to the Filipinas, very silent, very long-suffering, and above all, a most devout religious. The province, aware of this, has never allowed him any rest, but has always entrusted to him theoffices of greatest weight and honor; and he has given most strictaccount of them, to the very signal interest of the order. He hastwice been prior of Manila, which place is the rock of experience, and where each one shows his talents. Both times he labored hard, performed much, and ruled that convent in all strictness. He wasprior of Sugbú, as well as visitor and definitor of the province atthe same time, and prior of many convents. He ever bore the name ofprovincial, to which office he was not elected--not for lack of merit, but of fortune, which is not always equal; and the lots go by pairs. 

Our father visitor-general began, then, his visit through theTagál province Pampanga, and Ilocos, and kept for the followingtriennium what remained in the Pintados. He was not limited in time, and therefore, went slowly. Everywhere he exhibited great prudenceand wisdom, as the religious recognized, and he knew how to carryhimself with them. He provided what he saw was most essential tothe perfection of the province, which he thought to establish withthe earnestness demanded by his care and devotion, and by disposingtheir minds to observe what he was teaching them by word and precept. 

When he was in Manila he was an excellent chorister, and in theother convents he assisted in the same manner. When he saw what wasadvisable, he approached Manila to arrange what was needful in thechapter affairs, for the true reformation is, that the superior besuch. If the superior be perfect, then he must try to see that allwhom he rules be perfect also. _Qualis rector est civitatis, taleset inhabitantes in ea. _ [21]

CHAPTER XXXIV

_Of the election of our father Fray Miguel García_

Since the province, as we have seen, was so extensive, and all thehouses had a vote, except that there were some few convents whichwere vicariates, the men who collected for the chapter were numerous;and if I do not deceive myself, they were difficult to count--thatis, they were more than sixty. And among so many men (although it istrue that it was always thought that the province was to be for ourfather Fray Miguel García), there are different tempers, and factions, and they say those things which afterward it were well that they hadnot said. They found the president inclined not to make our fatherFray Miguel García provincial--not because there were demerits inhis person, but because he had already governed, and he consideredthat enough. Such discussions, although they were in good point, didnot have any effect; for the waters flowed in their usual channels, and this talk served only to disquiet some. In short, our father FrayMiguel García was declared elected on the twenty-third of April, of the year 1611, all votes concurring in his election with greatgood-will; for they saw that he was the one of whom the provincehad need for those times. Thereupon, our father Fray Miguel Garcíaperformed an action most worthy of his devout heart, namely, tokneel down before our president, and with tears to resign his office, confessing himself as unworthy and insufficient for it, while he didnot have the grace or rather the age for it. This he did with so manytears that his devotion made many others weep. The bishop-elect ofSugbú, who was present, caused our father visitor to dispense him inwhatever obstruction he had by reason of his age, and to confirm himin the election. The bishop coöperated, and considered it good thatthe province had elected him; and the province itself insisted on itby universal acclaim. Consequently, our father visitor confirmed ourfather provincial Fray Miguel García, first dispensing him for theimpediment of the lack of age, which was but little. That lack wasmore than supplied by his excess of prudence. 

The definitors elected at this chapter were the reverend fathers:first, Fray Francisco Bonifacio; second, Fray Juan de Tapia; third, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda; and fourth, Fray Estacio Ortíz. Theabsolute provincial, father Fray Diego Gutiérrez, received a vote. Thevisitors who were elected in this definitorio were father FrayBernabé de Villalobos and father Fray Antonio de Porras [22], thelatter being _adito_. [23] All the above in assembly made excellentregulations, and established for that time very good acts and laws;and they charged our father provincial with the execution of them, since on that depended the universal good of all the province. 

It was proposed in this chapter, and, in fact, it was so ordered, for reasons that were very apparent there, that the chapters in thefuture should be held every four years, and the intermediary chaptersevery two years. The main consideration that influenced them was thegreat deficiency that the fathers create in their convents during thetime when they come to the election, and they deemed it advisableto obviate this injury as much as possible, since it could not beentirely remedied--concluding that the expenses, if they could notbe avoided, at least would be delayed as late as possible. This wasagreed upon at that time, but later it was considered unadvisable, and consequently the enactment in this matter was repealed. 

After the election, and the departure of the vessels to Castilla, our father visitor undertook to go to visit the province of Bisayas, which he did very slowly. He took as his associate our father FrayHernando Becerra, [24] then a recent arrival. He visited the islandof Panay very leisurely. When about to go to the convent of Sugbú, hetook as associate our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida, [25] then withoutoffice, as he had refused any. He established an excellent system inthat convent, of which he had great care. He caused its annuities tobe raised, for it was very poor and overburdened. Father Fray HernandoBecerra went to Manila to read theology. Although he did this onlyfor a short time, yet he became very renowned throughout the islands, and in consequence was cordially received by the other orders. Thencethe father visitor came to Manila to assist in the superior governmentof the province, although the government of our father, Fray MiguelGarcía, was such that, when he was there, no one else was needed. 

In the year 1613, the ships with the reënforcements arrived in goodshape from Nueva España. In them came that company of religiousabove mentioned as being sent by Bishop Solier. Father Fray Juan deMontemayor, their leader, who brought them from Nueva España, did it aswell as he could; but there most of the religious, finding themselvestired out by the severe voyage, and the breadth of the land and itsmildness and beauty inviting them, and that first courage havingbeen lost with which they had left their native land and country, separated in a thousand directions, so that very few of that flockwere left. These embarked and set sail in the port of Acapulco, March 25, 1613, without enough provisions; and even in what provisionthey had so little judgment was shown that they arrived as if by amiracle. Such was their need that when they arrived at the Embocadero, which is about eighty leguas from Manila, they had to disembark, and go from island to island, selling what few clothes they hadleft. There the fathers of the Society, who have charge of thosemissions, performed toward them a thousand acts of charity, by meansof which they sustained life until, thus broken and with innumerablenecessities, they reached Sugbú. Of a truth, they were ill advised;for, since they were already in the islands, they would have beendelayed much less in the ships, which were retarded because of theroute that they took, which was full of dangers and not a littletroublesome. But the government does not learn. It is a gift givenby God to those who please Him. Two fathers who remained in the shipsarrived promptly and many months before their associates. 

The religious in that company were as follows:

1. The father master, Fray Pedro García, own brother of our father FrayMiguel García. He did not come as master, but his brother negotiatedthat for him upon going to España. 

2. Father Fray Juan de Montemayor, one of the greatest preachers whohave been in the islands. 

3. Fray Jerónimo Medrano. 

4. Fray Nicolás de Herrera, a preacher, and a prominent religious. 

5. Fray Cristóbal de Miranda. He was the one who, together with themaster, Fray Pedro García, refused to disembark. That religious hasbeen very useful. 

6. Father Fray Hernando de Aguilar, a very honored religious. 

7. Father Fray Bartolomé de Salcedo. 

8. Father Fray Jerónimo de Oro. 

9. Father Fray Antonio de los Santos. 

10. Father Fray Juan Cabello. 

11. Father Fray Juan de Pareja Mejía, very skilled in the Ilocantongue. I mean that the following year, when the father master went, he again sent his associate, Fray Lúcas de Atienza, with some religiouswhom he found from the other companies whom I have already named, some of them being in my company. 

Others were Fray Juan de Mena and Fray Lúcas de Rivera. [26]

With this the government of our father Fray Miguel García was, we mightsay, fortunate; for he found himself with two companies, all of whom, with the half company, numbered more than forty religious. With thatnumber he was able to supply the missions which now were sufferingfor the need of workers. He was able to add new strength to the houseat Manila, so that the choir could be assured--which is, as one mightsay, the fort of the province, where prayer is offered to God day andnight for the needs of the province. There they gather those who findthat they have but little strength in the ministry, where with somemore rest they can attend to the profit of their own souls. Our fatherFray Miguel García, considering that our father Fray Diego de Guevarahad visited the provinces so slowly, did not choose to cause moretrouble to the convents, or to spend more on his visits. Consequently, he was not excessive in this matter, but very mild. 

In the intermediary chapter held in Manila within two years, as hadbeen determined in the full chapter, it appeared that the provincecomplained about the [term of the] chapter being lengthened oneyear. They advanced not a few reasons in support of this complaint, and so many that it was ordered that that measure be revoked, andthe chapter meeting be assigned for the next year of 1614. It was tobe held in the house of Guadalupe, a place very suitable, in theiropinion, for the chapter meetings, as it was not very far from Manila, so that they could supply their needs; and it allowed them to escapeannoyances and importunities of the laymen. 

This [intermediary] chapter considered that many religious were dying, and that, since the father priors always came to vote, some housemust necessarily remain empty, and be entrusted to the fiscals ofthe villages. This appeared full of inconveniences, both temporallyand spiritually, which it is not right to express, since they are soapparent. And even were there nothing else than the great danger ofmany persons dying without holy baptism, and others without confession, that was sufficient. But there were many other reasons, which, although not so serious, aided not a little. The expenses that wouldbe saved were many; and this reason, that the priorates would havesuch persons, for the best ones would always be chosen for them. Thiswas opposed very strongly, and the opposition alleged what, in theiropinion, were not a few reasons. They asserted that this was a kind oftyranny, and that their opponents were trying to reduce the provinceto fewer votes in order to perpetuate themselves in the government;and that it was less easy to make sixty votes agree than twenty. Theprovince had commenced thus and should continue thus, and it was amanifest grievance to deprive those elected by the intermediary (orrather, the full) chapter of their votes. They said that that matterwas very serious, and should be carried over to the _ipso pleno_[_i. E. _, the full chapter], in which, after being considered by somany, it could be determined. The whole question was put to vote byour father provincial, Fray Miguel García, who held the affirmativeside. With his Paternity were our father Fray Diego de Guevara (whopresided as visitor-general), the father definitor, Fray Vicente deSepúlveda, and the father definitor Fray Francisco Bonifacio. On theother or negative side were father Fray Estacio Ortíz, the fatherdefinitor Fray Juan de Tapia, the father visitor Fray Juan Enríquez, [27] and the father visitor Fray Juan Villalobos. [28]

They were equally opposed. One _adito_, father Fray Antonio dePorras, was not there. Each side put forth its efforts, workingfor our Lord's service, at which all aimed, doubtless, but bydifferent paths. The father commissary took sides with the partyof our father master, Fray Diego de Guevara, as he thought thatthe better and more justifiable. And thus this chapter disposedof all that it had proposed. Five houses in Bisayas were left withvotes, namely, Santísimo Nombre do Jesús, Panay, Barbarán, Passi, and Octóng. Another five votes were left in Ilocos, namely, Bantay, Ilagua, Batac, Nalbacán, and Bauang. Thus twelve votes were takenaway from the province of Bisayas, which has sixteen large convents, leaving the vicars, immediate to the chapter, with the authority andpower in temporal and spiritual matters, as if they were priors. Onlytheir vote in the chapter was taken away. Of the thirteen convents inthe province of Ilocos, eight were deprived of vote. In the province ofTagalos, votes were assigned to the house of Manila, that of Guadalupe, the father sub-prior, the father preacher-general, the convent of Taal, that of San Pablo de los Montes, the convent of Bay, that of Pasíg, those of Parañaque, Tondo, Bulacán, Malolos, Agonoy, and Calumpit--inall, fourteen votes. Many houses--about ten--were deprived of votes;and of these sometimes they make priorates (or rather, vicariates)and sometimes visitas. Six votes were given to Pampanga, namely, Bacolor, México, Guagua, Macabebe, Lubao, and Candaba. Six otherconvents were left as vicariates. Thus the houses having vote numberedtwenty-eight. The subprior and procurator-general, four definitors, two visitors, the discreto of Manila, the provincia and his associatebring the number up by ten [_sic_], and make thirty-nine; and theabsolute provincial bring it up to forty. 

It was declared that when, through the privations of the time, anyconvent should decrease notably, the definitorio could transfer itsvote in that chapter to another convent, as might then seem advisable, as was seen in the convent of Aclán. When this convent passed fromthe order its vote was transferred to the convent of Barbarán. 

Some acts were passed afterward, which, translated into Latin andprinted, are observed in the province. I do not place them here, as I think that they do not further our purpose in any way. Theirannulment was asked for, for experience has shown that they have beenproductive of little good, and that the province had not need of sogreat rigor as they contain. 

CHAPTER XXXV

_Of the election of our father Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda_

Our father visitor-general thought that he had complied withhis obligation, and that the affairs of the province were in goodcondition. He set about returning to España with the results of hislabor, although for the completion of the visit there was no timeallotted; for he had ample license to remain in the province as long ashe judged it advisable for its advantage and greater good. He did nothave good fortune on that voyage, for, either the poor equipment orthe late departure caused both the almiranta and the flagship to putback in distress. Our father visitor also came back and resumed hisoffice, as it was one of which he had made no resignation. Now camethe time for the chapter which was to be held in Guadalupe, accordingto the decision made. In this chapter the number of votes was verymuch less, in obedience to the acts of the intermediary chapter, andthe father visitor was to be the president as was necessary in thatchapter also, for thus was it ordered in his letters-patent. Somemust have been sorry for it. Finally, the matter arranged itself insuch a way that our father master Fray Diego de Guevara resigned anyright that he might have to that presidency and to the visitation ofthose islands, and for greater assurance broke the seal of it when heentered the chapter. As the only received master in that province, it was understood that he would be provincial; but I think that thefathers were very far from thinking of it, for they inclined to ourfather Fray Miguel García, who was most keen and very accurate inmatters of government. Being, moreover, a prince of the Church, thelatter was more conspicuous, as all thought; and I have even heardvery influential persons and even governors say of the archbishop, "He is very wise! He is very wise!"

Upon the arrival, then, of the nineteenth of the month of May, 1614, the date upon which our chapter fell, our father Fray Vicente deSepúlveda, a person who, one would think, had entered these islandsfor eminence in everything, was elected. For coming in the companyof the bishop Solier (I mean the company which he himself brought tothis land), in the year 1606, as soon as the said Solier was electedprovincial, he made him [_i. E. _, Sepúlveda] prior of the convent ofMacabebe in Pampanga, one of the best of all the convents. Later, while our father Fray Miguel García was provincial, he was electeddefinitor, and now we see him provincial; and in the succeedingtriennium we shall see him return to the office because of the deathof the holder of it, which is in accordance with the rules. Within alittle more than a month after he had taken the office, we shall seehim choked to death. Thus he served as an official in the province forscarcely one and one-half years before he was at the head of it. Butso great fortune in temporal affairs announced such a misfortune. 

At that chapter presided the definitor, namely, our father, Fray Francisco Bonifacio; for, by the resignation of our fathervisitor-general, the rules summoned him for it. As definitors wereelected in the chapter: our father Fray Juan Enríquez, father FrayPedro García; [29] second, our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida; third, father Fray Alonso Ruiz; [30] and fourth, Fray Juan Cabero. [31] Thevisitors were Fray Jerónimo de Salas and Fray Nicolás de Alreybar. Allof them assembled, they enacted carefully what they deemed mostsuitable for the province. 

As prior of the province and definitor of Roma was elected our fatherFray Miguel García; and, as discreto of the general chapter, fatherFray Hernando Guerrero, with sufficient authority so that in caseour father [_i. E. _, García] should die he should enter upon his duties. 

Leave was also given to our father visitor-general to go toEspaña. They made him prior of Manila. His voyages were fortunate, although in the following year, when they went to España, the fleet wasovertaken by great danger and obliged to put in at Lisboa. But affairswent so well in the court of España, that after only a short wait hisMajesty appointed them as bishops--our father Fray Miguel García, of Cagayán; and our father visitor, of Camarines. They arrived attheir bishoprics, and died in the islands, where they furnished anexcellent example. 

Our father Fray Vicente, as one who found himself with the province incharge, and who took especial care of its increase, managed its affairswith great assiduity. He visited all the provinces personally. He wentto that of the Bisayas, which even yet bewails the cost to them of thatvisit. And if we must confess that the prelate's zeal was proper, we have not to confess that the province which has ever enjoyedan austere reputation had grown so careless as to need so bittermedicine. And since those who were removed from their priorates weregiven others, this rigor could well have been avoided, in my opinion, although perhaps it ought to be considered proper, as the governmentof the prelates is paramount. The provincial returned to Manila, leaving Fray Alonso de Baraona as his vicar-provincial. 

During this period the islands were passing through very greatdangers; for the Dutch from Maluco were vaunting themselves morethan was proper, and every day brought news that the Mindanaos wereassembling to destroy the islands--fears that made the people timorousand too anxious. Finally their fears came to a head with the arrivalin great force of the Dutch off the coast of the town of Arévalo, whose purpose was to prevent the aid which was to be sent from thatport to the forts of Térnate. The enemy had ten galleons, of varyingcapacity; and it was even told as truth that they were bringing limeand the other supplies for settling in Ilong-ilong. But later, whenthe matter was better considered, it must have been seen that theirresidence there would not be productive of any profit, but ratherof a very great expense. Besides, it would be very difficult to sendthem aid; while our troops could easily oust them, as the island isours. The commandant of the town of Arévalo, also its alcalde-mayorand overseer-general, without mincing words, was no more a man thanis a hen. Even in bravery, a hen is more than he; since the hen, uponseeing the approach of the kite, is aroused, and becomes a lioness inorder to guard her chicks. But this person, by name Antonio de Jaréz deMontero, did no more than to run away, although he had troops to meetthe enemy face to face. He had assembled more than two thousand Indiansfrom those encomiendas; he had more than two hundred Spaniards. Andso when the Indians saw, the night before, the signal which had beenmade from the island of Imalus, [32] they fled, and not one was tobe seen next day; and all of the Spaniards who could, went also. Inthe morning, Monday, on such and such a day of October, the enemyappeared, and came straight to the port of Ilong-ilong, as if theyhad frequented it for many years. Thereupon, the alcalde-mayor fledinland, without taking thought for anything. Thus the field--where hadfour Spaniards remained, they would have performed great deeds--wasleft to the enemy. I was living at that time in Otóng, where fatherFray Juan de Lecea [33] was prior, a most exemplary religious. FatherFray Silvestre de Torres, [34] who had come from Japón, was likewisea conventual of that place. We did the same as the others. We storedaboard a caracoa the most valuable things of the convent, and buriedthe rest. We ordered the Indians to remain with the caracoa among thosecreeks, of which there are many. They did so, and hence all the thingsaboard the caracoa and those buried were found afterward. The enemy, not meeting any opposition, landed, came to the town of Arévalo, andset fire to it all. They burned our convent, which was quite fine andbuilt of wood They burned that of Salog also, an excellent convent, which even yet has not been rebuilt. The enemy suffered greatly onthe road, for that season in the islands is the rainy season. We wentto the convent of Baong, one day's journey inland from the town, although we spent more than two in reaching it. I, although sick, was first to arrive. The prior of that convent was Father DiegoOseguera. [35] Although the convent was poor, yet they acted as ifthey were wealthy. They shared all the rice and beef of the conventwith all [the fugitives] who kept coming every moment, without takingaccount of anything. The convent of Otong, besides its building, lost a ranch of cattle which it owned then of more than five hundredhead and others of mares of more than one hundred head. For as thecattle were tame and came to their usual resorts, the enemy caughtsome and shot others. The fathers of the Society lost much also. Therector of their college there was, at that time, Father Encinas, [36]a man of uncommon holiness. He also came to Baong, by short relays, and lived in our convents until his order summoned him. 

The commandant and lieutenant-governor of the Pintados, Don Juande la Vega, was in Sugbú with two companies of infantry. The newsof the enemy's coming was told to him; accordingly he embarked hismen and brought them thither, but, when he had arrived, the enemyhad burned everything, and were away up the point. Thus the troops, went to the convent of Passi--one-half day's journey by land--by theriver of Alacaygan. That same day I arrived at Passi, for I went fromBaong to Laglag, and from Laglag to Passi. The Indians were alreadyvaunting themselves very insolently, and refused to render any aid;but it appears that with the arrival of those two companies, whomthey had in the heart of the country, they began to become calm. Whocan tell what these convents did, and what they gave and supplied? Itis incredible, for almost from their shoulders hung all those troops, yet without curtailing anything [of the convent's usual bounty]. Theconvents were hostelries for those soldiers and captains, until theirsubstance was gone. But when that commandant could have collected morethan three hundred Indians (or rather, soldiers), and gone to meetthe enemy and could have inflicted great damage upon him, he spent thetime in scandalous feasting. Afterward he went to Dumangas where allthe people of the town of Otóng and the other soldiers were gathered;and there, by surfeiting themselves with cocoa-nuts and sugar-cane, and committing other acts of hoggish greed, more of them died thanif they had fought with the enemy. That commandant was the son of anauditor, and must have been a brave man, although he caused grief toeveryone; and his blunders must have been fine bits of prudence. Healso lost for the king a galleon named "San Márcos, " one of the bestand stoutest vessels built in the islands. Another auditor's son, Don Pedro de Almazán, when general of the galleys, had the Mindanaosblockaded in the river Baco, and when already the enemy were thinkingof surrendering, he left the port, whereupon the enemy regained courageand went away. The sons of auditors have done many things like these, but I do not write them, as I am not the historian of their acts ofprowess. I have merely remarked this in passing, as it was necessaryto speak of it. Finally, Don Juan de la Vega died suddenly. There hewill have given account to God. Perhaps his intention in somethingmay save him. 

It will be apparent from what I have written, that there has beenscarcely any event in these islands, either of war or peace, wherethose of my order have not distinguished themselves. In the abovethey did so no less than in others, for they were fathers to so manypoor, and hosts and support to so many soldiers. They relieved, ifnot wholly, at least partially, the needs of so many, which one caneasily believe would be many, since they were abandoning their houses, burned with what little they contained, and fleeing from the enemywho were burning their possessions. 

The enemy left the islands after that, whereupon father Fray Juan deLecea, as a true father to the end--and what he grieved over, was, intruth, the leading astray of his flock--went down from the mountains, as soon as he learned that the enemy were not in Otóng, and reached(although not without many tears), those sites where had been theconvent, and where the true God had been worshiped. He began to gathertogether those dear wretched beings, and gave them alms of the littlethat he had. Finally, with God's help, those natives gradually camedown from the mountains and assembled in their village, where theybegan to build their houses anew. Father Fray Juan de Lecea showedso excellent management that he soon had a habitation. I left theupland then and went to the visita of Guimbal, where the enemy had notbeen. From that place I sent Father Lecea men, and what [supplies] Icould, so that the work might progress. There by the Lord's pleasure, the Tinguianes of that visita, who had never consented to build achurch, nor have the father visit them, at length, through the Lord'smercy, ceased their obduracy. They built me a church, and I baptizedmany of them, both children at the breast and those somewhat older, and adults. If I have done any service to the Lord in that place, I pray His Majesty to receive it as a partial payment for my manyacts of disservice. 

On my departure from all those mountains, and my return to Otóng, I found already a church and small dwelling-house built, and anotherunder way, larger and more commodious, which was soon finished, until it finally became a very handsome edifice. 

The convent of Salóg was being rebuilt in better style; and the Indianswere again settling in the village, although not as in the beginning. 

From that place I was exchanged to the convent of Dumalag, by orderof the vicar-provincial of the island, the father commissary, FrayAntonio de Torres. While I was there the father provincial came tovisit, and there happened the above. The result of his visit was tosend me as prior to Dumangas, which I opposed to my utmost, as I hadleft two other priorates because of my ill-health. But obedience hadto force my will. When I arrived there, even yet the Spaniards werein that river. At last, seeing that they could go, they retired, and my parishioners were more free to attend to their souls, totheir houses, to their villages, and to their church, which had beendestroyed. Finally, it was the Lord's will that I built there a churchand house of wood, and larger in size [than the former one]. 

The government remained in the hands of the Audiencia, because ofthe death of Don Juan de Silva, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and captain-general of these islands. He sailed for Malacawith ten galleons, accompanied by two of our religious, fatherFray Juan de Montemayor, [37] and father Fray Lúcas de Atienza. TheAudiencia governed most carefully and successfully, for it had verygood results in whatever it attempted. It was rumored that the Dutchenemy were returning to the islands with a greater force, as theyhad heard of the death of that man--who must be immortal, and forfear of whom they were lost; for daily they were indicating thisin their conduct. For as he routed them at Playa Honda, in 1610, they had no wish to fall into his power a second time. But now, without any fear, they were about to return to retrieve their lossand past reputation. The Audiencia appointed as commander-in-chiefof the Pintados Don Diego de Quiñones, one of the most valiantand courageous gentlemen ever in this land. His first act was tostrengthen the fort of Sugbú, in case the enemy should attack at thatpoint. While he was busy in that occupation, news came from Otóng ofthe approach of the Dutch with ten galleons, and of their intentionto colonize the point of Ilong-ylong. Instantly, he ordered a boat, loaded it with bread and cheese, and went to Otóng. In the nine days'interval until the Dutch arrived, he built a redoubt of wood andfascines, where he awaited the enemy, who arrived September 29. DonDiego had but few men, although a company from Ternate was there, whohappened to come there in a wrecked fragata. They were of no littleservice. His artillery consisted of small pieces which shot a ball nolarger than a very small orange. He had about one hundred men. Lázarode Torres was their captain, a man of great courage, and than whom noone, in such opportunities, has been more fortunate. His alférez wasDon Pedro Zara, a very courageous soldier. In short, they fought sothat it appeared rather rashness than bravery. Two of our religiouswere there, father Fray Jerónimo de Alvarado and Fray Juan de Morales, besides the parish priest of the town, Bartolomé Martes. They confessedthe troops, and encouraged them. The balls rained down, and thus theypenetrated throughout the fort, as if it had been paper. No place wassafe, for the enemy commanded the entire fort from their topmasts;and no sooner did any one mount the parapet than he was shot. Thecommander was wounded, as was Don Pedro Zara. Within that redoubt allwere heaped sweltering in their own blood, awaiting death. For, asoften as the enemy invested that small fort or redoubt, the Spaniardsresisted bravely and killed many of them. But finally, at the end, the victory had to remain with the conqueror, who could be none otherthan the Dutch as they had so strong forces. But our Lord in such aconflict aided His own, who were fighting there for His honor under sogreat odds; and willed that the enemy should abandon the undertaking, and depart--to the wonder of all, after they had been firing at thatrampart for nearly two days. In that time they must have used more thanfive hundred large balls, the reverberations of which sounded on theheights of that island like thunder. On the departure of the enemy, our men must have found themselves in great need of everything, forwhatever houses and stores were there were all burned; for the Dutchhave done this three times on that point. Help came then from Baong, and father Fray Hernando de Morales came overland with two hundredIndians. He was an angel to the people, and, with the Indians, aided them in their greatest necessity. By this means they had onewho served and accommodated them, which was no small achievement. Hebrought them as much food as he could, and remained with them untilthe natives began to aid; for all had been frightened greatly at theuproar that they had seen. This was a great matter for the natives, for they all said, "The Dutch have been beaten. "

Captain Don Diego, seeing that the enemy would go there constantly, began, with the consent of the Audiencia, to build a fort, andconstructed a rampart, furnished with some excellent pieces, whicharrived the same day when the enemy left, and were almost captured bythem. Afterward the fort was completed. It consists of four ramparts, and is the best in the Filipinas. I have related the above, becauseit shows how our religious attend to the service of our Lord. 

CHAPTER XXXVI

_Of the election of our father, Fray Jerónimo de Salas; and of otherevents in this province at that time. _

The [time for the] chapter arrived in which our father Fray Vicenteleft his office, at which he would rejoice; for this matter ofcommand, although it appears to be all honey, certainly containsmuch more of gall and confusion than rest. The father visitor, Fray Juan de Enríquez, received votes, and he was well liked inPampanga. The father-provincial thought that father Fray Agustínde Mejía [38] was needed for the government of the province, for hewas of Manila, and had maintained that convent with great devotionand punctuality, and no one had been lacking in anything--and thatin times so calamitous as his own. During that time the ships fromEspaña failed us for two years, and during all that period he had sogreat courage that he did splendid things in the convent of Manila, both for the church and for the house. The monument placed in our houseis the best of all those belonging to the orders; it and many othersare his work. Notwithstanding this, the religious did not consider himfavorably. Consequently, our father provincial, seeing the difficulty, did not wish, as a prudent man, to venture upon a thing which wouldmake face against him. For the religious alone are of this condition, that they play openly; as they look rather at the common good thanthat of their own particular interest. Consequently, he cast his eyeson father Fray Jerónimo de Salas, a man so well received that theother fathers agreed on him immediately, and he was elected withoutmuch difficulty on the twenty-ninth of April, 1617. That electionwas very pleasing to the province, for all were very sure that theywould receive very great consolations at his hands. They were quiteright too, for I could treat of that point, as a very large share ofit fell to me, when I was in Bisayas acting as prior of Dumangas; forhe sent me leave to come to Manila, as he wished me to become subprior. 

Father Fray Jerónimo de Cabero presided at that chapter, as we hadno letters-patent from our father general. As definitors, father FrayJuan Enríquez, father Fray Pedro de Lesarte, [39] father Fray Alonso deBaraona, and father Fray Felipe de Tallada were elected. The visitorswere father Fray Estacio Ortíz and father Fray Agustín de Mejía. Alltogether assembled, they annulled preceding orders and enacted othersfor the good management of the province. 

But little life was left for our father provincial, for a veryslight accident occasioned his death, so that, without any medicinesufficing, he went away and left us on the seventeenth of May, leaving us disconsolate and very desirous of him. 

Our rules, in such an event, summon the preceding provincial, whoimmediately took the seal. Persons were not lacking to advise him toleave the government of the province, saying that the province was notwell affected toward him. And even persons outside of the order whowere viewing things with some interest, said the same to him. But weare not to understand that any ambition guided him, but that since hehad had experience in the government, which is not the least thing, he thought that he could govern better than another. He commenced toburden the province with mandates, for in his term there was too muchof that. Thereupon, the fathers began to regard him less favorablythan before, and to represent to themselves the evil of his having thecommand. There were meetings and discussions in which the coming evilwas clearly presaged and announced. One old religious, who was suchin all things, in order to avoid cavilings and inquisitions went toconfess to him; and told him that he knew most positively that theywished to kill him, and that he should relinquish his office. Heassented to nothing, carried away, doubtless, by his good zeal. Abrother served him in his cell, a creole whom he wished well and whomhe treated with affection. The latter, in return for the benefitswhich he received, gave him pounded glass in his chocolate, for hehad been told that that was the most virulent poison which could beadministered. But the provincial's natural force resisted everything, for he was robust, though small of body. 

During this time, which was June of the same year, 1617, as the shipswhich had been despatched the year before had put back in distress, the viceroy of Nueva España, in order not to leave the islands withoutsuccor, bought a small Peruvian ship called "San Jerónimo, " littlebut very staunch. Although they had but little comfort, the bishop, Don Fray Miguel García, embarked with his fine company of religious;and he brought them in safety to the port of Cavite, although theywere almost wrecked among the islands, because the vendavals had setin early and with violent force. At last freed from this and otherdangers by the mercy of God, and as they were laborers chosen byGod for this His vineyard, He did not wish them to lack work in it;and so He placed them at the doors of the convent of Manila, poorfrom the lack of comfort in the voyage, but rich with their hopesand virtues. Their names were:

Father Fray Hernando Guerrero, who came as prior of them all. 

Father Fray Antonio de Ocampo, a very eloquent preacher, and aCastilian. 

Father Fray Juan de Trejo, a very eloquent preacher, and fromEstremadura. 

Father Fray Juan Ramírez, a preacher, from Burgos. 

Father Fray Pedro Ramírez, a preacher, from Burgos. 

Father Fray Diego de Robles, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Diego de Avalos, from Toledo. 

Father Fray Agustín Carreño, from Asturia, a Tagál. 

Father Fray Francisco de Madrid, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

Father Fray Lúcas de Aguilar, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Juan de las Cuevas, from Madrid. 

Father Fray Andrés de Prada, from Burgos. 

Father Fray Antonio de Ulloa, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

Father Fray Alonso Delgado, from Estremadura. 

Father Fray Alonso Rodríguez, a fine organist, and a Castilian. 

Father Fray Juan de Orasco, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Martín de Arastí, a Biscayan. 

Father Fray Félix de Villafuerte. 

Father Fray Antonio Quintano, a preacher, from Burgos. 

Father Fray Juan Gallegos, a preacher, from Mancha. 

Father Fray Jacinto de Herrera; this was the second time that he hassailed for this land. He is a preacher and a Castilian. 

Father Fray Pedro Mejía, a preacher, from Mancha. 

Father Fray Jerónimo de Paredes, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

Father Fray Martín Vázquez, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Tomás de Villanueva, from Mancha. 

Father Fray Alonso de Carabasal, reader, and who came the followingyear. He remained behind because of his poor health. 

Father Fray Antonio de Mójica, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Cristóbal Enríquez, a preacher, from Estremadura. 

Father Fray Juan de Espinosa, a Castilian. 

Father Fray Gaspar de Lorenzana, a Castilian. [40]

All those fathers who came here were from the province ofCastilla. Their arrival was of great consequence, and with them thedeath of the father provincial, Fray Jerónimo de Salas, was, in somemeasure, corrected; for, in return for a person whom the Lord tookfrom the province by that action, He gave it many workers in whomthere were very great hopes. 

Our father rector-provincial, as the matter devolved on him, dividedthe fathers among the four provinces of Tagalos, Pampanga, Ilocos, and Bisayas. He had ordered that father Fray Alonso Baraona, at thattime definitor of the province, should take the religious who fell toits share to the Pintados; and that he should come to the provinceto govern it, since he was his vicar-provincial and visitor. Thereligious embarked, therefore, and with them, the father prior ofSugbú, Fray Luis de Brito, [41] and the prior of Panay, Fray Miguelde Suaren. [42] As the winds were adverse, because the vendavals wereraging obstinately, they were unable to get away from the island ofManila for a long time. 

Two ships were sent to Nueva España. One put back and the other, which was a Portuguese caravel, went to India and was wrecked. Theships for Castilla were being prepared, and were to sail by the firstof August. Our father provincial tried to have father Fray Juan deOcadiz sail in them, as he considered his return to España necessaryfor his own quiet; and since he was able to do so, he ordered thatFray Juan should go immediately to Cavite, for he suspected that, if anything evil was to occur, it would be perpetrated by thatman. Finally, the religious left, after putting off his departure aslong as possible. He said "goodby, " in order to go to embark in themorning, and permission was given him. That night, the first of August, 1617, one of the most tragic events that has ever happened in theseislands occurred in our province--namely, that that same night ourfather rector-provincial, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda, was choked todeath, and was found dead in his bed at two o'clock in the morning, with clear signs of a violent death. In that most horrible crime wereimplicated three religious--one a priest, one a chorister, and onea lay-brother, namely, the creole who gave the poison to the father, and whom his relatives hid; and, as he had money, they helped him toescape out of these islands. The lay-brother was a European, and thefather priest, Fray Juan de Ocadiz, an American. They [_i. E. _, the lasttwo] were hanged near the atrium of our church, in front of the well, after we had first unfrocked, expelled, and disgraced them. The twosaid men were buried beneath the cloister of our convent, near theporter's lodge, before the altar of St. Nicolás de Tolentino. [43]

In the interval from the death of our father provincial, Fray Jerónimode Salas, which occurred on May 17, until our father rector-provincialSepúlveda was killed, a singular case happened in our convent, whichwas apparently a presage of the said fatality. It happened that inthe fine infirmary of the said convent, which looks toward the sea, a white cat was found which was rearing three rats at its breasts, feeding them as if they were its own kind of offspring, and giving acomplete truce to the natural antipathy of such animals. But afterit had reared and fattened them well, it ate them, ceasing theunwonted truces in its natural opposition. Almost all the people ofthe community of Manila and its environs came to see such a thing, for scarcely would they credit the truth of it, and all affirmed thatit must be the presage of some great fatality. 

By the death of the said our father Sepúlveda (which was very keenlyfelt by our province, and which grieved the hearts of all the membersindividually), although the father definitors ought to have takenup the government, yet they made a renunciation of the right whichpertained to every one of them. Accordingly, announcements were sentthrough the provinces to the effect that the provincial chapter shouldbe held on the last day of October, the thirty-first, of the year 17. 

About this time the very illustrious Don Diego Vázquez de Marcado, archbishop of Manila, a most worthy prelate, died. He was theembodiment of learning, virtue, and prudence, and all grieved sorelyat his death. Our bishop of Cebú, Don Fray Pedro de Arce, entered uponthe government of the archbishopric, by a special bull of Paul V, and he was assigned one _talega_ [44] more salary than he receivedin his bishopric. 

During this period occurred the persecution of Christians in Japónby the emperor Dayfusama, and the martyrdom of our blessed martyrsin that kingdom. [45]

Our enemy the Dutch also came with seventy [_sic_] vessels to PlayaHonda in Zambales, seeing that they were unable to attain theirdesigns--namely, to capture the port of Cavite, and change the mindsof the natives, turn them from the service and homage of our Catholicmonarch, and render them allies to themselves. But on Saturday, April7, 1617, our fleet left Cavite under command of Master-of-camp DonJuan Ronquillo, who had the happiness and good luck to sink severalof their vessels, burn another, and put the rest to flight amid theislands. Our fleet remained intact, except for two vessels whichwere roughly handled. May 8, 1618, the fleet returning to the portof Cavite, was received with great pomp and joy because of theirhappy victory, which they had obtained by the Divine favor. Saluteswere fired in honor of Nuestra Señora de Guía [_i. E. _, "our Lady ofGuidance"], and Don Juan Ronquillo was acclaimed as the father ofthis land and its savior from the Dutch enemy, who were trying toconquer this archipelago. 

Our religious who were assigned to the Bisayan provinces went to theirrespective destinations, and arrived safely, thanks to the Lord, notwithstanding the dangerous seas among the islands in the seasonof báguios and hurricanes. But they were courageous, and confided inthe obedience that conquers all things. 

In the beginning of the month of September, father Fray Juan de Rivera, prior of Octóng, and father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, prior of Passi, set forth in an excellent caracoa, and a good crew of sailor folk. Asthey were crossing from the island of Tablas to Dumalor, or theisland of Mindoro, they encountered a large boat of Camucones and alittle vessel. The Vizcayan prior of Octóng did not lose his head, butencouraged their men, and made them attack the enemy's bark. They didit with great resolution, so that the pirate, imagining that they werea caracoa belonging to a fleet, began to flee. To do this more quickly, they abandoned the small boat, after taking off all its crew. Thus theyrowed so quickly that our men could not overtake them. Ours took thelittle boat, which proved of no little use; for as they came near theisland of Mindoro, they saw that the weather was growing very bad, thatthe clouds were moving more quickly, and that the wild waves of theswollen sea were running high. They took good counsel--namely, that offather Fray Juan de Lecea--to place themselves in a little house, andput ashore all their belongings, and beach the boat, which they couldhave done. But the Indians refused to work, a vice quite peculiar tothem, and everything was lost. The elements began to rouse themselves, and the winds to blow with so great fury that no greater tempest hasbeen witnessed in the islands. Our caracoa went to pieces and all itscargo was lost, except what was later cast ashore. During that samestorm six galleons were wrecked in the islands; they were the bestthat the king has launched. Among them was that so famous galleon"La Salvadora. " When the fleet returned from Malaca, Don Jerónimode Silva, who was in charge of the department of war, ordered thosevessels to be taken out for repairs; and they were taken out, to theirloss. Some sank, others were driven aground. Many men perished, bothSpaniards and Indians, as well as Japanese, Sangleys, and workmen. Itis a loss that Manila will ever bemoan. Therefore they say there:"In truth thou art welcome, Misfortune, when thou comest alone. " [46]Manila had had a loss as great as that of the governor, Don Juande Silva; and now that was followed by the loss of the galleons, with so many souls. I know, not how a babe at the breast was savedon the deck of a galleon, or rather in its hatchway. She was foundby Admiral Heredia (who was going to the Pintados), on a beach, and he reared her as his own daughter. It was the mercy of God, andwhen it pleases Him to employ that mercy toward any of His creatures, there is no power to contradict it, nor any danger from which it doesnot issue safe and sound. 

The little boat which the father vicar-provincial, Fray Juande Lecea, captured from the Camucon enemy was useful to him. Heembarked in it alone, and coasted along that island as far as Baco, a distance of more than twenty leguas. Thence he crossed to Manila, after having bargained with a champan of Baco to go for father FrayFrancisco Bonifacio. But this diligence was not sufficient for himto arrive in time for the election, because of the weather. TheIndians suffered more, for they returned to their villages singly, and some of them even were lost, as they did not know the way. Thefather prior of Aclán sought shelter in a port of the island of Hambilduring the storm; and although he did his utmost to arrive in time, he was unable. But he arrived just after the chapter was concluded, and served for nothing else than to give it obedience and to returnwith the others. However, father Fray Francisco Bonifacio remainedas prior of Tondo; although he had wished to go to Bisayas, the seaso frightened him that he was very fortunate to remain. 

CHAPTER XXXVII

_Of the election of our father, Fray Alonso Baraona_

Upon the arrival of the time set by the province, namely, the lastday of October of the said year 1617, all the fathers who had a voteassembled, and discussed, as if in conflict, the question of electingsuch a head to the province; that he could settle, as far as he wasable, the past quarrel, which had so upset the reputation of the order, by his authority, example of life, and morals. For in no time had itbeen more important for us to cut loose from our self-love and to fixour eyes on our mother, the order, which was suffering for her sons;and so that it might be understood that where there had been religiouswho had caused so evil an example, there were also those who could, by their example, edify a great community. According to this, fatherFray Estacio Ortíz seemed very suitable to those who were present. Hewas the founder of the missions in Japon, and had always been knownto be of a very religious life and had been highly esteemed by thecivil government. Others declared that father Fray Alonso Ruiz, whowas known to be a person of singular virtue, was the man who ought tofill that vacancy. Others, who had reasons therefor, sought another, as they had present father Fray Francisco Bonifacio. In order to knowwho he was, it sufficed to say that he had been prior of the conventof San Nicolás de Sugbú, which is for the natives, without anythingever being said in depreciation of his person. That, as was proper, was regarded as a singular case, and not less that he went free asdid the children of Babilonia from the fire. He was a person who wasalways the model for all the Pintados. 

The one who was discussed least was our father Baraona, for he wasalways humble by nature, and very free from pretensions, as he alwaysthought of himself with great humility. But, as our Lord regardedhim as provincial, He so managed affairs that votes were cast in hisfavor without special effort, and he was elected as provincial. Onthe last of October, then, endeavor was made, since there was nothingto do, to have the voting fathers return to their provinces andthat the good of the province should be attempted, after decidingon a far-reaching reformation; for our father Baraona had excellentintentions, and to judge from these, it is to be believed that he woulddirect all things in the sight of God. In his own person he visitedthe province of Bisayas, which, as it was his own, he regarded withespecial love. That visit was not a small exploit, when one considersthe voyage. He always traveled at small expense, going in a champan, like any other and very ordinary religious. He was the one who sentmost religious to España. Among them were the father visitor, FrayAgustín Mejía, who, arriving afterward at Perú, was there adopted andesteemed as his zeal and devotion deserved; the father definitor, father Fray Felipe Tallada; father Fray Andrés de Ocampo, prior ofMacabebe; father Fray Baltasar Andrés; and father Fray Francisco deCuéllar. All died except father Fray Felipe Tallada, who afterwardreturned to the province of Pampanga, where he was a fine linguist. 

In the following year of 1618, with these religious he sent fatherFray Alonso del Rincón (then prior of the convent of Manila) to Españaas procurator, in order to give account of the affair in España; andto bring back religious, for death was rapidly thinning the ranks ofthose who remained. He had good success, as we shall see. 

After the good result with the Dutch at Octóng, which we have describedabove, it happened that the Mindanaos conspired with their neighbors, and came to plunder the islands, with a goodly number of caracoasand vessels of all burden. They robbed much, captured, seized, andburned, more than what can well be told; and, as fast as they filledtheir boats, they sent them home. The commander of the Pintados, Don Diego de Quiñones, was notified. He happened to be in Octóng, where he immediately had seven very well equipped caracoas prepared, with Indians to row and Spaniards to fight. He appointed creditablemen as commanders of them, and, as commander-in-chief of them all, Captain Lázaro de Torres, the man who was with him in the affairwith the Dutch. The fleet set sail in stormy weather, and coasted theisland of Panay in search of the point of Potol, because the enemy hadto pass by there in order to return home. This occasioned much toilbecause of the fury of the wind. Finally they reached the river, fourleguas from Potol. There they anchored, for the brisas, which thereare side winds, were breaking the counterbalances of the caracoas. Atthat place the Indians told him that the enemy had arrived at Hambil, an islet which, stretching between Potol and the island of Tablas, forms channels between them. Thereupon he left, notwithstanding thesevere weather. Father Fray Martín de San Nicolás, associate in thatpriorate, accompanied him from here, in a suitable boat. At length, by dint of rowing, they reached the island, and when in shelter of it, they learned that the enemy had anchored near by, behind a point thatserved them as a harbor. Then order was given to the caracoas to followand do their duty, and at daybreak sail was set, in order to take theenemy before they could perceive him. I have no wish to cast blame uponthe commanders of the caracoas, for they were men of great courageand punctilious honor. Hence, they did not remain behind purposely, but because they could sail no faster, for all boats are not equal. Toconclude, when the enemy were sighted, Captain Lázaro de Torres foundhimself alone with three caracoas--his own, that of Alférez Patiño, andthat of Alférez Francisco de Mendoza, a creole from Sugbú. Our flagshipwent straight toward the enemy. The others stationed themselves inbetween, where they played havoc with the smaller craft. The smallboats of the enemy perceiving themselves attacked so suddenly, withoutfurther counsel than that of fear, took to the open, which is there ofgreat extent, and scattered. It is reported that their loss was heavy, and that only such and such a number arrived at Mindanao; and thattheir captain-general was drowned. He was the son of Silongan, king ofMindanao. Those who stayed behind to fight fought so bravely that theoutcome was doubtful; for the captain told me that they fought likelions. Thus had the company [of the three caracoas] been destroyed, and our men would have been in danger, for even yet the other fourcaracoas had not arrived. Finally, the enemy's flagship was sunk, and others foundered, while other boats took to flight through fearof the firing, or allowed themselves to fall aside. Our men killedmany, and those who escaped, defended themselves cutlass in hand, while swimming. Then approaching the island, our boats ceased firing, in order to capture the enemy alive, so that they might have rowersfor their galleys. On this account about eighty landed. The Indiansseized a small height in order to defend themselves, whereat ourmen were about to open fire on them. As soon as our men were ashore, father Fray Martín de San Nicolás--who, more courageous than thosewho did not come, was in the midst of the whole action, encouragingour men--went to the Indians, and talked to and assured them so thatthey gave up their arms and surrendered. I think that the captaingave two of those slaves to the order to serve in whatever conventthe superior should think best. The remainder were taken to Octóng, some of whom were sold, and others placed in the galleys, and thosewere the most secure. Since that fleet, although innumerable fleetshave gone to attack the enemy who infest the islands, they havenever had good success, or closed with them while the enemy havegone in and out from the islands every year, to the great loss ofthe country--doubtless a chastisement on us. 

[Several miraculous occurrences in various places are recounted, all of which caused wonder. Medina continues:]

Our father Baraona, as he loved the province of Bisayas so dearly, went through it, abandoning some houses and occupying others, andexchanging and returning still others. And, in fact, although he didit for the best, experience has proved that it has been bad for us. Heexchanged Aclán for Barbarán; and although the latter is on the riverPanay, it is a convent needy of all things, and has the most perversepeople, whom even yet we have been unable to subdue. The former wasvery fine in all ways, and convenient for us; and within its gates itis well supplied with all necessaries, both for itself and for otherconvents. And although it is true that it could have been returnedto the order, because at the death of its first secular priest, thebishop gave it. But the order made so little effort that it was lost;for for what any other order would give a thousand flights, we letslip for the sake of two steps of work. 

Our order owes the district of Dumalag to the care of our fatherBaraona, for he obtained it by entreaty from Don Juan de Silva--andthat while he was merely prior, and not provincial. It cost himconsiderable labor, and was like to have cost his life, for he mademany trips to Manila and to Sugbú, and, in his labors in 1612, he encountered death many times, embarking on the sea in only acockle-shell of a boat, and ploughing it for more than thirty hours, when not a champán or caracoa was to be seen on the sea that wasnot knocked to pieces by this storm, and those well equipped weredriven aground on some islands. The storms past, the father foundhimself on the island of Mindanao, without food. He had some dogs, for he was very fond of hunting. He ordered his men to go up themountain, and perhaps they would find some game which they couldtake, for all were perishing from hunger. All went but himself, andhe remained or the shore. But by and by a deer of unusually largesize came bounding down toward him, to seek the protection of thewater in order to escape from the dogs. Our father, who saw it pass, eager for the chase, went behind the deer, and seized it, so thathad not his men arrived so promptly after the dogs, he had drownedthere. For the deer had already taken to the deep water; and thefather, weighed down by his thoroughly soaked garments, was almostdrowned. But his men saved him from this danger, and killed the deer. 

After they had embarked and had reached the harbor-bar of Aclán, the little boat was overturned, so that the father lost everything, and was able to save only the clothes on his back. Thus that boat, which withstood so many buffetings of the sea without any harm, happened to overturn four brazas from shore, through the carelessnessof its steersman. 

After he became provincial, he left the islands with the priorate ofIbabay for that of Tigbauan. This was not a bad thing, for the latterwas very far from intercourse and people, and in great danger. Therewas necessity for religious, and permission was sent to India sothat some could come. They began to come, but experience has provedthat this measure is not effective; for when it is desired to bestowhabits they can be given to youth in Manila, who have come from España, many clever ones of whom are in the colleges. 

As soon as he could, he made father Fray Alonso de Méntrida--who waswithout an appointment in this province of Bisayas, and was a patternfor the order, as we shall see later--prior of Manila. 

In all other things, he did his utmost in the service of the province, as the great religious that he ever was. As he busied himself in goingat times to the country, he happened to discover some remarkablethings. Among others, he discovered in Dumalag a vast cave, whichmust have extended more than one or two leguas. The father walkeda great distance in it, but never found its end, for his lightswent out. Another time he found a cedar-tree in the mountains ofthis district, which some wind had laid low. He had a boat made ofit, the largest one ever seen in these islands that was made fromone log. I embarked in it; it must have been more than one brazalong. It was laden with more than one hundred baskets of winnowedrice, and it carried many planks of remarkable size before the logwas destroyed. A man on one side of it was unable to see the personon the other side. To conclude, the tree had the largest diameterthat I have ever seen. I have traveled widely and seen many trees, but none of equal size. 

While Father Baraona was prior of Salog, he had come from Dumangas, andwas returning to his convent. He did not cross in the open, but wentslowly along the coast. When they reached a beach, his crew stopped toeat, but he meanwhile walked inland. He had a dog which went before, and, following it, the father found that it had laid hold of a boar, which had tusks one palmo long, and which was as large as a yearlingheifer. It was so furious that it had beaten down the reeds as a numberof mares thresh out the corn. No sooner did it see the father than itattacked him. The father gave it a slight lance-thrust in the skin, but the point, turning, entered no farther than the very outside. Thedog remained true, and held the boar by one leg; but the boar did notdiscontinue to strike at the father with great fury. But the blowsthat it thus gave him were received in his habit, which he endureduntil the arrival of the Indians, with whose aid they killed thatsavage animal. Brother Fray Andrés Garcia assured me that he hadnever seen anything so terrible looking in España, Italia, or anyplace. Many other things happened to the father, which might make along history, but do not apply to the matter in hand. 

He was much loved by the Indians, for he rendered free and open aidto them, so far as he was able. 

CHAPTER XXXVIII

_Of the election of our father Fray Juan Enríquez_

Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona, in the course of his government, as a person who so well understood the province and its members, thought that no one was better fitted to govern it than our fatherFray Juan Enríquez, then the senior definitor. Concerning him, I havenot said much of what was seen, and the troubles which he suffered, on the occasion of the unhappy death of our father Fray Vicente. Wewere made to see how unjust that was, for our Lord freed him fromthose annoyances with so much honor, by making him provincial, tothe applause and pleasure of all; and he was elected May 7, 1620. Thefather master, Fray Pedro García, presided over this chapter, as hehad letters-patent for that from our most reverend father-general, which the archbishop brought, together with his title as master, whenhe came from España to these islands. He was received in the provincealthough it has not been the custom to have masters in it. May Godarrange matters in the future, for in this [capacity the archbishop]shows his devotion not a little. As definitors were elected, inthis chapter: father Fray Hernando Guerrero; the second, father FrayAntonio de Ocampo; [47] the third, father Fray Juan de Henao; [48]and the fourth, father Fray Hernando Becerra. The visitors were ourfather Fray Alonso de Méntrida and father Fray Juan de Tapia. 

The chief proceeding in this chapter after the regular business--thatis, what is here regarded as most important--the provision for offices, was the appointment of father Fray Juan de Tapia as definitor for Roma, and also to the procuratorship for the court of España. He is a manof great worth, and has been very useful in the islands and laborednot a little, to the approbation of all. For he was with Don Pedro deAcuña in the taking of Maluco, and founded there a house in the nameof the order; and there he was not only the father and consolationof all, but a very valiant soldier, who strove for the service ofhis king as well as the best. While definitor, he was also prior ofManila, increasing that convent with many works--as he did afterwardin the convents among the natives where he was prelate, which he leftnotably increased. During that triennium, while going out as visitor, he went also as prior of Manila, and on making the voyage to España, was very well received there. Beyond doubt he would have secured thebishopric had he been a trifle more active, but he was always slowwhen his own affairs were concerned, and did not consider them asthe affairs of the order, which he always managed with the greatestdiligence and care. Consequently, he brought back a fine company[of religious] as we shall see in due time. 

Our father Juan Enríquez was unwilling that there should he anyfailure in the growth of the province during his term. Accordingly, although it was said that it was of little advantage to have aconvent in Maluco, yet the provincial kept it, sending a fatherthere. He also maintained the other convents, notwithstanding thathe suppressed that of Cavite--as if it were not the most important, for that place is growing daily; and although it be not for the gain, at least it may serve as a hospitium for those journeying to and frobetween here and España. All the orders are doing the same thing, although they can not support themselves there. 

He visited all his province, although he did not come to that ofBisayas, for the sea was very much infested with enemies, and hispredecessor had gone through it more than any of the other prelateshad done. At that time the province enjoyed great peace and quiet, which was due to the prudence of our father, who ever carried himselfas the admirable religious that he was. 

During that triennium I acted as prior of Panay for the second time;for during the intermediary chapter of our father Baraona I went asprior to Aclán, which was a house with a vote. Soon after the arrivalof the said visitor, that priorate falling vacant, he appointed me toit, and for the sake of the vote. And on returning, that triennium, together with the office of vicar-provincial, while in that convent, and having in my company father Fray Martín de San Nicolás (whoI have already said was with Captain Lázaro de Torres at the routof Mindanao), we were eating one fast day [_dia de pescado_], whena large fishbone, which must have been as long as a sewing-needleand was thick and bent, and had a very sharp point, lodged in thefather's throat. Although he said nothing to me for a moment, hestopped, ceased eating and commenced to groan, as one who feelsa very great pain. Afterward he kept changing color, but withoutsaying a word. I was about to ask him what was the accident thatcaused his pain. I saw him rise, for already his breath was failing, and with a loud voice he cried, "Ah! blessed St. Nicholas! help me, for I am choking!" And, upon saying that, he threw from his throata fishbone of the size above mentioned. It had been so securelyfastened there that it seemed as if that fishbone could not have beendislodged without divine aid, as was proved by the mark of the bloodon it. It was considered as a wonderful thing, and the said father, in token and proof of gratitude, is keeping the fishbone, and tellsthe circumstance to everyone, while he always celebrates as best hecan the feast of that saint. Of a surety, he shows himself very devout. 

I cannot refrain from telling here, although out of place, that inthe year in which our father Baraona was elected, when the lattercame to visit the Bisayas in the year 1617, Admiral Pedro de Herediahad come, with the governor's permission, to the district of Aclán, his encomienda, to build a ship. And although he claimed to do it withonly his encomienda, the affair went so well with him that he finisheda vessel of greater burden than was reported or believed. No Indian ranaway from him. On the contrary, the Indians were rich, for he paid themliberally; and Indians even came from other districts to work there, because of his fair treatment of them. Father Fray Lúcas de la Peña, [49] a very devout and zealous religious, as we have written before, was prior of that convent then. He had encounters with the admiral, forrarely do these fail between the encomenderos and missionaries. Thesehappened because the Indians were carrying and bringing, and sowingdiscord, as they can. The admiral was very indignant, blustered againstthe missionary, and said that he would oust him from that place, ifit cost him his estate. When the provincial came, the admiral found agood opportunity; he went to the provincial, and told him resolutelythat the father must leave there. The father provincial understoodthoroughly that there was no cause for such a proceeding; but he knewthat influential man's obstinacy, and that, if carried away by hiswrath or anger, he might commit some extravagant act. Accordingly, in order to remove the religious from a dangerous situation, [50]the father provincial made him resign his mission. This the religiousdid very willingly, as it was by the order of the superior. The goodreligious has no other desire than to do the will of his superior, as our father Fulgencio tells us: _Illos veros monarchos essedicebat qui, mortificatis voluntatibus suis, nihil velle, nihilnolle, sed tantum-modo abbatis precepta, servare. _ [51] Our fatherprovincial thereupon changed the said father, thus giving a veryadmirable example of humility, patience, and self-mortification; for, being a prior elected by the chapter, he might well demand, withoutbeing disobedient, that charges should be made against him, and thataccording to the result thereof he should be punished. But he refusedto do that, and left his cause to God, who is the most righteous ofjudges, and who knows naught by hearsay but by sight, for all thingsare plain to Him. Another religious was sent there, with whom theadmiral had a more familiar acquaintance. The ship was finished andlaunched. It cost sixteen thousand pesos, for it was the reproach of[other] ships. But it cost his Majesty much more, without paying theIndians--many of whom died, for there are no mines so severe as arethe shipyards. It was launched and sails bent, for the Audiencia hadsent for the vessel to make a trip to España. At that time there areno winds of the sea along that coast; therefore the moorings of thevessel were all ashore. While in this condition, and with a cargo oflumber, unexpectedly so furious a wind sprang up on the sea, thatthe ship ran aground without being able to make any resistance. Asthe vessel was laden with lumber, there was no remedy. The wind wasfor no other purpose than the above-mentioned [destruction], since itceased its fury with the loss of the ship. The admiral suffered thisblow patiently, for he understood that the Lord had no other reason init than to avenge the wrong done to His religious. _Mihi vindicta, etego retribuam. _ [52] For the Lord esteems the honor of His ministersas His own, and thus charged them, saying: _Nolite tangere ChristosMeos, et in Prophetis meis nolite malignari. _ [53] All the othersunderstood this and were warned. Often since that have I heard him sayto an encomendero, that even though the missionary should destroy hisencomienda, he would neither enter suit against him, nor do anythingto him that he should not do. For the judgment of men is deceptive, and their passion generally leads them astray and casts them headlong. 

Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona was very sensitive regarding thisoccurrence, and set it right by advancing the father and makinghim prior of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and visitor for thoseconvents. Thus he voted in this chapter which elected father FrayJuan Enríquez, and himself obtained therefrom the convent of Octóng, the chief one of the island. 

During this triennium of our father Fray Juan Enríquez, our Recollectfathers founded a convent in Sugbú, as Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arcewas pleased to give them a chapel which is in that city, betweenthe native and the Spanish towns, and called Nuestra Señora de laConcepción [_i. E. _, "Our Lady of the Conception"]. The city agreed toit in the vote that was taken--although the city was not sufficientlylarge for such a convent, for it contained that of the fathers ofthe Society, ours, and the cathedral church; and the Parián, a shortdistance from there. However, beyond doubt it suited the fathers;for the bishop seeing that there were no seculars who would go tothe island of Mindanao, and that, with the fort built by Don Juan deSilva in Caraga, excellent results might be expected, therefore gavethat district to the Recollect fathers, together with the river ofButuán, situated in the same island. The Recollects accepted it, andbegan to establish priorates. Thus they had already seven priorates, in which more than fourteen religious resided. The convent of Sugbúserved them as a hospitium, asylum, infirmary, and place to rest--towhich purposes more than to anything else it was devoted. Further, not only are the convents there not supported by the alms of thecity, but also one can say that they support the city; for most ofthe inhabitants are poor soldiers, and many now are married there, and receive the king's ration, which is very meager. Besides theseare others who have ceased to receive the ration; who are so poorthat, were it not for the aid of the religious, they would doubtlessperish. Those who have the most wealth use it up during the year, being limited to what comes to them from their encomiendas, in ordernot to run into debt; but they borrow the rice in the convents. Thuslaymen and religious form a very friendly village and neighborhood. 

At this time the alcalde-mayor of Sugbú was Don Juan Alcarazo, a gentleman so deserving of praises, that the sum of his many goodqualities cannot be told in few words. He was endowed with the courageof a good soldier, and had served thus for many years in the galleonsof España with his brothers and father, whence his Majesty had derivedhonors and advantages. He was a Viscayan by birth. During this time, the island of Bohol rebelled. This island lies, as above stated, opposite Sugbú, on the side whence blows the vendaval. It was in chargeof the fathers of the Society, who had more than two thousand Indians, the tallest, handsomest, and stoutest in the island. A _babaylán_ orpriest called Tamblot had deceived them, by telling them that the timewas come when they could throw off the oppression of the Castilians;for they were assured of the aid of their ancestors and _divatas_, orgods. And in order that they might know this, it was proved by certainsigns. The priest went with some of the more trusty among them, cuta bamboo with a small knife, and wine gushed forth. He cut another, and rice came out. These articles he had hidden there cunningly andadroitly. Consequently those men were convinced, and became preachersof those lies, which the Indians love and believe so readily; whilewe have no power to enable us to persuade them of the certainty of ourfaith so readily as this sort of trickery can influence their naturaldisposition. In such manner spread the spark that there was no islandwhere it did not catch little or much; although they did not dare toshow their faces, but awaited the result in Bohol. The fathers warnedthe city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and came to solicit aid fromthe alcalde-mayor. Here there were no evil-doers among those [natives]who lived in the city. Don Juan de Alcarazo did not dare [to send outtroops], as he had no order from the governor, Don Alonso Fajardo, and it might be imputed to him as a blameworthy act. But the fathers, seeing that whatever delay occurred was to make the wound incurable, surmounted all difficulties. Consequently, they were able to negotiatewith potent arguments, saying that it was especially important tocheck the evil in its first stages, so that it should not spread. Thealcalde-mayor was persuaded, and assembled the soldiers and adventurerswho appeared most suitable to him, besides a number of Sugbú Indians, armed with sword and buckler. With these he landed in Bohol, and wentto look for the enemy--who, courageous in their mountains and suppliedwith rice, thought that they were most safe, and that victory was sure. 

But the most diligent effort made by this gentleman was to go toour convent to have a mass said to the Holy Child, before whom manycandles were burned; to promise to take Him as patron; and to performno action in that war which should not be done in His name. Since His[Divine] Majesty, he said, had, by His favor, given those islands tothe Spaniards, he prayed that He would not permit them to lose, forhis sins, those that they already possessed. For the Christianityfounded therein with so great toil would be wholly lost, and thevictorious enemies of His name would leave no kind of evil undone tothe conquered, to the contempt of His name. The most Holy Child showedHimself very gracious, as is His custom in events [that are to be]prosperous, whereupon victory was regarded as sure. Encouraged by suchomens, they did not hesitate to attack the enemy, who were entrenchedin their fields. The latter were insolent, and reënforced with alliesand supporters. During the battle, the rain was so heavy that theycould not use the arquebuses, so that the enemy were beginning toprevail. Thereupon, the shields of the Sugbú Indians were broughtinto service, and the latter aided excellently, by guarding with themthe powder-flasks and powder-pans of the arquebuses, so that theywere fired with heavy loss [to the enemy]. When the shower of raincame, the enemy's babaylán encouraged them by saying that there theycould see how their divatas had told them true; for what could beof greater use to them at that time than the rain, so that the armsof the Castilians would be useless. Consequently, they became likemad dogs; and they preferred death to enduring the conditions of theconqueror. But so many fell that death had to fulfil its duty, namely, to inspire them with fear. They wounded Don Juan with a stone, but notvery dangerously, as his morion received the blow. Although he fell, he arose cured, and with renewed courage, by calling on the Holy Child, who gave the Spaniards the victory, and, with it, the islands for asecond time. Truly, had so good an outcome not befallen the Spaniardsin Bohol, there would not have been a single one of the Pintados--andthese form the bulk of the islands--which would not have risen againstthem. After this victory, those who had desired to raise the yokeplaced their necks once more under it. However, it was not sufficientto deter the natives of Leyte from likewise trying their fortune, which resulted as ill to them as to the natives of Bohol. Then theislands became quiet, and the Indians more humble. However, wheneverthey see their chance, they will not lose it, as they are a peoplewho wish to live free. The captured Indians were made slaves for thespace of ten years. Upon learning of this affair, the governor approvedthe enterprise, praised it, and promised to reward it. This victorywas recognized as the doing of the most Holy Child. Consequently, Don Juan de Alcarazo gave Him thanks, and shared the booty with Him. 

There was a terrible earthquake in the islands at this time, whichnone of them escaped. In the island of Panay, where I was stationedthen, it lasted more than a fortnight. But none of the succeedingshocks were equal in violence to the first, which was so severethat all expected everything to be overthrown. The columns of thechurch and house, colliding against one another, strewed the groundon all sides, so that a thick club could easily be thrust aroundthe columns. The same thing happened in the other convents, wherethe images fell and were broken into bits. In the church of Passi, which is of stone, and was then just roofed, all the upper part fell, and it sank in many places. Many rivers changed their course, as thatof Aclán, which abandoned its former bed. Mountains were opened, andthere were innumerable other terrible occurrences during that awfulearthquake. At last it was the Lord's will that it should cease, andwith it the fears of all. In Ilocos the shocks were also exceedinggreat, but not so severe in Manila. The Lord allows all this, sothat we may recognize His power; and, recognizing it, love Him; and, loving Him, not offend Him. 

During these years, the Dutch enemy did not discontinue coming to thecoasts of Manila, where they robbed the Chinese and did all the harmpossible. They tried to capture the ships carrying aid [from Mexico], so that without war they were growing rich, and disabling the peopleof Manila. In this emergency the pilots carried sealed orders, whichthey were to open on the return voyage and learn the port where theyhad to go, thus defeating the designs of the Dutch enemy, and freeingthemselves from the secret spies who were in Manila--who, as it wassaid, were not lacking. Consequently, in many years no company [ofreligious] entered Manila directly, so that whatever missionariesthe ships carried were scattered, and, not reaching Manila, nobenefit was derived from them. Father Fray Alonso del Rincón [54]was coming from España with a fine company of religious. He reachedthe port of Acapulco, where that year the flagship from these islandsdid not arrive. After it left Manila and rounded the shoals, it hadbeen wrecked near Verde Island, for the tides drove it upon somereefs. The almiranta passed on, and immediately another despatchfollowed it which the governor made, when advised of the event. Inthe latter the pilot and commander was the overseer Gaspar Nuñez. Thisboat sailed September 16, and our Lord was pleased to let it arrive, but both vessels were very small. The governor of Terrenate, Pedro deHeredia, was coming. At last a vessel happened to arrive from Perú, and was immediately laden. Our religious embarked in it, as also didthe fathers of the Society. Although the other two small boats hadsailed a fortnight before, this vessel overtook them, and all enteredthe port of Casiguran, opposite Manila, about the same time. Thissmall boat bore religious of our father St. Francis, and all thevessels suffered from a plague that was like to finish them. Allthe Franciscans died, although only one of Ours died, father FrayNicolás Goyas, a Viscayan by birth, of the province of Castilla. Hewas an excellent Latin scholar, a fine poet, a very good theologian, and an eloquent preacher--all qualities useful here. But if the Lordchose to take him, who doubts that it was fitting?

The rest recovered and reached the said port on June 25, of the year1622. There are many convents belonging to our father St. Francisin that district, and they assisted generously the needs of all, andespecially of the religious, who were in need of everything. But forOurs, while going to Manila, the route which they took overland was sodangerous and so full of difficulties that daily they braved death athousand times at the passage of the rivers. For the rainy season wasat its height, and consequently the rivers were swollen outside theirbeds, and had very swift currents. They came afoot and shoeless, forthe mud unshod them in two steps. Their food was _morisqueta_. [55]They suffered so great need of all things, although not through thefault of the father commissary, who ever treated them with greatliberality and no less charity; but on the roads they met no people, but only buffaloes, and in the rainy season they experienced allthese inconveniences. Finally they came to the confines of Pampanga, where, forgetful of their hardships, they began to receive innumerablewelcomes from those most devout fathers, who know how to show kindnessto strangers, and all the more to their own who came to aid them, when they had suffered so much and were in need of all things. Thencethey went to Manila, where they were received heartily by our fatherFray Juan Enríquez--who had them rest, so that they should begintheir labor in the Lord's vineyard, for which they had been chosen, with greater courage. Those who entered Manila in the company offather Fray Alonso Rincón, their commissary, were the following:

1. Father Fray Francisco Bibero, a Castilian, an eloquent preacher. 

2. Father Fray Diego Martínez, a preacher, from Mancha. 

3. Father Fray Antonio Portes, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

4. Father Fray Juan de Silva, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

5. Father Fray Juan Venegas, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

6. Father Fray Pedro de Torres, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

7. Father Fray Andrés Verdugo, a reader, from Mancha. 

8. Father Fray Martín de Paz, a reader, and a Castilian. 

9. Father Fray Baltasar Salcedo, a preacher, and a Vizcayan. 

10. Father Fray Juan Basán, a priest, from Andalucía. 

11. Father Fray Juan Velasco, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

12. Father Fray Juan de Aguirre, a priest, and a Castilian. 

13. Father Fray Estéban de Peralta, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

14. Father Fray Pedro del Castillo, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

15. Father Fray Pedro Valenzuela, a preacher, and a Castilian. 

16. Father Fray Baltasar Jiménez, a priest, from Andalucía, whoreturned to the province. 

17. Father Fray Felipe Tallada, a preacher, from Andalucía, whoreturned to the province. 

18. Father Fray Rodrigo de Quiñones, a priest, from Andalucía. 

19. Father Fray Juan de Ugarte, a priest from Perú, and aVizcayan. [56]

20. Father Fray Francisco Rubio, a priest, and a Castilian. 

Three religious died, in Méjico and San Juan de Ulua, of whom very goodhopes were entertained. This has caused a great lack here as is thecase when any sound religious is taken away. For since so many die, if there is no one to hold the fortification, what has been gainedmust necessarily be lost. For, if the devil learns that there are nosoldiers, who doubts that he will return to gain the mastery of whatwas taken from him? Those religious have labored exceedingly well, and some of them have become eminent linguists; and, God willing, weshall have to say much about them. Our father provincial immediatelydistributed them through the four provinces, very wisely, accordingto the need of each. 

At this time one of the Recollect religious, a doctor and scholar, named Fray Diego Rodrigo, was head of that order here. He bore thetitle of father vicar-provincial, for the province had as yet noauthority to elect a provincial. He had some disputes with a beneficedsecular, whereupon the said beneficiary complained to the archbishop, Don Fray Miguel García. The latter sought advice as to whether hecould try that cause, and, I know not why, kept the priest secludedin our convent. The cause was continued, and afterward the saidvicar-provincial, Fray Rodrigo, went to España by way of India. Throughthat journey he accomplished matters of no little importance; for hesuffered much and served the Catholic church greatly. He convertedand reduced many schismatic Russians [57] to the Catholic church, andbore a solemn message from them to his Holiness. For this religioushad excellent qualifications for distinction; he was a fine Latinscholar and an excellent preacher, and was no less a theologian. Inthe Roman court he was of great aid to the religious of the Filipinasagainst the pretensions of the seculars, so that his arrival therewas very important. He was very well received in that court, and inthat of España; and he would have obtained his desires, had not theLord been pleased to cut him off, taking him from this life to enjoythat which is eternal. He had written a book on the affairs of thiscountry, but it is not known into whose hands it has fallen. May itbring to the light achievements so eminent and honorable. Withoutdoubt they would be of much importance for a knowledge of what thereis in these lands so remote from our own. 

CHAPTER XXXIX

_Of the election of our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida_

This chapter-meeting which follows was somewhat stormy, for theopposition made it more conspicuous than was right. Our fatherprovincial, Fray Juan Enríquez, had had a most happy triennium. Thetime coming to appoint a successor in his place, he considered ourfather Fray Juan de Henao--a man who was well liked in the provinceand who had many influential persons who were affectioned unto him--asuitable man. Others, although few, resented this choice, and thereforetried to block its accomplishment. Those men were few in number, but they had great authority. The affair went so far that it came tothe ears of Don Alonso Fajardo, who was governor of the Filipinas. Hetried by means of his authority to mediate, so that there should be noscandal; for he was well inclined to the order, and grieved over thematter. Finally, our father Fray Juan Enríquez preferred to set asidehis own pleasure rather than that of the order; and, consequently, did not attempt to elect a provincial by force, although he couldhave done it, for he had many followers. Our father, Fray Juan deHenao, performed a truly religious action; he stated publicly thathe renounced any claim that he might have on the provincialate, andsigned the same. He declared that those who had hitherto been hispartisans he authorized to support any other man who should be ofgreater account to the province. He said that he was not consideringhis own welfare, but that of the province, which he recognized as hismother; and, as such, he would always place its good in the foreground. 

All were highly edified by this, especially the governor and thearchbishop, who were there. Father Fray Alonso del Rincón, who boreletters-patent to preside, made the same renunciation. Consequently, without any opposition, our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida wasimmediately elected, _viva voce_, on Sunday, May 20, 1623. Father FrayHernando Guerrero, senior definitor, presided at this election. Thedefinitors elected were: our father master, Fray Diego del Aguila; [58]the second, Fray Alonso del Rincón; the third, Fray Hernando Cabrera;[59] and the fourth, Fray Francisco Coronel. [60] The visitors wereFray Juan de Henao and father Fray Hernando Becerra. In assemblywith the outgoing provincial and the father president, they enactedregulations for the province with the devotion that could be expectedfrom fathers so venerable. 

[After relating several remarkable and miraculous occurrences connectedwith the ministry of certain Augustinians, Medina continues:]

During this term, although our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida wasso great a religious--for which reason the priorate of the wholeprovince was given to him, and he was made provincial, with thegreatest renown that any one has ever had in this province--sometrouble occurred in the province of Bisayas. This was occasioned, nodoubt, by our father provincial, who was oppressed with ill-health, not visiting it, although he was a son of the said province. Althoughthis province is less desired, as it is so far from Manila, yet theLord seems to care more for it, sending to it the most illustrious ofour religious; and taking therefrom the most devout of the province--asat that time our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida--for its credit andreputation. He was very zealous, and obtained an increase of incomefor the house at Manila, so that it was able to attend better toits many obligations of choir, study, and infirmary, and those ofso important a community. Our father had the good fortune also toreceive a very distinguished contingent of religious in the secondyear of his term. They were brought by father Fray Juan de Tapia, who, as we have said above, was sent by our father Fray Juan Enríquezas procurator of the province. The religious were received with openarms; for the province was now in need of laborers, as the countrywas but little suitable to sustain life--especially among young men, who, as the blood boils in so warm a land, fall sick easily and die. 

The religious who came in that year of 1624 are as follows:

1. Father Fray Juan de Tapia, their superior and commissary. 

2. Father Fray Francisco Villalón, a reader, a Castilian. 

3. Father Fray Sebastián del Rio, a preacher, a Castilian. 

4. Father Fray Diego de Ordás, a preacher, a Castilian. 

5. Father Fray Martín Claver, an Arragonese, a preacher, and apostolicnotary. 

6. Father Fray Francisco Barela, a reader, a Castilian. 

7. Father Fray Juan de Guevara, a priest, from Andalucía. 

8. Father Fray Francisco de Portillo, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

9. Father Fray Miguel de Peñafiel, a priest, a Castilian. 

10. Father Fray Fulgencio García, a preacher, a Castilian. 

11. Father Fray Diego Solís, a preacher, a Castilian. 

12. Father Fray Rodrigo Angel, a priest, a Castilian, and apostolicpreacher. 

13. Father Fray Alonso de Salazar, a preacher, a Castilian. 

14. Father Fray Pedro de Herrera, a reader, who returned with thehabit. 

15. The father master, Fray Teófilo Mascarós, from Valencia, aprofessor, and vicar-provincial for Mallorca. 

16. Father Fray Juan Bautista, a preacher, from Valencia. 

17. Father Fray Luis Ronquillo, an eloquent preacher, a Castilian, and procurator at that time of Arenas. 

18. Father Fray Andrés de Fuentes, a preacher, a Castilian. 

19. Father Fray Juan de Loza, a preacher, from Andalucía. 

20. Father Fray Pedro de las Mariñas, a priest and a preacher, a Castilian. 

21. Father Fray Cristóbal de Tapia, a brother, a creole. 

22. Father Fray Melchor de Mosabel, a preacher, a Castilian. [61]

The father provincial, well-pleased with so fine a company [ofreligious], divided them among the provinces. He sent the fatherreader, Fray Francisco de Villalón, [62] to read in Manila, and thefather did that very satisfactorily; for there were many religious whoneeded it. He sent excellent missionaries to the province of Bisayas;and it seems that great pains were taken in this, and he did in thiswhat the province wished. For he sent it the best of the company, and no error was made in the selection, since all of them have becomevery devout religious and careful of their ministry. 

He sent a procurator to España in the first year of his provincialate;namely, father Fray Antonio de Ocampo, a very eloquent preacher, andwho was accordingly esteemed in the province for that, as well as forthe other offices which he had held. But he had little good fortuneon the voyage, for the flagship did not make the voyage that year, because of having been detained in necessary repairing, and when itreached the Embocadero there was no wind to carry it outside, and itreturned at the end of October. The almiranta had time in which toleave, and made the voyage, although at great risk, reaching NuevaEspaña in a mastless condition. 

After the second year of his triennium, the provincial sent anotherprocurator; for the first one, warned by the voyage, thought that heought not to embark again. This was father Fray Hernando Guerrero, whom we have already seen, as he brought the finest company thathas been in or has entered these islands for many years. Making thesecond voyage, he brought another company, that would have been noless excellent if death had not snatched away its best members nearManila. It seems as if death selected, among all, those of most renown, although those who were left were distinguished. Let us conclude thistriennium with the fact that our father provincial--although it seemedfrom his goodness that he would not try to declare himself too fully, nor to influence the province against his will--at last, thinking thathe, because of his greater experience in its affairs than others had, could arbitrate in a so important matter, accordingly set his eyes onfather Fray Antonio de Ocampo, whom we have already mentioned above--aperson certainly worthy of greater things, and a calificador of theHoly Office. Our father thought it easy to accomplish his intentions, for he found many who thought the same. But the one who opposed himwas of great account and a great giant, namely, the father master, Fray Pedro García, the brother of the archbishop, who did not lackfollowers and partisans. The contention, if I do not say that it wasgreater than the former one, was not less. It is a remarkable thing, and certain to befall a monarchy, that when it is about to come toan end it slips and totters. Consequently, it was always suspectedthat those appointed by the province were announcing some new methodof governing. The governor also--who was then Don Fernando de Silva, of the habit of Santiago, and who had been sent by the viceroy of NuevaEspaña--took a part in it, so that the affairs of the order should notgo outside of its limits. Finally, it was our Lord's pleasure that theyshould settle upon a third person, namely, our father Fray HernandoBecerra, a person very deserving of what the order has given him. 

CHAPTER XL

_Of the election of our father Becerra_

We have already related that our father, Fray Hernando Becerra, from the time that he set foot in Filipinas, was always climbingthe rungs and going from good to better. He came to the islands inthe company brought by our father visitor, Fray Diego de Guevara;and as soon as he was ordained, that same year of 1610, he wassent to Ilocos to be minister in that province. Beyond any doubtat the time of his arrival, he made so good an impression on thosein authority, and they regarded him as so worthy of eminence, thatalmost immediately he was given the chief priorate of that province, called Bantay. He came to vote, therefore, at the following chapter, and remained in the province of Tagalos, with the title of readerof theology. Soon after that the bishop of Camarines, then visitor, selected him as his associate in the general visitation. 

He afterwards came to read at Manila, and also voted in that chapterwith the title of associate to our father Fray Miguel García. Ourfather Fray Vicente chose him as his associate, and immediately gavehim the priorate of Agonoy. During the provincialate of our fatherBaraona, he was prior of Bulacán. During that of our father Fray JuanEnríquez he was definitor; and also, for a year and a half, prior ofManila. During the triennium of our father Méntrida, he was visitorand prior of Pasig. After that, in the contest for provincial he fella trifle short of the required age, but was dispensed by the fathermaster, Fray Diego del Aguila--who presided as provincial, or rather, as senior definitor. The definitors elected in that chapter were: FrayFrancisco Bonifacio (the second time that he had held that office);the second, Fray Estéban de Peralta; [63] the third, Fray Jerónimode Medrano; [64] and the fourth, Fray Alonso de Carvajal. [65]Those elected as visitors were father Fray Alonso del Rincón, andfather Fray Alonso Ruiz. They made regulations for the province, and fortified it with good laws. 

Our father Fray Hernando Becerra doubtless forced himself to takeupon his shoulders the weight of the province on account of his lovefor it, and in order that it might not go into a decline--although hewould have preferred to rest and to take care of his health; for hehad been ailing for two years, so that he appeared to be rather thestatue of death than a man. The fact that he was still young kept himalive, for that is a very important point. Although all told him thathis illness was serious, and that it unfitted him for the burden ofgovernment, still he had the greatest courage that one can imagine, and accordingly was elected prior provincial, on May 2, 1626. 

However, he felt better immediately after assuming his new duties, but this improvement did not last long; for he was like the candle, which does not fail to flare up when about to be extinguished. Hereceived very good treatment, and all were diligently striving tosecure his health, for it was recognized that he was the one of whomthe province had need. It was feared that he would be harsh, and thathe would exercise severity; for he showed that disposition, and alltrembled before him--all that harshness being occasioned, perhaps, by his severe illness. But in the end those fears lasted but a littlewhile, for on the day of our father St. Ignatius, the last of July, God took him to himself by a most comfortable death, which left allthe religious envious and full of tears, so that there was no one whodid not shed them at that spectacle. Two years before he had preparedhimself [for death]; and, although he was always a most observantreligious, he renewed that care upon seeing the pass to which he hadcome. The deposit which he held by permission in our order he proceededto give to the church, dispossessing himself of everything which couldprevent him from dying as a very poor religious. And when death wasabout to seize him he left the government to our father Méntrida, andwent to discuss everything with God, and to arrange his affairs withHis [Divine] Majesty-which, as he was a person of great ability and[spiritual] wealth was less necessary to him than to others. Knowingthe state in which the province was, he most earnestly begged thereligious to give him their word to call a chapter; for he was ofthe opinion that that was necessary for the peace and advancement ofthe province. He insisted on the same thing with our father Méntrida, who was the one on whom the government devolved by right. Thereupon, he very calmly gave up his soul to his Creator, leaving behind suretoken that he was going straight to His presence. 

Thereupon followed a period of distress in the province, not alittle difficult to settle. The government fell to our father, Méntrida. The definitors were at variance. Our father Méntrida hada most severe mandate from our most reverend father [general] thatacted against him, namely, that the provincial who did not visit theprovince of Bisayas, at least once during his term was _ipso facto_deprived of the rights of voting and election, and the religious wereordered to obey him no longer. Our father Méntrida had not made thatvisit, giving as a pretext his ill-health. The religious argued fromthis that, according to that mandate, he could not govern. To hisreply that his illness was the cause of his not obeying the order, and that if God granted him health he would go, they answered thatthat illness, which was asthma, was always in evidence. His adherentswished him to have the command a second time, but the others wouldnot consent to it. Finally the governor, Don Juan Niño de Tábora, had to intervene. Thanks to him, the matter was adjusted, so thatour father Méntrida resigned the government, which was assumed byfather Fray Francisco Bonifacio, the most pacific creature that hasbeen in Filipinas. He has never been known _directe_ or _indirecte_to have any altercation with any religious. He has ever been unwillingto cause trouble to any one, and therefore has avoided giving it, and I believe he caused trouble to no one during his term. The Lordcoöperated with this holy intention, giving him a triennium of greatquiet. We might say of him what Solomon said of himself: _nunc autemrequiem dedit Dominus Deus meus mihi per circuitum: et non est satan, neque occursus malus_. [66]

[Here follows the relation of the awful calamities that befell certainpersons, both Spaniards and natives, in consequence of their neglectand scorn of the Holy Child. The narration is continued:]

In this triennium I became prior of the convent of Santísimo Niñode Jesús, which has in the city of Manila some six hundred pesos ofannuity, which is the source of that house's growth in the sixty-eightyears of the Spaniards' occupation. In the year 1628 I sent a religiousto collect that money. He was a conventual in that convent, virtuous, an excellent preacher, and very zealous for that convent; he was anative of Sevilla. He was empowered sufficiently to attend to whatmight arise for the good of that convent. He made his trip to Manilasuccessfully, and returned to his convent after concluding what hadbeen entrusted to him. On August 29 of the same year, he left Manilaaboard a champan, the "San Nicolás, " belonging to the alcalde-mayor ofPanay, for he had to make in the island some collections of rice thatwere given to the said convent. He took two Spaniards with him--oneJacinto de Lanzacorta, who had married there; the other AlférezPeña--both devotees of San Nicolás de Tolentino as no less was theowner of the champan, which he had commended to that saint. As theywere coming in the boat one night, aided by the vendaval, and as theyneared Ilagán (one of the longest crossings that voyagers have to makethere), the wind strengthened so that the waves rolled sky-high. Eitherthrough the carelessness of the steersman, or because the rudder wasout of order, or the sea too heavy, the rudder parted atwain, and theboat was without other help than that of heaven. For these Sangleyboats are flat bottomed, and the mast is very high; accordingly, allthe strength lies in the rudder by which they are directed--betterthan the best bitted horse is governed. The champan tossed fearfully, so that it was regarded as a good plan to cut down the mast. That wasa precaution that the Sangleys do not practice, and hence the seaeasily swallows them. This being done, the champan was very quiet;and, although they were in evident danger of death, they did not losethe hopes which they placed in the glorious saint, confident, by hisintercession, of life and arrival at Panay. For three days they werethe sport of wind and weather, awaiting what the Lord would do withthem, until on Saturday afternoon the same champan entered the port ofan islet two leguas from Burías. It was a miraculous thing, for whenthey were rowing the champan and that but slowly, they were not able toknow the route, and hit upon it without any guidance, for already theyhad left it. It was God's mercy which was extended to that religious;for, had not the champan made port, they had fallen into the hands ofthe men of Joló, who were sailing about those islands of Burías andMasbate. They remained there a fortnight, without being able to repairthe champan in order to make their journey until our Lord was pleasedto have the same mast that they cut down in the champan drift intothe port, for the islet contained no suitable trees. They repairedthe champan with that mast, made a half-way rudder and a jury-mast, and set sail on the sea for Panay, from which they were not veryfar. But, after sighting the land of Panay, so furious a storm struckthem that they were unable to contend with it, as the champan lackedstrength in the rudder. They ran aground stern first on the coast ofCamarines, which was very near by, and which they had been preventedfrom reaching by a calm, and had been awaiting a slight breeze. Itwas our Lord's pleasure that they should be espied by a fleet ofCamucones, who were going through that region, plundering whateverthey might encounter in their raids. These are a very warlike people, and so cruel that, whenever they capture a Spaniard, they will notlet him escape alive under any consideration; for after they havetied him to the mast of the boat, they cut off his head and drinkfrom the skull. They slit the religious up the back and roast them, or set them in the sun, for they say, just as we do, "So many enemiesthe less. " Then indeed did they re-commend themselves to St. Nicholas;as they believed (and rightly) that this was a greater danger than thepast one, because of the less mercy that they could find in the bowelsof those utter barbarians. At length, they boarded the tender of thechampan and rowed ashore. The glorious saint whom they were takingas patron hid their route from the Camucones in such wise that theywere not followed, for they could have easily been overtaken in twostrokes of the oar. They betook themselves inland to the mountains, where their sufferings were not abated, for they were barefoot andnaked, until they reached the convents of our father St. Francis, where they found hospitable welcome, aid, care, and provision. In theirjourneyings they reached the shipyard, where a vessel was being built;for it was necessary to get a champan there to go to Panay, and theyfound one. They left the shipyard November 21, and reached Panay nextday. After a few days the enemy from Joló went to the shipyard, burnedit, killed many people, captured others, took away the artillery, and committed great damage, although there were sufficient men inthe shipyard to defend it from a greater force. But the Spaniard cannever be persuaded of any danger, until it is upon him. Juan Martín, the best and most reliable shipmaster in the Filipinas, was killedthere. It was a great loss, for there was no other who could fill theposition like him. But the Lord did not choose that the champan shouldbe lost; for the Camucones did not break it up, as is their wont, but abandoned it after having plundered its articles of value--whichwere considerable, and which caused great loss to the province. TheSangleys, after seeing that the enemy had gone, went out to thechampan, righted it, and returned it to its owner--who never lost hopeof obtaining it, for he believed thoroughly in the saint. SargentoJacinto de Lanzacorta, very thankful for this, celebrates a feast toSt. Nicholas every year. Father Fray Pedro de Torres [67] says thathe arrived at Sugbú in the first part of February, where he had beenregarded as lost, for he was more than five months in making the tripfrom Manila to Sugbú. During the whole time he suffered very manyhardships, from which St. Nicholas freed him. The most Holy Childreturned to His house, so that He might be served therein. 

In the beginning of this triennium, as the fathers of Ilocos weregoing to their province, two or three of them feared the horror ofthe journey by land, which is terrible. Accordingly, as they founda suitable boat, father Fray Diego Abalos prior of Narbacán, fatherFray Juan Gallegos, [68] prior of Laguag, and father Fray Francisco delPortillo, [69] prior of Purao, taking the provision for their convents, went along the coast to Ilocos. But so furious a storm struck them, that they gave themselves up as lost. Accordingly, as servants of God, they had recourse to Him, sincerely confessing themselves and prayingearnestly--as well as their terror allowed--to God to beg pardonfor their sins. The Sangleys already, with loosened hair (whichmeans their last hope gone), did not attempt to do a thing in thechampan, for they thought that they could not escape from it. At last, encouraged by the fathers, after setting a scrap of sail, they yieldedto the force of the stern-wind, and in less than thirty hours reachedthe Chinese coasts. They made more than three hundred leguas in thatshort time and route, which, even in fine weather, would take fifteenor twenty days, or one or two months. They landed, where no littledanger awaited them, as the people tried to kill them. But at lastthe Lord's mercy was not found wanting in that country, for throughit they went from land to land, until they reached Macán, a city heldby the Portuguese in the country of China. They were succored therewith great generosity, for in works of charity the Portuguese are mostgenerous. In Manila, they were thought to have been drowned. As such, the masses and suffrages that are wont to be said in this provinceof the order, for the religious who die in it, were said for themin all the convents. Afterward, the Portuguese who came to Manilainformed Ours of the [above] event, whereat all rejoiced greatly;for those regarded as lost were religious who were held in muchesteem. Two of them soon came, namely, father Fray Diego de Abalosand father Fray Juan Gallegos The third, father Fray Francisco delPortillo, went to the island of Hermosa, which belonged then to ourSpaniards, and took possession of a convent with the solemnity decreedby law. Then he came back, and all three returned to their priorates, to which others had already been appointed by our father provincial. 

The enemy from Joló had often made incursions, to the great loss ofthe islands; for they caused many deaths, made many captives, andoccasioned not few expenses, which had been incurred for his Majestyin opposing them, but all to no purpose. For either the Spaniards didnot try to look for them, or did not find them, or indeed, when theymet them, the enemy took to their heels; for on the one hand theirboats are swifter, and on the other they come more as soldiers thanour men, who seem to have inherited the carelessness and phlegm of thecountry. And truly, I think injustice has been done to the Joloans, and injustice should be done to no one, even one's enemy. But weshall consider how God avenged the injuries committed by Saul onthe Ammonites, who did not stop until these were atoned for--whichwas ended by David, who delivered to them all of Saul's descendants, all of whom they hanged. And the scriptures say: _Suspenderunt eos inpatibulis in conspectu solis. _ [70] For a criminal punished shineslike the sun in the sight of God. These Joloans were going to andreturning from Manila in the character of friends, taking and carryingaway necessaries to both parties. Once, when returning from Manila, they were charged with robbing and making captives. The governor sentAlférez Don Fernando de Figueroa after them. After meeting them, hebrought them back, after taking away their cargo, which is reportedto have amounted to more than four thousand pesos. They remained idlein Manila, until they were freely dismissed, as no crime appearedagainst them. Governor Don Alonso Fajardo died, and the Ioloansreturned to their own country, with the intention of asking the newgovernor, on his arrival, for what was taken from them; since nothingwas proved against them for which they merited the punishment of theconfiscation of their property. They acted accordingly, and returned tothe presence of Don Fernando de Silva and of his successor, Don JuanNiño de Tábora. Those barbarians endured very great delay, until, finding themselves in a desperate condition and poorly equipped, they returned, committing signal depredations on the way; and sincethen they have continued their incursions, to the very great injury ofall the country. And although expeditions have been made against themfrom Sugbú and Panay, nothing of importance has been accomplished. Itwas resolved to build a good fleet and invade their country. Thiswas done very secretly, but I am surprised that they did not hearof it. Its chief officer was Don Cristóbal de Lugo, who filledthe position of lieutenant-governor and captain-general of thoseprovinces. He assembled a goodly force, both soldiers and Indians, who would willingly go to avenge themselves, as they said. For the actof vengeance among the Indians is a terrible thing; and, if possible, they do not miss it. 

While awaiting the time to go in Sugbú, where the forces weregathered--who, as they were many, occupied all the houses, even thesmallest ones--some soldiers were cleaning their weapons in one nearthe residence of the Recollect fathers. One fired his arquebus, which, unknown to him, was loaded. It caught in the thatch which formedthe roof of that little house; and, as the sun was hot, and the windthe greater brisa, the house quickly caught fire. The father prior, Fray Pedro de San Nicolás, was very much annoyed; and he came out, and with reason rebuked the soldiers, who lost all their effects. Thefather returned to his house, where he learned that more had happenedthan he thought; for, as he was going up stairs, he saw that thegreater part of his house was burned. By dint of ringing the bells, a number of people came in, but they could not prevent the burningof the house. This happened March 9, 1628, at one o'clock in theafternoon. It was a great pity, and cause for compassion; for theconvent, by the efforts of father Fray Pedro de San Nicolás, was verywell finished. He had been most diligent in both the building and thefurnishing and adornment of it; and his province lost more than fivethousand pesos by the fire. 

Everything was well advanced for the expedition. Accordingly, allthe forces embarked, being accompanied by a father of the Society, an Italian named Fabricio de Sorsale. The commander was a devoteeof the most Holy Child, although he did not take Him as patron thistime, a thing he was wont to do. Yet he would not go without biddingHim farewell, which he did with great devotion, a ceremony which didnot lack many candles. The Child showed Himself so pleased, that Iwas obliged to tell the commander that he should take comfort, andthat I promised him in the Child's name a very fortunate expedition, as happened--and it would have been better, had they known how to usetheir victory. The fleet left Sugbú on the fourth of the same month, with more than one hundred Spaniards and three hundred Indians. Therewere two captains of infantry, subordinate to the commander--oneFrancisco Benítez, the other Juan del Rio. Other volunteers accompaniedthem. They reached Joló, found it unprepared, and burned the town, theking's houses, the ships, and whatever they found. Had they followedthe people, they would have found them in confusion and hiding inthe grass; for on account of the long peace, the Joloans had notprovisioned their stronghold, which was impregnable. The soldierscontented themselves with this, and let slip the best opportunitythat could have been desired. 

Upon the day that this occurred, some Spaniards happened to be inour church with father Fray Pedro de Torres, and they saw that theChild was laughing. This was the church that had been built by thesaid father Fray Pedro de Torres--a fatal one, I call it. For fourdays after the fleet had left, on the eighth of the same month, whileI was in the refectory dining with the Recollect fathers, whom I hadbrought to our convent, another Recollect came from Manila, who wascoming to be ordained. While recounting to him the misfortune that hadoccurred, the prior said: "Tell me, brother, if you saw this conventablaze, would you not feel compassion?" We went up stairs, and at oneo'clock the fire began in the middle of the city, to the windward. Itoriginated from some tobacco; cursed be it, and the harm that thatinfernal plant has brought, which must have come from hell. The windwas brisk, and blowing toward the convent. In short, everything wasburned, though we saved the silver and whatever was possible. The HolyChild willed to allow His house and most of the city to be burned, although no two houses had ever before been burned in that city at thesame time. This happened on Saturday, the eve of Passion Sunday. Igathered together all that escaped from the convent of San Nicolás, and set about going to Manila, to repair that loss as far as possible. 

While on the way to the island of Panay, my boat was overturnedby a heavy storm, and it was a miracle that I escaped with mylife--which happened, through God's mercy, by the efforts of my SugbúIndians. Finally when the storm was appeased, I reached the convent ofSalog, without shoes, naked, and perishing of hunger, on the fifteenthof the said month of April. The father of that convent, called fatherFray Francisco de Oliva, [71] and all the others of that island, aidedboth the convent, and me especially, with the greatest charity. ThusI obtained there two very large contributions of all necessary forthe convent. I found father Fray Estéban de Peralta, definitor ofthe province, there visiting the island. I went to Manila with him, where I tried to go from Manila to España. The superior did not imposeobedience in regard to it, so that I turned all my efforts to caringfor my house, for which many religious aided from their stores withgreat charity. 

At this juncture the ships came from España. They brought thegovernor's wife, Doña Magdalena de Oñate. They had been fourwhole months in making the port of Cavite and had suffered verysevere weather. Those two ships were very staunch ones, and hadbetter accommodations for cargo than any that have been seen in theislands. They were called the "San Luis" and the "San Raimundo. " Ascommander of the flagship came Don Juan de Quiñones, in whose shipsailed the governor's wife. It also bore the religious of our fatherSt. Dominic; while in the almiranta sailed Don Diego Muñoz, BishopDon Fray Hernando Guerrero, the latter of whom was at the point ofdeath, so that his escape was a marvel. We saw above how our fatherMéntrida sent him to España as procurator. He made a prosperous trip[to España], and when he reached España found himself a bishop, anegotiation effected by heaven rather than his own efforts. For onealways recognized very great grace (I mean humility) in his Lordship, like the grand religious that he always was. But his many hardships, journeys, and services in the islands made him worthy of this and ofother greater honors. He went and returned in three years, bringing anunusually fine company [of religious]. But the plague decimated them, taking the best of the men, as follows:

1. Father Fray Francisco Osorio, reader of theology in España, andan eloquent preacher; and, above all, of most noble temper and blood. 

2. Father Fray Juan Bermans, a preacher from Flanders. He died chaste;and was a brother of Father Bermans of the Society, who is to becanonized, and who serves as a model. 

3. Father Fray Diego Bonifáz, a very virtuous religious. 

4. Father Fray Bartolomé de Eraso, a preacher and quite indispensable. 

5. Brother Fray Francisco González, chorister. 

6. Brother Fray Francisco Diego, chorister. 

7. Brother Fray Antonio de Salazar, chorister. 

Those who entered [port] alive were:

1. Father Fray Francisco de Azuara, from Valencia, lecturer intheology. 

2. Father Fray Pedro de Quesada, lecturer in arts, from Castilla. 

3. Father Fray Luis de Villerías, a creole, a debater in theuniversity. [72]

4. Father Fray Bartolomé de Esterlik, a preacher, an Irishman. [73]

5. Father Fray Dionisio Suarez, chorister. 

6. Father Fray Juan de Prado, from Castilla, a preacher. 

7. Father Fray Justo Úbeda, from Castilla, a priest. 

8. Father Fray Alonso Ramos, from Castilla, a priest. 

9. Father Fray Francisco de Abendaño, from Castilla, a priest. 

10. Brother Fray Alonso Quijano, from Castilla, chorister. 

11. Brother Fray Diego Tamayo, from Andalucía, chorister. 

12. Father Fray Gonzalo de la Palma, from Castilla, chorister. 

13. Brother Fray Juan Lozano, from Castilla, chorister. 

14. Brother Fray Miguel Dicastís. 

15. Father Fray Gaspar de Castilla, a preacher. 

16. Brother Fray Agustín de Chauru, from Castilla, chorister. [74]

They were welcomed gladly, although with grief for the great lossthat they had sustained. Those religious suffered greatly; for thestorms compelled them to disembark between Bacón and Verde Island, which must have cost them dear. Afterward they suffered not a littleon land until they reached Manila, where they were well receivedand feasted. The priests began to labor, and the brothers, afterordination, did the same, since they had come for that purpose. 

I, who had obtained by entreaty what I could to buy two ornamentsand all that was necessary, returned to my field of labor; so thatI left the convent with a house, church, sacristy, and ornaments, better than before; and all that was necessary for the house, moreabundantly and fully than before. I also increased its annual incomeby more than three hundred pesos. 

CHAPTER XLI

_Continuation of the preceding_

Governor Don Fernando de Silva thought that the trade of this countrywith China was annually decreasing, because of the Chinese pirates, who were now very bold, so that the traders could not leave portwithout manifest danger to their property and lives. And indeed, if any came, it was to bring rather people than cloth and the otherthings that the country needed. Besides this, since the Chinese hadPortuguese in their country, they could transport their cloth withoutso much danger and sell it to the Portuguese. The latter brought itfrom Macán to Manila, and sold it there at whatever price they pleased;for the Spaniards had to export something, as otherwise they could notlive. For their other incomes, acquired through encomiendas--I knownot how they are valued--do not suffice or enrich, and least of allsatisfy. Perhaps the reason is that in collecting them no attentionis paid to what is produced. Besides that, the governor knew that theDutch were settled in Hermosa Island, a very large island, which liesmore than two hundred leguas north of Manila. It is called Hermosa[_i. E. _, "Beautiful"] Island because of its fertility. It is quitenear China, although it is inhabited by Indians, like the rest of theislands. The governor thought that, from that place, the Dutch weredepriving us of the trade; this would mean the destruction of Manila, which only a lucrative trade could sustain. To remedy all this, hethought to capture Hermosa Island, and he discussed and conferredabout this plan. The Dominican fathers, influenced by the gain ofsouls, encouraged this affair, because of the nearness of the islandto China. As all are dependent on the governor in these regions, noone dares to contradict him in whatever pleases him; for they fearhis anger upon them, which often deprives them of sustenance. But, I think time has proved what an unwise thing was done; for none ofthose injuries have been remedied, but have remained. The forces, which are daily becoming fewer in the islands, were divided, andthere were innumerable other inconveniences. Finally, the governorsent troops to the island, and possession of it was taken, more thanforty or sixty leguas from the Dutch fort. Only Dominican religiouswent on this occasion. Then it befell that many of the troops died, for the island is very cold. Most of the fruits of Castilla are raisedthere. Its inhabitants are fierce, and live without law or reason, but more as their chiefs dictate. Ours have suffered signal hardshipsthere. Sargento-mayor N. Careño was governor of that fort and thetroops; and he did his utmost. The Chinese came and offered many thingswhen the soldiers had money; but, when money failed, all was about toperish. That year, 1626, Don Juan Niño de Tábora came as governor. Hewas told of Hermosa Island and its great importance. Accordingly, he resolved to make an expedition thither, with as many of theremaining soldiers as possible. They filled three large galleonsand other smaller ones. Captain Lázaro de Torres, of whom we havemade so much mention, sailed in the "Trinidad, " the smallest of allthe ships. They left in August, after the despatch [for New Spain]of the vessels of 1627. The weather was rough, so that the governorgrew afraid. After incurring so great expenses for his Majesty, andsailing in galleons which carried fifty or sixty pieces of artillery, a return was made to Cavite. Only Lázaro de Torres went ahead, withwhom sailed father Fray Lúcas de Atienza, of our order, as prior andvicar-provincial. They suffered terrible storms, and ran manifestdangers; especially when, running with the lower sail on the foremast, they ran aground on an island, which they had not seen because ofa dense fog. At last they all got away. They flung out, or ratherraised, the greater yard (which they were carrying down), shook outthe sails full, and then were able to make land with the sides underwater, and the sea running sky-high. They just missed scraping thesunken rocks about the island. The most courageous man among themwas our religious, for no one, neither soldier nor sailor, met thedanger with greater courage or resolution. At length they reachedHermosa Island at a time that proved the redemption of those men, foralready were they eating rats. They were in the extreme of necessity;for neither did any Chinese come, nor had the Spaniards any silver toattract them, for that is the most efficacious allurement. Captain DonAntonio de Vera had gone out with twenty men; but some Indian chiefsdaringly killed him and his men. Captain Lázaro de Torres rallied tothis necessity. He went outside, relieved the fort, gave what food hehad, and then--having nothing to do, and suspecting that the governorhad put back into port--he returned with our religious. The lattercame near dying on account of his great hardships; and indeed deathovercame him after he returned to the land of Manila--where becauseof those sufferings he never again raised his head in health. 

During this same time, I mean in 1628, the house of our convent ofBisayas was burned--the one which I had built with so much trouble. Itwas the best in the province. It is suspected that the rebelliousIndians burned it, as it was not the time when fires are wont tohappen, for it was Christmas, when it is always rainy. 

During the triennium of our father Fray Juan Enríquez, the church andhouse of Dumangas were burned. They were fine edifices. Both firesoccurred during the night, so that it was a miracle that the religiousescaped; for they were asleep, a sign that the fire was set on purpose. 

During this triennium the Manila Parián was burned. It was a miraclethat the city was not burned; and the interests that were ruinedwere very large. Although the church of the Parián was so near tothe houses, and entirely of wood, it did not burn, whereat all theSangleys were much surprised. They said afterward in their brokenlanguage, "Here St. Mary great" [_aqui Sta. Maria grande_]. The wallsand supports were aglow with the fire and brightness, or rather, were ablaze, as they were so hot that the hand could not be placedupon them. This made the wonder all the greater, and the Sangleysbecame more attentive to the consideration of our truths. The Pariánwas rebuilt better; its houses were roofed with tile, so that it isvery sightly; and, with the point adjoining it on the river, whichhas been finished, it has added glory and honor to the city. All wasdone, as I have said, at the cost of the Sangleys. But they causethe Castilian to pay it, by raising prices universally. 

[The chapter closes with several miraculous occurrences andpious observations that emphasize the grandeur of the Christianreligion. These marvels are interspersed with other matter as follows:]

During the triennium of our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida, thesending of a religious to Maluco was discontinued, and the conventof Cavite was completely abandoned. It must have been the opinionof grave fathers that that was not of importance. Many things arekept, which although they are of no use at the present time, are atleast preserved for the hopes which are entertained that they willbe useful in the future, and that they will prove of advantage. Nonotice was taken of that, for four eyes are worth more than two; andwhat has appeared in one way to me may appear to others in an entirelydifferent light. Hence I shall leave the discussion of this matter. 

In the first part of the year 1629, the most holy sacrament was foundmissing from the altar of the cathedral of Manila. 

It was a thing that troubled all greatly; but it most troubled thearchbishop of Manila. The greatest and most painstaking effortsimaginable were made. Many were arrested, and put to severe torture;and, for many months, no other efforts were made than to ascertainwhether the aggressor could be discovered by any manner or means. Butthat one was never found, nor could they discover who stole it, norwhat was done with it. The archbishop retired to San Francisco delMonte, which is a convent of the religious of our father St. Francis, who spend their lives there in the contemplative life with notableperfection and spirituality. There then our archbishop took refuge, and spent many days in other similar works, furnishing an example toall the country; and although it is true that he was always an exampleduring all his life, he seems on this occasion to have redoubled hisacts of penitence--praying God, as a truly contrite man, that, if thatlamentable case and one so worthy of sorrow throughout the islandshad happened through his omissions. He would pardon him and regardthose sheep which had been committed to him with eyes of pity andkindness; and that he might not be the cause that their punishments bemultiplied. He caused prayers to be said by the convents and parishes, noting that beyond doubt the sins of the people were great, since theLord was working against them and permitted that the sacrament be takenfrom its place and dwelling in so sacrilegious a manner. For no lessin the present desecration than in that which these sacrilegious Jewspracticed toward our Lord in the garden, the gravity of the sin isrecognized, since He allows such treatment. And no less is the loverecognized which He has for us, accepting and receiving to Himselfthe insults which He does not wish to fall upon His people--like thepious mother who shielded the dear body of her son, whom she loved, with her own, so that the tyrant might not wound him, preferring thewelfare of her son to her own. 

CHAPTER XLII

_Of the election of our father Fray Juan de Henao_

Our father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, with the mildness which we haveseen, with which he began and divided his government, ended it withthe same, not leaving any religious any ground for complaint. Forhe loved them all equally, and equally strove for their spiritualwelfare, acting toward them in every respect as a true father andshepherd. He had cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Medrano ashis successor. The latter was then definitor, and he was a personof great talent for what the office requires, and had preached atManila in a very satisfactory manner. But since there are so manydifferent understandings in a province, all men cannot judge of athing by the same method, for every one feels regarding it as his ownjudgment dictates. Consequently, there was a following which triedto elect father Fray Francisco Coronel, a man of vast learning, andof whom very great hopes were entertained for the future. But thatfollowing never could gain the full game, nor even check the otherfaction. Thereupon they settled on a scheme which did not succeedbadly, and that was to cast their votes for our father Fray Juan deHenao, who belonged to the other faction, and had the father presidenton his side. By this means, the election was conferred upon the manwho was least expected [to gain it]. One would believe that the Lordchose to give him therein the dignity which He had taken from him sixyears before--the reader will remember what we have said about that. 

At this time the fathers born in the Indias, although they werefew, had obtained a bull from his Holiness, so that between themand the fathers from Castilla there should be alternation [inthe celebration of Corpus Christi]. Its execution was committedto the archdean of Manila, Alonso García, a creole, who was muchinclined to it. Accordingly he proceeded without allowing any appealor argument, although those presented by the Castilian fathers werevery cogent. Finally he proceeded to extreme measures, by declaringthe fathers excommunicated. Here the province refused to admit theletters of excommunication. Finally, our father Henao was electedin this contention, with father Fray Estéban de Peralta acting aspresiding officer of the chapter. The definitors elected were:father Fray Juan de Tapia; the second, Fray Juan de Medina; thethird, Fray Nicolás de Herrera; [75] and the fourth, Fray Martínde Errasti. [76] The visitors were father Fray Jerónimo Medrano andfather Fray Cristóbal de Miranda. [77]

The father provincial and the other father definitors looked afterthe affairs of the province with great prudence, and discussed themost important matter of that time--namely, the choice of a person togo to the court of Roma to represent the causes which had moved themnot to accept the alternation, giving him the money for expenses whichthe other fathers are accustomed to carry, with additional pay, and asthe case required. The father master, Fray Pedro García, was selectedfor that purpose. He was the brother of the archbishop and a personof great talent and resources, who would be well received anywherebecause of his person, learning, and excellent mode of procedure. Butthe Lord was pleased not to allow him to reach Nueva España. The creolefathers also requested that permission be granted to them, for theywished to send a procurator on their own account; and their requestwas granted. Accordingly they sent father Fray Alonso de Figueroa, [78] a person of much ability, and the most suitable that could beselected among the men of his following. 

Father Fray Hernando de Cabrera, an admirable minister of theTagalos, of whom we have already spoken, asked for leave to go toEspaña. Together with the father master, Fray Pedro García, he tookpassage on the flagship "San Juan, " a new ship whose first voyagethis was. Aboard it was Don Fernando de Silva, who had governed theseislands, four procurators for the city of Manila, who were beingsent to look after the property of the citizens, on account of unfairdealings by those of Nueva España in the returns made for it [_i. E. _, for goods exported thither from Manila]. Further, two fathers and abrother named Fray Juan de Peña took passage with them. Two of ourreligious embarked aboard the almiranta--father Fray Lorenzo [_sic_]de Figueroa as procurator of the creole fathers, and a brother namedFray Francisco de San Nicolás. They left the port of Cavite, August4; they experienced considerable suffering, for the vendavals wereblowing vigorously, and those winds make it difficult to get out ofthe bay. At last it was God's good pleasure to give them weather whichenabled them to make their voyage. In this line, on the return tripto Méjico, the ships do not sail in company, but each one takes thedirection which is most expedient for it, relying on God, who willaid them. The storms were frightful. The almiranta suffered the mostterrible voyage that ever ship has suffered. For after a few blaststhey had to cut down the mast, and, when they reached thirty-sixdegrees, they lost their rudder. In such plight they agreed to return, suffering destructive hurricanes, so that, had not the ship beenso staunch, it would have been swallowed up in the sea a thousandtimes. Finally God was pleased to have it return, as if by a miracle;and as such was it considered by all the inhabitants of Manila. Theother vessel, being a new and larger ship, on perceiving the storm, went to a lower latitude. It continued to plow the sea, to the greatdiscomfort of all, for it was six months on the voyage. The fathermaster, Fray Pedro, died on that voyage, with so excellent an examplethat there was no one aboard the ship who was not edified. FatherCabrera also died with great piety, and like a devoted religious, ashe was. The brother lived. Even the chaplain aboard the ship died. Inall the dead numbered ninety-nine persons, who could have peopled aworld. Those who arrived were in such condition that it was necessaryto let them regain their strength in the port of Valdebanderas. Theprocurators on both sides had this lot, which was plainly that whichoccurred to all. But against the will of God there is no one who cango; what is important is, that His will be always done. 

Archbishop Don Fray Miguel Garcia saw that the time was approachingfor the provincial chapter. He hastened and left Manila to visitand confirm those of his jurisdiction. It is certain that, hadOurs detained him, affairs would have come out better. Finally, being constrained, they had to summon him; and his coming adjustedaffairs. He returned to his confirmation, being desirous of concludingit in order to return for the feast of Corpus Christi in the city, which was his greatest devotion. But his haste cost him his life. Hewas corpulent, and had been ailing many days; his blood became heated, and gave him a fever. He was not attended to in time, and when theytook care of him he was a dead man. His death occurred on that sameday of the most holy sacrament, at nine o'clock at night. He diedas an apostle, after having done his whole duty as religious andbishop. Great was the concourse of people, for his great sagacity andprudence made him not only liked but loved by all. He was buried in ourconvent, at the foot of the high altar, among the religious. Beyonddoubt our Lord chose to snatch him from this life on that day whichhe so much venerated, so that he should see the reward which theLord gave him for so great devotion. He was a liberal almsgiver, and at the time of his death had nothing that was his own. All hispossessions had been expended in charitable works many days before. Thecity grieved much over his death, but his church grieved more; for, besides remaining orphaned, there was no other who would thus lookafter it. The bishop of Sugbú came to govern it, by indult of hisHoliness, with which he has governed twice at Manila. 

[After dwelling at some length on the virtue of a Bengal slave womanand her miraculous escape from death, she having been dangerouslywounded by her would-be seducer, Medina continues:]

In our father Fray Juan Henao's first year, when we had alreadyentered upon the year 1630, the orders considered the little securitythat they had from the Moros, for the latter were becoming insolentwith their successful forays; and thus, without giving our people anybreathing-space, were destroying the villages and missions in chargeof the orders--and more especially they were pressing the Jesuits, asthose fathers were established in places more exposed to the insolenceand violence of the enemies. The governor, in an endeavor to uprootso great an evil at one blow, had a fleet built in the islands--thelargest ever made by Indians--at the expense of the king our sovereign, and of the Indians and encomenderos. A great sum of money was expendedupon it. Command of it was entrusted to the master-of-camp of theforces at Manila, Don Lorenzo de Olazu, a soldier, and one of thoseof highest reputation in those regions. The fleet bore more thanfour thousand Indians, taken from all districts at great expense, andmore than five hundred Spaniards, picked men, commanded by captainsof note. The fleet was composed of two galleys, three brigantines, a number of caracoas, and champans to carry food. With this fleetit was confidently expected to subdue not only Joló, but all thehostile islands. 

The Jolog group consists of many islands, but the principal one, wherethe king lives, has a hill in the middle of it like a volcano. Ithas only one very steep ascent, and is an impregnable point, and assuch it is regarded by all. Accordingly, when the Indians are visitedby enemies, they fortify the hill, and then imagine themselves secureagainst any force. But when, about two years ago, Admiral Don Cristóbalde Lugo had burned their villages, and they knew that the Castilianswere about to attack them, they had fortified the hill strongly, mounting thereon the guns that they had taken from the [Spanish]shipyard. The master-of-camp believed himself sufficient to take thathill alone. Accordingly as soon as he arrived, he landed, and headingthem, led his men up the hill without delay. That fleet was accompaniedby one of our religious, father Fray Fulgencio, an excellent preacher, and a very good worker, who was preëminent among the others whowent. There was also a Recollect father named Fray Miguel, who didnot move from the side of the master-of-camp. The latter, findinghimself almost alone on the height and near the stockade, manysharpened stakes and bamboos hardened in the fire were hurled at him, so that the master-of-camp fell, while others of the more courageouswere wounded, and some killed. Thereupon, had the others ascendedand entered, as the attack would have been less difficult after thatfirst fury, they would have gained the fort, which had but few men, aswas afterward learned; but they remained inactive. The master-of-camparose, and retired without doing more than this; and with this result, that that fleet, that had made every one afraid, returned. My opinionis, that the Spaniards were punished for the arrogance that they musthave displayed there; and that along those coasts, and at the expenseof the wretched subjects, they tried to find the pearls of the kingof Joló, which were said to be most beautiful. And accordingly thiswas proclaimed, to the sound of drum, in the port of Ilong-ilongand in Sugbú, and a reward promised to whoever would seize them;for they considered the victory their own already, and shouted itforth before obtaining it. If they, as Christians, had gone withgood intent to punish those Mahometan enemies for the desecrationsthat they had committed against the churches and sacred images, whodoubts that the Lord, whose cause that was, would have aided them? Butthey were greedy for their own interests, and had their eyes on theirown convenience. Thus they lost both the moneys expended and theirreputation; and to save reputation one should expend much toil, forby it are conserved monarchies and kingdoms. They returned to Manilathe laughing-stock of all the islands. From that time the Indians ofCagayán began to talk among themselves of lifting the yoke, placed ontheir necks by the Castilians; for as has been seen, all is not goldthat glitters. Many deaths occurred among the Indians of differentdistricts. The expenses of the natives, as above stated, were great, for although no one goes from his village except with very liberalaid, in this case that aid was unusually generous. Thus there wasno encomienda that had a thousand Indians that did not expend morethan a thousand pesos, besides rice--in addition to their tribute, personal services, and other taxes. It should be considered andrecognized how these poor wretches were continually harassed; hence, why should one wonder that events do not succeed as one would desire?

In the present year the vessel "San Juan" returned, the ill-fortune ofwhich was feared, because the almiranta had put back to port. Itgave report of its voyage, whereupon the order voted what wasimportant. [79] They appointed a procurator who went to España. Thiswas the father reader, Fray Pedro de la Peña, [80] who was prior ofMacabebe in Pampanga. He took passage on the flagship "San Luis. " Inthe almiranta embarked another father, from Valencia, named father FrayVicente Lidón. These vessels left the port of Cavite on August 4. Theyput back to the same port to lighten, and set sail again as heavilyladen as before. They experienced no better voyage than the last oneshad; for, besides putting back, they did not lack misfortunes. Theflagship cut down its mast on the high sea, and was all but lost. Theother vessel also suffered greatly, and between them both they threwoverboard more than one hundred and forty [dead] people, while theothers were like to die of hunger, for the voyage lasted seven andone-half months. Nueva España no longer expected them, and thereforedespatched [to the islands] two small vessels from Perú, in whichcame the visitor of the islands, Don Francisco de Rojas. Both vesselssuffered greatly. They lost their rudders, and their arrival was amiracle. It is quite apparent that the Lord is very merciful towardthe islands. We surmise that these vessels arrived, one in July andthe other in August of 1631. The worst thing resulting to the orderin what happened to the vessels was, that no one would take passageon the ships, so that the province came to a condition of the utmostperil. For, if procurators are lacking in España, there is no hopeof getting religious; and the religious who are here now are dyingdaily. For never have I seen a triennium when there were not more thantwenty deaths, and sometimes even thirty; while few are invested withthe habit. Thus, perforce, the province is always in need of men. 

Nevertheless, I, who had always been desiring to go to España, atlast obtained my wish this year of 1631, under the greatest strifeand oppositions that can be told; but I will not speak of them, as they are personal, although a not small history might be made ofthem. Finally I embarked in the flagship (where I went as vicar), in which no other priest embarked. The ship was a new one, and hadbeen built in Cavite, during the residence of Governor Don Juan Niñode Tábora, who named it "La Magdalena" for his wife. It was alwayssaid that the ship had no strength and ought not to make the trip. Thepeople said this among themselves; but, when they spoke of it to thegovernor, they praised it, and said that it was the best vessel inthe world, for the contrary grieved him greatly. It was laden, andthen its weakness was evident, so that they had to change their tuneto that very governor. It was said that it would be made all rightby putting in some stiffening--namely, three planks on each side, very thick and heavy--whereby it seemed that the vessel would bestrengthened. Accordingly, the people embarked, a thing that ought notto have been done. On Thursday, at dawn, we were about to set sail; andwhen they weighed the anchor that held the ship, it listed to starboardso rapidly that, had not the point of the largest yard caught on theshore, the ship would doubtless have turned keel up. To see so manymen perish there and so much property lost, was a day of judgment--anevent such as no one remembers to have heard told before. The artillerywas fired at intervals from the fort of Cavite, whereat the governorand many vessels came up. I was the first to escape from the ship, but as by a miracle; for I jumped into the water from the lantern, clothed as I was with my black habit. By God's help I was enabled toreach a small boat, in which I escaped, as above described. May theLord's will be fulfilled. With this I have been in danger of deathseven times from the water while in the islands, whence the Lord byHis mercy has miraculously drawn and freed me. The first was shortlyafter my arrival in the country, at Aclán. While bathing in the river, suddenly a current came whose rapidity seized me and bore me beyond mydepth. I was already lost and surrendered myself to the mercy of thewater, for I could not swim. God inspired a sacristan who was there, who dived quickly into the water, followed me, and, catching hold ofme, drew me ashore. The second was while prior of Ibahay, and whenI was visiting the islands. While crossing to one, so fierce a stormstruck me that the Indians gave up hope, and thought only of dying. Thelittle boat was a poor one, without helm or sail. All human aid beingexhausted, I had recourse to the [departed] souls, who obtained achange of wind from the Lord; thus, with a powerful north wind, andthe anchor thrown astern from a cable to aid as a rudder, we reacheda little islet at two o'clock at night. There we moored, that stormynight. As soon as we reached the islet, the vendaval began to blowagain, so that it would seem that the north wind had blown only forthat. The third was in the same river of Ibahay. While ascending itwhen it had a very large strong current (for it is a furious river), it overturned my little boat, and drew me under; but, although Idid not know how to swim, the water was drawn from under me, and Iremained on the surface of the water, in such manner that I did notsink beyond my girdle. And thus, with half my body out of the water, the current carried me a long distance. The Indians were followingme in all haste with the little boat, supporting it with their hands;and, when it overtook me, I climbed on top of it, overturned as it was, and in that manner they dragged me ashore. From there I went to thevillage, passing through streams as deep as my waist, or even to theshoulders, and many times even up to the throat, at the imminent riskof attack by crocodiles, and of life, and health; for I did not dareenter the boat again. The fourth was in Laglag, when I was going onhorseback to the visitas of that district. The road was so close tothe edge of the river that it could not be followed without risk. Therest of the country was so rough that it could not be penetrated. Iwas going carefully, but the horse knew little of the reins, andmade a misstep and fell into the river--from so high a precipice thatsurely, had there not been much water in the river at that time, wehad broken all our bones. But it was deep and had a strong current, so that when we fell into it we sank. The horse reached the shoreimmediately by swimming. The current carried me above water for avery great distance, until I seized some reed-grass by which I wasable to reach the shore, where I thanked God for so many mercies. Thefifth was by falling into the Dumangas River from a little boat. Theabove one of the ship is the sixth. I have left untold countlessother dangers, while on the sea so many times--now from enemies, nowfrom the weather. The seventh time is the loss of Sugbú, after theburning of that city and convent. It is not little to tell what themissionaries suffer here; but, as they are caused by works for God, His [Divine] Majesty aids us with His help and protection, when byany other means it seems impossible to save one's life on account ofthe enemies and hardships that surround a religious on all sides. Maythanks be given to His [Divine] Majesty for all. Amen. 

In 1631 there happened a wonderful thing in Sugbú. On account of theill-success achieved at Joló, the governor sent Sargento-mayor Tufinoto Sugbú, so that, being posted in Dapitan (situated in Mindanao), he might prove an obstacle to the Joloans, so that they should notinfest the islands. He reached the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and was lodged in a house belonging to the convent, opposite theprison; the two houses are separated only by a very wide street. Thesargento-mayor stored his powder, amounting to sixteen barrels, inhis house. The prison caught afire. All the people ran thither, sinceif the fire leaped to the house opposite, and caught in the powder, the city would surely be blown to pieces. The most Holy Child wasimmediately taken out, at sight of whom the fire was checked, andburned only the nipas of that piece, and left the supports on whichit rests intact. This is the latest thing [of this sort] that hasbeen seen. It was a solemn miracle; but that Lord who is omnipotentin all things can do this. 

CHAPTER XLIII

_Continuation of the preceding_

The trade and commerce of the Japanese Islands has always beenconsidered of great importance in these islands; for, as the formerare rich in metals and foods, what is needed here can be broughtthence at moderate prices. Formerly the Manila traders made muchmore profit by sending their goods to Japón than to España, forthey saw the returns from them more quickly and at less risk. Thegovernors have sought this trade very earnestly. Don Alfonso Fajardosent two ambassadors, namely, Don Juan de Arceo and Don Fernandode Ayala, who were very influential men of Manila; they carried agoodly present with them. But that barbarian refused to admit them, whereupon they returned abashed, without effecting anything. Allthis rancor has arisen through his expulsion of the orders [fromJapan], and his prohibition against preaching any new religion in hiscountry. Although the emperors have done this in their zeal for theiridolatries, the credence given to a falsehood told them by the Dutchhas aided greatly in it. The Dutch told the emperor, in short, thathe should beware of the European religious, for that by their meansthe king of Castilla made himself sovereign of foreign kingdoms; forafter they had entered the country and reduced it to their religion, the rest was easy. It is not necessary to prove the falsity of this, so apparent is it. Disguised religious have not on that accountdiscontinued going to Japón, but continue that work, although theseverity of the persecution is ever increasing. 

In the year 30, the governor sent out two large galleons, with fivehundred soldiers, besides the sailors; they were ordered to captureand bring to Manila any Dutch vessel found on the coasts of Siam andCamboja. Don Juan de Alcarazo was commander of the galleons, and DonPedro de Mendiola was admiral. They sailed the seas at signal risk, as they were not extra large ships, and the city was very anxious. Forshould those galleons be lost, then was lost the strength of theislands. But, finally, the Lord brought them safely home, whichwas not a little fortunate. In the course of their wanderings theyseized two ships or junks, one belonging to Siamese, the other toJapanese. They sent the Siamese vessel to Manila, but sacked and evenburned the Japanese vessel. It is said they found great riches onit. Who could know the truth? This was learned in Japón, whereuponthe hate and ill-will of that people toward us redoubled. They triedto collect the value of the junk from the Portuguese, who trade withJapón. They said that, since the Castilians and Portuguese had thesame king, it made no difference which one of them paid. They seizedthe goods of the Portuguese from them, and then the latter found theirbusiness quickly despatched. They sent their ambassadors to Manila, and a most dignified father of the Society came to manage the affair, namely, Father Moregón--a Castilian, but so changed into a Portugueseby his long intercourse with them, that he did nothing withoutthem. Nothing was concluded upon this occasion. Later, in the year1631, two junks came from Japón, one Portuguese, the other Japanese, with an embassy. The governor granted them audience in very circumspectfashion. On that occasion he assembled all the infantry in two columns, and had them escort the Japanese who acted as ambassadors, to whom hegave horses and trappings and a fine carriage. In short, they had come, in behalf of the governor of Nangasaqui, to confer about the junk, and the means by which trade could be opened. But it was straitlystipulated that no religious should go, for the Japanese had noliking for them. Two of our Japanese friars were the translators ofall the matter contained in the letters. The governor satisfied themin everything, and treated them very well in Manila. The religioustook the greatest pleasure from the embassy, considering the powerof God. For when that gate was, in man's judgment, most tightlylocked, the Lord opened it. For naught is impossible to Him. _Nonerit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum. _ [81] He who brought theMagian kings to the feet of One newly-born, by following a star, that same One brings the other nations to His bosom, when He wills, and opens the door to them so that they may enter into the bosom ofHis Church. The religious had the greatest hope of seeing the doorsof Japón opened widely, so that those harvests might be gathered. TheLord, then, has been well pleased in those kingdoms with so muchblood as has been shed there by His faithful ones, in testimony ofHis holy law. May He act as He shall see best in this matter. 

It appears that in the year 1629 the orders were moved to sendreligious to Japón at their own cost. These were the Dominican fathers, the Franciscans, our Recollects, and those of our own order. Theyfurnished the expenses on shares, built a champan, hired sailors, andpaid a pilot. But that expedition could not have been for the best, for the Lord proceeded to defeat it, by allowing their champan to bewrecked. Afterward, although they bought another in China (or rather inIlocos), it had no better success. Ours spent more than five hundredpesos. The father reader, Fray Pedro de Quesada, [82] and father FrayAgustín de Chauru went. The sufferings of the religious from storms, rains, roads, and famines would not be believed. It seems that theycan say with St. Paul: _Omnia superamus propter eum qui dilexit nos. _[83] They had to return because their superiors thus ordered, forin any other way they would not have done it; as they know very wellhow to suffer with Christ and for Christ, whose hardships were sweetto them, as to another St. Paul: _Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi incruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi. _ [84]

That same year certain splendid feasts were celebrated in Manila forthe holy martyrs of Japón who were canonized by his Holiness Pope Urban VII. There were twenty-one of them. Three were dogicos of the Society;the others belonged to the order of our father St. Francis. Thereligious marched in glittering vestments, all at the cost of thepious and religious inhabitants of Manila. The orders invited oneanother. There was a general procession in which the altars wereexcellent. As for that of our house, if it were not the best one, none of the others were ahead of it. It is certain that the dances, comedies, and the other things which made the festival magnificent, could have been envied by the best cities of España, to the honor andglory of its sons; for they have so pacified this earth that even atthe limits of the world may be seen so many grandeurs to the honorand glory of the Author of all. Of this not a little redounds tothe Catholic sovereigns of España; for by their expenses of men andmoney the banners of the Church have floated over the most remote andunknown parts of the world. Our kings of España deserve much, no doubt, since God has made use of them for so great affairs in His service. 

Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora sent Captain Juan Bautista, who had married one of his servants, to the fort and presidioof Caragán. He was a very energetic and courageous youth, as hehad proved on all opportunities that arose--both in that presidio, where he made many successful expeditions, and in other places wherehe had been sent. He had been badly wounded in Joló. When he beheldhimself head of that fort, he resolved to make an entrance among theTagabaloes. [85] He assembled many men from the friendly villages;as is the custom--although I know not with what justice they havetaken to make forays on them, capturing them, carrying them away, andselling them, for those Indians where they go are not Moros, nor evenhave they done any harm to the Spaniards, but remaining quiet in theirown lands, they eke out a miserable existence. But this [custom] isinherited from one [generation] to another. While about to make a forayin this manner, Captain Bautista quarreled with a chief of Caragán, the chief of all that district; and, not satisfied with treating himbadly with words, the captain attacked him, threw him to the ground, and gave him many blows and kicks. Captain Bautista was unarmed, as were also the Spaniards with him, who are very self-reliant inall things. Then the chief returned to his own people and askedthem if they were not ashamed of what had happened. "Then, " said he, "how do you consent that the Castilians and captain treat me thus inyour presence, when you could easily kill them?" As they were few andunarmed, the natives killed the captain and twelve soldiers, and FatherJacinto Cor, a Recollect father, who was going with them. After thisfirst misfortune, resulting from the anger of an imprudent captain, the natives went about warning and killing all the Spaniards whom theyfound on their coasts, and tried to take the fort by strategy. Butalready the matter was known, and on that account they did not takethe fort, which was the only means of recovering that post. Theykilled four more religious, among whom was father Fray Juan de SantoTomás, prior in Tangda, who was near the same fort. He was a holyman, as he showed at his death; for, seeing them resolved to killhim, he asked permission to commend himself to God. He knelt down, and while he was commending his soul to God, they thrust him throughwith a lance. This religious was very learned and devout, and tookespecial care of his soul. Therefore it is believed that by thattitle of martyr our Lord chose to take him to His glory and crownhim there. They wounded brother Fray Francisco, a layman, severely, as well as the father reader, Fray Lorenzo; but they did not die, and were afterward ransomed. The other religious were very devotedto God. How fortunate they, since they died so happily and in soheroic a quest; for those idolators killed them for hatred of theirteachings. As much help was taken there as possible from Sugbú. Thechief commander in this was Captain Chaves, encomendero of Caragán, who was living in Sugbú. He performed good services, repairing asmuch as possible the evil and harm that had been begun. Afterward, the commander-in-chief, Martin Larios, went with more soldiers topunish those Indians. 

It was reported as certain that those Indians, desirous of throwingoff the yoke from themselves, revolted because of the resultin Solog, aroused by what they saw in Joló, among a people lessresolute than themselves, as well as by the lack of bravery thatthey had witnessed in the Spaniards. The natives gathered, and heldassemblies and tried to ally themselves with the Joloans, Mindanaos, and all the other neighboring natives that could help them. Thingswere not in the condition that they wished; so they were gathering, and biding their time. The above opportunity was presented, and theyhurled themselves to their own greater loss, since they began whatthey could not finish. It was permitted by God, so that the manysouls whom the fathers have baptized and hope to baptize there maynot apostatize; for thereabout are multitudes of heathen Indians, among whom the worship of Mahomet has not yet entered, and with thecare of the fathers the harvest, without doubt, will be very plentiful. 

The Recollect fathers returned to visit, or rather, to rebuild theirhouse burned in Sugbú. They built it better, and roofed it with tile, whereby it will be safer than a roofing of nipa, which is so exposedto fire and flames. 

In August, 1629, the governor sent Captain Don Sebastián de Libite--avery noble Navarrese knight, who had been a very good soldier inFlandes--to the Pintados as commander-in-chief. He went with his wifeand household to the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. The weatherwas very stormy, and they were often menaced by death. This lady, DoñaCatalina de Aguilar, and her whole household were very devoted to themost Holy Child, and called upon Him with great anxiety. Finally, in adisastrous storm that struck them, where death was facing them, thislady said to her husband: "Listen, Don Sebastián, promise somethingto the Holy Child, so that He may help us, and may allow us to seeHim. " He promised one hundred pesos. "What, no more than that?" repliedDoña Catalina; "If we are drowning, for what do we love Him?" Finally, he promised five hundred pesos. The most Holy Child beheld theirdevotion, and miraculously saved them from their danger and conveyedthem safe to Sugbú, where they fulfilled their vow. And it is a factthat although they were persons of great wealth of spirit and nobility, they are people who have less of the temporal. But what they possess isgreater, which, at the end, will be a pledge of their reaching heaven. 

[Father Medina's editor, Father Coco, follows the narrative witha list of the Augustinian provincials in the Philippines from1632-1893--eighty-two in all. ]

DOCUMENTS OF 1630-1633

 Royal letters and decree. Felipe IV; December 4-31, 1630. Letter to Felipe IV from the bishop of Cebú. Pedro de Arce; July 31, 1631. Royal orders, 1632-33. Felipe IV; January-March, 1632, and March, 1633. Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Niño de Tavora; July 8, 1632. Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. [Unsigned]; July 2, 1632. Letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcetas, and others; [undated, but 1632]. 

_Sources_: The first and third documents are obtained from MSS. In theArchivo Histórico Nacional, Madrid; the second, fourth, and sixth, from MSS. In the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the fifth, from a MS. In the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid. 

_Translations_: The fifth document, and the first letter each in thefirst and the third, are translated by Robert W. Haight; the remainder, by James A. Robertson. 

ROYAL LETTERS AND DECREE

_Letter to Tavora_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-generalof the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia whichsits there. Your letter of August 4, 628, which treats of mattersconcerning the exchequer, has been received and examined in my royalCouncil of the Yndias, and this will be your answer. 

As to what you say that it is not expedient to continue the customintroduced under the governorship of Don Juan de Silva, namely, thatthe officials of my royal exchequer in those islands should not makepayments without your order--considering that they have not half themoney which is needed, and that it will be necessary to set limitsto the payments, so that they may be made only in the most necessarycases--you will observe the order which you have for this matter, taking care that the payments made be entirely justified. 

I have looked into the difficulties which you mentioned as resultingfrom the sale of offices of notaries in the provinces of the islands;but as it seems that the considerations in favor of it are theweightiest, you will order that they be immediately sold, or at leastone in the chief town of each province, and will advise me when thisis put into execution, and the amount for which each one is sold. 

It will be well, as you say, that with the approval of another councillike that which was held in the time of Don Pedro Acuña, decisionsshould be made whether it would be best to make a new valuation of theproduce in which the Indians are obliged to pay the tribute. Grantingthe arguments which you bring forward, you will take care that theypay some of their taxes in kind; because otherwise they would nottake the care that is desirable in stock-raising and farming. 

You will see to it that the payment of salaries to the auditors ofthat Audiencia be not postponed; but on the other hand you shallprefer them to all others, whereby the complaint which they make ofyou on that score will be avoided. [Madrid, December 4, 1630]

_I the King_ Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras. 

_Royal decree to regulate shipbuilding_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-generalof the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, or the person or persons in whose charge their government may be. Ithas been learned by my royal Council of the Indias that the warshipswhich are built in those islands are so large that they can be usedonly to fight in a stationary position in any battle; and that theycannot avail for navigation, to make or leave port when desired, tosail to windward, to pursue, or for any other purpose; and that thereare not sailors or soldiers or artillerymen in sufficient numbers withwhom to man them, as the smallest ship is of a thousand toneladas'burden. In order to equip them many war supplies are needed, alsohuge cables and heavy anchors, of which there is a great scarcityin that country. We have been informed that, now and henceforth, itwould be advisable that no ships of greater burden than five or sixhundred toneladas be built which will be suitable for the commerceand trade with Nueva España, and for the war fleet. And inasmuch as itis advisable that the best plan be adopted in this matter, you shallassemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuildingand in navigation, and in accordance with their opinion you shallproceed in building the ships. You shall endeavor to consider in theirconstruction what regards both strength and capacity, and the othermatters above mentioned. You shall advise me of what resolution youshall adopt. Given in Madrid, December fourteen, one thousand sixhundred and thirty. 

_I the King_

Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by themembers of the Council. 

[_Endorsed_: "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him toassemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuildingand navigation, and in accordance with their opinion to regulate thebuilding of ships. "]

_Letter to the Manila Audiencia_

The King. To the auditors of my royal Audiencia of the city of Manilain the Filipinas Islands. Your letter of the first of _[month omitted_]628 has been received and considered in my royal Council of the Indias, and I hereby give you answer to it. 

In regard to what you say touching the fact that the officials of myroyal treasury of those islands do not pay you your salaries promptlywhen due, saying that the governor has ordered them not to pay itwithout his decree, I am having the said governor ordered to endeavornot to delay the payment of your salaries; but that, on the contrary, you be preferred to all others in the payment of them. 

You say that, in accordance with what was ordained by laws of thekingdom and ordinances of the Audiencia there, appeals have beenadmitted in it, from the decisions of the alcaldes-in-ordinary, [and] edicts of the governor; [but] that he has imposed a standardand measure, in matters of the political government, with certainpenalties, on the Sangleys regarding the manner in which they have tomake timber, tiling, and other like articles; and that the governorhas prevented these causes from being appealed to that Audiencia, declaring his purpose to give me an account of it. As he has done this, and has asked for a declaration of what he ought to do, I have orderedhim to observe, in the method of reporting these contentions to me, and in the form on which they must be grounded, the order that isgiven by various decrees; and in the meanwhile he shall observe thecustom in similar cases. And if there are no similar cases, then noinnovation shall be introduced in the trial of the said appeals. 

The said governor also writes me in regard to what you say abouthis prohibiting disputes from going to that Audiencia, or to any ofthe auditors, as alcaldes of court, as he believes that the partiescan go to place the disputes before the ordinary judges; so that, if there should be any act of injustice, the case may go on appealto that Audiencia. In that regard, he has been answered to observethe existing laws on that matter. 

What you say about ceasing to maintain a room, separate from the othercollegiates, in the college of San Josef (which is under charge ofthe fathers of the Society), for the instruction of the Japanese inour holy faith, is approved for the present, as communication withthat kingdom has ceased. 

The other sections of the said letter were examined, but there isnothing to answer to them at present. Madrid, December 31, 1630. 

_I the King_By order of the king our sovereign:_Don Francisco Ruiz de Contreras_

LETTER TO FELIPE IV FROM THE BISHOP OF CEBU

Sire:

July 26, 1631, I received three decrees from your Majesty, in whichyour Majesty granted me the favor to advise me of the birth of theprince, [86] our sovereign, whom may God preserve. I feel especial joyand satisfaction at the favor that our Lord has shown toward España, in giving us a successor to your Majesty. In regard to the thanksthat your Majesty orders me to give to God, I shall take especialpains to do as your Majesty orders. 

In the second decree of your Majesty, your Majesty orders that thenatives of these islands be treated gently, and that they be relievedas far as possible from injuries and too heavy burdens. I have alwaysdone my utmost, so far as I am concerned, in regard to this; and nowand henceforth, I shall do it more carefully, since your Majesty hasordered it. 

In your third decree, your Majesty orders that the governor appointan ecclesiastical person to assist him in the examinations in whatconcerns the royal patronage, because of the troubles that haveoccurred in the vacant see. What I can tell your Majesty in perfecttruth is, that I have always tried to have benefices given to the mostpraiseworthy, and to those most suitable to minister to the Indians;but if your Majesty judges an agent advisable, I shall willingly obeywhat your Majesty orders. 

Your Majesty has appointed the archdean of the church of Cebu, DonAlonso de Campos, to the dignity of schoolmaster in this church ofManila. He has not been graduated in any science, and in this regard heis not possessed of the qualities that the council of Trent demands, nor those which the dignity of this church demands, for he is nota bachelor of arts. He who now exercises that office _ad interim_is Don Alonso Ramirez Bravo. He has been graduated in both kindsof law, and is a man of good qualities, who is at present provisorand vicar-general of this archbishopric. He has had in charge thebishoprics of Çubu and Camarines. He is a most praiseworthy person, in whom are found the necessary qualifications. Will your Majestygrant him the favor of this dignity? for he merits it, and is servingin it by appointment of the governor of these islands. 

Your Majesty orders me by a decree of your Majesty, under date ofMarch twenty-seven of the year twenty-nine, directed to the archbishopof this city of Manila--which I received, as I have in charge thischurch in the said vacancy--to make investigation regarding theclaims of Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoça, fiscal ofthis royal Audiencia, that he has been given a royal decree to actas protector of the Sangleys, as his predecessors have been. YourMajesty orders me to ascertain whether a protector is necessary, whether the Sangleys ask for one, and whether it be advisable that heshould be the fiscal. The relation made in the royal decree, Sire, bythe said Doctor Don Juan de Quesada, is the truth, without adding onejot to it. What I can say to your Majesty is that the Sangleys need aprotector to defend them; and that they have no defense, as has beenexperienced, except when they have had the fiscals as protectors. Thisis the reason why they have always been appointed. Often many injuriesand annoyances inflicted on the Sangleys are remedied by the soleauthority of the fiscal, without commencing suit. The Sangleys, Sire, ask a protector, and ask that he be the fiscal. I have seena petition which was presented to the governor of these islands, Don Juan Niño de Tabora, signed by very many Sangleys, in which theypetition him to give them the said Don Juan de Quesada, the fiscal, as protector. He has not determined to appoint the latter, becauseof the decree that he has received from your Majesty. However, I amfully persuaded of the great advantage to the Sangleys in havingthe fiscal as protector. This is the reason why no other has beenappointed; for the governor says that, in conscience, he finds it verydesirable for the Sangleys that the fiscal be their protector. TheSangleys have always petitioned for a protector. They are the oneswho pay him his salary, and not your Majesty; consequently I cannotsee that there should be any inconvenience in your Majesty givingthem the one whom they desire and whom they pay, especially when itdoes not militate against your Majesty or your royal treasury. TheSangleys are very unprotected since your Majesty ordered that thefiscal should not be their protector. They are much better off, asthey have experienced (as we all experience) the Christian spiritand honesty with which the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, has servedand serves your Majesty. Consequently, it seems to me advisable thatthe present fiscal, and those who shall fill that office hereafter, be the protectors of the Sangleys. The contrary, I believe, wouldresult in harm to the Sangleys. No protector can have less tradingand business relations with the Sangleys than the fiscal, to whomyour Majesty has prohibited trade and traffic; and he has forswornit. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty formany years for the welfare of His kingdoms. Manila, July last, 1631. 

_Fray Pedro_, bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus. 

ROYAL ORDERS, 1632-33

_Letter to Tavora_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora of my Council of War, my governorand captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of myroyal Audiencia there. Your letter of June 20 of the past year 630, concerning the exchequer, has been examined in my royal Council ofthe Yndias, and an answer is given you in this concerning the mattersthereof in which decision has been made, and those which require reply. 

I have considered what you say in regard to the inexpediency ofincluding these islands in the monopoly of playing-cards establishedin Mexico; [87] also the act which you issued to the effect that the[monopoly] contracted for with Don Francisco de la Torre, a citizenof that city, should be put into execution. You will order this to beobserved and complied with, during the time that it shall last; forit is already agreed to, with this stipulation, and I have confirmedit. As for the future I wish to know the advantages or difficultieswhich may result to my royal exchequer from doing away with thisincome, and not including those islands in it, and whatever else inthis matter may occur to you, you will inform me in regard to it veryfully on the first occasion; and I likewise command, by a decree ofthis day, that the said Audiencia do this. 

You say that the office of secretary of the cabildo of that city wassold for twelve thousand five hundred pesos in coin, with the conditionof having a voice and vote in the cabildo--which you conceded becausethe greater part of the offices of regidor there of were vacant, asthere was no one to buy them; and that the price of the said officeshould rise, as otherwise it would not pass six or eight thousandpesos. You also stated that it was sold under condition that, if Ishould find it inexpedient and for this reason should not confirm it, nothing should be returned to the buyer; and as the said condition ofhis having a voice and vote in the cabildo has appeared prejudicialand illegal, you will correct this immediately--supposing, as you say, that the contract need not be altered for this reason, or anythinggiven back to the person concerned. 

For repairing of the losses which result from the fact that the royalofficials make the winning bids for the offices which are sold inthose islands, without notifying you of the amount and the person towhom they are sold, I am sending a decree of this date to commandthem to comply with and execute, on all occasions which may arise, the act which you have issued to this effect, which I approve. 

That the said royal officials may always be at peace with you and welldisposed, letters are being written to them as to how they shouldconduct themselves; and you, on your part, will maintain friendlyrelations with them. 

The additional pay of a thousand pesos which you set aside for thebishop of Cebú, during the time while he governs that archbishopric, has been approved, since the reasons which oblige you to it are sojustifiable. [Madrid, January 27, 1632. ]

_I the King_

By command of the king our lord:_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

_Decree forbidding secular priests from Eastern India in thePhilippines_

The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava, member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of thePhilipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, or theperson or persons in whose charge their government may be. I have beeninformed that the secular priests who go to those islands from EasternIndia with their trading-ships generally are those expelled and exiled;that they remain there, and are often employed in vicariates, curacies, and benefices, to the injury of the natives, and the patrimonial rightsof the country. After examination of the matter by my royal Councilof the Indias, I have considered it proper to issue the present, by which I order you not to permit any of the secular priests fromthose districts [of Eastern India] to enter those islands; nor shallyou admit them to any exercise of office, for this is my will. [Givenin Madrid, March twenty-six, one thousand six hundred and thirty-two. ]

_I the King_

By order of the king our sovereign:_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

Signed by the Council. 

[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him not toallow any of the secular priests who might go from Eastern India tothe islands to enter therein or admit them to any exercise of office. "]

_Order to the city of Manila regarding the Mexican trade_

The King. To the council, justices, and magistracy of the city ofManila, of the Philipinas Islands. In response to what Don Juan Niñode Tavora, my governor and captain-general of those islands, wrote me, in the former year of 1629, about your petition for the fulfilment ofthe decree of 1593 which permits the inhabitants of that island togo to sell their goods in Mexico, or to send them under charge of asatisfactory person--and not to send or consign them, except it be inthe second place--in a section of a letter which I wrote on December 4of the former year of 630 to the said my governor, I charged him that, if the encomenderos living in that city who had sent persons withtheir possessions to Mexico proceeded dishonestly, or formed trusts[_ligas_], or monopolies among themselves, they should be punishedaccording to law; and that if, in addition to the inconveniences thatshould arise in the observance of the said decree, others should bediscovered, he should advise me thereof, so that suitable measuresmight be enacted. I also had my viceroy of Nueva España orderedto watch carefully what the inhabitants of Mexico did, so that hemight apply the advisable remedy. Now, Don Juan Grau y Monfalcon, your procurator, has informed me that the decree given in the saidyear of 593, ordering that the inhabitants of those islands might sendpersons to Nueva España to sell or take care of their merchandise; andthat no one might consign them, except to one of the persons appointedfor that purpose, who would reside in Mexico, was put into execution;but that, in violation of it, many of the inhabitants secretly sendlarge quantities of merchandise to Mexico, entrusting those goods tothe passengers and sailors without registering them, although thatcity has persons of credit and trust in Mexico. Thus result manyembarrassments and frauds to my royal duties. He petitioned me to bepleased to have my royal decree issued, ordering that such unlawfulacts be not permitted. The matter having been examined in my royalCouncil of the Indias, bearing in mind what my fiscal said there, Ihave considered it fitting to advise you of the aforesaid, so that youmay understand it, and I order you, in so far as it pertains to you, to keep, obey, and execute, and cause to be kept, obeyed, and executed, what has been enacted in this respect. Madrid, March 25, 1633. 

_I the King_

By order of the king our sovereign:_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_

LETTERS FROM TAVORA TO FELIPE IV

I

_Government affairs_

Sire:

I sent a despatch by way of India in the month of November of thepast year 631, because the flagship which sailed for Nueva Españasank here in port, and the almiranta put back. A copy of the despatchwhich they carried goes in the first mail, with this, and I refer toit. Accordingly I shall now begin to give an account to your Majestyof what has happened since then. 

The ships which had remained in Nueva España last year, reached hereduring the last part of May after a favorable trip. Therefore I trustthat they will depart earlier than in previous years, and that thevoyages may become regular. [_In the margin:_ "Seen. "]

The ships brought as a subsidy two hundred and thirty-four thousandpesos for the royal treasury. Two hundred thousand came lastyear. The viceroy writes that he can do no more. The visitor herewill not, I believe, consider it little, since he does not have itin his charge. Certain it is that the last six remittances which theviceroy has made to these islands have all been smaller than thosemade by the other viceroys. I confess that the times have becomehard; but one can but ill sustain a number of men, or take care ofthe expenses of war, on less than what their pay and salaries amountto. The accounts for the five years which were asked are enclosed, and have been made out with all clearness. For the last three, itwill be seen how much smaller have been the receipts and expensesthan those of my predecessors. [_In the margin:_ "Seen. "]

Neither have the men come who are needed; for the past year cameeighty-odd soldiers, and this year ninety. That is but a scantnumber for the many men who die here, for our forces are steadilydiminishing. I can do no more, for money has not been coined here, nor do the people multiply. I ask, Sire, for what is needed to fulfilmy obligations. The viceroy does not send the orders which are givenhim from there; they can not be so illiberal. As this is a case ofneed, I give notice of it, in order that blame may not be cast on meat any time. [_In the margin:_ "Have letters to the viceroy written, charging him with this. " "The viceroy has been charged with this bya decree which was despatched at the petition of the city. "]

The visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, is proceeding with his visitwith excellent judgment, and with his personal efforts and closeoccupation. This community grieves over the results, for they aremany. I trust that he may administer justice so fully in all thingsthat only the liquidations and the balances should be those which arecollected. He has attempted (as he thinks that he bears authority forit) to make the final decision of what may be spent by councils ofthe treasury, and in fact has begun it with this royal Audiencia andwith me. That has appeared a strong course to us, for his commissiondoes not extend to that. Neither would it be right for only one judgeto declare as improper any expense which the governor, auditors, and royal officials had approved by their opinions. The councils ofthe treasury were established for expenses of government and war. Ifthere were no authority for those expenses, it would be an evil, and nothing could be accomplished. That will be the case on theday when we shall be subject to have one accountant proceed, in thevisitation, against those who gave their opinion as to the expenseswhich may have been incurred. Who would dare give his opinion freely, if he had to fear that it might be amplified or not? Your Majestyalready does not trust your governor alone for this responsibility, and orders him to meet in council with the Audiencia and the royalofficials, and that the majority of votes shall rule. That has somany inconveniences that the service of your Majesty comes to suffergreatly from them. If the more important things are entrusted to yourgovernor, why not the lesser? When the archbishop died here, as yourMajesty was advised, the bishop of Zibu, who entered into his place, petitioned that he be given some gratuity from the salary enjoyedby the archbishop, because of the many expenses of living in thiscity--taking a precedent from the vacant see of the other archbishop, in which the treasury council assigned him one thousand two hundredpesos. On this occasion it seemed necessary, so that the bishopmight be able to support himself, to assign him one thousand pesosannually; and it was ordered that your Majesty be advised thereof, as was done, so that you might consider it a proper expense. It wasnecessary and unavoidable, for in any other way the bishop could notlive three years--the time during which we have to wait for a reply, if we first had to advise your Majesty. The visitor, Don Franciscode Rojas, has added this item, and formed an opinion unfavorableto the auditors who gave their votes to it, and has ordered thatthey make satisfaction for it. His commission does not announce this;accordingly, as a matter inferred from good government, he has no rightto inspect this affair. He has also taken issue against the auditorsof the last Audiencia, who were the ones who assigned the one thousandtwo hundred pesos during the other vacancy. Your Majesty, by decreesreceived here this year, grants concession to the archbishop-electof a third part of the salary which the dead archbishop would havereceived. Your Majesty orders that another third be given to thecathedral. In accordance with this, there is much more justice andreason in giving suitable maintenance to him who is serving thecathedral. I petition your Majesty in all humility to be pleased toconfirm what was done with so great a desire of serving you well--actswhich were so thoroughly grounded on justice and right. I assure youthat we desire to economize your royal revenues, and that economy isthe very thing which is necessary. I have written to the visitor, DonFrancisco de Rojas, a document (a copy of which I enclose herewith)in regard to the matter of the proceedings which he is attempting toobtain from the treasury councils, after having first consulted withthe Audiencia in regard to it. He replies as will also be seen by thesame copy. I have thought best to inform your Majesty of everything, so that you may be advised of the matter. What he appears to take ashis basis of action, and on which he places more stress, accordingto what he has told me, is a section of a decree of your Majesty sentto Don Alonso Fajardo, dated Madrid, December 10, 1618, in which yourMajesty uses the following language:

"We have also learned that, through the opportunity furnished byfulfilling an order which my officials of my royal treasury ofthose islands had--that, if a necessary and unavoidable case arosein which some new expense would have to be incurred, the governor, Audiencia, and the royal officials should assemble and discuss it, and what should have the majority of votes should be executed, giving me advice thereof--on this account many expenses, salaries, and wages have been incurred and increased without any necessity, for the private ends of each one. Consequently, I order you not tomake these expenses, except in sudden cases of invasion by enemies;for by doing the contrary so much injury to my royal treasury results. "

There are two chief points in this section which can be discussed. Thefirst is that your Majesty says that you have heard that the expenseshave been incurred for private ends, and not because they arejustified. He who told your Majesty that the wills of the governor, auditors, and royal officials in Filipinas could be unanimous, evenfor their private interests, has deceived you; for experience showsthe contrary. Neither should your Majesty believe that we are all sovile that we would be making unlawful expenditures of your revenuesin order to pleasure one another. Well assured can you be of this bythe limitation and restriction that would have to be because of themajority of votes; and because the governor, in whom your Majestytrusts most fully, does not have the final decision. Scarcely anyauthority is given him in this, and a great deal is taken awayfrom him. 

In regard to the second point, what occurs to me to say is that, if weare to understand that we must wait for sudden emergencies, and untilthe enemy is at our gates, in order that we may make any expensesin defense of it; I, Sire, as a soldier (which is my profession), declare that in the Filipinas Islands there is a continual invasionof enemies. Accordingly, since we are confronting so many, it isnecessary that we be always in a state of defense. Consequently, we must not wait until they arrive before we make the expenses forthe necessary precautions--especially since Manila is surrounded byChinese and Japanese, and full of slaves, all of whom need no morethan to see us without preparation, in order to revolt. All theseare so cogent reasons, in my poor judgment, that I consider it beyonddoubt that it will be for your Majesty's service to have a new orderissued giving your governor and captain-general authority. In orderthat he may fill those offices effectively in your Majesty's service, it is necessary for him to have that authority in the royal treasury, for extraordinary expenses which result from government and war--asyour captains-general have in Flandes, in Milan, in Napoles, and inSicilia, where there is war, and state affairs arise which renderthat necessary. It is the same in the Filipinas, because of so manyenemies who are within its gates, and so many negroes roundabout, with whom it is necessary to have intercourse and against whom it isnecessary to be on our guard. I do not say that there should not bea council in the form ordered by your Majesty, but after the councilthe governor should have the power to take such measures as he deemsbest. I do not petition this for myself; for, when a reply to thisshall come, already the term of my government will be finished. YourMajesty's service moved me, through my zeal for it. I shall exercisethe opposition to the visitor which seems advisable in this matterof the treasury tribunal, your Majesty always retaining the right toorder what shall be your pleasure. [_In the margin:_ "Seen. "]

In the letters which I am writing by way of Yndia, I discuss thecontroversy which the royal officials had with the city, before thevisitor, in regard to the seats. That contention ceased after thevisitor had pronounced judgment against the city, to which I didnot assent, affairs having been adjusted in this regard until yourMajesty should order what should be most to your pleasure. After manyexcommunications which had been issued, search was made for the decreein which your Majesty mentions the form which must be observed in this, and in which you order that they be seated in the places which theyoccupied while regidors; finally, the decree appeared among the othersthat the royal officials had in their office. The same Don Franciscode Rojas found it by chance, while looking for other decrees in thebooks which he had demanded from them for the inspection, and afterthey had, under oath, denied having it. The excommunications whichintervened in the matter having been annulled (for in this way dowe live in the Yndias), the visitor was at last convinced of what Ialways told him; and this point is settled, that the royal officialsare to use the seats which they had when regidors. [_In the margin:_"File it with what has been petitioned in this matter. "]

It might be that the said visitor will write to your Majesty inregard to certain points of government and war, of which he has beenaccustomed to advise me by notes, of which authentic copies aretaken. It seems to him that, as a minister so superior, this dutycan devolve on him. I have respected it, for what these acts mayindicate of friendship; but I cannot help mistrusting it, because ofthe caution with which it is done. Consequently, I have the authenticreplies also, so that at any time what he wrote and what I replied maybe evident. I desire his friendship and am striving for it, since therewill always result a greater service for your Majesty--an intercoursewhich I would swear that he ought not to remember in the visitation;for soldiers (and more, soldiers of my rank) do not profess to bewitnesses, nor can we be. I do not believe that he will have appearedcareless, yet I take this precaution on general grounds, so that, if perchance he may have written something, a hearing may be keptfor me, and that new decisions may not be sent from there in matterspertaining to government and war, simply on his report; for he is alawyer, and new in the country, and the most that he will set forthin this matter will be what was told him. [_In the margin:_ "Seen. "]

The decrees which I received last year from your Majesty were obeyedand carried out. The same will be done with those which come thisyear. I humbly kiss your Majesty's hand for the honor and rewardwhich you have conferred upon me in having an answer written to mewith so great promptness to the despatches of the years 28 and 29. Inwhat you charge me, namely, that I preserve friendship with Japon, Ihave had very great care; for after the events of the year 27, I havemanaged to give that king to understand the irregularity of the case, [88] and your Majesty's desire for friendship with his kingdoms. Myefforts have already succeeded so well that this matter is alreadysettled with the inhabitants of Macan, and the embargo has been removedfrom their ships. Having invited the same Japanese to come to tradewith this city of Manila, two ships came last year, as I wrote in thelast despatches. The answers which we gave to their propositions andletters seemed somewhat satisfactory to them; for this year they haveagain sent two ships, with letters from the governor of Nagansaqui. Inthese he tells me that the trade is open as before, and that ships maygo there from here, and that others will come here from there. Thatnation is very cautious, and there is little confidence to be put inthem. If a person should come here whom they wished to go there totrade, I would not dare for the present to permit it, until mattersare on a more firm basis; for it is certain that their hearts arenot quiet, nor will they easily become so. They take vengeance ata fitting time. May they bring us bread and ammunition, as they aredoing. I gave them good treatment here, so that it is now procuredthat the gains which they make on their merchandise and the lapseof time will accommodate all things. Their king died, leaving hisson as heir. There are fears of war, that Christianity may not be sopersecuted. I do not think that it would be a bad thing to have a bitof a revolution because of their contempt and selfishness. In theseships were sent one hundred and thirty poor lepers exiled to theseislands, whom the heathen had tried to make renegades to the faith ofChrist (as many others have become); but their entreaties had no effecton these people. I called a council of state to determine whetherthose lepers should be received, and in what manner they should bereceived. It was not because I hesitated to receive them; for, eventhough they might fasten the disease on me, I would not dare to leavean apparent Christian in the sight of so many opposed to the faith, and in the face of the persecution which has been raging in thatkingdom. It was determined that they should be received immediately, and taken straight to the church; and that they should be welcomed, entertained, and supported with the alms which this community desiredto apportion. A beginning has been made in collecting alms, and a roomhas been arranged in the hospital of the natives where they are to beput. Your Majesty gives that hospital a yearly alms of five hundredpesos and a quantity of fowls and rice, with which aid it has now soincreased the number of sick [who are cared for]. For a work so pious, and so worthy that your Majesty accept it as your own, I do not doubtthat you will have its alms increased somewhat, in case that the fervorthat is now beginning in the charity of the inhabitants should becomesomewhat cooled. [_In the margin_: "An order was sent to the governorordering him to give a certain alms for six years. Consult with hisMajesty. Let two hundred ducados more be given to him in the same way, for a limited time and while it lasts. "]

I am awaiting a ship from Camboja which has been built there atyour Majesty's account. I am informed that it is already about tobe launched in the sea. If it arrives before the sailing of thisdespatch, I shall advise you. We have friendly relations with thatking, and he has maintained the same until now with the vassals ofyour Majesty. If this matter of the shipbuilding be established, itwill be a negotiation of considerable importance. [_In the margin_:"Seen. "]

Trade with the kingdom of Cochinchina is of no importance to us;for the products of the country are of little value here, while theproducts taken there from Japon are brought to us here. Shipbuildingcannot be effected in the said kingdom, as I wrote you in the yearof 30. May God have allowed you to have received the letters. [_Inthe margin_: "Seen. "]

There is little to hope from the kingdom of Sian, as those people arevery treacherous, and are hand in glove with the Dutch. No injurywill be inflicted upon them, but, if I had sufficient force, it iscertain that it would be to your Majesty's service that it be used inrestraining them; for the evil course which they have pursued towardthese islands, as well as the same so far as India is concerned, deserves that. I thoroughly believe that if those of India are able, they should make head against the Siamese from Malaca. In the year30 they seized a patache that had been sent there on an embassy fromMacan, and aboard which was a messenger whom I sent to them. Andalthough they declared that it was because they did not like myletter, the truth (as was written to me by the messenger) is, thattheir act was induced by their coveting the goods aboard the patache, which they thought to be considerable. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

A ship has arrived from Macan, and several from China. With thegoods which they brought, those from the ship that put back, whatcame late from Macan last year, and others which were recovered fromthe ship that sank, this community has enough to make a shipment. Ithas a good return from the merchandise sent to Nueva España in theyear of 30, with which I hope that the inhabitants will be somewhatencouraged. May God look upon us favorably, so that these islandsmay prosper for your Majesty, by my means; for as a faithful vassalI surely desire that. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

By a decree of December of the year 30, your Majesty orders me toinform you whether it would be advisable to abolish the posts ofcommander of the galleys, and of the lieutenant and accountantfor them: That of lieutenant is abolished. That of accountant, was abolished from the past year. I wrote that I had cut off thepay for it. Later, this year, the papers have been given intothe possession of the royal officials here. That is a very greatburden, in addition to the many that they have, as the visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, thought; and I assented to it. It is notadvisable that the post of commander of the galleys be abolished, for there is no security here that they may not have to fight manytimes with the galleys. Consequently, it is proper for them to havea commander who may do it, and who knows how to do it. The savingwould be very little. The office is now held by Antonio Carreño deValdes, with whom your Majesty was saved six hundred pesos, which hereceived as an allowance; and not more than two hundred are spent, as the galleys have only eight hundred for wages. [_In the margin_:"File it with those papers which led him to make this report. "]

Your Majesty orders by another decree of the same date that Iinform you as to whether it will be advisable to abolish the post oflieutenant-general of Pintados. In reply to that, I say that the paywas cut off as soon as I reached this government, but the title is nowallowed; for it is advisable to have one who holds that authority inthose provinces, as they are very far from here. Hence it is given tothe alcalde-mayor and infantry captain who resides in Zibu, and whodoes not enjoy more pay than that for the post captain. This is theofficer who goes out in the fleets against the Joloans, Camucones, andMindanaos. He orders in detail what is here decided upon in general. Heis on the watch in present emergencies, and if he did not have powerand authority to command the chief men of all those provinces, agreat part of the service of your Majesty would cease. Consequently, it is not advisable that this office be abolished, and it is enoughto have cut off the pay of it. He who holds the office at presentis occupied in the pacification of the province of Caraga, of whoserevolt I informed you in my last despatch, and which I now communicatein my letter treating of military affairs. He has twice entered thatprovince with a fleet; the first time, he inflicted a very severepunishment, and from the second, which was made this month of May, I hope that no less a result will ensue. [_In the margin_: "The same. "]

The construction of galleys at Cavite has been changed; for oneunfavorable result changes the opinions of men which are of butlittle stability. Certain workmen declared that the woods of whichthe ship "Santa Maria Magdalena" was made (which was the one whichsank last year) were heavy; and that for that reason it had becomeworthless--and not because its sides were defective. That was a lie, for having drawn it ashore, as I wrote, laden (which was a heroic task, and which could only have been done where there was so much apparatusfor it) the ship was then repaired with a lining of knees. It hasbeen tested in this bay, and it is very staunch, and carries all thesail that can be spread. Hence it was a lie to cast the blame on thelumber; but, as the common people and the friars (who desire thatthere should be a shipyard near here) urged it earnestly on accountof this rumor, it was necessary to order that a shipyard be soughtin another place. Consequently, the master-workmen have been sent tothe Embocadero to build a ship for the coming year; for those shipswhich came from Acapulco this year are not to return there. They havewell gained their cost. I sent the measures for a galleon, of theburden that we need here, to Cochin, and I trust that some agreementwhich will prove very advantageous to these islands will be made;for scarcely is there anything that will be more important than tosuspend shipbuilding here for some time. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

I am glad of the decree for Don Felipe Mascareñas, and that the Councilof Portugal has ordered that thanks be extended to him because heassisted these islands with ammunition and the other things whichwere asked from him. 

The galleons have been repaired this year, and were completelyoverhauled so that they will last another four years. That is the bestthat can be done, because of the poor quality of the woods. [_In themargin_: "Seen. "]

In the year of 28, the ships left here without register. I have hadno answer from your Majesty to the causes which, as I wrote to you, existed for that. I have heard that some reports have been made inthat royal Council against me, in regard to it, by persons who didnot understand or know the matter thoroughly. They used up much timein writing treatises to your Majesty; and lest, perchance, I did notgive entire satisfaction by what I lately wrote, the acts and messageswhich were despatched in regard to the matter are herewith enclosed, in order that the reason which caused the ships to go without registermay be seen. The goods which the officers of the ships carried were intheir own boxes, and not in a collection of boxes or bales, for theywere not allowed to embark them in that way. If any official embarkedanything, it was secretly. The penalty which was impeded (which willbe seen by the records) could have been executed in Nueva España. Theviceroy knew that I made strenuous efforts so that everything mightbe declared. He found but a little quantity [of contraband goods], as I understand; and matters cannot be so well regulated, thatwith their risk there should not be some who venture to disobey theorders and edicts. What is certain, Sire, is that none of my goodswere found, as certain persons tried to intimate in regard to me, for I do not engage in such pursuits. And that is plainly seen tobe so, for I have less property than when I came to Filipinas. Theviceroy of Nueva España wrote me in regard to the matter with somehaughtiness; I answered him that I thought that, if perchance he hadbeen informed about it to my disfavor, my precautions should be seen, and my efforts ascertained--which he did, as he will have writtento you--and finally our purpose would have been recognized, whichwas your Majesty's service and the welfare of this community. May Godpreserve the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as Christendomneeds. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, _Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

[_In the margin_: "This matter is reserved for the inspection orresidencia of the marquis of Cerralbo. The decree. "]

[_Endorsed_: "Read and decreed September 15, 1633. "]

II

_Military affairs_

Sire:

I am duly grateful that your Majesty ordered the letters which Iwrote from here in the years 28 and 29 to be examined in that yourCouncil of War of the Yndias. Your Majesty has answered them, and hasdone me honor in accordance with your usual custom toward those whoserve you. And thus with new courage I pray God that He may give melife and better health in order to serve you. I have for a year backbeen in so poor health, by reason of great exhaustion and weakness, that I greatly fear that I shall not be able to leave this place. If Ishall not do that, I shall have fulfilled my duty by giving my lifein the service of your Majesty. Your Majesty knows that I am notfit for the burden of government since the death of Doña Magdalena, who is in heaven. Everything has been hardship for me; and I havebecome so exhausted that I can scarce rise from my bed, and I havebeen very near my end twice or thrice. May God fulfil His will, and may your Majesty be pleased to give orders that I be relieved, if you wish affairs to be safe here; for surely the country will bevery quickly in the power of the auditors, if some person does notcome from there who will not let it be lost. If God give me life, I shall be contented even with retiring to the post with which yourMajesty has favored me, as your commissary of war. Notwithstandingthat I assure your Majesty as your faithful vassal, and as a personwho would prefer to lose a thousand lives than to utter one falsehoodto his king, that the Filipinas have been worth nothing to me, duringthe six years of my residence herein; but rather I have lost the twentythousand pesos which I have spent from the dowry that Doña Magdalenabrought me. And had not our Lord been pleased to give me a son (atwhose birth she died), she would not have had enough whereby to havereturned safely home to her parents. I confess that it must seem topoliticians that one does not come so far not to gain a bit of bread;but it is certain that if one is to serve your Majesty to the letter, and live as a Christian, it is difficult to acquire much property. Iarrived at these islands very deeply pledged, for the expenses ofthe Indias are heavy. I brought many men, so that they might serveyour Majesty here. I have carried myself in accordance with the honorwhich your Majesty bestowed upon me; and, consequently, I have notbeen able to save enough from my salary to pay the expenses of thereturn (if God grants me life). I am anxious; for it is not right tospend the possessions of this child. If some accommodation, in someof the ways that my agents will represent there, were to be allowedme for this purpose, I would appreciate it; for that would enable meto take from here something with which to serve your Majesty in Europa. 

I wrote about affairs pertaining to Japon last year, by way ofIndia. In this despatch I enclose a copy of it in the first mail. MayGod bear it in safety; for, judging by what the fleets of the NorthernSea encounter, we are always in fear. This year those of Japon havecome with their ships; and the governor of Nangasaqui says in answerto my letters that the trade may be considered as open, and that theships from both sides may go and come, and that they will be wellreceived. In regard to the passport [_chapa_] of the emperor, whichis the license that they usually give for trade with their kingdoms, he says that he will arrange that. They send one hundred and thirtylepers in these ships, who were exiled for the faith. We believe, through the assurance that we have of the bad disposition of thatrace, that this action has been a sort of vengeance or contempt;but it is quite certain that, although they may have done it for thatpurpose, it has resulted very well for us; for we have exercised anact of charity, which I hope, God helping, will confound them. For wereceived the lepers with great pomp and display of charity; and thiscity, aided by the religious orders, is striving to collect liberalalms for them. Those ships have brought a quantity of bronze for thefounding of artillery, besides an abundance of flour. Since they aredoing this, and we are not for the present going there securely, the matter is to be considered as more evil-intentioned than theymay regard it. I shall endeavor, as heretofore, to promote peace andcordial intercourse, and that they may obtain all satisfaction forthe affair in Sian. If they come to ask for it rightly, satisfactionwill be given them, and the guilt of the commander who had charge ofthe galleons will be settled. 

The viceroy of Nueva España asks me to cast him some artillery, of the calibers ordered, and it will be sent him promptly. 

I wrote your Majesty, in the year that Don Geronimo de Silva diedhere, how superfluous was the post of general of artillery; for hedoes not take the field, nor is there any artillery train [to betransported], or more than a few artillerymen scattered through theordinary presidios. For as many as there are, it would be sufficientto have one captain of artillery; for it requires nothing else thanto order a ship to be equipped, and that is done with the orderof the captain-general; and with greater ease and less red-tape, orders can be given to the captain of artillery, who is the one whohas to execute it, than to a general of artillery, who has to orderanother to do it. Juan Bautista de Molina has served your Majestymany years, but the Filipinas do not need so many heads, nor so manyto draw pay from its treasury. I, Sire, shall not appoint anyone tothe post (although it is vacant), as your Majesty orders me, for Ido not desire to do a thing in which I believe that I would be doingyou a disservice; and since your Majesty orders me to abolish otherposts, I do not believe that it will be disservice to add this postto them. In the meantime, will your Majesty please inform us whetherthe master-of-camp of these islands or the general of artillery is togovern at the death of the governor and captain-general, or duringhis absence. Certain it is that he who has more authority and poweris the master-of-camp, and he ought to be second in command. Forthere is not any general master-of-camp here, nor is it necessary;nor is there more than one regiment that he governs. Juan Bautistade Molina is exercising his charge in accordance with your Majesty'sletters-patent, which will be observed to the letter. 

I wrote, with the ship that sailed to India, the good news that washad from the island of Hermosa. We have not received later news. Thedisobedient Indians have been punished, and affairs have been betterregulated. May God in His mercy bring them to a knowledge of His holyfaith. I am sending two ships there, so that more abundant reliefmay be sent to our men. They will bring back the general, Don Juan deAlcaraso, who is there. The sargento-mayor will remain in his placeuntil another person is sent, as he is a person of trust and worth. 

The province of Cagayan is more quiet than before. A company therewas abolished, for the war has ceased; and hopes are daily entertainedthat more peaceful Indians will come down [from the hills]. 

The inhabitants of Caraga revolted, as I stated in my last despatch, after killing the captain and commander, with twenty soldiers, inan expedition that he made. Thinking that they could gain the fortwith that force, they came to it, but it did not fall out as theyimagined. The greater part of the province rose, and killed fourdiscalced Recollect religious. A severe punishment was inflicted onthem in the month of September; and recently, in the month of May justpassed, another fleet went there to punish and to reduce them. I trust, our Lord helping, that they will remain quiet, although they are notChristians; for there is little confidence to be placed in them. 

The four pataches which were sent to Terrenate arrived there safely;and the enemy were unable to overtake them, although they came withhopes of doing much more here than usual, and searched for the shipsfrom dawn until four o'clock in the afternoon. Pedro de Heredia issomewhat disconsolate at seeing that your Majesty does not withdrawhim. He sent no news of importance, except that the enemy is notso powerful as formerly. During the coming year I intend to send agreater reënforcement than usual, in order to see whether we cancapture the enemy's ship which prowls thereabout. There will beconsiderable opposition, and there are very few men for what isnecessary, but I shall do what is possible. 

Nueva España aids me with very little money; for this year not morethan two hundred and thirty-four thousand pesos has come for theexpenses of the treasury, and during all the past years aid came inalmost the same way. The viceroy thinks that he is doing his duty innot sending more. I would like him to have charge of affairs here, to see whether he could maintain armed fleets, infantry, friars, ministers of justice, the extraordinary expenses of presidios, andmany other expenses--which will be seen there from the reports whichyour Majesty asked, and which are sent this year--with so littlecloth. He also sent me only ninety soldiers as a reënforcement, forwhom, I am assured, twenty warrants were given. The best of all isthat I am told very positively that the levy will begin very early, just as if that had the tune that was to attract many men. If thecaptains who raise the men were the ones who had to bring them, theywould make men. But as they are not the ones to bring them, and asthe matter is reduced to three companies who have to come here, andthe captains of these come to obtain the men on the wing--that is, on the road or at the very port of Acapulco--they find that alreadythe men have deserted to the other captains. Many of them die here, and there is but a low birth rate in this country. Thus the garrisonsat Terrenate and the other presidios lack men, although the visitorthinks it all too much. I am not surprised at that, for his desire isthe same as mine, namely, to cut short your Majesty's expenses. But itis certain that some economies come to be wasteful. He told me thatI should reduce the soldiery in these islands to the number that wasestablished by Gomez Perez Dasmariñas. As he does not know what itmeans to have Dutch enemies about us, he thinks that we could getalong with fewer men [than we have here]. I find, Sire, that yourMajesty does not have another military establishment more importantin the Yndias than the Filipinas Islands. And, that it may be evidentwhether I make a wrong assertion, consider what part of the Yndias theenemy have made their own--except Xava, where they hold Xacatra, threehundred leguas from here. There they have their principal fort, andhave their ammunition and magazines. Here, Sire, here, is where yourMajesty, joining Malaca and Macan to this government, must maintainyour forces and oppose them to those of the enemy. If that is not done, there is but little to hope from these Yndias, which will be ruined ina short time; or, at the least, will incur so many expenses that theywill be of no use. May God take me to that court, where I hope to makethe affairs of these regions understood as they are, and not as peopleimagine there. Neither heavy expenses nor large fleets are necessaryfor this. The continual plying of four galleons and two pataches, andfour galleons in the strait of Malaca, will keep the enemy so hemmedin that they will make no captures or have any trade; and they wouldhave to go in company and armed, and thus incur expenses. Castillahas no trading company for the expenses of war. Without prizes ortrade they would be able to inflict the first injury on the Dutch;for the strait of Malaca, which is the place where the Dutch conductthe greater part of their trade, would be secure with the galleys, for there are no winds there, as a rule. The tide allows the shipsto enter and leave by three straits, the broadest of which is verynarrow, for only one ship can tack in it. That strait is not the onegenerally used, but the other two. I am assured that in both the endsof the yards of the galleons brush through the trees ashore. I wrote inregard to this matter, in the year of 30, by Admiral Diego Lopez Lobo, whom I was sending to that court to treat of that matter alone; butGod was pleased to let him drown in the flagship of the trading-fleetwhich was lost in the past year of 31. I wish that at least one of thethree mails which I have always despatched since my arrival at theseislands had reached you. On my part I have not failed to advise youof everything, nor shall I fail to desire and to propose what shallseem best to me for the increase of the service of your Majesty. 

It will not be difficult to unite these camps under one head, eventhough they are of two crowns. If they do not unite of themselves, theywill have no strength. Portugal and Castilla belong to your Majesty, and that is a reason why their arms should be united; for the forcesof Francia, Olanda, Ynglaterra, and Dinamarca [89] are united inthese districts. If those of your Majesty were combined, not onlywould we defend what has been gained, but we would steadily extendfarther. Your Majesty sees them united against you, although they areof so many different sovereigns, religions, and nationalities. Then whydo not Portugal and Castilla unite in this South Sea and the coastsof Asia, where the enemy acquires so much wealth? I do not attemptthis so that I may remain here longer, nor so that everything may beplaced in my charge; for I have no health, nor is it just to exileme so many years in regions so remote. I express my feelings, and Idesire to express them more in detail in that Council, as experiencehas shown things to me. 

I sent a galliot to Yndia in November of last year, 631, in order tocontinue my negotiations with that viceroy in regard to this matterof joining hands in order better to attack the enemy. Particularlydid I inform him of the order sent me by your Majesty about makingan expedition to the island of Hermosa, asking him for the aid whichI considered necessary. I wrote the same to Macan, so that it mightfor its part make other necessary preparations. I am advised that thesaid galliot, because it was well equipped, escaped from the enemy whowere stationed in the above-mentioned strait of Malaca awaiting thegalliots from China--which latter they captured, together with anothership belonging to a merchant of this city. May God remedy this loss. 

I am advised from Camboja that a galleon which I am having built thereat your Majesty's account has been already launched. No one thoughtthat this would be accomplished; but it has been God's will that thedifficulties should be conquered at last, and that this shipbuildingshould be established in a place where this ship has been built atmuch less cost, and from more durable woods, than [it could havebeen] in these islands. As this one has been built, so can manyothers be constructed; and these provinces can be relieved from thegreat burden of their shipyards. I also have under discussion anothernegotiation with the city of Cochin in regard to this same matter;and, if it succeeds, it will be of great service to your Majesty. 

Some difficulties have arisen in military matters, which it isnecessary for your Majesty to have determined in your Council of theYndias. Since your Majesty has had armed forces in these islands, theships which enter this port and that of Cabite have been inspectedby the military department. The governor does not go in person, both because of his many duties and also because every year he givescommission, by his authority, to one of the persons in whom he trusts, for that person to go in his name. This appointee goes in companywith a notary, and inspects the number of the people, and the arms, ammunition, and the amount of property, to see if everything is inaccordance with the orders given from the time of Governor Don Juande Silva to the Chinese, so that they might not burden these islandswith useless ships and people (as will be seen by the copy of thecommission, which is sent to your Majesty in your royal Council ofthe Indias). Several discontented regidors--thinking to annoy me, and incited perhaps by some of this royal Audiencia who is but littleinclined to my course of action--presented a decree of your Majesty(of which a copy is also enclosed to your said royal Council), underdate of the year 20, in which it is ordained that, in order to givethis commission, the governor must meet with the auditors, and thatall in assembly choose the person to whom it shall be given. Thisdetracts authority from the office of the captain-general, to maintainwhich efforts should be made in that royal Council of the Yndias. Iam now with spurs on my heels, as they say, [ready] either for theother world, or to finish this government. Consequently, I cannotnegotiate this matter with the intention of enjoying it; I am doingthis for the service of your Majesty and for the authority of theoffice--considering that, although it would be very proper to havethis commission granted by the votes of four, never would those votesconform, for each one would try to have it given to his friend. Forthe commission entails but little work; and, if many ships come, it isworth quite one thousand or one thousand five hundred pesos. The tariffof fees is appraised by the Audiencia, of which I also send a copy tothat said royal Council. I petition your Majesty that it be examinedin that royal Council, so that the military department may have adefense on its part, and so that its rights of preëminence may be kept. 

There has also arisen a quarrel this year over criminal jurisdictionbetween the master-of-camp of these islands and the castellan of thefort of Santiago of Manila, in regard to the imprisonment of a soldierof the fort whom the master-of-camp arrested for offenses committedoutside of the fort. The castellan demanded the soldier, saying thatthe jurisdiction over the men of his fort belongs to him, whereverthey may commit their offenses. On the other hand, your Majesty makesthe master-of-camp of this camp judge in the first instance of allthe soldiers in the Filipinas Islands (Terrenate excepted). Thereforethe latter declares that he must be judge in the first instance of allthe causes which are prosecuted in the island of Hermosa, and in thepresidios of Caraga, Cagayan, Zibu, and Oton; and that the commandantsthere can do no more than to conduct the cause to the point of givingsentence therein, sending it to him so that he may do this. The same isdeclared by the castellan of the fort of Santiago of this city; but, although it seems that he cites warrant for it, his predecessors havenot been wont to exercise it. On the other hand, the castellan allegesthat his predecessors have always exercised separate jurisdiction. Inregard to the governor of the island of Hermosa and the commandantsin the remote provinces, it cannot fail to be a hindrance that theycannot give sentence. Accordingly, I petition your Majesty to havethis made clear; and at the same time to decide who is to try inthe first instance the illegal acts that the castellan of the fort, the master-of-camp himself, the general of the artillery, and thecommander of the galleys may commit. This is not clear, and theremay be cases in which such action may be necessary. May God preservethe Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary toChristendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, _Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

III

_Ecclesiastical affairs_

Sire:

It is three years since the death of the archbishop (who is in glory), and during those years the land has enjoyed peace and harmony betweenthe two jurisdictions--ecclesiastical and secular; for the provisorswho have governed in this vacant see have been more learned and morepeaceable than was the archbishop. May it please God that it maybe the same in the time of Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, to whom yourMajesty has granted the favor of this archbishopric. 

The latter presented before the cabildo of this cathedral a decreefrom your Majesty, despatched in the ordinary form, so that thegovernment should be given to him while waiting for the bulls from hisHoliness. It is not the said cabildo who governs, but Don Fray PedroArce, bishop of Zibu, by virtue of a brief of his Holiness and a decreeof your Majesty. They order that during the first three vacancies ofthis archbishopric (which began to be reckoned from the date of thebrief), the cabildo should not govern, but the senior bishop of theislands (who is at present the bishop of Zibu); for it was consideredunadvisable for the government to be entrusted to the cabildo for thespace of three years--the least time that a vacancy can last here. Uponthis occasion the cabildo responded that it could not give to thearchbishop-elect the government that it did not possess. The bishop ofZibu says that he cannot leave the government without a special orderfrom your Majesty and from his Holiness, who are the persons who havegiven it to him. After receiving this reply, the archbishop-electcame on appeal from fuerza to the Audiencia. They, after havingthoroughly aired the matter, judged that there was no occasion [forthis plea], because the documents lacked some clauses requisite tomake them effective, and the cabildo had not committed fuerza. Theytold the archbishop to prefer his claims before him who had the right[to judge his case]. The good archbishop was desirous of governing, and accordingly, took hold of the affair with too much energy, aidedby his natural disposition, which is not so moderate as his dignitydemands. He thinks that we are all to blame, and I in particular;accordingly, he shows me little favor. I mention this so that in casethat he should write anything against me, your Majesty may be warned, and give no credit to his relation until the proof of it be adduced. 

The decree in which your Majesty lays down the order that must beobserved in the changing of missions and in the appointment of theministers thereof on account of the death of their predecessors, wasobeyed, and notice of it given to the bishops and to the superiors ofthe orders. The latter oppose it stoutly, and say that in no event canthey be ruled by it without the order of their generals, and that theywill abandon their missions first. In the year of 29 I wrote to yourMajesty at length upon this matter, in regard to which no particularanswer was given to me besides the sending of this decree--which, as Ijudge, is general for all the Yndias. The point is very serious, andis one of peculiar difficulty in these islands. Although we here aresufficiently ministers of your Majesty to be able to decide it in casethat the religious leave their missions, yet we desire to have someclearer light on the matter from there, in order that we may bettersucceed in your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_: "File it with, the letter of the bishop of Zibu, who writes concerning this matter, which is submitted to the fiscal. "]

For many years the bishopric of Camarines has had no prelate; for, although your Majesty has appointed many, no one comes here. Thatmust be because they hear how wretched a post it is. Your Majestycould abolish that bishopric by adding the half of it to that ofCebu, which is very conveniently located for this purpose, and theother half to this archbishopric of Manila, which does not have toogreat a district; and by that means would save that salary, and avoidmany animosities that he who shall arrive from España to occupy thatbishopric must surely encounter. [_In the margin_: "To be consideredby all the Council, together with what the viceroy wrote. " "A bishophas already gone to Camarines. "]

The religious orders are at peace, and are attending to the welfareof the natives and your Majesty's service. Three of them heldchapter-meetings this year, and all quietly. That of St. Francis, and that of the Augustinian Recollects were exemplary, and they madetheir elections immediately. The calced Augustinians also made theirelections--but not so quickly that we could avoid sending to them toremind them not to allow the disturbances of other times to occur intheir chapter--by having made them beforehand through their devotionto the outgoing provincial, who managed the succession for anotheras worthy as he. [90] May God grant that the elections be canonical. 

A procurator is sent to ask your Majesty for more religious. Onother occasions, your Majesty has been informed of the existingneed for exemplary religious who may assist in the reformation ofthe province. As for him who is not so, it were better that he donot come. I cannot hide these things, nor hesitate to tell the truthabout them when opportunity offers. For that reason I am not liked;and I have heard that reports against me have gone to that court fromseveral of the orders. I am very sure that your Majesty will not givethem ear without reserving another ear for me. The religious in thiscountry wish to govern; and, if the governor does not allow them to doso, they regard him as an evil-conditioned man, and easily lend earto the malcontents. May God preserve the Catholic and royal personof your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, _Don Juan Niño de Tavora_

EVENTS IN FILIPINAS, 1630-32

_Relation of what has occurred in the Filipinas Islands and otherregions adjacent, from July, 1630, to July, 1632. _

Great has been the peace which we have enjoyed in these PhilipinasIslands for the last two years; for the forces of the Dutch have beenscanty, owing to the failure of reënforcements; from Holland, and hencethere has been peace in the Malucas Islands as well. Nevertheless, there have not been wanting here some disturbances from domesticenemies. The Indians of the province of Caraga, which is in one ofthese Philipinas Islands, rebelled and killed the Spaniards and thereligious, their ministers (although not for any cause connected withthe faith); these are discalced Augustinian friars. This uprising gaveus anxiety enough, as it seemed to be the beginning of a universalmutiny; and it was particularly disturbing to us, as all our missionsare in the neighborhood of the said province of Caraga, which isgradually being subdued and the leaders of the mutiny punished. 

In Japon they are still pricked with the thorn of the ship which someyears ago our galleons captured and burned on the bar of Sian. Toavenge this, notable councils have been held in Japon, in order tocome and wage war against this land; in order beforehand to have itwell explored, they sent last year in January two merchant ships, under cloak of trade and traffic. Although in Manilla warning of thisdouble object had been received, this was not made known; and they werereceived and regaled as ambassadors from the Tono of Arima and Bungo. Aceremonious reception and very handsome present were given to them;but the city was put in readiness for whatever might happen. Thisyear they have begun again to send ships to trade and traffic, andasked that our ships should go to Japon. But we are holding backhere, because what they wish to do is to seize the property whichmight be in the vessels, and put the Castilians to the sword. Theysent in these ships a hundred or more Christian lepers, who, whateverthey did with them, would not abandon the faith; and in order not tostain their catans, as they said, with such people, they left themalive and exiled them to the Philipinas. Here they were very kindlyreceived--as was required by Christian piety, and by the cause forwhich they had been exiled--without considering the affront which theJapanese thought to put upon us by sending the dregs of that kingdom. 

The persecution there was very severe, as will be seen by a letterwhich Father Christoval Ferreyra [91] writes from Nangasaqui to thefather provincial of this province--which, being translated from thePortuguese into Castilian, reads as follows:

"By the last ship, I wrote to your Reverence the state of theChristian church here. I shall now continue with what has happenedsince then; and it may all be summed up as new persecutions, labors, and hardships. I will commence with the five religious who, in the yeartwenty-nine, were taken prisoners on account of the faith. These arefathers Fray Bartolome Gutierrez, Fray Francisco de Jesus, Fray Vicentede San Antonio, all three Augustinians; Father Antonio Yxida, of ourSociety; and brother Fray Gabriel de Magdalena, a Franciscan. Thegovernor of Nangasaqui, named Uneme, attempted to make them deny thefaith, and in this way to discredit our holy faith and its ministers, and to break the spirit of the Christians, so that with the example ofthese they might more easily leave the faith, and thus he would gaincredit and honor before Xongun [_i. E. _, the Shogun], emperor of Japon. 

"With this diabolical intention--which, it appears, he had alreadydiscussed in the court--he ordered them to be taken from the prisonof Omura and brought to Nangasaqui, on the twenty-fifth of Novemberlast. As he did not say for what purpose, they were persuaded that itwas to burn them alive for the faith which they professed and taught;therefore they all went very joyfully, as men who were sighing for sucha happy death. But contrary to what they expected, they were put in theprison of that city, where they remained until the third of December, without knowing in the meantime what the governor intended to do. 

"Twice during this time the governor ordered our Father AntonioYxida to be brought to his house, and although he did not find himthe first time, he, with a servant of his named Saitogonnay (who wasconsidered an unusually learned man in the Juto [92] sect), asked himvery affectionately that at any rate he would abandon the faith ofChrist and adopt one of the religions of Japon; and if for any reasonhe did not wish to abandon at present the one which he followed, atleast he should show himself neutral, neither abandoning nor followingit. And, in order that the father might deliberate over all this, he would give him one more year of hope; and when this was passed, he should make known to the governor his final decision. The fatheranswered him that his decision was, as it had been and always would be, to follow and confess always the faith of God, and for this no timewas necessary to deliberate in this affair; for he would always findin him the same resolution and the same response, howsoever much timebe should give him for respite. The father added that the governormight immediately do that which he had determined to do at the endof the said year; for the response which he would then have to givewas the same as what he gave at present, nor would he ever acceptthe alternative proposed. 

"This counsel being refused, the learned man set about convincinghim by argument, attempting to prove that the Tayquio was the same, and that the Juto sect was based upon, and regarded as the beginningof all things, the God which we Christians adore. Wherefore, as thequestion was one of names, and not of substance, the two faiths werein accord, and that he should conform to the words also of the Jutosect. Easily and clearly the father showed him the difference betweenthe one sect and he other, and in what each consisted; and convincedhim in such wise that the ignorant learned man had no other refugebut to fall back on his reason--saying that it was indeed as thefather declared, but that reason dictated that he should follow andobey the mandate of the emperor, whose vassal he was, and abandon thefaith of God, at least outwardly, following in his heart whatever hepleased. 'Neither the faith which I profess, ' answered the father, 'norpure reason itself, will consent to these deceits and maskings. Thefaith of God which I follow in my heart I shall follow and confessoutwardly still; nor can the mandate of the emperor have force orstrength against that of God, the universal Lord of all things. '

"This dispute and combat lasted a day and a night, during which timethe father maintained such resolution and firmness that when thegovernor tried to be stern, in order to make him change his opinionof that idolatry, the father told him, undeceiving him, that he wasstriving in vain, for in no way could he win him over. On this account, the next day he was sent back to the prison. But as the governor'sservants knew that he desired to succeed in his endeavor, one ofthem asked that the father be called out again and delivered to him, for he hoped to subdue him. Accordingly the father himself, as wellas the others, was persuaded that this second time he was called outto be tortured, that he might deny his faith and reveal the otherreligious and their households, for this had been the practice in thecity for some time past. With astonishing courage the father went out, resolved to suffer any torment whatever before he would deny Christor reveal his brothers. 

"When he arrived at the house of the governor there came out to meethim the servant who had sought to see him, who had been present atthe late dispute, and at one which the father had formerly had withthe governor, when they arrested him. Although now the same meansof controversy were attempted, finding that, nevertheless, the morethey argued the more convinced he was, the principal means which theyused was to explain to the father how much the governor desired togrant him life and to favor him, as he could have seen every time hediscussed this matter. He was promised in behalf of the same governorgreat riches and position; and they strongly insisted that not onlyon account of what he owed to the friendship which the governorshowed him, but for what concerned his own welfare and interest, heought to abandon the faith of God, outwardly only, and to follow itin his heart, as any man of good judgment would do--saying that hewould show himself to be such by using this expedient, for he wouldnot abandon the faith which he followed, and would attain riches andrepose. The answer was that even if the governor should give him allthe riches that he possessed and all that there are in the world, and should make him lord of all, by no means would he turn his backto God or abandon His most holy faith--no, not even outwardly. 

"The governor, finding then that he could not win the father overby arguments, advice, or promises, ordered him to be taken back tothe prison, determined to use other more rigorous measures, withwhich he considered it certain that he would overcome him and theother religious who were in prison. This was by ordering them to betortured in a spring of exceedingly hot water, at the mountain Unjen;[93] for although some told him that this also would not win overeither Father Antonio or the others, it appeared impossible thatthey should not yield under this most extreme torture--as experiencehad shown him in the year 1629, when he ordered the Christians ofNangasaqui to be tortured in this way. Accordingly, he ordered theaforesaid five religious to be conveyed to that mountain, there to betortured with hot water until they should deny the faith, but in suchwise that they should not die. By the same order he sent likewisein their company Beatriz de Acosta, the wife of Antonio de Silva, and Maria her daughter; for they would not deny their faith, althoughthey had long been labored with--and this notwithstanding the factthat Beatriz de Acosta was Japanese only on the side of her mother, and the daughter much less so, as her father was a Portuguese, and hermother a half-Portuguese; and they do not proceed in this persecution[except] against Japanese and ministers of the gospel. 

"On the third of December they left Nangasaqui alone, and startedfor Unjen. The two women rode in a litter, and the five religious onhorseback, each one in the habit of his order, accompanied by manypeople as a guard; they were very joyful as they took leave of amultitude of people who came out to see this spectacle, in spite ofthe fact that the governor had rigorously prohibited it. When theyarrived at the point of Fimi, a league distant from there, their armswere tied, fetters were put upon their feet, and each one was puton board separately, being tied to the boat. On this same afternoonthey arrived at the point of Oharna, which is within the boundariesof Tacacu, and at the foot of the mountain Unjen. The next day theyascended the mountain, where they immediately erected a number of huts;then they placed the seven prisoners therein, each in a separate one, without allowing them to see each other again so long as they werethere, so that they might not encourage one another. They kept them dayand night with fetters on their feet, and manacles upon their hands, watched by guards. 

"Besides the men of the governor of Nangasaqui, the governors ofTacacu sent theirs likewise to be present at this act, as well as toaid whenever necessary. Beside these, there were a number of othersas sentinels on all the roads through which this mountain could beapproached, who let no person pass by without a written permissionfrom the officials who were assigned to this duty. 

"On the next day, the fourth of the same month, the torture commencedin the following manner: They took each one of the seven by himselfto the most furious pool there, and, showing him the boiling water, tried to persuade him to leave the faith of Christ before undergoingthat most horrible torture, which certainly they would not be ableto endure. Father Antonio writes that, notwithstanding the severityof the cold that then prevailed, the water in the ponds did [not]cease boiling, with such fury that the sight of it alone would strikedismay to any one who was not greatly comforted by the grace of God;but they were comforted in such manner that all, with extraordinarycourage, answered without delay that they would be tortured, for inno wise would they abandon the faith which they profess. When thissteadfast answer was heard, they were stripped naked and, tied handand foot with four cords, were borne each by four men. They tooksome of the water which was boiling most furiously, in a wooden dishwhich held about a half-arroba; this water they poured upon each onefrom the dish thrice filled--not all at once, but little by little, opening a minute hole in the bottom so that it would last longer. Theconstancy, courage, and valor with which the confessors of Christsuffered that most horrible torment was such that they never madethe slightest movement of their bodies, to the great fright of thosewho saw and heard them. Maria alone, as she was young and delicate, was dismayed by the severity of the torture, and fell to the groundand the torturers, who only desired some pretext whereby they couldsay that she had recanted, and misrepresenting this fall, cried out, saying, 'She has yielded, she has yielded!' Thereupon they took herback to her hut, and the next day to Nangasaqui--although she opposedthem violently and protested that she had not given up the faith, and that they had no reason for torturing her, or for tormenting andkilling her mother and the rest. 

"The other six remained on that mountain, where they spent twenty-threedays, during which Father Antonio, father Fray Francisco, and Beatrizde Acosta were tortured, each one six times, with hot water in themanner that I have described. Father Fray Vicente was tortured fourtimes, father Fray Bartolome and brother Fray Gabriel twice, withoutany one of them having made the least movement during the wholetime; or shown any sign of feeling the torture. On the contrary, withwonderful cheerfulness and courage they gave thanks to their torturers, and sometimes told them that the torture had been slight; at others, that they should find some other and more cruel torment, so that theirdesire to suffer for Christ might be further fulfilled. As a result, the infidels were as if astounded, for they found them each time moreconstant, cheerful, and desirous of suffering; and in Nangasaqui andTacacu nothing was talked of but the invincible courage and valorwith which they suffered the torture, whereupon the Christians werefull of joy and remained firmer in the faith. Several of the heathenbegan to complain and sneer at the governor of Nangasaqui, who hadtried to make them deny their faith. Accordingly Father Antoniowrites [94] that, during the time while he was on that mountain, several were brought to the faith; and among the heathen who sawhim and listened to the continual sermons which he preached to them, many gave him their word to receive the faith, and all conceived thehighest opinion of the faith of God. 

"The reason for torturing some oftener than others was thatFather Antonio, being a Japanese, had disobeyed the mandate of theemperor, and would not follow the counsels and persuasions of thegovernor of Nangasaqui and his ministers, nor be affected by thetortures. Father Fray Francisco suffered because he spoke to them withmuch Christian freedom, sang, and prayed in a loud voice, contrary totheir prohibition; and Beatriz de Acosta because, although a woman, she showed more than a man's courage, both in the tortures and inresisting the advice which they gave her--for which reason, besidethe torture of boiling water, they inflicted others upon her. Theymade her stand upright a long time upon a small rock, threatening herwith insults and affronts; but the more they insisted, the strongerthey found her. The others, being weak and infirm, were not torturedso long, because the tyrant did not intend to kill them, but only toconquer them; and for this reason they had, during the whole time, a physician upon the mountain to cure their hurts. 

"Finally the governor saw that he could by no means conquer them; but, on the contrary, his men informed him that, judging by the courageand valor which they showed, they would suffer till all the pools andwells in Unjen were drained, rather than give in. He therefore lostall hope of a victory over them, and decided to order that they betaken to Nangasaqui, although he would not do so before his departurefor the court at Meaco; for he thought that it would diminish hisprestige to have them enter as victors into that city while he wasthere. After his departure, therefore, he sent on the way advice tohis deputy whom he left there, to bring them to Nangasaqui. This heaccordingly did on the fifth of January, placing Beatriz de Acosta in acertain house, and putting the five religious into the public prison, where they still remain. Such was the victorious end of this battle, wherein our holy faith was nobly vindicated, the Christians encouraged, and the tyrant overcome and confounded, quite the contrary of whathe had expected and promised. 

"During the same time this governor seized and sent to Sendo [95]the wives and daughters of the holy martyrs who have perished inNangasaqui from the year 1617 to the present one, one thousandsix hundred and thirty-two--separating many of them, who werealready married, from their husbands and sons. They all acceptedcaptivity for so holy a cause with a good will, and before leavingprotested before the governor that they were and always would beChristians. Three Christians were taken prisoners for the faith inFingo at the beginning of the year 631. One of them died most happilyin the prison, a short time ago; and the other two, father and son, remain in captivity. In Xiqui there were thrown alive into the seafor the faith, on the twelfth of February past, Thome and Ynes, hiswife; likewise in Firando, a short time ago, another man was throwninto the sea for the same cause. 

"In Oxu [96] a man became a Christian fraudulently; and, after learningabout the principal Christians of Vacamatzu and Ayzu from one of ourhousehold of Ojaca, called Paulo, he went and gave a list thereof tothe governors of Tenca. These immediately advised the governors ofthe first two places, and there those whom the talebearer had givenin the list were taken prisoners--among them Brother Juan Yama, ofour Society, who was one whom I had catechized and baptized. Thusfar we have not learned whether they have been martyred or not. 

"The governors of Tacacu sent the same information regarding Paulo, who, although he was not in that city, was so diligently sought afterthat they succeeded in arresting him; and some time afterward he, with his wife Maria and four sons, suffered martyrdom. This led toa furious persecution, not only in Oxu, but likewise in other partsof the country, and in the cities of Cami, Meaco, Fugimi, Ojaca, and Sacay. The cruelty of the tyrant reached such a point that hesent this year, as exiles to Manilla, even the infirm and leprousChristians of the before-mentioned cities of Cami; and already morethan ninety of them are at Nangasaqui, awaiting the monsoon, andothers are expected to go. With this, under the holy benediction ofyour Reverence, etc. March 22, 1632. 

_Christoval Ferreyra_"

From Japon we pass on to China, where the state of Christianity hasbeen more quiet, and where it is very prosperous. The Society isestablished in eight provinces and eleven cities, and, if it werenot for the lack of workers, it would he extended much farther, and with great results. At present there are in the whole of Chinaseventeen priests and a few brothers-coadjutor, who are all laboringwith praiseworthy zeal for the conversion of this great kingdomof China. May the Lord prosper and protect your Reverence as Idesire. Manila, July 2, 1632. 

[Another copy of this document, in the same collection (to. 114, no. 401), adds the following matter as a postscript, dated July 6, 1632:]

The emperor of Japan is dead; [97] so is the king of Arima, who had intended to come to attack Manila. It is said that hisdeath was most horrible, and that he caused his servants to puthim to death with clubs, after having scalded him with the waterwith which he had tormented the martyrs. All say that this wasplainly a punishment for his tyrannous acts; and that he is payingfor them in hell--whence issued demons in the form of foxes, whowent dancing before his carriage or litter when he returned fromNangasaqui [_words illegible_] ambassadors, spies sent to Manila, Father Miguel Matruda, of the Society. These ambassadors--who came asenvoys in behalf of Uni Nudino, governor of Nangasaqui, and of thetono of Arima, called Asimadoro or Bungodon--were received with thepomp and courtesy which such an embassy demanded. On that occasionmuch caution was displayed by this colony through its chief, who isgovernor and captain-general of these islands. For, on the one hand, he exhibited before those ambassadors the strength of this [_wordillegible_] with its officers and infantry, which was drawn up inmartial array along the streets--almost all the way from the streetnearest the beach where the Japanese disembarked, up to the palace;and, on the other, he paid them honor with a splendid and friendlyreception. He also offered them presents and entertainments as ifthey were envoys sent by Christian princes and our best friends. Thishas been cordially remembered, to judge from what has since then beenlearned of their designs--at least, that of one of those lords, theruler of Arima. This was, that the envoys should carefully ascertainwhat were the forces in Manila, in order to see whether the formerplans were adequate. [Our transcriber in Madrid here adds: "This letter(dated March 30, 1632) goes on to describe the martyrdoms, and endsthus: 'After these torments, we were again conveyed to the prisonfrom which they had taken us, where we now are. There are five of usreligious, besides other servants of God who are also prisoners forHis sake. I think that this autumn, when the governor comes, he willpronounce final sentence upon us. '" It is most probable that this ispart of the letter by Father Antonio Yxida, mentioned in the text. ]

LETTER FROM THE ECCLESIASTICAL CABILDO TO FELIPE IV

In all the most opulent kingdoms, provinces, and cities of the Catholicmonarchy of your Majesty, the most remote, the most separated, andthe most distant from the royal presence of its king and sovereignis the metropolitan cathedral church of this archipelago of islandswithout number. Consequently, its cabildo is poorer, more needy, and more liable to be forgotten than any other; for in order toset forth its afflictions and poverty, it even has neither feet, whereby it may go to cast itself at the feet of your Majesty, nor hands for the solicitude and works that the demand alone wouldrequire. One effort only we can make easily, and that has been madefor many years; that is, to write, petitioning, importuning, urging, and informing your Majesty of the most important things, not to ourespecial advantage. And well do we know that your Majesty is not sowealthy that you can be liberal in proportion to your greatness;but only in the points most necessary and important to the Divineservice and worship, and to your Majesty's honor and glory, at whoseexpense it flourishes throughout Christendom--especially in this city, fortified post, and empire of almost all the nations discovered andknown; for in that it equals Roma, and the cities of most commerce inthe whole world. That is the reason that has always moved us to urgeand petition your Majesty, representing the following points. [_In themargin_: "July 30, 1625. [98] Reply to the cabildo, encouraging them;and tell them that what they say in their letter will receive careand attention, without particularizing the paragraphs or the thingsthat they say. "]

One of the things which this cathedral has considered, and considers, intolerable, is that it always has to be governed by friars. That is amatter that has in itself many grave inconveniences, that would takelong to relate in a letter which demands brevity. We wish only foryour Majesty to understand and to be assured that the seculars can bebetter governed than any other clergy; and that they live with greaterquietness and peace, not only in their souls and spiritual government, but in what concerns the temporal. Not only do the seculars recognizethis, but the religious themselves; for the secular is always in themidst of affairs, while the friar must necessarily incline himselfto his order and to those with whom he has been reared. It would beworse if such a person had not been, in his order, of much learningand of known virtues, but rather the contrary. Your Majesty willconsider the estimation that all will have for such a man who knewhim before. When this is so, it does not result to edification, whichis your Majesty's intent, but to depreciation of and contempt for theepiscopal dignity, which requires the highest perfection. God our Lordwould be greatly pleased if the honors, dignities, and prelacies ofthis country be given to those who have served and labored in it. Fromthat three blessings of high importance will follow. The first, that your Majesty will have fulfilled your obligation in accordancewith the excellent principle of distributive justice. Thus have oursovereigns Kings Philipo Second and Third, of glorious memory, yourMajesty's grand-father and father, ruled, ordered, and commanded intheir royal patronage. And most certain can your Majesty be that therehave always been and there are now men worthy, capable, and of greattalents, from whom much may be expected, both in this cabildo and inthe orders--especially that of St. Dominic and that of St. Francis;but, since they do not try to obtain the prebendaries of this church, never will their affairs be known, nor will any of them ever be seenin that royal court, for neither can they go, nor do they possess thewherewithal to send. These arguments will have greater force and powerin the future, because of the two universities which your Majestyhas permitted in this city--one in the residence of the Society ofJesus, and the other in that of Santo Tomas of the Dominican friars, where students are being trained and many graduated. Thus this cityis today full of poverty-stricken seculars, and one must fear thatthere will be so many within a few years that they will die of hunger, because we have not any benefices to give them in this archbishopricor throughout the islands; for these are held by friars, who cost yourMajesty so dearly. It is very desirable to refrain from sending manyof the religious who come from España, which is an argument worthyof much consideration. [_In the margin_: "That great care will begiven to this point when vacancies occur in those churches. "]

The need and poverty of this metropolitan church is known andnotorious, for it has no income or revenue other than the concessionsof your Majesty, especially the four hundred pesos that have beengiven thus far, by means of which the church is kept in wine, wax, andoil. For none of those things are given from the royal warehouses, asthey are to the other convents of this city. Consequently, we petitionyour Majesty to continue that concession, for it is not a perpetualconcession, but was only for four or six years; and, when that timeexpired, it was conceded for another term of four or six years. If itwere made perpetual, your Majesty would be making it a more valuableconcession; for at each prolongation of the time it is necessary tospend at least one hundred pesos with the agent who is sent from hereto that court. Thus that amount would be saved, and that is a matterof consideration and importance to so poor a church. [_In the margin_:"See what is provided in regard to this. " "The concession was made. "]

This church is also in great need of ornaments and of a sacristy. Thatwhich it now uses is borrowed; but with the sum of three or fourthousand pesos the one that was commenced more than ten years agocould be finished. It has been impossible to finish it, because wehad not the means to do so. In order that your Majesty need not spendanything from your royal treasury (which we most earnestly desire), this could be done by your Majesty ordering that vacant encomiendas, or pensions on those to which appointments are being made, be givento the church, in accordance with the condition of the encomienda, at the will of the governor--as has been done with the house of theSociety of Jesus in this city, to which your Majesty made a grant often thousand pesos, as an aid to the edifice that they are at presenterecting, [_In the margin_: "See what has been ordered in this. " "Theconcession was made. "]

We have often represented to your Majesty the great importance ofhaving this church well served, as this city is a place of so greattrade and commerce, where so many and so different nations come, as hasbeen said. The number of prebendaries that the church has at presentis not at all sufficient; for besides the five dignidades, it has nomore than four canons, two racioneros, and two medio-racioneros. Andsince the land is so unhealthful and sickly, most of the prebendariesare generally disabled, and for the greater portion of the year thework is loaded upon only one canon and one racionero. For that reason, we earnestly desired in the past years that your Majesty would give usan increase Of two additional canons and four racioneros; but seeingthat that was not effected because of the great need in which thetimes have placed your Majesty, we have found an easy and feasibleremedy for it--namely, to apply to this church some of the beneficesand missions that the orders hold near this city. Let the governorand archbishop select those which would be most suitable; and leteach of them be given to two seculars--or more, if they should be sorich. There is a mission outside the walls of this city owned by thereligious of St. Augustine, by name Tondo, where three seculars couldbe maintained. One of them could be proprietary, with the title ofarchdean or prior of such place and canon of this cathedral, with theobligation to serve in it, as do the other canons. By this methodthe prebendaries would be increased, and the number of religiouswhom your Majesty would have to send would be lessened; while thestudents who are growing up here in steadily increasing numberswould be provided for, rewarding the sons of the conquistadors andsettlers, besides many other blessings and advantages which wouldfollow by so doing. [_In the margin_: "See what has been provided inthis regard, and have this section taken to the fiscal, together withthat provision. " "It was taken. "]

One of the persons on whom this cabildo has set its eyes--and, together with all this community, we have been sure that your Majestywould show him honor--is the archdean, Don Alonso Garcia de Leon;but, only through his great modesty, he has never put forward anysuch claim. Consequently, we petition your Majesty to honor us allthrough him--assuring you, with the truth that one ought to speak inregard to such a matter, that we judge him to be worthy of any favorand honor that your Majesty might be pleased to show him, which willbe for the glory of God and your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_:"Consult the memorial. "]

Doctor Don Juan Briceño came to these islands twenty-three years agowith the ordination of a priest, in company with Archbishop Don DiegoVazquez de Mercado. He immediately occupied himself in learning thelanguage and in ministering to the natives, to their great approbationand with benefit to their souls. He has also served this cathedralmore than nine years in the prebends of canon and precentor, thelatter of which he holds at present. He is also at present exercisingthe office of vicar-general of this archbishopric, and has been itsvisitor-general. In both offices he has acted and given the accountthat could be expected from a good priest, learned and experienced, and publicly recognized as a man of good life and example. Ever sincehe came to these islands, there has been nothing contrary to this;so that he deserves to have your Majesty employ him in matters ofyour service, and to honor him according to the merit of his manygood services. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial. "]

It is well-known that the Order of St. Augustine was the first toplant the cross of Christ in these remote islands; and it has alwaysbeen foremost in continuing that work. Hence it is the one of allthe orders which has most missions, and consequently, most needof ministers. Many years, no religious come to them from España;and many of those who are here die, and very quickly. Thus, if yourMajesty do not show them the favor of protecting and replenishingso necessary and good ministers, they will be obliged to leave manymissions, to the detriment of souls, and of the service of God andyour Majesty--whom it has cost so much from your royal patrimony toset this flourishing and extensive Christian church in its presentcondition. The propagation of Christianity here is due, at least in itsgreater part, to that holy order and to its sons, as you will be moreminutely informed by father Fray Diego de Robles, who is now to go astheir procurator-general and definitor, to attend the general chapterof his order. We are acquainted with his person, and know that he cameto these islands sixteen years ago. He soon learned two languages ofthe natives, and has administered in the islands some of the houses, convents, and missions of greatest importance. His order has honoredhim, and has occupied him, now in the ministry of the pulpit for theSpaniards, now in priorates, and in other offices and dignities ofhis order. In all of them he has always furnished a very excellentexample, and has attained fame and renown as a good religious and oneworthy of all credit and honor. Consequently, this cabildo petitionsyour Majesty to honor him and his order, for in both things will Godour Lord be greatly pleased. [_In the margin_: "When religious arerequested, have this section brought. " "Consult the memorial. "]

The Recollect religious of St. Augustine are the last who came to laborin this field; and for that reason the most toilsome, laborious, anddangerous part has fallen to their share, as they have been unable tohave their missions and houses together, or in contiguous provinces, like the other orders; but their convents are separated in differentislands, very far one from another. Although they are the last, weassure your Majesty that in point of work, zeal for the propagationof the holy gospel, and the cultivation of souls, the other orders donot have any advantage over them. Well have they proved that with theirblood; for about three years ago, when the province of Caraga revolted, the rebels killed seven religious. However, by the grace of God, thoserebels have been reduced again, and punished by the excellent effortsof Captain Juan de Chaves, one of the best soldiers, and one of themen of best judgment that your Majesty has in these islands. It willbe of very great service to God and your Majesty to have religioussent to the said fathers, for many years have passed since a singlereligious has come to them, and it is right to encourage and aid sogood workers, [_In the margin_: "When this order shall petition forreligious, let this section be brought. "]

The master-of-camp, Don Lorenço de Olasso, who exercises the officeof captain-general because of the death of Governor Don Juan Niñode Tavora this year, has carried himself with prudence, peace, andtranquillity. For in this office and in that of master-of-camp, whichhe holds by right of appointment, he has shown his good judgment, especially in his care and vigilance in fortifying the city andin attending to all that concerns the obligation of his office, and welfare of this city, and the service of your Majesty. [_In themargin_: "Consult the memorial. "]

As this noble and loyal city had so great need for sending a suitableperson as its procurator to that royal court, it made choice of theperson of General Don Diego de Arqueta Minchaca. It was a choiceso prudent and so well considered, that in quality, services ofhis forbears and his own, capacity, prudence, experience, and otherqualities necessary for such action, there is not his equal in thiscity. For besides the said qualifications and services (which willbe apparent by his papers), considering the chief thing, namely, your Majesty's service and the welfare of this community, he is aperson so capable in all matters of government and war, that boththrough experience and observation he can inform your Majesty as onewho has seen both all these islands and the Malucas, and as far asMalaca; because he took part and embarked in all the fleets [sentagainst] the invasions of the Dutch enemy, that have been gatheredin these islands since he was a young lad. We assure ourselves ofgreat results for the increase of Christianity in these islands, the welfare of this community, and your Majesty's service, by hisgoing and management. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

Captain Juan Sarmiento, chancellor of this royal Audiencia, isthe legitimate son of Captain Pedro Sarmiento (one of the firstconquistadors and settlers of these islands), and one of the mostvaliant captains who has served your Majesty herein, as will appearmore authoritatively by his papers. He is married to a daughter ofLicentiate Tellez de Almaçan, who was an auditor who came to establishthis Audiencia for the second time. And even were he not so worthyin his person, he was sufficiently so to be worthy of your Majestyshowing him very great favors. For we recognize in the said auditor ajudge truly upright and Christian, and so in harmony with divine andhuman laws, that these islands will ever cherish his memory. God ourLord has given him abundance of sons and daughters, so that this cityis ennobled by such progeny and posterity. He deserves honor fromyour Majesty, and aid, in order that he may become more prosperousand not less. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial. "]

Since we are so loyal vassals and chaplains of your Majesty, it grievesus and rends our soul to see the damage done to your Majesty's royaltreasury, because there are not any faithful officials to execute theso pious and excellent order that was decreed and determined by theroyal decrees of your Majesty, and by the glorious progenitors of yourMajesty; especially in regard to the money that passes annually fromNueva España to these islands. We inform your Majesty that, besidesthe permission of the four hundred thousand pesos that your Majesty hasgiven for the inhabitants of this city, it is certain that two millionsare brought. That sum is brought from Nueva España by companies andagents who call themselves inhabitants of Mexico; and your judgesand officials [there] allow them to pass, and dis-simulate becauseof the great profit that falls to them in Acapulco. The efforts arenot made in this city either that could be made by those who oughtto make them. Accordingly, having seen this so great loss, both toyour Majesty and to the inhabitants of this city, in assemblies ofthe orders that the reverend bishop, governor of this archbishopric, called on petition of the city, censures were issued, ordering noone to employ the money of the inhabitants of Nueva España or Piru, thinking that that would be an efficient remedy. But experience hasdemonstrated that it has been of no effect, for all have employed thatmoney and no one has been denounced. This needs, a stringent remedy, and there is no other except to carry out fittingly what was ordered byyour Majesty, by appointing trustworthy officials of Christian spiritand well-known zeal for your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_:"Let them be advised of what decision was made in this. "]

One of the greatest services that the cabildos and corporations canperform for your Majesty is to advise, inform, and report concerningthe deserving persons who attend to your Majesty's service. For, as thematter passes before so many eyes, they cannot do else than to writewith great consideration and exactness of truth. One of the men who hasserved your Majesty in these islands with ardor, eagerness, and care, and who has occupied, since the day of his entrance into this city, posts of great importance (as will appear in detail by his papers), is General Don Andres Perez Franco. The limitations of a letter do notallow us to mention his good qualities as a skilled and successfulsoldier; for besides being that, God has given him good fortune infeats of war. In matters of government and of peace, he is so excellentand accomplished that he has been considered by most of the peopleof Cavite, where he has been chief commander most of the time, as afather rather than as a commander. God has endowed him with affability, valor, and ability to govern and command with generosity, and actionswhich make him loved, feared, and respected. That is apparent to thiscabildo, and we know that it is public and notorious. Will your Majestyplease honor him according to his many good services, so that othersmay imitate him, and that they may be encouraged by his example toserve your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial. "]

Your Majesty granted this archbishopric to Don Fray Hernando deGuerrero, bishop of Nueva Segovia, an aged religious, and one wellknown in these islands. He presented in this cabildo the ordinarydecree which the royal Council generally gives to the persons presentedby your Majesty, in order that the government might be given intohis charge until the bulls come from his Holiness. Inasmuch as thiscabildo is at present deprived of this jurisdiction--given to it by acanonical law by special brief and indult of his Holiness, obtainedby your Majesty, ordering the senior bishop to govern, by virtue ofwhich the reverend father, Fray Pedro Arce, archbishop of Zubu, isgoverning this church, a holy person and one of blameless life--thiscabildo answered that no one can give what he does not possess; thatthe said bishop had the government; and that this cabildo had nothingmore to answer. However the said archbishop insisted upon it as he wasdeceived by certain ill-informed lawyers. He even went to the royalAudiencia, who delayed undeceiving him for many days and after manymeetings. All that was with the object of giving him to understand thatthey were doing something for him. That had the end and object thatthe auditors know; and it is not unknown that the archbishop wrotein their favor to the royal Council. That was almost self-evident, for the explicit manner in which Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas yOñate, visitor of these islands, enlightened him was not sufficient, when the visitor said that he had no right, and that neither thecabildo nor the bishop could do anything else. The same thing wasdeclared by the religious, the lecturers, and professors, and theother learned men who examined the matter thoroughly; and lastly bythat which was declared, after many meetings and delays, by the royalassembly. Hence, Sire, the said archbishop has maintained hostilityand ill-will toward this cabildo, and cannot conceal it; but showsit by words unworthy his dignity, and threats against the time whenthe bulls come for him. We see well, Sire, that all the above has noremedy now, and that your Majesty made him archbishop. We suffer forGod's sake, and He will give us patience. But for the future we humblypetition your Majesty to consider and repair this so serious damage, from which so many troubles result, by making choice of learnedand holy persons, of known virtue. There are many in these islands, both seculars and religious, as we informed your Majesty on anotheroccasion. Friars should not be consulted who only go to that courtladen with money to demand bishoprics, since by the same case theymake themselves unworthy. Necessarily the injuries that ensue fromthis are felt by the poor subordinates; and they even scandalizethe faithful Christians, when they see that the holy and virtuouspriests who are laboring throughout these islands are net rewarded, because they do not go or send [to that court], [_In the margin_:"When our bishops are sent, if there should be a number of governors, have what information there is here brought, so that the senior bishopof the islands may govern; and have this section also brought. "]

Often, Sire, have we given thanks in this cabildo to God our Lord, deliberating and considering how clearly the presence of the HolyGhost is seen in the decisions, ordinances, and enactments in theroyal decrees of your Majesty, looking toward the good government andincrease of the common welfare of these islands. For, if your Majestyand every one of your counselors had lived in and seen this city andthese islands for many years, they could not have better understood thematters treated and decided in the said royal decrees. Consequently, one of your opportune and fortunate measures was the excellent choicethat your Majesty has made in sending Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojasy Oñate as visitor; for, as long experience and the histories teach us, and even in the present times we have seen the disputes, the confusion, the unrest, and anxiety caused in a kingdom by any visitor; while inthis city we have seen quite the contrary with the said visitor. Andhe has not been at all lacking in his duty, exercising rigor andseventy with kindness. He has calmed troubles without drawing blood, and has obtained the observance of your royal decrees so equitably thatthose who were most opposed to him confessed that he was just. Lastly, Sire, he is completing his visit this year, without having inflictedextortion or wrong on a single person. He has attended to the serviceof your Majesty with continual and incessant labor--which, althoughhe has not had at all good health, he has not spared by day or night, on feast days, or in holiday seasons, times in which others rest. Inshort, he has been a father to this republic, and a person worthy ofbeing occupied by your Majesty in things of greater importance in yourservice; for God has given him talent for great things, a Christianspirit, and the fear of God. That he showed because, as soon as heentered this city, he went to confession and communed often. He choseas confessor father Fray Domingo Gonçales, one of the most holy andlearned men of the Order of St. Dominic. So great and so illustriousis his learning that often, when the orders have come together toargue, they have confessed that, upon asking him his opinion in veryknotty questions, their problems have been solved by his tolerance, forbearance, and patience; for he did not cause disputes and scandalson many occasions that people inconsiderate and bold gave him, asis seen by certain of the writings that he carries; Consequently, wegreatly desire and we earnestly petition His Divine Majesty that he, may have health, and that He will bear him to your Majesty's feet, so that he may inform you of what he has seen, accomplished, andknown. From his report we hope ior the relief of these islands inevery way, and increase to the service of God and your Majesty. 

_Don Miguel Garcetas__Don Alonso García de Leon__Doctor Don Juan Reyes_The treasurer, _Don Thomas Guimarano__Don Francisco de Valdes__Don Pedro de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoza_The racionero, _Pablo Rodriguez_The racionero, _Ruiz de Escalona__Diego Ramirez_

[_Endorsed_: "Manila. To his Majesty. The ecclesiastical cabildo. Nodate. Examined July 30, and decreed within. "]

DOCUMENTS OF 1633-1634

 Papal bull concerning missions. Urban VIII; June 28, 1633. News from the Far East, 1632. Fray Juan García, O. P. ; 1633. Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; August 14, 1633. Report of archbishop on the bakery of Manila. Hernando de Guerrero; August 3, 1634. News from Felipinas, Japon, and other parts. [Unsigned]; August 20, 1634. Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; August 10, 1634. 

_Sources_: The first, third, fourth, and sixth of these documentsare obtained from MSS. In the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla;the second and fifth, from MSS. In the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid. 

_Translations_: The first document is translated byRev. T. C. Middleton, O. S. A. ; the third and sixth, by JamesA. Robertson; the remainder, by Robert W. Haight. 

PAPAL BULL CONCERNING MISSIONS

_Constitution of our most holy lord, by divine Providence pope, Urban VIII, concerning the missions of religious to Japan and otherregions of the Eastern Indias. Rome: from the press of the reverendApostolic Chamber. MDCXX[X]III. _

_Urban VIII_

To all the faithful of Christ who shall scan these present letters, health and apostolic benediction. In fulfilment of our pastoral chargein regard to the safety of souls and the spread of the Catholic faith, while readily changing those things which have been wisely, ordainedby the Roman pontiffs our predecessors, wherever through the teachingsof experience change seems advisable, we have made some arrangements, as the same have seemed expedient in the Lord, in regard to the spreadof the Catholic faith and the health of souls. 

In sooth, by his letters in form similar to a brief given on thetwenty-eighth day of January, 1585, and the thirteenth year of hispontificate, Pope Gregory XIII, our predecessor of happy memory, led thereto through certain reasons known at the time, issued aninterdict and prohibition to all patriarchs and bishops, includingeven the province of China and Japan, under pain of ecclesiasticalinterdict and of suspension, from entering the church portals andthe exercise of pontifical power, to all others besides priests, clerics, and ecclesiastical ministers, both secular and regular--ofwhatsoever order, standing, degree, rank, and condition they mightbe--under pain of major excommunication to be incurred _ipso facto_, to this effect: that without his express license and that of theapostolic see, no one should dare go to the aforesaid countries andprovinces of Japan to preach the gospel, teach Christian doctrine, administer the sacraments, or discharge other ecclesiastical duties. 

Subsequently, however, Pope Clement VIII, also our predecessor ofrenowned memory, having learned that the countries and provinces ofChina and Japan, as well as of other near-by and adjacent islands, besides the neighboring kingdoms of Eastern India, were very extensiveand thickly inhabited; that, moreover, in order to bring so greata multitude of souls to the Catholic faith and strengthen them withspiritual nourishment, more workmen and ministers were needed thancould be levied from the religious of the Society of Jesus, thereforeto all and singular the masters or priors-general of the mendicantorders for the time being did he make the following grant, to wit:that whenever necessity required they might send--by way, however, of Portugal only, and thence by sea to the Indias and the city ofGoa--to the local superiors of their orders resident in those lands, whomsoever of their subjects they might deem fitting and serviceablefor the discharge of the said offices and ministries, provided thesame were of respectable character and learning. Again, that thereligious of the said orders to be thus sent to the said countriesof the Indias, as well as their fellow-members resident therein, who had been chosen and approved for the discharge of this saidduty by their masters or priors-general, or other superiors, mightgo to the said Japan as well as its near-by and adjacent islands, and even to the said islands, countries, and provinces of China andthe neighbor-kingdoms and mainland [_terra firma_] of Eastern India. 

Moreover, under pain of major excommunication (wherefrom, unlessat the point of death, absolution was not to be granted save by theRoman pontiff himself); of forfeiture besides of active and passivevote, and of all dignities, administrations, and offices whatsoever;furthermore, of disqualification to hold and exercise the same in thefuture--all moreover to be incurred _ipso facto_ by all religious, nomatter what privileges had been granted them by the said Clement andother Roman pontiffs his predecessors, of no matter what tenor or form, whether general or special, even though with permit attached to preachthe word of God throughout the whole world--no matter, either, whetherhereafter the same or like privileges should be granted, approved, and renewed as long as therein special, specific, and express mentionof this prohibition and interdict should not be made with annulment ofthe same--thereupon he interdicted and forbade them all and singular, under no matter what pretext or color of design, to leave the islandsknown as the Philippines or any other part of the Western Indias orcountry held as part of the Western Indias and thence to pass to thesaid Japanese Islands, provinces, and countries and other near-by, adjacent, and neighboring lands. Furthermore he ordered that shouldany one have gone to the said Japan or countries near by, or in thefuture should go thither, no matter what his reasons, on being warnedhe should immediately depart thence and return to the said PhilippineIslands or other countries of the Western Indias, under the samepenalties as above; and, moreover, under the same penalties as wellas others at the option of any ecclesiastical judge whomsoever hemight be constrained and compelled thereto. 

While later Pope Paul V, also our predecessor of happy memory, havinglearned by experience that the prohibition to go to the Indias andthe city of Goa otherwise than by way of Portugal was neither obeyed, nor even advantageous for the spread of the Catholic faith: in ordertherefore that, as he desired, he might make due provision whereby soimportant a work of God might be carried on without hindrance, madethe following grant to all and singular the masters, ministers andpriors--general of the mendicant orders--or the heads of orders forthe time being, by whatever title they might be known--that whenevernecessity should require them to send to Japan and other near-by, adjacent, and neighboring islands, provinces arid countries, to thesuperiors of their orders resident therein, any religious of theirorder of respectable character and learning, whomsoever they might deemfit and serviceable for the discharge of the said duties and offices, to this end they might freely and lawfully send them otherwise thanby way of Portugal--in all remaining matters, however, being bound inall respects to observe the said letters of his predecessor Clement, and the fuller instructions contained in those issued by the saidGregory and Clement and his predecessor Paul V the tenor whereof inthese our presents we wish to be considered as expressed therein. 

Since, however, the experience of many years has shown that theordinances contained in the foregoing letters were not of avail, andthat other provision was needed whereby the sacred holy gospel of theLord Christ might be the more easily preached and spread throughoutthe said islands and kingdoms, therefore in the discharge of ourpastoral duty, following the norm of the said Paul our predecessor, after mature counsel with our venerable brethren, cardinals of the holyRoman church, who are in care of the spread of the faith throughoutthe whole world, in virtue of these presents to all and singularthe masters, ministers, and priors-general of any religious order, or institute, even of the Society of Jesus, or the heads of orders, bywhatsoever other title they may be known, hereby through our apostolicauthority, we do grant and convey the following powers, to wit: thatwhenever it be deemed expedient, they may freely and lawfully send tothe said islands, provinces, countries, and kingdoms of Eastern Indiaby other way than by Portugal whatever members of their orders andinstitutes they may deem suitable for the missions by reason of age, character, morals, and learning--provided, however, that in all othermatters (and not otherwise) they follow the said instructions of ourpredecessor Clement. Moreover, under penalty of excommunication _lataesententiae, _ we forbid all ecclesiastics and religious, of whatsoeverorder and institute, both of non-mendicants and mendicants, even thoseof the Society of Jesus, as well as the seculars of religious, fromhindering the journey of the aforesaid religious to the above-namedislands, provinces, countries, and kingdoms. 

At the same time we exhort most earnestly in the Lord the saidreligious who are to be, or even have been, sent to the said places, to observe uniformity in their instructions to the people, especiallythose who have been recently converted to the Christian faith, in orderthat such neophytes be not scandalized through conflicting teachings, especially in matters relating to morals. 

Wherefore since in matters of so great concern we hold that careand watchfulness on the part of the aforesaid are of much avail, hence we again and again urge them to restrict their teachings togeneral principles. 

Accordingly, to the end that this be the more easily carried out, in their instructions to the peoples of the said places in EasternIndia, the said religious shall as far as possible use exclusively theRoman Catechism, and the "Christian Doctrine" (both small and large) ofRobert Bellarmino, a cardinal of the holy Roman church of good renown, translated and printed in the dialects of the aforesaid peoples. 

But since, to the no little grief of our heart, we have learnedthat in Japan now for many years is raging a most bitter persecutionagainst Christians, especially against religious, we therefore grantand convey to all and singular the Christians now as well as in thefuture resident in Japan, the power to receive freely and lawfullythe sacraments (such however as require episcopal ministry beingexcepted) even those that appertain to parish priests, from anypriests, as the above, whose services they may secure--provided, however, these have been, or shall be, sent thither by their generals. 

Furthermore, since by the sacred canons, the decrees of councils andapostolic constitutions, all religious and even other ecclesiastics, especially such as are in holy orders, are forbidden strictly toengage in worldly affairs and traffickings, as gravely harmful, undignified, and unbecoming to persons consecrated to divine service, especially such as are vowed to the preaching of the sacred holygospels of the Lord Christ, therefore following the norm of the saidsacred canons, decrees, and apostolic constitutions, by our apostolicauthority, in virtue of these presents, we interdict and forbid alland singular the religious in the afore-named places, or who shall gothither--no matter of what order and institute, whether non-mendicantor mendicant, even of the Society of Jesus--to devote themselves to, or engage in, any business or trafficking, no matter in what way, whether personally or through others, in their own name or thatof their community, be the same directly or indirectly, no matterunder what pretense or color of design; and this under penalty ofexcommunication _latae sententiae_ to be incurred _ipso facto_, ofdeprival moreover of active and passive vote, and of all offices, degrees, and dignities whatsoever, of disqualification besides tohold the same, as well as of forfeiture of all merchandise and thegains accruing therefrom--the same to be set apart by the superiorsof the orders whereof the delinquents were members, for the serviceof the missions in the said Indias in charge of the said orders, now and hereafter, nor to be used for any other purpose whatsoever. 

Moreover, under the same penalties we charge the same superiors, while keeping watch strictly in this regard, to proceed againstdelinquents with the said penalties, nor relieve them from the dutyof forfeiture of the said merchandise, or the repayment of gains, no matter how small the amount involved. However should disputes(which God forfend) spring up among the religious of the said orders, let them be settled and ended by the bishops of the said places forthe time being, in their capacity of delegates of the apostolic see. 

But should matters of graver moment be brought to their notice, let the said bishops without delay refer them to us and the Romanpontiffs our successors, to the end that, whatever the ruling anddecree, this may be provided for after mature deliberation. Such isour wish and command. 

Moreover, while commanding that without fail these present letters beobserved by all and singular to whom for the time being they appertain, we withdraw from all and singular the judges--no matter of what rank, whether ordinary or delegate, even though the same be auditors ofcases appertaining to the apostolic palace--the power and authorityto rule and interpret otherwise, any decisions to the contraryheretofore given, whether knowingly or through mistake, no matter bywhat authority, to be held as null and void. Therefore we commandall and singular the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and otherprelates of churches and palaces, even those of religious, throughoutthe whole world, without fail to have these present letters observedin their provinces, cities, dioceses, chapters, and jurisdictions, besides whenever requested by the religious of the said orders to haveand see that the same be published solemnly, [99] notwithstanding tothe contrary any interdict, prohibitions, letters, or other premisesof our said predecessors, nor any apostolic or synodal decree, bethe same issued in provincial or general council, no matter whetherembodied in special or general constitutions and ordinances (evenin those granted to the Society of Jesus and the other said orders, provinces and regions); no matter whether confirmed by apostolic pledgeor otherwise by statute, custom, privilege, or apostolic indult andletters, even those granted by the pontiffs in the fulness of theirpower, be the same general or special--all which, in so far as theyconflict with these our present letters, prohibition, and interdict, wherefore they are to be considered as having been duly expressed andinserted therein, we hereby desire and command shall be invoked infavor of no one, no matter of what order, even though of the Society ofJesus, but be held as null and void. And since it would be difficultto have these present letters exhibited and published in all places, we desire that to all copies of them (even in print), whenever thesame be certified to by any public notary, or the secretary of any ofthe said orders, and attested with his seal by any church dignitary, or the generals of the aforesaid orders, the same respect be accordedin court, or outside, as would be given to these presents were theythemselves to be exhibited or shown. Given at Rome at St. Peter's, under the seal of the Fisherman, the twenty-second day of February, 1632, and the tenth year of our pontificate. 

_M. A. Maraldi_

We, Cæsar Montius, by the grace of God and the apostolic see patriarchof Antioch, nuncio of our most holy lord Urban VIII, by divineProvidence pope, with power of legate _a latere_ of the same see inthe kingdoms of the Spains, and collector-general for the apostolicchamber, to all and singular who shall view and see as well as hearthese present letters, hereby do attest and in the word of truth dovouch that this present copy of the same agrees with the original inevery respect. Wherefore we command that to it full regard be shown. Intestimony whereof we have sealed these presents, signed by our ownhand, and have ordered the same to be issued by our secretary. Maduti, of the diocese of Ysleta, the twenty-eighth day of June, 1633. 

By order of the same most illustrious lord:

_D. Francisco Gutierrez Corrilla_, secretary. 

NEWS FROM THE FAR EAST, 1632

_Information which has been sent from the city of Manila of the presentcondition of the Catholic religion in Philipinas, Japon, and GreatChina; sent by father Fray Juan Garcia, [100] professed religiousof the Order of St. Dominic, to the royal convent of San Pablo atSevilla. Account of how the king our lord has taken an island inGreat China, called La Hermosa, with a great fortress which is there_. 

During the former year of 631, twenty-eight professed religious of theOrder of St. Dominic, from different convents in Spaña, who voluntarilyoffered themselves for the service of God our Lord, the holy apostolicRoman see, and their order, left the port of San Lucar de Barameda, having embarked to cross over to the province of Nueva España in theYndias, thence to the Philipinas Islands, Japon, and the kingdom ofGreat China, in order to preach the faith of Jesus Christ in thosesaid kingdoms to the barbarous and idolatrous heathen there. After aprosperous voyage of eleven months they arrived at the city of Manila, where they were well received by the other religious who reside inthose islands. However there died during the said voyage father FrayJuan Quixada, a native of Xerez, and a son of that convent; father FrayVicente Ripol, a native of Zaragoça, and a son of the same convent;father Fray Francisco Castañeda and brother Fray Jacinto Robles, bothsons of Salamanca; brother Fray Vicenta Ybañes, a son of the conventof Valencia; and brother Fray Jayme Escuder, native of Mallorca. Therest arrived safe and sound, full of joy at finding themselves wherethey desired to be busied in the preaching of the holy gospel. 

The news from Japon has it that the emperor of that country is holdinga large number of Dutch in prison, on account of difficulties whichthey have had with the Japanese, and even worse [were their dealings]with our people; for through friendship for the Dutch has arisenthe great persecution and martyrdom of so many religious, of so manydifferent orders, who have suffered martyrdom in those regions. Havingingratiated themselves with the emperor until they stood well with him, in order that there might be no increase in the faith of Jesus Christthey counseled him that it was altogether inexpedient to consent thatany friar of any order should enter his kingdom, for that they werea vile people, driven out of España, to preach the faith of a Godwhom they adored, who had died crucified upon a cross; and that withthat humble garb they were doing great harm, converting the people totheir faith and straightway delivering over the country to the kingof España, as they had done in other parts of the Yndias. But as Godour Lord is ever mindful of his own, His Divine Majesty has permittedthat these works of cunning and these heretical counsels, unfriendlyto our holy Catholic faith, should have no success, and so at presentthey have not. For the emperor has commanded that in no way shall anyJapanese be martyred for turning Christian; but that they should beexiled from the realms of Japon, and landed in a Christian country, so that, since they had accepted that faith, they might there besupported and given the necessaries of life. The reason which movedthe emperor to order that they be not martyred is because he fearsthat through the martyrdom many heathen Japanese would be converted, if they were to see those who are martyred dying unwavering in theirChristian faith. Accordingly, in the month of May in the past year ofone thousand six hundred and thirty-two there arrived in this city ofManila a Japanese ship with more than a hundred Japanese, with theirwives and children. They were exiled Christians who had been told intheir own country that if they abandoned the faith not only would theynot be exiled from their fatherland, but that they would be cared forat the expense of the emperor. They chose to set out as exiles, fathersparting from their sons, wives from their husbands, and childrenfrom their parents, to preserve the faith of Jesus Christ, trustingsolely to the providence of God. They arrived at this city of Manila, having suffered ill-treatment and disease. As soon as they had landedand been received by the Christians of this city, they all began--men, women, and children--to sing _Laudate Dominum omnes gentes_, and otherpsalms, so that it would have moved stones to pity. They were takenimmediately to a church, at their own request, in procession. And nosooner did they find themselves in the temple of the Lord for whomthey had suffered so much, than they all commenced to sing aloud_Nunc dimittis_, from beginning to end, so that the Christians of theprimitive church could have done no more. They were then taken to ahospital, where they are being cared for at present with liberal goodcheer, for on every hand they are supplied with plentiful alms. Theheathen Japanese went back astonished at this charitable receptionwhich they received; and therefore they now make martyrs no more, because they realize that this affects the people, and that moreare converted in the public martyrdoms which they were inflictingin order to strike the others with fear. What they now do with theministers of the gospel whom they can capture is as follows--as hasbeen done lately with six religious whom they hold prisoners amongthem, two of these belonging to our order of St. Dominic: Within theprison they strip the fathers, and throw boiling hot water on themover their whole bodies, until they are horribly burned and wounded, and their skin is quite flayed off. Then they are cared for; and whenthey are recovering they are again stripped, and the same thing done, and so they have been kept for a year. 

Concerning missions in the kingdom of Camboxa, we learn that four yearsago, when the king sent to ask for religious in order to make himselfand his kingdom Christian, six belonging to our Dominican order only, went there, and carried to him a handsome present on behalf of thegovernor of Manila. The king received them with much kindness atfirst. Afterwards, when they instructed him in our faith and toldhim he must give up his idolatries to receive it, he began to hatethem--until, after two years, he ordered them to return; and so thatkingdom is without a Christian, as it was impossible to persuade asingle person; for they are wild barbarians, who, like the negroes, go about attired in skins. 

As for Great China, it is the chief object of our desire; for thepeople are intelligent, and the country great and populous. The Kingof España has taken an island which lies eighteen leguas from GreatChina, and is called Hermosa Island--a thing which was consideredimpossible, for it seemed that all the power in the world wouldnot be enough to conquer it. In this island there is a great fortand a city, where many Spaniards are in garrison; and six of ourreligious, with none of any other order. A ship-load of provisions, and one company of soldiers, are sent to them every year from thiscity of Manila. Five of our friars went this year. In that islandthey are engaged in conquering it with soldiers, although most ofit has made peace. Our friars are converting some whose conversion, through the goodness of God, is very effective. From this island twoof our religious went to Great China; and eight days ago we receiveda letter from one of them which reads as follows:

"Your reverences may give thanks to our Lord, for the Order ofSt. Dominic is already within Great China. They killed my companionimmediately after we landed. I am considering how the conversion ofthis land can be best accomplished, etc. In this city there are aboutsix hundred Christians, natives of Great China, among eleven thousandheathen, largely merchants who come to trade. It should be a mattercommended to God to be pleased to open the eyes of this people to aknowledge of Him, as there are so many souls there to be damned--for(so they say) there are more people in Great China than in half ofall the rest of the world. It has been revealed to a holy nun, and toone of our friars of rare virtue, that those who are now living willsee the conversion of this people. I can assure you that the labor isgreat, and the workers few; for there are missions in these islandswhere, on account of the lack of religious, we can have no more thanone; and he has more than two thousand souls in his charge, and fourvillages where he says mass every feast-day, with the permission of thesuperior, though one village is two leguas or more from another. Itis a matter for wonder that even one religious is left, after allthis labor and service in so hot and enervating a country. "

The original of this letter was addressed to the father master FrayAlonso Tamariz, formerly prior of this convent of Sevilla. 

This information has been sent to the most reverend father-generalof the Order of St. Dominic, that his most reverend Paternity mayprepare those under his command to continue this great enterprise, and go to those regions, whence so great results are hoped and desiredfor the increase and propagation of the holy Catholic faith. 

With the permission of the lord provisor and of the alcalde Don PedroPantoja de Ayala. In Sevilla: sold by Juan Gomez de Blas, close tothe Correo Mayor, this year of 1633. 

LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV

_Military affairs_

Sire:

By two letters of the same date as this, I have informed your Majestyof my arrival in these islands, in accordance with the orders tothe incumbents of vacancies in these governments. Referring to them, I intend in this letter to give brief information of what concernsmilitary matters. 

The conservation and increase of the islands depends on the trade withChina and Japon, providing that the other provinces shall steadilymaintain a suitable population. This will be secured by maintainingthe reputation of your Majesty's arms and true military discipline;and by taking heed to preserve what your Majesty holds today, withoutattempting new enterprises. For the one your Majesty has sufficientforce, but for the other there would be needed other and fresh forces. 

The army of these islands is composed of nineteen companies. Six ofthem are in garrison in this city, and one in the fort of Cavite; sixothers in Terrenate; three in the island of Hermosa; one in the islandof Oton; another in that of Cibú; and another in that of Caraga. Thesecompanies will be frequently changed, so that they may all sharealike in the work and the leisure, and so that all may become soldiers. 

The castle of Manila has its usual garrison, and is in a state ofdefense. The forts of Cavite guard the port where the ships areanchored; while under its artillery the building and repair of theships is carried on. That fort always has one company of the army. Thefort of Zibu is important because of its distance, and because ithas a port in which the reënforcements for Terrenate are made ready;while it confronts the insurgent Indians of Mindanao and Xolo. For thatreason its garrison has one company of volunteers [_sobresaliente_], and one of the army. The other two forts of Oton and Caraga are keptup for the same purpose. As I have but recently arrived, I do notmake so full a relation of them as I shall give next year. 

In regard to the island of Hermosa, I shall not inform your Majesty, until I have sufficient knowledge to do so, of what I think; for Isee that the expenses incurred by your Majesty are heavy, while theisland is of no use. On the other hand, trustworthy persons giveconfident expectations of its population, growth, and utility. 

The reënforcements for Terrenate are what cause most solicitude; theyare made at great risk, and at a heavy cost to your Majesty. That oflast year reached the fort with reputation, because it was carriedby a powerful ship which could withstand the Dutch, defensivelyand offensively. The governor [of Terrenate], Pedro de Heredia, has advised us that it will be expedient for your Majesty's servicethat the first reënforcement be sent in such manner that it maynot be endangered, inasmuch as the enemy is making preparations toawait it with greater forces. Consequently, I am trying to have itconveyed by two war galleons, and to have them leave at the timeconsidered advisable by men of experience. From now on, all thereënforcements will carry two entire infantry companies, so that twoothers may return in their place. In this way that garrison will bechanged every three years, and all the companies of the army willshare the work equally. It is advisable for your Majesty to orderthe governors to do this, absolutely; for in this there has beenlack of system. Your Majesty should not allow portions of companiesto be sent; but whole companies should go, so that the unprotectedshould not be wronged, or the privileged favored. [_In the margin_:"Let this be marked, and also let advice of this clause be givento the new governor. [101] Portions of companies shall not be sentto Terrenate, but whole companies shall go there, as is here said, so that those companies which are changed may return entire. "]

Pedro de Heredia, who has been many years governor of Terrenate, is a good soldier; but he is old and rich, and it is advisable foryour Majesty to send a successor to him. He should be one who willbe content with the honor and dignity of the post of governor. 

Your Majesty has sustained here a number of galleys at a greatexpense. They have been of very little or of no service. Some ofthem have fallen to pieces with the lapse of time; and others havebeen wrecked, not so much on account of disasters, as for the lackof experienced officers for that navigation, as it is very differentfrom that of galleons. In this port there is now but one old galley;and as I have taken a trip in it, I can assure your Majesty that itserves for nothing else than vanity. To keep it up costs considerable, and therefore, and because this treasury is so deeply in debt, I havedetermined to prevent so excessive a cost to your Majesty. I shallonly keep up the galley of Terrenate, which is necessary and cannot bespared; for your Majesty's revenues do not allow superfluities. And, so long as your Majesty does not resolve upon another course, I shallnot venture upon more at present than to repair this galley, which isold and unmanageable, in order that there may be something in whichto occupy the crew (who lie idle the whole year), until a new ordercomes from your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Have the new governornotified, in accordance with what the last one has written, in how bada condition is the galley of which mention is made, the great expensethat would be required to repair it, of how little use it is; that itcan be dispensed with; and that, if there are no other reasons thatprevent, or any inconveniences, he shall do so, and, after doing it, he shall give information of what has occurred, and of his opinion. "]

Your Majesty has a captain-general of artillery here, which is asuperfluous post, not only on account of the little that there is forhim to do, but because there will never be a land campaign; and onall occasions the governor attends to this, as to other things. Itis also proper to adjust the jurisdictions of all [the officers], for they are all at variance, as some are trying to meddle in theaffairs of others. That results in confusion and disorder; for themaster-of-camp, in accordance with his title, claims that he can trycauses in the first instance of all the men who are paid, both inand out of the army. The governor of the artillery, the castellans, the military captains, the substitutes [_entretenidos_], and otherswho are not soldiers of the army claim that they are exempt fromsuch jurisdiction. I have thought it best to inform your Majesty, so that you may please order the measures taken that are most to yourpleasure. [_In the margin_: "When that post falls vacant, have thissection brought. "]

It is not advisable that it be known here that the governorsshould give so particular an account as I am giving, and as I shallalways give, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience; forothers, fearful of it, will not neglect to advise of many things ofimportance. Will your Majesty provide throughout, what is most to yourpleasure. May God preserve your Majesty, etc. Manila, August 14, 1633. 

_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_

_Government matters_

Sire:

I have informed your Majesty from Mexico that, in accordance with theregulations in regard to the vacancies in this government of Filipinas, the viceroy of Nueva España entrusted me _ad interim_ with it becauseof the death of Don Juan Niño de Tavora, the regularly-appointedincumbent. I left Acapulco April 5, and entered these islands with theflagship and almiranta July 8, after a prosperous voyage, althoughthe great calms of this year have obliged the ships to make port inthe island of Mindoro, at a distance of twenty-five leguas from thiscity, where they are awaiting suitable weather to enable them to getto this city of Cavite. Accordingly, I came in an oared vessel totake possession of this government, on the second of the present month. 

I am obliged to inform your Majesty of the judicial, treasury, military, and government matters, and as a new arrival I shall be ableto do it quite free from interest and passion, and with the sole desireof fulfilling my duty as a vassal. I shall endeavor with all truth togive a succinct relation of all that I have found, so that, after yourMajesty has read them, you may have the most advisable measures taken. 

This government and the preservation of its provinces consists inthat the commerce of Great China and Japon be current, and especiallythat of Japon. In truth this is more considerable, both as it is apowerful neighbor, and because they are wont to bring from that kingdommany products which are needed [here]--namely, iron, copper, lead, saltpeter, flour, salt pork, vegetables, drugs, and silver--and whichit costs your Majesty considerable to have to supply from Nueva España. 

Our relations with Japon are broken up, because the Dutch with theiraccustomed scheming--that king having been irritated on account ofthe religious who have preached the holy gospel from these provinces, and fearful of new conquest--have converted into hate the old-timefriendship. The Japanese employ extraordinary harshness toward theCatholics; and although your Majesty has ordered my predecessorsin so prudent and Christian a manner, by your royal decrees, notto allow the religious to go to Japon until the times change, theyhave been unable to prevent it; for the religious have imprudentlyembarked in secret, thereby causing more trouble than good. Theyhave thus left a deficiency in the missions of these provinces, where they have sufficient in which to busy themselves, since wholenations are heathens. The measure that I believe to be practical isfor your Majesty to command the provincials of the orders not to allowany religious to go to Japon for the present; for they only serve toirritate one who, if placated, will some day, when undeceived in regardto the Dutch malice, grant the liberty which he now denies. Now andhenceforth I shall endeavor to give Japon to understand your Majesty'sdesire of good friendship and relationship. In accordance with thisI shall attempt the same with the provincials, and have them concernthemselves in converting the Japanese and Sangleys who live among us, until your Majesty be pleased to order otherwise, [_In the margin_:"This was provided for by writing to the governor to pay attentionto this matter, and to arrange matters as may be most advisable. "]

The trade with Great China has also declined, because the Portuguese ofMacan have become masters of it, as they are so near. Being admittedhere, contrary to all good government, they come here to retail theproducts which the said Sangleys formerly brought directly, wherebythese provinces are suffering a great scarcity. All of that results toour damage and to the advantage of China, because of the great advancein price over the [former] cheapness of their goods--[an excess]which, moreover, they carry to their own land. The relief that Ibelieve can be had, although at its beginning some privation may befelt, is for your Majesty to prohibit the trade of Macan with Manila, and decree that no Portuguese be admitted in this government. Besidesthe attainment of the aforesaid object, your Majesty's duties willincrease--which is a matter worth consideration; for until now allhas been expense. [_In the margin_: "Collect the papers that we haveupon this matter and those written upon it, and bring them here. "]

I have found these islands in need of men, whose numbers are decreasingbecause of the poor climate. The need of them requires that yourMajesty provide a remedy; for the reënforcements from Nueva Españaare costly. Although the governors have exceeded their authority bygiving licenses [to leave the country], I can not avoid representingto your Majesty that the inhabitants of Manila are worthy of thefavors that your Majesty may be pleased to show them, provided itdoes not result in disservice to your Majesty--as I warn you by aseparate letter touching revenue matters, in order that I may notconfuse those matters in this letter; and in another letter touchingmilitary matters, I advise your Majesty of certain points, which alsodepend on the same thing. [_In the margin_: "Write to the governorto avoid giving licenses; and to the viceroy [of Nueva España] thathe send some men there, as is ordered. "]

The governors whom your Majesty shall provide for these islandsshould be as experienced in nautical matters as in those of the land;and should at the same time understand judicial and legislativematters. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas finished his visit, and has proceededin it as an honest and good minister. He has done considerable inso brief a term, when one considers his poor health. He goes wellinformed on the affairs of these regions, in order to inform yourMajesty of what he has seen. Although he has borne himself withdiscretion, he leaves these provinces afflicted, because he hastaken away encomiendas from very poor persons who have served well, and who by virtue of these grants have become citizens. They havebeen condemned because they did not secure the confirmation of yourMajesty within the time set. Their excuse is, not only that it is notmore than two years since your Majesty's decree requiring that theconfirmation be given was proclaimed, but that, besides their livingin the most remote provinces in the world, the advice-ships from NuevaEspaña were wrecked this year. The ships sailing hence have put back toport, and their despatches have not arrived; and as they are soldiers, with careless agents who employ but little effort in soliciting theircauses, will your Majesty be pleased to show them the favor that isagreeable to you. [_In the margin_: "It was provided. "]

Two auditors have remained in this royal Audiencia, because the visitorsuspended the other two. There is a lack of officials, for I alsofound that the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, was dead. The governmentappointed in his place, before my arrival, Don Juan Fernandez deLedo, until your Majesty order otherwise. I am informed that he isa capable person, and that he is very learned and of praiseworthymorals. Will your Majesty be pleased to show him the favor that youmay deem advisable. [_In the margin_: "It was provided. "]

Because of my having taken possession of this government so late, although your Majesty had ordered that the ships that sail annually toNueva España should depart on the first of June I have found, on thesecond of August, their despatch so delayed that it has been impossibleto make it before now, although I have not endeavored to accomplish anyother thing since my arrival. I desire to have your Majesty informedthat this despatch is not chargeable to me. [_In the margin_: "Seen. "]

May God preserve your Majesty, etc. Manila, August 14, 1633. 

_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_

_Revenue matters_

Sire:

Although I informed your Majesty in two other letters, of equal datewith this, of my arrival in these islands, and that this temporarygovernment is in my hands, I intend to tell briefly in this letteronly the matters that I observe concerning the revenues. 

I have found your Majesty's revenues very inadequate, and that theroyal treasury owes eighty-eight thousand eight hundred pesos to theinhabitants of Manila, which have been borrowed in reals; and it isnecessary to pay them from the aid that I bring. 

I have found no lumber in the shipyards for the repair of the ships, and for the other needs that are wont to arise. There is a lack ofrigging, of food, and of all the supplies necessary. I advise yourMajesty of it, in case my ability should not be sufficient to supplyso great needs as there have been; although my principal endeavorshall be to strive, in these beginnings, that all shall be restoredto its former condition. [_In the margin_: "Examined January 25, 34. Write to the new governor that we have heard of the lack ofwood and of the other things that are [_word illegible in MS. _;necessary?] in the magazines, so that everything may be provided asis expected from his care and zeal. "]

I am obliged in conscience to inform your Majesty (in case my ownefforts should prove insufficient) of all that I shall esteem worthyof correction in your royal service; and of what I saw in the portof Acapulco, where I embarked, and in the ships up to the present. Inorder to be able to do so, it is necessary for me to repeat in briefthe favors and privileges which your Majesty has conceded to theseinhabitants of Manila, in order to show them favor, with the desirethat they increase in numbers, and so that they alone may enjoy thefruits of the trade and traffic of these provinces, entirely excludingfrom it the inhabitants of Nueva España. Surely this is an importantmatter, but the custom and malice of men has had so much influencethat experience shows us that neither that which your Majesty ordersis sufficient, nor do the citizens of Manila realize the value of thefavors which they receive. The worst of all is that, to judge fromthe condition of affairs, there is no one from whom to obtain thefitting remedy. The principal abuse is that, although your Majestyordered that no money pass from Nueva España here, and although yougranted permission to these inhabitants to receive only five hundredthousand ducados, a way has been found whereby they secretly sendannually as much as they wish--and that without the said prohibitionbeing any hindrance to any person of Nueva España, or those of anyother region. The governors my predecessors have had knowledge of thisabuse, but they have not dared to remedy it because of the annoyancesthat arise in so well-established a practice, and one in which nearlyall the vassals of your Majesty are included. For this same reason, and because I have so recently arrived, I have considered it fitting toinform your Majesty, so that, in so grave a matter, you may determinewhat will be most fitting to your royal service. [_In the margin_:"Send this letter to Don Juan de Palafox, so that he may be informedof it. " "Seen by the [_word illegible in MS. _] J. Palafox. "]

It is my opinion that since it has been impossible to check thepractice of sending every year money for these parts from Nueva España(and I suspect that two millions are sent, and that the dearnessoccasioned by this abundance of silver results only to the benefitof Great China, where the money stops without your Majesty havingcollected your duties), it will be considered as an aid to the greatexpenses of the galleons of this line that your Majesty allow the moneythat shall have to pass to be openly registered in Acapulco, at therate of five per cent. By so doing your Majesty will enjoy what hashitherto been usurped by the officers (both the higher and the lower)of the said ships; and at a reasonable price, and with permission, no one would conceal the money that he was sending. And now since noother remedy is found, it will be right for your Majesty to do this, so that you may not lose your duties. In regard to the difficultieson account of which they might at Acapulco refuse to accept this tax, which will reach so great an amount of income, I answer that the tradeof these islands is not injured nor will the exchanges of the moneythat comes annually from Nueva España increase. Only that which hashitherto been done surreptitiously will be done openly in the future, to the benefit of the royal treasury. The higher and lower officersof the galleons will content themselves with the emoluments of theiroffices, which are those that they are enjoying for this. Will yourMajesty have this matter considered very closely; for here, to onewho has the matter before him, it is a clear case. 

In the port of Acapulco, your Majesty has three royal officials, whoare present from the time of the arrival of these ships until theyhave once more set sail. In the despatching of the vessels they lookas much to their own comforts as to the service of your Majesty. Theymake friends among the registrars, and shut their eyes to the moneythat is wont to be sent on commission. The governors are powerless toremedy this from here. I think that your Majesty can dispense withall these three positions; and that, besides saving their salaries, your Majesty will be much better served if, at the arrival of theships, your Majesty order that the castellan and the alcalde-mayorof Acapulco do not permit them to discharge their cargoes, and thatan accountant-in-chief of the bureau of accounts be always sent fromMexico on the first of December to attend to the unlading; and that hebe accompanied by the alcalde-mayor of Acapulco, or by the castellanof that fort. 

In the letters that I write pertaining to government and militaryaffairs, I touch on some points which also touch this matter of therevenue; and I do not repeat them, in order not to become prolix. Ionly go back in this to represent the difficulties occasioned here byits being known that the governors give account of everything--as I amgiving it and shall continue to give it as my conscience dictates tome; for others will not neglect to advise you of many things pertainingto your royal service. Will your Majesty provide in this what will bemost suitable. May God preserve your Majesty. Manila, August 14, 1633. 

_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_

REPORT OF ARCHBISHOP ON THE BAKERY OF MANILA

Sire:

On behalf of this city a royal decree has been presented to me inwhich your Majesty commands me to inform you in regard to the favorwhich Governor Don Fernando de Silva extended to the said cityand to Captain Andres Fernandez de Puebla, giving them the incomefrom the bakery of this city, which was established on the site andlot belonging to the said Andres Fernandez de Puebla, he enjoyinghalf the rent and the said city the other half. The said AndresFernandez de Puebla is an old citizen, who has served your Majestywith approval. Complying with the said instruction, and in order toinvestigate the matter with fairness and accuracy, as it should be, I personally went to the said bakery and inspected it. I found itwalled entirely about with cut stone, and with doors and stout locks, so that when it is locked up at night no one can go in or come out. Thesite is ramparted and habitable where the ovens stand. Although thereare some filling timbers lacking in the middle, it is nothing ofimportance, and may be easily repaired. I found in the said bakerya Spanish overseer, who serves as a faithful manager and who livesthere continually, as I have been informed. He does not allow theChinese bakers to adulterate the flour, and is always present to seethat they make clean bread. It seems to me that it is very usefuland advantageous for this city that all the ovens be placed togetherin the said bakery, and in no other place. It is fitting that yourMajesty should order this; for there are very great difficulties inthe maintenance of ovens in private houses, as they are haunts whereare committed thefts and offenses against God, which are commonlyknown. This is my opinion and is based on my forty years' experiencesince I have been in these islands. May God protect the Catholic androyal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of Christianity. 

Dated at Manila, on the third of August, 1634. 

_Fray Hernando_, archbishop of Manila. 

NEWS FROM FELIPINAS, JAPON, AND OTHER PARTS

By the last express the following news arrived in a letter which camefrom Manila, dated August 20, 634: "Father Manuel Cuello writes thathe is in Camboja in disguise, in order to pass on to Japon, where thepersecution is so bloody that it is publicly cried that five hundredpesos will be given to any person who makes known the whereabouts ofany priest. In this way during four months sixteen of our fathershave been arrested, besides the brothers and dogicos who are beingseized every day. While they were awaiting death, it happened that theemperor was bedridden, suffering with the leprosy for a long time;and he could find no remedy in his medicines, nor in the sacrificesto his idols. He heard many loud cries and wails in the garden, and commanded his people to learn what it was. When they came back, they said that the sounds proceeded from a large bamboo, a plant whichis very plentiful in that country. They opened it and found within across, red as if dipped in blood, which caused them great wonder. Theytook it to the emperor, who was much more astounded because the daybefore he had seen a very brilliant cross in the air, although he hadtold no one of it; but, when this portent was found in his garden, hehad his soothsayers called in to tell him what it meant. Some of themsaid one thing and some another; but the chief of them said that thesecrosses were from the fathers who, although blameless, had been put todeath for teaching the veneration of the cross. This explanation wasconfirmed by a bonze, one of his favorites, who added that he believedthat the leprosy which he suffered was owing to his having slain somany innocent people. When the emperor asked him [what he meant], headded: 'The fathers and Christians whom your Majesty ordered to bekilled at Nangasaqui. I believe that your Majesty has already seenthat with all our efforts we cannot cure you; and you should callupon the bonzes of Nanbamcas (as they call our fathers) and perhapsthey may be able to grant and perform this miracle, as they do others. '

"It is a great deal that soothsayers and bonzes, who are so muchopposed to us, should speak so in our favor; but the Lord can domuch greater things, and as it seems that the portent is His work, [_words illegible_] the interpretation. The result was that the emperorimmediately sent messengers to Nangasaqui and other places to bringto him the fathers who were in prison. They brought from Nangasaquifather Fray Luis, of the Franciscan order; and the father-provincialChristobal Ferreira, and Father Sevastian de Viera, of the Society--thelatter having been for a long time a laborer in that church whencehe was sent to Rome as procurator. When our father invited him toremain here, as he was so old and had labored so long, he preferredto end his life with the children whom he had begotten in Christ, since they were engaged in such wars, rather than enjoy the peace ofEuropa. Two years ago he arrived at Manila from Rome; and a littlemore than a half a year ago he left Manila for Japon, in the garbof a Sangley. But as he was so well known, as soon as he secured anentrance to that country, and the search for the Christians began, more than a thousand agents were sent over the whole kingdom in searchof him, so great a desire had they to get hold of him. As they wereso numerous, and the reward great, he was unable to escape. He finallywas made a prisoner with the other Christians at Nangasaqui, who wereawaiting death (it was this that made him go back to Japon); and, although they believed it to be certain when the order came to conveythem to court, all were greatly encouraged to suffer it. But, in placeof that, the ambassador of Macao who is at that court writes that thekindly treatment which the emperor extended to them was remarkable. Heordered them to be taken from the prisons and spoke to them with muchgentleness. He told the fathers that if their faith was such truth asthey said, they should obtain from their God the cure of his leprosy, so that he might recognize its truth; and see that he had done wrongin taking the lives of those who followed it. The fathers offered toask this from our Lord, if his Majesty wished, for the cause was His;and He heard their petitions and our desires. This emperor may be theConstantine of that church, in whom the blood that he shed of so manynoble laborers wrought the health which was restored to him; and thismade him unwilling to shed the blood of the humble innocents. We hopethat this omen has assuaged the persecution, and his health goes farto confirm this. We have the same hope for China, where our Lord hasmade us so acceptable to the emperor that he has given us one of thestudy-halls at his court at Paquin. Our fathers are giving lecturesto large audiences, and are highly esteemed by all the court, whencesprings our hope of founding many colleges in that kingdom. [102]May it please his Majesty to further this. "

LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV

_Revenue affairs_

Sire:

I informed your Majesty by way of Yndia, on the twenty-second ofOctober of last year, of the treasury matters, and of the resistancewhich these royal officials were making about accepting the newordinances that were left them by the visitor, Don Francisco de Roxas, by having appealed from them, and having represented in the royalCouncil of the Yndias the impossibility of being able to complywith these in the service of your Majesty. Notwithstanding theirallegations, and the resignation of their offices which they made inwriting, I continued, by what methods I could avail myself of, to urgethem to accept the said ordinances of the visitor. As they perseveredin their disobedience, I arrested all three royal officials, and keptthem together in the treasury, so that the despatch [of business]might not cease; thereupon they obeyed, and from that time on we havebeen following the new ordinances. Although I blamed the too greatresistance which they made, ever since I have excused them somewhat, through having experienced the great inconvenience and embarrassmentswhich some of the ordinances contained; and I confess how prudentthey were in the exercise of their authority before they experiencedthe present damage. Matters are in such condition that while I amtrying to adjust myself to the new ordinances and not to depart onejot from them, I find myself more embarrassed, and the despatches thatdemand the greatest haste delayed--as happened to me in the stress ofsending the reënforcements in a fleet which I sent to Terrenate thisyear, in which consisted the security of those forts, which were indanger. It was necessary for me to facilitate it by making use of theprecedents of other times. Now, in order to fulfil my obligation, Iassure you that what most is needed in Philipinas is the facilitationof the course of business, and the choice of [government] ministerswho are entirely trustworthy; for in so remote provinces where allis invasion from the enemy, it will be most difficult to succeed inperforming your Majesty's service, if the jurisdiction and authorityare so limited. In order to be able to await what your Majesty may bepleased [to order], I have adopted, in certain doubts, the expedientwhich has seemed most advisable, after holding meetings and consultingwith persons in whom I have confidence. 

One of these new ordinances directs that the governor shall deliver, whether in large or small quantity, all the goods and wares ofthese magazines which are used for various purposes. Those whichare in danger of spoiling shall be distributed by his order; andwhat shall not be thus disposed of shall not be passed over, at thetime, to the royal officials. That ordinance is impractical, for, besides the continual occupations of the governor in affairs of greaterimportance and his inability to personally supervise things so minute, your Majesty had issued the necessary ordinance before the visit, andI have followed it in the preparation of fleets and reëenforcements;and I do not pay any attention to the delivery in small quantities whenthat is necessary. But I am endeavoring to make it understood thatit is impossible to do so always, without obstructing the despatcheswhich usually demand attention suddenly. What is of importance to theservice of your Majesty is that we, the governor, royal officials, and other ministers, are attending to the best administration of theroyal revenues. 

In accordance with these new ordinances, the alcaldes-mayor, theassistants of the royal officials, and shipmasters must annually settletheir accounts exactly. Because of the difficulty of navigation betweensome of the islands, it is impossible to obey this ordinance to theletter, or to cease receiving from such men at the time of [settling]the account, what their salaries allow, as the emoluments whichthey receive are small or nothing. Thus do we continue to proceed, according to the weather-conditions of the season, and the distance[from Manila] of the places where they live. 

Whenever ships or fleets have been despatched, some advance payhas been given to the regular sailors and soldiers. It is a harshmeasure that because we do not have, for all the greater and lessmatters that arise, a distinct decree from your Majesty which is inaccord with one of the new ordinances, the royal officials shouldcontinually impugn and oppose the orders that exist in some of thesame matters; and although there should be nothing else to do thanto obey the ordinances, the greater part of the time is passed insummons and replies. I have received in these ships a royal decreefrom your Majesty, under date of August 26 of the past year, in whichyour Majesty is pleased to order me to collect two per cent on themerchandise exported to Nueva España, in addition to the other threeper cent that has been paid hitherto, in accordance with what thevisitor agreed with this city by way of a gracious gift; and thaton the first occasion _[word illegible in MS. _; I make?] decisionof what must be observed, and give information whether this duty iscollected here, or whether the benefit of it is obtained along withthe situado of these islands. I caused it to be obeyed and executedaccording to its contents. And in order that these citizens mightappraise their goods in accordance with this order I had the saidroyal decree published in the usual places, and it was communicated tothe cabildo, judiciary, and magistracy of this city. Seeing that thecitizens were exceedingly remiss in lading, and the time far advancedfor the ships to make their voyage, I proceeded to stimulate themby edicts and orders, and finally by placing them under the penaltyof losing the favors which your Majesty has granted them in allowingthe five hundred thousand pesos that are brought every year from NuevaEspaña. The city replied to that by appealing from my act and from thesaid royal decree to your Majesty, as the relation given by the visitorwas not in harmony with the acts, and as their citizens had not madeany [such] agreement. The four thousand pesos which they gave as adonation was for that time, provided that no further action shouldbe taken regarding this duty until the matter had been discussedin the royal Council of the Yndias. In proof of it, the visitorembarked without having made a beginning in this collection. Aftermany discussions, the citizens had resolved not to lade any goods atpresent for Nueva España. I gave a copy of all this to the fiscal andthe royal officials. I resolved [not] to despatch the ships withoutcargoes, and even to take the boxes and bales from where they shouldbe found and actually put them on board the ships; but the auditorsand officials believed that it would be contrary to law to force thecitizens. Therefore I determined to call a meeting of the Audiencia, archbishop, fiscal, and royal officials, in order to determine whatought to be done in this matter. All were of the opinion that theships should be laded, even though we should postpone the fulfilmentof what your Majesty lately ordered, for the damage that would ensuefrom the ships going empty would be beyond comparison far greaterthan the gain of the two per cent; and that the appeal interposed bythe citizens ought to be granted, as it was apparent that the reportwhich the visitor had made was different from what had actually andtruly taken place. In accordance with this, the city has given bondsfor all the sum to which this duty can amount, now and henceforth, until your Majesty be pleased to provide what is most advisable. Inorder that this may be apparent from the investigations, I encloseherewith a testimony of the acts. 

In respect to my report, Sire, I declare that the three per cent whichhas been collected hitherto, has entered into this royal treasury, and has never been reckoned with the situado. The same will haveto be done with this two per cent, for it is all needed for theordinary support, unless that your Majesty should be better served[by ordering otherwise]. 

The visitor at his departure gave me an account of all that he had doneduring the two years while he has been occupied in his visit. Accordingto the report which he gave me of accounts which had been settled, I learned that this treasury was clear of debt, and had much moneybesides. But I have found by experience since then that, although inappearance he stirred up affairs, in fact the expense was greater thanthe gain. For most of the settlements of which he made a parade are inlitigation, and are being nullified by the acquittal of the parties[in the suit], while others in the Audiencia are even abandoned;and few reach the point of collecting [the amounts due]. Some of thenew ordinances that he left suffered the same misfortune, becausehe did not dictate them or draw them up, but entrusted them to twoclerks before his visit--for his poor health did not permit him todo more. It is not to be believed that a well-informed lawyer wouldtry to obstruct the service of your Majesty, for nearly all hisordinances are directed to and reflect distrust of the fidelity ofthe royal officials, to whom your Majesty has hitherto entrusted yourrevenues. From the good disposition that I observe in them and the workthat they do, I judge them to be your very good and faithful servants. 

It is advisable that your Majesty be pleased to send an accountantfor settling accounts, and that he be a person of authority, with adequate pay. He who serves in that office in the meanwhilewas formerly the servant of one of these auditors; and he is moreconcerned in occupying his time in sustaining friendships than inattending to what is necessary. On that account if some of the newordinances were to be remade, this would be bettered. 

I received some decrees in these last ships, which were despatched inthe year thirty-two, and others of the year thirty-three, concerningthe treasury, which are obeyed and will be carried out as is thereincontained. When these ships set sail--and that has not been donebefore as the decrees were received late, and by way of India--Ishall give an account of the condition of these matters. 

The viceroy of Nueva España has sent me four companies as areënforcement, and this camp has six others. I have reorganized five, so that there are now six companies in this city, each with morethan one hundred soldiers, which is the least number that a companygenerally has. 

Since the month of August of last year, when I began to govern theseislands, the half-annats [103] have been collected with the careordered by your Majesty, in which I coöperated with the commissaryfor that tax. The royal officials and the auditor who was appointedcommissary are doing as they should. 

In the ships of last year, and by way of Yndia, I informed yourMajesty how expedient it was to charge five per cent duty on thesilver and reals that are sent annually from Nueva España, as noremedy has been found whereby that commerce can be adjusted to thepermission of only five hundred thousand pesos, which your Majestyhas conceded to these islands. Past times can ill be compared withthe present; and granting the accidents which oblige the viceroys ofNueva España not to practice the rigor which they themselves make thegovernors of Philipinas overlook, and considering the present thing, and watching out for the greater service of your Majesty, I am grievedbecause the royal officials of the ships enjoy this advantage--whichas I have seen, amounts to more than one hundred thousand pesos peryear--and, notwithstanding this new tax, the inconvenience of thequantities of money passing from those regions will increase; for itis most certain that those to whom belongs the trade of Philipinasalways find a way by which to attain their objects; and because theviceroy of Mexico undertook to check it this year, by only threats, the inhabitants of these islands are ruined and left without theircapital, which remained in Nueva España. May our Lord preserve andprosper the royal person of your Majesty, as we your vassals desireand need. Manila, August 10, 1634. 

_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_

_Government affairs_

Sire:

I have given your Majesty an account on all occasions of my comingto these islands, and of the condition of affairs in them, althoughwith limitations, and with the caution of a new arrival. But now, after having governed them a year, I shall be able to discuss theiraffairs with experience and more freedom, so that your Majesty, havingbeen informed, may enact what is most advisable for your royal service. 

The disputes which generally arise between the governor and theauditors of this royal Audiencia are usually more prejudicial in theseislands than in the rest of your Majesty's monarchy, as these arethe most remote; for their preservation lies in the governor beingobeyed and respected, and in his orders being executed and entirelyobserved, without the auditors hindering him, or casting any doubton his supremacy, as they are often wont to do. 

The jurisdiction of this Audiencia is set at rest from theecclesiastical fuerzas and the litigations of these inhabitants--who, as is seen from the chart which I am sending under other covers, amountin all to 151 married men, 81 single men, 45 widows, and 160 children, besides fifty other men who live in other places. All the rest arepaid sailors and soldiers, with whom the Audiencia has nothing to do;and from that one can infer how few affairs of justice arise. Thatis the cause of the disputes, and of the auditors actually decidingthe affairs of government under pretext of appeals, without waitinguntil the governors grant or deny them, in accordance with law--tothe considerable discredit, of the authority that your Majesty hasconceded to the government. That results in nothing that is orderedbeing executed. And although your Majesty has provided a remedy forthese accidents with decrees, so that, in case of doubt, the governormay declare what occurs to him, and that the auditors may pass forthis purpose into Philipinas, still that has not sufficed; for theytake care to give the decrees a different meaning, and will not besubdued by any means that I have used. In proof of this I cite thefollowing examples. 

Your Majesty has prohibited the Audiencia from trying causes concerningthe Sangleys of the Parián, and ordered that they be tried only bythe alcalde-mayor and the governor, reserving only the sin againstnature to the Audiencia. Nevertheless, they meddle by taking the[trial of] first instance from the alcaldes-mayor. 

Your Majesty permits only four thousand Sangleys in these islands, but a greater number has been tolerated because of the advantage ofthe licenses that they pay, and in order not to disturb the tradewith China. In respect to these and many other troubles, the formergovernors have endeavored very earnestly to assure that nation, charging the justices to be very attentive in their jurisdictions, and not allowing them to grant passage from one part to anotherwithout permission. Especially is it charged upon the alcalde-mayorof the jurisdiction of Vinondo--the point where the Sangleys fortifiedthemselves during the insurrection. For this so laborious occupation, in a special meeting fees were assigned for each license, at therate of one real and a quarter for him and his clerk. This has beenthe practice for many years. This Audiencia having begun to governthese islands because of the death of Don Juan Niño de Tavora, theOrder [104] of St. Dominic endeavored to alter these licenses andthe fee, by representing the injury that was done the Sangleys. Butthe auditors, in consideration of the above so superior reasons, confirmed to the letter the last act made concerning this matterby the deceased governor; and when I succeeded to the government inaccordance with your Majesty's order, the said religious endeavored todo the same thing. Upon becoming thoroughly familiar with the matter, I confirmed the said governmental acts, enacted by the Audiencia andby Don Juan Niño de Tavora. Nevertheless, from this they have stirredup this pretension, trying the subterfuge of having recourse to theAudiencia for an affair of justice--where they are admitted withoutthese same auditors heeding that they have [already] cast their votesfor the government measure. 

In the month of September of the past year, five Sangley shipswere wrecked on this coast of the province of Ilocos, with a greatamount of silver. When preparing to send a person to look for it, the fiscal presented a petition in the Audiencia, although he oughtto have presented it to the government. Not to confuse matters bywithdrawing them from his charge, and to avoid controversy, and inorder that what was to be done be accomplished quickly, I toleratedthis mode of despatching the business through the Audiencia, hopingthat the alcalde-mayor, to whom the matter would be committed, wouldmake diligent efforts. But seeing that he sent to this treasury butlittle more than three thousand pesos, I am left with deserved painfor having allowed the jurisdiction of the government to be usurped. Ihave sent a new alcalde-mayor, with new ordinances for the purpose. 

Geronimo de Fuentes bid at auction [for the position of regidor], and the judges of the auction knocked it down to him; and after hehad paid to the treasury the price and the half-annat, his titleas regidor was made out in the ordinary form. When he went to takepossession of his post, some regidors opposed him, appealing to theAudiencia, as is their custom, with the intention that the royaldecrees and the orders of the government should never be fulfilled;and, in order not to open the door so that those alcaldes-mayor ofthe provinces might attempt the same thing with their successors, I had possession of his post given to him, reserving to the partyconcerned his right, safe and in full force. 

Your Majesty has prohibited any one from sending money to Macan, and the governors order the same by their edicts under penalty ofconfiscation. Antonio Fiallo gave information of over thirteen thousandpesos sent him by Bartolome Tenorio, chief-constable of the court, making a gift to your Majesty of the portion which pertained to himas denouncer. And although this cause originated from the edicts ofthe government, the auditors tried it, acquitting the said BartolomeTenorio--commenting on the suit in examination and review during myabsence, without carrying it to the regular session. 

The ordinances governing the cabildo of this city were givenby Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor of this island, with thecommand that none of them be altered without an order from thegovernors. One of them prescribes the form of the election ofalcaldes-in-ordinary. Although time has somewhat vitiated it, theorder that the regidors should give account to the governor of all thatoccurred has been observed. Consequently, they send him annually twocommissaries from their last cabildo meeting with the nomination ofeighteen or more persons, on whom they have cast their eyes for thechoice of two alcaldes. This year, while separated into factions, the regidors--finding one of them favored by an auditor who wastrying for his own private ends to oust an alcalde in oppositionto the community--tried to pervert the said custom of sending methe nomination. I did not allow that, because of the innovation andbecause of the difficulty involved therein that, in a presidio thatis open to so many enemies, alcaldes may be chosen to whom the citycannot be entrusted--for the alcaldes are captains of the inhabitantswhen occasion arises--declaring, besides, the more than thirty yearsof this practice. They obeyed, and proposed eleven persons who weresatisfactory in every respect. The other new regidors, who had offeredthe said auditor more than they could perform, opposed the nomination, appealing to the Audiencia, and refusing to make the election onthe following day, the first of January. As it was vacation time, I gave one of the auditors commission to preside in the cabildo, in accordance with that fact. He excused himself on account ofsickness; whereupon I gave it next to the other remaining auditor, who also excused himself. In default of both of them, I gave the samecommission to him who performs the duties of fiscal, basing my reasonfor it on the grounds that, according to the ordinance he has a vote ina deadlock; and on the fact that one of the auditors usually presidesin that act, although there are precedents of some unprofessionalmen having presided. Don Juan Sarmiento, a creole, and Admiral DonFernando Galindo, of España, a man of great worth, were elected. 

After the vacations were past, the two auditors and the fiscalconspired together, in order to annul the said election and to makeanother new one. They offered the necessary support to the regidors oftheir party, in order to have them present themselves in the Audienciaunder pretext of appeal. This they did, heaping up nullities in orderto make a suit of suits for the purpose of constituting themselvesjudges of what my delegate did in virtue of a commission of thegovernment, without allowing it to be returned to the delegate, whowas ignorant of what had happened in the election. They carried thematter so far that they actually tried to take the cause from me. Thatcompelled me to censure their procedure, and to tell them that theappeals would be granted according to law--but not by violence;giving boldness to the litigants so that those who remained withoutdue punishment because of the support that they were giving them, should become disrespectful, as they had done; and that I wouldconsult the lawyers and learned persons of this city, so that, ifthat suit did not belong to the government, I might refer the cause[to the other court]. The lawyers gave me their opinions, sayingthat that matter pertained to the government. On that I founded mydeclaration in virtue of royal decrees which so ordered, especiallyone of November 4, 1606. However they did not refrain from it on thataccount--as they are obliged to do, even if I should go further; and, prosecuting the matter in accordance with the dangerous argument oftime, I remitted the case as definitive to Doctor Arias de Mora, advocate of this Audiencia. With him I gave sentence, confirmingthe said election of alcalde as according to law. As such, thesaid Don Juan Sarmiento and the senior regidor--because of theabsence of Admiral Don Fernando Galindo, who has been occupied inthe service of your Majesty--are in the exercise of their offices;and this has resulted in the quiet and peace of this community andthat of the appellants themselves. The latter already confess theirerror, although lately, and as a matter of form, they have presentedthemselves in appeal from the definitive act; while the other partyhas refused the two auditors, and there is talk of settling the cause. 

[_Words illegible in MS. _ The assembly hall?] has been shut oftenbecause of the sickness of these auditors, and more than two monthshave gone by without any session. Although the business that arisesis but slight, it is well for the governors to know what is theirobligation when there is a deficiency of auditors in a district soremote from your Majesty; and whether the progress of the suits oughtto be stopped on account of death or long illness, for three or fouryears, until the remedy comes from España; or whether one can proceedas was done when there was no Audiencia. Also it is desirable toknow whether it is exactly and legally necessary for an auditor topreside every year at the elections of alcaldes; or whether it willbe sufficient, in the absence of auditors, to appoint a person fromthe number of the influential persons of Filipinas, since the auditordid not _per se_ possess jurisdiction to preside, except by virtueof the commission given him by the government; or whether the saidelection of alcaldes must cease because there is no one to preside. 

By decree of June 8, 1621, your Majesty orders, under severe penalties, that those who still owe anything of the proceeds from saleableoffices can neither vote nor be elected as alcaldes-in-ordinary. Thishas been observed; but certain persons, because of their revengefuldispositions and passions, have extended the decree to [cover] otherand different debts. Especially this year has the fiscal tried toprevent the votes of some regidors by obtaining statements [of theiraccounts] from the accountancy department--some of which debts thevisitor brought forward, although that had not been done hitherto, except when only royal officials have (and only in a few years)given a memorandum of those disqualified by evident debts; and inthe three preceding years none of these same exhibits were of thissort. They were a disqualification while the visitor was present here, and the interested parties demanded a declaration as the said royaldecree did not concern them, and these statements were not obtainedfrom the visit; they have made an appeal, in regard to these points, and they are pending in the royal Council. None of those debts areregarded as evident while they are in litigation, and while the royalofficials do not begin to investigate them. I referred their petitionsto the said royal officials, so that they could investigate and givetheir opinions. Having examined it, I declared that those thereincontained were able to vote and to be elected, in accordance withthe aforesaid; and that, in a community so limited as this, it isnot right to give permission to avenge one's passions under pretextof this royal decree. That extends, according to its terms, onlyto the debts for saleable offices. Few would be the former regidorsand alcaldes who would not be included; and it is advisable for yourMajesty to be pleased to have the proper decision made known. 

During disputes in this Audiencia, it is the president's privilegeto appoint judges; and when the auditors are challenged, he aloneremains unchallenged. Moreover, he has appointed them without anyopposition, basing his action on the old custom of this Audiencia, andon the words of the law: "The president, the members of my Council, and the auditors who shall remain unchallenged, shall appointlawyers. " But recently they have tried to make an innovation andto read the petitions of the recusants and to ascertain the causesthat they give. That they did in opposition to the accountant, MartinRuiz de Zalazar, in regard to a plea of appeal. As they were not inharmony, I appointed as judge an advocate of this royal Audiencia, who having been summoned to the session, and being asked whether thecase had right of appeal, declared in favor of the said accountant:without allowing him to vote the auditors made him leave the session, and proceeded by act against the party. The said accountant againchallenging him, because of these and other injuries, the said auditor, without allowing him to read the appeal, declared that his associatewas not challenged; and the latter, as his alternate, proceeded to trythe new challenge, without its being sufficient to contradict it inwriting in the session. The so open enmity between the Audiencia andthe royal officials being evident, I have withdrawn the papers untilyour Majesty be pleased to provide the remedy. A similar difficultyhas happened to me in regard to the appointment of a lawyer in thechallenge of the said Don Juan Sarmiento; and it is necessary forthe governors to know what pertains to them in such cases, since theappointment of lawyers is not a point of law, but of the direction ofthat Audiencia as president; and when he is not there they appoint, without considering whether or not there have been judges in the cause. 

The two auditors whom Don Francisco de Rojas suspended have died. Thosewho are left will attend better to the service of your Majestyanywhere else than in Philipinas. That will mean the cessation of manychallenges and other indignities, as well as the vengeance feared bythose who have made depositions against them during the visit. 

Your Majesty orders me, by a decree of August 26 of the past year, that in matters of government and expenses of the royal treasury, when at the request of part of my [_word illegible_], I refer themto the fiscal, so that he may advise according to his judgment. Ihave observed that from the commencement of my government, and Ishall observe it with greater care in the future; but it will beadvisable to have the fiscal ordered to defend, in the disputes withthe Audiencia over jurisdiction, the royal decrees which are in favorof the jurisdiction of the government. 

Your Majesty orders me by another royal decree of the same date to seethat the ships which are despatched from all these islands to NuevaEspaña leave every year from this port in the beginning of June. Thatis advisable, but it is impossible to establish it this year; for neverhave these ships left without having to wait for the arrival of theothers [from Nueva España], in order that [the inhabitants] answertheir agents in regard to their [commercial] relations, and becauseno other opportunity for this arises during the year. Consequently, although the ships have been, as far as I am concerned, prepared intime with all that is necessary, the inhabitants have not begun to ladethem until they have seen those which arrived safely on the twentiethof July. Since that, the fulfilment of this royal decree touchingthe two per cent has been discussed, as appears more in detail fromthe sworn statement of the acts, which I enclose. From now on I havecommenced to order that the ships in the coming year are to set sailwithout those which are now departing; and that the royal decree ofyour Majesty must be inviolably kept and observed; but even with thiswarning in advance the early despatch has many inconveniences. 

This year no ships have come from Macan, so that the Chinese havebrought more merchandise than usual. Their main deficiency has beenthat of not coming laden with woven stuffs; but with the fair treatmentthat has been given them, it is hoped that a great abundance of clothof all kinds will come in the first champans. 

The loan of 60, 000 [pesos] made to the royal treasury by theinhabitants of Macan, which I ordered to be paid, was opposed by thefiscal, because the Portuguese have kept a quantity of the goods ofour citizens. Consequently that sum remains on deposit, in a separateaccount, so that, when the account is adjusted, their money may bereturned to them. 

The reënforcements for the island of Hermosa, which left here duringthe last part of August of last year, sought shelter because of badweather, and went to anchor at Macan, for there was no other placewherein to take shelter. Although the ship bore the [new] governorof the island of Hermosa, namely, the sargento-mayor Alonso GarciaRomero, with his wife and family, and the provincial of the Order ofSt. Dominic, Fray Domingo Gonçalez, together with other religious, the Portuguese attempted their accustomed discourtesy, endeavoringto give it color by the pretext that the ship had put in there inorder to invest a quantity of money that they were carrying. Andalthough [the said Romero] maintained his men at a great expense, only awaiting suitable weather to carry aid to the island of Hermosa, the Portuguese maliciously detained your Majesty's ship, and did notallow it to depart until the first of April, when the said governordetermined to leave the port at all hazards. He put his determinationinto effect with the secret permission of the captain-general [ofMacan], who, as was right, assisted him; but the Portuguese renderso little obedience toward him that they fired twenty-three piecescharged with balls, and it was only by good fortune that the vesselwas not sunk. That is the usual practice of the Portuguese toward allthe vessels that arrive there from these islands. That is the reasonwhy the governors of Philipinas refuse to send any ships there forsupplies, except in a case of extreme necessity. Will your Majesty bepleased to order the inhabitants of Macan to give a different welcometo the vassals of your Majesty who belong to the crown of Castilla. 

I have until the present refrained from writing about the islandof Hermosa; but now, after a year of residence here, I am obligedto do so. [_Word illegible in MS. _] that it was settled, and someforts have been built. They are occupied by three companies ofinfantry, and together with the Pampango soldiers and the other menof service they number more than four hundred, counting the rationswhich are given them. During the year two pataches ply back andforth in August and April with the reënforcements, and carry what isnecessary for the said presidio. The climate is mild, as the islandlies in twenty-five degrees of latitude. The soil is fertile, but thenatives so intractable that they do not allow us to avail ourselves ofthe fruits of it; and as yet the religious have not reduced a singlereasonable person to holy baptism. They are so treacherous a race that, when we believe that they are most peaceful, they suddenly revolt, and kill whomever they meet unprepared. 

On its northern side, this island is about one hundred and twenty-fiveleguas from the Philipinas; and so near to China that only a channelof thirty leguas separates it from the province of Ucheo. Sailingeven farther north, Japon is 195 leguas away. The men are well built, and not so brown as other Indians. The island lacks ports, and onlysmall vessels can reach our forts. The Dutch fortified themselveson the same island first, and in a better place than we; and it wasas easy to drive them from it [then] as it is now difficult. Fromtheir location to our settlement is a distance of fifty leguas bysea, and there is no road overland or by the other sea. There was noresistance offered to our settlement, although that is the usual thingthat happens when one desires to fortify himself in these regions. 

The motive for settlement was the desire to be able to enjoy thetrade with China near at hand, which would redound to the advantageand profit of the surrounding islands. That has not had the desiredeffect, because of the difficulties that have arisen, distinct fromthe facilities of the first plan--to which are added new accidents, which are being continually experienced. The chief of all is that yourMajesty has more than two thousand infantry-men in various presidios, while in this camp [_i. E. _, Manila] those who remain do not exceedsix hundred. From this place are sent out all the reënforcements forall parts. If it were necessary to fit out six or eight galleons, it would be very difficult to do so without the infantry now in theisland of Hermosa; and yet, with that infantry, they could attemptgreat things. In my opinion, even if all the purposes for which theisland of Hermosa had been settled had come to pass, it would resultin loss to the rest of Philipinas; for it is advisable for the goodof these islands, that the Chinese, Japanese, and other nations bringtheir merchandise from their lands to this city at their own accountand risk, and never at ours; and permission should not be given to makea way-station, or to maintain anyone to buy their goods. The advantageof that will be little, and the scarcity [of goods] general. I am notbold enough to say that the forts of the island of Hermosa should beabandoned, but I affirm stoutly that it would be well had they neverbeen commenced. 

In the letter touching military matters, I write at length of whathas occurred in the forts of Terrenate, and I refer you to thatletter. This is where we can now give the greatest care. 

As for the kingdoms of Japon, I am informed that the persecution ofChristians was greater than ever last year, and that more than twentyreligious from all the orders were martyred, and that even those mostcarefully concealed were betrayed by their confidants for the reward ofone thousand taes which was promised by edict for each religious. Laterthey write here, but with little foundation, that that fury had ceased, and that the king was proving more humane; but the fact is that it isadvisable to prohibit (so that what the provincials for the presentare applying as the suitable remedy may have the desired effect)all religious from passing to the said kingdom. For, besides thelittle or no result that they obtain, that trade is shut to theseislands for that reason; and that is what we ought most to desire, and what is of greatest importance to your Majesty's service and tothe conversion of Japon itself. 

By virtue of your Majesty's decree in which you are pleased togrant authority to those governors to take the residencia of theirpredecessors, because of the inconvenience experienced in theirgoing away without giving it, the decree was presented to me inbehalf of Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora, deceased. By virtue ofit I have taken his residencia, and send the same to your Majesty. Ihave not discovered that there is any charge to make against him, as he has lived honorably, and in the praiseworthy manner that hisobligations demanded. 

The Sangleys celebrate their festival, according to their custom, every year in the month of March, in their Parián. They are very fondof gambling, and, by the advice of all the orders, they are permittedto play during their pastimes. The money given by the winners has beendistributed among the servants of the governors, because they do nothave any means of livelihood, and because the obligation of the chargeis so great that the pay is scarcely able to support them decently. ButI have distributed this money among the retired captains, the poor, thewidows, and worthy men who suffer necessity. The Order of St. Dominicis the only one that dissents from the opinions of the orders. 

When the Audiencia was governing, there was a change in the method ofcollecting the licenses of the Sangleys; but it resulted in so muchloss that, as has been found by experience, this [year's] collectionhas exceeded by many thousand [pesos] the collections made last year. 

They have tried to establish the same policy in the inspection of theSangley ships, contrary to all good government; for it is fitting thatthose people have many to protect them, as I tell more at length inthe section treating of the licenses given by the alcalde-mayor ofTondo. In no year have they been less humbled than in this. 

The wheat used by the inhabitants comes from China, because theseislands do not grow it. Consequently, the common sustenance isrice. Formerly, as a policy of good government, the past governorsassigned a place where the bread ovens were gathered together, andprohibited the baking of bread in any other place. In order to makethis bread near at hand, the city made a contract with Captain AndresFernandez de Puebla, so that it might be made on a site belonging tohim--with the provision that he, spending in the building what thenseemed sufficient, should enjoy half of the income of the said ovens, while the other half should remain for the city. All the governorshave confirmed this, as it appeared of utility to the community. Thisis what I have to inform you of, according to your Majesty's ordersin your royal decree. 

The post of protector of the Sangleys is vacant, as your Majesty hasordered that account be given of it, and that six suitable personsbe proposed for it, who must be lawyers. It is impossible to findso many in this community, because of the few inhabitants here; andsome do not care for the said post of protector on these terms. Ipropose to your Majesty the person of Captain Matheo de Heredia, who, besides having served for many years in various exercises, is one ofthe best lawyers in Philipinas. The royal Audiencia entrusts businessof importance to him, and he possesses ability and merits for thingsof greater worth, and this favor will be well bestowed on him. 

The viceroy of Nueva España has sent abundant reënforcements thisyear, with three hundred thousand pesos in money and the materialsfor the clothing of the soldiers (the best that have ever come here);this has been of great relief for the present needs. 

The captain-general of the artillery claims that he can issuewarrants on the treasury as well as I, because of his office. Theroyal officials oppose that, as there is no money assigned for it, and they are not subordinate to any other but the governor, and thatwas not done in the time of his predecessor. It will be fitting foryour Majesty to declare what is your pleasure, considering the factthat this treasury is poor, and that it is troublesome to have manygiving warrants on it. May God preserve the royal person of yourMajesty, as is needful to us your vassals. Manila, August 10, 1634. 

_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_

_Military affairs_

Sire:

On the twenty-second of October, I informed your Majesty of militaryaffairs. Now I shall do the same in detail, with the zeal of a true andfaithful vassal; in accordance with which I say that the conservationof these islands consists in not embarking in new enterprises, but inkeeping the presidios well defended which cannot be dispensed with, and to abolish those of least importance. By so doing there will bemen in this camp for undertaking great things, as has been done inother times by your Majesty's governors; while the contrary is truenow, for the aforesaid reason, and the governors content themselveswith not losing anything that is in their charge. 

I imagine that there will be difficulty in abandoning theforts of the island of Hermosa; nevertheless, by my remarks inmy letter on government affairs, to which I refer, that seemsadvisable. Accordingly, that can be reduced to but two posts, thussaving most of the rations which are consumed; but in my opinion allthat may be done is superfluous. 

The fort of this city is in a state of defense, although not in theperfection that is practiced in these times; but the fortificationof the city is ruinous, to the degree of which your Majesty isinformed. On the other hand, the location of its settlement isadmirable, for more than half of it extends along the seashore whereit cannot be approached by any enemies; while another part of thewall is bathed by the river. But on the land side it has a height, and a location suitable for opening trenches up to the walls. Thelatter has no terreplein, and is seven palmos in height. The redoubtsare smaller and have no regularity; on the contrary, the casements ofthree cavaliers of the said wall are in the way. The moat is filledup, and there is scarcely a sign of there having been one. This isno cause of blame to the past governors, for without doubt much wasdone in walling the city; for the only purpose then was to assurethemselves from the domestic enemy from China and Xapon, and fromthe natives of the land, without imagining that Europeans would beable to cause any anxiety in parts so remote. But the governors whohave successively come here, having experienced the armed wars withwhich the Dutch have appeared in this port, have tried to repair andimprove somewhat the old wall, as is proved by three cavaliers ofgreat importance that they had built. With slight repair the requisitecompleteness was given to it. Considering the great importance ofthis post and that building is very cheap and costs less than in anyother part, I resolved, after gathering up the remains of what stoodthere to repair the fortifications, to build a royal cavalier in themodern style at the weakest part of the wall. Without troubling theroyal treasury, I began the work some four months ago, and now I hopeto have it finished in two more. At the same time, we are opening asuitable moat, and we shall reduce the defense of the city to fewerposts. That it may be more strongly fortified, all the redoubtsthat impede communication between the cavaliers will be torn down, so that the wall will consist of only four stout bulwarks. 

What most surprised me in Philipinas is the careless way in whichthe powder is kept; for all that there is in the islands is kept inone room in the fort at Manila, and that in a very prominent partof it, that overlooks the wall. And if that powder should explodethrough any accident (which may God forbid), besides the danger tothe city, there would be no powder in the islands, or any materialfor its manufacture. In order to obviate so extremely great a danger, two towers will be built in one of the four cavaliers, in order toseparate and preserve a goodly portion of it. 

One of the motives which compelled me to fortify the wall is becausethe orders have built very near it churches so large that two of themin particular are commanding eminences; and because between one of thechurches (which is called Minondo) and the church of the Parián thereis generally a settlement of twenty thousand or more Sangleys duringthe year. They are the people who formerly rose in rebellion. Bysuitable measures, those of the Parián have aided me in this work, with forty thousand pesos from their communal fund. 

I have informed your Majesty of the little importance of the galleys, and that only that of Terrenate was suitable to be maintained; but, having considered the matter more fully, I am of a different opinion, and I say that they are necessary so that we may aid Terrenate inany perilous need. However, they are not of any use in this port ofCavite, where they are kept, as they would be if sent to the provinceof Pintados at Oton or Cibu, in sight of the domestic enemy, namely, the Mindanaos, Joloans, and Camucones. These people are the ones whopillage the natives; and because we have had only twenty oared vesselsin those districts this year, not any of those enemies have lefttheir lands, although they generally render the provinces disquietedand fearful. 

The person whom your Majesty has in these islands of the greatestservice, and fit for any important mission, is Don Lorenzo de Olaso, master-of-camp of this army, who became captain-general at the deathof Don Juan Niño de Tavora. He has assisted me greatly in everything, especially in the work of the cavalier which is being built. While theAudiencia was governing, he carried himself prudently; for by theirquarrels over jurisdiction they occasioned him great troubles, whichwith any one else might have been more embarrassing and far-reaching. 

On August 14 and October 22 of the past year I wrote to your Majestyconcerning a matter of importance, namely, that a governor be sent toTerrenate, for Pedro de Heredia is old and rich. I say the same now, and by what has since occurred it will be recognized that only yourMajesty's royal service moved me [to advise thus], having understoodthe dangerous state in which those forts are found to be, on accountof their [present] condition. 

On August thirteen of the same year, the said Pedro de Herediaadvised me that many soldiers of that presidio were about to mutiny, but that he was making the best of it, as well as he could, untilthe reënforcements should arrive. This, he said, had happenedbecause Father Manuel Rinto, [105] commissary of the Holy Office, had published an edict regarding the sin against nature, in whichmany had been included. The father had given them two months inwhich to seek absolution. To this was joined their understandingthat the governor would make an examination of those who should beabsolved, from which arose their desperation. He also said that, both on this account and because the Dutch had a galleon of greatstrength in Malayo and were awaiting other galleons from Chacatra, itwas advisable that the usual reënforcements come, and be well guarded;for if it came in the usual manner it would infallibly be lost. 

That despatch found me already preparing two galleons and one patachefor that purpose, for the conjectures that occupied my mind gave megreater anxiety than did the enemy themselves. In a council that Isummoned, some thought that I should not risk or weaken our forces;and that I should send that aid in light vessels, and in the usualway. But, considering the condition and danger of those forts, Iresolved to reënforce them in a creditable manner by sending the saidtwo galleons, manned with good infantry and with first-class troops;taking for that purpose one company of volunteer soldiers from thecamp. That was a move of importance, and one that it is advisableto make every year, so that no soldiers should be forced to go;and, knowing that they will be exchanged, many will go willingly. Iappointed as commander Admiral Don Jeronimo de Tremonte. He filledthis post extremely well, and observed his orders not to turn asidefor other enterprises, but to place the reënforcements in Terrenate, and to defend himself from whomever tried to hinder him, but nothingmore. The two [Dutch] ships that the enemy were expecting were boardedand burned by the Botunes [106] Indians of the kingdom of Macassar, whofound them anchored and their crews ashore; they killed those who wereon land. But the ship of Malayo, confident in its strength and greatswiftness, attempted to drive away the reënforcements alone--riskingitself because of the great importance of this matter to the Dutch, forthey knew that the soldiers of our presidio were watching the outcome[of this battle] in order to decide upon the murder of the governorand the chief officers, in accordance with the plot that they hadmade. It fought with our ships for eight hours, and then took flight, disabled and with great loss. Seven persons were killed in our ships, including the chief pilot. Accordingly, the reënforcements arrivedin safety, when the said Pedro de Heredia had arrested one hundredand fifty persons; [of these] he had burned and garroted eleven men, while many had died in prison, and [only] forty were left alive. Thesehe sent to me by the same ships that brought, the reënforcements. Atpresent their trial is proceeding, in the first instance, under DonJuan Lorenzo Olaso, master-of-camp of the army of Philipinas. Inasmuchas the charges against them are insufficiently substantiated, thereare opinions expressed that we should overlook their acts. But, considering that if those forty soldiers are guilty, they may infectthe presidios where they may be stationed; and since the matter is sopublic, and open to the gaze of so many barbarians--especially of theSangleys, who are more liable [to this sin] than any other nation, this wretched affair ought to be punished with great severity andvigor. [_In the margin_: "His Majesty has ordered, by a decree ofthe past year 635, that convict soldiers be not sent to Terrenate;and that those who are there be removed every three years, so thatthey may serve with greater comfort and good will. "]

The volunteer soldiers remained in Terrenate, and more than onehundred and forty were changed. To these was given one installmentof pay that was sent them; and it had been many years since they hadreceived any pay. The rest were provided with materials for clothing, and with food; and, since they know that the same thing is to be doneevery year, that presidio remained happy and safe. 

But the said governor, Pedro de Heredia, lately writes me that thenatives of the island of Terrenate, who have until now recognizedCachil Varo as king of Tidore, have refused to obey him; and they havecrowned another Moro in his place, a chief named Cachil Borotalo, as they say that the latter is the true heir of that kingdom, and that Cachil Varo was an intruder. That makes me most anxious, because, besides that it is not my duty to disinherit kings, thenew one who claims to be king has, until now, been living in Malayounder the protection of the Dutch and serving in the post of navalcommander. Although he has sent ambassadors to me, and promises to befaithful, there is little trust to be placed in his word, while CachilVaro is a very valiant Moro, and a true servant to your Majesty. Everyyear, hitherto, a present has been sent to him, as well as to hisfather before him; and besides being very much of a Spaniard, he hasretired into his fort of Tidore (which is of greater importance thanthe forts that we ourselves hold), and the great mass of the people, with more than two thousand chiefs, obey him. 

The governor [of Terrenate], Pedro de Heredia, tells me that he has notmeddled in any way with these disturbances, but that he is neutral. Butthe said king of Tidore complains of him, and attributes to him theinsurrection of his vassals and the summoning of a Dutchman to be newking. That does not change him, and he will remain faithful to yourMajesty. He knows that you are ignorant of the injuries that are beingdone him because of the governor's greed for the ransom of the damage. 

Such is the condition of the affair at present. I do not blame the kingor clear the governor, notwithstanding the many years during whichaffairs have been going badly. But that the latter has been foundlacking in the alliance, and has neglected to aid the king, has notfurnished any reason why the other allies should not take warning bythis and renounce our friendship. These are schemes of which the Dutchavail themselves. Those who are acquainted with the king of Tidore, and know of his services, grieve, and think that it is necessary toprotect him. I am now reflecting on the way in which these matterscan be settled, so that they may not fall into a worse condition, by making use of the relationship between them. But in case of needI shall not be found lacking to Cachil Varo; and because this matterdemands expedition, and so much expense cannot always be incurred as inthe past reënforcements, I shall send this aid in October, in galleysand pataches; for that is the time when the enemy have gone away. 

Last year the Audiencia wrote that one galleon and one galley hadbeen finished. It is a fact that more than thirty thousand pesos havebeen spent in their construction, having been commenced in the timeof Don Juan Niño de Tavora. 

There is nothing of so great importance in this government, as thatthe port of Cavite be well provided with the necessary naval supplies;and that this matter be charged to a competent and very intelligentperson; for the other offices are bestowed as favors, but for this onewe are looking for a person whom we can ask to accept it. Accordingly, we have found him, in the person of him who is commander of thefort there and river-master, namely, Captain Juan de Olaez. He hasso borne himself that the port has never for many years been foundso well supplied and more faithfully administered--which is quitedifferent from the utterly destitute condition in which I found it. 

The rewards of Philipinas are poor, and especially thosewhich I have had to give, because I have had no power to provideencomiendias. Consequently, on this account, and because of the eventsthat have occurred in my time, I have promoted some worthy soldierswith the titles of infantry captains, in consideration of the fact thatthey are those who have toiled in what is most necessary, and who have, besides their pay, only their simple posts, as before. Some, underwarrant of this honor, have become married and settled as citizens;that is a matter that ought to receive much attention. The sons ofinfluential men have been encouraged to enlist as soldiers, and havebegun to serve in the infantry, which was considerably in decline. Ihave taken special precautions not to appoint my servants to theseposts, except in the case of my captain of the guard, as was done byall the other governors. The judicial posts have been bestowed uponthe worthy and old settlers, but those who ask for them are very few, for they do not care to go far from the city; and it is at timesnecessary to beg them to accept those posts which are far away. 

No ship has come from Yndia as yet, for they are late. That causesus to doubt whether we may expect the return of three citizens [whohave gone] from this place, besides those who generally cross theseseas. I think that they are detained in Malaca, and that they havenot gone past that place, because they found the enemy on the sea. Atleast, I am assured by letters from the king of Macasar that fourteenurcas were on his coasts on the tenth of January of last year, wherethey remained for forty days. They asked him for refreshment, but hedenied it to them. He said that the enemy had returned to the straitwith another ship (with which they had succored Malayo), and theone that had fought. At that same time the king of Cochinchina wroteme that twelve other urcas had left his shores, which on their wayfrom coasting along China, brought at least six which had been lostin a storm; but that they were rich with the booty captured from theSangley prizes they had made. All those ships took their station inthe strait of Malaca, and consequently, I do not expect any from Yndiathis year. May our Lord preserve and prosper the royal person of yourMajesty, as we your vassals desire and need. Manila, August 10, 1634. 

_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_

[_In the margin_: "This letter is accompanied by the plans of theold and the new city of Manila. "]

_Ecclesiastical affairs_

Sire:

There is but little for me to mention in ecclesiastical matters;for the orders are conducting themselves in an exemplary manner, except that they often usurp the royal jurisdiction, under pretextof defending the natives; and they take away the authority from thealcaldes-mayor, so that nothing that the latter order is carried out, so that sometimes a layman is obeyed better than they. It is advisableto correct this, and to order that the bishops live in their dioceses, and not in this city. [107]

The bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus is governing this metropolitansee during the vacancy. He is an apostolic man. I have consulted withhim in regard to the appointments for the prebends that have becomevacant by the death of the archdean and precentor. The prebendshave only been changed by promotion; and the only one to enter newis Don Juan de Olaso Aclotequi, whom--because of his great virtue, and because he is the uncle of Don Lorenzo Olasso, master-of-camp ofthese islands and formerly captain-general of them--I presented astreasurer. He had before been canon. With that this holy church iswell administered, and has good subjects. In particular, the bachelor, Pedro Diaz de la Rivera, is considered a good ecclesiastic; and hisgray hairs are worthy of whatever favor your Majesty will be pleasedto show him. May our Lord preserve the royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to us your vassals. Manila, August 10, 1634. 

_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA

The following documents are obtained from MSS. In the Archivo generalde Indias, Sevilla:

1. _Letter from bishop of Cebú. _--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia deFilipinas; cartas y espedientes de los obispos sufragáneos de Manila;años de 1598 á 1698; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 34. "

2. _Letters from Tavora. _--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas;cartas y espedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo;años de 1629 á 1639; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 8. "

3. _Letter from cabildo. _--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia deFilipinas; cartas y expedientes del cabildo eclesiastico de Filipinasvistos en el Consejo; años de 1568 á 1670; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 35. "

4. _Papal bull. _--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de Filipinas;cartas y espedientes de religiosos misioneros de Filipinas vistos enel Consejo; años de 1617 á 1642; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 38. "

5. _Letters from Salamanca_, 1633 and 1634. --The same as No. 2. 

6. _Report of archbishop on bakery. _--"Simancas--Eclesiastico;Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes de los arzobispos deManila; años de 1579 á 1697; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32. "

_Royal letters_, 1630. --The second of these is in "Audienciade Filipinas; registro de oficio, reales ordenes dirigidas á lasautoridades del distrito de la Audiencia; años 1597 á 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 1. " The others are found in the Archivo HistoricoNacional, as noted below. 

The following documents are obtained from the "Cedulario Indico"of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid:

8. _Royal letters, 1630. _--The first and third of these are in tomo40, fol. 71 verso and 76 verso respectively. 

9. _Royal orders, 1632-33. _--The first is in tomo 40, fol. 86 verso, no. 99; the second is in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, the same as No. 7; the third, in tomo 31, fol. 145 verso. 

The following documents are obtained from MSS. In the Academia Realde la Historia, Madrid, in the collection "Papeles de los Jesuitas:"

10. _Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. _--In tomo 84, no. 15; the additionalparagraph is from another copy of this document in the same collection, in tomo 114, no. 401. 

11. _News from Far East. _--In tomo 114, no. 587 (copied from a pamphletprinted at Sevilla in 1633). 

12. _News from Felipinas, 1634. _--In tomo 146, no. 113. 

NOTES

[1] See _Vol. VIII_, p. 217, note 32; also _Vol. XIII_, p. 292, note 39. 

[2] Fray Juan de Montesdoça went to Mexico with his parents who gavehim a good education. He professed in the Augustinian convent in 1575, and went to the Philippines in 1582. He quickly mastered the Pampangadialect, and ministered in the villages of Bacolór (1590), Mexico(1593), and Macabebe (1596). He was elected subprior and procuratorof the Manila convent in 1594, provincial secretary in 1597, andprior provincial in 1599. He was missionary at Apálit in 1602, andprior of Guadalupe in 1605. He died at Malate in 1612, having gonethither in 1608. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 30, 31. 

[3] Fray Mateo Mendoza, born of noble stock, was intended forthe profession of arms. Having gone to the Philippines, he wasreceived into the Augustinian order at Manila in 1575. He was sentto Mexico to receive holy orders, as there was then no bishop in theislands. He was missionary at Malolos in 1580, Arévalo (in 1584), San Pablos de los Montes (in 1586), and Pórac (in 1594). Althoughelected definitor-general in 1596, he resigned that office to goto Japan. Returning to Manila in 1598, he became first definitor in1599, and presided at the provincial chapter in 1602; and labored atParañaque in 1603, and Tondo in 1605, dying that same year. 

Fray Agustín de Tapia was a native of Burgos, and professed in theconvent at the same city. He had charge of the mission which arrived atManila in June, 1595; was preacher and confessor in September of thesame year; preacher-general in 1597; missionary in Panay in 1599; atGuagua in 1601; definitor and prior of Cavite in 1602. He died in 1604. 

For brief sketch of Fray Bernabé Villalobos see _vol. Xxiii_, note 32. 

Fray Diego Cerrabe was a native of Burgos, professing in the conventof that city in 1584. On going to the islands he became confessorand preacher in 1595, examiner in 1596, and lecturer and ministerat Pásig in 1600-1602, going to Europe as definitor of the generalchapter in the last year, and probably remaining in Spain. 

Fray Pedro(_not_ Diego) Salcedo was born of an illustrious familyin Mexico, and took his vows at that city in 1583 at the age oftwenty-five. He went to the Philippines in 1598, where he exercised thecare of souls in Bay in 1600, in Hagonoy in 1607 and 1617, in Bulacánin 1614, and in Malolos in 1618. He was definitor in 1602 and 1608, and prior of Manila in 1605 and 1611. His death occurred at Malolosin 1619. 

Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya was a native of Castilla, and afterprofessing at the convent in Burgos went to the Philippines, wherehe was subprior and master of novitiates in the Manila convent(1581-1583), and missionary in Cagayán (1583-1586), after which hereturned to Manila, but the same year went to Macao, where he remaineduntil 1591. He acted as definitor that same year, and afterward wasmissionary at a number of villages, where he lived a busy life, hisdeath occurring in 1632. He wrote sermons in Tagál, and translatedthe catechism into the same language, and wrote a history of theAugustinian order in the Philippines. 

Fray Francisco Serrano professed at San Felipe el Real in 1574. Aftergoing to the islands he labored at Macabebe, Lubao, Candaba, and Guaguauntil 1596, when he was appointed provincial secretary. At the end ofhis term in that office, he was chosen subprior of the Manila convent, visitor, and finally definitor. He died in 1613. 

The above notices are taken from Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[4] Fray Pedro Solier was born in the town of Barajas in 1578, andbegan his studies in Toledo. Me entered the Augustinian convent atSalamanca in 1593, where he remained until 1598, when he went tothe Philippines. He was appointed provincial reader, and retainedthat office until 1603, when he returned to Spain as commissaryprocurator. After three years he went again to the islands, ladenwith honors; and after ministering for two years at Bacolór, waselected provincial in 1608, governing until 1610, when on account ofthe deposition of Fray Lorenzo de León, he went to Spain to give areport of that matter. He was appointed bishop of Puerto Rico in 1614and took possession of his see in 1615. In 1619 he became archbishopof Santo Domingo. He died in 1620. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 57. 

[5] Fray Hernando Guerrero, a native of Alcaráz, professed in theconvent of San Felipe el Real in 1588. After his arrival at thePhilippines, he labored in various Bisayan villages (1599-1613). In1613, he went to Spain, whence he returned in 1617. He went againto Spain and Rome in 1625. In 1628 he was appointed bishop of NuevaSegovia, and, in 1635, archbishop of Manila. His term in the latteroffice was marked by contests with the Jesuits, and he was finallyexcommunicated by a secular priest, and then exiled to Mariveles bythe governor, Corcuera--only leaving that island on signing certainconditions. He died July 1, 1641, at seventy-five years of age. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 48, 49; and Buzeta and Bravo's _Diccionario_, ii, p. 275. 

[6] Innumerable are the names which might be cited here of religiouswho have given proofs of the keenest patriotism, defending the islandswith the cross in one hand and the sword in the other: Father Agustínde San Pedro, a discalced Augustinian, called "Father Captain" for hisprowess against the Mindanao Moros; the no less famous Father PascualIbañez de Santa Filomena, Augustinian Recollect, who died while bravelyassaulting the fort of Abisi, Jolo, in 1857; the Jesuit, Father Ducos;the fathers of all the orders, especially the Augustinians in the warwith the English; the Augustinian fathers who accompanied GeneralMalcampo on his expedition to Jolo in 1875; Father Ramón Zueco, Recollect, of imperishable memory, besides innumerable others. --_Coco_. 

Continuing his note, Father Coco quotes from Father Fabián Rodriguezin _Revista Agustiniana_ for January 5, 1886, the remarkable defenseand military record of the Augustinian Father Julián Bermejo in Cebú, from the latter part of the eighteenth century until his death in 1851. 

[7] Fray Hernando de San José, the Japanese martyr, whose familyname was Ayala, was born at Vallesteros, in 1575, and took his vowsin the Augustinian convent of Montilla, May 19, 1593. He arrived inthe Philippines in August, 1604, and was soon sent to Japan, whencehe returned in 1607 to Manila as procurator. On his return to Japan, he labored in various places, and founded the convent at Nagasaki, of which he was made prior in 1613. He was martyred June 1, 1617. SeeDiaz's _Conquistas_ (Valladolid, 1890), pp. 76-103. 

[8] Fray Hernando Morales, a native of Montilla, in the provinceof Córdoba, professed in the Córdoba convent, and on his arrival atthe Philippines was sent to labor among the Aetas in Panay. He wasminister of Sibucao in 1611, and of Laglag in 1618, in which year hetook charge of San Nicolás de Cebú, going later to Dumalag. He diedin the last place in 1647. 

Fray Felipe Tallada was born in Estepa, in the province ofSevilla. Professing in the city of Sevilla, he was sent to thePhilippines, where he labored in the province of Pampanga at variousperiods from 1605 to 1645. He was definitor and examiner in 1617, and procurator to Spain and Rome in 1618. His death occurred inBetis in 1645. He wrote a life of St. Nicholas of Tolentino in thePampanga dialect. 

Fray Pedro del Castillo became a conventual of Pototan in 1605, andwas minister of Dingle in 1611 and 1633, of Jaro in 1614, of Laglag in1617, and of San Nicolás de Cebú in 1621. He was also subprior of theconvent of San Pablo in Manila in 1623, and minister of Santa Cruzin Ilocos the same year; was procurator-general; and exercised thecare of souls in Bacarra in 1626, and in Purao in 1629, dying in 1642. 

Fray Martín de San Nicolás was a native of Osma, and made hisprofession in the convent of Puebla de los Angeles. He was a missionaryin Maluco and Japan for some years. While vicar at Guimbal in 1617, he accompanied the troops on an expedition against the Moros ofMindanao. He died at Manila in 1630. 

See Perez's _Catálogo_. 

[9] Fray Estéban Carrillo was a native of the city of Écija andmade his profession in the Córdoba convent, where he obtaineda professorship. On going to the Philippines he spent four yearsamong the highlands of Ilocos. He was preacher-general (1602-1609), provincial secretary (October 31, 1603), prior of Manila (December 24, 1603), definitor (1605), and procurator-commissary to Madrid (1607). Hewas one of the foremost orators in Manila, which city he left in 1609for Spain, where he died in 1617. See Perez's _Catálogo_, p. 52. 

[10] Fray Pedro de Aguirre took his vows in the convent at Mexico. Hewas, after his arrival at the islands, a conventual in Pásig andBombón until 1600, in which year he went to Taguig, whence hepassed to Calumpit in 1602. He was prior of Santo Niño in 1603, and commissary-procurator to Spain and Rome in 1607, dying in 1631. 

Fray Roque de Barrionuevo, a native of Lubia, took his vows in theconvent of Agreda in 1589. In 1597 he was laboring in Tanauan, andin Malolos in 1600. In 1606, while in Hagonoy, he went to Ternateat the request of Pedro de Acuña, whence he returned in 1608. He wasdefinitor and minister of Malolos in 1609, of Tondo in 1612. He diedin 1649. He wrote a grammar and dictionary of the Márdica dialect. 

Fray Miguel de Sigüenza professed at the Burgos convent in 1579. From1581 to 1599 he labored at various missions in the Visayas and inLuzon. He was provincial secretary in 1602 and visitor to the Tagálsthe same year, after which (1605) he exercised the care of souls inHagonoy and in Calumpit until 1607, in which year he died. 

Fray Mateo de Peralta was a conventual at Lubao in 1584, of Pangasinanin 1587, of Calumpit in 1590; after which he was at the missions inMexico (1591 and 1607), Pórac (in 1594), Candaba (in 1597), Lubao(in 1602), Betis (in 1608), and Apálit in 1609, where he died in thesame year. 

See Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[11] The text reads _puerta_, "gate, " which is probably an error for_huerta_, "garden. " See account of their establishment, in _Vol_. Xxi, p. 269. 

[12] The Franciscans now (1893) have charge of Sampaloc. --_Coco_. 

[13] Ceded to them by the Augustinians. --_Coco_. 

[14] Fray Jerónimo de Salas was born in Olias and professed inthe convent at Madrid in 1590. He was missionary in the Philippinevillages of Guagua (1602-1611) and Macabebe (1605). He served asdefinitor and visitor, and in 1617 was elected provincial, but diedMay 17 of the same year. 

Fray Fernando de Santa Maria Trujillo was conventual at Calumtianin 1596, prior at Barutao in 1598, missionary at Bacarra in 1599and 1605, at Lingayén and Laoag in 1600, at Bantay in 1602, and atCandón 1605-1611, when he was appointed definitor. After his term, he labored in Tagál villages, and died in 1618. 

See Perez's _Catálogo_. 

[15] Fray Diego Uribe del Castillo was missionary in the Ilocanvillages of Purao (1613), Santa Cruz (1614), Tagudín (1612), and Agoó(1621). He was examiner in the native language and reader of theprovince for some time. He died in 1622. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 79. 

[16] Ezekiel xviii, 21, 22. --_Coco_. 

[17] See Pérez's _Catálogo_ for sketches of these religious. 

[18] Fray Juan Pineda was preacher and confessor in 1598, missionary atApálit in 1602, of México in 1603, of Hagonoy in 1605, and vicar-priorof Cebú the same year. Later he returned to Manila, where he becamereader, and afterward procurator until 1609. He then went to Rometo take part in the general chapter, where he obtained the degreeof master of sacred theology. He died probably in 1611. See Pérez's_Catálogo_, p. 64. 

[19] Fray Lucas Atienza was missionary in Ibahay in 1608, of Dumalagin 1614, and prior of the convent of Ternate 1615-1617. Returningin the latter year to the islands, he was in charge of the missionof Parañaque in 1623 and of Tayabas in 1624. He was assigned tothe island of Formosa, but did not go. He died at Tiaong (Tayabas)in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 188. 

[20] Fray Eustaquio Ortíz was born in Alpechín in Mexico, making hisprofession in the City of Mexico. On arriving at the Philippines he wasgiven the office of conventual procurator; and later was missionaryamong the Zambales. In 1602, when prior of Bolinao, he went to Japónwith Father Guevara, remaining there six years. On returning to theislands he became provincial secretary (1609), prior of Santo Niñoof Cebú (1614) and of Manila (1623), minister of Tondo (1626), andlastly prior of Guadalupe, where he completed the convent in 1629. Hedied May 4, 1636. He wrote two books or treatises in the Japaneselanguage. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 45, 46. 

[21] Ecclesiasticus x, 2. --_Coco_. 

[22] Fray Francisco de Bonifacio, a native of Sevilla, took his vows inthe Salamanca convent in 1586. He was fluent in the language of Cebú, and labored in various missions among the Bisayas (1596-1611). Thelatter year he was chosen definitor, and in 1614 presided over thechapter. He was minister at Pásig in 1617, at Tondo in 1618, and atBulacán in 1620. In 1621 he went to Otón, as his presence there wasnecessary. In 1626, while definitor, he acted as provincial becauseof the death of Father Becerra, after which period he had care ofmissions in Luzón, until his death in Manila in 1645. Two manuscriptswritten by him were conserved in the convent at Cebú. 

Fray Vicente Sepúlveda was a native of Castilla, and professedin that province. In the Philippines he became chief sacristan ofthe Manila convent, and learned thoroughly the Pampanga dialect, ministering in that province for five years. He was definitor in 1611, and provincial in 1614. His term was one of discord because of hisrigorous enforcement of the laws passed by the father visitor. In 1617, he was chosen to fill out the term of provincial, that office becomingvacant by the death of Jerónimo de Salas. He was killed August 21, 1617, as the result of a conspiracy of brother Augustinians who wereopposed to him. 

Fray Diego Gutiérrez was a native of Sigüenza in the province ofGuadalajara, and professed in the convent of Agreda in 1574. He wentto the Philippines in 1578, where he had charge of various missionsin Luzón. He served as definitor during the chapters of 1578 and1590. His death occurred at Lubao in 1613. 

Fray Antonio de Porras was born in Sevilla and professed in the conventof that city. He arrived at Manila in 1598, where he exercised the dutyof master of novitiates in the convent. He went to Bisayas insteadof Japan which was his chosen field, working there from 1600 to 1639(the year of his death). He held several important ecclesiasticaloffices in the Bisayas. 

See Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[23] Definitors are the fathers who compose the council of theprovincial. Aditos are those who are to be substituted for anydefinitor because of his death. --_Coco_. 

[24] Fray Fernando Becerra was born in Valladolid and took his vowsin the convent of Salamanca, where he read sacred theology. On goingto the Philippines he was missionary in Bantay in 1611, preacher andreader in 1613, provincial secretary in 1614, missionary at Hagonoy in1615, at Pásig, 1617, 1620, and 1623, after having served as visitorand definitor. He was elected provincial by acclamation in 1626, but died July 31 of the same year. He left several writings. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 81, 82. 

[25] Fray Alonso Méntrida, an illustrious Bisayan missionary and anoted writer, was born in the city of Méntrida, and took his vows inthe convent of Casarrubios in 1590, where he became reader for sometime, later exercising the same duty at Manila and Lubao until he wentto the Bisayas, where most of his work thereafter lay, although heministered in some of the Luzón missions. He served as definitor in1614, as prior of Manila in 1618, and as provincial in 1623. He diedat the age of seventy-eight, on March 22, 1637. He compiled a grammarand dictionary in Bisayan dialects. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 53-55. 

[26] For sketches of these religious, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[27] Juan Enriquez was a professed religious of the Toledoconvent. After going to the Philippines he labored in San Pablo delos Montes in 1607, in Taal in 1608, and in Malate in 1611. He wasdefinitor in 1617, and visitor and provincial in 1620. In 1625 he wentto Spain as procurator, and died there in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 77. 

[28] Fray Juan de Villalobos was a conventual in Panay in 1593, prior of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1599, first prior of the convent ofGuadalupe in 1602 and 1605, and later visitor and definitor. He diedin 1620. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 45. 

[29] Fray Pedro García Serrano, a native of the town of Chinchón, inthe province of Madrid, took his vows in the province of Castilla. Hehad considerable reputation as an orator, and was given the titleof master in sacred theology some time after his arrival at theislands in 1613. He filled many posts in the order, among them that ofvicar-provincial, definitor (1629), and prior of Guadalupe (1624-1629), as well as that of commissary of the Inquisition and _calificador_of the Holy Office in the archbishopric of Manila. He died in Mexicoin 1631, while on a voyage to Spain, having been appointed definitorof the general chapter and commissary-procurator. He wrote some moralsermons in the Pampanga dialect, while exercising the care of missionsin that province. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 90. 

[30] Fray Alonso Ruiz was a native of Coimbra, Portugal, and professedin the Salamanca convent in 1574. He was minister of the village ofAclán in 1602, and of San Nicolás de Cebú in 1607, sub-prior of theconvent of Manila and master of novitiates in 1611, definitor andprior of Guadalupe in 1617, and prior of Taal in 1620. He afterwardserved in a number of Pampanga villages, and died in that of Minalinin 1640. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 70. 

[31] Possibly an error for Jerónimo Cavero, who ministered in certainLuzon villages from 1596 to 1611, and attained great fluency in theIlocan language. He became definitor, and examiner and president of theprovincial chapter of 1617. He died in 1622. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 51. 

[32] Guimarás, opposite Iloilo. --_Coco_. 

[33] Fray Juan de Lecea was a native of Mondragón in the provinceof Vizcaya, and took his vows in the convent of Burgos. Arriving atthe Philippines he was destined for the Bisayas, laboring in variousmissions in that district from 1600 to 1618, during which time hefilled several ecclesiastical offices. He died in 1618 at Otón. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, p. 56. 

[34] Fray Silvestre Torres, a native of Córdoba, was missionary inJapan in 1616, subprior of the convent of San Pablo in Manila in1617, minister of Malate in 1618, and prior of Ternate 1620-1623. Onreturning to Manila he had charge of the convent of Batangas, anddied in the Manila convent in 1626. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 86. 

[35] Fray Diego Oseguera was a choir student in 1607, minister ofMambúsao in 1611 and of Baong in 1614. He was especially useful inquieting the Indians who were in rebellion in the Bisayas. He diedin 1615. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 187, 188. 

[36] Francisco Encinas, S. J. , was born at Avila in 1570, and took hisvows in 1596. After going to the Philippines, he taught grammar forsome time, and then spent more than thirty years in the Bisayas. Havingbeen sent to Rome as procurator for his order, in 1626, he was capturedby the Dutch; but, after ransom, returned to the Philippines in 1632, and died at Manila, January 11, 1633. He was equally versed in Tagáland the Bisayan speech. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_. 

[37] Fray Juan de Montemayor was confessor to Governor Juan deSilva and a prominent orator. He was stationed at Malate 1614-1620, being appointed provincial secretary in the latter year. He wasprocurator-general in 1621, prior of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1623, missionary at Pásig, 1625-1629, of Parañaque in 1626, provincialchronicler in 1630, and prior of Guadalupe in 1635. He died at Manilain 1638. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. 

[38] Fray Agustín Mejía was a Mexican missionary, and after going tothe Philippines served in mission work in México in 1608, in Bacolórin 1611, in Guagua in 1614, and in México in 1617. He was prior ofManila in 1615, definitor, visitor, and vicar-provincial; and diedin 1630, leaving a volume of Ilocan verses, the "Life of San Barlámy Jósaphat, " which remained many years in the convent of Bantay. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, p. 79. 

[39] Fray Pedro Lasarte (_not_ Lesarte) professed in the conventof Toledo in 1572. He was missionary in Purao in 1600, in Bacarrain 1602, in Bauang in 1605, 1611, 1614, and 1620, and in Bantay in1608 and 1611. He was definitor in 1617, prior of Manila in 1626, andagain missionary of Bantay in 1629, dying in that place in 1636. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, p. 50. 

[40] For sketches of these Augustinians, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[41] Pérez mentions no missionary by this name. 

[42] Evidently an error for Fray Miguel de Suárez. He was from thebranch of the order in India. In the Philippines, he served as a Tagáland Visayan missionary, laboring in Batan in 1605, in Masbate in 1607, in Ibahay in 1611, in Aclán in 1614, in Panay in 1617, in Batangas in1621 and 1633, in Tanauan in 1623, in Tambobong in 1626, in Taal in1629, in Bugason in Bisayas in 1630, in Guiguinto in 1632 and 1639, in San Pablo de los Montes in 1636, and in Caruyan in 1641. He wasalso procurator-general in 1620, and prior of the convent of Cebú in1638, dying in 1642. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 186. 

[43] In the unfortunate event which Father Medina mentions withas much minuteness as candor, two important points must not beoverlooked by the judicious reader, which were the cause of thisunfortunate deed. One was the extreme harshness of the provincial inhis government, which must have been very excessive. .. . The impositionof new commands must have been very heavy for the religious, sinceeven laymen intervened with the provincial, either for him to moderateunnecessary harshness or to renounce the provincialate. The secondfact which also enters strongly into this case, is human passionexasperated even to obscuring the intelligence, and personified inFather Juan de Ocadiz, . .. A man peevish and melancholy. .. . Hard beyondmeasure must he have thought the measures taken against him. He sawin the distance his perpetual dishonor, yet did not have the virtuesufficient to resign himself; and, instigated by the spirit of evil, perpetrated the crime which he expiated with his own life. --_Coco_. 

[44] Literally, a sack containing one thousand pesos in silver. 

[45] There were eleven Augustinians martyred, and they receivedbeatification from Pius X in 1867. --_Coco_. 

[46] Equivalent to the English proverb, "Misfortunes never comesingly. "

[47] Fray Antonio Ocampo was of the province of Castilla, and was areligious of great activity. He was missionary to Bulacán in 1618, to Tondo and Hagonoy in 1626, and definitor in 1620. He was sentto Spain as procurator in 1632, but died at Acapulco on the waythither. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 91. 

[48] Fray Juan Ennao took his vows in the Toledo convent, and becamean excellent preacher. He was stationed at San Pablo de los Montesin 1609; at Bulacán in 1611 and 1613; at Bay in 1613 and 1617; andat Taal in 1614. He was provincial in 1615, and prior of Guadalupethe same year, definitor in 1620, visitor and provincial in 1629, returning for the third time after his provincialate to the village ofBulacán (1635), where he died in 1636. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 77. 

[49] Fray Lúcas de la Peña was very fluent in the Bisayan language, and labored in the missions of the Bisayan group from 1600 to 1630, probably dying soon after the last named year. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 184, 185. 

[50] Spanish, _del tropel de los caballos_--literally, "from thetrampling of the horses. "

[51] "He said that those were true monks who, stifling their own wills, wished or refused nothing, but desired only to obey the commands ofthe abbot. "

[52] Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, x, 30. --_Coco_. 

[53] Psalms civ, 15. --_Coco_. 

[54] Fray Alonso Rincón professed in the convent of San Felipe el Real, and after going to the Philippines became preacher at Arévalo in 1607, and was minister in Betis in 1609 and 1626. After administering thevillages of Pórac in 1611, Macabebe in 1614, and Guagua in 1615, hewas appointed definitor, visitor, and prior of the convent of Manilain 1617. He was commissary-procurator to Spain and Rome in 1618, andreturned to Manila in 1622. He was elected definitor for the secondtime in 1629, and died at Manila in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 77. 

[55] The native dish of rice. 

[56] See Pérez's _Catálogo_ for sketches of these friars. 

[57] Spanish, _Rutenos_--a now obsolete name for _Ruso_("Russians"). The term Ruthenians is applied to the people of LittleRussia (also known as Ukrania and Ruthenia), dwelling in the steppesof Southern Russia, mainly in the valley of the Dnieper River;they have also extended into Hungary and Galicia. The referencein the text to "Russians" probably indicates only somewhat vagueor erroneous notions as to the geography and political condition ofWestern Asia at that time: for it was not until 1722 that the Russiansadvanced beyond the Black Sea into Asia, conquering the province ofCaucasus. Medina's "Diego Rodrigo" apparently means Fray Rodrigo deSan Miguel (_Vol. XXI_, p. 116), who spent some time in Persia andChaldea, and converted many "schismatic Christians" there to the RomanCatholic Church. On his return to Rome, he carried a letter addressedto the pope, from "the Chaldean Christians of Bassora. " See _Vol. XXI_, note 62. 

[58] Fray Diego del Aguila, a master of the number in theecclesiastical province of Andalucía, was, in spite of his protests, elected superior of the province of Mechoacán in Mexico while en routefor the Philippines; but he finally followed his first determination, and sailed for the islands in 1618. He there became visitor, definitor(1623), vicar-provincial, prior of Guadalupe (1620), and president ofthe provincial chapter in 1626. He died at Manila in 1628. See Pérez's_Catálogo_, p. 98. Pérez has evidently confused Diego del Aguila withLúcas de Aguilar, who was definitor in 1650. See Diaz's _Conquistas_(Valladolid, 1890), p. 516. 

[59] Fray Hernando Cabrero professed at the Córdoba convent in1601. He became sub-prior of Manila in 1609, and of San Pablo delos Montes in 1618, 1626, and 1629. He also acted as definitor, examiner, and definitor-general, and died at sea while en route toNueva España. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 78, 79. 

[60] Fray Francisco Coronel was a native of Torija in the province ofGuadalajara, and took the habit in Mexico. He went to the Philippinesin 1606 as deacon. He had charge of the parish mission of México in1611, and officiated later in Lubao (1613), Bacolór (1617, 1629), and Macabebe (1620, 1626). He was definitor twice, and also visitorand prior of the convent of Guadalupe in 1619. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 80. 

[61] For sketches of these friars, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[62] Fray Francisco Villalón was minister at Tondo in 1630, and laboredlater in the villages of Tambolong, Tanauan, Caruyan, Bay, Hagonoy, andGuiguinto, until 1653. He was twice definitor (1638, 1653), and priorof the convent of Santo Niño (1645). He died in Guiguinto in 1655. Hewas well versed in the Tagál language. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 104. 

[63] Fray Estéban Peralta held various charges in the province ofCastilla before going to the Philippines. He was stationed in theislands at the mission in Cebu, being proposed several times asprovincial. In 1623 he was procurator-general, in 1626 definitor, and was at the missions at Tondo (1629) and Hagonoy (1632), where hedied. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 98. 

[64] Fray Jerónimo Medrano was a native of Estella, and took his vowsat the convent of Soría in 1604. He labored in the missions of Caruyan(1615), Quingua (1617), Malolos (1620), Taal (1621), Hagonoy (1623), Parañaque (1629), and Tondo (1638 and 1647). He was definitor andvisitor, and three times provincial (1632, 1641, and 1650). His deathoccurred in 1656. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. 

[65] Fray Alonso Carbajal was a native of Salamanca, and professed inthe province of Castilla, where he read sacred theology and obtainedthe degree of master. Dates regarding his life are meager. He wasprior of Manila in 1623 and 1653; of Guadalupe, 1638; definitor, 1626and 1653; visitor and provincial, 1644; while he renounced severalbishoprics. Besides this he had charge of mission work in Guagua in1620, Macabebe in 1632, and Bacolór in 1650, after which he servedin the Bisayas until his death. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 96, 97. 

[66] Kings III [_i. E. _, Kings I of the Protestant version], v, 4. --_Coco_. 

[67] Fray Pedro de Torres was born in Andalucía. He ministered inthe Philippines in Mambúsao in 1629, and at Oton in 1632, dying inManila about 1633. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 100. 

[68] Fray Juan Gallegos was a native of Mancha, and took his vows inthe convent at Burgos. He was Ilocan minister at the town of Narvacán(1620) and Laoag (1623). He refused an appointment (1625) as procuratorto Spain and Rome, preferring to devote himself to his ministry. Hewas at Bantay in 1626 and 1630; at the villages of Candón in 1629, 1635, and 1644; and Bauang in 1633. He was subprior in 1617, and twicedefinitor and visitor, dying in 1648 at Candón. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 94. He is to be distinguished from the other Augustinian religiousof the same name who died while definitor in 1581. 

[69] Fray Francisco del Portillo was one of the best orators of histime. He died in 1628 after exercising the care of souls in Purao in1626, and taking possession of the land necessary to found a conventin Formosa. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 103, 104. 

[70] "They hanged them on gibbets in the sight of the sun. "

[71] Fray Francisco de Santa Maria Oliva took his vows in the Toledoconvent in 1581. He was minister of Dumaguete in 1599, and laterof Potól, Ibabay, Mambusao, and Jaro, until 1628, when he died. SeePérez's _Catálogo_, p. 38. 

[72] In the text, _actuanse_, which is apparently a misprint for_actuante_. 

[73] Pérez (_Catálogo_, p. 107) says that this friar, whom he callsBartolomé Blas Esterlich, was from Flanders. He was a confessor andpreacher in Manila, and ministered in the Ilocan villages of Bangui(1633) and Agoó (1635), dying in 1640. 

[74] For sketches of these friars, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. 

[75] Fray Nicolás de Herrera was a missionary in Sesmoan (1618), Lubao(1623 and 1626), and Bacolór (1632). He was definitor in 1629, priorof Manila in 1635, and president of the provincial chapter in 1638, dying in 1647. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 89. 

[76] Fray Martín de Errasti was a native of Vizcaya, and professedin the convent of Burgos. After going to the Philippines, he becamemissionary in Pórac, Apálit, and Bacolór (1635). He acted as definitorand prior of Manila. He was elected provincial in 1638, but died in1639. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 93. 

[77] Cristóbal de Miranda was a missionary in the villages of Méxicoin 1614, and of Apálit, Betis, Sesmoan, Guagua, Minalin, Candaba, Macabebe, and Bacolór until 1641. He was definitor in 1632 and diedin 1646. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. 

[78] Fray Lorenzo (_not_ Alonso) Figueroa labored in the villages ofCaruyan, Parañaque (1620), Santa Cruz (1626), and Agoó (1626). Hewas elected prior of the convent of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1629, after which he was sent to the villages of Lipa, Bigaá, Malate, Sala, Malalos, and San Pablo de los Montes (1653). His death is notrecorded. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 96. 

[79] Doubtless masses for the deaths of Father Pedro García andFather Cabrera. 

[80] Fray Pedro de la Peña was born in Burgos, and professed in theconvent of Badaya in 1599. He worked in the Ilocan villages of Bantay, and Narvacán (1617). After laboring also in the villages of Apálit andMacabebe (1626), he was chosen commissary-procurator to Madrid (1630), dying in the following year, aboard ship. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 86. 

[81] St. Luke, i, 37. --Coco. 

[82] Fray Pedro de Quesada, a native of Jaen, took his vows in theprovince of Castilla. He was appointed preacher-general and reader oftheology in 1630, and labored afterward in the villages of Malolos(1632), Lipa (1636), and Bulacán (1638). In 1639 he went to Spainas procurator-commissary of Madrid and definitor-general; but theintermediary chapter having annulled his appointment, he set outagain for the islands as president of a mission of religious, dyingin Mexico in 1645. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 107. 

[83] Paul's Epistle to the Romans, viii, 37. --Coco. 

[84] Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, vi, 14. --Coco. 

[85] Blumentritt in his _List of Native Tribes of the Philippines_(Mason's translation, Washington, 1901), says of the people ofthis name: "In a chart of the Philippines for 1744, by P. MurilloVelarde, S. J. , this name is to be seen west of Caraga and Bislig(Mindanao). English authors speak of the Tagaboloyes, Waitz mentionstheir clear color, and Mas calls them Igorrotes. Others add that theywere Mestizos of Indians, and more fables to the same effect. Theirregion has been well explored, but only Manabos and Mandayas havebeen found there. The last named are clear colored, so Tagaboloyesseems to be another name for Mandayas. The name sounds temptinglylike Tagabalíes. "

[86] This was Balthasar Carlos, born in 1630; he died in 1646. Hewas betrothed to Mariana of Austria, but his father, Felipe IV, married her in 1649. 

[87] In 1552 Felipe II ordered a royal monopoly on playing-cards tobe established throughout his western dominions. All cards were to bestamped with the royal arms. The manufacture and sale of them was soldin 1578 to Hernando de Caseres, who paid a royalty of one real for eachpack. The value of the privilege gradually increased as well as theprice of cards paid by the public. (Bancroft's _History of Mexico_, iii, pp. 663, 664. )

This monopoly was established in the Philippines in 1591, by GomezPerez Dasmariñas; see _Vol. VIII_, pp. 169, 271; and _IX_, p. 62. 

[88] Apparently a reference to the capture of the Japanese junk bySpaniards, frequently referred to in previous documents. 

[89] The Oriental commerce of Denmark began with the despatch ofan expedition in 1618 to open trade with Ceylon. Being unfavorablyreceived there, the Danes went to the Coromandel coast of India, andfounded a trading-post at Tranquebar, one hundred and forty milessouthwest of Madras, defended by the fortress of Dansbourg. Forsome time this post and its trade had considerable prosperity, but European wars prevented its fitting support and the commercialcompany was unable to maintain it. In 1670 a new company resumed thisenterprise, but was even more unfortunate than the other, and finallyexpired in 1730. Two years later a third company was formed, whichwas liberally endowed with privileges and subsidies, and was highlysuccessful. Tranquebar remained in possession of Denmark until 1846, when it was purchased by England. 

See account of this colony and the Danish trade in the East, in_Establecimientos ultramarinos de las naciones Europeas_, by Malode Luque (Madrid, 1784-90), iv, pp. 9-31. See map of "District ofTranquebar, " in Bellin's _Atlas maritime_, iii, fol. 36. 

[90] This was Father Jerónimo Medrano; he was again elected to thedignity of provincial in 1641 and in 1650. 

[91] Christoval Ferreira was born in Portugal, in 1580. At the ageof sixteen he entered the Jesuit order, and in 1609 was sent to theJapan mission; he remained there through many years of persecution, and was long the provincial of his order in Japan. In 1633 he wasseized and imprisoned, and finally, under the strain of cruel tortures, recanted his faith--being, it is claimed, the only Jesuit who in allthose fierce persecutions, became an apostate. His life was spared, but he was compelled by the Japanese to witness the martyrdom of hisbrethren, and even to decree their fate. At last Ferreira, tormentedby remorse and shame, surrendered himself to the authorities as beingstill a Christian, and died (1652) as a martyr, suffering long andextreme torments. See Crétineau-Joly's account of his career, in_Hist. Comp. De Jésus_, iii, pp. 161-164. 

Murdoch and Yamagata say of this Jesuit (_Hist. Japan_, p. 633): "As tothe story that Ferreyra repented and was _fossed_ at Nagasaki in 1653(at the age of seventy-four), there seems to be no foundation for it. "

[92] Apparently a corrupt Spanish pronunciation of the Japanese Jodo(also written Jíôdo, and Jodo), the name of one of the Buddhist sectswhich flourish in Japan. It was founded in 1174 _A. D. _--by one Honen, according to Griffis; by Genku, according to Rein. Iyeyasu and hissuccessors were adherents and benefactors of this sect. "Its priestsstrictly insisted upon celibacy, and abhorred the eating of flesh. Theytaught that the health of the soul depends less upon virtue andmoral perfection than upon the strict observance of pious practices"(Rein). See Griffis's account of Buddhism in Japan, in his _Mikado'sEmpire_, pp. 158-175; and the chapter on religious systems in Rein's_Japan_, pp. 442-464. 

[93] This is the volcanic mountain called Onzenga-take, situated inthe northern part of Shimábara peninsula--noted for the terriblemassacre of Christians, in 1637, at Arima, a town in the south ofthe peninsula--and east of Nagasaki. The last great eruption of thisvolcano took place in 1791-93, in which, it is said, fifty-threethousand people lost their lives. Its height is estimated at onethousand meters, and at its base are numerous hot springs. See Rein's_Japan_, pp. 17, 43, 54, 86. 

[94] Regarding this letter, see note in brackets at end of thisdocument. 

[95] Probably Sendai, in the province of Satsuma. 

[96] This would seem to be Otsu, the chief town of the province of Omi;it lies northeast of Ozaka (the Ojaca of the text). 

[97] This must have been some gossip or canard cited by the writer;for Iyemidzu (grandson of Iyeyasu), who was then shogun, reignedfrom 1623 to 1651. The death of the "King" (_i. E. _, tono or daimio)of Arima is also related, in more detail, by La Concepción (_Hist. DePhilipinas_, v, pp. 160, 161); he says that a multitude of foxessurrounded Bugandono on the road from Nangasaqui, accompanying him, leaping and barking about his litter "until he reached Ximabara, where they suddenly disappeared. Immediately that wretched man wasoverpowered by a fury against himself, so great that, sword in hand, he compelled his servants to beat him soundly with bamboos. They dealthim so many blows that they inflicted upon him a wretched death"--apunishment for his cruelties against the Christians. 

"The great Shinto temple of Inari [the goddess of rice] at Kyoto is themodel of all other shrines dedicated to this popular divinity, for onthis lonely hillside twelve hundred years ago Inari was supposed tomanifest herself to mortals. A colossal red gateway and a flight ofmoss-grown steps lead to the main entrance flanked by the great stonefoxes which guard every temple of Inari, and symbolize the goddessworshipped under their form. Japanese superstition regards the foxwith abject terror; his craft and cunning are celebrated in legendaryballads; and a condition of mental disorder, known as 'possession bythe fox, ' is a common belief, bringing crowds of devotees to Inari'stemples, either to pray for the exorcism of the demoniac influence, orto avert the danger of falling under the dreadful spell. " (_Macmillan'sMagazine_, December, 1904, p. 117. )

[98] Thus in the transcript, but evidently should be 1633; for thereference to the _ad interim_ government of Lorenzo de Olasso, pastthe middle of this document, shows that it was written in 1632. 

[99] From this point to nearly the end of the bull, I have foundit necessary to simplify the phraseology considerably, whilecarefully preserving the sense. The passage in question, while nothard to understand in Latin, would be, if translated literally, almost unintelligible in English--a long, wordy repetition ofrevocatory and annulling clauses, for many of which there is noprecise and brief equivalent in English. Nor is the Latin itselfelegant; and a few words and phrases can only be guessed at--these, however, not affecting the real sense, or involving any matter ofimportance. --_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, translator. 

[100] Juan García (afterward named "de la Cruz") came to thePhilippines in 1632; he must therefore have sent to Sevilla almostimmediately after his arrival in the islands the letter from whichthis document was printed. He spent four years laboring in theFormosa mission; and in 1636 went to China, where he spent most of hisremaining years. Persecuted in that country as a Christian preacher, he finally was seized by Chinese soldiers, and so maltreated thathis injuries caused his death December 8, 1665, at Fogan; he was thensixty years of age. See _Reseña biog. Sant. Rosario_, i, pp. 411-414, for sketch of his life. 

[101] Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera. See vol. Xvii, p. 291. 

[102] See account of the founding of the Jesuit missions in China, _vol. Vi_, p. 208. The work begun by Ricci (see _vol. Xv_, p. 178)was continued by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit, whoentered China in 1622, remaining there until his death in 1669. He wasa noted astronomer and mathematician, and for his learning and talentswas greatly esteemed by the Chinese, especially at the imperial court;the reformation of the Chinese calendar was entrusted to him, andrank and emoluments were conferred upon him. The missions in Chinawere not molested by the authorities after 1622; but the conflictsbetween the Chinese and Tartars, which ended in the overthrow of theMing dynasty, greatly injured the work of the missionaries from 1630 to1660. At the time of our text, the Jesuits were on friendly terms withthe authorities, and their work prospered especially in Peking. Seeaccount of Catholic missions in China, in Williams's _Middle Kingdom, _ii, pp. 290-325; and in Crétineau-Joly's _Hist. Comp. De Jésus_, iii, pp. 165-184. 

[103] _Medias anatas_: half of the first year's income; a tax whichwas paid to the crown upon entering any office, pension, or grant. Itwas introduced into the Indias by a law of 1632. See _Recopilaciónleyes de Indias_, lib. Viii, tit. Xix. 

[104] Spanish, _Religion_. This word was first used in the sense of"monastic order" or "monastery" in the sixth century, in France. Thisnarrower sense was used along with the broader one, until the latterwas gradually crowded out (during the second half of the fourteenthcentury); being, however, finally recovered during the epoch of theReformation; The term "man of religion" (_homo religionis_, _homme dereligion_) was never used in Latin, French, or English to mean a piousman, but exclusively for a man belonging to a religious order. See"History of the word _religio_ in the Middle Ages, " by. Professor EwaldFlügel, of Leland Stanford Junior University--an abstract of whichis printed in _Transactions_ of American Philological Association, 1902, pp. Ci, cii. 

[105] Thus in our transcript; but in the king's answer to this letter(_post_) the name appears as Rivero. 

[106] Probably referring to the people of Butung or boeton, a largeisland off the southeastern peninsula of Celebes; their state ofcivilization is similar to that of the Macassar and Bugis of thatisland. 

[107] This recommendation was thus answered by the king, in a despatchto Corcuera dated Madrid, December 1, 1636: "Inasmuch as it is properthat all the prelates take personal charge of the government of theirchurches, thus fulfilling their so stringent obligations for that, Ihave thought it best--notwithstanding that I charge them by a decreeof the same date as this that, if they should be absent from theirchurches, they shall without fail go to reside in them--to orderyou, as I am doing, to see for your part by repeated urgings thatthey go to reside at and to serve their churches, in case that anyof them should be absent. " This is found in the "Cedulario Indico, "at Madrid--pressmark, "Tomo 39, fol. 228. "