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diff --git a/old/16203-8.txt b/old/16203-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d241c16 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/16203-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9206 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume +XXI, 1624, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXI, 1624 + 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 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Emma Helen Blair + +Release Date: July 4, 2005 [EBook #16203] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + + + + + 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 XXI, 1624 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXI + + + + Preface 9 + Documents of 1624 + + Ecclesiastical affairs of the Philippines. Miguel García + Serrano, and others; 1574-1624 19 + Conflict between civil and religious authorities in + Manila. [Unsigned and undated; 1624?] 79 + Seminary for Japanese missionaries. Alvaro de Messa y Lugo, + and others; Manila, July 23-August 5 84 + Extract from letter to Felipe IV. Miguel García Serrano; + Manila, August 15 95 + Royal orders regarding the religious. Felipe IV; Madrid, + August-December 98 + + Early Recollect missions in the Philippines. Andrés de San Nicolas, + Luis de Jesús, and Juan de la Concepción. (Extracts from their + respective works, covering the history of the missions to the + year 1624.) 111 + Bibliographical Data 319 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + + Title-page of _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos + ... del gran padre ... San Augustin_, by Andres de San Nicolas + (Madrid, 1664); photographic facsimile from copy in library of + Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. 109 + Title-pages (the first engraved) to _Historia general de los + religiosos descalzos ... del gran padre ... San Augustin_, by + Luis de Jesús, Augustinian Recollect (Madrid, 1681); photographic + facsimiles from copy in library of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. + 187, 189 + Title-page of volume iv of _Historia general de Philipinas_, + by Juan de la Concepción, Augustinian Recollect (Manila, 1788); + photographic facsimile from copy in library of Harvard University. + 261 + + + + +PREFACE + + +This volume, dated 1624, is entirely devoted to religious matters, +ecclesiastical or missionary in their scope. The current documents +for that year are concerned with conflicts between the diocesan +authorities and the religious orders, and between the civil and +religious authorities in Manila; the defeat by the Audiencia of the +late Governor Fajardo's attempt to found a seminary for the training +of Japanese missionaries to be sent to labor in their own country; +and efforts by the Spanish government to check the assumptions of +the religious orders. Then follows a historical account of the early +Recollect missions in the islands, down to the year 1624, compiled +from the works of Andrés San Nicolas, Luis de Jesús, and Juan de +la Concepción. + +A document entitled "Ecclesiastical affairs in the Philippines" +contains letters, decrees, etc., bearing on this subject, dated from +1574 to 1624. Instructions to Gomez Perez Dasmariñas (1574) jealously +restrict to the crown or its officials all exercise of the royal +patronage; and give minute details of the course to be pursued by +the governor and the provincials of the religious orders in matters +where that right is involved. This is followed by various official +documents issued in the controversy between Archbishop Serrano and the +religious orders (1622-24) regarding the right claimed for archbishop +and bishops to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority over the +religious of the orders, when charged with the care of souls, as over +the secular clergy. Serrano fortifies his position by various royal +decrees and papal bulls. These documents show that much laxity has +prevailed in selecting missionaries for the Indians, some of these +teachers not even knowing the language of the natives to whom they +minister; also that the friars claim even greater authority over +their parishioners than that exercised by the archbishop and bishops +in whose dioceses their missions are located. On June 20, 1622, the +archbishop begins his official visit in the parish of Dilao (near +Manila); and his edict announcing this calls upon the people of the +parish to bring to him any complaints or information that they may +have regarding any fault, illegal act, or neglect of duty in their +cura or parish priest. Fray Alonso de Valdemoro was then in charge +of the Dilao mission; refusing to obey the archbishop's commands, +he is excommunicated by the latter, and sentenced to imprisonment in +a monastery. But the Audiencia refuse to support the archbishop, who +accordingly writes a letter to the king complaining of the resistance +made by the friars. Felipe IV, in a decree dated August 14, 1622, +orders that the missions in the Philippines shall be subject to +the provisions of another decree (issued June 22 of the same year) +promulgated for the missions in Nueva España. This provides that +the same procedure be followed therein as in the missions of Peru; +that the missions remain in charge of the orders, but that hereafter +the religious be not placed in charge of missions; that they shall +be subject to the archbishop in matters pertaining to the churches +and the care of souls, but that anything relating to the personal +character of such priest shall be privately referred to his superior +in the order, who shall try and correct him. + +An unsigned and undated document (1624?) gives an interesting account +of a conflict between the civil and religious authorities in Manila +over the question of a criminal's right to asylum in a church. It +is decided, at least for the time, in favor of the ecclesiastical +authorities. + +At the death of Governor Fajardo (July 11, 1624) the Audiencia take +charge of the government. One of their first measures is to revoke +the grant made not long before by Fajardo of certain monopolies +to a seminary founded by him for educating Christian Japanese to +go as ordained missionaries to their own country. The members of +the Audiencia claim that this was an ill-timed act, in view of the +persecution of Christians in Japan, and the edicts of its ruler +expelling Spaniards from his realm, and forbidding his subjects to +trade with them. Moreover, the seminary building is being erected in +a place selected in violation of a royal decree, and which has been +arbitrarily seized from its owners; and the monopolies granted are +a grievance and injury to many persons, especially to the Indians +who reside near Manila. The Audiencia accordingly revoke these, +and order that the seminary building be demolished; and they issue +a royal decree in accordance with this decision. + +In a letter dated August 15, 1624, Archbishop Serrano advises the +king either to give more power and authority to the Audiencia, or +to suppress it. In the latter part of the same year the king issues +some decrees affecting the religious in the islands. The first +(dated August 30) cites earlier decrees regulating the privileges +and jurisdiction of the religious, and orders that these be strictly +observed. In a letter to the archbishop of Manila (dated October 8), +Felipe gives some directions regarding the religious orders. A letter +(dated November 27) to the Dominican provincial enumerates various +abuses practiced toward the Indians by the friars of that order, +and directs him to see that these be corrected. + +An interesting chapter of ecclesiastical history is provided in the +accounts of the early Recollect missions in the islands. These are +selected from the printed works here named: _Historia general de +los religiosos descalzos del orden de San Avgvstin_, by Andrés de +San Nicolas (Madrid, 1664), and the second part of the same work, by +Luis de Jesús (Madrid, 1681); and _Historia general de Philipinas_, +by Juan de la Concepción (Manila, 1788). From all these books we +select, as has been already announced, only such portions as closely +concern our subject, and such as contain information of special value, +or which is otherwise not accessible. + +From San Nicolas's work we take his account of the foundation of the +Recollect missions in the islands. This is begun in May, 1605, by Fray +Joan de San Jerónimo, who sets out with thirteen other religious; +they arrive at Cebú on May 10, 1606, one of the missionaries having +died on the voyage. After a brief description of Luzón and Manila, +the writer recounts the entrance of the Recollects into that city, +their hospitable reception from all, and their establishment in a +house of their own outside the walls. After some of the fathers have +learned the Tagál language, they begin their missionary labors at +Mariveles, not far from Manila, whose native inhabitants are unusually +brutal and ferocious. A brief outline of the customs and beliefs of +these people is presented, which, although slight, is valuable as +being another original source of ethnological information about the +Filipino peoples--the early Recollect missionaries, like Chirino and +his co-laborers, having gone among wild Indians who had had little +acquaintance with the Spaniards; and their observations are therefore +of natural and primitive conditions among the natives. + +The missionaries first sent to Mariveles soon die from hardship, +privation, and penances; but others at once volunteer to take +their places. Rodrigo de San Miguel is the first of these to go; +and he, with others, accomplishes a wonderful work among the fierce +Zambales. Details of the labors of each, and of marvelous escapes from +death, are related. At Masinglo a convent is founded by Andrés del +Espiritu Santo, which becomes a center of missionary work for a large +district. The missionaries are kept under strict rule and discipline, +that their self-abnegation and frugal mode of life may emphasize +their preaching; and regulations are laid down for their missionary +work and their relations with the Indians. The main residence of the +Recollects is, after some years, removed within the walls of Manila; +and a handsome building is erected for it, and endowed, by a pious +citizen. Some notable images in its church are described. + +Attempts being made, in both Rome and Spain, to suppress the new +order of Augustinian Recollects, various testimonies to the value of +their work, and to their piety and zeal, are furnished by various +officials, both civil and ecclesiastical; and in connection with +these is a statement of the scope and character of the occupations +and services of the Recollects, in both peace and war. Convents are +founded by these missionaries at Bolinao and Cigayan. At the latter +place, one of the fathers is slain by an Indian, and the church is +burned by the revolting natives; but the indefatigable missionaries +return to the unpromising field, again subdue the wild Indians, and +restore what these had destroyed. Another residence is established at +Cavite, which accomplishes great good among the seamen who live there. + +The history of the discalced Augustinians is continued by Luis de +Jesús. In 1621 the reformed branch of the Augustinians is erected +into a congregation independent of the original order. In that year +a convent of the discalced is founded in Cebú, and, through the +generosity of their benefactor Ribera, another at Calumpan, outside +the walls of Manila; the latter serves as a quiet retreat for the +fathers, to the benefit of both their physical and spiritual health, +and under its care is placed the village of Sampaloc. In it is kept +a miraculous image of the Virgin. In 1622 the Recollects begin to +evangelize Mindanao, of which island there is a brief description, +with more detailed ones of certain curious birds and animals found +there, and of the customs and beliefs of the natives. Their government +is simply the tyranny of the strong over the weak, a condition of +oppression and cruelty and wretchedness. Slavery, formerly a common +practice among them, has been broken up where the missionaries have +introduced the Christian religion. In 1609 the natives of Caraga +are subdued by the Spaniards, as also in 1613 a revolt by them is +quelled; and finally (1622) the Recollects carry the gospel among +them. The missionaries do much to subdue these fierce savages, and +make many converts--notable among whom is a powerful chief named +Inuc, whose example is followed by many. A flourishing mission has +also been established on the river of Butúan, where had formerly +been a Christian mission, now abandoned. Detailed accounts are +given of the labors and dangers which the fathers undergo, and of +certain conversions. Our historian does the same for the missions in +Calamianes and Cuyo. It may be noted that the Recollect missionaries +vigorously pursued the same policy as that of the Jesuits in forming +"reductions" or mission villages of their converts. Various miraculous +events in the experience of the missionaries are related, especially +the exorcism of certain demons who attempted to drive the Spanish +soldiers out of the country. Another mission is opened on the Cagayan +River in Misamis, northern Mindanao; the fathers meet great trials and +hardships, but finally succeed in converting the leading headman on +the river, with many of his followers. They are greatly aided in this +by the successful revolt of these Indians against the Mahometan chief +Corralat, in which they ask and receive the assistance of the Spanish +troops stationed at Tandag. From the records of the provincial chapter +held at Manila in 1650 is compiled a list of the Recollect convents +in Mindanao and Calamianes, with the number of families attached to +each. The writer goes on to relate some of the trials, hardships, +and dangers experienced by the Recollect missionaries in their work, +several being martyrs to their zeal. In 1624 is held the first chapter +meeting of the new Recollect province of Filipinas; Fray Onofre de +la Madre de Dios is chosen provincial, and certain regulations for +the conduct of the religious of the order there are adopted. + +With these earlier narratives may be compared that of Juan de la +Concepción, in his _Historia_ (vols. iv and v), which contains some +matter additional to the others, although his account is largely drawn +from these. The Recollects, like the Jesuits, form "reductions" of +their scattered converts, in order to carry on their instruction more +advantageously. The difficulties between the observantine and reformed +branches of the Augustinian order are recounted with some fulness. A +singular epidemic of demoniacal obsession at Cavite is dispelled by +the religious services held at the new Recollect church there. At the +request of the bishop of Cebú, the discalced Augustinians extend their +work--a reënforcement of missionaries having arrived from Spain--to +the Visayan Islands and to Mindanao (1622); some account of their +successes in the latter region is given. They also push forward into +the Calamianes Islands and Paragua (1622). Of these islands the writer +presents an interesting account, describing their principal products +and natural resources, as well as the character and religious beliefs +of the natives. Among these people, unusually brutal and fierce, go +the undaunted Recollects, and soon establish flourishing missions, +collecting the people in "reductions." Then they send to Manila a +request that Spanish soldiers come and take possession of Paragua, +which is done. The missions spread farther, and a large part of the +island is subdued to the Christian faith and the crown of Spain. + + +_The Editors_ + +October, 1904. + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1624 + + + Ecclesiastical affairs of the Philippines. Miguel Garcia Serrano, + and others; 1574-1624. + Conflict between civil and religious authorities in + Manila. [Unsigned and undated; 1624?] + Seminary for Japanese missionaries. Alvaro de Messa y Lugo, + and others; July 23-August 5. + Extract from letter to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcia Serrano; August 15. + Royal orders regarding the religious. Felipe IV; August-December. + + + +_Sources_: The first of these documents is obtained from Pastells's +edition of Celin's _Labor evangélica_, iii, pp. 674-697; the second, +from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), i, pp. 515-523; the +others, from the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla--save the second +of the "Royal orders," from the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The third document is translated by Robert W. Haight; +the second part of the fifth, by Arthur B. Myrick, of Harvard +University; the remainder, by James A. Robertson. + + + + + +ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS OF THE PHILIPPINES + +_Royal Instructions to Gomez Perez Dasmariñas Regarding Ecclesiastical +Affairs_ + + +The King. To Gomez Perez Dasmariñas, my governor and captain-general +of the Philipinas Islands, or the person or persons in charge of +their government: I ordered a decree of various articles to be given +to my viceroy of Nueva España, in regard to what was to be done and +observed in that country for the preservation of my patronage, as is +contained at length in the said decree, whose tenor is as follows: + +"The King. To our viceroy of Nueva España, or the person or persons +who shall, for the time being, be exercising the government of that +country: As you know, the right of the ecclesiastical patronage belongs +to us throughout the realm of the Yndias--both because of having +discovered and acquired that new world, and erected there and endowed +the churches and monasteries at our own cost, or at the cost of our +ancestors, the Catholic Sovereigns; and because it was conceded to us +by bulls of the most holy pontiffs, conceded of their own accord. For +its conservation, and that of the right that we have to it, we order +and command that the said right of patronage be always preserved for +us and our royal crown, singly and _in solidum_, throughout all the +realm of the Yndias, without any derogation therefrom, either in whole +or in part; and that we shall not concede the right of patronage by +any favor or reward that we or the kings our successors may confer. + +"Further, no person or persons, or ecclesiastical or secular +communities, or church or monastery, shall be able to exercise the +right of patronage by custom privilege, or any other title, unless it +be the person who shall exercise it in our name, and with our authority +and power; and no person, whether secular or ecclesiastical, and no +order, convent, or religious community, of whatever state, condition, +rank, and preeminence he or they may be, shall for any occasion and +cause whatever, judicially or extra-judicially, dare to meddle in any +matter touching my royal patronage, to injure us in it--to appoint +to any church, benefice, or ecclesiastical office, or to be accepted +if he shall have been appointed--in all the realm of the Indias, +without our presentation, or that of the person to whom we commit +it by law or by letters-patent. He who shall do the contrary, if he +be a secular person, shall incur the loss of the concessions that +shall have been made to him by us in all the realm of the Indias, +shall be unable to hold and obtain others, and shall be exiled +perpetually from all our kingdoms and seigniories; and if he shall +be an ecclesiastical person, he shall be considered as a foreigner, +and exiled from all our kingdoms, and shall not be able to hold or +obtain any benefice or ecclesiastical office, and shall incur the other +penalties established against such by laws of these my kingdoms. And +our viceroys, audiencias, and royal justices shall proceed with all +severity against those who thus shall infringe or violate our right of +patronage; and they shall proceed officially, either at the petition +of our fiscals, or at that of any party who demands it; and in the +execution of it great diligence shall be exercised. + +"We desire and order that no cathedral church, parish church, +monastery, hospital, votive church, or any other pious or religious +establishment be erected, founded, or constructed, without our +express consent for it, or that of the person who shall exercise our +authority; and further, that no archbishopric, bishopric, dignidad, +canonry, racion, media-racion, rectorial or simple benefice, or any +other ecclesiastical or religious benefice or office, be instituted, +or appointment to it be made, without our consent or presentation, +or that of the person who shall exercise our authority; and such +presentation or consent shall be in writing, in the ordinary manner. + +"The archbishoprics and bishoprics shall be appointed by our +presentation, made to our very holy father [_i.e._, the Roman pontiff] +who shall be at that time, as has been done hitherto. + +"The dignidades, canonries, racions and media-racions of all the +cathedral churches of the Indias shall be filled by presentation made +by our royal warrant, given by our royal Council of the Indias, and +signed by our name, by virtue of which the archbishop or bishop of +the church where the said dignidad, canonry, or racion shall be shall +grant to him collation and canonical installation, which shall also be +in writing, sealed with his seal and signed with his hand. Without the +said presentation, title, collation, and canonical installation, in +writing, he shall not be given possession of such dignidad, canonry, +racion, or media-racion; neither shall he accept the benefits and +emoluments of it, under the penalties contained in the laws against +those who violate our royal patronage. + +"If in any of the cathedral churches of the Yndias there should +not be four beneficiaries--at least resident, and appointed by +our presentation and warrant and the canonical installation of the +prelate--because of the other prebends being vacant, or if appointments +to them have been made because the beneficiaries are absent (even +though it be for a legitimate reason) for more than eight months, +until we present them the prelate shall elect four seculars to fill +out the term of those who shall have been appointed as residents, +choosing them from the most capable and competent that shall offer, +or who can be found, so that they may serve in the choir, the altar, +the church, and as curas, if that should be necessary in the said +church, in place of the vacant or absent prebendaries, as above +stated. He shall assign them an adequate salary, as we have ordered +at the account of the vacant or absent prebendaries; and the said +provision shall not be permanent, but removable at will [_ad nutum_], +and those appointed shall not occupy the seat of the beneficiary in +the choir, nor enter or have a vote in the cabildo. If the cathedral +church has four or more beneficiaries, the prelates shall not take it +upon themselves to appoint any prebendaries, or to provide a substitute +in such post, whether for those that become vacant, or for those whose +incumbents may be absent, unless they shall give us notice, so that we +may make the presentations or take such measures as may be advisable. + +"No prelate, even though he have an authentic relation and information +that we have presented any person to a dignidad, canonry, racion, +or any other benefice, shall grant him collation or canonical +installation, or shall order that he be given possession of it, unless +our original warrant of the said presentation be first presented; +and our viceroys or audiencias shall not meddle by making them receive +such persons without the said presentation. + +"After the original warrant of our presentation has been presented, +appointment and canonical installation shall be made without any delay; +and order will be given to assign to him the emoluments, unless +there is some legitimate objection against the person presented, +and one which can be proved. If there is no legitimate objection, +or if any such be alleged that shall not be proved, and the prelate +should delay the appointment, installation, and possession, he shall +be obliged to pay to such person the emoluments and incomes, costs, +and interests, that shall have been incurred by him. + +"It is our desire that, in the presentations that shall be made for +dignidades, canonries and prebends in the cathedral churches of the +Yndias, lettered men be preferred to those who are not, and those who +shall have served in cathedral churches of these same kingdoms and +who shall have had most experience in the choir and divine worship, +to those who shall not have served in cathedral churches. + +"At least in the districts where it can be conveniently done, a +graduate jurist in general study shall be presented for a doctoral +canonicate, and another lettered theological graduate in general study +for another magistral canonicate, who shall have the pulpit with the +obligations that doctoral and magistral canons have in these kingdoms. + +"Another lettered theologue approved by general study shall be +presented to read the lesson of the holy scriptures, and another +lettered jurist theologue for the canonicate of penitence, in +accordance with the established decrees of the holy council of +Trent. The said four canonries shall be of the number of those of +the erection of the Church. + +"We will and order that all the benefices, whether sinecures or +curacies, secular and regular, and the ecclesiastical offices that +become vacant, or that, as they are new, must be filled, throughout +the realm of the Yndias, in whatever diocese it may be, besides those +that are provided in the cathedral churches, as stated above, shall, +in order that they may be filled with less delay, and that our royal +patronage may be preserved in them, be filled in the following manner: + +"When a benefice (whether a sinecure or a curacy), or the +administration of any hospital or a sacristy or churchwardenship, or +the stewardship of a hospital, or any other benefice or ecclesiastical +office, shall become vacant, or when it has to be filled for the first +time: the prelate shall order a written proclamation to be posted +in the cathedral church, or in the church, hospital, or monastery +where such benefice or office is to be filled, with the suitable +limit, so that those who desire to compete for it may enter the +lists. From all those who thus compete, and from all the others whom +the prelate shall believe to be suitable persons for such office or +benefice, after having examined them and after having informed himself +concerning their morals and ability, he shall choose two persons from +them--those whom, in the sight of God and his conscience, he shall +judge most suitable for such office or benefice. The nomination +of the two thus named shall be presented to our viceroy or to the +president of our royal Audiencia; or to the person who, in our name, +shall exercise the superior government of the province where such +benefice or office shall become vacant or must be filled, so that he +may select one from the two appointees. He shall send that selection +to the prelate, so that the latter in accordance with it, and by +virtue of that presentation, may grant the appointment, collation, +and canonical installation--by way of commission and not by perpetual +title, but removable at will by the person who shall have presented +them in our name, together with the prelate. And should there be +no more than one person who desires to compete for such benefice or +office, or the prelate shall not find more than one person whom he +desires to receive the nomination to it, he shall send the name to our +viceroy, president, or governor, as above stated, so that the latter +may present him. Then by virtue of such presentation, the prelate +shall make the appointment in the form above directed. But it is +our desire and will that when the presentation shall be made by us, +and we shall expressly state in our presentation that the collation +and canonical installation shall be by title and not by commission, +those presented by us be always preferred to those presented by our +viceroys, presidents, or governors, in the form above mentioned. + +"And in the repartimientos and villages of Indians, and in other +places where there shall be no benefice or any regulations for +electing one, or any form of appointing a secular or religious to +administer sacraments and teach the doctrine, providing it in the +form above directed, the prelate--after posting a proclamation, so +that if there shall be any ecclesiastical or religious person, or any +other of good morals and education who may go to teach the doctrine +at such village--from those who shall compete, or from other persons +whom he shall deem most suitable and fitting, shall elect two, after +informing himself of their competency and good character. He shall +send the nomination to our viceroy, president, or governor who shall +reside in the province, so that the latter may present one of the two +thus nominated by the prelate. If there shall be no more than one, +by virtue of that presentation the prelate shall appoint him to the +mission, giving him installation, as he has to teach the doctrine. He +shall order to be given to such person the emoluments that are to be +given to ministers or missions, and shall order the encomenderos and +other persons, under the penalties and censures that he shall deem +suitable, not to annoy or disturb such person in the exercise of his +duty and the teaching of the Christian doctrine; on the contrary, +they shall give him all protection and aid for it. That appointment +shall be made removable at the will of the person who shall have +appointed him in our name, and that of the prelate. + +"We also will and order that the religious orders observe and maintain +the right of patronage in the following form. + +"First: No general, commissary-general, visitor, provincial, or any +other superior of the religious orders, shall go to the realm of the +Yndias, without first showing in our royal Council of the Indias the +powers that he bears and giving us relation of them; and without the +Council giving him our decree and permission so that he may go, and +a warrant so that our viceroys, audiencias, justices, and our other +vassals may admit and receive him to the exercise of his office, +and give him all protection and aid in it. + +"Any provincial, visitor, prior, guardian, or other high official, +who may be elected and nominated in the realm of the Yndias shall, +before being admitted to exercise his office, inform our viceroy, +president, Audiencia, or governor who shall have in charge the +supreme government of such province, and shall show him his patent +of nomination and election, so that the latter may give him the +protection and aid necessary for the exercise and use of his office. + +"The provincials of all the orders who are established in the +Yndias, each one of them, shall always keep a list ready of all the +monasteries and chief residences [maintained there by his orders] +and of the members [resident in each] that fall in his province, +and of all the religious in the province--noting each one of them by +name, together with a report of his age and qualifications, and the +office or ministry in which each one is occupied. He shall give that +annually to our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, or the person who +shall have charge of the supreme government in the province, adding to +or removing from the list the religious who shall be superfluous and +those who shall be needed. Our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, shall +keep those general lists which shall thus be given, for himself, and in +order that he may inform us by report of the religious that there are, +and those of whom there is need of provision, by each fleet sent out. + +"The provincials of the orders, each one of them shall make a list of +all the religious who are occupied in teaching the Christian doctrine +to the Indians, and the administration of sacraments, and the offices +of curas in the villages of the chief monasteries. They shall give such +list once a year to our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, who shall +give it to the diocesan prelate, so that he may know and understand +what persons are occupied in the administration of sacraments and +the office of curas and the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and who are +in charge of the souls for whom he is responsible; and in order that +what is or must be provided may be apparent to him, and from whom he +has to require account of the said souls, and to whom he must commit +what is to be done for the welfare of those souls. + +"Whenever the provincials have to provide any religious for instruction +or for the administration of sacraments, or remove any who shall +have been appointed, they shall give notice thereof to our viceroy, +president, Audiencia, or governor who shall exercise the supreme +government of the province, and to the prelate; and they shall not +remove any one who shall have been appointed, until another shall +have been appointed in his place, observing the above order. + +"We desire, in the presentations and appointments of all the prelacies, +dignidades, and ecclesiastical offices and benefices, that those +most deserving, and who shall have been engaged longer and to better +profit in the conversion of the Indians, and in instructing them +in the Christian doctrine, and in the administration of sacraments, +shall be presented and appointed. Therefore we strictly charge the +diocesan prelates, and those superiors of the religious orders, and +we order our viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, that +in the nominations, presentations, and appointments that they shall +have to make there, as is said, in conformity [with this decree], +they shall always prefer, in the first place, those who shall have +been occupied, by life and example, in the conversion of the Indians, +and in instruction and in administering the sacraments, and those who +shall know the language of the Indians whom they have to instruct; +and, in the second place, those who shall be the sons of Spaniards +and who shall have served us in those regions. + +"In order that we may better make the presentation that shall +become necessary of prelacies, dignidades, prebends, and the other +ecclesiastical offices and benefices, we ask and charge the said +diocesan prelates and the provincials of the religious orders, and we +order our viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, each one +of them, separately and distinctly by himself, without communicating +one with another, to make a list of all the dignidades, benefices, +missions, and ecclesiastical offices in his province, noting those +of them that are vacant, and those that are filled. Likewise they +shall make a list of all the ecclesiastical and religious persons, +and of the sons of citizens and Spaniards who are studying for +the purpose of becoming ecclesiastics, and of the good character, +learning, competency and qualities of each one, stating clearly his +good parts and also his defects, and declaring, so that prelacies, +dignidades, benefices, and ecclesiastical offices shall be suitably +filled, both those that shall be at present found vacant, and those +that shall become vacant hereafter. Those relations shall be sent us +closed and sealed, in each fleet, and in different ships; and what +shall be deemed advisable to add to or to suppress from the preceding +ones that shall have been sent before, shall be added or suppressed; +so that no fleet shall sail without its relation. We charge the +consciences of one and all straitly with this matter. + +"In order that we may not be deceived by those who come or send +to petition us to present them to some dignidad, benefice, or +ecclesiastical office, we desire, and it is our will, that he who +shall thus come or send appear before our viceroy, or before the +president and Audiencia, or before the one who shall have charge of +the supreme government of the province; and, declaring his petition, +the viceroy, Audiencia, or governor shall make the relation officially, +with information concerning his standing, learning, morals, competency, +and other details. After it is made, he shall send it separately +from those persons. Likewise the approval of their prelate shall be +obtained, and warning is given that those who come to petition for a +dignidad, benefice, or ecclesiastical office without such investigation +shall not be received. + +"We desire and it is our will that no person can hold, obtain, or +occupy two dignidades, or ecclesiastical benefices in the provinces +of the Yndias, either in the same or in different churches. Therefore +we order that if any one shall be presented by us for any dignidad, +benefice, or office, he shall renounce what he shall have held +previously, before his collation and appointment. + +"If the one presented by us does not present himself, within the +time contained in the presentation, to the prelate who must make +the appointment and canonical installation, after the expiration of +the said time the presentation shall be void, and no appointment and +canonical installation can be made by virtue of it. + +"Inasmuch as it is our will that the above-contained be observed +and obeyed, for we believe that such procedure is expedient for the +service of God and for our own, I order you to examine the above, +and to observe and obey it, and cause it to be observed and obeyed +in all those provinces and villages, and their churches, _in toto_, +and exactly as is contained and declared, for what time shall be our +will. You shall accomplish and fulfil it, in the ways that shall appear +most advisable to you. You shall take for this purpose such measures +and precautions as shall be advisable, in virtue of this my decree; and +I give you for that complete authority in legal form. Accordingly we +request and charge the very reverend father in Christ, the archbishop +of that city, and member of our Council, and the reverend fathers +in Christ, the archbishop of Nueva España, the venerable deans +and cabildo of the cathedral churches of that country, and all the +curas, beneficiaries, sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons, +the venerable and devout fathers provincial, guardians, priors, +and other religious of the orders of St. Dominic, St. Augustine, +St. Francis, and of all the other orders, that in what pertains to, +and is incumbent on them, they observe and obey this decree, acting in +harmony with you, for all that shall be advisable. Given in San Lorenzo +el Real, June first, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Eraso_" + + +I order you to examine the said decree, and its sections +above-incorporated, and you shall observe and obey it, and cause it +to be observed and obeyed _in toto_, as is contained and declared +in it and in each one of its sections, as if it were given for those +islands and directed to you. I charge the reverend father in Christ, +the bishop of those islands, the venerable dean and cabildo of +the cathedral church of the islands, all the curas, beneficiaries, +sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons, and the venerable and +devout fathers provincial, guardians, priors, and other religious of +the orders of St. Dominic, St. Augustine, St. Francis, and all the +other orders, that in what pertains to, and is incumbent on them, +they observe and obey it, acting in harmony with you in every way +that may be advisable and necessary. Given in San Lorenzo, September +thirteen, one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine. [1] + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Joan de Ibarra_ +Signed by the Council. + + +[The litigation between the prelate and the religious orders originated +from the visitation of the village of Dilao (which belonged to the +ministry of the Franciscan fathers), commenced by Archbishop Miguel +Garcia Serrano, June 24, 1624, [2] with the dictation by him of the +following:] [3] + + +_Act_. In the village of Quiapo, which is near the city of Manila, on +the twenty-second day of the month of June, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-two, his Excellency, Don Fray Miguel García y Serrano, +archbishop of these Philipinas Islands, member of his Majesty's +council, etc., declared that, inasmuch as the eleventh chapter +of the twenty-fifth session of the holy council of Trent rules and +orders that the religious who exercise the duties of curas of souls be +immediately subject, in regard to such duties and in all that pertains +to the administration of the sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, +and correction of the bishop in whose diocese they minister; and that +no one, even though he be _admovibilis ad nutum_, can exercise the +said office of cura without having obtained beforehand the consent +and examination of the bishop or his vicar, etc., [4] which is +ordered to be strictly observed and obeyed, both by the bishops and +the superiors of the religious, and by the religious themselves, by +the twenty-second chapter following, notwithstanding any privileges, +constitutions, rules, customs, rights, and others _non obstantibus_, +etc.; besides which, his Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, by his brief +which was obtained at the instance of his Majesty, under date of Roma, +April 18, one thousand five hundred and ninety-one, charges and orders +the archbishop of these islands to visit the missions and the religious +in them. [5] + +All of the above is ordered to be observed and obeyed in these islands +by decrees of his Majesty, under date of June first, five hundred +and eighty-five; December twenty-one, five hundred and ninety-five; +and November fourteen, one thousand six hundred and three. [6] +In conformity with these decrees, his most illustrious Lordship, +wishing to observe what his Holiness and his Majesty have ordered, +as it is a matter very advisable and necessary for the service of God +our Lord and that of his Majesty, and the welfare and increase of the +conversion, teaching, and instruction of the natives of these islands, +notified the very reverend fathers-provincial in Christ of the sacred +orders of St. Dominic and St. Augustine, and the commissaries of that +of St. Francis, of these islands, by means of an order signed by his +most illustrious Lordship, which was given to them in the first part +of April of this current year, so that, understanding it, the matter +might be facilitated and observed on the part of the said orders, +with the good-will and exactness that is proper, and which they have +always had in obeying and observing the orders of the holy apostolic +see, and those of his Majesty. And inasmuch as it is advisable that +there be no more delay in the above, his most illustrious Lordship +intends to go to visit the mission of the natives of the village of +Dilao, outside the walls of the city of Manila, which is in charge +of the Order of St. Francis, on the day of St. John the Baptist. He +has advised the father guardian of the said convent thereof, in order +that the Indians of the said convent may be assembled in the church at +the hour of high mass, and so that all other necessary arrangements +be made for making the said visit. His Lordship ordered the above +to be set down as an act, together with the copy of the brief of his +Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, and of his Majesty's decrees, of which +mention is made above; and he signed the same. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +Before me: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +In the town of Quiapo, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of June, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-two, the illustrious lord Don +Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano, archbishop of the Philipinas, member +of his Majesty's council, etc., declared that he ordered--and he +did so order--that that notification that his illustrious Lordship +ordered to be made and that he made, to the superiors of the religious +orders--namely, the order mentioned in the act of the twenty-second of +this month, which was made on account of the visitation of Dilao--be +filed with the [records of the] said visitation, which is to be begun +on this said day, of the said mission and ministry of Dilao. Thus +did he decree and order. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +Before me: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +Very reverend fathers in Christ, the provincials of the holy orders of +these Philipinas Islands: Being obliged to carry out the ordinance and +mandate of the holy council of Trent and the decrees of his Majesty in +regard to the examination and visitation which I have to make of the +religious who are administering the missions of natives in my diocese, +I deemed it advisable, in order to attain my object better, to inform +your Paternities of it before beginning it--so that, understanding +the matter, it might be facilitated and observed by your Paternities +with the good-will and exactness that are proper, and which you have +always displayed in obeying and observing the mandates of the holy +apostolic see and those of his Majesty. + +As your Paternities know, chapter 11 of the 25th session of the holy +council of Trent, _De regularibus et monialibus_, rules and orders +that the religious who exercise the duties of curas of souls be +immediately subject as regards such duties, and in everything that +pertains to the administration of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, +visit, and correction of the bishop in whose diocese they administer; +and that no one, though he be _amovilibis ad nutum_, may exercise +the said duty of cura without first having obtained the consent of, +and been examined by, the bishop or his vicar, etc. Both the bishops +and the superiors of the religious, and the religious themselves, +are strictly ordered to observe and fulfil the above, as ordered by +article 22 following, notwithstanding any privileges, regulations, +rules, customs, and rights, and others _non obstantibus_, etc. + +This decree then, of the holy council of Trent, has two parts--one in +which it is ordered that the said religious be immediately subject +in regard to curas, and in all that pertains to the administration +of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the +bishops; and the other that, before being admitted to the said duty, +they must obtain the consent of, and be examined by, the bishops or +their vicars. There has never been any innovation in the first; for, +although the second part had the innovation that appears in two briefs +issued by his Holiness Pius V--one in general for all Christendom, +which he conceded at the instance of the mendicant orders, under date +of Roma, July 17, 1567, in the second year of his pontificate, whose +beginning is, _Etsi mendicantium ordines_; and the other a special +one for the Yndias, at the instance of his Majesty, under date of +Roma, of March 26, of the same year--in those briefs there was no +innovation in regard to the first part. On the contrary, in the brief +of his Holiness Gregory XIV which his Majesty sent to these islands, +and which was obtained at his instance, under date of Roma, April 18, +1591, the first year in which he commits to the archbishop of Manila +the adjustment and restitution of what the conquistadors and other +persons had in charge among the Indians, and prohibits religious from +going from a pacified district to convert one unpacified, without the +permission of the bishops, there is a clause of the following tenor +...: _Praeteria cum praecipuum munus Episcoporum sit proprias oves +per se ipsos pascere et visitare_. [7] + +In regard to the second part of the two things ordered by the holy +council--that is, that the religious, before they can exercise the +duties of the care of souls, must first get the consent of, and be +examined by, the bishops or their vicars--that order also appears +today in its entire force and vigor. For although it is true that his +Holiness Pius V reserved the said religious from the said permission +and examination, by the two privileges above mentioned, afterward +his Holiness Gregory XIII reduced these and all the other favors and +concessions given to the mendicant orders by Pius V to the terms of +law and the holy council of Trent, as appears by his _motu proprio_ +given at Roma, on the kalends of March, 1573, the first year of his +pontificate, whose beginning is _In tanta rerum_, etc., and which +father Fray Manuel Rodriguez inserted in the book that he published +concerning the privileges of the orders, [8] in number 38 of those +of that same supreme pontiff. + +Although it is true that it is stated in the memorial which the Order +of St. Francis in Nueva España presented regarding the substance +of the privileges of the mendicant orders in the Yndias, at the +provincial council that was convened in Mexico in the year 1585, +at the instance of the same council (as is mentioned by father Fray +Juan Baptista, of the said order, in the second part of his book of +advice for confessors), that the said revocation had no effect, because +the cardinal protectors of the orders immediately appealed from it, +asking his Holiness to suspend the said _motu proprio_ and that it +be not promulgated; and that his Holiness agreed to it, and that, +accordingly, no account was taken of it--it appears that no attention +must be paid to that, for the said memorial has no further proof or +authority than the certification of Father Master Veracruz, who was in +Sevilla when the _motu proprio_ of Gregory XIII was issued, and because +Father Manuel Rodriguez, of the same Order of St. Francis, affirms +the contrary--who some years later, while residing in Salamanca, where +there was more notice of it than in the Yndias, published his books of +"questions concerning the regulars," as appears in article 7, question +8, of the first volume, [9] as well as in other places. With the same +agrees father Fray Alonso de Vega, in his conclusion, chapter 62, +case 4, _Questio de confessione_, and it appears by the declarations +of the holy congregation of the cardinals, which Marcilla reports +in article 20, of section 25, _de regularibus_, and in article 15, +of section 13, _de reformatione_, [10] besides others, by which it is +manifest that it is a privilege that his Majesty obtained for what he +then judged advisable for the proper government of the churches of the +Yndias, and the greater increase of their Christianity. It ought not, +nor can it, be understood to be to the prejudice of the privileges +that the holy apostolic see has conceded to the kings of España for +the same purpose, such as that of Alexander VI, in his bull of the +concession or confirmation of the Indias, as follows: _Hortamur vos +quamplurimum ... et infra sit--insuper mandamus vobis in virtute +sanctae obedientiae (sicut etiam pollicemini) et non dubitamus pro +vestra maxima devotione et regia magnanimitate vos esse facturos, +ad terras firmas et insulis praedictas, viros probos...._ [11] + +And Adrian VI, in his _Omnimodo_, as follows: _Dum tamen sint tales +sufficientiae ..._ and of the right of the royal patronage. [12] + +And since it is now his Majesty's will that the fitness and approval +of the said religious in regard to curas must be to the satisfaction +of the bishops, which he says to be thus advisable for the discharge +of his royal conscience and that of the said bishops, it is clear +that we are bound to fulfil it as a command of the holy apostolic see. + +The above is in respect to the mandates of his Holiness. Coming to +that which is ordered in this regard by the decrees of his Majesty, +it appears that his Majesty having despatched his royal decree on the +sixth of December, 1585, that if there were any capable clergy they +should be preferred, in the benefices and missions of the Indians +to the religious who held them, and who should have held them, by +virtue of another royal decree of May twenty-five, of five hundred +and eighty-five, his Majesty gave notice to the Order of St. Francis, +of Nueva España, that he had ordered the suspension for the time being +of the execution of this decree; and that the said missions be held, +as hitherto, by the orders and religious; that there be no innovation +in the manner of presentation and appointment; that the bishops +in their own persons (these are the words of the royal decree), +without committing it to any others, shall visit the churches of +the missions, where the said religious may be, and in the missions +inspect the most holy sacrament, the baptismal font, the building of +the said churches, and the service of divine worship; and that they +also visit the religious who should reside in the said missions, +and correct them in matters concerning curas. + +That royal decree is in the book of advice to confessors of Indians +which father Fray Juan Baptista, of the Order of St. Francis, published +in Mexico, in the year six hundred; it is on folio 380. On folio +259, it contains what the provincials of the orders of St. Dominic, +St. Francis, and St. Augustine, of the province of Mexico, answered +to it on the twenty-eighth of November, of the said year, 585. That +answer was to accept the said missions _non ex votis charitatis_, +but with the obligation of _in se et justitia_; and in regard to +being visited, they say that, inasmuch as the obstacles of their +disturbance and relaxation of discipline were always to be found, +which induced the apostolic see to exempt them from the visits of +the ordinaries--which obstacles would be more and greater in the +Yndias, if authority were given for it--they would not refuse the +reverence, respect, and submission due to the bishops, as prelates +and shepherds of the Church of God. They said that they were under +greater obligations to them than to any one else, and would respect +them and receive them into their convents with proper reverence, +as they had always done; and that, obeying what his Majesty ordered, +they would be very glad to have them visit in their churches the most +holy sacrament, the baptismal font, and what concerns it; but in all +matters outside the above-mentioned, they petitioned his Majesty not +to give the bishops authority or entrance, for that would mean the +perpetual disquiet and ruin of their order. + +But as for that which the said orders of Nueva España declared in that +reply, namely, that the obstacles of disturbance and relaxed discipline +were bound to follow the visits of the bishops, for which the apostolic +see was induced to exempt them from their jurisdiction; nevertheless, +it will be considered that a very different reason will be found +to prevail in this case in respect to which, as regards religious +from whom visits are exempted, they have their special rules and +regulations, which are peculiar to each order. Both for that reason, +and because their institute, life, and government is of the cloister, +and they have no administration, dominion, and jurisdiction over +persons of the world, it was most advisable to give them superiors +who had been reared in the same life, customs, and rules of religion, +since, moreover, their profession was simply that of religious. + +But the ministry of the care of souls that the religious exercise +is not of the cloister, nor does it depend on their special rule or +institute; nor in regard to such are they at all different from the +secular curas, both touching the religious ministers themselves, +and touching the persons who are ministered to, whose spiritual +government is in charge of the bishops. + +And since it is a fact that the religious who accepts an executorship +is obliged to give a strict account of it to the bishop--nor does +he fulfil his duty by giving it to his superior, if it is a matter +with which the deceased entrusted him, who made election and a +confidant of him--with very much greater reason ought an account of +the administration of the souls that are immediately in charge of +the same bishop be given to him; and although in proof of that many +other arguments might be adduced, none will be so effective and so +conclusive as to consider that while there were, as is true, so many +so aged, learned, grave, and holy religious of all the orders present +in the holy council of Trent, who propounded as many difficulties +and obstacles as they could offer, yet the holy council decreed and +ordered as we have seen. + +In conformity with that, notwithstanding the said reply which the +orders of Nueva España gave to the decree of his Majesty, the orders +of his Majesty in regard to the said visits seem to have been obeyed, +for ten years after another royal decree was despatched, which the +said father, Fray Juan Baptista, mentions on folio 396 of the said +book, as follows: + +"The King. Reverend father in Christ, bishop of the city of Antequera, +of the valley of Huajaca, of Nueva España, and member of my council: +Inasmuch as I have heard that the religious who reside in those +regions, busied in the instruction and conversion of the Indians, give +out that it is a cause of great disquiet and uneasiness to them for you +to send to visit them, in regard to curacies, by clerics or religious +of other orders; and as it is advisable to avoid all occasions that +may divert them from their chief end, especially since (as they say) +it is contrary to their institutes, and is the occasion of their +living disconsolate, and that they are molested: I request and charge +you that when you are unable to visit in person the missions of that +bishopric--in accordance with the order in my decree of June first, +one thousand five hundred and eighty-five, [13] where this matter is +discussed at greater length--for the said visits of religious who shall +be in those missions, in regard to matters of curacies, of the most +holy sacrament, of the baptismal font, of the building of churches, and +all else concerning them, and the divine worship, you send religious +of the same orders. Consequently, where there are Dominican friars, +a friar of the same order shall be sent as visitor; and the same shall +be observed with Augustinians, Franciscans, and those of the Order of +Mercy, and of the Society. That shall be observed for the cases and in +the manner contained in the above-mentioned decree. Given in Madrid, +December twenty-one, one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. [14] + + +[_I The King_] + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +But since it was not expressed in the said royal decree of the year 585 +that the religious who should administer the benefices and missions +of the Indians should first be examined and approved by the bishops; +and since the remedy for the public excesses of the said religious +should be limited to the bishops in the decree, if there should be any +excesses even in respect to curacies--the bishops proceeding in this, +not in the form ruled by the said article II, of section 25, of the +holy council, but by that which is declared in article 14, of the +same section: his Majesty afterward decided, for considerations that +satisfied him, that the authority and jurisdiction of the bishops in +regard to the above be extended further, as the holy council rules; +and accordingly, on November 14, one thousand six hundred and three, +he despatched his royal decree for the metropolitan churches of the +Indias, one of which he sent to the archbishop of these islands, +which is of the following tenor: + +"The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the city +of Manila of the Philipinas Islands, and member of my council: +Notwithstanding that it is very carefully ordered that the ministers +who are appointed to the missions of the Indians, both seculars +and friars, must know the language of the Indians whom they have to +instruct and teach; that they shall have the qualifications that are +required for the duties of the curacies that they have to perform; +and that the religious missionaries be visited by the secular prelates +in regard to the curacies: I have been informed that it is not obeyed +as is advisable; that the prelates do not exercise the care that is +advisable in examining the said religious missionaries, in order to +satisfy you that they are competent and that they thoroughly understand +the language of those whom they are going to teach; and that many of +their omissions and excesses in the administration of the sacraments +and the exercise of the duties of curas are not remedied in the +visitations. That is a great obstacle, and consequently the Indians +suffer considerably in the spiritual and temporal. I have heard that +their superiors are less careful in this, and in the choice of the +persons, than they ought to be. And inasmuch as it is advisable for +the service of God our Lord and for mine, and for the welfare of the +Indians, that the ministers of instruction be such as are required +for this ministry, and that they know the Indians' language, I charge +you strictly that, in accordance with what is decreed and ordained, +you do not permit or allow, in the missions in charge of the orders +in the district of that archbishopric, any religious to come to +perform the duties of cura or to exercise that duty, unless he shall +first be examined and approved by you or by the person who shall be +appointed by you for that purpose, in order to satisfy yourself that +he has the necessary ability, and that he knows the language of the +Chinese or Indians whom he has to instruct. Those whom you shall find, +in the visits that you shall make, who have not the competency, good +qualities, and good example that are requisite, and who do not know +sufficiently the language of the Indians whom they are to instruct, +you shall remove; and you shall advise their superiors, so that they +may appoint others who have the necessary qualifications, in which +they also must be examined. You shall advise me of all that you do +in this matter. Given in San Lorenzo, November fourteen, one thousand +six hundred and three. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +With the above royal decree was despatched another to the royal +Audiencia, in which its observance and fulfilment is ordered and +charged; and another to the same archbishop, which only contains the +statement that he is strictly charged with its fulfilment. [15] His +Majesty says in it that it is advisable to do this for the relief +of his royal conscience and that of the archbishop himself. Those +decrees having arrived in the ships that came in the year six hundred +and five, Don Fray Miguel de Benavides, archbishop at that time, as +soon as he received them, presented all three in the royal meeting +held on the second of June, of the said year, and they were obeyed +and ordered to be fulfilled. But as the said archbishop died within +two months, he could not carry them out; and consequently they were +left unobserved, because the cabildo succeeded to the government of +the vacant see. Afterward, Archbishop Don Diego Vazquez de Mercado, +either because he knew nothing about them, or because he was so +far prevented by his age and infirmity (as all know), did not put +them into practice. At his death, Don Fray Diego de Arce, bishop +of Zibú, governed this archbishopric; but he did not know of the +said decrees. But as they have come to my notice, and since we are +obliged, both myself and your Paternities, to observe and obey what +his Holiness and his Majesty order in regard to this, as above stated, +we cannot excuse ourselves from immediately putting it into execution. + +We shall not be able to delay the observance of the said royal decree, +by saying that since twenty years have passed since its issue, +without having given it a beginning, it will be well to await his +Majesty's will once more; for, besides that things are today in the +same condition as then, it appears that his Majesty, having heard that +the said royal decree was not being observed in Nueva España, either +because the bishops had no knowledge of it, or for other reasons, +gave it again to the viceroy, Marquis de Guadalcazar, under date of +November nineteen, six hundred and eighteen, in which, inserting word +for word the first decree above mentioned of November fourteen, six +hundred and three, he orders it to be obeyed in the following words: + +"And inasmuch as it is my intention and will that what I have ordained +and ordered in regard to the above be strictly observed and executed, +I order you to examine the said my decree which is here incorporated, +and to observe and obey it _in toto_, according to its contents +and declarations, just as if I were talking with you, and it were +directed to you. Such is my will, notwithstanding that in the lapse +of time, and with the claims of the prelates and missionaries, +it has been winked at or another custom introduced, which shall, +under no circumstance, be in any manner allowed. Given in Madrid, +November nineteen, one thousand six hundred and eighteen. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Pedro de Ledesma_" + + +And the archbishop of Mexico having reported to his Majesty that the +above decree of his Majesty of six hundred and eighteen had not been +shown by the viceroy, although he had had it in his possession for some +time, his Majesty despatched other new decrees to the said viceroy and +archbishop, under date of February eighteen and August twenty-five, +six hundred and twenty, in which, he again orders them to observe and +obey the said first decree to the said archbishop, in these words: +"And since your person is authorized, not only by the council of Trent, +but by the declaration of the cardinals, and by common law, to proceed +to the visit for the reformation of all the missionaries, both seculars +and regulars, you shall endeavor to relieve your conscience and mine." + +Consequently, neither of us will by any means satisfy our obligations, +if we neglect to carry out the commands of his Holiness and of his +Majesty in this regard, so that we may report to his Majesty in the +first ships that his royal will has been fulfilled. + +From the above, and from the jurisdiction and authority conceded +to the bishops over their sheep by the sacred canons, councils, and +briefs of the holy apostolic see, it is manifest with what want of +reason and foundation has been the assertion and declaration made +three or four times by Father Pedro de San Pablo, provincial of the +Order of St. Francis, in the royal courts about one month ago, while +reporting a suit of the fiscals of the missions of the Indians--namely, +that the provincials of the orders of these islands, and the regular +ministers of the Yndias, had more jurisdiction and power, by virtue +of their privileges, over the Indians in regard to matters concerning +the ministry of their missions than had the bishops and archbishops +in whose dioceses the said missions are located. That appears to be +a universal sentiment and practice of the said religious, by what we +have experienced in the course of the visitation to the Indians of +our archbishopric that we have as yet made. Given in Manila, March +twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [16] + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +[On April two and three, Don Gabriel de Mújica, the archbishopric's +secretary, delivered in person a similar copy of the above +notifications to [each of] the fathers-provincial--namely, Fray Juan +Henrríquez, Augustinian; Fray Miguel Ruiz, Dominican; Fray Cristóbal +de Santa Ana, commissary visitor of St. Francis. On June 20, the +archbishop began his visits through the parish of Dilao, causing an +edict of the following tenor to be published from the pulpit during +high mass.] + +We, Don Fray Diego Garcia Serrano, by the grace of God and the +holy apostolic see, archbishop of the Philipinas, member of his +Majesty's council, etc.: To you, the faithful Christians, citizens, +dwellers, residents, and inhabitants of the village of Dilao, which +is administered by the Order of St. Francis, of whatever state, rank, +and preëminence you may be, greeting in our Lord Jesus Christ. We +cause you to know that the holy fathers, inspired personally by the +Holy Spirit in their sacred councils, piously and rightly ordered and +commanded that all the prelates and pastors of the universal Church +be obliged, in person or through their visitors, to make annually +a general visit and investigation of their subordinates and clergy, +both seculars and regulars, who have in charge the administration of +souls. This shall include the offices that they hold, in curacies +and in churches, hermitages, hospitals, and confraternities, all +which should be directed to the spiritual welfare of souls--which +consists in being, through the grace of God, our Lord, separated +from sins, especially public and disgraceful sins, which offend His +[Divine] Majesty so greatly. In order to fulfil this our obligation, +we admonish and order that those of you who shall know or who shall +have heard anything said concerning the father cura, your minister, who +has charge of you in the matter of the administration of sacraments, +or of any other person, which cannot or ought not to be tolerated +by the citizens and inhabitants of this said village of Dilao, of +whatever nation and rank he be, shall tell and declare it to us; +especially if he shall have committed what will be mentioned and +related to you later in this edict, in whole or in part, or any other +thing similar to it. You shall declare and manifest the same before +us within the three days first following after this our letter and +edict shall be declared and read to you. + +First, if you know or have heard said whether the said father cura N., +your minister, has been remiss and negligent in the administration +of the holy sacraments of baptism, penance, the eucharist, extreme +unction, and matrimony. + +_Item_: Whether anyone has died without holy baptism through his +neglect and carelessness, or without confession, communion, or +extreme unction. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has not said mass +for you on every Sunday or feast that is observed; or whether he has +made any signal omission in this; and whether he preaches and teaches +the Christian doctrine to you, as he is obliged. + +_Item_: Whether the administration of the holy sacraments takes place +with the reverence and propriety that is fitting; whether he has +married anyone before daybreak, or without the admonitions ordered by +the holy council, or without the notification of our vicars, and their +permission having preceded, in the cases in which it ought to be made +and asked for; and whether the baptisms that have taken place have been +in the baptismal font of the church, with all respect and reverence. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister keeps the tariff +of the fees--both those which pertain to him and those that pertain +to singers, fiscals, and sacristans--written and placed openly +where all may read it, so that they may know what they have to pay; +or whether he has forced the natives to give more alms than they owe +or are willing to give for marriages, baptisms, or burials, whether +in money or in other things. + +_Item_: Whether the said your minister is careful to execute the pious +foundations and the wills of his parishioners; or whether these have +failed to be observed through his fault. + +_Item_: Whether the said your minister is careful to register his +parishioners, both natives and those of other nations, at the time of +Lent; and whether he has confessed them during that time, or tried +to confess them; and whether he has, after Lent, made any effort to +ascertain whether they fulfilled their duties to the church according +to their obligation. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has concealed any +public or notorious sin of his parishioners, that has come to his +notice, and has not endeavored to have it remedied by the persons +who can remedy it. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has not looked +after the property of the church, the silver, and ornaments, and +everything belonging to it; and whether any property has been lost +by his carelessness and negligence. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said minister, in the public sins +that have come to his notice and that he has punished, has condemned +the sinners to pecuniary fines, or something of value, such as wax, +cloth, or other things; and whether he has failed to apply the said +fines to those to whom they belong, in accordance with his Holiness's +brief and his Majesty's decrees. + +_Item_: If you know whether the fiscals have performed their duty +poorly; or whether they live in sin, or are dishonest, or they conceal +sins or concubinage; or whether they receive bribes; or whether with +their authority as fiscal they have annoyed the Indians, or have +taken rice, fowls, or other things at a less price; or whether they +have imposed any tax under pretext of alms for the church, by their +authority that they possess as ministers of it; or whether they have +taken more fees than belong to them by our tariffs. + +_Item_: If you know whether the choristers and sacristans have +likewise taken larger fees than are assigned them by our said tariffs, +for burials, funeral honors, and other things that belong to them; +and whether, when any poor man has died who has not the wherewithal +to pay the fees, they have refused to bury him unless they are paid, +or unless they receive pledges that they demand before burying him. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any apostates of our holy +Catholic faith; or who practice any evil worship; or who possess or +read books of it. + +_Item_: Whether there are any who are living in public concubinage, +or as whoremongers; or who keep in their houses slave women, or other +women or men of evil life, in order to commit sins. + +_Item_: Whether there are any who have not confessed, or fulfilled +the precept of the church, according to their obligation; or whether +there are any who have eaten meat unnecessarily during Lent on the +fast of Friday or the four ember days. + +_Item_: Whether there are any married twice while the first husbands +or wives are living, or who are married to relatives in the degree +prohibited, without dispensation from him who can give it. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any usurers who loan money at +usury and interest; or who sell on credit at a dearer price than the +things are worth when cash is paid; or who buy at a less price in order +to give the money advanced with the imposition or fraud and usury. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any, either of you natives, +or of any other nation, either men or women, who are sorcerers, or +witches, or magicians; or those who pray to the devil, or who cast +any kind of lots, whether to discover theft, or to ascertain other +things by enchantments and witchcraft. + +And inasmuch as the above evil is a very great offense and disservice +to God our Lord; and as it is advisable to remedy that herein +contained that has been committed: we order, exhort, and admonish +all the citizens, dwellers, residents, and inhabitants of this said +village of Dilao [to make known these things], within the said term of +three days--under penalty that, if they know it and do not declare it, +they shall, if it be proved, be punished most severely. + +Given in this village of Dilao, June twenty-four, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-two. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. +By order of the bishop, my master: +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +[While the archbishop was proclaiming the visitation in the church +of the above village, father Fray José Fonte, secretary of father +commissary Fray Cristóbal de Santa Ana, presented to him the following +petition.] + +Fray Christoval de Santa Ana, preacher and commissary visitor of +the discalced Franciscans of this province of San Gregorio, etc.: I +declare that, as I have been informed that your Lordship intends to +visit the missions and their ministers of the said my order in this +archbishopric--which is not only an innovation, and a thing not done +by the other archbishops, the predecessors of your most illustrious +Lordship, but also contrary to the ordinance of the brief of his +Holiness Pius V, despatched in Roma, March twenty-four, one thousand +five hundred and sixty-seven, in which, notwithstanding the ordinance +of the holy council of Trent, authority is given to the religious who +are occupied in the conversion of, and preaching to, the Indians, +to perform the office of curas and administer the holy sacraments, +with subordination to the superiors of their order, and exemption +from the bishops and ordinary judges--accordingly the said my order +receives violence and injury from your Lordship's endeavor. [17] + +I petition and entreat you, in observance of the ordinance of his +Holiness, to preserve the said ministers and the said my order in their +exemption and privileges; if this be not done, I protest that I shall +make use of the other powers conceded to my order by the apostolic see, +and the remedies that belong to it by law. I petition justice, etc. + +_Fray Christoval de Santa Ana_, commissary-visitor. + +... His Lordship having seen the said petition and having noted the +brief of his Holiness and its contents, declared: That besides that +the said brief is revoked by a _motu proprio_ of his Holiness Gregory +XIII, under date of Roma, on the kalends of March, of the year five +hundred and seventy-three, by which are revoked all concessions and +privileges that his Holiness Pius V conceded to the religious of the +mendicant orders, reducing them to the terms of the law and of the holy +council of Trent, even in case that the brief of his Holiness Pius +V, which has been read, is not comprehended in the said revocation, +his Holiness Pius V did not make any innovation in the rulings of +the holy council in regard to the religious who administer souls +being immediately subject as far as such ministers are concerned, +and in everything that pertains to the administration of sacraments, +to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the bishop in whose +diocese they minister. For, as is evident by the said brief, his +Holiness was requested, at the instance of his Majesty, to be pleased +to decree concerning as many things as had been ordered in the holy +council of Trent; namely: first, that marriages should not be allowed +to be celebrated except in the presence of the parish priest or by his +permission; second, that the religious could not preach without the +permission of the bishop; third, that they could not hear confessions +without having been examined by the ordinary; fourth, that the bishops +could erect new parishes in places very far apart. [18] + +And in regard to the fact that the religious were exercising the +duties of parish priests in the Yndias, it was necessary to provide +relief in the above four things. His Holiness, in accordance with that +petition and request, decides the first three points in favor of the +said religious, so that, having been examined and approved by their +superiors, in the form ordered by the said brief, the permission of +the ordinaries was not necessary in order to exercise their offices; +and then his Holiness, immediately providing for the fourth, orders +that there be no innovation by the ordinaries in the custom followed +before. Consequently, his Holiness decided in this regard that, if +it were the custom before the council for the ordinaries to erect new +parishes in the missions administered by the religious of the Yndias, +his Holiness orders that that custom be retained; and if not, that +there be no innovation; and that the said brief does not treat of +other things. Consequently, his Lordship orders that the visitation +that he has commenced be continued; and he made declaration to that +effect through the interpreter, Christoval de Vera. Thus did he decree +and order, and he affixed his signature. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. +Before me: +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +[Father Fray Alonso de Valdemoro, definitor of the province of +San Gregorio, was then president and minister of the mission and +ministry of Dilao. In consequence of the aforesaid, the archbishop +having ordered him to open the sacristy, in order to inspect the holy +sacrament, and to examine the adornment that was there, he said that +he could not do it. Notwithstanding that reply, the prelate ordered +him once more to open the sacristy, where the most holy sacrament was +kept, in order that he might proceed with the said visit, "which he +was to obey immediately under penalty of the greater excommunication, +_latae sententiae ipso facto incurrenaa_, and four years' suspension +from the office of the ministry of souls." The father minister, having +been informed of the act, insisted on his reply, basing his action +on the pontifical privileges of his order. In respect to the royal +decrees, he said that he was obeying them, but that it was necessary +that they should be communicated to his own regular superior, who +had the right of answering them; "and consequently, that in virtue +of the said briefs, by which he is exempt from the jurisdiction of +the bishops in regard to the ministry and visit that his Excellency +intends to make; and by law, inasmuch as he is not the archbishop's +sheep or subject, the said excommunication ... does not oblige or +bind him. Accordingly, let his most illustrious Lordship determine +that matter with his superior, whom the said father is bound to obey; +and, while this matter is not clear, he does not consider as harmful +the penalties and censures imposed by his Excellency. He affixed +his signature, witnesses being Captain Gregorio de Galarça, Alférez +Antonio de Viana, and Don Melchor de Valdes, and many other persons. + +_Fray Alonso de Valdemoro_, definitor. + +Before me, and I attest it: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_" + + +Thereupon the archbishop ordered his notary to read the act passed +on the twenty-second of the same month, "in which is discussed the +right of his Excellency to make this visitation. Together with it +the archbishop ordered the clause of the brief of Gregory Fourteenth +to be read and communicated to him, which treats of this visitation +and the decrees of his Majesty which are in these acts, so that the +said father should not pretend ignorance of it. Thus did he order, +and he affixed his signature. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop." + +The definitor responded "that in consideration of the fact that when +his Holiness concedes any indult, and orders any new mandate, he is +seen to address himself, as is his constant custom, to the chief men, +to whom it pertains to carry out any new mandate, the same law extends +to the decrees sent by his Majesty, which are directed to the chief +persons, to whom it pertains to answer the said decrees and mandates +of his Holiness. Consequently, as it does not appear that his prelate +and superior, to whom it pertains to receive and answer the said +decrees and clauses of the said brief that have been communicated +to him, has been notified of them; and as it is not apparent to him +from the said reply: he cannot make any innovation until such time as +the will of his superior, with whom those matters must be discussed, +is known to him...." + +Having received that reply, the archbishop "declared the said father, +Fray Alonso de Valdemoro, to have incurred the penalty of greater +excommunication and of suspension from his office as minister, which +is imposed on him; and that, as such excommunicate, he was deprived +of what excommunication deprives one; and in order that he might +not allege or pretend ignorance, this declaration, stating that he +has incurred the censures imposed, is to be read and communicated +to him...." + +Having heard the act, Father Valdemoro replied: "that, in consideration +of the replies that he has given, and his protestation against the +violence that his Excellency has exercised toward his order, and the +lack of summons, [19] which are an intrinsic right in excommunication, +he does not consider himself as such excommunicate, until information +has been given to his superior, as he has said, and in the meantime +he does not consider himself injured...." + +After the aforesaid, Father Valdemoro took part in a procession, +in which the image of our Lady of Guidance was carried to the city, +so that the Lord might be pleased, through her intervention, to +bring safely to port the ships that were to anchor that year in +Cavite from Acapulco. The ecclesiastical fiscal was informed of it, +and he informed the provisor and vicar-general of it. At that time +the latter was the canon and treasurer, Don Juan Cevicós. He ordered +the father to leave the procession, and by the archbishop's order +he opened an official inquiry, in order to investigate the offense, +and to punish it according to law, "as the said father is a parish +priest and minister for souls in the said mission of Dilao, and the +said offense is dependent on the visit which his said Excellency is +making on him as such minister, inasmuch as he is, in that regard, +under his Lordship's jurisdiction and subject to him...." + +The investigation ended on June 26 of the said year. In it the +depositions were taken of Licentiate Juan de Arguijo, ecclesiastical +fiscal of the archbishop; Don Alonso García de León, canon; Licentiate +Jerónimo Rodriguez Luján, presbyter; Miguel Calderón, presbyter; and +Alférez Francisco del Castillo, chief constable of the archbishop. The +archbishop ordered that the father minister of Dilao be arrested, +"and placed as a prisoner in one of the convents--that of St. Dominic, +or St. Augustine, or the Society of Jesus, or St. Nicolas of the +Recollects of this city--the one which the said father should +select. That convent the archbishop assigns to him as a prison and +place of confinement; and he is ordered not to break it under penalty +of greater excommunication, _latæ senteniæ ipso facto incurrenda_, and +suspension from active and passive vote for three years. And in order +that the said imprisonment might be effective, and not be hindered +by the religious of the said order, the royal aid shall be petitioned +through this royal Audiencia, to whom it rightly belongs to give that +aid, in order that they may fulfil the decrees of the holy council of +Trent, and a royal decree given for this purpose, under date of San +Lorenzo, November fourteen, six hundred and three, directed to this +royal Audiencia, and another royal decree of the same date directed +to the archbishop of these islands, in which they are ordered to make +effectual the said visit, as such is advisable for the relief of the +consciences of his Majesty and of the said archbishop...." + +The Audiencia having been asked for aid on June 27, declared on July +4, that "there was no occasion at the present time for imparting to +the archbishop of these islands the royal aid asked in his name...." + +While the above was happening, one Sunday, June 26, papers were +seen to be posted on the doors of the cathedral and convents of +Manila. They were signed by father Fray Pedro de Muriel, by order +of the judge conservator appointed to prevent the said visit. He +was father Fray Tomás Villar, rector of the college of St. Dominic, +by virtue of two briefs of Pius V: the first given March 24, 1567; +and the second September 23, 1571 _Universis et singulis venerabilibus +fratribus_. He had accepted his charge one day before the said posters +were put up. In those posters, Don Juan Cevicós was declared to have +incurred the excommunication of the canon _si quis suadente diabolo_, +for having taken Father Valdemoro from the procession the twenty-fourth +of the same month. + +The matter being communicated to the archbishop, "he summoned the +said conservator to immediately refrain from proceeding in the said +causes, under penalty of incurring the penalties established by law; +besides which he would proceed to punish the scandal caused in this +community by his having affixed decrees in which the said provisor +was said to be excommunicated." + +Father Villar replied, declaring his charge as apostolic judge +conservator, and that, as such, "he must proceed in the said +cause. Accordingly, he petitions and requests his Lordship to cease +to proceed in the said visit, that he has intended to make in the +said mission of Dilao; and that he send all that has been written +and done to the said judge conservator; and if not, the latter will +proceed to what is advisable, in accordance with law. In respect to the +provisor, through his having incurred that contained in the said canon, +_si quis suadente_, he ordered that he be proclaimed in the public +parts of this city as excommunicated, so that all may know of it, +and that no person remove, or cause to be removed, the said posters, +under penalty of greater excommunication, _ipso facto incurrenda_ ... " + +In view of the aforesaid, and considering that the Audiencia gave +no support to the archbishop, so that he might prosecute the said +visit that he had begun, he insisted no further on it. But "so that +the aforesaid might be apparent to his Majesty, and that the latter +might provide what relief he pleased, the archbishop ordered--and +he did so order--a testimony to be sent to the royal Council of the +Yndias of all that had been done, and that the briefs mentioned in +this act be sent also ... " + +At the same time he wrote the following letter to his Majesty:] + +Sire. + +Finding myself obliged, both by the holy council of Trent and a brief +of his Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, and by the restraining decrees of +your Majesty, in regard to the visiting of the religious missionaries +by the bishops--respecting curacies, and that they do not exercise +such office without being examined beforehand in the language of +the natives that they administer--I determined to carry out so holy +mandates, from which so many blessings must result to the service of +God and that of your Majesty. Accordingly, having declared my purpose +to the superiors of the said orders, three months before beginning the +said visit, by means of a letter or notification which I gave them, +in which I cited the passages of the said holy council, the brief of +his Holiness, and the decrees of your Majesty, they responded to me +orally, saying that they had an indult from his Holiness, Pius Fifth, +in order that they might not be visited in matters touching curas +and ministers of souls; and that the bishops had no jurisdiction +over their ministries. I began, in fulfilment of the aforesaid, +the visitation on the twenty-fourth of the past month of June, at a +ministry in charge of the Order of St. Francis, in the suburbs of +Manila. Proceeding to the visit, I found so much resistance from +the religious missionaries, both on reading the edict, and when I +happened to request them to open the sacristy in order to inspect the +casket of the most holy sacrament, that it was necessary to order that +under censure, and that was not sufficient to make them agree to my +request. Accordingly, I declared and announced that the minister of +that mission was excommunicated. For the time being I contented myself +with that effort, with which, in order to avoid scandal, I returned +home, with the intention of asking aid from this royal Audiencia. + +But the said minister regarded the ecclesiastical censures and his +prelate as of so little moment, that his subsequent action was just +as if he had not been excommunicated and denounced. In a general +procession that this cathedral made to the chapel of Nuestra Señora +de Guia, for the happy arrival of the ships that we were awaiting +from Nueva España, in which were the royal Audiencia, cabildo, city, +and orders--all aware of the event of the previous day, for even the +most secret thing is known in a city so small--all were universally +scandalized. Consequently, my provisor, in order to avoid that scandal, +was obliged to order the said minister to leave the procession, and not +to furnish the bad example that he was setting by showing contempt for +ecclesiastical censures. As he refused to leave, the provisor removed +him from the procession, ordering the fiscal of this archbishopric +to follow him until he ejected him from the procession. As it was a +matter that concerns, and is dependent on, the visit, all the orders +were so angry over it that, speaking through the mouth of the Order of +St. Francis, they elected as judge conservator a friar of St. Dominic, +the rector of this college of Manila, in order to avoid any further +attempts in the said visit to the ministries of the orders. The judge +conservator, without informing me of any apostolic letter or brief of +his Holiness pertaining to the said conservatorship, posted decrees +next day in the churches and public places, declaring the said provisor +as excommunicated and as fallen into the penalties of the clause _si +quis suadente Diabolo_ ... I continued to prosecute the cause of the +visit, and, having found the said minister guilty, I requested aid in +order to proceed against him, and, until he should become obedient, +to keep him confined in one of these convents of Manila. + +The royal Audiencia voted that there was at present no occasion +for the said aid. Thereupon I issued an act, in which I abandoned +the visit until I could give an account to your Majesty--to whom +I enclose a testimony of everything with this letter, and with it +another testimony of the act of the royal Audiencia in regard to the +case against my provisor, whom the judge conservator tried to arrest, +and for which he requested aid, which the auditors refused him. + +I have written your Majesty this relation in order to comply with your +orders to inform you of what should be done in this, and so that you +may see the freedom with which the religious proceed in this country, +confident that they are the greatest part of the community; and that +having, as they do, so great influence in all these provinces which +they administer, they must succeed with whatever they undertake, +even creating a judge conservator, contrary to the ruling of the holy +council and the royal will of your Majesty. That is so true that they +proclaimed in Manila that if the archbishop proceeded with the visit, +they would place him on the list as excommunicated, and would not +absolve him until he should go to their convent of St. Dominic to +beg absolution. I might easily have proceeded with the visit, Sire, +but I preferred to be chidden as remiss, than not to have those great +scandals muzzled which were represented to me to be inevitable if +I went to law with these religious. And speaking with all truth, it +seems to them a case of less value than that any Indian or Spaniard +should imagine that there is any power in these kingdoms greater than +their own. May God preserve the very Catholic person of your Majesty, +with the increase of new kingdoms and the happiness of those that +you possess, as Christendom has need, and as we your Majesty's humble +vassals and chaplains desire. + +Manila, August first, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [20] + + +_Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano_, archbishop of Manila. + + +_Regulations concerning the visits of religious_ + +The King. Inasmuch as I have considered it advisable to order to be +given, and gave, one of my decrees of the following tenor: + +"The King. Inasmuch as there have been many differences in regard +to the manner in which the religious of the mendicant orders who +have missions of Indians in their charge in Nueva España, are to +be visited by their prelates, and whether it is advisable that they +possess missions; and inasmuch as various decrees have been despatched, +some of which have been carried out, but others, because of finding +some trouble in the execution, have not been observed; and desiring +to end those quarrels and establish the form most advisable for the +service of God and for mine: I ordered that, the papers that treat of +that matter having been collected, what had been done in that matter +be examined in an assembly of ministers and other experienced and +educated persons. The assembly having conferred on the matter, and +advised me of their opinion, I have considered it best to determine +and order, as I do by this present, that, for the present, and until +I order otherwise, the said missions remain to, and be continued by, +the religious as hitherto; and there shall under no consideration be +any innovation in that matter; and the assignment and removal of the +religious who are curas, whenever it may be necessary, shall be made +by my viceroy of those provinces, in my name, the latter observing +in those appointments and promotions the form, together with the +conditions and circumstances, with which it is done in the kingdoms +of Pirú; and it is my will that the religious be not admitted to the +exercise or to the service of the said missions, or that they receive +the emoluments of them in any other manner. I also order that the +archbishop of those provinces may visit the said religious in what +refers to the ministry of curas and to nothing else--inspecting the +churches, the sacraments, the chrism, the confraternities, their alms, +and everything pertaining to the mere administration of the holy +sacraments and the said ministry of curas. He shall go to make the +visit in his own person, or shall assign or send for this duty such +persons as he shall choose and find satisfactory, to those districts +where he cannot go in person, or where there is no occasion for his +aid. He shall employ correction and punishment whenever necessary, +strictly within the limits and exercise of curas as above stated, and +nothing further. In respect to personal transgressions in the morals +and lives of such religious curas, the latter shall not remain subject +to the said archbishops and bishops, so that these may punish them +through the visits, even though under pretext that they are curas; +but, on having notice of such matters, they shall, without writing +or drawing up processes, secretly advise their regular superiors of +such persons, so that the latter may correct the wrong. In case that +the latter should not do this, then the former might make use of the +authority given them by the holy council of Trent, in the manner and +in the cases when they can and ought to act in regard to religious +who are not curas. In this instance I order that they have recourse to +the said my viceroy, who shall appoint them and who can remove them, +to represent to him the causes, so that it may be done as has been +and is done in Pirú. And inasmuch as the said religious, in regard +to the jurisdiction, are not endeavoring to acquire any right for +the perpetuity of the said missions; and since by the aforesaid the +ordinary jurisdiction is not annulled in cases that conform to law +and to the holy council of Trent: it pertains to the superiors to +try the causes of the religious. That must and shall be understood, +without any prejudice to the ordinary jurisdiction and the right of +my patronage. I order all the above to be thus observed and executed +inviolably by my viceroy, archbishop, bishops of Nueva España and +all other persons whom its fulfilment concerns, notwithstanding any +other orders whatever that may exist to the contrary. Such I revoke +and declare null and void. Given in Madrid, June twenty-two, one +thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + + +_I The King_ + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +And in behalf of the archbishop of the metropolitan church of the +city of Manila in the Philipinas Islands, I have been requested to +be pleased to declare whether the decree of November fourteen of the +former year six hundred and three is to be observed in those islands, +in regard to the manner in which the said religious missionaries +are to be visited; or whether the visit is to be exercised with the +limitation and in the form contained in the new decree which was given +to Nueva España. The matter having been examined in my royal Council +of the Indias, I have considered it fitting to give the present. By +it I order that everything contained in the decree herein inserted +be observed and obeyed by my governor, archbishop, and bishops of +those islands, and by all other persons whom it concerns, exactly +as is contained in it, for such is my will. Given in Madrid, August +fourteen, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. [21] + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + +CONFLICT BETWEEN CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES + + +_Case that happened in Manila in the year 1623, in regard to a fugitive +who was taken from the church_ + + +Juan Soto de Vega, whom justice was prosecuting for having stolen +a large sum of money from the ship which was coming from Mejico to +Filipinas, had taken refuge in the asylum [_sagrado_] of the cathedral +of Manila. Desirous of escaping from the prosecution of the secular +tribunal, he tried to get to Eastern or Portuguese Yndia in the month +of December. He begged permission from the provisor and vicar-general, +Don Pedro Monrroy, that he might be taken from the cathedral and kept +in the ecclesiastical prison; and they actually kept him there, but +with guards and in confinement, until the Portuguese boats left for +Yndia. Then they returned him to the cathedral, where he remained for +the space of eight months, until an auditor took him violently from +the church on the fifth of September, 1623, and took him to the public +prison. There he, in company with another auditor, tortured Juan de +la Vega until they broke his arm, which caused a great public scandal. + +The provisor began to take steps in defense of the ecclesiastical +immunity. He demanded the criminal, and publicly declared the auditors +to be excommunicated, threatening to place them under interdict, unless +they would return the prisoner to the church. After the time-limit had +expired, the interdict was imposed. The auditors, on the other hand, +despatched a letter and a second letter to the provisor charging him +to lift the censures and interdict, under penalty of banishment and a +fine of 2,000 ducados, unless he did that in the time-limit that they +assigned him. As he did not fulfil the command, they despatched the +court constable, with soldiers, to look for the provisor in order to +arrest him. They registered all the house of the archbishop, and the +house of the provisor himself, sequestered his goods, broke off the +locks of the cupboards and writing-desks, and ransacked his papers, but +did not find him, for he had hidden in the convent of the Augustinians. + +The archbishop (against whom the proceedings were directed), seconded +by the public opinion, which was contrary to the auditors, summoned +Doctor Don Juan de Renteria, bishop of Nueva Segovia (who was then +in Manila), and various religious, prebendaries, and lawyers, and +assembled or formed a council to discuss what ought to be done in such +a case. The opinion of all was that the auditors were legitimately +excommunicated, and the interdict rightly imposed; and that the +ecclesiastical immunity ought to be sustained, and satisfaction +demanded for the scandal by returning the fugitive to the church. + +While that meeting was being held, the auditors despatched a royal +mandate, which they said was given by Don Felipe, to the archbishop, +ordering him not to retain Don Pedro de Monrroy as provisor, as he +was exiled from the kingdoms, to absolve the excommunicated, and lift +the interdict--under penalty, if he did not do so, of banishment +and a fine of 2,000 ducados. The archbishop replied, demanding a +testimony of the cause and the corresponding acts [of the Audiencia], +in order to determine what he should do. But the auditors sent him +another royal decree, warning him that he would be considered to have +incurred the said penalties if he did not immediately lift the censures +and interdict. Since the archbishop held firm, the auditors sent the +chief court constable, together with the actuary of the Audiencia and +thirty pikemen under command of an adjutant, at four in the afternoon +on that same day, in order to take charge of the episcopal residence, +with orders not to permit any one to leave it or anything to be taken +from it. + +At this juncture, the rector of the Jesuit college and others advised +the archbishop to raise the censures _ad reincidentiam_ [_i.e._, +"until a repetition of the offense"], and the interdict for one week, +since they thought that the auditors would return the prisoner. That +was done, and the archbishop requested the opinion in writing of the +orders and learned persons, which they gave him--with the exception +of the Dominicans, who excused themselves. The archbishop, seeing +that the auditors not only did not do what was promised, but even +issued another decree to arrest and expel the provisor, called another +meeting, at which the Dominicans had no part. In that meeting it was +decided to defend the ecclesiastical immunity, and that two individuals +of the assembly should go to talk with the auditors in the name of +the assembly, and notify them that the prisoner must be returned, or +else the archbishop could not raise the censures or interdict. Two +Jesuits went, and the auditors replied to them that they would not +desist or turn back. The interdict was immediately imposed again, +and the auditors were publicly declared to be excommunicated. + +A Jesuit, who was a friend to the governor, advised him to take a +hand in the matter in order to cut short such scandals. The result +was that the governor decided to see the archbishop at the residence +of the Society, in order to discuss the most suitable method. The +interview was held, but without result. Another interview had the +same result. Meanwhile it was decided to appoint two arbitrators, +one from each side. Doctor Jolo was appointed for the auditors, and +Father Juan de Bueras, [22] rector of the residence of the Society +of Jesus, for the archbishop. They agreed that the prisoner should +be returned to the episcopal prison, and that each side should desist +from their claim in what was accomplished. + +When the time came to execute the agreement of the arbitrators, the +auditors put difficulties in the way. But, since at the same time +it happened that the provisor, as commissary of the holy crusade, +had drawn up acts against the auditors for the violation of his +house and tribunal, against which there was no recourse by force in +these islands; and since, on the other hand, the governor demanded +from them the record of all that had been done (separating himself +from them, as not being a lawyer) in order to inform the king: +they resolved to form an assembly without the governor, and voted +that the prisoner should be returned to the ecclesiastical prison, +while the ecclesiastical judge was investigating whether the church +was protecting him, which was what the archbishop claimed. + +The victorious provisor left the residence of the Society, and with +great pomp, and, accompanied by a mass of people and by his ministers, +drew the prisoner from the public prison and took him to his own. The +interdict was raised, to the chime of the bells of all the churches. + +The auditors begged to be absolved in their houses, but the archbishop +refused, saying that since the scandal had been public, the absolution +also must be so. However, absolution was given in his house to one +who was sick and who was less culpable; as well as to another by the +influence of the Dominicans, who obtained that it be given him by +the parish priest. + + + + +SEMINARY FOR JAPANESE MISSIONARIES + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-third day of July in the year +one thousand six hundred and twenty-four, the honorable president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancillería of these Philipinas +Islands, in whose charge is the government thereof, declared that +[they have resolved upon this measure] in view of the fact that Señor +Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenga, formerly governor and captain-general of +these said islands, and president of the royal Audiencia, undertook +to found a seminary [and] college where Japanese should be educated, +instructed in religion, and taught, so that when they had received holy +orders they might go to the kingdom of Japan and preach and instruct +there in our holy faith, after the manner and likeness of the English +colleges in the kingdoms of España, and other Christian countries--for +which purpose he designated space and locations for a church, house, +and garden in the unoccupied land outside the walls of the said city; +and for the income and maintenance of the said seminary [and] college +he designated and applied the income from the passage and navigation +from this city to the port of Cavite, and the monopoly of buyo, bonga, +[23] and tobacco, which he ordered to be established by a royal decree, +which, to this purpose, was despatched in the name of his Majesty +on the twenty-ninth of January of this present year. By this it was +commanded that no person should make use of the said passage, nor of +the carriage and sale of the said buyo, bonga, and tobacco, excepting +those who hold it in lease for the said college and its administrators, +or those named by them for this purpose, under the penalties which +are imposed upon them by the magistrates. From this have resulted +great discontent and scandal in all ranks of this commonwealth, and +particularly among serious persons therein, both ecclesiastical and +lay--who, being moved by zeal for the service of God our Lord, and of +his Majesty, and for the prosperity and preservation of these islands +and the citizens and natives thereof, have made representations of +the many difficulties resulting from the aforesaid grant, not only +in sermons which have many times been preached in regard to this, but +likewise by information and declaration to the judges and ministers of +his Majesty, that they might aid in procuring relief therein, as it +is a thing so important for the royal service. For the establishment +of the said college and seminary was accomplished at a time when +the king of Japon so rigorously prohibited the preaching of the holy +gospel in his kingdom, as is explained in the said royal decree; and +[his resentment] had reached such an extreme that, when ambassadors +were despatched in the past year to negotiate on behalf of these +islands for friendship and good understanding with the said king, +he showed himself to be so ill disposed against them that he did +not allow the said ambassadors to enter his court during the eight +months and more which they passed in his kingdom, seeking an audience +in order to give their message and embassy. According to the letters +and relations received, his resentment was the result of having found +certain religious in his kingdom in secular clothes, and of having +learned that they had been brought from these islands to his land in +disguise and secretly. On this account, and in order to prevent them +from entering Japon, he has ordered all Spaniards who are in his said +kingdom to leave it, and has forbidden and discontinued traffic, and +he will not consent that Japanese ships come to these islands, as they +used to come, to bring provisions and other military stores for the +royal warehouses; this can only result in the ruin of this country, +on account of the lack which this may cause in its armament, trade, +and maintenance. If the king of Japon, who has already ordered that +religious cannot dwell in his kingdom, by not consenting to allow +Spaniards in it, as has been said, should get word that Japanese +are being educated and instructed in the said seminary, to go and +continue the said preaching, it is certain that he must experience +even greater displeasure and annoyance, and adopt more strenuous +measures to stop all communication and passage from these islands to +his said kingdom. As a result, the Spaniards will suffer the greatest +need through the want of provision which is brought to these islands +from there. It might even be the cause that he would unite with +the Dutch enemy, whom he admits peacefully into his said kingdom, +and that they would come with a great number of troops and vessels +against these islands, and cause great losses to them, as we have no +forces sufficient to resist them successfully. On this account it is +expedient to use prudent measures and acts, and not to continue this, +which in all certainty, and evidently, as is generally known by all +the religious orders and serious persons of this city, must result in +harm to the service of God and of his Majesty, and in notable loss to +this commonwealth--both because the said seminary cannot bring about +the good results claimed for it, on account of the little inclination +of the Japanese for it, and the different objects which it is presumed +have been aimed at by it; and because in this case the argument does +not exist that holds good in other kingdoms and parts where there +are colleges of the English and other foreign nations. For, if those +peoples are irritated by the religious instruction and teaching of +the persons who are gathered in the said colleges, there are forces +to resist them; but through this seminary they might cause greater +injury than the said nations are doing without it. As for the location +which was designated for the said seminary, although it was, as has +been said, in the unoccupied land outside the walls of this city, +it appears to have been selected and set aside in the Plaza de Armas +here, close by the village of Laguio, where they have commenced to +erect a building and pillars of stone, contrary to what his Majesty +directed by his royal decree of the sixth of March of the year one +thousand six hundred and eight, which is as follows: + +"The King. In consideration of the fact that a relation has been made +to me on behalf of Hernando de los Rios Coronel, procurator-general of +the Philipinas Islands, to the effect that when the uprising of the +Chinese Sangleys occurred there, there were, about the walls of the +city of Manila, many buildings from which the Sangleys did much damage +to the walls thereof, until they were destroyed; and to prevent this +difficulty for the future, Don Pedro de Acuña, my former governor and +captain-general of those islands, commanded that no buildings should +be erected within three hundred paces from the wall of the said city, +in its entire circuit, and begged me, considering that this was so +expedient as he had given me to understand, in order that the said city +should be provided with the necessary defense, and protected from the +past dangers, that I should be pleased to have this confirmed, or do +as might be according to my pleasure. Having examined it in my royal +Council of the Yndias, the said order which the said Don Pedro issued +has appeared to me to be very effective, as is said. Accordingly it is +my will that this be observed and fulfilled, as exactly and punctually +as if it were issued by myself; and, in fulfilment thereof, I order +that neither now nor at any time shall any building be erected within +the said three hundred paces about the said wall of the said city of +Manila, since this is expedient for my service and for the security +and defense of the said city. Done at Madrid, on the sixth of March +of the year one thousand six hundred and eight. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our lord: _Juan de Civiza_" + +All the aforesaid procedure is contrary to this decree. Besides, +the district and place where the said seminary building has been +commenced are the lots which have been seized and taken away from the +owners who possessed them, the houses which they had built upon them +being removed or torn down, in order to make the said Plaza de Armas; +nor have they thus far been paid for, nor has any satisfaction been +given to the owners. Accordingly, if the said lots were not necessary +for the purpose for which they were taken, they should be returned to +their owners as land and property which pertain and belong to them, +and no work or edifice should be erected thereon until they be paid and +satisfied. As for the income which is appropriated for the work, its +maintenance, and the prosecution of the building for the said seminary, +it was contrary to the rules of justice and to the laws of the kingdom, +and greatly to the prejudice of this whole commonwealth and the Indian +villages in its neighborhood; for the voyage and navigation from this +city to the port of Cavite--as it is not a river passage, but a bay +and an arm of the sea, which may be crossed with all sorts of vessels, +both large and small--cannot be reduced to the status of a private +route and profit, on account of the loss which this would cause to so +great a number of persons as possess the said vessels, and use them to +carry and convey merchandise and other sorts of articles from this city +to the said port. And especially it will cause this loss to the native +Indians of this city and of the villages of Laguio, Mahar, Meytubi, +Dongalo and others of this coast, who will be deprived and prevented +from using the vessels which they ordinarily possess to carry and +convey to the said port persons, merchandise, and other things; and +if this profit be hindered they will have nothing wherewith to sustain +themselves, and will not be able to pay his Majesty the royal tributes, +nor aid in other impositions and personal services. The same losses +will be increased by granting a monopoly of the said buyo, bonga, and +tobacco--not only for the neighboring villages but even for provinces +where it is collected and brought to this city; for their natives +have no other source of income which would be to them so important +and profitable as the gathering, carrying, and sale of buyo, bonga, +and tobacco, and if this were stopped they would be reduced to the +greatest poverty and want. That would make it impossible for them to +succeed in paying the royal tributes, impositions, repartimientos, and +other consequences of the service of his Majesty; and to the citizens +and the people of various nationalities who dwell here, for whom the +said commodities serve as food and sustenance, there would be caused +expense and inconvenience, as has already been seen by experience, for +even without the said monopoly being erected, but merely projected and +intended, the said buyo, bonga, and tobacco have risen and increased in +price, so much that the cost at present is twice what it was before, +and at the time when it was decided to erect the said monopoly--which +not only is of the fruits of the land, and articles which the said +peoples use for their sustenance, but likewise is prohibited by +equity and the laws. Consequently, looking for the greatest service +to God and his Majesty, the growth and preservation of these islands, +and the welfare and comfort of the citizens and natives thereof, they +[_i.e._, the president and auditors] declared that they would revoke, +and they did revoke, the said grant with everything therein contained; +and that they would declare it, and they did declare it, to be null +and of no force and effect. And they declared that they would notify, +and they did notify, each and every magistrate of his Majesty, that +each one of them, in his jurisdiction, in so far as may concern him, +shall not consent to the use of the said monopolies, or of any one +of them, on the part of either the said seminary or of any other +person with a lease-title therefrom, or in any other manner, who may +employ and make use of the said grant; but on the contrary they shall +proceed to the punishment of such, who shall be in their jurisdiction, +as against persons making use of a title and right not pertaining to +them. And as for the said edifice and its demolition, it shall be +entrusted to the captain-general, so that he, when he has examined +it, and found that it is within the said three hundred paces about +the walls, shall have it demolished and razed, until it be put in the +state in which the said Plaza de Armas had been before, and at the time +when the said edifice was commenced, in such manner that the purpose of +the command of his Majesty in the said royal decree shall be complied +with. A royal decree in conformity with this act shall be despatched, +and shall be cried publicly in the customary districts and places, +so that knowledge thereof may come to all. And, by this their act, +they decree and command accordingly, and have signed their names. + + +_Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Lugo_ +Licentiate _Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_ +Licentiate _Don Mathias Delgado y Flores_ +Before me: +_Pedro Alvarez_ + + + +Don Phelipe, by the grace of God king of Castilla, of Leon, of Aragon, +of the two Çiçilias, of Hierusalem, of Portugal, of Navarra, of +Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Mayorca, of Sevilla, +of Cerdeña, of Cordova, of Córcega, of Murcia, of Jaen, of the +Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, and of the Canaria Islands, +and of the Eastern and Western Yndias, islands and mainland, of the +Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria, Duke of Borgoña, of Bramante, and +Milan; Count of Arpspug [_i.e.,_ Hapsburg] and of Flandez, of Tirol, +and of Barcelona; Seignior of Viscaya and of Molina, etc. [Here the +royal decree quotes in full the foregoing act of the royal Audiencia +beginning: "In consideration of the fact that Don Alonso Faxardo de +Tença," etc., down to "but likewise is prohibited by equity and law."] + +Wherefore, looking for the greatest service to God and myself, the +increase and preservation of the said islands, and the welfare and +comfort of the citizens and dwellers therein, after examination by my +president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of my +said Philipinas Islands, in whose charge is the government thereof, +through the death of my governor, Don Alonso Fajardo de Tença, it +was agreed that I should revoke, as by these presents I do revoke, +the said grant and everything therein contained, and I declare it +null and of no force and effect. And I command all my justices and +ministers that each one of them in his jurisdiction, in so far as +concerns him, shall not consent to the use of the said monopolies or +any one of them, on the part either of the said seminary or of any +other person with a lease-title therefrom, or in any other manner, +who may employ and make use of the said grant; but on the other hand +they shall proceed to the punishment of such, who may be in their +jurisdiction, as against persons making use of a title and right not +pertaining to them. And as for the said edifice and its demolition, +it shall be entrusted to the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silva, +captain-general, likewise of the artillery of my said islands, so that +when he has examined it, and found that it is within the said three +hundred paces about the walls of the city of Manila, he shall have it +demolished and razed until it be put in the state in which the said +Plaza de Armas had been before, at the time when the said edifice was +commenced, in such manner that the purpose of my royal command in my +royal decree shall be complied with. And this, my letter and royal +edict, shall be publicly cried in the customary districts and places, +so that it may come to the knowledge of all. Given in the city of +Manila, on the twenty-fourth of July of the year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-four. + + +_Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Luga_ +Licentiate _Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_ +Licentiate _Don Matthias Delgado y Flores_ + + +I, Captain Pedro Alvarez, chief secretary of the government and +department of war of these Philipinas Islands for the king our lord, +have had this written by his command with the decision of his president +and auditors. + + +Registered by Don Juan Sarmiento. +_Chancillor Don Juan Sarmiento_ + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-fourth of Jury of the year one +thousand six hundred and twenty-four, was published this decree in +conformity with the provision therein, in loud and intelligible words, +by the voice of Augusto de Navarrete, public crier, in front of the +gate of the Audiencia hall, and on the corner where resides Captain +Antonio de Xérez Montoro, and on the site of Bagun Bay, outside the +walls--Captain Martin de Esquival, sargento-mayor, Geronimo Enrriquez +Sotelo, and many other persons being witnesses. To this I certify: + +_Pedro Alvarez_ + +I, Captain Pedro Alvarez, sargento-mayor of the government and +department of war of these Philipinas Islands, at the command of +Señor Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Lugo of the council of his Majesty, +and his auditor in the royal Audiencia in these islands--who, as the +senior auditor, fills the office of president thereof--have ordered +to be drawn, and have drawn, this copy of the act and royal decree, +the originals whereof remain in my possession; and this is certain +and true, corrected and compared with the said original, to which +I refer. Witnesses at its correction and comparison were: Captain +Lopez de Olaiz, Sargento Pedro Delgado, and Martin de la Rroca, +citizens and residents of this city of Manila, where this is dated, +on the fifth day of the month of August of the year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-four. + +_Pedro Alvarez_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Copy of the act and royal decree which were published +revoking the grant which was made to the seminary [and] college for +Japanese, of a monopoly of buyo, bonga, and tobacco, and the passage +to the fort of Cavite."] + + + +EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOP TO FELIPE IV + + +10. The chief argument that induced his Majesty Philippo Second, +our sovereign, to reëstablish in these islands, during the term +of Don Francisco Tello's government, the royal Audiencia which he +had suppressed some years before, was in order that the governors +might not be so absolute in regions so remote and so far separated +from his royal presence, but that there might be a superior arm to +restrain them, without allowing extortions on the innocent. That is a +most pious act, and one experienced by all this community during the +time of that sovereignty and superintendency in all things pertaining +to justice, government, and war. If your Majesty be pleased to have +it restored and reëstablished with the majesty and power with which +it was founded, it will be of great service to God and your Majesty, +and the consolation and relief of your vassals. For it is certain that +three or four men view a cause which does not concern them with more +impartial eyes than does one man who is sole and absolute, who is at +times governed by passion, and consequently blind in what he orders +executed. Although it be said that demands for justice may be made in +the residencia--as if the poor man who suffers in person, property, +honor, and at times in his life, would appear at the residencia; and, +even if he were alive, could go to obtain satisfaction at that court +[_i.e._, of Mexico], or have method or means to do so, even though +his grievances were enormous and cried out to the heavens--well do +I know that there are testimonies in that royal Council (since they +have been sent from here) that say the contrary. But I equally affirm +this to be the truth, as, to my positive knowledge, it actually +occurs--more true than I would indeed wish, for it would be well +if these things did not happen. And since this royal Audiencia has +no more authority than at present, to suppress it will be of great +service for your Majesty, and even necessary, as the poor auditors +are as much annoyed and molested as are other private persons. What +is worse, your Majesty's authority has been seen humbled by so many +nations who know that this Audiencia immediately represents your royal +person. It will be less troublesome for us private persons to suffer +than that so great authority be seen in such decay. I petition your +Majesty to be pleased to have the importance of a matter of so great +moment considered, as may be most fitting to your royal service. + +It is a fact that this city of Manila, both at the instance of the +governor and by its own action, has caused representations to be +made in that royal Council, that this royal Audiencia should refrain +from making appointments in which the children and relatives of the +auditors occupy the best offices of war, without ever having fired +an arquebus in their lives. These men become captains at one stroke, +to the grievance of the old soldiers who have served, just as if your +Majesty had not provided for this by making such men incapable of +offices--in which intention, I consider, enter the offices of justice +and war. However, even though it is not agreeable to them, it should +be so understood; and if your Majesty be pleased to order this to be +declared, and that favors and rewards for services can be expected +only from your royal hands, this difficulty would be remedied. For I +avow that it is vastly prejudicial, since, when a man has an auditor +to defend his causes, and those inclined to him favor those causes, +his negligence comes to be rewarded. In a matter of war, the present +condition of things very often is wont to be of irreparable damage, +as we in these islands have experienced on various occasions. [August +15, 1624.] + + + + + +ROYAL ORDERS REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS + + +_Regulating their privileges_ + +The King. Inasmuch as the king my sovereign and father (whom may holy +Paradise keep) was informed that the religious who resided in the +Philipinas Islands, busied in the instruction and conversion of the +Indians, were meddling in things that did not concern them, he ordered +Gomez Perez das Mariñas, then governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, or the person in whose charge the government might +be--by his decree, dated June eleven, of the former year five hundred +and ninety-four--not to allow the religious to have prisons or jails, +or to make arrests or condemn, unless they have commission from the +bishop for the things in which he can give it in accordance with law; +or not to appoint as fiscals others than those whom the bishop might +assign them, together with other declarations contained in the said +decree. Afterward the king my sovereign and father, who is in glory, +by another decree dated May six, six hundred and fourteen, ordered +the aforesaid to be obeyed and observed, according to its contents, +without violating or exceeding its tenor and form, as is contained +more at length in the said decree and its reissue, which are of the +following tenor: + +"The King. To Don Juan de Silva, my governor and captain-general of +the Philipinas Islands and president of my royal Audiencia of them, +or the person or persons in whose charge may be their government: +The king my sovereign and father, who is in heaven, ordered to be +issued and gave the decree of the following tenor: + +"'The King. To Gomez Perez das Marinas, my governor and captain-general +in the Philippinas Islands, or the person in whose charge may be the +government of them: Inasmuch as I have been informed that the religious +who reside in those islands, busied in the instruction and conversion +of the Indians, meddle in matters that do not concern them, I order you +not to allow them to have prisons or jails, or to arrest or condemn, +unless they be those who have commission from the bishop for those +things in which he can give commission in accordance with law; that +they do not appoint or have other fiscals than those assigned them by +the said bishop; and that they take no fees for burials, marriages, +or baptisms, other than according to the appraisement and declaration +of the said bishop. And inasmuch as I have been informed that they +have proceeded in the exercise of their privileges, with an excess +prejudicial to the suitable progress of the instruction, and that it +would be advisable to declare what privileges be conserved and what +revoked, in order to remove confusions and doubts--for they confess the +Indians without the bishop's authorization, and, although not curas, +perform marriages, which is in direct violation of the ordinance in +the holy council of Trent, incurring risk that the confessions and +marriages are invalid: I order you likewise that you shall communicate +with the superiors of the orders, and command them to examine the said +privileges; and, unless they have such privileges, not to proceed in +the matters here specified, because of the doubts and scandals that +may result. Given in Madrid, June eleven, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Juan de Ibarra_' + + +"And now it has been represented to me on the part of the archbishop +of that city that none of the contents of the said decree are observed +or obeyed with the exactness that would be fitting and expedient to +the service of God and to my service. He petitioned me to order that +it be strictly observed, as a remedy for the troubles that arise +from it. Inasmuch as it is my will that this be done, I order you +to observe, and to cause the said decree above inserted of the king +my sovereign and father to be obeyed and observed, exactly according +to its contents and declarations, without violating or exceeding in +any part of it. This I shall regard with approbation; but by the +contrary I shall consider myself as disserved. Given in Madrid, +May six, one thousand six hundred and fourteen. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +And now Don Juan Çevicos, treasurer of the metropolitan church of +the city of Manila of the said Philipinas Islands, has informed me +in the name of the archbishop of the city that, petition having +been made in behalf of Licentiate Don Diego Barquez de Mercado, +while archbishop of the said church, and of the suffragan bishops, +in my royal Audiencia of the said city, for the execution of the said +decree, because it was not observed by the religious of the Order +of St. Francis, and an edict to that effect having been despatched, +the provincial of the said order was notified. He--under pretext +of two other decrees of the sixteenth of March of the said year +six hundred and fourteen, despatched at the petition of the said +religious because they had represented that the said archbishop had +tried to make innovations in the missions by appointing fiscals in +them (as in fact he did do, so that information should be made of +what had been done in this), and that in the meanwhile no innovation +or change should be made in what had been the usual practice at the +time when he entered the said archbishopric--opposed the said edict, +and petitioned that the said decree of the sixteenth of March, six +hundred and fourteen, be observed. The same was done by the other +orders in the said islands. After the cause had been prosecuted in +the said Audiencia, after some questions and answers, it was ordered +by an act lately issued, on the first of August the past year, six +hundred and twenty-two, that the said decrees be observed and obeyed, +and that notice be given to the president, governor and captain-general +of the said islands and to the said archbishop, as was done, so that +they might investigate on what was ordered and charged to them. The +determination in the said cause was sent to my royal Council of the +Indias. Until other provision should be made, there was to be no +innovation and the execution of the said edict was to be suspended, +as was evident and appeared by the testimony of the records, which was, +in accordance with the above said, presented and examined in the said +my Council. I was petitioned to order that the commands of the said +decree of June eleven, five hundred and ninety-four, and its reissue +of May six, six hundred and fourteen, above inserted, be executed; and +that, in accordance with them, the said archbishop and bishops should +appoint and name the said fiscals--as pertains to them, in accordance +with law--and try judicially the crimes and causes of the said Indians; +and that the said religious, who arrest and punish them, as appears, +[should not do this]. Having been examined by the members of the said +my Council of the Indias, it was agreed that I ought to order this +my decree to be given. Therefore I desire, and it is my will, that +the above decrees, above inserted (of June eleven of the said year +five hundred and ninety-four, and May six, six hundred and fourteen), +be observed, obeyed, and executed exactly according to their contents +and declarations, notwithstanding the contents of the said decrees +of March sixteen of the said year six hundred and fourteen, ordering +that the said archbishop make no change in the usual practice in the +appointment of fiscals, and that the said governor investigate. And, +since this is necessary, I render those decrees to be null and void, +and without effect. I order the president and auditors of my royal +Audiencia of the said islands not to violate or exceed the contents +of this my decree, or consent that they be violated or exceeded, now +or henceforth, and in no manner. On the contrary, they shall give +the protection and aid that may be necessary for its execution and +observance. This I shall regard with approbation. Given in Madrid, +August thirty, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ +Signed by the members of the Council. + + +[_Endorsed_: "In order that the decrees above inserted, ordering that +the missionaries of the Filipinas Islands have no prisons or jails; +that they may not condemn, except those who have commission from the +archbishop; and that they appoint no other fiscals than those whom +he shall assign them; notwithstanding the decrees that were given +ordering no innovation in the former practice, be followed in the +appointment of the said fiscals."] + +_Letter to the archbishop_ + +The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Manila in the Filipinas Islands. The +letter which you wrote me on the thirteenth of August of last year, +1623, has been received and considered in my royal Council of the +Indias. In regard to your statement that, on account of the haste in +which were sent from Mexico the ships which arrived that year at those +islands with assistance, the archbishop did not send you the papers +for convening the council, and that you therefore did not carry out +your plan for doing so, but that the necessary measures for it would +be taken this year: I command you, on receiving the despatches, to +execute the orders contained therein with the care and punctuality +that is desirable, and that I expect from you. + +I appreciate the diligence which you exerted in preventing the +attempt to nominate for provincial of the Order of St. Augustine a +person who did not possess the qualifications which are necessary and +requisite. You should always be on your guard against such things, and +attempt to preserve the desirable peace and concord among the orders. + +You advised us that it was necessary to have some ecclesiastical person +to be charged with the guardianship and the mode of governing the +seminary of Santa Potenciana, and to examine the persons who are to +live there. It was resolved to order the president of the Audiencia, +jointly with you, to inform us of what takes place, and that in the +meantime you were both to join in providing the most effective way +of administering the said seminary, with regard to both the persons +who enter it and those who leave it, with this justification, that +it be necessary. Accordingly, you will endeavor, for your own part, +to have these orders executed. + +Your statements regarding the foundation that was being established +so that the youths of those islands might be graduated without going +to the university--which foundations were to be under the patronage +of the most pure conception of Mary most holy, our Lady--have been +considered, and you may proceed. + +As to your proposition that my royal exchequer in those islands should +be inspected, the necessary provisions have already been made. + +You advise us that in the execution of the measures contained in the +decree of August 9, 1621, you have warned the heads of the orders that +they shall not receive in those islands the religious from Yndia, +and that you caused several clerics to embark who arrived at that +city from that country. You will continue to do so, fulfilling your +orders contained in this memorandum. + +The other points mentioned in your letter have been considered, +but answers to you are not yet ready. [Madrid, October 3, 1624.] + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Juan Ruiz de Contreras. + + + +_Ordering the correction of abuses against the Indians by the +Dominicans_ + +Don Phelipe, by the grace of God, king of Castilla, Leon, Aragón, +Jerusalem, Portugal, Navarra, and the Indias. To the reverend and +devout father-general of the Order of St. Dominic: It has been learned +from letters received and examined in my royal Council of the Indias +from Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenza, my governor and captain-general of +the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia resident +therein, that, although the religious of the Order of St. Dominic who +reside there are most exemplary and protect their parishioners so well, +it generally results that there is anger at their encomenderos, and +they do not attend to the affairs of my service as is advisable. On +the other hand, the Indians consider the treatment received from the +religious as severe, for they do not allow even the women to wear +shoes, while they force the men of the province of Nueva Segovia to +guard the church in rotation and turn. For whatever annoyance the +Indians cause them, they question them with regard to the Christian +doctrine, and their questions exceed those that persons with more +reason and education can answer. And thereupon, if they fail in the +least to meet these requirements, the religious have the chiefs and +their wives whipped, and cut off their hair. That has resulted in +causing among the Indians so great resentment that the insurrection +of the Indians that occurred may be attributed to that. Inasmuch +as that is a matter in which it is advisable to apply a remedy; +and inasmuch as the harsh treatment practiced by the said religious +toward their parishioners has appeared excessive, and not in harmony +with what they should do, since their purpose in going to the said +islands is to instruct and teach the natives in the articles of +our holy faith, and with all love and mildness, because they are, +as is a fact, people without reason and so newly converted (for +which reason it is so expensive to my royal revenues, from which +everything necessary is given): I request and charge you to give +what order is advisable so that the aforesaid evils be remedied, +as may be most necessary to the religion that they profess. What +remedy you shall furnish, you shall send to the said my Council, +with all haste, so that it may be remitted to the said islands; +for if that be not done with the promptness required by the case, +the relief that seems most effective will [not] be applied. Madrid, +November twenty-seven, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the father-general of the Order of St. Dominic, +directing him to remedy the excesses, committed on the Indians by +punishing them, by the religious of that order, who have missions +in Philipinas."] + + + + + +EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES + + +_Extracts from the Following Works, Covering the History of the +Missions to 1624:_ + + + _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de ... San + Avgvstin_. Fray Andrés de San Nicolas; Madrid, 1664. (pp. 396-510.) + _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden + ... S. Augustin_. Fray Lvis de Iesvs; Madrid, 1681. (pp. 1-61.) + _Historia general de Philipinas_. Fray Juan de la Concepción; + Manila, 1788. (Tomo iv, pp. 189-265; v, pp. 32-100.) + + +_Sources_: The first and second of these are obtained from copies +belonging to Edward E. Ayer, Chicago; the third, from a copy in the +possession of the Editors. + +_Translations_: The matter herein presented is translated and +synopsized by James A. Robertson. + + + + +EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES + +GENERAL HISTORY OF THE DISCALCED AUGUSTINIAN FATHERS, BY FRAY ANDRES +DE SAN NICOLAS [24] + + + + +Decade II + + +Chapter V + +_Now the second provincial Chapter is held. The mission to the +Philippinas Islands is effectively discussed. The college of Zaragoça +and the convent of Pedroso are founded. Reference to the life of +Sister Polonia de los Santos_. + +_Year 1605_ + + +[At the second provincial chapter meeting of the Augustinian +Recollects, held in April, 1605, at the convent at Madrid, father +Fray Joan Baptista de Vera was chosen provincial. At that chapter +meeting, the question of the rules of the young order was taken up, +with other business. After the conclusion of their business the +convention dissolved, "while father Fray Joan de San Geronimo [25] +was effecting his passage to the Indias, with his good companions" +(pp. 396, 397).] + + +_First mission of our religious to the Philipinas Islands_ + + +To his arduous labor in the formation and growth of the poor discalced +Augustinians, the first provincial [_i.e._, Fray Joan de San Geronimo] +gave a heroic end by beginning the very observant province of San +Nicolàs [26] de Tolentino, in the islands adjacent to Asia which we +commonly call Philippinas.... + +[A short narrative of the early discoverers follows, and the beginnings +of the Augustinian missions. That order proving inadequate to cope with +the immense number of the infidels, the other orders are also given +a part in their conversion. But the need of other laborers is still +felt, and King Felipe II assents to the petition of Fray San Geronimo +"to go to the Indias with twelve associates to preach the gospel, in +that part that he should deem best." King Felipe "immediately decreed +that he should get ready to go to the Philippinas Islands, and ordered +his ministers to give him the despatches immediately. The noted and +pious father had the despatches in hand before the celebration of +the chapter, where after it was called to order, he presented there +the decree, which received prompt obedience."] + +The memorial of this circumstance is found in the old register, +and is in the following form: "May first, one thousand six hundred +and five, while the very reverend fathers were in session, etc. Our +father Fray Joan de San Geronimo, outgoing provincial of this province, +presented certain royal letters of the king our sovereign, and of his +royal Council of the Indias, in which his Majesty gives permission to +the said father Fray Joan de San Geronimo to take twelve religious +to the Philippinas Islands to preach the holy gospel, and to found +monasteries of our holy order in those Philippinas Islands. Having +examined and read them, the expedition seemed to us to be one +of great service to God, and we, the entire body of definitors, +resolved that it should be undertaken accordingly; and that all the +documents and authority necessary should be given to him so that he +should go as superior and vicar-provincial of the said Philippinas +Islands; that he may found monasteries there, and in all parts of the +Indias--with the following proviso, namely, that he shall not have +more authority than that which this province shall give him; and that +those houses that shall be founded there, and the religious in them, +shall always be subject to the father provincial who is, or shall be, +over this province. He shall always correspond with the latter, and at +each chapter held they shall send the elections of vicar-provincial +and priors, and the acts that they shall pass, so that the father +provincial of this province may confirm them, or refuse to confirm, +as he shall deem best. Advice shall be given of all the deceased +of those houses, so that the office may be performed for them, at +the time when the elections of the vicar-provincials shall be sent, +etc." Then, lower in the roll of those elected--or in the catalogue, +as we commonly call it--one reads at the end the words that follow: +"As vicar provincial of the Indias, we nominate the venerable father, +Fray Joannis de Sancto Hieronymo, and assign to him fourteen religious, +who shall always be subject to this provincial of this province of +Hispania." This arrangement having been made (which was made by the +intervention of the royal decrees that were despatched at Valladolid, +April three of that year, and which contained, in fact, the permission +for such, and general authority to found as many convents there as +the new Augustinian Recollect missionaries were able and desired; +to which were added other messages touching spiritual matters which +the pontiff's legate generously conceded), the father provincial, Fray +Joan Baptista, decreed the issue of his warrant, on May two. In this +document, after mentioning that he was ordered and commanded by the +king, and also by the said legate, to send the said father as superior +of the religious, who were about to set out for the help of those who +were occupied in the vineyard of the Lord, in the cultivation of those +islands, the father provincial entrusted to him all his authority, +without reserving anything whatever; but with the conditions that we +mention, in the records and other minutes which are generally made +on such occasions, the permissions that are despatched. + +The father vicar-provincial had already chosen his workers, men like +himself. They were among the choicest and best men that the Reform then +had in their convents. They were as follows: Fathers Fray Andres de +San Nicolàs, who was called de Canovas, an apostolic man, and a great +preacher in word and deed; Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, a most exemplary +man, and devoted to the rigorous life; Fray Geronimo de Christo, [27] +very austere and observant; Fray Pedro de San Fulgencio, a capable +and very clever man for all things; Fray Diego de la Anunciacion, +[28] adorned with very singular virtues, and regarded as a saint; +Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, [29] most keen-witted and erudite in +all learning; Fray Francisco Baptista, a penitent to excess, and +regulated by conscience; Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios, most +zealous for the discalced, and for the welfare of his brethren; Fray +Andres del Espíritu Santo, a religious, although very young, very +modest and retiring. [30] The father superintendent also chose four +other religious, lay brethren, who were of use and a great credit to +the Reform, on the voyage, and at the time when they came, whose names +are as follows: Fray Simon de San Joseph; Fray Joan de San Geronimo; +Fray Geronimo de la Madre de Dios; and Fray Joan de San Guillermo. They +all assembled in Madríd on the fifteenth or sixteenth of May. Thence +they left for Sevilla, and from there went later to San Lucar. They +were detained there until they could embark in one of the ships of the +Nueva España trading-fleet, which set sail from the great bay of Cadiz, +July twelve, and commenced its voyage happily. The zealous missionaries +were going, very full of God, and consequently did not abate one point +of their observance, fulfilling their religious obligations as if they +were in the most retired house of those which they had left behind in +their province, notwithstanding that they were going in the midst of +the traffic and excitement that seem to be inevitable in sea-voyages, +and more so in so long ones as are those of the Indias. They did not +discontinue the two hours' mental prayer or the choral divine office, +at their proper times, and the silence, fastings, and discipline. If +they were given any moment from those holy exercises, they employed +it in preaching, and in caring for the sick. They cared for and served +the latter with what they needed, and as well as they could. They did +not content themselves only in their own ship, for when good weather +and the quiet of the sea permitted, they went in the small boat or +lancha to the others, in order to console and confess those in need of +it. They gave them wholesome counsels, and encouraged them to serve +God our Lord as they ought. By such course they succeeded in gaining +great credit and esteem. The commander himself always approached them +with his flagship to salute them, and to ask after their health, +and whether they needed anything, while he commended himself very +earnestly to their petitions and prayers. He visited them in the island +of Guadalupe with the great following of his men, charging to them +the prosperous outcome of the fleet. Finally they reached the port of +San Juan de Lua, September seventeen, with the rejoicing common to +those who sail, and especially on those seas. They disembarked and, +after having rested for some little time, they took the road; this +they moderated by stopping several days in La Puebla de los Angeles, +[31] as guests of our calced fathers, where they received the friendly +reception and love that that province has shown to the discalced very +often because their beginning was in that form. + +Since the strictness of that convent was then extreme, it lit up in +great measure the devotion and modesty of ours, the will of all going +well alongside the rare mildness of their customs. The more serious +inmates of the house did not fail to praise the humility, poverty, +and circumspect behavior of our fathers; and consequently not a few +of them were determined to follow their purpose and accompany them on +that holy undertaking, and to enjoy so good examples. They requested +this from the father commissary, but he, being so exact in matters of +attention and courtesy, excused himself prudently, in order not to +anger the prelates of the province; and, besides, because he had no +order from the king, nor any subsidy with which to pay the expenses of +any more persons than he had brought from España, although he esteemed +the desire that they showed to aid him. He went immediately to Mexico, +leaving the fathers of La Puebla very enamored and sad. They were +received in that magnificent city with kindness and extraordinary +devotion by the most learned father, Fray Diego de Contreras--to +whom was given, after a few years, the church of Santo Domingo, the +primatial church of the Indias. He was then professor of rhetoric in +the noted university, and rector of the college of San Pablo whose +venerating community went out to meet them in solemn procession and +with pomp, when they entered their gates. The learned master gave +proof of his ardent charity in his hospitality and cordial kindness, +making them very happy. He prepared a room for them, in which they +remained, where they received all comfort and aid, until the father +vicar-provincial rented a comfortable house, into which he and his +subordinates, and the brethren whom he had with him moved, in order +not to give occasion for so much ceremony and so many compliments; +hoping for the near opportunity to depart for the port of Acapulco. + +That one--although formerly a secular lodging, now a very strict +convent--could rival the most famous monastery in the matter of +observance; for, giving themselves to continual prayers, rigorous +fastings, harsh mortifications, and severe penances, all of them were +opposing themselves to the best of their ability in the war against +the flesh. They did not leave the house unless summoned for some work +of charity, such as to confess or to preach, which they performed +very willingly, and to the profit and good of souls. They voted +unanimously not to strive to obtain for themselves or for others, +under any pretext, in person or through others, any offices within +the order, or out of it--in order to give, as was actually seen, +a solid foundation to the province which they afterward erected so +humbly. Their rigid mode of life there was bruited through the city, +and the most noble and the wealthiest, with simple earnestness, asked +them to remain. Some of such persons offered to endow their house, +and others to contribute very ample alms. They begged our fathers at +least to leave them the number sufficient to give a good beginning to +the convent that they desired to establish. The master, Fray Diego de +Contreras, whom we mentioned above, was aiding and encouraging those +arguments, promising that they would become discalced, and that he +would carry forward our Institute, [32] with his great authority and +power, in that kingdom. Father Joan de San Geronimo was tempted by +those pious offers of generosity, but he did not deceive himself; for +many souls would have been lost if he had desisted from that opportune +and holy voyage, or if he had lessened the number of the helpers whom +he took with him--who were but few for the abundant harvest that they +set about gathering, as we shall note with the lapse of years, in the +manner in which it occurred. Accordingly, having closed his ears to all +the proposed advantages, he undertook to go to the port at the end of +that year, where we shall leave him continuing with his observance of +rules and pious devotions on the roads, although these were horrible, +as if he had been in the most comfortable and most quiet convent of +all those which he had lately left well established in España. + +[The remainder of chapter V is concerned with matter that does not +touch the Philippines, namely, the founding of the college of Zaragoza, +that of the convent of Pedroso, and the life of Sister Polonia de +los Santos.] + + + + + +Chapter VI + + +_Our religious reach Luzon, after the death of Father Andres de San +Nicolas in sight of the islands. They found the convent, which is +located outside the walls of Manila, and undertake the conversion +of the barbarous Zambàles, in which three of their men die from the +hardships, and father Fray Alonso de la Anunciacion at the house +of Portillo._ + +We left father Fray Joan de San Geronimo and his twelve associates, +anxious to finish their journey, continuing their road from Mexico +to the port commonly called Acapulco, because it was necessary to +embark once more in order to reach Philippinas, where God our Lord +had prepared many souls who, oppressed by the demon, had no ministers +to lighten their darkness. There was already in the said port a ship +ready to sail, called "Espiritu Santo," and they were accordingly +detained but a short time. They finally set sail on the twenty-second +of February, that year of one thousand six hundred and six, in all +safety, and all being overjoyed at seeing themselves nearer the land +that they were seeking. Some incidents happened on that voyage which +were afterward regarded as miracles, and all attributed them to the +good company of so notable religious whom they carried. The first +one was that, the ship being all but sent to the bottom by burning, +the fire having approached near some barrels of powder, warning was +given in so good time that it could be extinguished, when if there had +been but little more delay, this would have been impossible. The second +seemed more prodigious; for on a certain very clear and serene night, +shouts came from the bow from those who were stationed there, crying, +"Land! land!" The pilot and sailors were thunderstruck as soon as they +saw themselves upon some shoals or sunken rocks, and already lost +beyond all remedy. Thereupon bewailing their misfortune, they tried +to seek confession, as quickly as possible. They thought that all +efforts were useless; therefore they cared for nothing else. However +they tried to cast the line, but uselessly, for their lines were cut, +and they the more confounded by their slight hopes of life. The ship +went ahead into that chasm [_rebentaçon_]--as it is called--as if +it were passing through a strait; and after having sailed a goodly +stretch without accident, among so many reefs, they found themselves +on the high sea, free from everything. + +Father Fray Andres de San Nicolas had preached the previous afternoon +with great energy against the great licentiousness and shameless +conduct of the passengers and the other people, who had no fear of +God. He severely censured their excesses, and the little anxiety +that they showed in that time of greatest danger. With burning words, +he exhorted them to do better, representing to them their danger and +begging them, finally, to confess, since they did not know what was +to happen that night. The fruit that proceeded from that sermon was +large, for, his audience becoming terrified and contrite, many of +them confessed, and others proposed to do the same by having their +entangled consciences examined as soon as possible. After a few hours, +what is described above was experienced, whereby all thought that the +good preacher had had a revelation of that event; and they could not +thank our Lord sufficiently for having granted to them the company +of so good religious, but more especially the company of him who +preached to them of their danger--whom they regarded as a distinguished +servant of God, as he was. Some certified afterward that that place +through which the boat had passed had been a rocky islet, and that +they had seen it on other voyages; and they were astonished at having +escaped on that occasion with life, attributing it, beyond doubt, to a +manifest miracle, which the Lord wrought at the intercession of those +fathers. They desired, therefore, to listen to their teaching daily, +and especially to that of the father who announced to them what we +have seen. Consequently, not sparing themselves at all, the fathers +gave in alternation their inspired discourses, which were the health +and medicine of the many who were there--the ship so conforming itself +to these that it seemed a reformed convent, where before it had been +a house of confusion and bluster, with soldiers, mariners, and seamen. + +The same father, Fray Andres, among the continual sermons, preached +a very fervent one on a certain day, and gave them to understand that +he would live but a short time, and that he was not to reach the land +of promise, for his faults and defects. That happened so, for not long +after, he fell sick, before sighting the islands called Ladrones. His +sickness increasing, when he was told that the islands were in sight, +he arose from his bed, and looking at them, through a porthole of his +cabin, immediately lay down again, saying, "Nunc moriar lætus." [33] +His weakness was already very great, and, as he had already received +the holy sacraments, and was in great resignation and joy of soul, +and all our fathers were present, he begged father Fray Joan de +San Geronimo to have the passion of Jesus Christ our Lord read to +him very slowly. That was done, in the manner that he desired. He, +holding an image of the same crucified Lord in his hands, broke +out into very glowing utterances of love, and shed many tears during +those moments. After the passion was finished--which lasted until near +dawn, on account of so many pauses--he begged pardon of all for his +omissions and neglect. He asked them to remember him in their masses +and prayers. They recited the penitential psalms and other prayers, +at the end of which, the sick man, very happy, conversed with his +brethren with great affability. He charged them to keep their vows +and the observance of the rules of the order. He persuaded them to +persevere steadfastly in their purpose, and to be mindful of the +zeal with which they had been ready to leave their fatherland for +the welfare and conservation of many souls. He encouraged them to +place their confidence in God, for His Sovereign Majesty had especial +providence and care over that small flock. Accordingly, they were +not to become disconsolate with the thought that they had no house +or convent in Philipinas, for already a lodging suitable for their +purposes was being prepared for them. He concluded by urging them +to commend their souls to Him, and then became very calm. All obeyed +him, surprised, and desirous of such a death; and, at the end of the +prayer, that chosen spirit went out in peace and quiet from the waves +and shipwrecks of this world, and reached the safe and calm harbor +of glory. + +Upon beholding his death, one cannot imagine the grief of both +religious and laymen; for, venerating him as a father, they bewailed +him universally, and, in all truth, there was not one who did not show +great affliction. The corpse remained in such manner that it caused +gladness to all who looked at it. Various opinions were expressed as +to whether they should bury it in the sea or not. The laymen promised +that they would deposit it in a fitting place, until they should cast +anchor in the islands now near. Father Fray Joan de San Geronimo did +not consent to this, in order to avoid innovations--and especially when +they were going to countries where they had no home, and where they +knew no one. Therefore, placing the body in a closely-sealed wooden +box, with an inscription written on a certain sheet of lead, which +denoted his name, country, and virtues, amid their lamentations and +tears the body was cast into the sea, without having added the weight +which is used to draw the body to the bottom of the water. On account +of that carelessness the box should have remained on the surface of +the water, without being able to sink at all; but on that occasion the +Lord permitted that the waves should receive such deceased without any +violence. As the ship was in a calm, consequently, all were witnesses +that it settled to the bottom very gradually, and easily. Certain +violent fevers were raging in that vessel, from which about forty +had already died, at the time that the noted Aragonese and observant +religious finished the navigation of his life. But from that instant +all had health, becoming better and recovering very soon. That was +attributed to his prayers in heaven in fulfilment of the word that he +gave them, during the last moments of his life, namely, that he would +commend them to God in glory, provided that he went there, as he had +good hopes of doing. After the conclusion of the services for a death +so fortunate and so bewailed, they soon arrived--May tenth--at the +islands that they were seeking. Having disembarked first, according to +the order that they bore, on the island of Zibù, the discalced were +lodged in the convent of our calced fathers, the venerable bishop, +and that example of prelates, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto, as we saw +in his life, having gone out to receive them in procession. That +most illustrious man desired that the new missionaries should not +go further, and offered them a foundation and whatever they wished, +in order to exercise themselves in the conversion and salvation of +the infidels. It was impossible to assent to so many kindnesses, +for their immediate passage to Manila was unavoidable, in order that +the governor might see the despatches and the decrees from España, +which it was necessary to present to him. After having given the +bishop the thanks due, they had to set out as soon as possible. + +Before proceeding with our relation, it will not be out of place +to tell our readers, although in few words, something about the +island of Luzòn and the city of Manila, as it is the metropolis of +the kingdoms that the crown of Castilla has there. It was given that +name, then, since the Spaniards have owned it, from a chief village +so named, distant two leguas from Manavilis, which is corruptly called +Marivelez. It was also called Nueva Castilla. It is the largest island +in the Philippinas, and extends farthest north of all those islands. It +is the most populous in nations and tribes, who exceed the others, both +in bravery and in the light of reason, with well-known advantages. Its +least altitude is scant thirteen degrees, and its greatest ten or nine +and one-half. Its circuit, without taking into account certain bays, +comprehends four hundred and twelve leguas. Those who make it three +hundred are in error, for they do not consider its position. It is +all very fertile, and has many large rivers, that of Cagayan or Nueva +Segovia being more swollen than the others. They are all navigable, +more or less. Ships enter that of Manila at full tide with one-half +their cargo, but the galleys enter it generally without any trouble. It +furnishes a location for the aforesaid city, on a certain very pleasant +and beautiful site on the shores of the sea. It is a point made by the +Pasig River in sight of the bay. That bay is affirmed to be one of the +largest and best that men can see in all the world, for it is thirty +leguas in circumference, and has an island of six miles at its mouth, +where a sentinel is always stationed. It sustains more than one hundred +thousand persons daily with fish, counting the Sangleys and Japanese, +and the villages that are settled on its shores. When Adelantado +Miguel Lopez de Legaspi took it by force of arms, May nineteen, one +thousand five hundred and seventy, ten thousand houses beautified it, +and it was the court of the king, Ladya [_sic_] Solìmàn, a follower +in part of the religion of Mahomet. The same general rebuilt the +city, and left it its former name of Manila--also the proper name +of the island--in the following year of seventy-one. He made it the +capital of the rest of the archipelago, as it was very suitable for +the concourse and commerce of China. Its streets are pleasant and +spacious, and without crossways or turns; for they are all straight, +and have beautiful buildings of stone, which vie with those of España +that are considered well made. It is strong by art and by nature, +because of the many creeks and swamps that surround it, together with +the great wall of stone built according to the style of the moderns, +with not a few ramparts. It is well defended with artillery, and has an +excellent and important fortress, supplied with all that is necessary, +even as the most noted forts that are renowned in Europa. Finally, +it is now the finest and richest city of all those of its class that +are known in the world. It enjoys a cathedral with its archbishop, +a royal Chancillerìa, a presidio with numerous soldiers, and in short, +all the products that the regions of the Orient yield for the pleasure, +health, and comfort of this life, without having to envy anyone for +anything. That city alone makes the name of España very glorious and +formidable there; and what is more, it is that city which maintains the +Catholic religion in those very remote and out-of-the-way hemispheres. + +Writing this brief relation in order to give a beginning to the +entrance of Ours, we shall go after them immediately, and shall +find them safe at the gates of Manila, after a journey of four +thousand eight hundred leguas by the course that they pursued from +España. That country was then very joyful over the good news of +the success that their governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, had had in the +capture of Terrenàte, one of the enviable islands of Malùco. They were +sheltered in a small house, until they found better accommodations; +and although the whole city, upon hearing of their arrival, came +in throngs to visit them and offer them more suitable lodging, +as also did the holy orders already settled there, with singular +affection, they refused to accept it--except the infirmary, which +they consented to take for some [sick men], in the convent of the +most exemplary Dominican fathers, who immediately gave it with the +greatest charity. At this juncture the victorious governor arrived, +and amid all his victories and triumphs, as soon as he heard of Ours, +he went to visit them and to regale them, as he was so Catholic and +devout a gentleman. Time was wanting to present the royal despatches +to him, for while he was in the height of his glories, sudden death +assaulted him, brought him to his feet, and cast him into the gloom +of a sepulcher. For that reason the recognition of the decrees and +orders was suspended for some time. But at last, having been examined +and ordered by the royal Audiencia and other officials to be observed, +permission was freely given to father Fray Joan de San Geronimo to +erect the establishments that he wished. + +_Foundation of the first convent of Manila_ + +The announcement made by father Fray Andres de San Nicolas while on his +deathbed to his brethren was fulfilled without any failure--namely, +that they should not despair, for divine Providence was already +arranging a house for them, which would give great pleasure to all. The +fact was that, in verification of his words, on the same day on which +the despatches for their voyage were made in España, the deceased +governor began to build a very fine summer-house, which had its garden +and its ponds, in a site called Bagunbaìàn, only three hundred paces +from the walls. It was just being finished when he returned from his +conquest, and when he ended the pleasures and joys of this life. The +retreat and pleasantness of this place were very welcome to Ours; +consequently they tried to buy it, and did so--having collected the +alms in two afternoons. During that time two religious went through +the city, accompanied by certain influential persons, [and collected] +more than three thousand pesos, with which they paid the sum asked, +a great portion of what they should have given having been forgiven to +them. Accordingly, they immediately took possession of their convent +on the day of St. Nicolàs de Tolentino, to whom they dedicated it by +a special vow, which all took at the beginning of their navigation +from the shores and coasts of España. Under such good horoscope +was born the happy province of the Philipinas Islands. And thus we +should not wonder at the great luster that it has cast, shedding its +rays by its zeal through the darkest and most forgotten districts, +where a notable number of pagans, who were living like wild beasts +in a blind barbarism, received the truth of the faith which we profess. + +The apostolic men first settled the firm foundation of their +house--not in the material of it but in the direction of their solid +virtues. They lived in the greatest poverty and contempt of [earthly] +things, without other end than the seeking of God in prayer, and in +making Him known and loved in their talks and examples. There was +some opposition on the part of our calced fathers in regard to the +title that they gave to the new church, that of the miraculous Father +San Nicolàs de Tolentino; for his devotion was practiced in a chapel +of the principal convent and was very popular, and they thought that +it would be lessened or be done away with altogether. Ours, being so +good men, disapproved greatly of litigation; and, although with great +grief, they talked of consenting to change the title, commending the +matter to our Lord very earnestly, with the intervention of peculiar +penances and exercises. The matter was left to be decided by lot, +in which many saints took part, not excluding their own dear one. He, +then, was chosen, the first, second, and third time; and the will of +God was thus made plain. Not only did they confirm what was already +done, but they also placed under his protection the province which was +now in its beginning, and gave it his name. In accordance with this +a very solemn feast was made, that venerable prelate and bishop of +bishops Don Fray Pedro de Agurto saying the first mass. He had come +to Manila from Zibù to be the rainbow [_Iris_] that announced peace +and true brotherhood to calced and discalced, whom we ought to hold +as sons of a good father. Father Fray Pedro Solier--a chosen shoot of +the convent of Salamanca, and afterward provincial of those islands, +bishop of Puerto Rico, and lastly archbishop of Santo Domingo and +primate of the Indias--preached in glowing terms in praise of the +Reform, in the presence of the royal Audiencia, the ecclesiastical +and secular cabildos, the orders, the nobility, and all the people +of Manila--who from that time made greater progress in the veneration +and worship of that saint. The good-will that the city began to have +for the new evangelical ministers was vast. Consequently, the city +desired to shelter them within the girdle of its walls, on noting the +discomfort that they were suffering; and that was done by moving the +convent of San Nicolas, as we shall see. + +It seemed hard for the religious to leave their first foundation, not +so much for the material of the house as for the service that they +were performing for our Lord in that suburb, in administering the +holy sacraments to the not few persons who were living there. Those +people, especially at night, were deprived of spiritual aid, for +it was necessary that the gates of the city be tightly shut and the +necessary guards posted. It was a true inspiration from heaven not to +abandon that convent (now that of San Joan Baptista), since--as was +within a very short time made evident, through the care and presence of +Ours--so great a number of Christians came so frequently from all parts +to confession and to holy communion that four ministers daily have +not been sufficient. They numbered some Spaniards and many negroes, +both free and slave, and more Indians of different nations, who came +to seek in that refuge relief from their sins and failings. They found +that convent always open day and night and the religious ever ready +to give them the health and life of their souls. After several years +the province determined that that house should be made a college, +and accordingly that was carried out. The arts and theology were +studied there, for, although instruction and piety join hands, it +was not advisable that the college and the house be in one place. In +that place rest three incorruptible bodies of the first founders, +and no one knows who they are. All are surprised that they can remain +so well preserved in a country so damp and hot, and it is regarded +by all as a miracle. That college, besides the aforesaid, possessed +a great treasure in the image of our Lady of Health. On bringing it +from Mexico, that image gave proofs of her favors not a few times on +the sea, and perfecting and increasing them in the islands through her +mercy. Her installation was celebrated with great pomp and ostentation +in the presence of the royal Audiencia and the city, which made very +Catholic and pious demonstrations in the feast. The church was filled +in a short time with vows and memorials which the faithful offered. A +brotherhood was founded under the title of Transito de Nuestra Señora +[_i.e._, "Transit of our Lady"], whose chief procession may be seen +and is solemnized on the third Friday of Lent, with the greatest +ostentation and display that one could express in writing or in +speech. The members of the confraternity march clad in very neat white +tunics with blue escapulars, bearing the attributes of the queen of +the skies on pendants of the same color and embroidered at a great +cost--with a numerous accompaniment of children dressed as angels, +who at intervals march along singing praises to the Virgin. It is +not an easy task to count the large tapers and lighted candles; +for, as is said, it is one of the best functions that are seen in +the Philippinas. Then follows the bed of the always glorious and +most pure Virgin, which the most devout and most noble women adorn +with the wealth of the city. The bed is surrounded with a group of +children, also dressed as angels, which is a cause for surprise every +year. Lastly, go about one thousand bleeding penitents; and there many +votive images, which move innumerable persons to compunction, who come +from the neighboring provinces to enjoy that day without fear of any +trouble. Thus has the fitting reverence of that image increased until +it is one of the greatest in the Philippinas; as has been experienced +on various occasions, especially when they put it within the city (for +fear of the Sangleys who revolted) in order to make a novena, in which +took part the royal Chancillería, the archbishop, and the cabildos, +for the health of the Catholic army which was very sick. From that +prayer resulted not only the attaining of the convalescence of the +soldiers, but also the peace and quiet that was sought. That college +suffered a great blow in the time of a certain governor, whose name, +in order not to cast infamy on him purposely, we suppress. He, +under pretext that its building was a great obstacle to the wall, +rigidly made them demolish it, driving our religious thence, contrary +to justice and the permission of the city and cabildo; they opposed +him until they could do no more, as they saw that he did that, being +desirous of not conducting himself well, for it is said that such +was his custom. But when the end of his office came, the church and +cabildo brought suit for the injury received from that illegal act; +and they sentenced him to twenty-five thousand pesos, notwithstanding +that it is said that the damage exceeded fifty. Thereupon the college +was rebuilt, and the image again placed there. + +_Preaching of Ours in the province of Zambales and of Tugui_ + +Eagerly had the apostolic men left España in search of misguided +and lost souls whom they might lead to the knowledge of God and into +the flock of His Church. When once they had set foot on the destined +land they could not be kept from turning their eyes and their desire +to all parts. The first task was to learn some one of the many +languages which are spoken among so many and so barbarous nations, +in order to have the means to convert the people that should happen +to fall to their lot. Accordingly, after well considering the matter, +they determined to study Tagál, as it was the most general tongue, +and the one that was talked as native in Manila and its environs. All +immediately applied themselves to one language with no little desire +and diligence. He who learned it first was father Fray Miguel de +Santa Maria, who was called Bombàu. Discussing with him in what part +it would be better to begin their missions, they thought that it was +not advisable to go far from Manila, since they were so few. At that +juncture a very good opportunity came to their hands in the shape of +a village quite near by, now called Marivelez. [34] Its inhabitants +had no ministers, no one of them wishing, although many were at its +very doors, to abide in it--both because of the insalubrious climate +of its location, and because of the bad disposition of the Indians, +who were like brutes in their intercourse and in their customs. The +vicar-provincial stumbled over none of these obstacles, because of his +firm zeal. Accordingly, he sent the said father, Fray Miguel de Santa +Maria, accompanied by father Fray Pedro de San Joseph--who, although +of the Observance, had discalced himself--together with a lay-brother, +named Fray Francisco de Santa Monica, who also went with both of the +former, all of them being skilled in the aforesaid language. They +invoked in common the grace of the Holy Spirit, and, after a fervent +prayer, they took their farewells--these anxious to accomplish their +desires, and the others sick at heart at seeing themselves left behind +them. They were not long in arriving at the lairs of the wild beasts, +who lived eight leguas from Manila, and were desirous to subdue and +soften them, together with the rest of the coast of Zambàles and of +Tugui, which extends for a little more than thirty leguas to Bolinào. + +The customs and ceremonies of those people must be touched upon +briefly, not so much for the diversion that they may afford as that +we may certify to the labor of Ours in changing them according to law +and reason, and putting them into a suitable condition. The worship +with which they then reverenced their false deities they were wont +to perform not in the villages, but outside them in the mountains, +or the part nearest to their fields. They had certain little houses +there like chapels, in which they all assembled. But that did not +prevent them from having gods--penates, or idols, which they called +_anìtos_. The priesthood was exercised by certain old men, ceremonious +in the extreme, and not less by old women called _catalònas_--witches, +superstitious creatures, diviners, and casters of lots--who were +esteemed and so thoroughly believed that whatever they said, although +lies, was taken as an infallible oracle. The manner of their sacrifices +(which they called by the name _maganìtos_), on meeting to make them +in the place that we have spoken of above, was none other than that, +having prepared an unclean animal, very well grown--or for lack of +it, a large cock--they offered it to the devil by means of one of +those witches, with peculiar and curious ceremonies. For, dancing +to the sound of a bell, she took in her hands a small idol, made to +imitate the form in which the father of deceit was wont to appear +to them at times; it was of human form, with very ugly features, and +a long beard. She spoke certain words to it, invoking its presence, +whereupon the iniquitous spirit came, and entered into her miserable +body in order to dictate to her the deceits that are its custom in +such acts. After having declared their false notions to those present, +they ate the animal or bird, and they drank to intoxication, whereupon +the wicked sacrifice was brought to an end. Besides that adoration +which they gave to the devil, they revered several false gods--one, +in especial, called _bathala mey capal_, whose false genealogies +and fabulous deeds they celebrated in certain tunes and verses like +hymns. Their whole religion was based on those songs, and they were +passed on from generation to generation, and were sung in their feasts +and most solemn assemblies. Those who were ignorant of the teachings +of Mahomet adored not less the sun, the moon, the rainbow, birds, +and animals--but especially the cayman or crocodile; a blue bird +closely resembling the thrush; the crow; rocks placed on the shores +of the sea, and those that they see in the sea, such as sunken rocks +and shoals. [35] + +Their ancestors also enjoyed that worship, and more especially those +who had been famous in arms, and in the virtues native to their mode +of belief; and they believed that reward was the lot of the good, +and punishment that of the wicked. From this arose among them the +knowledge of the immortality of the soul. Accordingly, when anyone +died, they bathed the body and buried it with benzoin, storax, and +other aromatic substances, and clothed it then in the best of its +possessions. Before burying the body, they bewailed it for the space +of three days. They anointed the bodies of those of high rank with +certain confections, which kept it from corruption better than do +our unguents of Europa. They did not bury them except in the lower +part of their houses, having placed and deposited them in a coffin +of incorruptible wood. They placed some bits of gold in the mouth, +and on the body the best jewels that they had. To that preparation +they added a box of clothing, which they placed near them, and every +day they carried them food and drink. They did not take especial pains +that, if the dead had possessed more property, everything should be +left to him; but slaves, both men and women, were presented to them +to serve them in the other life (which they no doubt imagined to +be similar to the present life). The custom that they observed with +those slaves was, to behead them immediately after having fed them +sumptuously, so that they might not fail the service and company of +such influential men, since the latter needed them, as they said. In +confirmation of that, it happened that, on the death of a chief of +that race, they killed all the sailors necessary for a boat's crew, +in order that servants, and rowers befitting his station might not +be lacking to him in the life that they ignorantly imagined for such +a person. After the conclusion of those honors, they gave themselves +up to extensive revelry and feasting, which they interspersed with +their mourning, observing a notable silence in the nearest houses +and in the streets. No one worked, just as during a festal occasion; +nor did he have to navigate under any consideration. He who opposed +the aforesaid usage did not escape death, which was inflicted on him +with rigor and without recourse. + +Among all the above and many other follies, they believed that +the world had a beginning, and they had some notion of the flood; +but it was confused with the greatest nonsense and lies. They did +not doubt the fact of there having been in its time a creation of +man, but they believed that the first one had emerged from a bamboo +joint and his wife out of another, under very ridiculous and stupid +circumstances. They did not consider homicide as wrong, and the +taking of as many lives as possible was a great honor. Consequently, +the valiant and those who were feared set the heads of those who +perished at their hands on the doors of their houses, as a proof of +their deeds; for he who hung up the greatest number, in the sight +of his other countrymen was most esteemed and applauded. It was an +abuse of obligation that, a father or mother having died, the son +who inherited should retire from the village into the mountains and +forests until he had despoiled at least two persons of the common +light--even though it should be, as one can well judge, at the risk +of losing the light that he himself was enjoying. When they had more +children than they desired, or than they could support as they wished, +they generally buried them alive. In what pertains to political +government, they had no greater superiority than that which the most +powerful usurped in the matter of life and death over those who were +not powerful, disposing of them as they wished. Accordingly they made +them slaves for very slight reasons and occasions. When any suits +and quarrels arose in regard to criminal or civil matters, their old +men assembled, and composed these difficulties or passed sentence in +them, and no one could appeal or petition from their decisions. They +proved causes orally, examining witnesses and investigating doubts +verbally. Their laws were only traditions and very old customs, but +they observed these carefully--not so much for fear of punishment, +as because they believed that he who violated them would be instantly +killed, or at least become afflicted with the disease of leprosy, +and that another part also of his body would become corrupt. + +Our three religious opposed themselves to so profound darkness as +this, with the light of the gospel, and without taking other arms than +the cross and the scourge of penance, by which all the wretchedness +and misfortunes there were changed into delights and comforts. The +suffering of great hardships was inevitable; for since those brutes +were intractable and ferocious, they did not show the fathers any +hospitality, that had any mark of reason and sense. The fathers +sought them through the thickets and fields where they were living, +and, alluring them with loving words, gave them to understand their +error and the blindness of their souls. They preached to them with +the ardor that came from their hearts of the Triune and One Lord, +who governs the universe, and told them their obligation to love Him +and to bow to the mild yoke of His law; but those people preferred to +condemn themselves forever to the pains of hell. The fathers retired +at night to some very small huts that they had made, in order to take +the necessary refreshment, which consisted only of beans [_frijoles_], +and at most a little rice, which they obtained but seldom. Then they +gave some rest and repose to their weakened and fatigued bodies. That +rest was, however, broken by three cruel disciplines, which all +took every two hours, in order to soften and mollify the diamond +hearts of those barbarians with their blood. With that efficacious +medicine and their tireless care, they continued gradually to soften +those rocks--although from the wretched life that they were living, +and their immense toil in going by day through those rough mountains, +seeking the sheep whom they desired to corral with the flock, within +the sheepfold of the Church, and from the worse sufferings in their +nights, they sickened and died. + +[Accounts of the pious deaths of Fathers Miguel de Santa Maria, +and Pedro de San Joseph, and Brother Francisco de Santa Monica, the +three laborers in this first mission, follow in this same section. The +first named had long been renowned for his asceticism, both in Spain +and in the islands, having been one of the first to join the new +order. The second had been a calced Augustinian, but had transferred +his allegiance to the Recollects after their arrival in the islands, +and was very useful on this mission because of his thorough knowledge +of Tagal. The narrative continues:] + +By the death of those three religious, the others might well fear +to go to complete the reduction of Marivelez, and to prosecute what +was already begun with the perfidious Zambales. But being full of the +love of God, and of zeal for souls, each of them offered himself, just +as if it were to obtain the greatest comfort and abundance that men +generally seek; and all demanded it anxiously, each as best he could, +as their most ambitious desire to go up there and be honored. The city +opposed it, for they thought that it meant to send those fathers to +their death--and all the more as they saw that, since Ours were so +few and so pious, they could serve more usefully in more secure and +healthful places. The holy obstinacy of those who would not consent +to abandon the post conquered. Accordingly, the first lot fell to +father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel. He disposed the minds of those +heathen in such manner that, completing their reduction and leading +them to the yoke of the Lord, and to a civilized and Christian life, +he built a convent in a village called Bacag, adding to it that of +Luzòn, which gave name to the island of Manila--through the error +or misunderstanding of the first Spaniards, who discovered it, when +examining and questioning the Indians whom they met in a boat. They +removed afterward to a better site, in the said Marivelez, and that +place has seven other villages, in a distance of twelve leguas, which +it administers as annexes. The persons who were converted to the faith +by the energy and labor of Ours reached one thousand five hundred. + +That fort having been assured against the power and empire of +the devil, the door was opened wider for passage inside, and the +tyrannized souls of the Indians of Zambàles were gained. The latter, +confident in their fierceness, were divided along the sea-coast, +and exercised themselves in the chase, by which they sustained +themselves--together with some fish--only zealous in killing men, +which was the greatest glory among them. Consequently, no boats dared +to go to their lands, unless with great risk of the occupants losing +their lives. With such brutality, the mountains of difficulties which +father Fray Rodrigo had to conquer in softening the harshness of those +beasts; and the sweat and labor that it would cost him to make them +comprehend the dictates of reason (from which they were very far), +while he was suffering extreme penury in all things necessary to life, +can be imagined. His food was only wild herbs and some fruit, which +was not on all occasions accompanied by a mouthful of biscuit, sent +as a great treat, if possible, from Manila. His rest, day and night, +was so little, and was so liable to surprises that scarcely could he +rest a moment without the expectation of death before him all the time, +which the heathen, instigated by the devil, promised to give him. He +went through their thickets and along their shores, crying out and +endeavoring to conquer the coldness of those men. By virtue of the +cross, he was finally able, little by little, to soften the insolence +of their fierce breasts, and to render them more tractable, although +they seemed like rocks in the hardness of their obstinate hearts. + +God our Lord decreed that, in order to conquer their obstinate +resistance, it should happen one day that this same father, Fray +Rodrigo, on passing through a thicket consecrated to their devils +(where, as their rites said, it was sacrilege to cut or touch any +branch--besides the great fear that they had conceived that if anyone +should have the audacity to do so, or to take the least thing, he +would surely die immediately), saw a tree covered with a certain fruit +which they call _pahos_, [36] that resemble the excellent plums that +we know in Europa. As it was so ripe and mellow, he ordered them +to climb the tree and get some of the fruit. Those accompanying +him refused roundly, but he insisted on his desire. They finally +explained, and said that they would do it under no consideration; +for, beyond all doubt, those who dared to offend the respect for +that place would die very suddenly. Upon hearing that, the father was +inflamed with zeal for the honor and worship of the true God whom he +was preaching. Asking them whether all trees around about had that +quality of inflicting death on him who touched them, accidentally or +designedly, they answered "Yes." Then elevating his voice, he gave +them a fervent discourse against the delusion under which they were +laboring; and concluded by intimating to them that he himself would +get and eat the fruit, as well as cut down the trees, so that they +might see that one would not die, and so that they might thereby be +freed from the error and blindness of their ancestors. The Indians +were very sorrowful because father Fray Rodrigo had decided to eat +of the fruit, and they accordingly begged him earnestly and humbly +not to do it. But the good religious, arming himself with prayer +and with the sign of the cross, and repeating that antiphony, _Ecce +crucem Domini: fugite partes adversæ. Vicit leo de tribu Juda,_ [37] +began to break the branches and to climb the tree, where he gathered +a great quantity of the fruit. He ate not a little of it before them +all, in detestation of their wicked superstitions and ill-founded +fears. The Indians looked at his face, expecting every moment to see +him a dead man. But they immediately recognized the truth of what +he told them. He charged them not to tell anyone what they had seen +him do there. On arriving at the village, he divided the rest of the +fruit that he brought, and kept for that purpose, among the other +chiefs and influential persons, who ate it with gusto, esteeming it +as a present from that father. The next day, after assembling them +(much to their pleasure), he execrated their ignorance in a long +sermon, and told them the secret of the fruit. Thereupon, all of them, +convinced and surprised, not one of them being wanting, followed him +axes in hand, and felled that thicket, casting contempt on the devil; +and many infidels ended by submitting to the knowledge of the truth. + +Encouraged by so good an outcome, Ours proceeded with the conversion +of those peoples. They were not stopped by the manifest danger to +their lives, nor by the famines or other bodily privations that it was +necessary for them to suffer, in lands new, rough, and productive of no +relief for their so many hardships and miseries. However, the divine +providence made all these, and as many more as might be very mild, +by giving the fathers inward consolation, as well as outward aid on +not a few occasions. One of those occasions, experienced by the same +father, Fray Rodrigo, during a trip on the sea, was notable. At that +time, a sudden squall overtaking him, his boat was driven on certain +rocks and knocked to pieces, so that those aboard it were drowned, +although they knew how to swim well. Only the said father, by the +will of God and the beneficent miracle of a wave, which bore him safe +and sound to a rocky islet or reef, escaped. He remained there until +next day, in the fright that one can imagine, but hoping in God our +Lord that He would continue his rescue by conveying him to a place +of safety. That happened after twenty-four hours, for an Indian who +had seen him from a distance swam out to him and took him upon his +shoulders; and he gave thanks to heaven for so great mercy. + +More marvelous was the case of father Fray Joan de la Ascension, who, +while sailing along the coast of Zambàles, was struck by a very violent +storm, and the boat in which he was embarked, and all the Chinese who +were accompanying him, were lost, without one of them being saved. The +boat keeled over--as they say--and was turned completely bottom up. The +father remained in the hull of the boat, but so that he could hold +only his arms and head clear of the water, while the rest of his body +was under water. He supported himself in that darkness with his hands +tightly clasping a beam. For the space of three days did he remain +thus, while the hull tossed hither and thither. At the end of that +time, as some Indians were passing through that region and saw the +wreck, they drew nigh to see whether they could find anything. They +thought that they would surely find some pillage, and therefore began +to break open the boat in the part open to view. Consequently, when +they had made a small hole, the pitiful voice of the religious who +was crying for aid was heard. The greedy Indians were frightened, +and were about to flee from the terror caused them by so unexpected +a petition. But proceeding, after the encouragement given them by one +of their number who was bolder, they discovered the said father, who +was already half dead. Getting him out as quickly as possible, they +took care of him and gave him some food, whereupon he recovered, and +told them of his accident. It was told and wondered at, with reason, +in Manila and in other places; and all who heard of it attributed it +to nothing less than a prodigy never seen. + +[Lives of Fathers Alonso de la Anunciacion and Francisco de los Santos, +and Brother Bernardo de San Augustin, follow in the succeeding three +sections of this chapter, which concludes with a section on the] + + +_Foundation of the convent of Masinglo_ + +With just reason can this house be [regarded as] the most precious and +esteemed jewel that the Augustinian Reform venerates, as it was the +fort that was raised against the devil in the lands of the infidels, +which the devil had usurped from the cross and the gospel, when our +religious, after so many labors and sufferings, tamed the untamable +Zambàles. That village, before called Masinloc, was suitable for +the foundation, as it was in a location from which they could attend +quickly to the service of God our Lord and of souls. Accordingly, they +chose it, although its inhabitants were more ferocious than the rest +of their neighbors because they had no one to drive away their errors +and illumine their darkness. Father Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, +then, accompanied by two other religious, planted that holy bulwark +to oppose all hell. With great care and helpfulness they tried first +to adorn it with the example of their virtues, so that the neophytes +should become fonder of the law which we profess. At that time the +recently baptized amounted to eight hundred, with whom great efforts +were exerted in separating them from their former evil habits, more +especially that of idolatry, to which was joined that of intoxication; +they were given to these in excess, by the habit that they had acquired +in both things from childhood. With the lapse of time the converted +have surpassed two thousand, because of the reduction of certain more +terrible Indians who lived in the mountains, without houses and away +from the coast. The latter were continually at war with others who +are called Negrillos [_i.e._, "little blacks"], for they seem to be +such, and they are very black. One may now consider the vigilance it +must have cost to attract those brutes, in order to make them live a +social life in accordance with reason, in peace and quiet--things that +were never seen among them until our religious undertook to tame them +and to bring them into rational intercourse. The jurisdiction of that +convent has extended fourteen leguas, and it has ten visitas which are +villages. The missionaries generally go to those villages to care for +their souls, and do not allow them to continue their former wickedness. + +It happened in that village of Masinglo that, an Indian woman finding +herself at the end of her days, they summoned father Fray Bernardo de +San Lorenço so that he might baptize her, for she was then asking for +it. He went to her house, and as he thought that she was but slightly +sick, he judged that it would be well to delay the sacrament until +she knew her prayers well and the other mysteries that any Christian +must know in order to be confessed. He began to instruct her, and +to persuade her with efficacious reasons to hate her idolatries and +to have sorrow for her sins. He tried to leave her in this way until +next day, but she, crying out and moaning, said to him: "Baptize me, +Father, baptize me, immediately; do not leave me or permit me to die +and lose the blessings which thou hast told me that I will obtain by +becoming a Christian." The religious consoled her and answered that +he would baptize her in due time. She continued to urge him to wash +away her sins without delay. Consequently, seeing so much faith, +he baptized her, and left her and her children very happy. And, +although she did not appear sick, she died shortly afterward without +anyone having any warning of it. Upon another occasion another woman +also came to the convent, and urgently requested the same father for +baptism. He asked her why she desired it so urgently. She answered +that one of her eyes pained her, and that she was very much afraid of +dying suddenly without having the health to save herself. The father +performed his duty in catechising her as well as he was able, and +immediately administered the sacrament; she was very glad of this, +and returned to her house, where they shortly afterward found her +dead, without knowing that she had other illness or cause for death +than the above mentioned pain in that eye. + +Thus when a beginning was given to that convent, the religious +discussed, as was unavoidable, the regulation of a new method by +which it, as well as the other convents that should be founded in +the lands and villages of the reduced Indians, should be governed. It +could not be perfected at one time, for experience, that mistress of +seasons, was, little by little, showing what was most advisable for +them. Accordingly, they have established efficient laws in various +assemblies and provincial and private chapters, so that those houses +have shed a luster in the example of their virtues--even though they +do not have an excessive number of religious, because of the lack that +they generally suffer of those who are necessary. It was, therefore, +ordered, in the first place, that all the laws and statutes of our +congregation be observed, without violating the most minute points of +the rules and regulations in force in España--especially in regard +to the two hours of mental prayer and the matins at midnight--even +should there be but one religious; since he could say them with +the Indian singers who reside and always live in the enclosure or +within the walls of the convent. Each of the religious was prohibited +strictly, and under well-imposed penalties, from engaging in any +trade or commerce, directly or indirectly, however slight it might +be. In addition, it was ordered that no one should use any piece +of silver or gold, even though it should be a medal, because of the +suspicion that it might arouse in the Indians who should see them, +when they were preaching gospel poverty. They were forbidden to +beg the loan of money, or to ask their stipends in advance from the +encomenderos, contenting themselves with the little that they had; +and living with the greatest possible frugality, in order that their +lives might conform to their discalcedness and their abstraction from +earthly things. The priors were not to leave their districts under any +pretext; and they were not to send their associates and subordinates +unless there were urgent necessity, and after a consultation, to be +registered in the books of the convent. The religious were not to enter +the houses of the Indians, except to administer the sacraments in the +necessary cases; and no one could employ himself in this office until +he should be well acquainted with the language of the land. They were +not to acquire possessions, or more income than the one hundred pesos +of their stipend; and necessity was to be the standard and rule that +they were to seek, as those who were truly poor. They were not to +entertain secular persons, and much less governors, alcaldes-mayor, +or encomenderos; for, if they did so, it would be very prejudicial +to the fitting retirement and strict observance advisable for the +Reform. The Christian doctrine was to be preached and explained to +the young people every morning in the churches, but to everyone on +feast days, with especial care and personal attendance. In order to +conduct the divine worship, they were to endeavor to have music in +all the convents, by teaching the youth not only to sing but also +to play the sweetest and best instruments that we use in Europa, +so that the new Christians might become very fond of frequenting the +sacred offices. They were to be admonished straitly to attend to the +devotion of the most holy Virgin, our Lady, having her rosary recited +every afternoon in the church; and on Saturday mornings they were to be +present at the mass, and before nightfall at the "Hail Mary," holding +their lighted candles in their hands. The religious also made other +resolutions pertaining to the protection and defense of the Indians, +in case that anyone should transgress by trying to do violence to them, +so that, as true fathers, they might oppose themselves courageously +to any annoyance that the malice of the soulless men of this age, +always iniquitous, might attempt. In short, they applied the needed +and fitting preservatives, with the desire of maintaining the good +name and reputation of religious who were seeking the safety of those +souls, and hating that which might have the appearance of love for +temporal things--in consideration of which no earthly interest had +transported them from España to Philippinas. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +_The third provincial chapter is held; and after the election a not +slight danger assails the Reform. The first convent of Manila is +moved inside the walls_. + + +[The first section of this chapter deals with affairs of the Recollect +order in Spain. The third election of provincial results in the choice +of father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina. Dissensions immediately +break out in the ranks of the religious, which are engineered by +the retiring provincial, father Fray Joan Baptista. The schism +results in the suppression of the order by a bull of Paul V, and +its absorption into the calced Augustinian ranks. Various influences +are set afoot, however, by those devoted to the Reform, and the new +provincial prepares to go to Rome to entreat the pope to reconsider +the suppression. The second section deals with the] + + +_Removal of the convent of Manila_ + +In order to divert the grief of Ours in España for a moment, the +need of referring to the removal of the convent of San Nicolas of +Manila from its location outside the walls (which is now the college +of San Joan Baptista, as above stated) to the other site, within the +enclosure, where now is the glorious capital of the most religious +province of the Philippinas Islands--is interpolated. The credit +acquired by the good founders in a short time was vast, by means +of their exemplary life, and the zeal that they had manifested in +the reduction and conversion of the infidels. They had shed abroad +in all directions the light and splendor of their virtues, and very +especially of their voluntary poverty and abstraction from temporal +things, contenting themselves with but very little, and coveting, at +the most, the attainment of permanent blessings and riches. They won +many persons for God in that city by means of their holy instructions, +and taught them the true way, which very few court. By that course +they made themselves so much masters of the good-will of all that +the people begged them unanimously that they should enter a more +comfortable place--but without abandoning that place, because its +preservation was so useful for the welfare of as many souls as lived +in those suburbs and environs, so that nobles and plebeians might +enjoy the spiritual food that the fathers so promptly distributed to +them. Besides, it seemed unavoidable to do that, so that they might +be more secure and better guarded, whatever happened, because of the +continual and sudden attacks of the Japanese, Chinese, and Sangley +enemies, who are wont to attack those suburbs with courage. Father +Fray Joan de San Geronimo assented to the prayers of the faithful, +and the not little convenience of his own associates; and accordingly, +aided by the alms that were given him, he bought certain small houses, +near to a site where many years ago the artillery was founded. That +site was also given him at the end of the year by Governor Don Joan de +Silva. The opposition of some was not wanting, although that convent +was so desired and applauded. However, that opposition soon ended; +and our religious endured it with signal austerity for many days, +until the very noble gentleman and master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del +Castillo Ribera y Maldonado--a native of Mexico, castellan of the fort, +and regidor of the city--together with his very virtuous wife, Doña +Maria Enriquez de Cespedes, through the devotion that they bore to our +institute and to the holy neo-thaumaturgus Nicolàs de Tolentino (at +whose intercession a son was born to him, who died shortly afterward, +the same lady having petitioned our glorious father to negotiate +with God so that that son might not live if he were to grow up bad +and a sinner), assumed the patronage of the church and convent. He +immediately erected a fine building of cut stone, the cost of which +exceeded one hundred thousand pesos. In addition to that, he assigned +it a suitable income--not for the support of the religious, for at +that time it was not the custom for Ours to accept such; but for the +necessary repairs that had to be made later. + +At the conclusion of the work, it was our Lord's pleasure to grant +him a very pious death, prepared, among his many alms, by actions +and customs more resembling those of a perfect religious man of an +arrogant and merry soldier. The religious buried him as if in his +own house, displaying on his honorable tomb the memory of his deeds; +and erecting monuments afterward to him and to his consort in a very +fitting niche, as well as suitable proclamations of thankfulness that +Ours published. He left the devotion of the great titular saint, +whom he greatly loved, well established; consequently, by means of +his authority, the city chose the saint as patron, and decreed that +his day should be celebrated, and that the city should attend in the +form of its cabildo, which has always been done. Governor Don Alonso +Faxardo, governor of the islands, our illustrious benefactor--who gave +us permission, as far as the royal patronage is concerned, to preach +the gospel in the provinces of Butuàn and Caràgha, together with +the islands of Cuyo and Calamiànes--was also buried there. From that +permission have resulted so great increase in numbers to the Church, +and great honors to our Recollect order. Likewise the governor's wife, +Doña Catalina Zambrano, and others--auditors and officials of the +Chancillería, and many noble gentlemen--keep him company there. A +notable confraternity has been founded in that church, called the +Nazarenos [_i.e._, the Nazarines"], so that on the night of Holy +Thursday they march through the streets in a most devout procession, +just as they are accustomed to do in the kingdoms of Castilla. + +Among the most revered images of those islands is reckoned that of the +holy Christ, which is called "the Christ of humility and patience," +which was lately placed in the right side chapel. Licentiate Joan +de Araùz, cura and beneficiary of the parish church in the city of +Mexico, gave it, and with it a treasure of favors and concessions to +Manila. That image is very natural, and of the best manufacture that +has been known in those remote hemispheres. He manifests himself to the +sight, seated on a rock, with his cheek resting on his hand; and the +sight of him moves the hard heart of the most abandoned to trembling +and devotion. The religious took it aboard at Acapulco in solemn +procession, all of them hoping to arrive safe with so good company, +as happened. Accordingly, as soon as they cast anchor, they carried +that image to the college of San Joan Baptista, so that it might be +lodged until the necessary arrangements were made for the festival +of its entrance. The festival was at last effected after the lapse +of many days, and it was one of the celebrated festivals that have +been seen and admired, both in its pomp and in the concourse that +collected from all parts because of the fame of the image. It was +placed first in the cathedral church, and next day, a very momentous +procession having been ordained, they carried it thence to the convent, +where the beginning was made and the conclusion given to a magnificent +novena. The divine mercy showed its favors very frequently to those who +petitioned it for aid in their troubles with a true and living faith. + +There is another image of our Lady, called "Consolation," because of +the great consolation that those who are afflicted find in it, when +they are most exhausted. Her devotion commenced from the time of the +entrance of our Reform into the islands; and it has been continued +by means of the favors that she scatters in protection of those who +commend themselves to her by invoking her aid. Our patrons had a most +singular affection for her, and therefore they left a clause by which +a mass was to be sung for their souls in all the festivities of the +most blessed Mary. They offered her many gold jewels and articles +of richest clothing, that testified the love with which they humbly +surrendered to the vassalage due to her. Father Fray Antonio de San +Augustin [38] encouraged greatly the worship and veneration of that +sacred and miraculous image, and received instant pay and wages for +his labor. For when he was about to die (the candle being already +in his hand), without anyone perceiving it or having hope of it he +recovered his senses, and talked to those present who were watching +him and assisting him, to the astonishment of all the physicians, +who regarded him as a dead man. He declared what had happened, and +said that having offered in his heart his vows at the feet of the +said Virgin, when he was almost dead, as was thought, he heard her +near him talking to him, together with St. Nicolás de Tolentino; +and she graciously revivified him, saying that he was not to die +from that illness. That was a fact, for within a few days he arose, +just as if he had not been at the gates of death. + +The third image that illumines and ennobles that convent is that of +the famous titular saint, Nicolàs de Tolentino. He has chosen to make +himself known in those remote regions as much as in the other regions +of Christendom, by means of the continual prodigies and marvels that he +works there. A great volume might be written of those that have been +seen in Manila alone, and a greater volume of those outside. Suffice +it to say that, because of his having appeared to the sailors in +their greatest straits and troubles, they have all unanimously taken +him as their patron. The glorious saint rewards their pious devotion +by lofty marvels, and does not discontinue for all that to work them +very frequently on land--for which both the Spaniards and the Indians +of the Philippinas Islands venerate him as a refuge, in whom they +consider their relief very sure. + +Strong religious have gone out from that very strict house to combat +the power of the devil, in order to remove his yoke from many souls, +as we shall see in the time of reporting their deeds of valor. + +[The chapter concludes with the pious deaths of Fathers Andrès de +San Joseph, Diego de Santa Ana, and Gaspar de la Madre de Dios, and +of Brother Simon de San Augustin, all of whose bodies were buried in +the Manila convent. [39]] + + + + +Chapter IX + + +_Father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina goes to Roma, and presents his +[claim for] justice in the tribunal of the supreme pontiff. The end +of the chapter is concerned with a mission that Ours tried to make +to the Philippinas Islands, the founding of two convents, and the +deaths of two great religious_. + +[The provincial's mission to Roma results disastrously at first, +for he is doomed to many months of dreary waiting is denied audience +with the pope, and even ordered to quit the city. But finally the tide +turns; the pope, having learned of his mission, grants the long-desired +audience, and after hearing the humble representations of the pleader, +looks favorably upon the Reform branch. Although the Augustinians +in Spain attempt to suppress entirely the Reform, public opinion is +too powerful, and the Recollects have too many influential friends; +and consequently, the general of all the Augustinian order, then Juan +Baptista de Asti, orders opposition to cease. Meanwhile, Father Pedro +de San Fulgencio comes as procurator from the Philippines to request +more missionaries. He finds the Reform in almost its last throes, +but, nothing daunted, departs for Rome to urge his mission before +the pope. Being favorably received and his pretensions granted, +after a considerable stay in the Roman court, where he also assists +the provincial Gregorio de Santa Catalina, he sets out on his return +to Spain, but dies at Milan; and, for lack of anyone to carry on his +work everything is lost for the time being. Now Augustinian agents from +Spain take the opportunity to arouse animus against the Reform and to +thwart their designs by saying "that the discalced were unnecessary +in the Philippinas Islands; and that those who had gone were few +and hitherto of no use in the preaching, as they were persons who +could in no way prove advantageous to the Indians. The contrary was +seen then; and by the mercy of God, we have since seen it here, and +shall see it, very clearly, in due course of time. We note here only, +for the confusion of those who boldly devised such a proposition, +the testimonies that have come on different occasions in regard to +the credit and praise of Ours, who have shed luster amid those rude +and very barbarous provinces, with so much glory to themselves, by +illuminating them with the light of the gospel." These testimonials, +some of them later than the period which the present volume covers, +follow:] + +Let the first be that of an inquiry made in Manila, at the time that +the above-mentioned calumny was learned, before Captain Martin de +Herrera, alcalde-in-ordinary of the same city. The report of this +was approved afterward by the city's cabildo, its justices, and +magistrates, the witnesses being fully qualified to act as such: +namely, the master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del Castillo Maldonado, +castellan of the fort; Master-of-camp Don Pedro de Chaves; General +Don Joan Esquerra; Captain Christoval Guiràl; General Don Joan Manuel +de la Vega; Don Joan Sarmiento, chancellor of the royal Audiencia; +Don Francisco Gomez de Arellano, dean of the cathedral there, and +commissary-general of the crusade; Don Joan de Aguilar, archdean of +the same church; Captain Hernando de Avalos y Vargas; Licentiate +Rodrigo Guiràl, secular priest; Admiral Don Joan de Valmaseda; +Don Luis Enrriquez de Guzman; Don Diego de Leòn, school-master of +the said church; Captain and sargento-mayor Don Francisco de Ayala; +Don Luis de Herrera Sandoval, treasurer also of the same church; Luis +de Barrasa, regidor of the city; Captain Melchor de Ayllòn; and Don +Antonio de Arze, also regidor of Manila. All those so illustrious +persons deposed that the discalced Augustinian religious who were +living and who had lived there, were serious, learned, spiritual, +beloved men, and that they were gladly seen and heard by those who +lived and dwelt in the Philippinas Islands; and that, by their good +life and example, they had gathered and were gathering much fruit in +the community, and among the natives of the province of Zambàles. Those +people had been most fierce enemies of the Spaniards and other nations +before Ours had taken charge of their reduction. By the excellent +instruction of our religious, they had become so tamed and gentle that +now one could pass through their coast; while before one could not +even approach them without evident risk of those people killing him, +with great gusto, as they were so barbarous. Consequently, it would +be well to keep and increase those religious in that archipelago, +for the salvation and profit of souls. + +The second testimony is that of the royal Chancillería of Manila, in a +letter to the Catholic king of the Españas, and affirms the following: + +"The discalced religious of the Order of St. Augustine, who are +employed in these islands in preaching the holy gospel, are held +in great esteem in this city of Manila because of their virtue +and good example. They have three or four provinces of Indians in +their charge, and, moved by holy and pious zeal for the welfare of +souls, they continue daily to establish new convents among the most +unconquerable people of the islands. Thus have they been seen to gather +most considerable fruit for the service of God and of your Majesty." + +In another letter are also noted these words, which affirm the above: + +"The discalced religious of St. Augustine are very observant in their +ministries, and attend to the service of your Majesty, on occasions +of enemies by sea and land, where some have been killed and captured." + +Before proceeding further, it will not be an impertinent digression +to mention and explain briefly the services above mentioned, stating +first that our religious serve as chaplains in the forts of Tandag, +Calamiànes, Bagangàn, and Linào, with notable sacrifice both of +their liberty (for they are often captured and illtreated) and +of their lives, because of the bad voyages on, and hardships of, +the seas. When Don Fernando de Silva was governing the islands, +a fleet was sent against the Bornean and Camucònes enemy, who were +devastating the coasts, seizing numbers of captives, and committing +other depredations. As chaplains went fathers Fray Diego de San Joan +Evangelista, native of Zaragoça, and Fray Joan de la Cruz. They bore +themselves so devotedly amid the military excitements, and gave so good +examples, that the chief commander, one Captain Bartolome Diaz, finding +it necessary to absent himself, in order to leave his men with security +and in quiet appointed, with well recognized prudence, the first above +named. For that religious, not as a substitute for the commander, +but as a father, cared for all, and they were satisfied. And they were +surprised, because it happened that, the supply of water falling short, +they sought it, but were unable to find any in various parts of the +islands, and were suffering the anguish and affliction that can be +imagined in such an extremity, when one day the said father said mass, +begging our Lord for help in such need. It happened, then, that after +performing his ministry he returned to the men and told them to be very +joyful, and to look in the direction that he pointed out to them for a +spring that was there. They found it immediately, not very far away, +and praised God for so great a mercy. In the insurrection of Caràgha +a numerous fleet was also prepared; Captain Joan Mendez Porras was +accompanied, for the common consolation of the soldiers, by fathers +Fray Lorenço de San Facundo and Fray Diego de Santa Ana. By their +efforts the villages of Bislìn, Careèl, and Bagangan were conquered +and that land again reduced. In another fleet that set out from the +same province of Caràgha, Captain Joan Nicolas chose father Fray +Jacinto de San Fulgencio, whereupon many villages surrendered to +the service of the king; and the Indians of the island of Dinagàt, +Baybayòn, and Sandegan requested ministers, and five hundred were +baptized. Besides such occasions, which are generally quite common, +Ours have served in divers fleets that have been prepared to oppose +the Dutch who were infesting the shores. Lastly, in two expeditions +made by Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuèra--one to the kingdom of +Jolo, and the other to that of Mindanao--he took, in the first, +fathers Fray Joan de San Nicolàs, and Fray Miguel de la Concepcion; +and in the second, father Fray Lorenço de San Facundo and father +Fray Joan de San Joseph. The last-named religious was very useful, +for he served as ambassador to the Moro king, to whom he was a friend, +as he had been his captive in former times. + +Returning to our narration, and the relation of the security of +Ours, now comes Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, archbishop of Manila, +in a letter to the Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, +[40] and he confirms the work of the same, while he says: + +"The discalced Augustinian religious who live in these Philippinas +Islands are gathering a very large harvest here in the conversion of +souls. Not less known are the advances that Christianity is making +in the kingdoms of Japan by their preaching and teaching, where in +the years one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine and thirty, six +religious of the same institute suffered martyrdom, together with +many others, members of the third order, [41] or _Mantellatos_, and +confriars of the girdle [_correa_] of our father St. Augustine, all +converted to the faith and instructed by the same discalced religious +who are in those regions. Now, to relate the news that we have just +received, two of the same religious are suffering the most exquisite +torments that can be imagined, after two years of the hardest kind of +imprisonment. They are suffering also, in the ministries and convents +which they maintain in these islands, great discomfort and hardship; +for the Indians in their charge are the most unbridled and fierce of +all those known in this archipelago, as experience of last year proved, +when the Indians killed four religious. Their death and the evident +danger of their lives did not frighten the others, and therefore +other missionaries did not hesitate to go." + +While that prelate was bishop of Nueva Segovia, he also wrote two +letters, one to the Catholic king of España, and the other to the +above congregation, of the following tenor: + +"The Order of the discalced religious of the Order of our father +St. Augustine are of considerable importance in these islands, and +they are gathering much fruit with their teaching and their good +example. They have many missions in districts remote from this city, +as they were the last who came to the islands, etc." + +"The discalced Augustinian religious," he says in the other, "who +reside in these Philippinas Islands are gathering large harvests in +all parts in the conversion of the souls of these pagans, as they have +done in the kingdom of Iapon. Two years ago six professed religious of +the same order were slain there, by fire and sword, for the preaching +of the gospel, and the conversion of souls, in addition to seventy +other persons who suffered the same death, in the same kingdom, +for the preservation of the faith, which they had received then +through the ministry of two Spanish religious of the same institute, +who were preaching it there. The two latter are also now in prison +for the same reason, and it is thought will already have perished by +fire or in some other way." + +Don Fray Pedro de Arze, bishop of Zugbù, was more minute in describing +the labors and efforts of our religious, in a letter informing the +sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, in which he says +the following: + +"For some years past the discalced Augustinian fathers of the +congregation of España have been, and are, gathering very large +harvests in the conversion of the infidels of these islands; for, +besides the many others that they have in other bishoprics, they +have more than ten convents in my diocese alone. They are laboring +therein in the cultivation of the vineyard of the Lord, with the best +of example, strict observance, and care. This is in the newest and +most dangerous posts of these islands, where their lives are exposed +to great risk, as the islands are hostile. But notwithstanding all +these dangers and hardships, they have converted a very great number +of infidels, both adults and children, to our holy Catholic faith. I +trust, God helping, that the conversion of the infidels--and especially +those of one island where those holy religious have their missions, +as it is one of the largest islands of these regions--will, in the +future, by means of their care and industry, advance and increase to +much greater, etc." + +Besides the above, there are three other letters to the same +congregation, of the following tenor: + +"The discalced religious of the Order of our father St. Augustine have +worked hard as long as they have been in these islands (which is many +years), and with good example, in the preaching of the holy gospel; +and they have gathered a great harvest of souls. They have established +many convents in the islands, for which they should receive honor +from your Excellencies, and receive protection, so that his Holiness, +as master and father, may concede them rewards and favors, so that +they may be encouraged to complete what they have begun." + +The second letter contains the following points: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine in +these Philippinas Islands are laboring faithfully in the vineyard +of the Lord, with good example and prodigious danger, as the people +whom they instruct are harsh and fierce. In some districts, they +are making much gain in the conversion of souls; in Japon they have +made a very great gain, and have converted many, both men and women, +who have given their lives for the confession of our holy faith, +as will be seen there by the authentic report that is being sent to +his Holiness. Consequently, they deserve that your most illustrious +Lordships show them every grace and protection, and that you encourage +them to proceed in a work so holy by writing to the king of España to +protect and aid them, for that their example and good life deserve it." + +The third letter is of the tenor that is set down here: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine +in these Philippinas Islands are faithfully cultivating, in most +exemplary manner, the vineyard of the Lord, and are preaching His +holy gospel with great hardship and danger to their lives; for those +people whom they have in charge are so harsh and fierce that they +killed four religious the past year. But the others did not fear +on that account to send new ministers to preserve the fruit that +they were gathering among those souls, through their hope that, by +their teaching, they will convert all of those people to the true +knowledge. They have also made much gain in Japon, as has been seen; +since a great number of pagans, abandoning their errors, have embraced +our holy faith through the preaching of the religious of this order +who are in those kingdoms. For their confession, six religious of +that institute, accompanied by many, suffered martyrdom, after they +had taken the habits of Mantellatos, or tertiaries of the same order, +with other confriars, and others who wear the girdle." + +This prelate confirmed the same in two other letters to the Catholic +monarch, in the following manner: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine, +from their first arrival in these islands, have gathered a plentiful +harvest in souls by their good example. They have many convents +and many missions in their charge. In their care are the islands of +Calamiànes, and they have charge of a great part of the island of +Mindanao, where they have convents and labor with great zeal for the +salvation of souls." + +In the second letter he wrote these words: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine +have many convents in these islands, where they administer, with +great care, Christian instruction to the natives of the islands, +to whom they furnish a good example and whom they treat with great +gentleness. Their missions are very dangerous and the people of some of +them are harsh and fierce. They have had very good success in Japon, +and have given many martyrs to the Church, who fortified their lives +by the confession of our holy faith, as will appear there [_i.e._, +in Europe] by the report made here in regard to this. They merit the +aid and protection of your Majesty, so that they may be encouraged +to serve our Lord." + +The ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila, occupying the vacant see, +testified to the same king of España in another letter: + +"The discalced Augustinian religious are very austere in their +institute, and in their ministrations to the natives in the missions +under their charge--who, as they are among the most untamable and +fierce people in these regions, have killed and captured several of +the religious. Consequently, they are very short of men, but have +not failed in the service of your Majesty on the occasions that have +offered by land and sea." + +It would be an evident ingratitude not to record here three letters, +which the unconquerable city of Manila wrote to their king and +sovereign, giving him a definite relation of the condition of Ours. + +_First letter_ + +"The order of the discalced Augustinians, which has extended into +these islands, has been and is of great fruit in the spiritual by +their general virtue, their exemplary lives, and their excellent +teaching--both in the settlements of the Spaniards, where they +have convents, and in those of the natives where the ministration +and preaching of the holy gospel results in a very great harvest of +souls. Because they were the last order to settle in these regions, +they had to build some of their convents among the most rude and +warlike natives of these provinces. They have had so good success +with those natives that, through their efforts and the loving +treatment which they have shown them, they have so converted them +to the faith and so subjected them to the obedience of his Majesty, +that the fervent spirit which those religious have infused into both +those tasks is very evident. The order has a great lack of ministers +to occupy their many missions; and they need the favor and protection +of your Majesty, in order to attain their desire of carrying very +far the conversion of souls, and of preserving those who have been +converted to the faith. Therefore, this city is under obligations +to represent it to your Majesty, and to petition your Majesty, as +we do, with all humility, to be pleased to have a goodly number of +religious sent to them, so that they may continue and carry on their +good intentions in the service of God and that of your Majesty. For, +besides that the number of religious here is very few, as they have +scarcely enough for their missions, they fall sick and die, as many of +the sites and posts to which they go are not very healthful; for which +reason, the lack of ministers in their order is greater each day. This +is felt so much the more keenly as the importance of it is known." + +_Second letter_ + +"This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on other occasions +of the great results produced in these islands by the discalced +Recollect religious of the Order of St. Augustine. Their exemplary +devotion is daily increasing this Christianity, as they strive for it +with so great energy. In regions so remote, and so full of enemies +and of heathen people, they, losing the fear of the violent deaths +that they suffer daily, with the holy zeal which accompanies them, +have founded many convents. From that has resulted a very great +conversion of those rude people, they being the most turbulent that +are known in these regions. May our Lord, for whom is this work, +decree that they continue to increase, since so many blessings result +from it for the glory of our Lord and the service of your Majesty. To +you we represent the aforesaid, and their great need of religious so +that they may continue. For two alone who went to Japon have been the +cause of sending seventy Japanese to heaven--some already religious, +and others brothers of the girdle--while the said two fathers were +arrested and destined for martyrdom, and it is expected will by today +have achieved the happy end of it." + +_Third letter_ + +"This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on various occasions of +the great importance to these islands of the order of the discalced +Recollects of the Order of St. Augustine; of the apostolic men in +it; of the great harvest that they are gathering by the preaching +of the holy gospel; of the excellent example which they have always +given, and are giving, with their strict and religious life, and +their so close observance of their rules; and of the so considerable +results that have been achieved by them in the service of our Lord +and in that of your Majesty, with the aid of your royal arms, in +the great number of infidels who have been converted to our holy +Catholic faith, and have been subdued so that they render your +Majesty due homage and tribute. Those people have generally paid +that tribute and pay it every year. [We have written you] that +those religious have exercised and exercise with especial care in +all things the spiritual earnestness that concerns their profession, +both in the maintenance or their work and in their continual desire, +notwithstanding the innumerable annoyances which they endure, to carry +this work onward. They are ever converting new souls to the service +of our Lord and the obedience of your Majesty, while they preserve +great harmony and concord among themselves. Consequently, that order +has always been and is one of the most acceptable orders and one +of the most welcome in these islands. They are the poorest of all, +as all their ministries are in remote regions very distant from this +city, and among the most warlike people in all the provinces of these +islands, as they have been but lately reduced. [We have told you] of +the risk of their lives on account of this, because it has happened +at times that those who seemed to be pacified have rebelled; while at +other times the religious have fallen into the hands of those who were +not pacified, when preaching to them the holy gospel. There have been +many others also who have suffered martyrdom in the kingdom of Japon, +thus enriching the church of God with such noble actions, as well as +the crown of your Majesty. Above all, they have no income except the +alms given them by the faithful. There is no fleet in which they do +not sail for the consolation of the infantry, etc. This city petitions +your Majesty to be pleased to concede permission to the said order, +so that religious may pass from those kingdoms to these islands to +the number that your Majesty may decree, in consideration of the fact +that the need for them, in ministries so distant as theirs, is very +great. In those ministries, through the little nourishment of the +food which they use for the sustenance of human life, for they live +as those who are truly poor, and with great abstinence, which they +observe, without reserving any time because of discomforts, whether of +sun or shower, going through dense forests and inaccessible mountains +in order to reduce the many millions of souls of those districts to +our holy Catholic faith, not one of whom has any light, etc." + +Don Joan Niño de Tavora, governor and captain-general of the +above-named islands, and president of the royal Chancillería of Manila, +says in another letter to the same king: + +"The Recollect Augustinian fathers who reside in these islands, +inasmuch as they arrived last, have taken the districts most distant +from this city. They are extending their labors into the district of +Caràgha, and Calamiànes, with success among those Indians, etc. During +the last four years, more than four thousand persons have been baptized +by that order alone. I petition your Majesty to be pleased to order +that their procurators be despatched with the greatest number of +religious possible, etc." + +Lastly, Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, who exercised the aforesaid office, +concludes in another letter, in which he affirms the proposition: + +"The order of discalced Recollects of St. Augustine who reside in +these islands and the districts of them, preserves in its members, +with all virtue and exemplary life, its obligations for the service +of God, in the protection and instruction of their parishioners, +the Indian natives; and in what regards the service of your Majesty, +they show the efficacious zeal of good vassals. For during the time of +my government they have not at all embarrassed me in any way. On the +contrary, as I recognize their good conduct, I am obliged to represent +it to your Majesty; and will your Majesty be pleased to show them every +favor and grace, in whatever opportunity may occur to your Majesty." + +A letter came with those that are here given as addressed to the +sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, who ordered the +two following letters to be written, which we place at the end, in +order to qualify better the labor of Ours, and to conquer the calumny +of those who attempted to obscure and stifle the fervor with which +the Reform commenced the reduction of the barbarous infidels. + +_To the vicar-general of the discalced Augustinians_ + +"Very reverend father: + +"Your Paternity will have learned that a letter was presented and read +in the assembly of the sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the +Faith, received from the bishop of Zibù, etc. The most illustrious +lord cardinals have received most special pleasure in learning from +it the great number of convents that the religious of your order have +built in the Philippinas, and also the great harvest that they are +gathering in the conversion of those heathen by their example and +their good and holy customs. Inasmuch as the said bishop lives with +steadfast hopes of greater progress and advancement if he were again +aided and reënforced with other laborers of their order, such as they, +and resembling them, the sacred Congregation, attentive to this, +petitions your Paternity, with the affection and earnestness that +the salvation of so many souls merits, to effect and strive anew, +with all the earnestness and care possible, to provide new religious +and workers for those so remote and needy regions. We assure your +Paternity that it will be a great service to God and to the holy +apostolic see. And also that act will be one of great pleasure +to their Excellencies the cardinals. The latter advise you that, +in the missions conducted by your Paternity, the contents of the +decree enclosed herewith should be observed and obeyed. Besides this, +the sacred Congregation, in consideration of the services that your +Paternity's order has rendered to the holy apostolic see, has thought +best to protect that order with great pleasure and good-will, etc. + + +_Cardinal Ludovisi_ +_Francisco Ingoli_, secretary." + + +_To the very reverend fathers the father provincial and the definitors +of the discalced Augustinians in the Philippinas Islands_ + +"Very reverend fathers: + +"The relation of the progress that your Reverences have made in those +districts in the conversion of the heathen, and of the efforts put +forth and the hardships suffered for the said object, having been +referred to this sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, +his Holiness and these my most illustrious Lordships, after having +received most special consolation from so good news, have praised +not a little the zeal and piety of your Reverences. They also exhort +you to continue in the future with the same fervor, especially in the +care of the mission destined for Japòn. In the same manner they have +ordered that an urgent message be sent to the papal legate [_nuncio_] +of España to try to procure prompt despatches for the multiplication +of the ecclesiastical workers in those regions. His Holiness, in +particular, has willingly offered them his consolation with eight +thousand benedictions, etc. + + +_Cardinal Borxa_ +_Francisco Ingoli_, secretary." + + +In order to conclude all this with the destruction of the calumny +that their opponents invented, in regard to the presence of Ours in +Philippinas being without fruit, we might quote certain authors who +have spoken in no uncertain voice in their praise. But we forbear, +except in the case of master Fray Thomas de Herrera, whom, as he +is worth a thousand men, it will be well to cite. In regard to the +aforesaid, he speaks in the following manner in his _Alphabeto_: + +"These fathers, who were not slothful laborers, kindled with zeal +for the Catholic faith, and desirous for the salvation of souls, +crossed the seas in the year 1605, to remote regions of this world, +although at the eleventh hour." (Folio 181, volume i.) + +"The discalced fathers of Hispania crossed the seas in the year 1605, +kindled by their zeal for the salvation of souls (and at times by +the shedding of their blood in the kingdoms of Japonia) to those +remote islands, as planters of the Church or as spreaders of its +tents." (Folio 127, volume ii.) + +"The congregation of the discalced of Hispania, which extends its +vineyards even to the seas and to the Philippinas Islands, sent +laborers about the year 1588 to remote colonies, who preached the +gospel to the Japanese; and with their own blood, shed most profusely, +they either planted or watered the Church in various kingdoms, +and illumined the Augustinian order with a great number of glorious +martyrs." (Folio 485, _ibidem_.) + +[A section devoted to the founding of the convent of Calatayud in +Aragon follows, and the narration of the work in the Philippines is +taken up again in the succeeding section, entitled:] + +_Foundation of the convent of Bolinao_ + +The missionary religious in the Philippinas Islands had complete and +quiet peace, although those who were living in España, opposed by +miseries and misfortunes, were trying with all earnestness to recover +their lost quiet. A great field was offered to them, in which to give +vent to the ardor of their desires; but being few in number, they could +not accept as much as was given them. They determined finally to take +the island of Bolinào, near the province of Zambàles and of Tugui, +whose warlike and fierce inhabitants, although less so than the others, +gave father Fray Geronimo de Christo, vicar-provincial at that time, +and his associate, father Fray Andres del Santo Espiritu, sufficient +occasion to exercise their patience; for, not wishing to hear them, +they tried daily to kill them. The two fathers persisted in softening +those diamond hearts with their perseverance, after having lived for +some months on only herbs of the field, when the natives deprived +them of food so that, thus needy, the fathers should be compelled +to leave them and go away, or so that they might die of hunger. That +might have happened if God our Lord had not aided them with His grace, +as is His wont in times of greatest stress. The patient endurance of +Ours conquered the barbarians; and, recognizing that those who were +so long-suffering and so kind could not fail to be right in what +they said, they submitted to the yoke of the gospel, very gladly +and joyfully receiving the Christian instruction and baptism. For +that reason it became necessary to found a convent there, and that +was accomplished through the conversion of one thousand six hundred +souls, who are directed, together with those of other villages near +by. In that place occurred a circumstance resembling that of father +Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, which we have recounted above; for while +all the Indians of the village were not yet converted, our religious +learned that those of the village had gone to a bamboo plantation not +very distant, in order to worship it and to venerate their bamboos, as +if they were gods. They followed the Indians, and found them occupied +with their blind observances. The more the religious persuaded them, +they could not induce them to cut a single bamboo, because of the error +which they had accepted from the mouth of the devil, namely, that they +would surely die if they touched the canes. Thereupon the fathers, +although at the evident risk of their lives, amid the great shouting +and lamentations of the Indians, ordered a good Christian servant, who +acted as their guide, to begin to fell the thicket. Proceeding at first +with the fear of those foolish people, the servant felled the entire +thicket to the earth, and then the barbarians were assured of their +error, and without delay they more joyfully accepted Christianity. + +[Two sections follow, treating of the lives of Fathers Geronimo de +Christo and Diego de Jesus, the first of whom was a missionary in +the Philippines and the second in Mexico--who, being captured by the +English, passed through many stirring adventures.] + +[Chapter x contains nothing touching the Philippines except a brief +survey of the life and death of the founder of the Philippine missions, +Father Joan de San Geronimo. He died near Ormuz, while returning to +Spain in order to secure more workers for his mission.] + + + + +Third Decade + +[The first chapter recounts that papal permission was given to erect +four novitiates in the convents in the four Spanish cities of Madrid, +Valladolid, Zaragoza and Valencia.] + + + + +Chapter II + +_Foundation of the convent of Cigayan_ + +_The year 1612_ + + +The missionary fathers of the Philippinas Islands were free from +anxiety, and were far from suffering the strife and upheaval that the +Reform was enduring in España. However, in their great anxiety to guide +souls to heaven, they did not desist from their fruitful conversion +along the coasts of Zambàles. They needed associates to help them +carry so heavy a burden; but notwithstanding that, in their sorrow for +the lamentable loss of those who did not yet know God because of the +lack of missionaries, after they had converted many infidels in the +village of Cigayàn they set about founding a monastery there. They +carried it out that year, and lived therein with all security until +an Indian, instigated by the devil, laid violent hands on father Fray +Alonso de San Augustin, whom he wounded severely in the throat with +a very broad though short dagger, called _igua_ in that country, +which is made purposely for beheading a person at one blow--a vice +common to the Zambàles, before they knew the sweet charity of the law +which we profess. But as the stroke was first caught by the hood [of +the father's habit], the barbarian did not succeed in his purpose, +which had been to behead him in a moment. But the wound did not +heal readily, and consequently he lived but a little while. It is +said that there was no further cause for the atrocious and profane +act of the wicked parricide than the desire to free himself from +the censures that that same father had administered to him for his +crimes and wickedness. Thereupon, the Indians of the village rose +in revolt, and after burning the church and the convent, fled to the +mountains. However, some remained, who defended the other religious, +and carried the wounded man to Masinglo. Consequently, the village was +almost deserted. Afterward they tried, and successfully, to subdue +the insurgents again. They succeeded by their energy and toil, and +restored the settlement and church again to their former state for +the administration of seven hundred souls or so, who were the last +ones to comprehend the cry of the gospel. + +It happened in this place that one Sunday, while father Fray Francisco +de Santa Monica was in the church teaching the rudiments of the +Catholic faith to the least intelligent Indians, they came to tell +him that there was a certain woman, at a long legua's distance from +that place, dying of childbirth, who was entreating for baptism very +earnestly. The said father left his exercise, and, seizing a staff, +started to run so fast that, as he himself testified, it seemed as if +he were flying through the air. He was not far wrong, for in less than +one-half hour he reached the place or hut of the poor woman who was +expiring, all swollen and black with the pain and anguish that she was +suffering. He baptized her (and also instructed her as was necessary), +and she immediately gave birth to an infant, which, although alive, +was much deformed because of the danger of the mother. After it had +been washed likewise from the original sin in which all we children +of Adam are born, they both died, to the joy and wonder of that +minister at seeing the depth of the divine decrees in regard to the +predestination of those souls. + +[Chapters iii, iv, and v treat of the European affairs of the order.] + + + + +Chapter VI + +_All of the charges against the Reform are annulled by a brief, and +the fifth provincial chapter is held, with the prorogation which +they claimed. Two convents are established and a mission arranged +for the Philippinas_. + +_The year 1616_ + + +[By a papal decree of May twenty-one, new life is given to the +Recollect order, and their future assured. On the return of Father +Gregorio de Santa Catalina, the chapter which had been delayed until +that time was held. In this chapter, _discretos_ (or persons elected as +assistants in the council of the order) and visitors were abolished, +the latter having been found more expensive than useful. The title of +chief preacher was not to be given to anyone, as it tended to destroy +the democratic principles of the order. A section on the founding of +the college of Caudiel in Spain follows, and then the last section +of this chapter, which is also the last of this volume _in re_ +the Philippines.] + + +_Foundation of the convent of Cabite_ + +Inasmuch as we have left our religious busily occupied in the lofty +ministry of the conversion of the infidels, it will be advisable for us +to turn our attention to them, on the present occasion, praising their +great zeal. Much more must we do so, since they advanced with so few +workers to do all that their forces were able, both in the preaching +of the gospel, and in the spread of their houses, in order that they +might serve with energy in the no small toil that was theirs. That +convent of Cabite seemed to be necessary; and they did not deceive +themselves, for, although only two leguas distant from Manila, it +is of considerable consequence for the conversion of many souls, +as Cabite is a port where men of not a few Asiatic nations assemble +for the sake of its commerce, which is remarkable. Hence that place +comes to be the largest one in the Philippinas Islands after the said +metropolis, and all the seamen live there, in order to be conveniently +near to its traffic and its trade. With such a motive, that convent +was founded by father Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, and under so +good auspices that it has been of use to the service of God and to +the credit of the Reform, because of the spiritual blessing that it +has obtained, as well as by the esteem in which it has been held, +as the various people who come there from the most remote and distant +kingdoms have experienced the example and instruction of Ours. Divine +Omnipotence has there made illustrious, for the feeding of hearts, a +devout image of our Lady of Rule [_Nuestra Señora de Regla_]--modeled +from the one that protects and defends the Andalusian shores between +Cadiz and San Lucar--especially favoring through her means the poor +sailors in the continual dangers of their fearful duty. So many are +the vows that attest her miracles, that it would be a digression to +have to mention them. + +While the useful foundation of that convent was being directed in +Philippinas, father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel was in España, working +carefully and diligently in order to get the necessary despatches +to conduct helpers suitable for the prosecution of the spiritual +conquest that had been happily commenced among the Zambàles. The +vigilance employed by two commissaries to get the so desired subsidy +for his brothers was disappointed by death, and by the opposition +we have already related. Consequently, the few who were fighting +the devil in the enclosure did not desist, and sent the above-named +father--since he was the most fitting person that could be found for +the attainment of such an enterprise--to whom they consigned papers of +great moment, as a testimonial of the work and of the fruit which they +were gathering with the gain of souls. Our calced fathers themselves +affirmed it, to the confusion of those who here opposed father Fray +Francisco de la Madre de Dios, and their ministries and desires. The +father embarked with great haste, but as he was coming on an affair of +heaven, misfortunes were not wanting in the world, and he endured very +heavy ones. He himself mentioned them in a relation that he made to +Pope Urban Eighth at the latter's command, when he reached his feet, +as the ambassador of certain schismatic princes of the Orient (as we +shall relate in detail when we come to the year of that event). The +father declares, then, that having suffered a severe storm amid the +islands--during which the vessels anchored at Manila were wrecked--he +sailed immediately toward Japòn. Thence, after suffering other +tempests, they finally sighted Cape Mendocino in forty-four degrees +of latitude. Then coasting along the shores of Nueva España (which +was composed of inaccessible mountains), and through unknown seas +(in which he saw great monsters), for the distance of one thousand +leguas, he sighted the cape of San Lucas. There the gulf of the +Californias begins. The father anchored in Acapulco, the best of the +ports known to the pilots, after having spent more than seven months +on the voyage. He went to Mexico and to Vera Cruz; and, continuing +his journey and encountering a new storm on the ocean, was driven to +the coasts of Terranova [_i.e._, Newfoundland] and of Labrador. As a +consequence so much shortness of food was experienced that only two +onzas of biscuit were given to each man, and about the same amount +of water. The ship began to leak, so that it was as if by a miracle +that it was able to put in at the Terceras. There they refitted, and +the father finished his navigation, by coming to Cadiz, after having +made to that point from Manila seven thousand one hundred and sixty +leguas, in the manner that we have seen. Thence he went to Madrid, +and was given favorable audience; and everything that he petitioned +was conceded to him. But when twenty religious had been assembled, +although they were even about ready to sail in the fleet that was +being sent with reenforcements to the Malucas, the father's luck +turned against him with the order that was received, for the boats +that were ready not to sail. Consequently, he was accommodated on +the fleet of Nueva España, but with very few religious. However they +proved to be many, because of the lack of religious in the ministries +and convents of the Indias.... + + + + +General History of the Discalced Religious of St. Augustine By Fray +Luis de Jesus [42] + + + + +Decade Fourth + + +Chapter First + +_The Augustinian Reform is erected, by pontifical favor, into a +congregatión, divided into provinces, and governed by a vicar-general._ + +[The first eleven sections of this chapter relate to affairs in +Spain, and contain matters touching the order at large, as well as +the affairs of various districts, and others pertaining to the lives +of various religious of the order. The balance of the chapter deals +with Philippine matters, as follows.] + +_Year 1621_ + + +§ XII + +_Foundation of the convent of Zibù in Filipinas_ + +During this year of twenty-one, when our discalced order was erected +into a congregation in España, the number of our houses in the +Filipinas Islands was increased by the efforts of the zeal of the +religious who were attending therein to the service of God and the +welfare of so many souls, who were in need of ministers to lighten +them with the divine word upon the pathway of the Lord. Sovereign +Providence, then, arranged that our discalced should have a convent +in that island of Zibù. It has been a station for the entrance of the +publication of the faith of Christ our Lord to many distant provinces +of barbarous and blinded people. + +The famous Magallanes discovered it in the year 1521. It has a +circumference of less than one hundred leguas. Its inhabitants are +called Pintados, because they have various designs on their bodies, +which they make with iron and fire. They were formerly regarded as +lords and chiefs of the other neighboring provinces, for they made +themselves feared by their great valor. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de +Legaspi gained it by force of arms from its king Tupas in the year +1575 [_sic_], and founded there the city of Nombre de Jesus, because +an image of the most holy child Jesus, one-half vara tall, was found +there in the house of an Indian. The Observantine fathers possess +that image in a convent that was built in the same house and on the +same site; it had before been owned and venerated by the heathen, +and is today frequented by the Catholics, who find there relief for +their needs. The city lies in the eastern part, and has a good port, +while there are other ports found in the island. There, then, did the +most pious bishop, Don Fray Pedro de Arce (of the order of our father +St. Augustine, and a son of the most observant province of Castilla, +and of the convent of Salamanca--where he professed in the year one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while father Fray Antonio Muñoz +was prior), solicit our discalced to found a convent; for, although +they had been the last in arriving at Filipinas, he hoped that they +were not to be the last in the work of the vineyard of the Lord. + +The bishop assigned the site in a chapel dedicated to the conception +of our Lady, somewhat apart from the traffic of the city, so that, +accordingly, the religious could give themselves more quietly to +prayer. He adjudged them also the spiritual administration of an islet +and small village called Maripipi, not very far from Zibù. About +six hundred souls were instructed there by Ours with great care +and vigilance. The erection of that convent was accomplished by +father Fray Chrisostomo de la Ascension, who was its first prior. He +erected a small building, that afterward was rebuilt because of an +accidental fire, and extended so that now it is a very comfortable +dwelling, well suited to purposes of devotion. That convent has a +devout confraternity of Our Lady of Solitude [_Nuestra Señora de la +Soledad_.] On Holy Thursday, a solemn procession is made after the +ceremony of the descent of Christ from the tree of the cross. That +procession, passing through the streets of the city, is a great +edification and consolation to the faithful. + + +§ XIII + +_Foundation of the convent of San Sebastian outside of the walls of +Manila in Filipinas_ + +The very devout and pious gentleman Don Bernardino del Castillo +Ribera y Maldonado was so good a benefactor to our discalced that +his generosity, which could not be satisfied within the circuit of +the walls of Manila, desired that we should make an experiment about +one-half legua from them. There as he had an estate which occupied +all that site, called Calumpan, to the boundaries of a little village +named Sampolog, and in its midst a well-built bit of a house, he made +an entire gift of it, so that a monastery might be built, in which the +religious could live retired, and, free from the excitement of the +city, give themselves up with more quietness to prayer. Father Fray +Rodrigo de San Miguel--whose heroic labors will give us considerable +of which to write--took possession of the estate, and remodeled the +said house in the form of a convent. The aforesaid master-of-camp +and castellan of the fort, Don Bernardino, was of great help, and it +was completed in time. The said village of Sampolog was assigned to +the care of the religious, so that the more than three hundred souls +that it contained should be instructed and taught there by them. + +The comfort of the site was increased, so that the provincials have +chosen it as their place of habitation, because of the quiet that +is enjoyed there, as well as for its pleasantness, which serves as +a just recreation to the continual fatigue that their government +brings with it. One would believe that God looked on that house with +pleasure, for, during the cruel rising of the Sangleys, or Chinese, +it suffered no considerable damage, although they set fire to it in +various parts with the desire of leaving not even a memory of it. We +piously believe that the queen of the angels, our Lady, defended +it, as being her dwelling; for a very holy image is revered there, +under the title of Carmen. Although that image is small in stature, +it is a great and perennial spring of prodigies and favors, which +she performs for those who invoke her. Our religious took it from +Nueva España, and even in that very navigation she was able to make +herself known by her miracles. + +Don Juan Velez, dean of that cathedral, was very devoted to our +discalced Recollects. Upon finding himself in the last extremity of +life, to which a very severe illness brought him, he requested that +that holy image, which had been but recently taken there, be carried +to his house. So lively was his faith, accompanied by the prayers of +the religious, that he immediately received entire health on account +of so celestial a visit. As a thank-offering for that favor, the +pious prebendary made one of the most famous feasts that have been +in that city. He founded a brotherhood, with so many brethren that +they exceed four thousand. Consequently, that most holy image is +daily frequented with vows, presents, and novenas, thank-offerings +of the many who are daily favored by that queen of the skies. + +Finally, in this year of our narration was sent the sixth mission of +religious, which the father procurator, Fray Francisco de la Madre +de Dios, arranged in España for those islands; and he obtained by +his great energy authority from the Catholic monarch to take twelve +religious there to increase the number of the laborers in the vineyard +of the Lord. + +That year died father Fray Alonso Navarro, and father Fray Antonio +Muñoz. Mention was made of the first in the first volume, decade i, +chapter 6. Mention will be made of the second in this fourth decade +of this volume, chapter 9, in the foundation of the convent of Panamà, +§ 9. + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_The apostolic see confirms what was enacted in the first general +chapter of the reform. Other new privileges are conceded. The preaching +of our religious in Filipinas spreads._ + +_Year 1622_ + +[Papal favor, with the confirmation of the enactments made by the +first general chapter of the Recollects held in Madrid, puts the +reformed order on a tolerably firm footing, and they are able to +proceed with their missionary and other efforts with more peace of +mind. The first section of the present chapter relates entirely to +the affairs of the order at large. The Philippine narration is again +taken up in section ii.] + +§ II + +_Preaching of our discalced Recollect religious in the province of +Caragha. Description of the country, with detailed and interesting +information._ + +¶The divine Mercy scattered his accustomed favors upon the province +of San Nicolàs of Filipinas that year. For its zealous sons, desiring +to propagate the holy gospel, but lacking sufficient workers, busied +themselves in preserving what had been acquired, until the arrival of +very good companions [of their order], when they undertook to go to +the province of Caragha, a very principal portion of the island called +Mindanao. That island rivals that of Luzòn in size. It is one hundred +and fifty leguas distant from Luzòn, and is more than three hundred in +circuit, counting promontories and indentations. Its greatest length +is one hundred and thirty-six leguas, namely, from the point of La +Galera to the cape of San Augustin. It has flourishing villages, +especially along the shores of the rivers, which are large and not +few. One which flows out of the famous lake of Malanao is larger than +the others. That lake is formed from other rivers which dash down from +the mountains. The shape of the lake is oval, and its circumference +fifty leguas or more, according to report. Its greatest diameter is +only sixteen leguas, with its points and bays, and without the latter +it is only twelve. In short, that lake is considered as one of the +most famous in the world. Its marge is extremely fertile in rice and +other food products, which abound in the Bisayas. Its mountains are +clothed with cinnamon-trees, brasil-trees, ebony, orange, and other +trees that bear delicious fruit. On the lowlands are bred abundance +of deer, buffaloes, turtle-doves, and fowls, besides other kinds +of game-birds. But in the rough country are sheltered wild boars, +civet-cats, and other fierce and wild animals. + +There are certain birds that possess remarkable characteristics. The +one called _tabon_ is found on the coast of Caragha. [43] It is smaller +than a domestic hen, and very like it [in appearance], although not +in affection for its young. It lays its eggs, which are three times +larger than those of our hens, in sandy places, and easily buries +them in a hole about one braza deep. That done, it abandons them, +and never returns to examine them again. Thereafter, the preservation +of those birds being in the care of divine Providence, the heat of +the sun quickens and hatches them, and the chicks, leaving the shell, +also break out of the sand above them, and gradually get to the surface +in order to enjoy the common light; and thus, without any further aid, +they fly away. If it happens that the chick in the egg is buried with +its head down, it does not get our, for upon breaking the shell and the +sand, it continues to dig always downward, as that is the direction +that its head has; and as it misses the road it gets tired and dies, +and its cradle serves as its tomb. + +Quite different from the _tabon_ is another bird called _cagri_, +which is not found outside of Mindanao. [44] Its shape resembles +that of the bat, although it is much larger. It has no wings, but +only a membrane resembling a cloak, which falls from its shoulders +and covers it even to its feet. That enables it to pass from one tree +to another, but it cannot soar like other birds. It spreads out that +membrane when it wants to, and it is not without a tail. Its eyes +and head resemble those of a very graceful little dog, and its hair +is very soft, and at times colored with various colors, pleasing to +the sight. It bears so great affection to its young that it carries +them hanging to its breasts, just as women do, without leaving them, +although it climbs, flees, or runs. + +The reader will not be wearied with knowing the characteristics +of another animal called _hamac_. It resembles a monkey, although +the head is very round. Its eyes are golden, and very beautiful and +large. Its tail is very large and serves it as a seat, and it neatly +wraps itself about with it. It does not use its feet to walk; for, +in order to go from one part to another, it lets its tail drop, +and supporting itself on it, leaps as it wishes. It is not seen +by day, because it keeps quiet until night, when it looks for its +food, which is only charcoal. [45] All its friendship is with the +moon. Accordingly, seated on a tree, it awaits the moon, until the time +when it shines. It looks at it fixedly without winking, from the time +when it begins to shine until it hides itself. When the dawn comes, +that animal loses its sight and returns to its dwelling. If anyone +discovers it, that animal takes pains to look at him, and measures +and takes note of his person with his sight, from top to toe. That is +usually a cause for fear, to those who do not know that characteristic; +but, if he knows it, that threatening causes him no fear. Finally, +concluding the description of that island, the reader must know that it +is called Cesarea, in memory of the unconquerable Charles Fifth--a name +that was given it by Bernardo de la Torre, captain and master-of-camp +of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, in the year 1543; and under that name it +was designated by the documents and writings of that period. + +§ III + +_Customs of the inhabitants of that island_ + + +Coming to the customs of the inhabitants of that land, we have to +note their common tradition, namely, that the first inhabitants were +blacks. Their barbarous descendants are preserved in the thickest +forests and in the most retired mountains. They have no regular +house, but stay where night overtakes them. They go almost naked, +for they only cover the shame of nature with the bark of certain +trees. Some of them have been seen to wear certain cloths made from +cotton, called _bahaquer_. They use the bow and arrow, and very keen +knives, with which they can sever the head of a man from the body at +one stroke. Their employment is to go in search of Bisayan Indians, +who live in the districts nearer the rivers and seashore; for they +hate the latter with fury because these have, as they give out, +usurped their own land. + +It has been learned from serious and trustworthy persons that tall and +very ugly men have been discovered in those dense forests, whose feet +are turned backward. They live on the flesh of wild game, tree-roots, +and fish, without doing any work. The very sight of those men was so +terrifying that he who unfortunately chanced to see any one of them +was left cross-eyed and squinted forever, just like those whom we +call _vizcos_ [_i.e.,_ "cross-eyed"]. An eyewitness of this piece +of information confirmed this, who declared that he had seen and +known certain Indians who were almost squint-eyed from the effect +produced by the glance of those monstrous men. Those Indians say +that their speed is such that they can catch the swiftest deer by +running; and that upon catching those said Indians, the wild men +talked very confusedly among themselves, but afterward left the +captives hanging to some trees--whence they descended with great +risk, and were left squint-eyed, because of having looked at those +enormous barbarians. Some years later, another eyewitness who had +experience in the affairs of that island added that such monsters, +called _tecmas_, had been seen with ears misshapen because of their +size, and that their mouth was like that of a dog; while they were +so hideous in face and teeth that they caused great fright. + +According to this information, these Indians have languages that are +very diverse, with peculiar characters. But they almost universally +talk the Bisayan, which is common and peculiar to Zibù, the head of +the other provinces called Pintados. Those Indians and the Caraghas, +with their other neighbors, go partly naked; for they cover the +lower part of the body, while they wear certain twisted cloths on +the head in the manner of a crown, or the duliman of the Turks, +but without the little bonnet that the latter are wont to wear. The +women are entirely covered, while, to protect themselves from the sun +and other inclemencies of the weather, they use curiously woven hats +of palm-leaves. + +Their manner of religion was to adore, some the sky, and others the +moon; or their now deceased ancestors; or the mountains or woods in +which they believed their ancestors to dwell, accompanied by certain +deities, enjoying perpetual tranquillity. They regarded it as certain +that those who had been most valiant and tyrannical in this life were +deified, and also that there was eternal punishment for some. Others, +finally, reverenced most ugly idols made of stone or wood, which they +called _divatas_. There were different kinds of such idols: some +being destined for war, and others for sickness, sowing, and such +objects. They were rendered furious by thunder, and defied the deity +whom they supposed to have sent it; they called out loudly to it, +and if that did not suffice, they took arms against it. + +It is said that the ridiculous Alcoran of the Mahometans had +penetrated even to that land from the Orient, having been taken +there by certain zealots of that infamous sect, who were trying to +extend it. However their efforts and false preaching availed them +little; for the inhabitants of those islands were very much given to +intoxication, and very fond of eating flesh forbidden by that false +law. Consequently, that error took root in very few of them. + +They had no certain days established throughout the year for their +sacrifices, but made them as time and opportunity offered. They were +punctual in offering these when they were going to fight. War was +their universal inclination, because of their bestial and ferocious +appetite to rob and to go on raids, committing depredations on +the neighboring islands, and making slaves of all the people who +came to their hands. They also offered sacrifices in sickness, the +beginnings of their sowings, the building of their houses, and for +other necessities. The duties of priest were exercised indifferently by +both men and women, called _baylanes_. They made use of superstitions, +lots, witchery, and other ceremonies. + +The method of their ceremonies was as follows. Those who were to be +present were summoned, handsomely dressed and adorned, by the sound +of certain harsh bells (or, rather, unmusical cattle-bells) to the +house where it seemed best--for they had no assigned temple--which +was adorned with herbs and flowers. While they were waiting for all +to gather, those who first came began certain songs, alternating +between men and women, in time to the sound of a small drum. The +victim was already prepared. It was either a hog or some captive, +whose hands and feet they tied as if he were a young sheep. All the +invited ones having arrived, the priest or priestess began their +barbarous function by going into a private retreat beforehand, where +he made six conjurations; and, after the devil had entered his body, +he left the retreat with infernal fury to explain the oracle which +all were awaiting. Then the priest, taking a small lance in his hand, +danced about the sacrifice to the music of certain cattle-bells and +rustic instruments. Finally, on reaching the animal or captive, the +priest wounded it, and the bystanders killed it with spear-thrusts +and blows. When the victim was dead, if it were a man, they cast it +into the sea; if it were an animal, they quickly skinned, cooked, +and ate it, drinking until they became intoxicated. But they kept +something for the absent ones, as a relic, also reserving the most +choice portion (generally the head), on a table that resembled an +altar, for the devil whom they called the _divata_. No one touched +that portion except the baylan, who afterward threw it into the water +very reverently. The sacrifice was concluded with that ridiculous +ceremony. However, they were wont to add certain other ceremonies, +according to the purposes for which the said sacrifices were being +made, as for instance in war. At such times, after their intoxication +was over, they went to the shore of the river or sea; and, after +launching a small boat, the baylan jumped into it, at the same time +making his lying conjurations. If the boat moved, it was taken as a +good sign, but if it were immovable, it was intimated to them that +that war should not be made, unless they repeated the sacrifices. + +They also made use of another ceremony to ascertain whom each one +would capture. Each one kept in his house a great number of the teeth +of the crocodile or wild boar, strung on a cord. He handed those to +the priest very humbly. The latter received them with many salaams, +ordained so that they should have reverence for him. Then he said +certain badly-pronounced words ordering such teeth to move themselves, +by whose number the said baylan prophesied those who would remain +captive in the power of the owner of the string. In the same way they +cast other lots, in order to ascertain the future and its accidents. + + +§ IIII + +_Continuation of the same_ + + +When about to go rowing or sailing, they prayed to the promontories +or capes, attributing to them worship, as to the gods of war, with +very sad cries. They watched to see if a certain bird appeared, +called _limocòn_, similar to the turtle-dove of Europa. If they +saw it in the direction that they were taking, it was a bad sign, +and they did not leave the port. They also considered the _toco_ or +_taloto_--called _chacon_ by our Spaniards, and very like the lizard +[46]--as inauspicious. They feared the latter wherever they found +it, as a thing very contrary to their designs. While the war lasted, +they did not eat of the fish called _pulpo_ [47] or of any other fish +caught in a net. For they believed that if they tasted of that, they +would become blind; while, if they ate of the others, they would lose +the victory and would be made captives. They thought that if they ate +with a light, they would be conquered; and consequently, never did +they strike a light to eat, even though night had fallen. Those who +remained in the village did no work for seven consecutive days; for, +if they did not do that, they feared the defeat of their companions. On +returning victorious, they asked their nearest dead relative, with +their rude prayers (having stopped their boats), whether he would +like to have a part in the taking of the captives whom they had. If +the boats moved--which was but natural and necessary, since they were +in the water--they believed that he assented. Thereupon, taking the +best slave, they bound him hand and foot; and, taking him ashore, +they passed the boat over him with great force and weight until they +killed him with brutal cruelty. The sacrifice was concluded in the +house with the death of another captive, who was killed by the wife +of the conqueror. + +They showed themselves very dutiful toward their dead, burying them +with lamentations and remarkable minuteness of detail, increasing or +lessening the obsequies according to the quality and worth of their +actions. The nearest relatives were careful to close their mouths, for +they feared lest the soul of the dead would enter into their bodies +and do them a great deal of harm. Then they began their mourning by +lugubrious songs, which one of the kin intoned, while the others were +very attentive in order to respond, in time, with fearful cries. That +lasted more or less time according to the excellence of the deceased, +whose exploits were mentioned with great exaggeration. The friends and +acquaintances came in, both to console them and to become intoxicated, +which formed the relief for that sorrow. Only the mourners, who wore +white, refrained from drinking, in order that they might receive the +compliments of condolence soberly and in a dignified manner. + +So great was their devotion to the souls of their parents and +grandparents (whom they called _humalagar_), that they always +offered them food in their banquets, especially when they finished +any house, thinking that they themselves would die if they failed in +that. They did the same with the first yield of their fruits. When +they became sick, they invoked these ancestors to aid them, as we do +the saints. Then they summoned certain old witches, who were their +physicians. They respected the latter so greatly that, from the day +on which they entered their doors, no fire was lit in that house, as a +sign of great reverence. The medicines applied were after consultation +with the devil, in the shape of a little idol or a very ugly figure of +a man or woman, whom they asked for the life of the sick person. If +the idol moved, it was a sign of death, just as remaining still was +a sign of life and health. They made the same tests in the water, +by putting a boat in it, and observing from a distance its state of +quietness or motion. + +During the time that those barbarous obsequies lasted, it was +unlawful for anyone to go to any place where the deceased had gone, +or where he had bathed, under penalty of the culprit's losing +his life immediately. After the days for the mourning had been +completed, they covered the eyes and mouth of the corpse with sheets +of gold. They carried it to the field in a coffin, and into distant +caves or sepulchers among themselves; and buried it, together with +a male servant if the deceased was a man, or a female servant if the +deceased was a woman, so that such person might serve them, as they +thought that that was necessary in the other life. Thus did the dead +and living go hand in hand, without any recourse or dispensation. Such +servants of the deceased were set apart for that purpose from their +childhood, and were called _atabang_. If the deceased was rich, a +greater number of servants was added. This is confirmed by the event +that was rumored in the island of Bohol shortly before Miguel Lopez +de Legaspi arrived at Zibù; for those people placed seventy slaves +in the sepulcher of one of those barbarians, all arranged in order +in a little ship, which they call _caracoa_--which was provided with +anchors, rigging, and everything else, even arms and food, as if it +had been launched in the sea. + +Of the aforesaid, it is well known that that people believed in the +error that the soul went with the body, and that they were maintained +in the other life as in this. Consequently, they placed the most costly +clothes in the sepulchers. The relatives added others, and even arms, +if the deceased was a man, and the instruments of her domestic labor +if a woman, together with all the other dishes and jewels of the house +(not even excepting gold and precious jewels), in accordance with +their taste, so that these might be enjoyed in the other life. The +food was carried to them for the space of one year, and it was placed +on an adorned table every day. When it was taken there, the food of +the preceding day was taken away. That they threw into the water, and +no one dared to touch it, as it was a sacred thing. They generally +built a hut over the grave, so that the deceased should not suffer +from the inclemency of the weather. + +If the death were by violence, vengeance pertained to the children, +and in default of children to the nearest relative. The sign of that +obligation was to place certain armlets on the arms, as for instance, +twigs of osier, more or less according to the station of the dead. Upon +killing the first man whom they encountered--even though he were +innocent--one armlet was removed; and thus they continued to kill +until all the rings were removed from the arms. The avenger did not +eat anything hot, or live in a settlement, during that wicked and +barbarous vengeance. + +Each year every relative punctually celebrated the obsequies, and that +was a very festive day. They gathered a great quantity of food and +beverages; they commenced many joyful dances; they stuffed themselves +with what was prepared, taking some to their houses, and reserving the +greater portion to offer to the _divata_, and to the deceased, in the +following manner. A small bamboo boat was prepared, with much care, +and they filled it with fowls, flesh, eggs, fish, and rice, together +with the necessary dishes. The baylan gave a talk or a prolix prayer, +and finished by saying: "May the dead receive that obsequy, by giving +good fortune to the living." Those present answered with great shouting +and happiness. Then they loosed the little boat (sacred, as they +thought), which no one touched, and whose contents they did not eat, +even though they were perishing; for they considered that a great sin. + + +§V + +_Vices of the inhabitants of that island_ + +The vices of that people were indeed enormous. They were never lovers +of peace among themselves, and always were anxious for continual wars, +which they carried on at the slightest excuse. All their desire was to +rob and capture on land and sea, although they had in their ancient +times condemned theft severely. Their arms consisted of a lance; +a long, narrow shield which covered the entire body; and a dagger +resembling a broad knife, with which they easily cut off the head of +him whom they conquered, which was their greatest delight. They also +used bows and steel-pointed arrows with skill. + +Their greed was insatiable, although they were lazy and slothful; and +for that reason they practice unheard-of usury. There is no trace of +reason or justice in them. If one lent another a short measure of rice, +the debtor was obliged to return it in a certain time. If he did not +have the wherewithal to return it, he became a captive, and had no +redress; for the judges, who should have prevented that oppression, +were the first to practice that offense. That was the practice between +peers. If the business were with any chief, the poor wretch remained +a slave forever, even though the sum were for only four reals. They +made a distinction in those captivities; for if one were born of a +slave woman, and a free father, or the contrary, such a one remained +a half slave. Consequently in order for the accomplishment of his +service to his master, it was sufficient for him to serve for six +months scattered along through the twelve of the year. If he were the +child of parents both half slave, he was obliged to serve one month, +remaining free the three following; then he served another month, +continuing in this manner his servitude. Likewise, when a freeman +and a slave had many children, the chiefs were wont to set some free, +while the others remained slaves forever. + +Their intoxication and lust went to excess. They had what wives they +could support, and did not exempt among them their sisters and their +mothers. Marriage consisted in the will of the parents of the bride, +and the suitor paid them the dowry, although it was not handed to them +until after they had children. If either of the parents were dead, +the dowry was given to the nearest relative. They were divorced with +ease, but it was on condition that if the husband solicited it he lost +what was given to his parents-in-law; but if the wife procured it, +the dowry was restored. If adultery were proved, the aggressor and the +aggrieved [husband] came to terms--the same being done in the case of +the wife--in regard to the sum that was agreed upon, after considerable +haggling, and they generally remained fast friends. Consequently, +some husbands were wont to make a business of that, such was their +barbarism, arranging tricks, and providing occasions for their wives +to repeat their adulteries, in order that they might derive infamous +gains. If the culprit had nothing with which to pay, he became a +captive or lost his life. Divorce was very frequent, and agreement was +made to divide the children between husband and wife for their support. + +They gloried in knowing charms and in working them, by consulting the +devil--a means by which some made themselves feared by others, for +they easily deprived them of life. In confirmation of this assertion, +it happened, according to the recital of one of our ministers, that +while he was preaching to a great assembly one Indian went to another, +and breathed against him with the intent of killing him. The breath +reached not the Indian's face, however, but an instrument that he +was carrying, the cords of which immediately leaped out violently, +while the innocent man was left unharmed. The philosophy of such +cases is that the murderer took in his mouth the poisonous herb +given him by the devil, and had another antidotal herb for his own +defense. Then, exhaling his breath in this manner, he deprived of +life whomever he wished. They used arrows full of poison, which +they extracted from the teeth of poisonous serpents. They wounded +and killed as they listed, by shooting these through a blowpipe, +which they concealed between the fingers of their hands with great +dissimulation, blowing the arrows so that they touched the flesh of +their opponent. They practiced consultation with the devil by means +of their baylans, in order to ascertain natural causes, especially +in their illnesses. Consequently, they were very great herbalists, +knowing above all the preservatives from the poisons with which +they attacked one another on slight occasions--especially the women, +who are the more passionate and more easily aroused. + + +§ VI + +_Treats of the government of those islanders_ + +The government of those people was neither elective nor hereditary; +for he who had the greatest valor or tyranny in defending himself was +lord. Consequently, everything was reduced to violence, he who was most +powerful dominating the others. When one went to the chief to plead +justice, the latter delivered his sentence without writing anything; +and there was no appeal, whether the sentence were just or unjust. The +rich treated the poor and the plebeians as useless brutes, so that +those poor wretches flung themselves upon the rocks to die, as they +were unable to endure so hard a yoke. If he who was less did not pay +homage to him who was more influential, he was declared as his slave +only because the other wished it. They also deprived those miserable +beings of life for such reasons. Such was their iniquity and madness. + +If any criminal received protection in the house of a chief and the +latter managed his affair, the one protected became a perpetual slave, +together with his wife, children, and descendants, in return for the +protection. Because once while some boats were sailing some drops +of water fell on a chief woman, through the carelessness of him who +was rowing, it was considered so serious an offense that the poor +wretch was condemned to perpetual slavery, together with his wife, +children and relatives. However, our religious destroyed that practice +by spreading the holy gospel in that country. + +The nobility of those Indians was personal. It consisted in one's own +deeds, without reference to those of others. Accordingly, he who was +more valiant and killed most men in war was the more noble. The sign +of that nobility consisted in wearing the cloth wrapped about the head +(of which we have spoken above), of a more or less red color. Those +nobles were exempt from rowing in the public fleets (and that although +they were slaves), and ate with their masters at the table when they +were at sea--a privilege which they gained by their exploits. In +that custom of killing they reared their children and taught them +from an early age, so that beginning early to kill men, they might +become proud and wear the red cloth, the insignia of their nobility. + + +§ VII + +_Governor Don Juan de Silva declares war against those Indians, +and our religious enter to preach the gospel faith._ + +We have extended the relation of the barbarous customs of those +Indians, in order that the reader might know the great difficulty in +subjecting them to the law of reason, and (what is more) to the mild +law of the holy gospel. Some Spaniards, accompanied by evangelical +ministers, had penetrated those provinces at times from the year +1597, with great zeal; but they could not remain there because of the +ferocity of the natives, and for other casualties, which make those +provinces less habitable, notwithstanding that they abound in many +things that are necessary to life and advantageous to commerce. + +For these and other reasons, Don Juan de Silva, governor and president +of Manila, called various meetings of commanders, and experienced +captains, in which it was determined to make energetic war on those +barbarians. Charge of the war was given to General Don Juan de Vega, +son of Doctor Don Juan de Vega, auditor of Manila. He with a fine +fleet of four hundred Spaniards and other Indians sailed to humble +the pride of those barbarians. The latter were not unprepared for +resistance; for, joining their forces, they entrenched themselves so +that there was considerable doubt as to the undertaking. Both sides +fought with great valor, and there were many killed and wounded. But +at last our troops were victorious, as their zeal was to the service +of God and the increase of His worship. More than one thousand five +hundred Christian captives were liberated, and a presidio and fort +[48] was erected as a warning for the future. That effort was not +sufficient to quiet those Caraghas islanders; for within four years +three thousand of them assembled and, surrounding the redoubt, +placed it in great straits. They were repulsed by our men with so +great valor that, having retired to the sea, they vented their fury +by inflicting severe injuries on some villages friendly to us. And, +our men also getting a good reenforcement that was sent us from +Manila, those men returned to their homes--where, treating afterward +for articles of peace, they were pardoned for their past boldness, +and their subjection was arranged with the mildness of the gospel yoke. + +Affairs were in that condition, when the most illustrious Don Fray +Pedro de Arce, bishop of Zibù, most worthy son of our Augustinian +order, with his great zeal of gaining souls for God conceded to +our Reform the office of catching them with the net of the gospel +preaching. When the reënforcement of missionaries had arrived from +España that year [_i.e._, 1622], as is said in volume i, last chapter, +eight of our religious were appointed for that purpose. Stimulated +by the pity that they had at learning that so many souls were being +lost in the blindness of their idolatry, these missionaries set out in +great fervor from Manila, after having received the blessing of their +superior, and not without the holy envy of the other religious, who +would have liked to spend their lives in that holy employment. These +apostolic men landed at Zibù, where they received the blessings of +the most zealous bishop and many kindnesses with which he wished to +load them. He despatched them with promptness, and in a short time +they reached the redoubt of Tanda, which was the name of the fort +that had been erected there by our Spaniards. + +Then commenced the greatest felicity of that land; for our religious, +having as their object the welfare of those barbarians, tried to +gain their good-will by gentle measures. For that purpose, father +Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, the superior of that spiritual squadron, +refused to settle in the said fortress of Tanda; for, since those +heathen had a horror of it, they would not go to it. Consequently, +despising his life, and exposing it to manifest danger, he determined +to enter the country one legua further, and to build a dwelling-place +on the shores of a river. His design did not succeed badly, for, +attended by good fortune, he continued to attract and gain the +affections of those fierce Indians by making them understand their +illusions and errors. His other associates were not idle amid so much, +for, having separated among the environs (after having left a priest +in the redoubt as chaplain, who was not slothful in his gaining of +souls), they worked fervently in scattering the light of the faith, +in the midst of the darkness of that blind people, without excusing +themselves from great perils and hardships. They chose their residence +in the village of Yguaquet, [49] on the bank of another river where +the country people generally met. Those gospel workers were divided +and separated from one another, in order that they might attend with +greater convenience to the different districts. + +One cannot imagine the toil of our religious in cultivating that wild +forest of barbaric people. They catechised, instructed, and baptized +many, so that what was before a brutish wickedness, where the devil +reigned, began to be a beautiful fragment of the Church. They endured +great suffering, because of the intractability and fierceness of the +islanders, who were hostile to peace and to human intercourse; for +they had so little affection for even their brothers and sons that +they killed them or abandoned them to die, on but slight pretext. But +everything surrenders to the grace of God, and to the earnest zeal of +His ministers, who consider only the honor of His Divine Majesty--from +whom those pious workers received so great strength, that great wonder +is caused by the consideration that people so given to witchcraft, +cruelty, and injustice should have received the worship of the true +God with so great affection and devotion. To see them so surrendered +to the obedience of the Catholic Church, and so fond of the churches +that were soon built by the care and solicitude of Ours, edifies and +consoles one. There are celebrated the feasts of Christ and His most +holy mother, and those of the other saints, in which they show a very +steadfast faith. Finally those people learned some arts and trades, +by which they live in great comfort. + +We cannot avoid mentioning a very notable conversion in that province +of Caraghas. There was a chief, named Inuc, so celebrated and feared +that through his power and cunning he was absolute master of a +considerable territory, and the shores of a river that afterward took +his name. That barbarian was not satisfied with tyrannizing within +his own boundaries, but entering those of others, sailed through +the gulfs and along the coasts, in search of whom he might rob, +capture, and kill. It is said of that man that he had made more than +two thousand persons slaves, and killed innumerable men with his own +hand. Consequently, he was feared in the neighboring islands; while +no vessel dared to go to his lands--especially one of Spaniards, +whom he hated beyond measure, so that he would never agree to make +treaties of peace or of profit with them. + +The perdition of that man and the injuries and offenses that he +committed against God and his neighbors, caused great anguish to +father Fray Juan de la Madre de Dios, [50] a native of Villa-Bañez +in old Castilla, and one of the eight who went to Caragha. He took it +upon himself to subdue this man without other aid than confidence of +that of God. In order to achieve it, he prepared himself by special +fasting and prayers. He went alone to look for him; having found +him--to the great surprise of Inuc himself, who thought that the +religious had great boldness in coming into his presence--the latter +talked to him so fittingly and fervently, that the tyrant, having first +pardoned the father's coming without his leave, thanked him for the +holy admonitions that he gave to him. Showing him great affection, +Inuc admitted trade between his countrymen and the Spaniards; +then he consented that the holy gospel might be preached in his +territories. He gave his vassals an example by being baptized; by +sending away his numerous wives and marrying the first according to the +rites of the Church; by freeing his captives; and by issuing an edict +allowing those aggrieved to come to him to receive reparation for the +injuries which he had inflicted on them. He fulfilled that exactly, +binding himself by two judges, namely, our religious and the captain +of the fort of Tanda. They settling and sentencing with all equity, +restored to those interested whatever appeared to be theirs. Thus did +he who was before a haughty tyrant become a humble sheep of the flock +of the Church, and a faithful vassal of the kings of Castilla. News +of that conversion spread throughout those districts, and following +his example, many heathen submitted to the yoke of our holy law. + +Our missionaries were greatly encouraged by that fortunate success, +so that they were not dismayed at the work that they had undertaken, +although its difficulties were many. They were confirmed in their +intent by another case that happened in a village called Ambagan +on that coast of Caragha. A religious was resting one night when an +Indian, instigated by the devil, called together two other companions, +who formed a rearguard for him; while he, entering the house, tried +to kill the innocent man who was asleep. It was at midnight, the time +that he thought most opportune. He left those who accompanied him at +the foot of the house, while he mounted the ladder. At the entrance +of the room of the gospel minister, a venerable old man accosted +him and asked him in his own tongue: "Where art thou going? Seest +thou not that I am watching this man who is asleep, and who is my +son?" Notwithstanding that, the Indian persisted in his evil intent +of entering. But at that juncture the old man raised a staff of gold +which he held in his hand, and threatening the aggressor, scared him +so that, turning his back to descend the ladder, he could not find +it in order to escape, notwithstanding his eager search for it. Thus +did he spend the remainder of the night in great anxiety, and in the +morning he was discovered by the people who lived there. The Indian, +conscience-stricken, demanded that they inform the father, to whom +with great sorrow he related all that had happened, giving him leave +to publish it. He declared also who were his associates--who, growing +tired of waiting, and seeing that day was dawning, had returned in +order not to be discovered. The bystanders were astonished at hearing +the circumstances; and it was believed that that venerable old man +was our father St. Augustine, who defended his religious son with +the pastoral staff. + + +§ VIII + +_Our religious preach in the province of Butuan_ + +The province of Butuan--so called from the river of that name which +flows through it and renders to the sea the tribute of its so abundant +waters, while the sea enters the land for one-half legua--has wide +borders and plains where numerous people live who resemble the Caraghas +in their customs and ceremonies. However they are not so rude in their +behavior, perhaps because they were softened by the evangelical law, +which they once enjoyed. However, they abandoned that law because +the ministers abandoned them. [51] That holy conquest was undertaken +with great resolution by father Fray Juan de San Nicolàs, one of the +eight, who with a spirit apostolically bold planted the standard of +the cross in the town nearest the seashore. He subdued its inhabitants +by his gentleness, and attracted them to the bosom of the Church by +sermons in their own language. Those sermons produced a great fruit, +not only among those country people, but also among the traders who +came from other districts to traffic. + +With such auspicious beginnings, Ours continued to penetrate the +province, and, going up and down that river, sowed the divine word. It +fell to the lot of father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio, also one of +the eight above mentioned--who regarded but lightly the hardships +that were represented to him, with unfortunate examples, as having +encountered other ministers of the gospel--to journey more than fifty +leguas, preaching the faith of Jesus Christ to the villages. He had +serious and frequent difficulties in making himself heard; for the +devil appeared in a visible form to the Indians, persuading them not +to admit those fathers into their country, because of whom, so they +said, dire calamities and troubles must happen to them. But, as it +was the cause of God, all the deceits and cunning of that common +enemy remained only threats. + +It was no little work to make the Indians leave so many wives as each +one had, obliging them to marry the first, and to free their slaves +whom they miserably oppressed. But he attained it with his mildness, +the inoffensive method by which our religious succored the weakness +of those Indians. Thus did they obtain permission to travel through +the shores of that river, gaining souls for heaven, and building a +dwelling in the village of Linao. [52] + +In that did the superb zeal of father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio +excel wonderfully. For having resolved to go up the river together with +some Butuan Indians, already Christians, and arriving at the said place +of Linao, and seeing that its inhabitants were gentler and more docile, +he erected an altar in a chosen house, where he placed the images--from +which the heathen received great joy, praising their beauty. Then he +assembled the chief men of the district, and preached them a sermon, +in which he informed them who the true God is, and bade them abandon +the customs and rites of the devil. They jested at such a proposition, +but were soon subdued--especially one, who declared the location of +their god or _divata_. Father Fray Jacinto was overjoyed at that, and +schemed how he might see such place of worship, which was located on +the other side of the river. Commending himself, then, to Jesus Christ, +whose cause he was advancing, he ordered a boat to be launched and went +to look for the idol. Some Indians went out to meet him, brandishing +their lances in order to prevent his entrance. Others more humane, +persuaded him that he should abandon that undertaking, saying that, +if he wished to build a church there, they would give him a better +location. The father answered mildly that that house was very much +to his purpose because it was large, and all could gather in it in +order to be instructed in the mysteries of the faith. The Indians who +accompanied the pious father feared that a quarrel was about to ensue, +and that fear went with them even to the door [of the house]. The +father entered the place of worship boldly, to the wonder of all. He +saw various altars on which they sacrificed to the idol, which was +placed on a higher altar covered with curtains. The father carefully +avoided giving any attention to the said idol, and, having assembled +the chiefs, addressed them in regard to erecting an altar to the true +God. All agreed to it. On going out, the father purposely turned his +gaze to the image, and asked who was that who had so much reverence +there. No one replied, whereupon the zealous father seized the image, +which was a fierce devil, made of wood covered with black paint, +which made it altogether ugly and frightful. The barbarians were as +if thunderstruck, for they thought that no one could touch that god +without losing his life, and they could not cease their surprise +that that father had been able to capture their divata. Thereupon +the fervent missionary took occasion to make them understand their +blindness, and to persuade them of the offense which was committed +against the true God in worshiping the devil. After so notable an +action, he returned triumphant, with the protection of heaven, to +his boat, taking the idol with him without any one preventing him. On +the next day the Indians offered a considerable quantity of gold to +ransom their little god. The father paid no attention to it. On the +contrary, he diverted them, and leaving them to forget it, descended +to the convent of Butuan. There the people went to look for him, +proclaiming the little or no value of their god, and saying that they +wished to receive the true God. That was a matter of great consolation +to the father at seeing how well his pains had been recompensed. + +The divine pity approved the holy zeal of our religious by the +experience of that village of Linao, which was located on the shores +of the river, forty leguas away from the sea--that while before they +were molested by crocodiles, which killed numerous people, as soon +as the fathers made a settlement there they suffered no persecution +from those fierce animals. They all attributed it to the most holy +cross now set up, and to the voice of the gospel. Numerous conversions +were made in that country. Very famous is that of an Indian woman who, +having received our holy faith, died shortly afterward on the eve of +St. Catalina, virgin and martyr, at the first watch of the night. On +going next day to deliver her to the fathers in order that they might +bury her, and the grave being already opened, they came from the house +of the deceased woman to say that she was alive. Wondering at the news, +the fathers went to verify the matter, and found it to be truth. For +the deceased talked before them all, declaring that God had permitted +her to return to this life, so that, inasmuch as she had concealed a +very grave sin in confession, she might confess and be saved. She did +so immediately, and the instant when she was absolved she expired; +while Ours gave many thanks to our Lord for the pity that He had had +toward that soul, and to the others, since they became more inclined +to our holy Catholic religion because of that prodigy. + +Also it is worth while to narrate what happened in the province of +Ambongan and the lake of Compongan through the preaching by Ours of +the faith of Jesus Christ. An Indian woman was very near the end of +her life, and her husband and children were sad because at the time +there was no father there to administer the sacraments; for Ours were +at Butuan, whence they could not come without considerable delay. The +sick woman, seeing their sadness, told them to console themselves; +for the most holy Virgin, their advocate, had appeared to her very +beautiful and shining, and had told her to rejoice, for she would not +die until a father should have come to confess her and give her all the +other sacraments of the church. That very thing happened, for within +a month a missionary priest arrived there to visit and console those +villages. The sick woman heard of it, and had herself carried to the +church, where she received the sacraments of penitence, the eucharist, +and extreme unction, in the presence of that village. She returned to +her house, embracing a cross, to which she spoke innumerable tender +words. She died about midnight, leaving behind strong indications of +having gone to enjoy the eternal rest. + + +§ IX + +_Ours preach in Calamianes, and Cuyo_ + +The fervor of our religious did not rest with what was accomplished +in the provinces above mentioned. Having obtained some associates, +they determined to preach in Calamianes, islands which remained +in their blindness and idolatry. Their inhabitants were wild, and +great sorcerers and magicians, who knew many herbs. They used the +latter to kill by means of the breath or expiration infected with a +poisonous herb, as we have said above. They are poor, not because of +the sterility of the country, but because the Borneans, Camuzones, +and others of their neighbors plunder them. + +Those islands lie west of the island of Panai, which is one of the +largest of the Filipinas, being eighty leguas long, but narrow in its +breadth, and extends north and south from ten to twelve and one-half +degrees. They are small, for they are only four to six leguas in +circuit, and that which is largest is twenty. The chief islands, those +most frequented by Ours, number nine. In that of Butuagàn [_sic_], +the climate is not suited to deer; for they are not raised there; +and if they are taken there they die very soon, without the reason +being known, for all the Filipinas contain many of them. + +That of Coròn is also notable, as it is a ledge or rock, very high +and rugged, which is fortified naturally by the crags that girdle +it. Its ascent is steep and intricate. The Indians retire there as +to a sacred place. It cannot be taken except by hunger or thirst, +and the crag or island is dry and barren, so that not a drop of water +can be found on it. Numerous birds resort thither, and there are +also a great number of beehives [53] amid the hollows of the rocks, +and a quantity of honey is produced, as well as wax, without its +costing any care or labor. The Indians gather that harvest, and, +carrying it to other places, obtain the things needful for life. + +All those islands are defended by reefs, which makes the navigation of +those seas very dangerous, even in the time of fair weather. Within +their boundaries there are a number of different kinds of animals, +of rare form. There was one the size of a cat, with the head and feet +of a tiger, and the eyes, nostrils, and hands of a man, and entirely +covered with soft down. There is another little animal seen, which, +as it has no teeth, because these never grow, lives on maggots. To get +them it sticks out its tongue, which is very long, where those little +animals congregate; and, when the tongue is full of them, it draws it +back and swallows them. [54] The forests abound with many incorruptible +woods, such as ebony, cypress, cedar, and small pomegranate trees. + +Those islanders had never had a gospel minister to draw them from +their ignorance. Our discalced, pitying their wretchedness, resolved +to send five religious for that undertaking. Their superior was +father Fray Juan de Santo Tomas. He, not fearing any dangers, and +armed with the divine strength, planted the tree of the cross in the +island of Cuyo. That island is called "the garden of nature," because +of the singular pleasantness and beauty that it enjoys, in which it +is more fortunate than the other islands of that famous sea. It is +six leguas in circuit, as are two others its near neighbors, which +rival it in beauty. It abounds in rice, and very savory fruits. The +mountains are full of fragrant flowers, and shelter a great number +of wild boars. There are many species of birds, and fowls are reared +in considerable abundance. + +Although those islands were densely populated, the people were so +barbarous that they seemed not to possess reason. For that cause +our religious wished to cultivate that forest in order to sow the +seed of the gospel. Notwithstanding [their savagery], father Fray +Francisco de San Nicolás, accompanied by another priest, named Fray +Diego de Santa Ana, and a lay brother, went to the chief island of the +Calamianes. Treating the inhabitants with gentleness, they instructed +and persuaded them to live gathered into villages--a thing that +they utterly abominated, both because of their natural fierceness, +and because they were greatly harassed by the enemies who generally +infested those islands. Much was suffered in the attainment of that, +but it was accomplished, with the most severe toil on the part of +Ours; and they baptized many of those Indians, whose number we shall +declare below, when we treat of the convents which were built in +those islands in spite of the devil and all hell, who opposed them +with all their forces. + +Although it will be somewhat of a digression, we cannot help saying +something of the barbarous customs of those heathen Calamianes. They +recognized a first cause, which governed what was visible. They +attributed good or evil events to fortune and to the star of each +one. They adored a deity who resembled Ceres, to whom they commended +their fields and offered their fruits. They worshiped another petty +deity who resembled Mars, in order to gain his protection in their +battles. They believed in the _humalagar [i.e._, soul of an ancestor] +(as we said of the Charaghas)--whom they summoned in their sicknesses +by means of their priestesses. The priestesses placed a leaf of a +certain kind of palm upon the head of the sick man, and prayed that it +[_i.e._, the soul] would come to sit there, and grant him health. They +also venerated the moon, asking that it would aid them at the time of +death. They celebrated the obsequies of the dead during the full moon. + +Their priests were highly revered, and were called _mangaloc_. The +devil showed them what they asked from him, in water, with certain +shadows or figures. They practiced circumcision, and had ministers +assigned for it. They had as many concubines as they could support. If +the first wife committed adultery, the penalty was to repudiate +her for a certain time. When anyone wished to have a share in the +inheritance of the dead, he laid a piece of his garment upon the +corpse, and thereby acquired that right, but he was obliged to aid the +deceased's children. They had no fidelity among themselves, whence many +conflicts arose. In order to clear themselves of calumnies or charges, +they invented various tricks. At times, divine Providence, breaking +their entanglements, defended the innocent and punished the guilty. + +Their arms consisted of bows and arrows. On the point of the arrow they +fitted a fish spine, with a certain poison that was so effective that +it was mortal even if it only slightly touched the flesh. They used +short spears and certain shields which they called _carazas_. They +carried certain knives with two sharp edges, which were short, like +daggers. They used jackets or doublets of well-twisted cord, and under +those others of rattan, a kind of osier. By means of these they turn +aside the sharp, keen bamboos which, of the length of two brazas, +are hurled in naval battles, with which they do great harm. [55] + +Wonders were not wanting in the conversions of those people. The +Christian parents of an Indian woman brought her into the presence of +father Fray Juan de San Joseph, and, as she was suffering grievously +from a violent fever, begged him to baptize her, for they feared lest +she die without that sacrament. The father instructed and catechised +her, and told her to have confidence, and that baptism would save +her, soul and body. The heathen woman received that instruction +so thoroughly that when she was baptized, she was as well from her +illness as if she had never had it, God rewarding her faith, and +encouraging others so that they should receive baptism. + +Another Indian woman was at the extremity of death, and without +baptism. The father was summoned, but he, thinking that she was not in +so great danger, and that more time was necessary to instruct her in +the mysteries of the faith, wished to postpone her baptism. However, +God put a strong impulse into his heart not to leave the sick woman +in danger; and at last catechising her very briefly, scarcely had he +baptized her when she died happy. + +The devil grieved mightily because the fathers were taking away so many +souls from his captivity, and tried to drive them from that province +of Calamianes. He availed himself of a witch and her son, appearing +in person to them, and ordering them to use all the delusions and +witcheries that they knew, in order to frighten the Spanish soldiers +who were in a fortress near by, so that the gospel ministers should by +this means be induced to depart to Manila. The sorcerers began their +deceits, and one night they seized the soldier on guard and bore him +through the air to the top of a hill more than a legua away. When the +period of his watch was over, others went to relieve him; as they +could not find him, the captain thought that he had deserted, and +sent another soldier to look for him. He was found crying out like a +madman. He was taken manacled to the fortress, and, recognizing that +it was the devil who had maltreated him, they summoned father Fray +Benito de Santa Monica, a native of Sevilla, and a powerful minister, +who had grace to cast out devils. The father began the exorcisms +of the church; and the evil spirit talked--a thing that he had not +done before--and said many things in many languages. Consequently, +the father ordered him not to talk unless he were questioned; the +spirit obeyed, and, finally urged by the exorcisms, made known all +the said trick, and left the body of the soldier. + +The next night the devils entered into eight soldiers, afflicting them +with the same accidental madness as the other. Thus did they continue +to multiply their cases of possession, to the great fear of all the +others. And although our religious did not cease in their exorcisms and +prayers, the infernal spirits were stubborn and pertinacious. Fears +grew greater when legions of devils were seen in the air at night +in most horrible guise. On that account the most holy sacrament was +exposed in the fort. Yielding to its sovereign presence, the demons +fled in confusion to their eternal dungeons, with the ruin of their +deceits; for the Catholics mended their lives, the faith was confirmed, +and the infidels were more inclined to receive it. + + +§ X + +_Preaching of Ours in the river of Cagaìang_ + +Let us leave those islands for a moment and return to Mindanào, where +Ours were fervently attending to their ministry. After having put +Christianity on the best footing possible along the shores of Butuan, +they went forty leguas farther on by sea, to look for another river +called Cagaìang, as they had been told that its inhabitants were a +people more docile than the other inhabitants, in order to enlighten +them with the light of the gospel. The lord of that land was an Indian +named Salangsang. He lived on a steep and inaccessible rock, which is +a peninsula called Himologàn. It had no other approaches or mode of +ascent than certain ladders made of rattans [_bexucos_], which resemble +strong osiers. When those were removed it was fortified and protected +from the invasions of enemies. The customs of those people are like +those related of the inhabitants of Caraghas. The path opened for +that undertaking was that Doña Magdalena Bacuya, a Christian Indian +woman (the grandmother of the above mentioned Indian, Salangsang), +being moved by zeal for the honor of God, and compassion for the +blindness of those people, went to see her grandson. Although with +difficulty, she succeeded in gaining admittance for our ministers, +who were at that time staying at the island of Camiguì without being +able to accomplish that which they wished. Finally, fathers Fray Juan +de San Nicolàs and Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios arrived there +[at Himologàn], and found the chief in the presence of five hundred +Indians who lived in that place. That site, perched on its summit, +was a very agreeable residence capacious enough for that people to +live in a house resembling a cloister, so large that they lived in +it with all their families. These had communication on the inside, +while it was strongly enclosed on the outside. In the middle of it +was the _divatahan_ or temple dedicated to the devil. It was a little +house and dirty, as was he who was worshiped there. The prince received +the ministers with some show of affection, for he gave them a little +buffet on the cheek, as a sign that he received them as friends. + +Those people wondered at seeing those ministers in their lands, and +joked about them, taking them for madmen, since they entered without +weapons or other defense, to seek their death. But as those fathers +had God on their side, whose cause they were serving, His sovereign +Majesty ordained that the chief, showing them kindness, should give +them a small corner in his house, so that they might live securely, +although very uncomfortably. For no one gave them anything, and, +in order to live, they had to go fishing and to carry wood and water +on their backs. They suffered considerably from that, but in joy and +gladness, for they were serving the Lord, to whom they were attempting +to offer those barbarous people by means of the preaching of the faith. + +The fathers obtained permission to celebrate the holy mystery of the +mass, although it had to be done outside that rock, the dwelling-place +of the Indians. They selected the shore of a small river near the +sea. There with their own hands they raised an oratory and an altar, +where they celebrated mass with great labor, because they had to carry +on their shoulders all the things necessary for the work, without any +one aiding them. Then they went up, and locked themselves in their +little lodging, which served them as cell and choir, going out only +to discuss with the leading Indians the knowledge of the true God. By +that good example, they steadily gained great love, and the people +presented to them some food. Ours repaid them by fervently preaching +our holy faith to them. The Indians brought their little children +so that they might be taught the holy mysteries and the Christian +doctrine; and these made no poor beginning in this, although the old +fathers, accustomed to their vices, were unwilling to accept it. + +Those Indians were vassals of King Corralat (of whom we shall speak +later) to whom they paid tribute. Collectors came yearly along the +level land from his court to the river to collect the tribute. That +king was a Mahometan, and consequently hostile to Christians. He +learned that our religious were in the lands of his dominion as +guests, and ordered that they be killed without any objection. More +than one thousand men came to do that, but they were not bold enough +to execute the order of their king, for the natives had acquired so +great affection for Ours that they went out in their defense. The +matter was arbitrated and it consisted in the gospel workers paying +tribute to the king. They gladly assented to it, for the charity of +the fathers extended to all things. The payment of the tribute cost +them great trouble, as it was large, and they had to work with their +hands, as they had no support from other directions. + +Corralat did not become quiet with that, or rather it was the +devil who, angry at the great fruit that Ours were gathering in the +vineyard of the Lord, was trying by that means to drive them out +from it. The Mahometan king proclaimed war against the villages of +that river. During it the religious suffered great frights, pains, +and hardships, fleeing to different parts, in dangerous boats, +laden at times with the sacred ornaments; hiding in caves, in need +of food and without comforts; and guarding themselves for a better +occasion, in order to employ their lives in the service of God and +the spread of His faith. His [Divine] Majesty was not displeased +with that earnest zeal, for he freed them all from those dangers; +while the Indians were so energetic in their defense that they refused +obedience to the tyrant king, and begged aid from the Spaniards who +were established at the fortress of Caragha and from those at Zibù, +which was given them immediately. Beyond doubt that was a plan of +the divine pity to enlighten those heathen with the light of truth, +and to withdraw them from the captivity of Satan. For the Indians, +having been defended by the arms of Castilla and instructed by the +religious, became so fond of them that they delivered to them their +_divatahan_, where they built a church, in order to administer baptism +to those who were converted. Salangsang, together with his wife, was +the first to receive baptism in the church, and many others followed +their example. That prince, having become a Christian, became a +willing subject to the kings of Castilla. He built a stronghold +with sufficient ramparts to defend himself against the stratagems +of Corralat. Finally Ours erected the convent called Cagaiang, where +the Indians began to build houses for their dwellings. + +He who labored most in the conversion of those people was father +Fray Augustin de San Pedro, a son of the convent of Valladolid, and a +Portuguese by nationality. He not only took care of the teaching of +the faith, but also instructed the Indians in civilized ways. Thus +did they seem to have been transferred from wild beasts into men. It +happened in a memorable assault that some nearby Indians made at dawn +on the village of Cagaiang, with the intention of killing the fathers +(that was an attempt of the devil, and he instigated the Indians to do +it, in order to break the friendship which those villages had made) +that father Fray Jacinto de Jesus Maria was alone in his cell. The +barbarians entering the house killed eight persons who were guarding +it. Making themselves masters of the door, they fought with their +campilans and other weapons, aiming thrusts, cuts, and strokes in +all directions, so that in the darkness Ours might not hide from +them. But the said father, trusting in God, went out through the +midst of them all, without receiving the slightest blow. It is not +difficult for the divine omnipotence to work those miracles, and He +is wont to perform them often in order to defend His ministers. The +father hid in a thicket, until after the fury had subsided, when he +could place himself in safety. + + +§ XI + +_Foundation of the convents of the above-mentioned provinces_ + +We cannot excuse ourselves, for the glory and honor of God, from +referring to the souls whom Ours drew from the darkness of heathenism +into the light of the Christian religion, in the provinces of Caragha, +Butuan, Calamianes, and Cagaiang--for whose conservation it was +thought necessary to found convents, whence the religious set out to +overrun the country, administering sacraments, consoling some, subduing +others, and always gaining souls for the Lord. We have not been able +to ascertain with certainty in what year they were established, but +that amounts to but little. The order in which they are mentioned in +the records of the provincial chapter held at Manila in the year one +thousand six hundred and fifty is as follows: + +_Tandag_ + +1. The convent of Tandag, head of those in the province of Caragha, +where there is a presidio of Spaniards, is one hundred and fifty leguas +distant from Manila. It has to its account seven hundred Christian +families. It was founded by father Fray Miguel de Santa Maria. At first +it was more than one legua up the river but was afterward removed +to the seashore for certain reasons of convenience. It has a devout +confraternity of the most holy Virgin, and another of the girdle of +our father St. Augustine, which has been already established in the +other convents. + +A captain (whose name is carefully suppressed) having been buried +in the church of that house, the prior noted one day that his grave +was higher than the others. Attributing it to the carelessness of +the sacristan, he ordered the latter to level it. That was done; +but on the following day, it was seen to be in the same shape as on +the preceding day. It was leveled again, and a quantity of earth +taken away, but still the grave did not discontinue rising. That +novelty caused much talk, and at last the said prior ascertained +that the said captain had died excommunicated. He ordered the body +to be exposed, and then, absolving it in the manner that the holy +Roman church orders, they buried it again without the earth after +that making any more show of casting him out. By such demonstrations +does God give us to understand the respect and fear that should be +extended to the censures of the Church. + + +_Butuan_ + +2. The convent of Butuan is situated on the shore of the river. That +village numbers one thousand five hundred Christians. The convent was +founded by father Fray Francisco de San Nicolàs a native of Portillo, +and a son of the house of Valladolid. He was a most zealous minister +and preacher to those people. + + +_Cuyo_ + +3. The convent of Cuyo, in the island of that name, has to its account +two thousand Catholic families. + + +_Cagaiang_ + +4. The convent of Cagaiang governs and teaches one thousand eight +hundred faithful persons. + + +_Sidargào_ + +5. The convent of Sidargào, [56] which is an island ten leguas distant +from the fort of Tanda, has two thousand Christian families. According +to the testimony of persons of credit, certain manikins, small and +beautiful, resembling pigmies in appearance and size, were seen in +the said island on a certain occasion. They fled with great swiftness +through the thickets of the forests, so that, notwithstanding the +efforts made, they could not be caught. However, it is said that some +of them were caught in former times, but that they died of fright +in a few hours. A cross is preserved near the village of Sapào, +on top of a rock of the size of two dedos above the stone, which +has certain letters. Those letters cannot be read now, as they have +been obliterated by the lashing of the sea, which beats against it +continually. It is a tradition that the first Spanish discoverers of +that gulf made that cross, although it is not known when. + +That islet is five or six leguas in circuit, and lies in nine degrees +of latitude. It is well supplied with food and good water, of which +there are many springs, called _bito_. They are always in the same +condition, and do not increase with the rains, nor diminish with the +dryness of the seasons. It is remarkable for one thing--in which it is +different from that coast of Caragha, and the other islands--namely +that no monkeys are reared there nor can they be reared if brought +there, for they die immediately. During the rainy season, the earth +turns red, and is so sticky that when one walks it tears the shoes from +the feet. There is a remarkable tree that is called _nono_. It springs +from the root of another large and shady tree. As it increases in size, +it embraces it, and by sucking the moisture and nourishment from it, +becomes strong. When it becomes so strong that it can grow alone, +it casts away that tree, and despises that which was its staff, thus +treating it badly until it withers--a living image of the children +of this age. + +Coming to the peculiarities of that coast, we cannot fail to mention +one, namely, that there are trees of the hugest size, so tall that one +would believe that they are trying to reach up into the clouds. The +Indians are wont to make their dwellings in them, specially those +Indians called _cimarrones_. [57] They pay no tribute, so that +their trees serve them as a fort in which to defend themselves from +the Spanish soldiers of the fort of Caragha. The manner of building +those dwellings is as follows: They look out a very stout, high tree; +they trim off all the branches up to the height where the floor of +the house is to be. They put in some cross-bars, which cross on the +trimmed-off branches. They fix them with large timbers in the manner +of an enclosure, with which the trampling-ground is made. Then they +enclose that floor with the same timbers, in the manner of a parapet, +and cover it with a little nipa. The branches above are also protected +from the rain and inclemencies of the weather. Thus the house is +made so strong that it resists any invasion. It has often cost our +soldiers considerable trouble to get those people; for those houses +have no approach except certain light ladders made from rattans +tied together. In those houses they keep all their possessions, +and there live their children and wives, who all help to fight. They +have made a place by which to retire when pursued closely, preparing +a passage from branch to branch in order to escape. Those houses are +so capacious that one of our religious lay brothers, who had been a +soldier in the presidio of Caragha, said that he had seen one that +would hold sixty persons. On climbing into another out of curiosity, +he saw three women hanging--a mother and her daughters. As well as +could be guessed, the mother had hanged the girls and then herself, +in order not to fall into the power of the Castilians. [58] + +_Calamianes or Taitai_ + +6. The convent of Calamianes, or, as it is called, Taitai, where there +is a presidio of Spaniards, and where one thousand six hundred souls +are directed. That convent has another confraternity of our Lady, +the Virgin. + +_Bislin or Bislig_ + +7. The convent of Bislin or Bislig governs two thousand families. There +died most happily father Fray Juan de San Augustin, a son of the +province of Castilla. He was a grand minister of the gospel, and knew +the Bisayan tongue very well. He lived apostolically, and gave a fine +example with his virtues, which made him very lovable to the Indians +themselves, as was seen in the rising of the coast of Caragha, from +which it was necessary to withdraw him and keep him from perils to +the life that he would have lost through the fury of the enemies. His +abstinence was remarkable, for, although the toil of his ministry +was so vast, as he went continually through rugged places, forests, +rivers, and seas, he ate nothing but herbs, and sometimes small fish, +when he was especially fatigued. He was very humble and poor, bearing +himself with the Indians as if he were the meanest of them. By these +and other virtues he gathered great fruit in this life, which will +doubtless have gained him eternal rest. + + +_Baldad, Dignes,and Iaquet_ + +8, 9, and 10. Our most reverend father, Fray Pedro de Santiago, +preacher of Felipe Fourth, examiner of writings for the supreme council +of the Inquisition, vicar-general of our congregation, chronicler of +the kingdom of Aragòn, bishop of Solsona, and afterward of Lerida, +referred many times to the convents of Baldad, Dignes, and Iaquet, +in a relation that he published on the going of our religious to the +Indias. However, father Fray Andres del Santo Espiritu, provincial of +Filipinas, in another manuscript relation, calls one of them Iguaquet, +which is thought to be that mentioned as Iaquet. In that convent there +are eight hundred Christian families. It was founded on a river in +the northern part of this coast of Caragha by father Fray Juan de San +Nicolàs, a native of the Algarbes in Portugal, who took the habit in +Manila. He was a grand minister and knew the language of the Caraghas +[59] perfectly. He preached with great spirit, and succeeded in making +many miraculous conversions, among both the heathen and the Christian +sinners, who left his sermons so contrite, that they anxiously went +to seek the salvation of their souls in the sacrament of penance. + +11. Another convent is also mentioned as being in certain islets +not far from Iguaquet, in which another eight hundred families of +Christians were cared for. + + +_Laylaia_ + +12. The convent of Laylaia (which sounds the same as [the name of] +the river above), is forty leguas distant from Butuan. There was a +presidio of Spaniards there, which from the indications seems to be +that of Linao. It has in charge one thousand six hundred souls. + + +_Caviscail_ + +13. That of Caviscail, in the Calamianes Islands, was abandoned because +of the murder committed on one of our religious, an able minister of +that village, by the Indians. + + +_Calagdan_ + +14. Father Fray Felipe de la Madre de Dios, provincial of Castilla, +and chronicler, mentions another--in the _Noticias Historiales_, +that he left in manuscript--at Calagdan. He assigns to it seven +hundred families that were converted to the faith. + + +_Binalgavan_ + +15. That of Binalgavan, in the island of Negros, with one thousand +five hundred families. That convent was left in the hands of the +fathers of the Society of Jesus, for reasons that existed for such +action. We cannot avoid mentioning some matters that happened there +when it was in charge of Ours. + +A certain Indian chief had a son two years old, who was very sick. He +made the usual sacrifices to the devil for his health. As he did not +get what he was after, he begged father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio +for a little water passed through the chalice. The father gave it to +the sick child, and the latter was instantly cured. With that occasion, +it was the will of the divine mercy that the child, his parents, +and their household should be baptized and leave their darkness. + +On another occasion they brought an Indian from a mountain with a +leg already rotting; and as he was being treated in the house of the +alcalde-mayor, at an unseasonable hour of the night he called loudly +for baptism. The father went to him, and, upon seeing him, the sick man +said: "Baptize me, Father, since God has brought me into the power of +the Christians for that reason." The religious minister baptized him +immediately, and scarcely had he finished administering the sacrament +to him when the Indian, invoking the most sweet name of Jesus, expired. + +Finally a converted Indian woman, having been convicted of a grave +sin, in order to deny it cursed, saying: "May a crocodile eat me +before I reach my house, if what I said was untrue." God punished +her immediately, for while near her native place, called Passi, in +the island of Panai, a crocodile attacked her, and seizing her in its +mouth, dragged her into the river, and swallowed her. At that time, +father Fray Juan de San Joseph was prior of that convent. + + +_Tagho_ + +16. The convent of Tagho, so called from a river that bathes it, +has in charge the care of nine hundred families of Christians. + + +_Dinai_ + +17. In Calamianes, the convent of Dinai, with seven hundred families, +was removed to Linacapan in order to avoid the continual raids of +the pirates. + + +_Damaràn_ + +18. The convent of Damaràn had charge of four hundred baptized persons. + +Father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio, commissary and procurator of that +province of San Nicolàs of Filipinas, while at this court of Madrid +gave a relation of other houses, in addition to those enumerated, +which are as follows: + + +_Layavan_ + +19. The convent of Layavan, with seven hundred families in its charge. + + +_Camigui_ + +20. That of Camigui, with the bay of Liangàn, has six hundred families. + +_Baqua_ + +21. That of Baqua has charge of one thousand two hundred families +divided among six villages. + +_Parasao_ + +22. That of Parasao governs eight hundred families who live in +that place. + +_Bagangan_ + +23. That of Bagangan, with eight hundred other Christian families. + +_Tuggaban_ + +24. That of Tuggaban has in charge one thousand three hundred families. + +_Banton_ + +25. That of Banton, with one thousand two hundred families. + +_Divàil_ + +26. That of Divàil cares for one thousand three hundred families. + +_Paràva_ + +27. That of Paràva administers one thousand families. + +_Sampongan_ + +28. That of Sampongan governs six hundred families. + +_Surigao_ + +29. That of Surigao another six hundred. + +_Casteèl_ + +30. That of Casteèl, a like number. + +Father Fray Christoval de Santa Monica, father of the said province, +commissary and procurator-general, added: + +_Gura_ + +31. That of Gura. + +_Baler_ + +32. That of Baler. + +_Binangonan_ + +33. That of Binangonan. + +In other records and documents which have come from the said province +is found the relation of: + +_Abucaì_ + +34. That of Abucaì. + +_Dagat_ + +35. That of Dagat. + +_Tebastlan_ + +36. That of Tebastlan. + +Many of the said convents are no longer in existence now, either +through lack of religious, or for other accidental reasons; because +these have occurred, it has been deemed advisable to abandon +them--although the churches are still standing and are cared for, +and our religious visit those villages, preserving them in the faith, +so that the spiritual food is not wanting to them. + + +§ XII + +_Mention of some hardships which Ours have suffered in the spread of +the Catholic faith_ + + +It would be beyond our powers to tell what Ours suffered in spreading +the gospel truth, and in drawing the souls of so many barbarians +and heathen from their blindness and errors; for, as they have cared +more for gaining the reward of heaven than of earth, what is known +of it is little or almost nothing. We trust in God, who can reward +those who serve Him, and that He will have given great glory to +those who have suffered so much for the extension of His honor, by +bringing so many people to recognize Him. Let us, then, relate that +the father-provincial of the above named houses visits them three +times during the term of his office--and that with so great perils +by land and water that the preservation of his life seems a special +providence of heaven. Father Fray Onofre de la Madre de Dios was met +on one of those occasions by more than twenty caracoas of pirates +and was obliged to cast himself into the water, together with his +secretary. They went to an island, where, naked and without food, +they suffered those miseries that can be imagined. + +Another provincial father, Fray Andrès del Espiritu Santo, suffered +a violent tempest, in which a number of persons perished. The boat +having overturned, as neither he nor three other religious who +were accompanying him knew how to swim, they seized hold of the +keel. They remained there two days and one night, expecting death +every instant. But God was pleased to have them reach a beach amid +rocks and reefs. There, bruised and full of wounds, they found no +other comfort than to seek roots with which to support themselves +for many days, until unexpected aid came to them from another part. + +Father Fray Nicolàs de Tolentino visited the province of Caragha. He +was wrecked three times, and suffered most the last time; for, the boat +having broken, he had nothing to eat in seven days. Having reached an +uninhabited place by dint of his exertions, he went overland through +rough paths and through mountains, at the risk of being eaten by +crocodiles, until he found a little boat, that carried him and his +companion to Manila. They were so weak and hurt that they could not +recover their health for a long time. + +Brother Fray Francisco de San Nicolàs, a native of Cadiz, coming from +the island of Negros to attend to certain things of the church service, +suffered so terrible a whirlwind that the boat was driven upon some +rocks and broken into splinters. Its occupants were drowned, and our +lay brother, not knowing how to swim, went to the bottom. Without +knowing how, he found himself in the hollow of a rock which had an +opening at the top. He managed to creep through, by the help of God, +who protected him. Climbing to the top he saw that he was on a rocky +islet of one-half legua in circuit, and remained there until his +cries and shouts brought some passing Indians, who, surprised at so +novel an occurrence, took him off in their boat. + +The captivities and oppressions suffered by Ours would take long to +recount, and so I shall give only one. Jolo is an island that lies +between those of Burnei and Mindanao. It is very famous in that +archipelago, not for its size, but for the warlike daring of its +caciques or petty kings, who have made themselves feared by their +robberies and cruel deeds throughout those seas. While their fleet, +then, was at Calamianes, father Fray Juan de San Joseph, a native +of Granada, was captured. He was then prior of the convent of Cuyo, +and was visiting those villages which had been converted to the +faith, administering the sacraments and the word of God to them--the +employment of those gospel ministers. They took him to their island, +being greedy for the ransom. The amount of it was discussed, but as +the sum demanded by those barbarians was large, and the poor religious +could not collect it in a short time, it was necessarily delayed for +some time. During that time the Mahometan islanders began to persuade +the father to abandon the faith and adopt their vile worship, promising +him great riches and comfort, and marriage with a sister of the lord +or petty king of the island. That would have been a powerful temptation +to one who was not so firm in the law of Jesus Christ, and assisted by +His divine favor. Our religious resisted that strong and troublesome +battery mightily; but those barbarians, seeing themselves despised, +turned the leaf, converting those flatteries into threats of death, +and placed before him many cruel methods of depriving him of life. That +was not what the good father feared most, since he desired to lose his +life for the faith which he professed. The petty king had conceived an +affection for the father, and left untried no means in his power in +order to break down the strength of the religious. To such an extent +did he carry his madness that one of the wives of the barbarian, a +beautiful and unbridled woman, visited our prisoner often, accompanied +by beautiful women of high rank, in order that they might achieve +success in winning him to their disgraceful love; for, had he been +taken in that net, the chaste man would have remained ensnared. That +trick, it is well known, is one of the most persuasive that the devil +furnishes. For he makes war by the affection for the object, and with +the vehement incentives of the appetite. But divine grace was very +well fortified in the soul of the gospel minister. Consequently, +the shots of the devil, the world, and the flesh were weakened and +destroyed. The women returned in confusion, after hearing him preach +of the mysteries of our sacred law. He understood the Bisayan language +very well, and consequently learned the one peculiar to that island +in a short time. Although the instruction did not take root in their +minds, at least they recognized a certain element of grandeur that +aroused their veneration. Father Fray Juan passed considerable time +in those struggles, comforting the Christians who were there, and +obtaining many triumphs for himself. Finally, on the arrival of the +time for his ransom, he returned to his convent at Cuyo, joyous at +having suffered for God, although not well satisfied at not having +given his life for his holy law. But we can declare that if the +barbarians lacked the determination to condemn him to martyrdom, +our Catholic soldier did not want the courage to receive it. + +We shall give an end to this year of twenty-two, by giving a brief +memorial of father Fray Diego de Santo Tomàs, a native of Nueva-España, +a creole of Cholula, and the son of Diego Garcia de Leon and Doña +Inès Carrillo. He went to Filipinas when very young, where, leaving +the deceits of the world, he betook himself to the port of religion, +taking our holy habit in the convent of San Nicolàs of Manila. He +professed in the year 1610. When he saw the so great fervor of +the religious for the spreading of the faith, he took the call so +effectively into his breast that the superiors, employing him in that +exercise, ordered him to become sub-prior. He was afterward prior +of Masinglo, and lastly of Dinai. In the exercise of those duties, +he was careful to employ all his strength in caring for the sheep +reduced to the flock of the church. He went through the Calamianes +Islands, preaching, converting, and confirming those converted in the +faith. And as his cares were prodigious, and he became weakened by +his hardships, his strength failed him; tired out, he became sick, +and died on a desert beach, without any human presence. However the +divine presence would not fail him. Happy soldier, whom death overtook +while fighting in the campaign of the Church of God! + +Let us give a companion to this father, and let him be father Fray +Juan de la Anunciacion. He was born in Madrid, in the parish of +San Gines. His parents were Diego del Castillo and Felipa Manuel de +Benavides. He took our holy habit in the year 1613, while father Fray +Juan Bautista Altaraque was master of novitiates. He professed the +following year under father Fray Augustin de San Gabriel, prior of +the convent of the said town. He went to the Indias, being desirous of +employing his life in the service of God and the welfare of souls. He +thoroughly understood the languages of the Indians. Entering the +rudest of the islands, he preached with great fervor, and converted +many heathen. He spent some years in that employment, and finally his +life, without anyone being present at his death. He died worn out, +and for lack of nourishment. He lived much, since as long as life +lasted for him he employed it in the service of the holy church and +the conversion of the infidels. His body was found and very reverently +given honorable burial. + +[Most of the third chapter is concerned with affairs in Japan. A +short description of that country is followed by the efforts of the +Recollects to gain entrance to its inhospitable shores in 1623. Fired +by the news of the persecution waged against the Christians, two +fathers, Francisco de Jesus and Vincente de San Antonio, disguised +as merchants, set out from Manila to preach the gospel to the +Japanese. But many misfortunes overtake them: their boat, old and weak, +opens at the bow and compels them to put in at the island of Babuyanes; +shortly after setting sail once more, a fierce storm drives them to +the Chinese coast, whence they narrowly escape shipwreck and then +death at the hands of the people, who prove hostile. However, forty +days after leaving Babuyanes, they reach Japan, on June 20. Shortly +begins their journey toward Nangasaqui, which they reach October 14, +1623, noting Japanese customs on the way. There it is reported that +disguised priests are in the city, and an edict published by the +emperor banishes all the Spaniards from the country. Both the fathers, +however, escape the banishment. A section on the life of Father Juan +de la Madre de Dios, a noted laborer in the missions of Mindanao, +and who was buried at the fort of Caragha, follows; and the chapter +closes with a reference to affairs at large connected with the order, +and the obtaining of certain papal decrees.] + + + + + +Chapter Fourth + +_The first provincial chapter is celebrated in Filipinas in the convent +of Manila; and in España the first intermediate general chapter of +Portillo. Certain servants of God finish their lives happily._ + + +§ I + +_Election of the first provincial of Filipinas, at the convocation +of the first chapter of that province Year 1624_ + +The religious of those islands had been governed since the time +of their arrival there by vicar-provincials, either elected by the +priests who were in the convents or missions, or appointed by the +superior prelate of España, according to the letters and patents +which father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios and father Fray Rodrigo +de San Miguel had obtained for it. The first vicar-provincial was the +venerable father Fray Juan de San Geronimo, who governed until the +year 1608. Father Fray Geronimo de Christo followed him, but, as he +died very soon, the chapter was convoked; and, in the following year +of six hundred and nine, the same father Fray Juan de San Geronimo was +elected. When the latter returned to España, the chapter was convoked +in the year six hundred and ten, and father Fray Andrès del Espiritu +Santo elected. He governed until the year twelve, when father Fray +Pedro de la Madre de Dios came from España with the appointment. But, +his patents having expired, the chapter was convoked, in which the said +father was elevated to the same office, and he ruled until the year +15. That year, the chapter having been convoked, father Fray Andrès +del Espiritu Santo took the government a second time, until the year +of eighteen, when father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel came from España +with the appointment. He had it in charge until the year twenty-two, +when, as he returned to España, he was succeeded by the said father, +Fray Andrès del Espiritu Santo, who had come that same year from +España with religious. He governed until the year twenty-three, in +which father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios came from España, having +been appointed by the venerable father vicar-general. He convoked +a chapter, in order that a separate provincial might be elected in +that province, as was done in the others. The patents were as follows. + +"His Holiness, our most blessed father Gregory Fifteenth (may God +preserve him), with the desire that is his of aiding the reformed +orders, at the instance made him by his Majesty and our order--who +petitioned him that a vicar-general be given us, and permission that +the convents of our order, with the title and name of province, might +divide into several provinces--conceded a brief for the aforesaid, +which was carried out. For that purpose a chapter was convoked in this +convent of the city of Madrid on November twenty of the following year, +the past year of 1621, in which I was elected vicar-general. The +convents possessed by the order in España in those islands were +divided into four provinces. Consequently, that the orders given +by his Holiness and by the general chapter may be executed, I am +sending the messages, so that a provincial chapter may be held. In +that chapter the orders of our Latin constitutions and those of the +new ordinances of our aforesaid general chapter shall be observed. + +"In regard to time, I declare that it shall be held within four months +of the time when your Reverences shall receive the messages and when +the religious who bear them, and who sail in this trading-fleet, +shall arrive at that convent of the city of Manila--so that [there +will be no haste] in case that it should not be a suitable time when +the religious arrive, or it should be necessary to arrange anything +for the celebration; but if time should allow, and the necessary +things should be arranged, it may be held within a month, and not +before. I warn your Reverences that, on receiving and opening the +messages and despatches that I am sending, the form that I order +be observed. And inasmuch as when your Reverences receive these +despatches, two years will have passed of the sexennium--according +to the order laid down in the new ordinances, decreeing that now +and henceforth provincial chapters shall be held, so that those +who are to come to take part in the election of a new vicar-general +may be elected every six years--your Reverences shall take one year +from this first triennium, and this election shall be, but for this +time only, a biennium. Thus shall be done with both the provincial +and definitors, and the rest of the priors and the other offices, +so that in the following provincial chapter of that province, the +definitor and discreto may be elected--who shall come, in its name, +for the new election of vicar-general that is to be made (if our Lord +be so pleased), at Pentecost of the year 1627. + +"The coming shall be arranged in such manner that they may not come +late, nor leave before it is necessary. As soon as the definitor and +discreto (or those who may be elected to fill their places on account +of their death, or for any other legitimate impediment) are elected, +your Reverences shall advise the vicar-general by the first boat, if +they cannot arrive in time. I have chosen to advise your Reverences +of this, so that you might know what you ought and must do; and so +that everything may be done with prudence, devotion, and virtue, +in which may our Lord give us many increases. From this convent of +the discalced of our father St. Augustine, of the city of Madrid, +June 12, 1622. Your Reverences' brother, + +_Fray Geronimo de La Resurreccion_" + +Accordingly, when this order arrived with the other despatches, the +priors of San Nicolàs of Manila, of Zibù, of Cabite, of Masinglo, +of Amò, of Bolinao, of Calumpan, of Tanda, of Butuan, of Iguaquet, +of Tibastlan, of Cuyo, of Linacapan, and of Cagaiang assembled. Under +the presidency of the said father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios, they +unanimously elected the venerable father Fray Onofre de la Madre de +Dios, provincial, on the sixth of February of that year twenty-four, +the time that the present history has reached. + +The election was very suitable, as he who was elected was deserving +of other and greater posts. He was a native of Perpiñan, in the +county of Rosellòn, and a son of the convent of Zaragoça, in Aragòn, +where he studied arts and theology. He was prior of the convent of +Zuera, and afterward master of novitiates in that of Madrid, where he +furnished a great example of observance and virtue. He went to the +Indias with the zeal of preaching the faith of Christ our Lord. He +filled some posts worthily, with so much satisfaction to the religious +that he deserved to be the first provincial of that province. He +completed the suitable ordering and economical régime of the houses, +the methods that he practiced being continual presence at the choir, +steadfast application to the divine worship, and the decoration of +the churches. He was modest in his actions, which he adapted to all; +mild in his intercourse, by which he made himself loved; skilful +in business management; extremely poor, and given to continual +mortification. The definitors were father Fray Andrès del Espiritu +Santo, father Fray Diego de San Bernardo, father Fray Joseph de San +Augustin, and father Fray Juan de Santo Tomàs, chosen men indeed. + +The acts passed are reduced to the following points: "That the +religious living at the missions or villages of the Indians maintain +all the regular observance of the convents, especially in rising at +midnight for matins, and in the two hours of mental prayer morning and +afternoon, even though there should be no more than one priest. That +authority be given to the missionary fathers to carry some books that +are conformable to their profession; and that they be prohibited from +wearing hempen garments, especially since the heat of the country is +contrary to that harshness. That the ministers learn the language of +the Indians within one year; and that, in order to avoid disturbance, +they do not receive guests in their convents, unless it be bishops, +religious, governors, or alcaldes-mayor. + +[A section on the first intermediate general chapter of the Recollects, +which was held at the convent of Portillo, follows. Section iii +treats of the life and death of brother Fray Juan de San Nicolàs, +who had professed at Manila, December 21, 1622. The malice of certain +Indians who were taking him up the river from the convent of Iguaquet, +to aid in one of the missions, causes his death; for they overturn +the boat, leaving him to drown while they swim safely to shore. The +chapter ends with an account of the life of Bishop Don Fray Gregorio +de Santa Catalina Alarcòn who after having been appointed bishop of +Nueva Cáceres, in the Philippines, by King Felipe IV, is appointed +almost immediately afterward to the bishopric of Santiago de Cuba at +Habana. His death occurs at sea while on his way to assume the latter +office. This chapter completes the annals for the year 1624.] + + + + + +GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PHILIPINAS BY FRAY JUAN DE LA CONCEPCION [60] + + + +Volume IV + + +Chapter VII + +_Arrival at these islands of a new mission of the discalced Recollects, +the reformed branch of the Hermits of the order of the great father +St. Augustine_. + + +[Through the solicitations of Felipe II, the supreme general of the +Augustinian order, Gregorio Petrochini, furthers the founding in +Spain of a reformed branch of the order. Accordingly the beginning +is made in the convent of Talavera, from which beginning the branch +gradually grows, although with several set-backs, until the Recollects +(their distinctive name) obtain separation from the regular branch of +the Augustinians. A province is formed, and elections held, at which +Juan de San Geronimo is chosen provincial. After his term of office, +he is created bishop of Chiapa; but, burning with the mission fever, +offers himself and twelve companions as volunteers for the missions +of the Indias.] + +34. So noble a proposition edified the king, who recognized it as +made by a whole and free spirit. The king had information that the +orders appointed for the conquest of Philipinas were not sufficient +for the total conversion and reduction of the many pagans; and, +even if they were sufficient, that they had not exerted all their +strength, distracted by other and less important cares. The +proposition of the father provincial was very much in keeping +with the royal intentions. Accordingly, without any delay, it was +decreed that the father and his associates should prepare to go to +the Philipinas Islands, and executive orders to his ministers for a +speedy despatch were formulated without delay. The venerable father +kept these to himself until the formal session of the chapter, in +whose assembly he presented the decree. It was punctually obeyed, +all of them considering this laborious expedition as a great service +for God. They determined to grant him all the necessary documents, +and appointed as vicar-provincial with full powers father Fray Juan de +San Geronimo himself, with the limitation of recognizing as superior +the father provincial of the province of Castilla. + +35. With this arrangement, and the royal decrees which contained +the permission for their embarcation, and general royal authority +to make as many establishments as possible in these islands, and as +those new missionaries should deem proper (to which were added other +concessions for spiritual matters conceded by the papal legate), +and fortified with all these patents and despatches, the good father +chose his associates, men like himself. Most of them were graduated, +and most of them eminent men of the Reform. He well comprehended that +such new plantations required, since they were to be conspicuous before +all, men of learning and eminent virtue. Having assembled at Madrid, +they set out for Sevilla on the fifteenth of May, in great harmony and +modesty. There they rested somewhat from the fatigues of their journey, +and then continued it to San Lucar de Barrameda. They waited there +until a large trading-fleet sailed, which left the bay of Cadiz for +Nueva España, and those religious embarked in one of its ships. The +confessions that they heard, and their exhortations to the sailors, +were a great comfort to the latter, and they did not neglect charitably +to assist the sick. Thus did they acquire unusual estimation throughout +the fleet. The commander-in-chief approached them in his ship, the +flagship, when the weather permitted, to inquire after their health, +and to offer them what they needed, commending himself to their holy +prayers, and placing in their care the prosperous voyage of the fleet. + +36. They reached the port of Vera Cruz with perfect safety, where +the ships were sheltered. They disembarked, and, passing through the +town of Los Angeles, went to Mexico. There they were received in +the college of San Pablo by its rector, father maestro Fray Diego +de Contreras, who was afterward archbishop of Santo Domingo, the +primatial church of the Indias. He kept them with his hospitable aid +until the vicar-provincial rented a comfortable house, in order to +avoid receiving favors, which their strict regulations forbade. While +awaiting the opportunity to go to the port of Acapulco, their mode +of life was retired and edifying. Many noble and wealthy persons +began to entreat them to remain there, and to establish themselves, +offering them their favor and most abundant alms; and they asked that, +if that should not be granted, a competent number would remain and +establish themselves. The father maestro Contreras encouraged these +solicitations, and promised them to allow them to become discalced, +and to give credit to the new institute. + +37. The president Fray Juan considered those so liberal propositions +as annoying temptations, to which, through the motive of their zeal, +not one of his could consent. He considered it advisable to avoid them +by flight, and resolved upon his voyage to the port of Acapulco. There +was already a ship there about to sail to Philipinas on the day of +the invocation of the Holy Ghost. Having embarked on it, they set +sail on the twenty-second of February, one thousand six hundred and +six. They had their terrors on the voyage; the ship caught fire, +and the fire was already quite near the powder-barrels that were +reserved in the "Santa Barbara." [61] Warning was given of this +(which is one of the greatest of dangers), in sufficient time to +enable them to extinguish the fire. Had it reached the powder, +the worst ruin would have surely followed. I think that there is +no peril of the sea so horrible. Another danger happened on a calm, +clear night, when the cry of "Land, land!" came from the bow. That +danger startled the pilots, who had no shoals down on their charts +there. They were aware of them by the breakers in the water, and +the vessel was so engulfed in them that it could neither bear away, +nor put in, without the same risk. As the breaking of the waters +was getting nearer the ship, they considered all their efforts vain, +and without any urging, allowed themselves to be carried in the same +path. They tried to make soundings, but the plunging of the boat and +the violent dragging of the sounding-line on the reefs did not permit +them to make an accurate calculation of the depth. In such a contest, +the hopes of all were already weak, besides which they were entering +amid the breakers. The ship sailed a long distance without meeting +accident, and later they found themselves in the deep sea, free from +so dangerous a fright. That shoal was marked down accurately on the +charts, and was noted on other voyages. It was a rocky islet surrounded +with many covered reefs. They considered it a marvelous occurrence +that they should pass over them without meeting with accident on +them. Father Fray Andres de San Nicolas fell sick near the islands +of the Ladrones, and, recognizing that his attack was serious, he +sought consolation in the holy sacraments. During his last hours he +fervently exhorted all to persevere in the undertaking that had been +begun, promising them a happy result. He yielded up his spirit to God +amid tender colloquies. Those of the ship wished to keep his body in a +well-sealed wooden casket, in order to give it decent burial on shore; +but in order to avoid innovations, the venerable superior, Fray Juan, +did not consent to this. Accordingly, having been placed in a casket, +he was cast into the sea, accompanied with the usual obsequies. + +38. They continued from that moment their voyage prosperously, after +an almost general epidemic of fever, safe and sound. By special orders +they anchored in the port of Zebu. That most venerable prelate, Don +Pedro de Agurto, received the new missionaries with a procession. They +were lodged in the convent of the Augustinian fathers, who received +them as brethren. Much did that illustrious man desire the propagation +of the gospel. He begged and insisted that they stay in his bishopric, +and offered them a foundation to their liking, if they would only +remain for the conversion of the infidelity that was obstinately +persevering for the lack of ministers. He suffered greatly from this, +for so necessary was the remedy. It was impossible for the newcomers +to consent to so favorable arrangements, or to listen to so urgent +and compelling entreaties. Their journey to Manila was unavoidable, in +order to present the royal decrees and despatches to the governor. They +thanked his Excellency fittingly, and all offered to put themselves +at his disposal after the performance of so necessary business. They +set out from that place to execute it, as soon as opportunity +offered. They reached the capital city of Manila without any accident, +then celebrating the victories obtained by their governor, Don Pedro +de Acuña, in the expedition of Terrenate. They were accommodated in +a small house for the time being, where the most influential people +of the city came to visit them. Everyone offered them a more decent +lodging, the orders distinguishing themselves by offering them their +convents. To all they humbly excused themselves, only accepting the +infirmary of the Dominican fathers, for the treatment of some of their +sick, where they were treated with a most benign charity. The governor +arrived, triumphant from his expedition; and as soon as he heard of +the arrival of those new religious, leaving the magnificent trophies, +deigned to be the first to visit them. He consoled and regaled them +as a noble knight. But being eager to finish the despatch of the +ships to Acapulco, and going quickly to Cavite, he could not examine +the royal despatches; nor could he do so afterward, for, as we have +already stated, death attacked him while engaged in this affair, and +laid its spoils in the sepulcher. Thus was suspended his recognition +of the royal decrees; they were presented to the royal Audiencia, who, +recognizing them as authentic, gave them the requisite attention. In +virtue of these, permission was given to the father vice-provincial, +Fray Juan de San Geronimo, to preach the gospel wherever he thought +best, and to establish his houses wherever he should consider it +most advisable. + + + +Chapter VIII + +_This Mission establishes itself at Bagumbayan, and they begin their +evangelical labors_ + + +1. The deceased governor, Acuña, had already finished a country-seat or +summer-house for his retirement from the cares caused by so extensive +a government, at a location called Bagumbayan, three hundred paces +distant from the walls of the city. At the death of that gallant +governor they began to try to dispose of this house. The new +missionaries thought that retreat very suitable for their purpose, +and tried to buy it because it was already offered for sale. For +that purpose they went through the city begging alms of its citizens, +accompanied by certain persons of influence, and in two afternoons they +collected more than three thousand pesos. With them they immediately +paid the price asked, the authorized guardian of estates, Captain Don +Pedro de Ortega, lowering its just price considerably. Licentiate +Don Rodrigo Diaz Guiral, then filling the office of fiscal of the +royal Audiencia, was a zealous and influential party in everything, +and took especial interest in facilitating that accommodation. They +converted the house of recreation into a convent. They assigned a +location for a public church, which they dedicated on the tenth of +September to the glorious St. Nicolas de Tolentino, to whom they had +consecrated themselves by a special vow when they left the coasts +of España. That function was very solemn. His Excellency of Zebu, +Don Pedro de Agurto, performed the pontifical office; while the +very reverend father maestro, Fray Pedro Solier, of the Order of +St. Augustine of the Observance, a person distinguished by his merits +and position, preached. He was then provincial of the province of +Santissimo Nombre de Jesus in these islands, bishop of Puerto Rico, +and afterward archbishop of Santo Domingo. The royal Audiencia, the +ecclesiastical and secular cabildos, the orders, and the nobility and +citizens of Manila were present and lent honor to the function With +such favorable beginnings, those evangelical ministers were greatly +consoled and very happy. They were most happy with the favorable +horoscope in which that new province was born, in having St. Nicolas +for their patron. There was some altercation [over this matter] with +the Augustinian fathers of the Observance; the devotion to this saint +had now grown very extensive in their church, in a special chapel, +and they foresaw that worship there would be decreased on account of +this new advocacy. It was not an occasion for a suit, and they tried +modestly to avoid litigation. Although possession could not give better +right, the Recollects yielded, and accommodated themselves to a change +of title, commending to God this serious matter. The calmness of Señor +Agurto was seen in that, at whose direction they cast lots to settle +the controversy satisfactorily. Many other saints took part in the +lots, and in them the said St. Nicolas had success the first, second, +and third time when the cast was repeated. Thus was the will of God +powerfully confirmed, resistance ceased, and they resigned themselves +to it peacefully. They extended the protection of the new church to +the province, which was already in its beginnings. The said first +feast was celebrated with the greatest harmony between the parties, +and unity of minds. + +2. They were not useless in that location, for, accommodating the +active life to the contemplative one, they applied themselves with +fervid ardor to spiritual help in the administration of sacraments and +in gospel preaching to many different peoples, who needed that same +assistance, especially at night, when the city gates were locked. As +there were no parish churches near, many were the sudden calls that +disturbed their rest, for all of which they were very ready and +prepared, as one should be in a matter that concerns the salvation of +the soul. Their zeal could not be restrained here; more arduous was +the obligation which had brought them, and the acquiring of some one +of the many languages which are spoken in these islands. Without that +diligence their application would be useless; without such intercourse, +men must necessarily consider one another as barbarians. Since the +Tagál language is the most general, their most careful study was given +to it. Their eagerness was emulative, and made them rapid in their +haste. He who most quickly penetrated the language was father Fray +Miguel de Santa Maria, native and son of the convent of Zaragoza, +a person of resolution and vigorous mind, and of no common abilities. + +3. With these arrangements they tried to make a beginning in their +apostolate. On discussing where they would better employ themselves, +they thought that they would better not separate far then, since they +were so few. Quite near by, eight leguas distant, was the village +of Marivelez, which had no ministers. The other ministers had left +it because of the insalubrity of its climate and the brutishness +of its natives, who were very obstinate in their superstitions. The +voices of the missionaries did not at all soften them, wherefore with +comfortable maxims they had left them in their obstinacy, shaking +off secretly the dust from their sandals. Truly their religion +was ridiculous. They had their groves or reserved places in the +forest. There were their peculiar penates or minor gods, to whom they +made their sacrifices. Certain old deluded and ceremonious persons +took charge of the sacrifices. They were assisted by certain old women, +called _catalonas_, who had great authority among those deluded people, +which they had acquired by deceitful and delusive tricks. The method of +sacrificing cattle was the common and transcendental one among those +natives. But irreligion was manifest in all their vain observances, +and in the conservation of their traditions, rather than any active +and positive religion. They observed those long-kept and sacrilegious +customs, through fear of punishment if they omitted them; and, even +more, they were persuaded that they would die the instant when they +violated these. + +4. Their laws in political government were no better, being at +the pleasure of the most powerful, who exercised their tyranny +despotically. Many difficulties were those. And if one would +consider that others, who must be considered of equal or greater +spirit, had abandoned them as unconquerable, he would understand +their human prudence, or temerity, or their great conceit. But the +robust vicar-provincial stumbled in nothing, his wonderful zeal +facilitating everything. For that administration and conquest, he +appointed Fray Miguel de Santa Maria the adelantado, giving him as +associates father Fray Pedro de San Josef, and the lay brother Fray +Francisco de Santa Monica, all of them now well acquainted with that +language. They accepted their appointments resignedly, and set out +for Marivelez. They quickly found that profound darkness was opposed +to their new light. They were not dismayed by their inevitable +labors. No welcome was found among so rude and unconquerable a +people. The missionaries solicited them in the woods, where they +gained their livelihood by the labor of their fields. They spoke to +them in affectionate tones; they undeceived them of their errors, +which so darkened their souls. They maintained, at their own cost, +some huts where they retired for the necessary rest at night. When they +took any slight and hurried refreshment, it was for their necessary +relief and rest, since the rest of their time was broken with +penitential exercises. By such unalterable and edifying procedure, +they were gradually softening those hard rocks; and they already +had many converts and baptized people. The other idolaters did not +regard that desertion well, and one day when the father was going on +his rounds to catechise them in the woods, the pagans were awaiting +him, and discharged upon him a shower of stones. He yielded to his +contusions and wounds. He escaped with his life from this exigency, +which was not little. But he was so ill-treated that he could not +recover his health, which became worse; and recognizing that it was +impossible to recover it there because of the utter lack of comfort, +he determined to retire to Manila, in order to die conformably with +his brethren. Some medicines were administered to him here, which he +took rather to please his superior than because he had any idea that +they would be of use. The dissolution of his body rapidly progressing, +he piously received the last sacraments; and, in the midst of lofty +and loving acts, he passed to the eternal rest, leaving this wretched +life with envy. His two courageous companions returned also to the +infirmary at Manila, for they had fallen sick from their continual +troubles; and they ended their lives in so excellent and desirable +a manner, the first fruits of this laborious task. + +5. So arduous an undertaking was not abandoned through fear of +its danger, because those beginnings were, in the general mind, +unfortunate. It fell to the lot of father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, +a man celebrated in the history of his holy province, especially in +the voyage that he made from these islands to Basora and Caldea, +in which he reduced various Armenians of the schism [62] to the +obedience of the holy see, and presented their chiefs to his Holiness, +Urban Eighth, who thanked him for his zeal by special favors and +rewards. He was firm in spirit and of most courageous boldness. He took +possession of that toilsome mission. With his industry, he reduced +to a civilized and Christian life the remainder of those pagans, +in a location called Bagac. There he built his church and dwelling, +and there he gathered many scattered peoples. Afterward he moved it +to that of Marivelez because of the convenience of the port, and its +more equable climate. He arranged other annexed locations within +a distance of twelve leguas, where his tireless industry gathered +about one thousand five hundred souls. Assuring this stronghold, he +opened a gateway by which to pass to the coast beyond. The Zambales +Indians tyrannized over it, and no boats could touch there without +danger of their lives. Those were Indians of barbarous ferocity, and +very bloody-minded. It was very difficult to soften such monsters, +so blinded by their superstitions and by their barbarous customs, +that in no way would they accustom their ears to other things. One +very extraordinary event procured respect for the father among them, +and thereupon they paid more attention to his evangelical words. + +6. Father Fray Rodrigo was one day passing through a thicket. That +thicket was, according to their customs, one of the reserved ones, +and it was considered sacrilegious to cut anything from it, and that +such act would be punished with immediate death. So infatuated were +they with that blindness that no one, even though in great need, +dared to take anything from that place, being restrained by fear. The +father saw a beautiful tree, which they call _pajo_, laden with +ripe fruit. He ordered his followers to gather some by climbing the +tree. They strenuously resisted, but father Fray Rodrigo insisted on +it. They declared that they would not do it under any circumstances, +and that it meant sure death if they offended the respect whose +fatal sentence comprehended all the trees of that place. The father +severely chided them for their error, and to show them that it was so, +he determined to gather the fruit himself. He began to break branches +and to clear the trunk, in order to facilitate the ascent. The Indians +were grieved, and urgently begged him to desist from that undertaking, +which they considered as so rash. But the religious, arming himself +with the sign of the cross, and reciting the antiphon, _Ecce lignum +crucis_, managed to gather some of the ripe fruit, which the tree +offered. He ate it in front of them and liked the fruit very much, +for indeed it is savory. They looked at his face amazed, expecting +his instant death. When that did not happen, they recognized their +delusion, and detested their cheats They also ate without experiencing +any harm. The father charged them to say nothing upon their arrival +at the village. He took with him a goodly quantity of that fruit, +and divided a great portion of it among the chiefs. Esteeming the +gift, they, in their ignorance, ate it without fear. In a sermon on +the following day, the father disclosed the secret and checked their +vain fears; so that, undeceived by experience, they followed him +with their axes, and in short order felled that thicket, which was +a confused center of perverse iniquities. Thereupon, many of those +infidels submitted to the true knowledge. + +7. He continued the conversion of those people after that happy result, +despising dangers, and enduring bodily necessities, very full indeed +of interior consolation. That is a rough coast, and offers grievous +terrors in its times of turbulent weather. Father Fray Rodrigo +was navigating along it when a fierce tempest suddenly overtook +him, which, driving the small boat upon some rocks, dashed it into +pieces. Those who were in it were drowned, although they knew how to +swim. The father alone, by the violent impulse of a wave, reached a +small rocky islet. His life was miraculously saved on it, and God, +who does not grant His blessings incompletely, caused an Indian to +discover him within twenty-four hours. The Indian swam to him, and +carried him from that danger, on his shoulders. Even more marvelous was +another thing that happened to father Fray Juan de la Ascension, while +sailing along that same coast. He was in a boat manned by Chinese, +who, being careless of their sheets, did not loose them in time, when +the wind suddenly shifted furiously. It is most dangerous to coast +along high lands, for so furious winds blow through the passes that +if great care is not taken with the sheets the boats overturn easily. + +8. Thus did it happen with this boat, and its keel was exposed to +the sun. All were drowned, without any aid; only father Fray Juan was +saved by divine Providence. This is more manifest, since the method +was one unheard-of. The father remained inside his craft, while +the overturned boat tossed up and down. Its space did not entirely +fill with water, a small space being left, which served as an arch, +in which the father could keep his head and arms out of the water, +having laid fast hold of a beam. He passed three days thus, until +a boatful of Indians, happening to pass that way, and observing the +floating hull, approached the boat, to see if it contained anything +by which their greed could be advantaged. They began to break +through the open end. As soon as they had opened a small aperture, +they heard the voice of the shipwrecked religious, who begged for +help. The Indians were frightened, and resolved to leave the task +that they had undertaken. One of them, more courageous, inspired them +with the sufficient resolution, and, continuing, they discovered the +father almost at the last extremity. They reached him presently, took +good care of him, and helped him with what they were carrying. With +that he came to himself and recounted his catastrophe. They marveled +greatly at so extraordinary an event, which they regarded only as a +prodigy never before seen. In this manner did they continue with the +conversion of those infidels, until they obtained a good foundation +in the village of Masinloc. It was a very suitable location, as it +was the center of many mountains and settled districts where many and +diverse peoples could easily be reduced to a civilized and Christian +life. The management of its planting was given to father Fray de el +Espiritu Santo; and he, with two associates, was well employed in +those apostolic excursions. In a short time they had eight thousand +newly baptized Indians, and arranged methods for their administration, +and for their catechism. Their first care was divine worship, and +instruction and training musicians and singers. So did those zealous +ministers labor, and we leave them now in that cultivation. + + + + +Volume V + + +Chapter III + + +_The discalced Augustinian religious continue their spiritual conquests +on the coast of Zambales, and pacify it with their labors. They extend +their fervent tasks to the province of Caraga, in Mindanao._ + +1. If God created man with a certain fertility, with which to +propagate other men, although that fertility was not taken away by +the first sin, it is not what it would be if disobedience had not +intervened; and if to that propagation conservation be not added, it +would not proceed according to the form and method of its kind, but +even in these natural arrangements nothing would be done without the +cooperation of the Creator. Proportionally so is it in the spiritual +propagation, in which man is formed for piety and justice. He who +plants or he who waters is nothing, but it is only God who giveth the +increase. For that reason so necessary dispositions are not useless, +but are indispensable in the present providence. How can they hear +unless there be one to preach to them? God gave man understanding, +but it is as dull in infancy as if he did not have one; it must be +excited, and brought to light with the increase of age, in which he +becomes capable of knowledge and of instruction, skilful to perceive +truth and pure and chaste love, with which to fight strenuously +against the engendered vices to which he is inclined naturally from +his youth. Those spiritual propagations in semi-brutish men are very +difficult; for, although reason is not altogether extinguished, the +sparks of it are so feeble that one must use considerable discretion +and prudence in order to arouse them. With those monsters were +the discalced Augustinian religious dealing on the Zambales coast; +having as the object of their living faith the salvation of souls, +they could employ themselves admirably in such spiritual propagations, +planting and watering with immense labor, God granting them the desired +increase in that so blessed intercourse. Establishing themselves in +Masinloc, they did not restrain themselves in the undertaking until +they reached the end of the coast, on whose famous point is the village +of Bolinao. There they had had the first intelligence of the gospel, +which the observantine Augustinians had tried to communicate to +them. But either the ferocity and barbarous customs of the natives, +who threatened to kill them, or their great occupation in other +more abundant missions, compelled them to abandon that attempt. At +the demand of those religious, together with a commission from the +governor then in office, Don Rodrigo de Rivero, and the instance of +the venerable dean and cabildo, the vice-provincial despatched fathers +Fray Christoval de Christo and Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo to that +conversion. The village was then located on an island, which formed +the port of the same point. When the venerable religious entered, the +natives would have nothing to do with them; however they did not dare +to expel the fathers nor lay hands on them. They supported themselves +on certain herbs and roots, which grow naturally and without labor +in the forest, necessarily suffering misery and misfortunes. + +2. Their endurance and suffering made the Bolinaos more tractable; +they were persuaded that their preaching was true, and that their +instruction was important for them. They began to listen to it +without aversion, although with curiosity. The efficacy of the word +of God penetrated strongly into their hearts. Then they conceived +a horror of their barbarous customs. Thereupon, and because of the +continual instruction, they resolved to abandon paganism, and to +surrender their necks to the gospel yoke. One thousand six hundred, +having been catechised satisfactorily, were baptized. They built +a suitable church and a dwelling-house for the father ministers, +and the village of Bolinao was established in very orderly ways, +in matters relating to their common life and to civilization. They +have continued happily in their vocation, and I think that it is one +of the most solid Christian communities in the islands. They are very +devout, and their thoughts are without any superstition, while they +are most inclined to devotion. Thence the fathers extended their zeal +to the near-by and dependent communities; all these were most happily +subjected. That was largely induced by the religious themselves +cutting down a reserved bamboo plantation, and thus removing their +foolish fears that he who dared to cut a single bamboo from it would +die--but which did not happen to them, as the Indians had imagined. By +that means they were undeceived in their previous superstitions. + +3. The fathers also extended their reductions and conversions to +the south of Masinloc. They formed the scattered peoples, and the +rural settlers of Tuguy and Paynayan into villages. Inasmuch as +the Pagans and Negritos of the immediate forests disturbed those +new establishments greatly by making furtive raids on them and +killing several people, seizing those who were heedless at night, +the superior government determined to establish a small fort in +Paynayen, with moderate-sized artillery, and a garrison of Spanish +and Pampanga infantry which would maintain in loyalty those newly +catechised and reduced, and would shelter them from barbarous +hostilities. The expenses for it were to be paid, in order to make +raids in the forests, and to intimidate with their arms those people +of so fierce customs. The only ones still to be conquered on that +long coast were the scattered people of Sigayan, about eight leguas +north of Masinloc. Father Fray Alonso de San Augustin, a son of this +city of Manila, took charge of that undertaking at the order of his +vicar-provincial. His diligence was efficacious and most lively. He +reduced many of those infidels to the true faith; founded a town with +them, which he, with good supervision, established in a commodious +site; and established a church and house. He managed and perfected +the work with great vigilance and the consolation of his soul. One day +when the people were assembled, he preached a fervent sermon, censuring +the resistance of some obstinate infidels. Some of them were respected +and venerated as the greatest chiefs. The sermon mortified them, and +they resolved to take satisfaction for the pretended and supposed +insult. The bolder of them, on some pretext or other, approached +the zealous father, quickly drew a cutting weapon, such as they use, +from its sheath, and at the first blow almost decapitated him with +it. His hood protected him somewhat, but not so much that he was not +grievously wounded. As the wound was given in a dangerous place, its +cure was difficult. Thus he lived but a short time, sacrificing his +life very willingly for the good of those rebellious sheep. After +that parricide the new reduction rose in rebellion. The followers +of the unjust aggressor burned and destroyed the village, convent, +and church, and withdrew to the general asylum and refuge of the +woods. Some faithful Christians remained with the wounded father, whom +they carried to Masinloc, where his happy death occurred. With what +was left, after abandoning that new Christianity for the time being, +the ministers tried later, as if forgetful of the past insult, to have +the reduction returned to its old site. They interested the Indians +of Masinloc, and, partly with mild means and partly with threats, +they attained their object--not without great efforts, fears, and +hardships. The church, house, and village were rebuilt, and about seven +hundred souls were enrolled. That village, after other translations, +is the one now called Santa Cruz, and is dependent on Masinloc. + +4. Those hardships caused those religious to be well received in +Manila. Its citizens became interested in that, without leaving +their first foundation of Bagumbayan, which was very useful for those +suburbs, they should move into a regular convent within the walls of +their fortification--which was unavoidable because of the continual +disputes with Japanese and Chinese, and because of the fears caused +by the Dutch with their fleets. Because of the urgency with which +all compassionately entreated them, with this security, the father +vice-provincial, Fray Juan de San Geronimo, responded gratefully; +and, recognizing the strict advisability of it, bought a small +house near the artillery foundry which then existed. The governor, +then Don Juan de Silva, liberally and willingly facilitated this +undertaking with alms, and conceded the site. Various oppositions +were encountered against that foundation, but they were conquered, +although with difficulty, by constancy. The religious passed many days +of poverty on that site, being uncomfortable and with scanty subsidies, +until the very pious and noble gentleman, Don Bernardino de el Castillo +Rivera y Maldonado, a native of the City of Mexico, master-of-camp of +the royal regiment, castellan of the fort of Santiago, and regidor of +the city--moved likewise by the urgent entreaties of his pious wife, +Doña Maria Enrriquez de Cespedes, who was very strongly inclined +towards this religious institute and to their patron, San Nicolas de +Tholentino (by whose intercession she had obtained a son), who had died +soon afterward--took charge of the foundation. He erected a handsome +building on that site for a church and convent, which was made of +hewn stone. He finished it at a personal cost to his estate of more +than one hundred thousand pesos. He assigned it suitable revenues in +lands, and funds for the necessary repairs and rebuilding--all the +more liberally, as he had no necessary heir. + +5. In an authentic declaration that he made before the +alcalde-in-ordinary of this city, Don Martin de Herrera--received and +testified before the notary-public, Juan de Villa Marin--the patron, +Don Bernardino, declares that the impelling motive for undertaking and +perfecting the work of church and convent was his great devotion to +San Nicolas de Tolentino, and his having recognized in the discalced +Augustinian religious, from the time of their arrival in this city, +learned, virtuous, and serious men; and the knowledge that they were +gathering much fruit in this community and among the natives round +about. In their manner of acting, they persuaded men that they were +all true servants of God. That had moved him to aid them in their very +severe need; and he had taken under his charge convent and church, +building them a new edifice from the foundations up. He had bought +many pieces of ground for them at excessive prices; in that way and +on the work, he had spent a large sum, and he considered it well +employed. He declared that he was ready to spend much more, even to +the extent of all his wealth, and to be left with only his assigned +pay of castellan; for the said Recollect religious deserve it by +their example and virtue. For the repairs and preservation of the +work, he assigned a fitting income from many lands. It is estimated +that he spent on and endowed it, in all, with one hundred and fifty +thousand pesos, although with obligations to chaplaincies. Besides +that, he adorned the church, and continually expended money for it. + +6. He also had a garden or country-house, called Calumpang, because +of its location. He made them a present of it, and of a portion of +the lands surrounding it, on condition that the said religious found +a convent on that site, where some religious could live retired and +free from disturbance. The then vice-provincial, Fray Rodrigo de +San Miguel, took possession, after obtaining the necessary licenses +from the government and from the archbishop. With these was formed a +convent of the same house, and a small church was erected under the +invocation of St. Sebastian, being dedicated to that glorious martyr, +a being to whom especial devotion was paid by its founders, who aided +its cost with their wealth. The archbishop, then Don Fray Miguel Garcia +Serrano, adjudged [to it] the spiritual administration of the tenants +of the lands, to the number of about thirty houses. The minister of +Sampoloc had a suit pending about those tenants, but as soon as they +were adjudged to that new church, they escaped from his demands; +and free possession remained to them, which was confirmed by the +royal patronage. A beautiful image of our Lady of Carmel was placed +in that church a few years afterward, which was brought from Mexico +by a mission of those religious. Her devotion extended her worship, +and her favors made her more famous. The dean of that holy church, Don +Juan Velez, given up by the doctors, and already without hope, begged +the religious to carry the holy image of Carmel to his house. At the +entrance of that Lady, and the fervent prayer of the dean, he suddenly +became well and completely cured. As a thank-offering for so singular +a favor, he returned the image to her church, and made her a very +solemn feast. He founded with the ordinary authority a confraternity, +under the title of Carmel, which attained so many members within +a short time that the number was more than two thousand, of both +sexes. The dean continued the feast every year, but scapularies were +not distributed because they had no authority for it, and because they +had no members of the Carmelite order. [63] Therefore those religious +had recourse to a competent prelate of the Carmelites, who could +concede the permission with apostolic privilege--the very reverend +father-provincial of Andalucia, Maestro Fray Diego de el Castillo, +granting authority to the prior of the convent of San Sebastian in +Philipinas in order that he, in his person alone, could and might +bless the scapularies of his holy order, and distribute them to the +faithful who might request them. From the receipt of that despatch, +and by means of such a distribution, the confraternity became full +to overflowing. The feast could not be held on its appropriate day in +July, which is wont to fall in the height of the rainy season. Having +recourse to the apostolic see, Pope Clement Eleventh erected the +confraternity anew, and set its feast for the twenty-first of January, +with special concessions of a plenary indulgence weekly, and additional +ones during the year on days assigned by the archbishop. Those weekly +indulgences fall on Wednesday, and the others on the four Sundays of +the month in February, May, July; and the last, on the day of the +betrothals. The same pontiff later extended the plenary indulgence +of the twenty-first of February to the following week, in order to +satisfy the devotion of the innumerable crowd. If those nine days +were increased to a fortnight, the crowd would always be numerous. In +the nine days are administered from six to seven thousand communions, +besides many who commune in other churches. It is the most extensive +devotion among Spaniards and natives. That devotion had its failings, +as is usual among numerous crowds, which have been corrected by the +zeal of the superiors. That confraternity has since been established +in the city of Zebu, and has in the same manner been extended into +the Bisayan provinces. + +7. At length his final illness came to this illustrious +benefactor. Recognizing it as such, he made his will, in which he +instituted as his heir San Nicolas de Tolentino. He died, and the +religious accepted that condition, and the remainder of his property +was adjudged to them. He was buried in that church as if in his own +house: on his conspicuous tomb was expressed the record that he left +by his charitable deeds. In the same tomb the body of his wife was +afterward placed. Monuments were erected to them, and in a suitable +niche were placed worthy memorials of gratitude. Since that first +church had the misfortune to be ruined by earthquakes, the fathers +did not recognize the patronage when they entirely rebuilt the church, +regarding their new church as free. + +8. The governor, the bishops, and the encomenderos were urgent for +those religious to extend their apostolic labors. But they were few and +could not attend to those extensions Consequently, the vicar-provincial +decided to send a religious to España, to beg king and council for +aid for new operations. Father Fray Pedro de San Fulgencio, a well +known and experienced member of the order, was proposed for that +undertaking. He was given for the voyage legitimate authorizations, +letters of credit from all the governments, very expressive and +liberal, in which the truth and necessity were explained, so that +his Majesty would kindly concede a suitable number of ministers, who +might continue so excellent and important beginnings. That father +reached Madrid without accident, and found his brethren in mortal +anguish and distressing pain, and the reformed branch now breathing +its last and almost destroyed. + +[The outgoing provincial has relaxed the strict rule of the reformed +branch. The internal disputes that follow his term are brought to a +definite head by Paul V's brief, ordering the regular Augustinians +to take over the convents of the Recollects and to absorb that +branch. However, the order is saved by the strenuous efforts exerted +both in Spain and Rome.] + +15. In such condition was this reformed branch when father Fray +Pedro, procurator of Philipinas, reached España, without province, +without authority, and without means for cooperation in his urgent +affairs. But his brave spirit did not waver; he was adroit and prompt +in the management of papers; and he was presented to the king with +a brief memorial referring to his commissions. Although his Majesty +was not then very well inclined to the Reform, laying aside those +considerations, he paid good heed to the petition, recognizing its +justification. He conceded the despatch of thirty religions, whom +the procurator could take with him on the first occasion that should +present itself, with the usual subsidies. After that so favorable +result was obtained, it was considered advisable to go to the court +of Roma, in order to move the universal head [of the church] to +favor the general interest by information of the results obtained +in the islands. He obtained audience with the supreme pontiff, Paul +V, to whom he related the labors of his associates in the benefit +of infidel souls. His representation was very well received by the +supreme pontiff. The latter conceded him many favors and indulgences +for the missionaries engaged in conversions and reductions. In order +to aid father Fray Gregorio [64] in his claims, he was detained a long +while. Those public interests and the most important affairs of those +conquests disappointed private interests. Powerful rivals advanced +their claims, but the procurator ought not to have abandoned his own +affairs. He trusted too much to his prompt and favorable commissions, +in whose durability the quickest despatch is not enough; for the agents +on the opposing side, availing themselves of his voluntary absence, +began to depreciate the mission that had been conceded. They declared +that the Recollects were not necessary in Philipinas; that those +who had gone there before were but few and useless. The procurators +of the provinces of Philipinas--who by having taken the habit were +not divested of human passions, for they considered it [_i.e.,_ the +Recollect mission] as a grievance, instead of being moved by a just +and charitable zeal--interested themselves in that report. There was +much that had to be tilled and cleared. Whole provinces were begging +for spiritual aid. But now, since their zeal was mitigated, they were +excusing themselves from labors, and were contenting themselves with +tranquillity. To say that new missions were necessary, without some +of these entering the labors of others, was very apparent to them, +and on very superficial considerations reprehensible. Their immoderate +opposition reached such a point that they declared publicly that they +[_i.e.,_ the Recollects] were not men who could prove at all useful +to the infidels. + +16. Their procurator, Fray Pedro, was well able to answer those +calumnies (for they were calumnies), and to restrain insinuations so +pernicious and prejudicial to the interests with which he was charged; +for he had discretion and a spirit for everything. The most effective +thing in that was the pressing need of his commissions, and the +contents of his credentials. But death, which overtook him at Milan on +his return trip, prevented those advancements and important efforts; +and there was no person to whom to entrust the favorable outcome +of his negotiations at Roma, nor his papers as procurator, which +were the essential part of the negotiation. Upon that so unexpected +disaster, inasmuch as there was no substitution of powers, nor, as +it happened, anyone in whom to substitute them, the above opposition +and contradiction had their opportunity--thus disappointing the +arrangements of several religious who were already preparing for that +voyage, in their anxiety to embark quickly, and assist their associates +in the islands, and extend their laborious work. Those misfortunes and +disturbances were unhappily removed and extended to Philipinas. The +vice-provincial was notified of Paul V's brief, of the extinction of +the province, and the submission to the calced religious, who began to +make use of violent acts of superiority. Although counsel was taken +with erudite men regarding that difficulty, yet in view of that so +executive brief, they wavered in their opinions. The only thing that +militated against the brief was that it was not passed by the royal +Council. But since it had to do with government and monarchy, it was +at least binding on the inner court of the conscience, especially on +subjects who had given a special and solemn obedience to the pontiff, +in regard to the internal government of their institutes. These so +violent disturbances had some rest in the election of provincial +in the person of the father maestro, Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano. In +it the offices of the convents and ministries of the discalced were +confirmed to the persons who held them, and in the same manner; all +taking care, after the representations of such a prelate, to honor +and protect so afflicted a family. + +17. Those so complicated causes for disquietude saddened +extraordinarily the venerable father, Vice-provincial Fray de San +Geronimo. He, upon seeing his edifice being destroyed gradually in +this manner, and that its ruin was a foregone conclusion by such +measures, determined, notwithstanding his age, and the catastrophes +that usually happened, to return to España, in order to solicit and +promote the quiet of his reformed branch, and help for the preaching +and conservation of the Indians, by communicating in person to the +Catholic king his fortunate beginnings, being confident in the royal +and benignant attachment to his person, and his merits. His receipt of +certain letters, however, compelled him to cut short the voyage. Those +letters assured him that the mind of the monarch was made up to appoint +him as bishop in one of the vacant sees of these islands. In order +that those obligatory despatches might not find him in the islands, +and as he found a suitable opportunity, he embarked in a vessel to make +his voyage by way of India. That unusual effort also was frustrated, +because he was attacked by his last illness on the high sea, at +the parallel of Ormuz. During it he edified the sailors greatly by +his excellent disposition, and his conformity to the divine will, +in whose kiss he delivered up his spirit. Very sorrowfully they cast +him into the sea, the common tomb of sailors who happen to die thus. + +18. Although few, those reformed religious, condescending at repeated +urging, accepted a foundation in the port of Cavite. There lived the +seamen, who, accustomed to dangers, are also reckless in vices. Men +of nationalities distinct in religion and sect were wintering there +because of the heavy commerce, and through their frequent intercourse +their morals were becoming relaxed. + +19. He who most urgently requested and sighed for such a foundation +was a pious citizen and a good Christian, named Raphael Blanco, chief +of the shore or arsenal, and master of the calkers. He offered to help +in the establishment with a large ground-plot and property on which +he had built some houses, with the necessary condition that it was to +be used as a church and convent. He was ready to sign a legal writ +of gift, provided that the vicar-provincial bound himself to erect +a church on the said ground and site. The parties having come to an +agreement, went before the royal Audiencia, which was governing, +and the bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, governor of this +archipelago. Permission was granted, and a church and convent were +formed in the best manner, in the houses of Raphael Blanco, with the +aid of various alms, with St. Nicolas de Tolentino as its titulary. In +the beginning of its construction it was of wood; but afterward, the +necessary licenses having been granted, it was built of stone. Three +reredoses adorned the temple. Shortly after its foundation its benefit +was experienced. The people of the port were most extraordinarily +afflicted; they frequently saw various horrifying specters in the air, +which gave vent to terrible and formidable cries. Those specters took +possession of various bodies, which they maltreated in many and cruel +ways. Some they made raving mad; to some they caused very dangerous +illnesses; some took to the mountains in flight; some, going up +to the heights, let themselves fall down a precipice. So terrible +a persecution put the whole port beside itself. The churches were +opened and the august sacrament exposed day and night. The greatest +crowd collected in the new convent and church. Missions were preached +there with spirit and fervor, in which their prior at that time, Fray +Pedro de la Madre de Dios, excelled. These aroused all to penitence, +and there was frequent petition for the holy sacraments. The air was +filled with sighing, and the people mortified themselves with fastings +and severe penances, in order to placate the divine wrath, so manifest +in fearful acts of vengeance. The priests were continually employed +in exorcisms against the wicked spirits. Cavite resembled an afflicted +Nineveh. God willed to let the punishment end with threats. The spirits +left their obsessions at the command of the ecclesiastical ministers, +the horrible apparitions ceased, and their mournful howling was no +longer heard. The inhabitants became quiet and were consoled, but +did not fail to be very well warned. For they continued constant in +the correction and the general reform of morals; and it extended to +every kind of people, who were intimidated for a considerable time by +such fearful events, and very thankful to their spiritual benefactors. + +20. Upon hearing of the death of his vice-provincial, father Fray +Rodrigo de San Miguel became very eager to make his voyage to España +to solicit new workers. He asked and obtained duplicate despatches +from the most prominent and distinguished inhabitants, from the +ecclesiastical and secular cabildos, from the governor, and from +the royal Audiencia. All the documents were confirmed by the most +illustrious bishops, who said that the discalced Augustinians were +very observant of their rule in their ministries, very zealous in the +conversion of souls, and therefore very advantageous, useful, and even +necessary. That would oblige his Catholic Majesty to concede them the +mission that they desired. The orders also confirmed the documents, +especially the observantine Augustinians, in which they confuted the +preceding adverse testimonies. Then he embarked with so favorable +and extensive despatches; but his voyage was very disagreeable. They +suffered a severe storm amid these islands, in which were lost boats +that had anchored at Manila and Cavite. The stormy winds obliged them +to sail to Japon, from which altitude they continued their course, +with constant squalls, until they sighted Cape Mendocino--whence, +coasting the shores of Nueva España, they finally anchored at Acapulco, +after innumerable terrors and dangers, and after a most distressing +voyage of seven months. + +21. The father went overland to the North Sea, and embarking at Vera +Cruz, continued his course. On the voyage a raging tempest carried them +to the coasts and banks of Terra Nova--[_i.e._, Newfoundland]. That +deviation from their course made water and food grow scarce, so much +so that daily rations of only two ounces of sea-biscuit were dealt +out, and the same proportion of water. The ship sprang a leak, and +took so much water into the hold that they reached the Terceras as +by a miracle. There they rested and equipped themselves, in order to +finish their voyage to Cadiz. Thence the father went to Madrid, where +his requests were listened to kindly, and his despatches conceded +to him. In virtue of them, he had already called together twenty +religious; and he determined to embark in the fleet that was being +sent to the Malucas with reënforcements. He could not effect that, +because that order had been lost with the obligations expressed in +another part. Accordingly it was necessary to accommodate himself to +the trading-fleet which was being despatched to Vera-Cruz, although +with a small number of missionaries; however, considering the extreme +lack of them [in the islands] great relief was furnished even by these. + +22. Thereupon, and the contentions of the Roman court having been +favorably determined, because the supreme pontiff had [now] been +thoroughly and sufficiently informed, the latter took pains to console +those whom he recognized as innocent. He did that by his apostolic +brief, in which, with full knowledge of the cause, he explained his +former brief and definitive sentence, confirming the concession of +Clement Eighth, in the erection of the province. He restored the +title and office of provincial to the same father Fray Gregorio, +confirmed his former patents, and restored everything to its former +condition. However, there were certain endurable reservations, by +which they could not found more monasteries or receive novices. At +the end of the three years' term, the calced provincial was to visit +that reformed branch in whose jurisdiction the Recollect convents +were to be. He conceded them many indulgences, privileges, and +favors, by which their minds were calmed, and their desired relief +in Philipinas obtained. This country was reenforced with thirteen +other missionaries, whom the fathers of España sent officially in +charge of their commissary, father Fray Christoval de San Augustin. He +reached Mexico, whence he could not proceed farther, as death seized +him. Father Fray Onofre de la Madre de Dios took charge of that +leadership, with whose arrangement they all arrived safe and sound +at Manila. They had their frights in meeting some Dutch urcas, which +followed our ship with a stern wind; and they were about to be captured +when the religious invoked in their favor the glorious St. Nicolas +de Tholentino. Then, luffing, they were able to escape the Dutch. + +23. The most illustrious bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, +was in Manila, and requested the reverend father Fray Rodrigo de San +Miguel, the vice-provincial at that time, to send religious to Zebu +to make a foundation in that city. The latter complied with this, by +sending father Fray Juan Chrisostomo de la Ascencion to take charge of +that, in answer to the bishop's venerable and respectful urgency. His +Excellency conceded to the father a site as his especial property, +which had a chapel of our Lady of the Conception somewhat apart from +its center. There the said father established his convent. As his +Excellency's desires were not that the fathers should live in ease, +he immediately assigned to them the administration of the island +of Maripipi, where there were about six hundred souls. Being thus +established in Bisayas, his same Excellency, after consulting the +superior government, and his Excellency Don Alonso Fajardo acquiescing, +charged and intrusted them solemnly with the spiritual administration +of the province of Caraga in Mindanao. That province, although subdued +by Don Juan de Silva, and given as an encomienda, had not yet had +any ministers--or, at most, a secular chaplain for ministration to +the garrison of its fort. It was a difficult undertaking because +of the warlike spirit and the ferocity of the Caragas, whose chief +tenet of religion was the deification or apotheosis of the brave +and of the most tyrannical. From so barbarous a maxim one can infer +something of their fierce customs. The district was large and caused +great labor, for the conquests had to be made through rough and dense +forests. Their superior assigned eight religious for this task, who, +being supplied with the necessary things, arrived without accident +at the presidio of Tandag. [65] + +24. They endeavored to reduce that infidelity with mildness and +gentleness. They made those people see their errors, and God lent such +force to their persuasions that many were baptized. They procured +their conversion through the chiefs, who by their superiority +tyrannized over their dependents. One of those chiefs was called +Ynuc, as renowned for his reputation as feared for his cruelty, by +means of which he was absolute along that coast and formidable in the +neighboring islands. He hated the Spaniards violently, with whom he +always refused to make peace or truce, ever preserving for them an +implacable hatred. The superior of that mission, father Fray Juan de +la Madre de Dios, trusting in God, dared to conquer that monster. He +left Tandag to look for him alone, without any followers. He found +him at his _ranchería_. [66] Ynuc wondered at the father's audacity +in appearing before him without first asking permission. He intended +to take satisfaction for what he considered an intolerable insult, +but the father talked to him with so much mildness and spirituality, +that he not only pardoned his boldness, but also showed pleasure at his +salutary advice. They conversed intimately, and Ynuc was so pleased +with his intercourse that he accepted tolerable treaties of peace +with the Spaniards of Tandag, with whom he opened communication and +commerce. He granted a free permit so that the father might preach +to his subjects, and so that the father might enter and leave his +lands without hindrance, ordering that all give him their help. The +father continuing his intercourse with Ynuc, the opportunity came, +when master of his affections, to treat concerning his conversion, +as his example was so important. Ynuc did not resist the divine call +very strenuously. He disposed himself for catechism, and received +baptism amid great solemnity. In that conversion he performed the +necessary duty, as a proof [of his sincerity], of sending all the +concubines from his house, and marrying the first wife and confirming +by the sacraments the natural contract _in faciæ ecclesiæ_. [67] He +freed all his slaves, who exceeded two thousand. He issued edicts +ordering that all persons who thought themselves aggrieved should +come for satisfaction, without any fear; and he made the religious +the judges for that, together with the commandant of the fort. They +settled all differences equitably, and to the satisfaction of the +interested parties, entirely contenting them all with their decrees. + +25. That conversion was much bruited throughout the whole province, +and to his example many infidels bowed their necks; however, many +difficulties yet remained. The missionaries resolved to conquer them, +for which they exposed themselves to evident dangers. The superior +either did not recognize them as dangers or despised them. He was +resting one night in a location called Ambagan, not far from Tandag. An +Indian, without other motive than his barbarous inclination, conceived +the thought of killing him, and obtained two companions, who aided +him with their weapons in his depraved purpose. He climbed into the +house boldly, leaving his two companions ready on the ladder. When +he tried to enter the apartment where the minister was sleeping, a +venerable old man stopped him, who asked him in his native language: +"Where art thou going, profligate? I am guarding the sleeper, who is +my son." The Indian, carried away by his headlong wrath, persisted +in entering the forbidden apartment. Thereupon, the venerable old man +raised aloft a golden staff, which he supported in his hand, with which +he threatened the Indian, who conceived so great a horror of it that +in his confusion he was unable to find the ladder by which to descend, +although he sought it in various ways. He remained there, miserable +and afflicted, all that night, without knowing what was passing, until, +the morning having come and the minister having come out of his room, +he placed himself before the latter very contritely, and told him what +had happened, urging him to make it known. His associates confirmed +what referred to them--namely, that becoming tired of waiting at the +foot of the ladder, they had retired thence at daybreak, in order +not to be discovered, abandoning their associate to his fortune. The +father agreed, as did the more judicious, that he whom the Indian +was declaring by his signs was the great father St. Augustine, who +miraculously defended his son with the pastoral staff. + +26. The infidels came to hold these religious in great veneration when +so noteworthy incidents were made known throughout the province, +and the gospel obtained great advantages. The errors in which +the idolatrous priests were trying to maintain the infidels were +dissipated. The priests, seeing their interests waning by the recent +conversions, conspired against the fathers' lives several times; but +they escaped those dangers by a special and divine providence. Several +reductions were formed in the province, and in the adjacent island +of Siargao. The Jesuit fathers could not take care of all their +enterprises in that island. The reduction of Butuan was not assured, +with the visits made at long intervals. Those visits, being transient, +allowed no place for instruction, nor did those people preserve much +of their teaching. The bishop of Zebu communicating that fact to the +superior government, it was agreed that the discalced Augustinians +should take charge of that administration, with a foundation, +as that was important. They accepted it with legal papers, and +had much to do on that great and famous river. They ascended its +waters even to their source, which is the lake of Linao, about fifty +leguas in circuit. There they founded a settlement, in order to +assure their labors. [68] They coasted the shore to little Cagayan, +[69] on that excursion taking also into their charge the island of +Camiguin. Farther on they passed through the rancherías of Higan and +Langaran up to the lake of Malanao. But the opposition of the Jesuits +stopped them; for the latter disputed their right to that spiritual +progress, to such an extent that they produced controversies in the +court. His Catholic Majesty decided the question by the rights of his +royal patronage. He ordered the island of Mindanao to be surveyed, +and distributed the administration of it between the two contending +provinces, granting to that of the Recollects [the coast] from the +point of Sulaban [70] to the cape of San Agustin, while the rest +remained in charge of the Society. Thereby were hostile rivalries +pacified, which would have produced nothing good had they continued +without so powerful arbitration. + + + + +Chapter IV + +_The Augustinian Recollects are charged with the administration and +conquest of the province of Calamianes. Geographical and natural +description of that province_. + + +1. The extension of its spiritual progress to the province of +Calamianes does much honor to the religious Recollect family. It was +not the effect of a rash temerity; it was a matter of slow and careful +deliberation. When once established and determined, resolution free +from terrible doubts was necessary to undertake it. "Not only is fear +not a cause for surety," said the emperor Leo [71] in his tactics, +"but it is also most adverse for good strategies; since in difficult +undertakings it is necessary to consult God, and, assured in one's +inmost beliefs, to attack without trepidation of spirit. The best +good of expeditions (especially military), if they are difficult, +consists in discovering thoroughly the condition of the enemy, +the number and quality of their troops, and their enterprise in +military discipline. With that keen knowledge, the captain prepares +his assaults, and plans his sudden counter strategies." In the present +conversion, maxims so prudent were very suitable--in which, prepared +by the spiritual food of faith, hope, and charity, they made manifest +the mystery of the ineffable Trinity, and subdued the infidels to +the sacrament of holy baptism. It was a difficult thing, and one that +exceeds human strength; but obeying God, attacks become spirited. By +His help one can soothe difficulties, explain intricate mysteries, and +resolve everything easily. After having consulted that superior oracle, +accompanied solely by his armor-bearer, one can attack whole armies, +rout them, and throw them into a general confusion and consternation; +and it is the enemy's own weapons that wound and disperse them. + +2. The archipelago of Calamianes consists of an infinity and +indeterminate number of islands, large and small, and most of them very +fertile. [72] Those best known and best supplied with the products +of commerce which might make them rich are [here] set down. But +their lack of attention [to these products] reduces the natives to +a wretched and unhappy state. The first island, and that which is +first encountered from the course of Mindoro, about fifty leguas +across from Luban, is Calamian the great, which gives name to the +whole province. It is commonly called Busuagan, taking that name from +a principal village or settlement. It is a large and pleasant island +in the form of an oblong, eight long leguas in length and about four +wide. Its rivers are of great volume; there are sufficient mountains; +and from that nature [of the land], there is an abundant yield of +wax of superior quality, which is produced naturally, and without +[human] labor, by the vast multitude of industrious bees. The only +work in it is the gathering of the honeycomb in its season (which +is very securely fastened in the large, high, and leafy branches +of the trees), by the sole effort of making fires with thick smoke, +which compels those little animals, which defend their property at +the cost of their lives, to flee in confusion. + +3. A more profitable product is the nest made by certain small black +birds, which are mistakenly called swallows. The material of which the +nest is made, in order to lay and hatch their eggs, is yet unknown. It +is regarded as sure that its manufacture takes place in the breast or +crop, whence issues a long filament. Those filaments stick together +because of their viscous nature, and at their extremities adhere to +the rock. Those nests are usually located in very overhanging and +rough places, in such a way that the continual rains do not unfasten +or destroy them, although the birds always endeavor to place them +under shelter. The shape of the nest is similar to that of the +regular swallow, although smaller. It is known that that filament +is produced with difficulty. It is like fine vermicelli, which is +sometimes accompanied with drops of blood. It is white and somewhat +transparent, like ice. It is prepared in various ways, but a soup +resembling that of vermicelli, but of better taste, and incomparably +more nourishing, is made with the broth from a substantial olio, +or stew. It is very useful for those who suffer from evacuations +and dysentery; it corrects those ailments and is good as a mild and +dissolvent food. The Chinese esteem it highly, and generally pay, +according to its scarcity or abundance, eight, nine, and sixteen pesos +per cate, which contains twenty-one onzas. They are very difficult to +gather, for the birds always build them in craggy locations, in whose +tortuous and precipitous caverns they are only obtained by descending +a rope. Some are obtained by climbing up bamboos, finding a rest for +the feet on the knots, which are left with large projections for that +purpose. So dangerous evolutions cost even broken arms and legs, and +sometimes even cause death. The taking of the nests is repeated three +times during the calm months of the year. The latter part of December, +those to whom are assigned crags--in which it is not right for one +to meddle with those of another, a rule that is observed with much +fidelity--go out. They gather the old nests, which are sufficiently +blackened by the preceding rains; however, they do not lose much +of their nourishment. Thus do they force the little bird to make a +new nest, as it cannot make use of the old one for breeding. As the +desire to breed is excited by its nature, the industrious little +bird strives to build its nest before breeding. All the month of +January is spent in its costly labors. The destroyers come and tear +them down. Sometimes they are found with eggs, and sometimes even +imperfect; but nothing restrains their greed, and they tear down +all indifferently. The disconsolate birds again begin to build their +nest, and at the end of February or the beginning of March the Indians +repeat their robbery. The saddened bird, forced to build its shelter +at the behest of nature in the multiplication of the species repeats +its anxious labors. Either because there is not enough material for +so many labors, or because the season has passed in their periods, +the bird does not possess the same inclination in its formation; the +nest is finished later, and is less juicy, as experience has shown, +for at that time the rainy season generally sets in. That, and the +Moros who infest these seas cause the harvest of nests involuntarily +to be abandoned. However, if the above circumstances do not prevent, +the third excursion is not lacking. All the crags are not accessible, +and where those furtive assaults cannot be made, the number of those +industrious little birds is prodigious." [73] + +4. The beaches are protracted into very extensive shoals and +reefs. There the excellent balate is very abundant. This is +a shellfish, [74] which when cooked and dried in the smoke is +preserved dry. This product is highly relished by the Chinese or +Sangleys. They lade as much as possible into their boats, paying thirty +and even thirty-eight pesos per pico (which is equivalent to five +arrobas twelve and one-half libras), according to the season. The +flesh is very wholesome, and tastes like shrimp. The fisheries +of fine-shelled turtles are also abundant, and they also form a +conspicuous product. Some of the shells have markings as deep red as +a fine garnet; and the four principal shells are of an extraordinary +size. From the shells are made very neat boxes, trays, and other pretty +things. They are given a jasper finish, which makes their colors shine +out strongly. The island has abundance of deer, wild boars, and wild +hogs, and monkeys and birds of singular rarity. There are many pagans +of good appearance and better disposition. The frequent raids of the +Moros hold that most fertile island in the greatest abandonment. A +narrow channel separates the island of Coron [75] from it. The latter +is a rocky crag about three leguas in circumference. The only entrance +to it is by a narrow tongue of land, which forms, as it were, a small +port. But it is so easy of defense that a few men can prevent any +entrance there without danger. Because of the strength and independence +of its location many natives of savage inclination, and most warlike, +live there. Calamian the little follows, where the capital is at +present located. [76] There is a fort there, well armed. The men in +their capacity as soldiers, with their corresponding officers, defend +from the natives. It is also fertile in the same products, although +less abundantly than Calamian the great, but it is so overrun with rats +or moles that no seed plant can live, for they destroy everything. The +natives are forced to engage in the trade of jars and salt, although +they are much interested in the nest business, and in that of wax; +the one being their own occupation and the other the exchange. + +5. Passing without comment other innumerable islands, comes the famous +one of Paragua, [77] about eighty leguas long and from ten to twenty +in its greatest width. It is a rich and fertile island. Besides the +common articles of commerce, such as wax (of which the harvest is more +abundant than in any other district), nests, fine shell, and balate, it +has various fisheries for fine pearls of beautiful luster, some of them +found at a depth of three or four brazas. Shells, or _madres abiertas_, +of excellent mother-of-pearl, of various beautiful colors, are found +on its coasts. The matrix-shell of these pearls has been seen of one +and one-half ordinary palmos in length and almost one palmo in its +narrowest part--whose pearl could not be obtained, because the valve +opened on drawing it from the sea, and the sensitive fleshy part that +contained the pearl fell into the water. According to its appearance, +it must have contained pearls of many grains and carats in size. The +island has various exquisite and useful woods which distil special +gums. There is one which is an effective remedy for cancers; it is so +powerful a caustic that it burns out the cancer even when it is deep, +although the wounds caused by its burning are dangerous. However, +those wounds have their suitable remedy. There is a quantity of nutmeg +of two varieties--the long and the round. The latter is valued more +because it is more fragrant. It is easily destroyed by grubs, because +the precautions useful for its preservation are unknown. There are +bejucos or Indian canes for walking-sticks, with their branches as +much as five and one-half palmos long; they are of better luster +and of greater toughness than are those gathered by the Dutch in the +islands of the Sonda. I am sure that camphor would be found, if one +looked for it, just as good as that of Borney; for the resemblance of +Paragua's productions to those of that great island is very marked, +and the latter is not very far from its southern point. + +6. There are but few quadrupeds [78] that are not found in the other +islands: porcupines, armadillos, _tezones_, leopards, _colcobos_, +and certain very beautiful foxes, but of the same species as the +stink-foxes of Peru, and very pestilent. They come to the houses in +their greed for fowls, among which they cause considerable havoc. But +whether it is due to their urine or some other posterior evacuation, +such is their stench that is necessary to abandon the house for a +time, as it is unendurable. There are many and rare birds. Royal +peacocks are very common; they are but slightly larger than a hen, +though without any difference from the large peacocks of India in +the vividness of their colors. Several efforts have been made to +domesticate them, but in vain; they become greatly depressed, and +soon die. There are nightingales that sing harmoniously near the +coolness of the small streamlets, repeating their melodious trills, +and gifted with most nimble throats. There are many varieties of +parrots of brilliant colors; green, white, and vari-colored pigeons; +squirrels or _paniquesas_, of several distinct species--some are white +with a black ring which sets them off well; there are some with wings +and some with membranes that facilitate their flight, although that +is but short. It is known that the land is one continuous mineral +district. Extensions of pure iron jut from the shores laid bare by the +breaking of the waves, as rocky shoals. There are others of vitriol +or verdigris, in very rich veins. It must be that the centers of the +mountains are like this. The island abounds in exquisite and healthful +waters, now in the springs, now in the large rivers--so many in number +that sixty-seven are counted from Catbuli to the bay of Ypolote, on the +side and coast of the east. Numerous tribes live there. In the roughest +locations the Aetas or black Cimarrones are gathered. Along the rivers +and level farm lands the natives are of a lighter complexion, and +less ugly in feature. This island is peculiar in what we have already +mentioned, namely, that earthquakes are not experienced there. But +there are stormy clouds that emit vivid lightnings and terrifying +thunder. But we have not heard that the fury of the thunderbolts is +in those clouds, or results from them, for the inhabitants of Paragua +have experienced none of those ravages. Consequently, they do not +have any words or terms peculiar to their language, for these or for +earthquakes, which is a very convincing proof.... + +7. The coasts, bays, and rivers of that large island abound plentifully +in divers and savory fish. In the bay of Malampaya, opposite Taytay, +in the same district as Manila, although with a clear and deep bottom, +there are many islands, which beautify the bay with their foliage. A +vast multitude of vicudas enter the great rivers at the spawning +season--a fine cod-fish that differs in no wise from that of Terranova +[_i.e.,_ Newfoundland], and when fresh they are of delicious taste. The +Indians catch them (although with danger from the Moros), and without +other appliances than certain hooks, and as many as they wish. For +lack of salt, they smoke-dry them, which always leaves an unpleasant +taste, and the fish spoil easily. Paragua has its own near-by islands +scattered along its coast, some of which are inhabited by pigeons, +various species of parrots, peacocks, and aquatic birds; others in +which sailors get as many eggs and squabs, or the young of such birds, +as they wish. The largest and most fertile [of these islands] is that +of Dumaran, which is separated from Paragua by a narrow strait. It is +a fertile island, in which there is a most abundant harvest of rice, +which as a general rule yields more than a hundred-fold. + +8. The island of Alutaya belongs to that province. It is a rocky +and arid land. However, it has plenty of domestic and useful +animals, [the rearing of which forms], the careful industry of +its natives. It is about thirty leguas across the open sea from +the islands of Calamianes. About six leguas away is the island of +Cuyo, which is small, being about three leguas in circuit, and low, +but very fertile. It contains whatever is fitting and desirable for +the sustenance of human life. Its natives, being for the most part +descendants of Sangleys, are industrious and shrewd in trade. In +exchange for the edible and potable products of their island, and +the textiles of Yloylo, and tobacco, they lade fine products in +Calamianes, an exchange that causes anger to the alcaldes-mayor. The +latter endeavor to prevent that trade, which injures their interests; +but those people by their shrewdness deceive them easily, and frustrate +the efforts of the alcaldes. The natives were on the whole very savage, +and had even more barbarous customs and greater stupidity than the +inhabitants of the other islands. They have a knowledge of herbs. In +Paragua especially, there are some very poisonous ones. They use +them to bewitch their fellows and deprive them of life. There is +one of so uncommon deadliness, that if it be chewed in the mouth, +and if the exhalations from it be directed in a gentle current toward +any person whom it is wished to destroy, his life is quickly taken +away. I heard that from some who have intercourse with the Negroes +of Dapit, who know more about it and use it mere easily. The way to +overcome those fatal effects is to carry the effective remedy with +one--another herb or root. Thus the evil breath loses all its force, +and the [aforesaid] herb or root is a sure antidote for its deadliness. + +9. This Recollect province set itself to conquer those savage +monsters. They had but little religion, and that an idolatry +so barbarous and stupid that no light of reason was visible +in it. Their knowledge of the first cause was very erroneous and +confused. They admitted another life, but through certain very confused +transmigrations. They revered their dead greatly, for they prepared +food for their resting-places. They had certain little idols--one who +presided over the fields, one over wars, one over illnesses--and they +offered ridiculous sacrifices to all. They revered the moon greatly, +as the mistress of death, and celebrated their funeral rites only at +the full moon. Their priests had high honor among them, and still more +the priestesses, who arrogated despotic power to themselves. They had +no civil body, but were scattered, and had communication only in their +families. They were timid and cowardly, and avenged their grievances +only by treachery. Five religious were assigned for that difficult +undertaking, their director and superior being father Fray Juan de +Santo Thomas, a missionary of proved spirit and a man of resolute +mind. They left Manila provided with the necessary supplies. They +put in first at the island of Cuyo, whose natives, being of excellent +disposition, were hoping to have Spaniards in their island--although +this was against the will of their priests, who were losing their +profits (which their offices made easy) by admitting them. The +missionaries were received with affection by the others, who had +no such interests. They first reduced those people to a social life +and united them, settling quarrels among the families, and forming a +goodly village; and, urging their obligation, they built a church and +house. They continued gently to insinuate themselves in the natives' +hearts and succeeded in reducing them to the bosom of the Catholic +church. Thence they went to Alutaya. They preached the gospel, and, +in the same manner, established a town, church, and house, for the +people received the instruction with docility. + +10. After those so fortunate beginnings, they determined to send two +of the said religious and one lay brother to Paragua. They entered the +bay of Taytay, where they experienced greater resistance. The people +were opposed to living congregated in one settlement, and that was +the gravest hindrance; but the fathers were able to attain in part, +by dint of patience and constancy. The greatest annoyance arose from +the Moros, who infested those coasts, and the natives were unwilling +to expose themselves to their injuries by establishing themselves on +the beach. The religious hoped that the Spaniards would defend them +with their arms, and that with their reduction they would become +established there. By that method and other effective efforts they +attained the erection of a large village. Thence the religious +informed the superior government of their progress, and that for +its continuation and the defense of the natives--both those already +reduced, and those whom they expected to reduce--the construction of a +fort was necessary for the reduction of the island of Paragua, in which +a Spanish garrison might be stationed. By that means the reduction of +all that large island was certain. Accordingly, that determination +was taken in a meeting of the royal treasury tribunal; and two +companies were detached for the garrison, one Spanish and the other +Pampanga. The title and pay of royal chaplain was given and conceded +to the minister of that village. The fort mounted on its ramparts some +excellent artillery. The conquests were carried farther along that +coast, and inland. The Spaniards were also received, and without any +repugnance the natives accommodated themselves to the fitting homage, +even the infidels recognizing the tribute. Villages were established +on the river of Barbacan, Aborlan, and as far as Ypolote. They also +reduced the island of Dumaran, and spread to the Calamianes Islands, +where they founded reductions in Linacapan, Culiong, or Calamian the +lesser, and in the greater [Oalamian] at Busuagan. To the above, which +they regarded as capitals, they added other near-by villages; and as +their ministrations spread so extraordinarily, it became necessary for +a greater number of religious to go there. That was made possible by +the second arrival from España of father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, +[79] who had been sent to make various efforts in their interests, +and who returned with eight religious. + + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +The principal document in this volume, "Early Recollect missions in +the Philippines," is compiled from the following works: + +1. _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de San +Avgvstin_, by Fray Andrés de San Nicolas (Madrid, 1664), pp. 396-510. + +2. _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de +S. Augustin_, by Fray Luis de Jesús (Madrid, 1681), pp. 1-61. (This +work is a continuation of the preceding one.) + +3. _Historia general de Philipinas_, by Fray Juan de la Concepción +(Manila, 1788), tomo iv, pp. 189-265, and v, pp. 32-100. + +The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general +de Indias, Sevilla: + +4. _Seminary for Japanese missionaries_,--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del governador de Filipinas vistos +en el Consejo; años 1600 á 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." + +5. _Extract from Serrano's letter_.--"Simancas--Eclesiástico; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del arzobispo de Manila vistos en +el Consejo; año de 1579 á 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +6. _Royal orders regarding the religious_.--"Audiencia de Filipinas; +registro de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidas á las autoridades +del distrito de la Audiencia; años 1597 á 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, +leg. 1." The second part of this document, however, is obtained from +the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid: +"tomo 40, fol. 26, verso, n°. 38." + +The following document is taken from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer +library): + +7. _Conflict between civil and religious authorities_.--In vol. i, +pp. 515-523. + +The following document is found in Pastells's edition of Colin's +_Labor evangélica_ (Barcelona, 1904): + +8. _Ecclesiastical affairs in the Philippines_.--In tomo iii, +pp. 674-697. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Translated from Pastells's _Colin_, iii, pp. 674-677. The +original is conserved in Archivo general de Indias, with the following +pressmark: "Registros de oficio y partes; reales ordenes dirigidos a +las autoridades y particulares del distrito de la Audiencia; 1568-1808; +est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 11, libro 1, folio 233, verso, part 2." + +[2] Thus in Pastells's text (p. 690); but it is apparently a misprint +for June 22, 1622, the date of Serrano's act. + +[3] Throughout this document, the matter contained in brackets is +editorial comment by Rev. Pablo Pastells, S.J., who has published the +present document in the appendix to the third volume of his edition +of Colin's _Labor evangélica_ (Barcelona, 1904), _ut supra_. + +[4] The passage of the council of Trent referred to above reads as +follows: "In monasteries, whether the houses of men or of women, +with which the care of the souls of secular persons is connected, +all persons--excepting those who belong to their monasteries, or +who are servants of those places--both secular and religious, who +exercise that care after this manner, shall be immediately subject +in those things which pertain to the said care and administration +of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the +bishop in whose diocese they are located. Neither shall any there, +even those removable at will [_ad nutum amovibilis_], be considered +unless by the consent of that bishop, and by the latter's previous +examination, made personally or by his vicar; excepting the monastery +of Cluny and its boundaries, and also excepting those monasteries or +places in which abbots, generals, or the heads of the orders establish +their ordinary and chief residence, and other monasteries or houses in +which abbots, or other superiors of the regulars, exercise episcopal +or temporal jurisdiction in parish churches and parishes; excepting +likewise from the right of those bishops even persons who exercise +greater jurisdiction in the said places." See the original reading +in Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor evangélica_, appendix, p. 677. + +[5] See the above bull in this series, _Vol_. IV, pp. 119-124. + +[6] See the last two decrees here mentioned, later in this +document. The first decree--the original of which is preserved in the +Archivo general de Indias, in "Cartas y expedientes del gobernador +de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; años 1567-1699; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 10"--which we translate, as well as all the above document, +from Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor evangélica_, iii, pp. 682, +683, is as follows: + +"The King: Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Mexico of Nueva España; reverend +fathers in Christ, bishops of my council, venerable deans, dignidades, +canons, and other persons, who are assembled in the provincial council +which is held in the city of Mexico. You have already been informed +by my decree--of which duplicates signed by my hand were sent out, +directed to all the prelates of the churches of the Yndias--dated +December six, of the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-three, +that I ordered you all, and each of you in particular, that if you +have clerics who are suitable and competent, you shall appoint them +to benefices, curacies, and missions, in preference to the friars +of the mendicant orders, who hold them at present--observing, in +the said appointment, the order that is mentioned in the title of +my patronship, as is more minutely set forth in the said decrees, +the tenor of which, being precisely the same as that of the one sent +to you, the above-mentioned archbishop, is as follows: + +"The King: Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Mexico of Nueva España, and +member of our council: Already you know that, in accordance with +the ordinances and established rules of the holy Catholic church, +and with the ancient custom received and observed in Christendom, the +jurisdiction of the holy sacraments in the curacies of the parishes of +the churches belongs to the seculars, they being aided as assistants +in preaching and confessing by the religious of the orders; and that if +missions and curacies have been entrusted to religious of the mendicant +orders in those regions by apostolic concession, it was because of the +lack that was experienced of the said lay priests, and the convenience +that was found in the said religious for busying themselves in the +conversion, instruction, and teaching of the natives, with the example +and profit that is required. Now granting that this was the object +aimed at in that arrangement, and that the effect has been greatly in +accordance with the efforts made for it, and that they have obtained +so much fruit through their apostolic lives and holy perseverance, +and that so great a multitude of souls have come to the knowledge +of our Lord through His favor and aid by means of their teaching: +still, inasmuch as it is advisable to bring back this matter to its +beginning, and that, in so far as is possible, what pertains to the +said curacies of parishes and missions be restored to the common and +received use of the Church, so that there may be no defect in that +of the Indians, I request and charge you that now and henceforth, +if you have suitable and competent clergy, you appoint them to the +said curacies, missions, and benefices, preferring them to the friars, +and observing in the said appointments the order that is mentioned in +the title of our patronship. As long as there are not all the seculars +necessary for the said missions and benefices, you shall divide those +which are left over, equally, among the orders in those provinces, +so that there may be some of all the orders, to the end that each +order may labor according to its obligation, striving to excel in so +holy and apostolic an enterprise. And you shall watch above all, as a +good shepherd, so that your subordinates live with great watchfulness, +relieving our conscience and your own, so that the results that are +desirable be obtained among those natives. Madrid, December six, 1583. + +_I The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Eraso_ + + +"Certain religious of the above-mentioned orders having come from +those provinces and from others of the Yndias, and having related +the many annoyances that have followed and that might follow from the +observance and fulfilment of the said decree, I ordered some of the +members of my council and other persons of great learning, prudence, +and intelligence to assemble. They having examined the indults, briefs, +and concessions of the supreme pontiffs, and the other papers that +are filed in the secretary's office of my Council of the Indias, in +regard to this matter of the missions--as well as the informations, +letters, relations, and opinions that have been given, sent, and +brought from all parts but lately, and upon the occasion of this +decree, both by the religious and by the prelates and clergy--have +given me their opinion. Considering that it was proper, in order to +come to a resolution and decision in a matter of so great moment and +importance, and commencing with what is of greatest importance--namely, +to commend it to God our Lord, whom you all, as is done here, +are to entreat very urgently to guide and direct it as may be most +to His service, the proper spiritual government of those kingdoms, +the welfare of the souls of the inhabitants and natives therein, and +the propagation of the holy gospel: I have determined to await a more +detailed relation of what may appear from these new documents, and the +general consensus of opinion in all classes, so that after examining +them all (since we all must aid for one and the same purpose, and the +result must be for the welfare of all, and particularly for mine, for +the fulfilment of the great obligation under which our Lord, besides +the many benefits which I continually receive from His blessed hand, +has placed me by adding thereto so great kingdoms and seigniories, +where so great a multitude of souls have come to His true knowledge, +and where they will continue to come daily, by the help of His grace +which illumines them, so that they may leave their blindness) the best +conclusion may be reached. Accordingly, I request and charge you that, +having assembled and congregated in that holy council, you discuss and +confer over what pertains to this matter. You shall send me a very +minute relation of the measures that you shall deem it advisable to +take in each province and bishopric by itself, and for all in general, +in regard to the execution of the said decree. You shall say what +missions are in possession of the religious and those in charge of +the seculars, and in what villages and vicinity these are, and all +the other things concerning it that you think to be necessary for the +sake of greater clearness; so that, having examined the said relations +and the others that are awaited, and the papers that are here, and +holding consultation with my Council of the Indias, as well as with +the other persons whom I shall appoint for this purpose, I may take +the most advisable measures. While that is being done and determined, +you shall suspend (as I now for the time being do suspend), and I shall +consider as suspended, the execution of the decree herein inserted. + +"All, and each one by himself, if they are in your dioceses, shall +leave the said missions freely and quietly to the said orders and +religious, so that those who have held, hold, and shall hold them, may +hold them as hitherto, without making any innovation, or changing the +manner of filling those missions or appointing the religious to them. + +"Each of you personally, in his own district, without entrusting it +to any other person, shall visit the churches of the missions where +the said religious shall be established, and inspect the most holy +sacraments and the baptismal fonts in them, the buildings of the +said churches, the alms given for them, and all the other things +pertaining to such churches and the services of divine worship. You +shall also visit and fraternally correct the religious established in +the said missions, in regard to curacies, and shall take special care +to consider the honor and good fame of such religious in irregular +acts that may be hidden; and when more than this should be necessary +or advisable you shall inform their prelates, so that these may punish +them. If the latter do not inflict punishment, you shall do so, each +one of you, in accordance with the ordinance of the holy council +of Trent, after the period of time mentioned in it is passed. And +inasmuch as it is not advisable that a matter that is so important as +is the care of souls--and, further, those souls that are so new in +the faith--be at the will of the religious who shall be established +in the said missions, curacies, and benefices, they must understand, +both superiors and members [of the orders] that they are to hold the +office of cura _non ex voto charitatis_, as is said, but by justice +and obligation, administering the holy sacraments, not only to the +Indians, but also to the Spaniards who may be found living among +them--to the Indians by virtue of the above-mentioned apostolic +indults, and to the Spaniards by commission from the prelates. For +that each of you shall give, in his own district, and to me, a very +specific account of how the religious, on their part, observe what +pertains to them of this--which they are to perform exactly and +according to their obligation--together with what, in your opinion, +they may do to aid you in fulfilling your pastoral duties, in which +you shall consider the safety of the souls in your charge, for whom +you must give so strict an account to God our Lord. Barcelona, June +first, one thousand five hundred and eighty-five. + + +_I The King_ +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Erasso_" + +[7] Referring to his _Nova collectio et compilatio privilegiorum +apostolicorum regularium_ (Turnoni, 1609). + +[8] Gregory XIV, in his brief _Cum sicuti nuper accepimus_, after +approving the first diocesan council (convened in Manila by Bishop +Salazar), and the reservation of cases that the bishop should make +with the advice of the said council, imposes on him the visitation +of his flock and of the religious who administer it, forbidding any +religious to go out for the conquest of unpacified infidels without +the express command of their regular superior and the license of the +bishop in writing. The extract to this effect is as follows: + +"And lest the rules and resolutions made for the said bishop [_i.e._, +of Manila], and the religious and missionaries assembled in the same +place, for the happy progress of the Christians newly converted to +the faith, should be infringed by them for their own special pleasure, +profit, or inclination, we will and decree by our apostolic authority +that those things that shall have been ordained and commanded by that +congregation, by the votes of the majority, for the protection of +the Christian faith or for the salvation of souls for the thorough +conversion of those converted Indians, be steadfastly and rigorously +observed, as long and so far as that congregation shall ordain and +command it. + +"Moreover, whenever that bishop, at the advice of the said +congregation, shall have reserved any case for himself, according +to what shall have appeared expedient for the nature of the times, +persons, and affairs, no secular priest nor a member of any religious +order or congregation shall, under pretext of any privilege or indult +(even though apostolic), excepting the bishop himself, or by his +express license and command, be authorized, or dare or presume to +grant absolution in any manner in cases so reserved, during the said +reservation, under penalty of being suspended from the ministry of +the mass and from the confession of the faithful, incurring that +penalty by the very act. + +"Moreover, we enjoin and order that bishop that, since it is the +special duty of the bishop to minister to his own sheep and to +visit them in person, he shall visit the flock entrusted to him, +the religious of the Christian instruction, and those missions, in +his own person or in that of his vicar-general in spiritual things, +or at least in the persons of other very grave men, and not at all by +simple and unskilled clergy, ignorant of letters, and of no judgment. + +"And inasmuch as some of the inhabitants of those islands, and members +of the above-mentioned orders, eager to see new things, and wandering +or passing from one district to another, abandon those newly converted +and baptized; and inasmuch as such persons cause the latter at times +to revert to idolatry, which is greatly to be deplored; and inasmuch +as many others who otherwise would acknowledge the faith and accede to +baptism neglect it on account of the lack of ministers, or remain in +infidelity; and inasmuch as the religious themselves, ignorant even +of the languages of those districts, are despised, to the shame of +their orders, and render more difficult the conversion of the Indians: +We, desirous of checking this evil by an opportune remedy, strictly +forbid and prohibit all and singular, of whatever religious order, +and all others whomsoever who are engaged in the conversion of the +infidels and the teaching of Christian doctrine, under penalty of +excommunication, not to dare or presume to go from a pacified to an +unpacified land, except by the express license and command of their +bishop and of the religious superiors, given in writing. + +Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of the fisherman, +April xviii, MDXCI, in the first year of our pontificate." + +See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 679. + +[9] Tomo i of his _Questiones regulares et canonicæ_ was published +at Salamanca in 1598; another edition, in four volumes, was issued +some years later. + +[10] Probably contained in his _Epitome, o compendio de la Suma_ +(Madrid, 1610). + +[11] See the bulls concerning the Indias granted by Alexander VI, +in _Vol_. I of this series, pp. 97-114. The bull here referred to is +the _Inter cætera_ of May 4, 1493. + +[12] This bull was dated May 9, 1522, and begins _Omnimodo exponi +nobis_; it grants authority to the friars of the mendicant orders to +go to the Indias, after securing permission from their king or from +his royal council. See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 677. + +[13] See this decree _ante_, note 6. + +[14] The original of this decree is in the Archivo general of Sevilla, +"Cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +años 1567-99; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 10." + +[15] The two decrees here mentioned (see Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, +iii, pp. 684, 685)--the originals of which are conserved in Archivo +general de Indias, having the same pressmark as that in the preceding +note--are respectively as follows: + +"The King: To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of the +city of Manila, of the Philipinas Islands. Certain prelates of those +regions have written to me that many religious who are appointed to +the missions of Indians which are in charge of the orders do not have +the competency and qualities that are required for the office of cura, +which they fill; that they do not know the language of those whom +they have to instruct; and that the archbishops and bishops cannot +remedy this, because the religious do not come before them to be +examined. And in the visits that the former make, the latter claim +to be exempt from their jurisdiction, even in regard to curacies, +saying that they have an indult for it; neither can their superiors +remedy it. Inasmuch as it is a matter of so great consideration, I +have now ordained that, in so great conformity with what is decreed +and ordained, the said archbishops and bishops shall not allow any +religious to enter to perform or exercise the duties of cura in the +missions which are in their charge, without first being examined +and approved by the prelate of that diocese, both in regard to his +competency and in the language, in order to exercise the duty of cura +and to administer the sacraments to the Indians of their missions, +as well as to the Spaniards who may be there; that, if in the visits +that the said prelates make to them in regard to curacies, any of +the said religious missionaries should be found without the ability, +qualifications, and example that are requisite, and who do not know +sufficiently the language of the Indians whom they instruct, such +religious shall be removed and their superiors advised, so that the +latter may appoint others who have the necessary qualifications, in +which they are to be examined; and that, if any indult or bull of his +Holiness is presented to them exempting the said religious from this, +they shall advise you, so that you may do your duty. And inasmuch as it +is advisable that that be observed, executed, and obeyed, I charge you +that you give the said prelates in that district the encouragement, +protection, and aid necessary for this; and that you do not permit +or allow religious to be admitted into the missions in any other +way. You shall advise me of what you shall do. Given in San Lorenço, +November fourteen, one thousand six hundred and three. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +"The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the city of +Manila of the Philipinas Islands, and member of my council: You will +see by my decree of the same date as this, which this accompanies, +what I have resolved and ordered in regard to the examination of the +religious who shall exercise duties as curas in the district of that +archbishopric--which is not discussed here in regard to seculars, +as it is a settled and fixed matter. And inasmuch as it is advisable +for the relief of my conscience, and that of yours, that that decree +be fulfilled and obeyed carefully, I charge you that you do so; +and if any indult or brief from his Holiness be presented to you, +in behalf of the orders, exempting them from this, you shall advise +my royal audiencias, so that they may do their duty, and my fiscal +shall plead what is suitable. You shall advise me of what you shall +do in everything. San Lorenzo, November fourteen, one thousand six +hundred and three. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_." + +[16] The following decree was given by the king prohibiting certain +practices of the regulars: + +"The King. To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of the +city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands: I have been informed that the +religious who reside in those regions have the custom of assigning at +times Indian villages for the celebration of their chapter meetings, +from which, besides the annoyances and wrongs that the Indians receive, +it happens that the audiencias and governors are unable to apply the +remedy for certain things that occur in the said chapter meetings, +and that require despatch. And inasmuch as it has been considered that +that is a cause for trouble, it has been deemed advisable to prevent +it by ordering--as I do order and command by this present--that now +and henceforth, chapter meetings of the religious be not celebrated +in Indian villages; and that if there be reasons obliging the meeting +to be celebrated at any time in any such village, those reasons be +communicated to you, both the president and the Audiencia, and that +your order and permission be obtained. Such is my will. Given in +Valladolid, June thirteen, one thousand six hundred and fifteen. + + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +This decree is translated from Pastells's Colin, _ut supra_, p. 685; +its original is conserved in the Archivo general of Sevilla, its +pressmark, "Registros de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidos á las +autoridades del distrito de la Audiencia; años 1597-1804; est. 105, +caj. 2, leg. 1, lib. 1, vol. 64." + +[17] The passage of the brief referred to above, is as follows: + +"We, therefore, who gladly favor the increase of Divine worship and +the salvation of souls, especially since we have been petitioned by +each of the Catholic kings, giving assent to them petitioning after +this manner, do, by virtue of our apostolic authority, concede and +grant license and authority, by the tenor of these presents, to all +and singular, the religious of any, even the mendicant orders, living +in monasteries of their orders in the said regions of the Indias (of +the Ocean Sea), or outside of them, by the consent of their superiors, +so that they may freely and legally use the license obtained from their +superiors, as is declared in their provincial chapters, to exercise +the office of parish priest in the villages of those regions, such +office having been and being assigned to them by a similar license, +in the celebration of marriages and in the administration of the +ecclesiastical sacraments, as has been their wont hitherto (provided +that they observe the form of the said council in other ceremonies); +and to preach the word of God and hear confessions, as is declared, +so long as those religious know the languages of those districts; +and no other permission of the ordinaries of those places, or of +any other persons, shall be necessary. And moreover, by the same +authority and tenor, we decree and ordain that the said bishop shall +make no innovation in the places of those regions where there are +monasteries of religious who exercise the care of souls. So likewise +[we decree and ordain] that it must be resolved and determined by +any judges and commissaries, who exercise any authority whatever, +delegated to them or to any one of them, to him determining and +interpreting otherwise by virtue of any authority whatever; and we +declare null and void whatever else shall be attempted in regard to +these things, by anyone under any authority whatever.... Given at Rome, +at St. Peter's, under the seal of the fisherman, March 23, 1567." + +See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 678. + +[18] The passage referred to above, which we translate from the +original bull as given in Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, p. 678, +is as follows: + +"Since, therefore, our predecessor Pope Pius V of happy memory, after +hearing of the troubles which were said to have been inflicted on the +friars of the mendicant orders by the ordinaries of the places and the +rectors of ecclesiastical parishes in many ways, in regard to ... the +care of souls and the administration of the sacraments ... not only +decreed many things differently in certain of his letters to the said +friars, but even those things that were recently decreed in regard +to these things in the council of Trent, ... we ... decree and ordain +concerning the said and concerning all other letters and regulations +which emanated in any manner from the same predecessor concerning those +matters to any orders and congregations of any regulars, including the +mendicants, and concerning all and whatever is contained therein, that +that regulation and decision, which was legal before the declaration +of the said letters and regulations, whether by the ancient law, +or by the holy decrees of the said council, or in any other way, be +regarded as having force hereafter, and which they would have, had +not those letters and regulations emanated, to which regulation and +decision and to their former undiminished condition and limitation, +we reduce them all.... Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, in the year of +the incarnation of our Lord, 1572 [_sic_] on the kalends of March." + +[19] _Monitoria_: Summons issued by an ecclesiastical judge to command +the personal appearance and deposition of a witness. + +[20] The original of this letter is conserved in the Archivo general +of Sevilla; its pressmark, "Cartas y expedientes del Arzobispo de +Manila; años 1579-1697; est. 68, caj. I, leg. 32." + +[21] This document is obtained from Pastells's _Colin_, iii, pp. 685, +686. The original decree is conserved in the Archivo general de Indias, +Sevilla; its pressmark the same as that indicated in note 14, _ante_. + +[22] Juan de Bueras was born in the mountains of Burgos. He went to +the American missions after having taught moral theology at Toledo. He +was provincial of the Philippines in 1627. Later he became visitor of +the provinces of New Spain and Mexico, dying at Mexico, February 19, +1646. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_. + +[23] See _Vol_. IV, p. 222. + +[24] Following is a translation of the title page of this work, +a facsimile of which is here presented: + +"General history of the discalced religious of the Order of the +hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, St. Augustine, +of the congregation of España and of the Indias. To his Catholic +Majesty our sovereign Felipe Fourth. By father Fray Andres de San +Nicolas, son of the same congregation, its chronicler, and rector +of the college of Alcalá de Henàres. Volume first. From the year +M.D.LXXXVIII. to that of M.DC.XX. Divided into three decades. With +privilege. In Madrid. Printed by Andres de la Iglesia. Year M.DC.LXIV." + +[25] Fray Juan de San Jerónimo was born at Malagón, Spain; he became +a priest, and when already in middle life entered the discalced +Augustinian order at Talavera, in 1593, making his profession in the +following year. He soon attained high standing in this new order, and +was the envoy sent to Rome to negotiate its separation from the regular +Augustinians and secure approval for its constitution. In 1602 he was +elected its first provincial, and under his rule the order flourished +and spread in Spain. He was nominated to the bishopric of Chiapa, in +Nueva España, but declined this honor that he might devote himself to +foreign missions. Arriving at the Philippines in 1606, he organized +there his mission, built a convent at Bagunbayan, and undertook the +conversion of the natives in the province of Zambales. The convent +expanded into a college, but its buildings were demolished in +1644. Being soon afterward rebuilt, it lasted until the eighteenth +century, when it was again torn down. San Jerónimo had charge of it +during two years; but, his health being much enfeebled, he set out on +the return to Spain. When in sight of Ormuz, he died, in 1610. See +account of his life in San Nicolás's _Historia_, pp. 469, 470; and +in _Provincia de S. Nicolás de Tolentino_ (Manila, 1879), pp. 20-23. + +[26] This and various other accents which are grave instead of acute +follow the text of the original work. + +[27] Andrés de San Nicolás died at sea, when the ship was in sight +of the Ladrone Islands. + +Miguel de Santa María, after reaching Manila, was assigned to +the settlement of Mariveles; but the natives were angered at his +preaching, and stoned him so severely that he died from the effects +of this attack, in the Manila convent. + +Jerónimo de Christo was an old man when he departed for the Philippine +mission, but was noted for his learning and ability. He was elected +prior of the Manila convent, and afterward vicar-provincial in San +Jerónimo's absence; and died while in active service in the missions, +in 1608. + +[28] Pedro de San Fulgencio soon afterward returned to Europe, to +obtain more missionaries; having made arrangements for their voyage, +he died on reaching Milan. + +Diego de la Anunciacion, born in 1565, made his profession in the +Recollect convent at Madrid, in 1597; and held several high positions +in his order before he entered the Philippine mission. He was superior +of the convent at Bagunbayan, and afterward prior. After some years +he returned to Spain, where he spent the rest of his life, dying +December 13, 1625. + +[29] Rodrigo de Agandum Moriz (in religion, Fray Rodrigo de San +Miguel) was born in Valladolid--or, according to some authorities, +in Orio of Guipuzcoa--in 1584, and entered the discalced Augustinian +order at the age of fourteen years. Joining the Philippine mission +in 1606, he ministered to the natives in various districts of Luzón +with great acceptance, employing his poetical talents in teaching +the Christian faith to the Indians. In 1614 he went to Spain for +more missionaries, returning to the islands in 1617-18. Again +voyaging to Europe (1622), he went, via India and Persia, to Rome, +where he arrived in 1626. Declining the pope's offer to make him a +bishop and patriarch in the Indias, he planned a mission to Chaldea; +but he died at Orio, while en route to Madrid, December 26, 1626. He +left several manuscript works, mainly historical, among which was +_Historia general de las islas accidentales á la Asia adyacentes, +llamadas Philipinas_; this was published in _Documentos inéditos +para la historia de España_, tomos lxxviii and lxxix (Madrid, 1882), +but it was apparently left unfinished by the author, the part that +is extant treating mainly of the early explorations by Magalhães and +Villalobos, and of the history of the Moluccas. + +In the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, is the following letter +from Felipe IV to a brother of Fray Rodrigo: + +"The King. It has been learned in the Council of the Indias that +father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, a discalced Augustinian religious, +who is said to be a brother of your Grace, brought from the Yndias a +general history of the Filipinas Islands, compiled with great care, +as, in order to write it, he had examined the archives and authentic +memoirs of those regions; that it has been lately our Lord's pleasure +to take father Fray Rodrigo, who has died in Vizcaya; and that your +Grace was given two of his books, especially the above history. And +inasmuch as that work would be very important for what is written +on the general history of the said islands by order of his Majesty, +the matter having been discussed with the father provincial of the +said order, in which the latter has declared that the said history is +in possession of your Grace; the Council has directed me to write to +your Grace, in its name, that it would be greatly to the service of +his Majesty for your Grace to send me the said history for the said +purpose. And if your Grace wish remuneration for it, or that it be +returned after having used it for the said purpose, your Grace will +advise me of what you desire in this matter, so that those gentlemen +may know it, and so that the advisable measures may be taken. May God +preserve your Grace, as I desire. Madrid, May seventeen, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-seven. + +_Antonio Gonzalez de Legardo_ + +On the receipt of this letter, I beg your Grace to advise me +immediately, for the Council anxiously awaits a reply because of the +history." (_Pressmark_: "est. 139, caj. 1, leg. 15.") + +[30] Andrés del Espíritu Santo was born at Valladolid in 1585, and +made his profession at Portillo in 1601. Entering the Philippine +mission, he began his labors with the natives in the province of +Zambales, where he was very successful. In 1609, and again in 1615, +he was chosen vicar-provincial. Afterward going to Spain for more +missionaries, he returned to the islands in 1622, and four years +later became provincial, as again in 1632. The rest of his life was +spent at Manila, where he died in 1658. + +[31] A city between Vera Cruz and Mexico City, more commonly known as +Puebla; it was founded about 1530, and became the seat of the diocese +in 1550, and soon was a flourishing agricultural and manufacturing +center. + +[32] _Instituto_: constitution, or rules of observance, adopted by +the order. + +[33] "Now I shall die happy." + +[34] Luís de Jesús states (_Historia_, p. 79) that this name is a +corruption of Manavilis. + +[35] Cf. the accounts by Loarca (_Vol_. V of this series) and Plasencia +(_Vol_. VII). + +[36] This tree (_Mangifera altísima_) resembles the mango, but its +fruit is much smaller. The tree grows to a greater height than the +mango. The fruit is eaten by the natives, being used with vinegar. See +Blanco's _Flora_. + +[37] "Behold the cross of the Lord. Flee, ye adverse ones. The lion +of Judah is conqueror." + +[38] Antonio de San Agustin was born in Manila, the son of Francisco +de las Misas, and made his profession in the Recollect convent there, +in December, 1614. He was a minister in various places, and had been +prior of several convents. In 1658, while returning from an official +visit to the Calamianes Islands, he was captured by Moros, who slew +him. At the time of his death he was sixty-six years old. + +[39] The first father named above was afflicted by a grievous +plague of vermin [_chinches_--literally, "bedbugs"], seemingly +after a request that he might suffer his purgatory on earth. At the +time of his death, "raising his voice and saying, _In manus tuas, +Domine, commendo spiritum meum_, he expired, without making another +movement. Immediately the _chinches_ disappeared and not one could be +found, although one could gather than by handfuls before, as they say." + +[40] The _Congregatio de Propaganda Fide_, one of the "sacred +congregations" of the Catholic Church, was founded in 1622, by Pope +Gregory XV, conferring upon it most ample powers for the propagation +of the faith, and especially for the superintendence of missions +in countries where heretics or infidels had to be evangelized. The +jurisdiction proper of the congregation extends to all territories +which are governed _more missionum_, or as missionary countries--not +by the bishops of the regular hierarchy, but by prefects and vicars +apostolic. It has, moreover, legislative and judicial power. See +Hoffmanns' _Catholic Directory_, 1896, p. 48. + +[41] The status of a tertiary, or "member of the third order," was +originated by St. Francis of Assisi, after the foundation of his own +order, and that of the Minorite nuns who lived under a rule prescribed +by him. In 1221 he instituted a third order, the members of which, men +and women, should be bound by rule to more unworldliness of life, pious +devotion, and works of mercy than those of ordinary persons living in +the world. He called them "Brothers and Sisters of Penance." They had +to take a year's novitiate, and a simple vow to observe the rule. Many +tertiaries, in course of time, desired to take solemn vows and live +in community, while still conforming to the rule of the Third Order; +thus arose various congregations of tertiary monks and nuns. Other +religious orders had their Third Order; that of the Augustinians was +established at the beginning of the fifteenth century. (Addis and +Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, p. 792.) + +[42] Following are translations of the title-pages of this work, +of which facsimiles are here presented: + +_Engraved title-page_: "General History of the discalced religious of +the Order of the hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, +St. Augustine, of the congregation of España and of the Indias. To +the most excellent duke of Ixar count of Salinas. By Father Fray Luis +de Jesus son of the same congregation, and its chronicler. Volume +second. From the year M.DC.L. Divided into three decades. Engraved +by Pedro a Villafranca royal engraver, Madrid. 1663." + +_Printed title-page:_ "General History of the discalced religious of +the Order of the hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, +St. Augustine, of the congregation of España and of the Indias. By +Father Fray Luis de Jesus, son of the same congregation, pensioned +lecturer, general chronicler, and acting provincial of Castilla the +old and the new. Dedicated to the most excellent Señor Don Jayme +Francisco de Hijar Silva Sarmiento, etc., protector of our sacred +Reform convent. Volume second. Divided into three decades, from the +year twenty-one to that of fifty. With privilege. In Madrid: Printed +by Lucas Antonio de Bedmar, printer of the kingdom. Year of 1681." + +[43] Delgado in his _Historia_, pp. 813-816, describes this +bird. _Tabón_, he says, is a word that signifies in the Pintados +"to hide by covering, or to cover by concealing it with earth." When +the chick first appears its plumage is white and gray. Its wings +are used at first for aid in running rather than in flying. The bird +lives mainly on fish, which it catches in the sea. The eggs, which +are very nutritious, are eaten with gusto by the natives. + +[44] This is the flying lemur (_Galeopithecus philippinensis_; called +_káguang_ or _caguán_ by the Visayans), an animal belonging to the +Quadrumana, and the Prosimidæ (semi-apes). Alfred R. Wallace found +it in Sumatra, Borneo, and Singapore; see his description of it in +_Malay Archipelago_ (New York, 1869), pp. 145, 146. Jagor found it +in Sámar--_Travels in the Philippines_ (English translation, London, +1875), pp. 242-244. See also Delgado's description (_Historia_, +p. 845). This lemur has, like the flying squirrel, a volucral membrane, +which not only covers all its limbs but reaches to its tail; and thus +the creature glides from tree to tree. This explains the writer's +allusion to it as a bird. + +[45] The creature thus described is the tarsier (_Tarsius spectrum_), +belonging to the same class (semi-apes) as the lemur, _ante._ Jagor +(_ut supra_, p. 252) was told in Luzón that it could be found only +in Samar, and that it lived exclusively on charcoal--of course, +an erroneous notion. In Samar it was called _mago_ or _macauco._ +The _Report_ of U.S. Philippine Commission for 1900 (iii, p. 311) +mentions several Islands as its habitat, and the belief of the natives +that it lives on charcoal. Delgado cites the same notion (_Historia_, +p. 875); he supposes the tarsier to be a sort of wild cat. + +[46] The gecko (_Gecko verticillatus_), a reptile allied to the +lizard. Two species of this animal in the Philippines frequent the +houses: one very small, which feeds on mosquitoes, flies, and other +pests, and works noiselessly; the other larger (up to eight inches +long) with a heavy body and a loud call. The latter is, to judge +from Delgado's description (_Historia_,p. 885) the one mentioned in +our text. + +[47] The cuttlefish, or octopus (_Sepia octopus_). + +[48] This was in 1609, and the fort erected was that of Tandag; +it was on a bay on the northeast coast of Surígao province, Mindanao. + +[49] Apparently the same as the present Gigáquit, a town an the +northeast coast of the province of Surígao. + +[50] Juan de la Madre de Dios assumed the habit of the discalced +Augustinians at Valladolid, making his profession in 1615. With eight +other missionaries, he arrived at Manila in 1620; and some two years +later he entered the Mindanao mission. His ministry there was short; +for toward the end of 1623 he was slain by a fierce Moro chief whom +he had rebuked for his acts of injustice and tyranny. See sketches +of his life, in Luis de Jesús's _Historia_, pp. 53-55; and _Provincia +de S. Nicolas de Tolentino_, pp. 308, 309. + +[51] Apparently referring to the missions founded by the Jesuits, +some years before, in northern Mindanao; see _Vol_. XIII, pp. 48, +80. Fuller accounts of these missions are given in Combés's _Historia +de Mindanao_, which will be presented in later volumes of this series. + +[52] Situated in central Surigao, on a chain of lakes and rivers +from which issues the Butúan River, flowing northward into the bay +of same name. + +[53] See Delgado's account of the various kinds of bees in the +Philippines (_Historia_, pp. 848-850). + +[54] The pangolin or _Manis_, commonly known as ant-eater. The +preceding sentence probably refers to the flying lemur (note 44, +_ante_.) + +[55] Cf. account of the weapons used by the Mindanaos, given by Retana +and Pastells in their edition of Combés's _Historia de Mindanao_, +cols. 782 and 783. Also cf. weapons of North American Indians, as +described in _Jesuit Relations_--see Index, vol. lxxii, pp. 337, 338. + +[56] Referring to Sìargao Island, off northeast coast of Mindanao; +about twenty-one miles long and fourteen wide. + +[57] _Cimarrón_ is an American word meaning "wild" or "unruly," and +is also applied to a runaway slave. O.T. Mason, in his translation +of Blumentritt's _Native Tribes of the Philippines_ (Washington, +1901), says (p. 536) that "this characterization is given to heathen +tribes of most varied affiliation, living without attachment and +in poverty, chiefly posterity of the Remontados." Buzeta and Bravo +(_Diccionario_) say that these people are "collections or tribes of +infidels known by this name in the island of Luzón and others of the +archipelago. There is at present a tribe living in the dense forests +of the mountain Isaroc in the province of Camarines Sur. There are +also some collections of these and some hostiles in the mountains +of the island and province of Samar. They are descendants of the +Negrito race, who seem to become differentiated from their own species +because of their extraordinarily wild and mountainous life." Hence +the name seems to have been given these people in Mindanao simply to +distinguish them as especially barbarous and difficult to establish +relations among. They were probably one of the numerous tribes of +Negritos such as inhabit Mindanao today. + +[58] In a brief description of the Philippine Islands which occurs in +a geographical work by the Chinese writer Chao-Yu-Kua (who flourished +in the thirteenth century)--which account will appear later in this +series--is an interesting mention of "nests" built in trees by the +Aetas or Negritos, who live therein in single families. Professor +Friedrich Ratzel (_History of Mankind_, Butler's translation, London +and New York, 1896) says (i, p. 111) that the Battaks in Sumatra, +and many Melanesians lived in trees; and on p. 422, he says: "Among +the Battaks safe dwelling-places are also found at the point where a +tree-stem forks or throws off branches; the central shoot is lopped +off, and the surrounding branches remain." Continuing he speaks of the +huts built by the Ilongotes of Luzón on tree stems, which are made +from leaves of the nipa-palm and bamboo. "The Orang-Sakei and the +Lubus of Sumatra also live to some extent in trees" (p. 423). There +are also tree-dwellers in Africa and India. + +[59] "In older works are so named [Caragas] the warlike and Christian +inhabitants of the localities subdued by the Spaniards on the east +coast of Mindanao, and, indeed, after their principal city, Caraga. It +has been called, if not a peculiar language, a Visaya dialect, while +now only Visaya (near Manobo and Mandaya) is spoken, and an especial +Caraga nation is no longer known." (Blumentritt's "Native Tribes of +the Philippines," in _Smithsonian Report_, 1899, p. 535.) + +[60] The title-pages of La Concepción's fourteen volumes show more or +less difference in their wording. Following is a translation of the +title of vol. iv, a facsimile of which is here presented: "General +history of Philipinas: temporal and spiritual conquests of these +Spanish dominions, their establishment, progress, and decadence; +comprehending the empires, kingdoms, and provinces of islands and +continents with which there has been communication and commerce by +immediate coincidences, with general notices regarding geography, +hydrography, natural history, politics, customs, and religions, in +which so universal a title should be interested. By father Fray Juan de +la Concepcion, discalced Augustinian Recollect, pensioned lecturer, +ex-provincial, synodal examiner of the archbishopric of Manila, +and chronicler of his province of San Nicolas of the Philipinas +islands. Volume IV. With permission of the superiors. At Manila, +in the printing office of the royal and conciliar seminary of San +Carlos; printed by Agustin de la Rosa y Balagtas. Year of 1788." + +[61] A term applied to the gun-room on a ship, which was considered +as under the protection of St. Barbara. + +[62] The Armenian church was founded by St. Gregory, who was +consecrated bishop of Armenia in the year 302 A.D. Owing to a +misunderstanding, this church refused to accept the decisions of +the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) regarding certain questions +of heresies, which led to its gradual separation from the Greek +church. In the middle of the fifteenth century arose dissensions, +which resulted in a schism; these were mainly occasioned by Roman +Catholic missionaries who endeavored to proselytize the Armenians to +the doctrine, liturgy, and ceremonies of the Roman church, to which +they gained many adherents. This led to dissensions and persecutions, +which continued until, in the middle of the eighteenth century, +the Armenian patriarch secured the intervention of Peter the Great, +and the protection of the Russian church, under which that of Armenia +has since remained. + +[63] The Order of the Carmelites was founded by a crusader named +Berthold, in the middle of the twelfth century. Some time after +becoming a monk in Calabria he went to Mount Carmel, where he was +joined by various other hermits living there in solitude. They adopted +the rule of life framed for them by Albert, patriarch of Jerusalem, +which consisted of sixteen articles. These forbade the possession of +property; ordered that each hermit should live in a cell by himself; +interdicted meat; recommended manual labor and silence; and imposed +a strict fast from the exaltation of the cross to Easter, Sundays +being excepted. The hermits were compelled to abandon Mount Carmel +by the advance of the Mahomedan power, and established themselves in +Cyprus, and other places. In Europe they were compelled to live in +common and mitigate their rule, and they became known as one of the +mendicant orders. In England, where they became very numerous, they +were called the "White Friars." To St. Simon Stock, the first general, +the Virgin is said to have shown the scapular in a vision. The order +became divided into two branches, according to whether they observed +the strict or the mitigated rule, being designated as Observatines and +Conventuals. The Carmelite nuns were first instituted by John Soreth, +general of the order in the fifteenth century. See Addis and Arnold's +_Catholic Dictionary_, pp. 120-122. + +[64] Gregorio de Santa Catalina, who had gone to Rome with twelve +religious to urge the support of the pope for the Recollects. + +[65] "Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, with his seven companions, arrived +at Tandág in the year 1622" (_Provincia de S. Nicolás de Tolentino_, +p. 276). + +[66] A letter dated May 22, 1904, from father Fray Eduardo Navarro, +O.S.A., Valladolid, Spain, who spent many years in the Philippines, +thus defines several terms as used in the islands. _Pueblo_ ["town" or +"village"] is to be understood in its usual significance. But beside +the pueblo proper, where are established the church, parochial house, +and city hall, all the pueblos have, at a greater or less distance, +groups of a greater or less number of houses. If they belong to +Christians, they are called barrios ["suburbs"], and have a distinctive +name; if of infidels, they are called rancherías ["a collection of +huts"] of such and such a chief. + +[67] _i.e._, "at the entrance to the church;" said of marriages duly +performed with church rites. + +[68] "Strictly speaking, then, the work of the redemption of those +islanders [in Mindanao] belongs to the Jesuits and the Recollects. The +latter commenced their labors by virtue of an arrangement made in the +year 1622, by the bishop of Cebú, Very Reverend Father Fray Pedro de +Arce--agreed upon with the captain-general of the archipelago, who was +then the famous Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenza. Their first enterprises +were on the northern and eastern coasts of Mindanao, as well as in +the adjacent islets of Dinagat, Camiguin, and Siargao. In the year +1631, the ninth of their evangelizing work, the Recollect fathers +suffered painful but glorious losses; for six of those missionaries +were martyred by the inhabitants of the island." (Retana and Pastells, +in their edition of Combés's _Historia de Mindanao_, col. 788.) + +[69] River and pueblo of same name in the province of Misamis, in +northern Mindanao; the river falls into the bay of Macajalar. + +[70] A point on the northern coast of Misamis province. + +[71] Referring to Leo VI, Emperor of the East, styled "the Philosopher" +and "the Wise;" he occupied the throne of Constantinople from 886 to +911 A.D. He wrote several books, among which is a treatise on military +tactics, which was published by J. Meursius, at Leyden, in 1612. + +[72] The islands in the Calamianes and Cuyos groups number one +hundred and forty-five that are charted, besides nearly sixty that +are uncharted. See descriptions of these groups in _U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 412-415, 480-484. The names Calamian and +Busuañga are now applied to separate islands, the largest, of the +Calamianes group. + +[73] The bird here referred to (_Collocalia troglodites_) is a +specie of swift; the nests, composed of a gelatinous secretion from +the salivary glands in the mouths of the birds, sell at high price +almost their weight in gold, when fresh and clean. The best nests are +obtained on the precipitous sides of the Peñon de Coron, between Culion +and Busuanga, where the natives gather them at no little personal +risk. The nests are known to commerce as _salangana_. (_U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 170, 482.) + +Delgado says (_Hist. de Filipinas_, p. 821) that the material used by +the bird is a species of seaweed, called _ñgoso_, or another called +_lano_--and not, as Colin and San Antonio would have it, the foam of +the sea. See _ut supra_, pp. 727, 728, and 822. + +See also Retana's note in his edition of Zúñiga's _Estadismo_, ii, +pp. 430*, 431*. + +[74] The balate--also known as "sea slug," "sea cucumber," "beche de +mer," and commercially as "trepang"--is a slug (_Holothuria edulis_) +used as food in the Eastern Archipelago and in China, in which country +it is regarded as a delicacy by the wealthy classes, and brings from +seven to fifty cents a pound in the markets. (See _U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 482, 483.) Delgado, writing in 1754, says +(p. 935) that in Manila the dried balate was usually worth thirty-five +to forty (or even more) silver pesos a pico (or pecul; equivalent, +in the Philippines, to 137.9 U.S. pounds). + +[75] "Better known as Peñon de Corón ("Crown Peak"); a small, rocky +island off the eastern end of Busuañga Island, famous for the fine +quality of the edible bird's-nests found there. + +[76] Apparently the present Calamián island is here referred to; +its chief town is Culion. + +[77] Now known as Palawan; its northern part forms the province of +Paragua, which includes many dependent islands lying near it. + +[78] "In general it may be said that the Philippines politically +speaking, and the Philippines zoologically speaking, are not +identical areas, for Balabac, Palawan, and the Calamianes Islands +are strongly characterized by the presence of numerous Bornean forms +which are conspicuously absent throughout the remaining islands of +the archipelago. Although the Philippines are commonly held to form +an eastern extension of the Indo-Malayan subregion, it should not +be forgotten that at least among the birds and mammals there is a +large amount of specialization in the islands to the eastward of +the Balabac-Palawan-Calamianes group.... The Philippines are very +poor in mammals.... They are undoubtedly well adapted to a large and +diversified mammalian fauna, and the only plausible explanation of +the scarcity of forms is to suppose either that they have never been +connected with Borneo and the Asiatic continent or that, if at one +time connected, they have since been subjected to such subsidence as to +wipe out the greater part of their mammalian fauna." (U.S. Philippine +Commission's _Report_, 1900, iii, p. 307.) + +[79] This is an error on the part of La Concepción; Fray Rodrigo went +to Europe in 1622, but died there in 1626. The missions of Mindanao +and Paragua were begun by Recollects who arrived at Manila in 1620 +and 1622, and continued by missionaries who came in 1627 and 1637. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Volume XXI, 1624, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 16203-8.txt or 16203-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/2/0/16203/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXI, 1624 + 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 + +Author: Various + +Editor: Emma Helen Blair + +Release Date: July 4, 2005 [EBook #16203] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + + + + + 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 XXI, 1624 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXI + + + + Preface 9 + Documents of 1624 + + Ecclesiastical affairs of the Philippines. Miguel Garcia + Serrano, and others; 1574-1624 19 + Conflict between civil and religious authorities in + Manila. [Unsigned and undated; 1624?] 79 + Seminary for Japanese missionaries. Alvaro de Messa y Lugo, + and others; Manila, July 23-August 5 84 + Extract from letter to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcia Serrano; + Manila, August 15 95 + Royal orders regarding the religious. Felipe IV; Madrid, + August-December 98 + + Early Recollect missions in the Philippines. Andres de San Nicolas, + Luis de Jesus, and Juan de la Concepcion. (Extracts from their + respective works, covering the history of the missions to the + year 1624.) 111 + Bibliographical Data 319 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + + Title-page of _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos + ... del gran padre ... San Augustin_, by Andres de San Nicolas + (Madrid, 1664); photographic facsimile from copy in library of + Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. 109 + Title-pages (the first engraved) to _Historia general de los + religiosos descalzos ... del gran padre ... San Augustin_, by + Luis de Jesus, Augustinian Recollect (Madrid, 1681); photographic + facsimiles from copy in library of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. + 187, 189 + Title-page of volume iv of _Historia general de Philipinas_, + by Juan de la Concepcion, Augustinian Recollect (Manila, 1788); + photographic facsimile from copy in library of Harvard University. + 261 + + + + +PREFACE + + +This volume, dated 1624, is entirely devoted to religious matters, +ecclesiastical or missionary in their scope. The current documents +for that year are concerned with conflicts between the diocesan +authorities and the religious orders, and between the civil and +religious authorities in Manila; the defeat by the Audiencia of the +late Governor Fajardo's attempt to found a seminary for the training +of Japanese missionaries to be sent to labor in their own country; +and efforts by the Spanish government to check the assumptions of +the religious orders. Then follows a historical account of the early +Recollect missions in the islands, down to the year 1624, compiled +from the works of Andres San Nicolas, Luis de Jesus, and Juan de +la Concepcion. + +A document entitled "Ecclesiastical affairs in the Philippines" +contains letters, decrees, etc., bearing on this subject, dated from +1574 to 1624. Instructions to Gomez Perez Dasmarinas (1574) jealously +restrict to the crown or its officials all exercise of the royal +patronage; and give minute details of the course to be pursued by +the governor and the provincials of the religious orders in matters +where that right is involved. This is followed by various official +documents issued in the controversy between Archbishop Serrano and the +religious orders (1622-24) regarding the right claimed for archbishop +and bishops to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority over the +religious of the orders, when charged with the care of souls, as over +the secular clergy. Serrano fortifies his position by various royal +decrees and papal bulls. These documents show that much laxity has +prevailed in selecting missionaries for the Indians, some of these +teachers not even knowing the language of the natives to whom they +minister; also that the friars claim even greater authority over +their parishioners than that exercised by the archbishop and bishops +in whose dioceses their missions are located. On June 20, 1622, the +archbishop begins his official visit in the parish of Dilao (near +Manila); and his edict announcing this calls upon the people of the +parish to bring to him any complaints or information that they may +have regarding any fault, illegal act, or neglect of duty in their +cura or parish priest. Fray Alonso de Valdemoro was then in charge +of the Dilao mission; refusing to obey the archbishop's commands, +he is excommunicated by the latter, and sentenced to imprisonment in +a monastery. But the Audiencia refuse to support the archbishop, who +accordingly writes a letter to the king complaining of the resistance +made by the friars. Felipe IV, in a decree dated August 14, 1622, +orders that the missions in the Philippines shall be subject to +the provisions of another decree (issued June 22 of the same year) +promulgated for the missions in Nueva Espana. This provides that +the same procedure be followed therein as in the missions of Peru; +that the missions remain in charge of the orders, but that hereafter +the religious be not placed in charge of missions; that they shall +be subject to the archbishop in matters pertaining to the churches +and the care of souls, but that anything relating to the personal +character of such priest shall be privately referred to his superior +in the order, who shall try and correct him. + +An unsigned and undated document (1624?) gives an interesting account +of a conflict between the civil and religious authorities in Manila +over the question of a criminal's right to asylum in a church. It +is decided, at least for the time, in favor of the ecclesiastical +authorities. + +At the death of Governor Fajardo (July 11, 1624) the Audiencia take +charge of the government. One of their first measures is to revoke +the grant made not long before by Fajardo of certain monopolies +to a seminary founded by him for educating Christian Japanese to +go as ordained missionaries to their own country. The members of +the Audiencia claim that this was an ill-timed act, in view of the +persecution of Christians in Japan, and the edicts of its ruler +expelling Spaniards from his realm, and forbidding his subjects to +trade with them. Moreover, the seminary building is being erected in +a place selected in violation of a royal decree, and which has been +arbitrarily seized from its owners; and the monopolies granted are +a grievance and injury to many persons, especially to the Indians +who reside near Manila. The Audiencia accordingly revoke these, +and order that the seminary building be demolished; and they issue +a royal decree in accordance with this decision. + +In a letter dated August 15, 1624, Archbishop Serrano advises the +king either to give more power and authority to the Audiencia, or +to suppress it. In the latter part of the same year the king issues +some decrees affecting the religious in the islands. The first +(dated August 30) cites earlier decrees regulating the privileges +and jurisdiction of the religious, and orders that these be strictly +observed. In a letter to the archbishop of Manila (dated October 8), +Felipe gives some directions regarding the religious orders. A letter +(dated November 27) to the Dominican provincial enumerates various +abuses practiced toward the Indians by the friars of that order, +and directs him to see that these be corrected. + +An interesting chapter of ecclesiastical history is provided in the +accounts of the early Recollect missions in the islands. These are +selected from the printed works here named: _Historia general de +los religiosos descalzos del orden de San Avgvstin_, by Andres de +San Nicolas (Madrid, 1664), and the second part of the same work, by +Luis de Jesus (Madrid, 1681); and _Historia general de Philipinas_, +by Juan de la Concepcion (Manila, 1788). From all these books we +select, as has been already announced, only such portions as closely +concern our subject, and such as contain information of special value, +or which is otherwise not accessible. + +From San Nicolas's work we take his account of the foundation of the +Recollect missions in the islands. This is begun in May, 1605, by Fray +Joan de San Jeronimo, who sets out with thirteen other religious; +they arrive at Cebu on May 10, 1606, one of the missionaries having +died on the voyage. After a brief description of Luzon and Manila, +the writer recounts the entrance of the Recollects into that city, +their hospitable reception from all, and their establishment in a +house of their own outside the walls. After some of the fathers have +learned the Tagal language, they begin their missionary labors at +Mariveles, not far from Manila, whose native inhabitants are unusually +brutal and ferocious. A brief outline of the customs and beliefs of +these people is presented, which, although slight, is valuable as +being another original source of ethnological information about the +Filipino peoples--the early Recollect missionaries, like Chirino and +his co-laborers, having gone among wild Indians who had had little +acquaintance with the Spaniards; and their observations are therefore +of natural and primitive conditions among the natives. + +The missionaries first sent to Mariveles soon die from hardship, +privation, and penances; but others at once volunteer to take +their places. Rodrigo de San Miguel is the first of these to go; +and he, with others, accomplishes a wonderful work among the fierce +Zambales. Details of the labors of each, and of marvelous escapes from +death, are related. At Masinglo a convent is founded by Andres del +Espiritu Santo, which becomes a center of missionary work for a large +district. The missionaries are kept under strict rule and discipline, +that their self-abnegation and frugal mode of life may emphasize +their preaching; and regulations are laid down for their missionary +work and their relations with the Indians. The main residence of the +Recollects is, after some years, removed within the walls of Manila; +and a handsome building is erected for it, and endowed, by a pious +citizen. Some notable images in its church are described. + +Attempts being made, in both Rome and Spain, to suppress the new +order of Augustinian Recollects, various testimonies to the value of +their work, and to their piety and zeal, are furnished by various +officials, both civil and ecclesiastical; and in connection with +these is a statement of the scope and character of the occupations +and services of the Recollects, in both peace and war. Convents are +founded by these missionaries at Bolinao and Cigayan. At the latter +place, one of the fathers is slain by an Indian, and the church is +burned by the revolting natives; but the indefatigable missionaries +return to the unpromising field, again subdue the wild Indians, and +restore what these had destroyed. Another residence is established at +Cavite, which accomplishes great good among the seamen who live there. + +The history of the discalced Augustinians is continued by Luis de +Jesus. In 1621 the reformed branch of the Augustinians is erected +into a congregation independent of the original order. In that year +a convent of the discalced is founded in Cebu, and, through the +generosity of their benefactor Ribera, another at Calumpan, outside +the walls of Manila; the latter serves as a quiet retreat for the +fathers, to the benefit of both their physical and spiritual health, +and under its care is placed the village of Sampaloc. In it is kept +a miraculous image of the Virgin. In 1622 the Recollects begin to +evangelize Mindanao, of which island there is a brief description, +with more detailed ones of certain curious birds and animals found +there, and of the customs and beliefs of the natives. Their government +is simply the tyranny of the strong over the weak, a condition of +oppression and cruelty and wretchedness. Slavery, formerly a common +practice among them, has been broken up where the missionaries have +introduced the Christian religion. In 1609 the natives of Caraga +are subdued by the Spaniards, as also in 1613 a revolt by them is +quelled; and finally (1622) the Recollects carry the gospel among +them. The missionaries do much to subdue these fierce savages, and +make many converts--notable among whom is a powerful chief named +Inuc, whose example is followed by many. A flourishing mission has +also been established on the river of Butuan, where had formerly +been a Christian mission, now abandoned. Detailed accounts are +given of the labors and dangers which the fathers undergo, and of +certain conversions. Our historian does the same for the missions in +Calamianes and Cuyo. It may be noted that the Recollect missionaries +vigorously pursued the same policy as that of the Jesuits in forming +"reductions" or mission villages of their converts. Various miraculous +events in the experience of the missionaries are related, especially +the exorcism of certain demons who attempted to drive the Spanish +soldiers out of the country. Another mission is opened on the Cagayan +River in Misamis, northern Mindanao; the fathers meet great trials and +hardships, but finally succeed in converting the leading headman on +the river, with many of his followers. They are greatly aided in this +by the successful revolt of these Indians against the Mahometan chief +Corralat, in which they ask and receive the assistance of the Spanish +troops stationed at Tandag. From the records of the provincial chapter +held at Manila in 1650 is compiled a list of the Recollect convents +in Mindanao and Calamianes, with the number of families attached to +each. The writer goes on to relate some of the trials, hardships, +and dangers experienced by the Recollect missionaries in their work, +several being martyrs to their zeal. In 1624 is held the first chapter +meeting of the new Recollect province of Filipinas; Fray Onofre de +la Madre de Dios is chosen provincial, and certain regulations for +the conduct of the religious of the order there are adopted. + +With these earlier narratives may be compared that of Juan de la +Concepcion, in his _Historia_ (vols. iv and v), which contains some +matter additional to the others, although his account is largely drawn +from these. The Recollects, like the Jesuits, form "reductions" of +their scattered converts, in order to carry on their instruction more +advantageously. The difficulties between the observantine and reformed +branches of the Augustinian order are recounted with some fulness. A +singular epidemic of demoniacal obsession at Cavite is dispelled by +the religious services held at the new Recollect church there. At the +request of the bishop of Cebu, the discalced Augustinians extend their +work--a reenforcement of missionaries having arrived from Spain--to +the Visayan Islands and to Mindanao (1622); some account of their +successes in the latter region is given. They also push forward into +the Calamianes Islands and Paragua (1622). Of these islands the writer +presents an interesting account, describing their principal products +and natural resources, as well as the character and religious beliefs +of the natives. Among these people, unusually brutal and fierce, go +the undaunted Recollects, and soon establish flourishing missions, +collecting the people in "reductions." Then they send to Manila a +request that Spanish soldiers come and take possession of Paragua, +which is done. The missions spread farther, and a large part of the +island is subdued to the Christian faith and the crown of Spain. + + +_The Editors_ + +October, 1904. + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1624 + + + Ecclesiastical affairs of the Philippines. Miguel Garcia Serrano, + and others; 1574-1624. + Conflict between civil and religious authorities in + Manila. [Unsigned and undated; 1624?] + Seminary for Japanese missionaries. Alvaro de Messa y Lugo, + and others; July 23-August 5. + Extract from letter to Felipe IV. Miguel Garcia Serrano; August 15. + Royal orders regarding the religious. Felipe IV; August-December. + + + +_Sources_: The first of these documents is obtained from Pastells's +edition of Celin's _Labor evangelica_, iii, pp. 674-697; the second, +from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer library), i, pp. 515-523; the +others, from the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla--save the second +of the "Royal orders," from the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo +Historico Nacional, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The third document is translated by Robert W. Haight; +the second part of the fifth, by Arthur B. Myrick, of Harvard +University; the remainder, by James A. Robertson. + + + + + +ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS OF THE PHILIPPINES + +_Royal Instructions to Gomez Perez Dasmarinas Regarding Ecclesiastical +Affairs_ + + +The King. To Gomez Perez Dasmarinas, my governor and captain-general +of the Philipinas Islands, or the person or persons in charge of +their government: I ordered a decree of various articles to be given +to my viceroy of Nueva Espana, in regard to what was to be done and +observed in that country for the preservation of my patronage, as is +contained at length in the said decree, whose tenor is as follows: + +"The King. To our viceroy of Nueva Espana, or the person or persons +who shall, for the time being, be exercising the government of that +country: As you know, the right of the ecclesiastical patronage belongs +to us throughout the realm of the Yndias--both because of having +discovered and acquired that new world, and erected there and endowed +the churches and monasteries at our own cost, or at the cost of our +ancestors, the Catholic Sovereigns; and because it was conceded to us +by bulls of the most holy pontiffs, conceded of their own accord. For +its conservation, and that of the right that we have to it, we order +and command that the said right of patronage be always preserved for +us and our royal crown, singly and _in solidum_, throughout all the +realm of the Yndias, without any derogation therefrom, either in whole +or in part; and that we shall not concede the right of patronage by +any favor or reward that we or the kings our successors may confer. + +"Further, no person or persons, or ecclesiastical or secular +communities, or church or monastery, shall be able to exercise the +right of patronage by custom privilege, or any other title, unless it +be the person who shall exercise it in our name, and with our authority +and power; and no person, whether secular or ecclesiastical, and no +order, convent, or religious community, of whatever state, condition, +rank, and preeminence he or they may be, shall for any occasion and +cause whatever, judicially or extra-judicially, dare to meddle in any +matter touching my royal patronage, to injure us in it--to appoint +to any church, benefice, or ecclesiastical office, or to be accepted +if he shall have been appointed--in all the realm of the Indias, +without our presentation, or that of the person to whom we commit +it by law or by letters-patent. He who shall do the contrary, if he +be a secular person, shall incur the loss of the concessions that +shall have been made to him by us in all the realm of the Indias, +shall be unable to hold and obtain others, and shall be exiled +perpetually from all our kingdoms and seigniories; and if he shall +be an ecclesiastical person, he shall be considered as a foreigner, +and exiled from all our kingdoms, and shall not be able to hold or +obtain any benefice or ecclesiastical office, and shall incur the other +penalties established against such by laws of these my kingdoms. And +our viceroys, audiencias, and royal justices shall proceed with all +severity against those who thus shall infringe or violate our right of +patronage; and they shall proceed officially, either at the petition +of our fiscals, or at that of any party who demands it; and in the +execution of it great diligence shall be exercised. + +"We desire and order that no cathedral church, parish church, +monastery, hospital, votive church, or any other pious or religious +establishment be erected, founded, or constructed, without our +express consent for it, or that of the person who shall exercise our +authority; and further, that no archbishopric, bishopric, dignidad, +canonry, racion, media-racion, rectorial or simple benefice, or any +other ecclesiastical or religious benefice or office, be instituted, +or appointment to it be made, without our consent or presentation, +or that of the person who shall exercise our authority; and such +presentation or consent shall be in writing, in the ordinary manner. + +"The archbishoprics and bishoprics shall be appointed by our +presentation, made to our very holy father [_i.e._, the Roman pontiff] +who shall be at that time, as has been done hitherto. + +"The dignidades, canonries, racions and media-racions of all the +cathedral churches of the Indias shall be filled by presentation made +by our royal warrant, given by our royal Council of the Indias, and +signed by our name, by virtue of which the archbishop or bishop of +the church where the said dignidad, canonry, or racion shall be shall +grant to him collation and canonical installation, which shall also be +in writing, sealed with his seal and signed with his hand. Without the +said presentation, title, collation, and canonical installation, in +writing, he shall not be given possession of such dignidad, canonry, +racion, or media-racion; neither shall he accept the benefits and +emoluments of it, under the penalties contained in the laws against +those who violate our royal patronage. + +"If in any of the cathedral churches of the Yndias there should +not be four beneficiaries--at least resident, and appointed by +our presentation and warrant and the canonical installation of the +prelate--because of the other prebends being vacant, or if appointments +to them have been made because the beneficiaries are absent (even +though it be for a legitimate reason) for more than eight months, +until we present them the prelate shall elect four seculars to fill +out the term of those who shall have been appointed as residents, +choosing them from the most capable and competent that shall offer, +or who can be found, so that they may serve in the choir, the altar, +the church, and as curas, if that should be necessary in the said +church, in place of the vacant or absent prebendaries, as above +stated. He shall assign them an adequate salary, as we have ordered +at the account of the vacant or absent prebendaries; and the said +provision shall not be permanent, but removable at will [_ad nutum_], +and those appointed shall not occupy the seat of the beneficiary in +the choir, nor enter or have a vote in the cabildo. If the cathedral +church has four or more beneficiaries, the prelates shall not take it +upon themselves to appoint any prebendaries, or to provide a substitute +in such post, whether for those that become vacant, or for those whose +incumbents may be absent, unless they shall give us notice, so that we +may make the presentations or take such measures as may be advisable. + +"No prelate, even though he have an authentic relation and information +that we have presented any person to a dignidad, canonry, racion, +or any other benefice, shall grant him collation or canonical +installation, or shall order that he be given possession of it, unless +our original warrant of the said presentation be first presented; +and our viceroys or audiencias shall not meddle by making them receive +such persons without the said presentation. + +"After the original warrant of our presentation has been presented, +appointment and canonical installation shall be made without any delay; +and order will be given to assign to him the emoluments, unless +there is some legitimate objection against the person presented, +and one which can be proved. If there is no legitimate objection, +or if any such be alleged that shall not be proved, and the prelate +should delay the appointment, installation, and possession, he shall +be obliged to pay to such person the emoluments and incomes, costs, +and interests, that shall have been incurred by him. + +"It is our desire that, in the presentations that shall be made for +dignidades, canonries and prebends in the cathedral churches of the +Yndias, lettered men be preferred to those who are not, and those who +shall have served in cathedral churches of these same kingdoms and +who shall have had most experience in the choir and divine worship, +to those who shall not have served in cathedral churches. + +"At least in the districts where it can be conveniently done, a +graduate jurist in general study shall be presented for a doctoral +canonicate, and another lettered theological graduate in general study +for another magistral canonicate, who shall have the pulpit with the +obligations that doctoral and magistral canons have in these kingdoms. + +"Another lettered theologue approved by general study shall be +presented to read the lesson of the holy scriptures, and another +lettered jurist theologue for the canonicate of penitence, in +accordance with the established decrees of the holy council of +Trent. The said four canonries shall be of the number of those of +the erection of the Church. + +"We will and order that all the benefices, whether sinecures or +curacies, secular and regular, and the ecclesiastical offices that +become vacant, or that, as they are new, must be filled, throughout +the realm of the Yndias, in whatever diocese it may be, besides those +that are provided in the cathedral churches, as stated above, shall, +in order that they may be filled with less delay, and that our royal +patronage may be preserved in them, be filled in the following manner: + +"When a benefice (whether a sinecure or a curacy), or the +administration of any hospital or a sacristy or churchwardenship, or +the stewardship of a hospital, or any other benefice or ecclesiastical +office, shall become vacant, or when it has to be filled for the first +time: the prelate shall order a written proclamation to be posted +in the cathedral church, or in the church, hospital, or monastery +where such benefice or office is to be filled, with the suitable +limit, so that those who desire to compete for it may enter the +lists. From all those who thus compete, and from all the others whom +the prelate shall believe to be suitable persons for such office or +benefice, after having examined them and after having informed himself +concerning their morals and ability, he shall choose two persons from +them--those whom, in the sight of God and his conscience, he shall +judge most suitable for such office or benefice. The nomination +of the two thus named shall be presented to our viceroy or to the +president of our royal Audiencia; or to the person who, in our name, +shall exercise the superior government of the province where such +benefice or office shall become vacant or must be filled, so that he +may select one from the two appointees. He shall send that selection +to the prelate, so that the latter in accordance with it, and by +virtue of that presentation, may grant the appointment, collation, +and canonical installation--by way of commission and not by perpetual +title, but removable at will by the person who shall have presented +them in our name, together with the prelate. And should there be +no more than one person who desires to compete for such benefice or +office, or the prelate shall not find more than one person whom he +desires to receive the nomination to it, he shall send the name to our +viceroy, president, or governor, as above stated, so that the latter +may present him. Then by virtue of such presentation, the prelate +shall make the appointment in the form above directed. But it is +our desire and will that when the presentation shall be made by us, +and we shall expressly state in our presentation that the collation +and canonical installation shall be by title and not by commission, +those presented by us be always preferred to those presented by our +viceroys, presidents, or governors, in the form above mentioned. + +"And in the repartimientos and villages of Indians, and in other +places where there shall be no benefice or any regulations for +electing one, or any form of appointing a secular or religious to +administer sacraments and teach the doctrine, providing it in the +form above directed, the prelate--after posting a proclamation, so +that if there shall be any ecclesiastical or religious person, or any +other of good morals and education who may go to teach the doctrine +at such village--from those who shall compete, or from other persons +whom he shall deem most suitable and fitting, shall elect two, after +informing himself of their competency and good character. He shall +send the nomination to our viceroy, president, or governor who shall +reside in the province, so that the latter may present one of the two +thus nominated by the prelate. If there shall be no more than one, +by virtue of that presentation the prelate shall appoint him to the +mission, giving him installation, as he has to teach the doctrine. He +shall order to be given to such person the emoluments that are to be +given to ministers or missions, and shall order the encomenderos and +other persons, under the penalties and censures that he shall deem +suitable, not to annoy or disturb such person in the exercise of his +duty and the teaching of the Christian doctrine; on the contrary, +they shall give him all protection and aid for it. That appointment +shall be made removable at the will of the person who shall have +appointed him in our name, and that of the prelate. + +"We also will and order that the religious orders observe and maintain +the right of patronage in the following form. + +"First: No general, commissary-general, visitor, provincial, or any +other superior of the religious orders, shall go to the realm of the +Yndias, without first showing in our royal Council of the Indias the +powers that he bears and giving us relation of them; and without the +Council giving him our decree and permission so that he may go, and +a warrant so that our viceroys, audiencias, justices, and our other +vassals may admit and receive him to the exercise of his office, +and give him all protection and aid in it. + +"Any provincial, visitor, prior, guardian, or other high official, +who may be elected and nominated in the realm of the Yndias shall, +before being admitted to exercise his office, inform our viceroy, +president, Audiencia, or governor who shall have in charge the +supreme government of such province, and shall show him his patent +of nomination and election, so that the latter may give him the +protection and aid necessary for the exercise and use of his office. + +"The provincials of all the orders who are established in the +Yndias, each one of them, shall always keep a list ready of all the +monasteries and chief residences [maintained there by his orders] +and of the members [resident in each] that fall in his province, +and of all the religious in the province--noting each one of them by +name, together with a report of his age and qualifications, and the +office or ministry in which each one is occupied. He shall give that +annually to our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, or the person who +shall have charge of the supreme government in the province, adding to +or removing from the list the religious who shall be superfluous and +those who shall be needed. Our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, shall +keep those general lists which shall thus be given, for himself, and in +order that he may inform us by report of the religious that there are, +and those of whom there is need of provision, by each fleet sent out. + +"The provincials of the orders, each one of them shall make a list of +all the religious who are occupied in teaching the Christian doctrine +to the Indians, and the administration of sacraments, and the offices +of curas in the villages of the chief monasteries. They shall give such +list once a year to our viceroy, Audiencia, or governor, who shall +give it to the diocesan prelate, so that he may know and understand +what persons are occupied in the administration of sacraments and +the office of curas and the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, and who are +in charge of the souls for whom he is responsible; and in order that +what is or must be provided may be apparent to him, and from whom he +has to require account of the said souls, and to whom he must commit +what is to be done for the welfare of those souls. + +"Whenever the provincials have to provide any religious for instruction +or for the administration of sacraments, or remove any who shall +have been appointed, they shall give notice thereof to our viceroy, +president, Audiencia, or governor who shall exercise the supreme +government of the province, and to the prelate; and they shall not +remove any one who shall have been appointed, until another shall +have been appointed in his place, observing the above order. + +"We desire, in the presentations and appointments of all the prelacies, +dignidades, and ecclesiastical offices and benefices, that those +most deserving, and who shall have been engaged longer and to better +profit in the conversion of the Indians, and in instructing them +in the Christian doctrine, and in the administration of sacraments, +shall be presented and appointed. Therefore we strictly charge the +diocesan prelates, and those superiors of the religious orders, and +we order our viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, that +in the nominations, presentations, and appointments that they shall +have to make there, as is said, in conformity [with this decree], +they shall always prefer, in the first place, those who shall have +been occupied, by life and example, in the conversion of the Indians, +and in instruction and in administering the sacraments, and those who +shall know the language of the Indians whom they have to instruct; +and, in the second place, those who shall be the sons of Spaniards +and who shall have served us in those regions. + +"In order that we may better make the presentation that shall +become necessary of prelacies, dignidades, prebends, and the other +ecclesiastical offices and benefices, we ask and charge the said +diocesan prelates and the provincials of the religious orders, and we +order our viceroys, presidents, audiencias, and governors, each one +of them, separately and distinctly by himself, without communicating +one with another, to make a list of all the dignidades, benefices, +missions, and ecclesiastical offices in his province, noting those +of them that are vacant, and those that are filled. Likewise they +shall make a list of all the ecclesiastical and religious persons, +and of the sons of citizens and Spaniards who are studying for +the purpose of becoming ecclesiastics, and of the good character, +learning, competency and qualities of each one, stating clearly his +good parts and also his defects, and declaring, so that prelacies, +dignidades, benefices, and ecclesiastical offices shall be suitably +filled, both those that shall be at present found vacant, and those +that shall become vacant hereafter. Those relations shall be sent us +closed and sealed, in each fleet, and in different ships; and what +shall be deemed advisable to add to or to suppress from the preceding +ones that shall have been sent before, shall be added or suppressed; +so that no fleet shall sail without its relation. We charge the +consciences of one and all straitly with this matter. + +"In order that we may not be deceived by those who come or send +to petition us to present them to some dignidad, benefice, or +ecclesiastical office, we desire, and it is our will, that he who +shall thus come or send appear before our viceroy, or before the +president and Audiencia, or before the one who shall have charge of +the supreme government of the province; and, declaring his petition, +the viceroy, Audiencia, or governor shall make the relation officially, +with information concerning his standing, learning, morals, competency, +and other details. After it is made, he shall send it separately +from those persons. Likewise the approval of their prelate shall be +obtained, and warning is given that those who come to petition for a +dignidad, benefice, or ecclesiastical office without such investigation +shall not be received. + +"We desire and it is our will that no person can hold, obtain, or +occupy two dignidades, or ecclesiastical benefices in the provinces +of the Yndias, either in the same or in different churches. Therefore +we order that if any one shall be presented by us for any dignidad, +benefice, or office, he shall renounce what he shall have held +previously, before his collation and appointment. + +"If the one presented by us does not present himself, within the +time contained in the presentation, to the prelate who must make +the appointment and canonical installation, after the expiration of +the said time the presentation shall be void, and no appointment and +canonical installation can be made by virtue of it. + +"Inasmuch as it is our will that the above-contained be observed +and obeyed, for we believe that such procedure is expedient for the +service of God and for our own, I order you to examine the above, +and to observe and obey it, and cause it to be observed and obeyed +in all those provinces and villages, and their churches, _in toto_, +and exactly as is contained and declared, for what time shall be our +will. You shall accomplish and fulfil it, in the ways that shall appear +most advisable to you. You shall take for this purpose such measures +and precautions as shall be advisable, in virtue of this my decree; and +I give you for that complete authority in legal form. Accordingly we +request and charge the very reverend father in Christ, the archbishop +of that city, and member of our Council, and the reverend fathers +in Christ, the archbishop of Nueva Espana, the venerable deans +and cabildo of the cathedral churches of that country, and all the +curas, beneficiaries, sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons, +the venerable and devout fathers provincial, guardians, priors, +and other religious of the orders of St. Dominic, St. Augustine, +St. Francis, and of all the other orders, that in what pertains to, +and is incumbent on them, they observe and obey this decree, acting in +harmony with you, for all that shall be advisable. Given in San Lorenzo +el Real, June first, one thousand five hundred and seventy-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Eraso_" + + +I order you to examine the said decree, and its sections +above-incorporated, and you shall observe and obey it, and cause it +to be observed and obeyed _in toto_, as is contained and declared +in it and in each one of its sections, as if it were given for those +islands and directed to you. I charge the reverend father in Christ, +the bishop of those islands, the venerable dean and cabildo of +the cathedral church of the islands, all the curas, beneficiaries, +sacristans, and other ecclesiastical persons, and the venerable and +devout fathers provincial, guardians, priors, and other religious of +the orders of St. Dominic, St. Augustine, St. Francis, and all the +other orders, that in what pertains to, and is incumbent on them, +they observe and obey it, acting in harmony with you in every way +that may be advisable and necessary. Given in San Lorenzo, September +thirteen, one thousand five hundred and eighty-nine. [1] + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Joan de Ibarra_ +Signed by the Council. + + +[The litigation between the prelate and the religious orders originated +from the visitation of the village of Dilao (which belonged to the +ministry of the Franciscan fathers), commenced by Archbishop Miguel +Garcia Serrano, June 24, 1624, [2] with the dictation by him of the +following:] [3] + + +_Act_. In the village of Quiapo, which is near the city of Manila, on +the twenty-second day of the month of June, one thousand six hundred +and twenty-two, his Excellency, Don Fray Miguel Garcia y Serrano, +archbishop of these Philipinas Islands, member of his Majesty's +council, etc., declared that, inasmuch as the eleventh chapter +of the twenty-fifth session of the holy council of Trent rules and +orders that the religious who exercise the duties of curas of souls be +immediately subject, in regard to such duties and in all that pertains +to the administration of the sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, +and correction of the bishop in whose diocese they minister; and that +no one, even though he be _admovibilis ad nutum_, can exercise the +said office of cura without having obtained beforehand the consent +and examination of the bishop or his vicar, etc., [4] which is +ordered to be strictly observed and obeyed, both by the bishops and +the superiors of the religious, and by the religious themselves, by +the twenty-second chapter following, notwithstanding any privileges, +constitutions, rules, customs, rights, and others _non obstantibus_, +etc.; besides which, his Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, by his brief +which was obtained at the instance of his Majesty, under date of Roma, +April 18, one thousand five hundred and ninety-one, charges and orders +the archbishop of these islands to visit the missions and the religious +in them. [5] + +All of the above is ordered to be observed and obeyed in these islands +by decrees of his Majesty, under date of June first, five hundred +and eighty-five; December twenty-one, five hundred and ninety-five; +and November fourteen, one thousand six hundred and three. [6] +In conformity with these decrees, his most illustrious Lordship, +wishing to observe what his Holiness and his Majesty have ordered, +as it is a matter very advisable and necessary for the service of God +our Lord and that of his Majesty, and the welfare and increase of the +conversion, teaching, and instruction of the natives of these islands, +notified the very reverend fathers-provincial in Christ of the sacred +orders of St. Dominic and St. Augustine, and the commissaries of that +of St. Francis, of these islands, by means of an order signed by his +most illustrious Lordship, which was given to them in the first part +of April of this current year, so that, understanding it, the matter +might be facilitated and observed on the part of the said orders, +with the good-will and exactness that is proper, and which they have +always had in obeying and observing the orders of the holy apostolic +see, and those of his Majesty. And inasmuch as it is advisable that +there be no more delay in the above, his most illustrious Lordship +intends to go to visit the mission of the natives of the village of +Dilao, outside the walls of the city of Manila, which is in charge +of the Order of St. Francis, on the day of St. John the Baptist. He +has advised the father guardian of the said convent thereof, in order +that the Indians of the said convent may be assembled in the church at +the hour of high mass, and so that all other necessary arrangements +be made for making the said visit. His Lordship ordered the above +to be set down as an act, together with the copy of the brief of his +Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, and of his Majesty's decrees, of which +mention is made above; and he signed the same. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +Before me: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +In the town of Quiapo, on the twenty-fourth day of the month of June, +one thousand six hundred and twenty-two, the illustrious lord Don +Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano, archbishop of the Philipinas, member +of his Majesty's council, etc., declared that he ordered--and he +did so order--that that notification that his illustrious Lordship +ordered to be made and that he made, to the superiors of the religious +orders--namely, the order mentioned in the act of the twenty-second of +this month, which was made on account of the visitation of Dilao--be +filed with the [records of the] said visitation, which is to be begun +on this said day, of the said mission and ministry of Dilao. Thus +did he decree and order. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +Before me: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +Very reverend fathers in Christ, the provincials of the holy orders of +these Philipinas Islands: Being obliged to carry out the ordinance and +mandate of the holy council of Trent and the decrees of his Majesty in +regard to the examination and visitation which I have to make of the +religious who are administering the missions of natives in my diocese, +I deemed it advisable, in order to attain my object better, to inform +your Paternities of it before beginning it--so that, understanding +the matter, it might be facilitated and observed by your Paternities +with the good-will and exactness that are proper, and which you have +always displayed in obeying and observing the mandates of the holy +apostolic see and those of his Majesty. + +As your Paternities know, chapter 11 of the 25th session of the holy +council of Trent, _De regularibus et monialibus_, rules and orders +that the religious who exercise the duties of curas of souls be +immediately subject as regards such duties, and in everything that +pertains to the administration of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, +visit, and correction of the bishop in whose diocese they administer; +and that no one, though he be _amovilibis ad nutum_, may exercise +the said duty of cura without first having obtained the consent of, +and been examined by, the bishop or his vicar, etc. Both the bishops +and the superiors of the religious, and the religious themselves, +are strictly ordered to observe and fulfil the above, as ordered by +article 22 following, notwithstanding any privileges, regulations, +rules, customs, and rights, and others _non obstantibus_, etc. + +This decree then, of the holy council of Trent, has two parts--one in +which it is ordered that the said religious be immediately subject +in regard to curas, and in all that pertains to the administration +of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the +bishops; and the other that, before being admitted to the said duty, +they must obtain the consent of, and be examined by, the bishops or +their vicars. There has never been any innovation in the first; for, +although the second part had the innovation that appears in two briefs +issued by his Holiness Pius V--one in general for all Christendom, +which he conceded at the instance of the mendicant orders, under date +of Roma, July 17, 1567, in the second year of his pontificate, whose +beginning is, _Etsi mendicantium ordines_; and the other a special +one for the Yndias, at the instance of his Majesty, under date of +Roma, of March 26, of the same year--in those briefs there was no +innovation in regard to the first part. On the contrary, in the brief +of his Holiness Gregory XIV which his Majesty sent to these islands, +and which was obtained at his instance, under date of Roma, April 18, +1591, the first year in which he commits to the archbishop of Manila +the adjustment and restitution of what the conquistadors and other +persons had in charge among the Indians, and prohibits religious from +going from a pacified district to convert one unpacified, without the +permission of the bishops, there is a clause of the following tenor +...: _Praeteria cum praecipuum munus Episcoporum sit proprias oves +per se ipsos pascere et visitare_. [7] + +In regard to the second part of the two things ordered by the holy +council--that is, that the religious, before they can exercise the +duties of the care of souls, must first get the consent of, and be +examined by, the bishops or their vicars--that order also appears +today in its entire force and vigor. For although it is true that his +Holiness Pius V reserved the said religious from the said permission +and examination, by the two privileges above mentioned, afterward +his Holiness Gregory XIII reduced these and all the other favors and +concessions given to the mendicant orders by Pius V to the terms of +law and the holy council of Trent, as appears by his _motu proprio_ +given at Roma, on the kalends of March, 1573, the first year of his +pontificate, whose beginning is _In tanta rerum_, etc., and which +father Fray Manuel Rodriguez inserted in the book that he published +concerning the privileges of the orders, [8] in number 38 of those +of that same supreme pontiff. + +Although it is true that it is stated in the memorial which the Order +of St. Francis in Nueva Espana presented regarding the substance +of the privileges of the mendicant orders in the Yndias, at the +provincial council that was convened in Mexico in the year 1585, +at the instance of the same council (as is mentioned by father Fray +Juan Baptista, of the said order, in the second part of his book of +advice for confessors), that the said revocation had no effect, because +the cardinal protectors of the orders immediately appealed from it, +asking his Holiness to suspend the said _motu proprio_ and that it +be not promulgated; and that his Holiness agreed to it, and that, +accordingly, no account was taken of it--it appears that no attention +must be paid to that, for the said memorial has no further proof or +authority than the certification of Father Master Veracruz, who was in +Sevilla when the _motu proprio_ of Gregory XIII was issued, and because +Father Manuel Rodriguez, of the same Order of St. Francis, affirms +the contrary--who some years later, while residing in Salamanca, where +there was more notice of it than in the Yndias, published his books of +"questions concerning the regulars," as appears in article 7, question +8, of the first volume, [9] as well as in other places. With the same +agrees father Fray Alonso de Vega, in his conclusion, chapter 62, +case 4, _Questio de confessione_, and it appears by the declarations +of the holy congregation of the cardinals, which Marcilla reports +in article 20, of section 25, _de regularibus_, and in article 15, +of section 13, _de reformatione_, [10] besides others, by which it is +manifest that it is a privilege that his Majesty obtained for what he +then judged advisable for the proper government of the churches of the +Yndias, and the greater increase of their Christianity. It ought not, +nor can it, be understood to be to the prejudice of the privileges +that the holy apostolic see has conceded to the kings of Espana for +the same purpose, such as that of Alexander VI, in his bull of the +concession or confirmation of the Indias, as follows: _Hortamur vos +quamplurimum ... et infra sit--insuper mandamus vobis in virtute +sanctae obedientiae (sicut etiam pollicemini) et non dubitamus pro +vestra maxima devotione et regia magnanimitate vos esse facturos, +ad terras firmas et insulis praedictas, viros probos...._ [11] + +And Adrian VI, in his _Omnimodo_, as follows: _Dum tamen sint tales +sufficientiae ..._ and of the right of the royal patronage. [12] + +And since it is now his Majesty's will that the fitness and approval +of the said religious in regard to curas must be to the satisfaction +of the bishops, which he says to be thus advisable for the discharge +of his royal conscience and that of the said bishops, it is clear +that we are bound to fulfil it as a command of the holy apostolic see. + +The above is in respect to the mandates of his Holiness. Coming to +that which is ordered in this regard by the decrees of his Majesty, +it appears that his Majesty having despatched his royal decree on the +sixth of December, 1585, that if there were any capable clergy they +should be preferred, in the benefices and missions of the Indians +to the religious who held them, and who should have held them, by +virtue of another royal decree of May twenty-five, of five hundred +and eighty-five, his Majesty gave notice to the Order of St. Francis, +of Nueva Espana, that he had ordered the suspension for the time being +of the execution of this decree; and that the said missions be held, +as hitherto, by the orders and religious; that there be no innovation +in the manner of presentation and appointment; that the bishops +in their own persons (these are the words of the royal decree), +without committing it to any others, shall visit the churches of +the missions, where the said religious may be, and in the missions +inspect the most holy sacrament, the baptismal font, the building of +the said churches, and the service of divine worship; and that they +also visit the religious who should reside in the said missions, +and correct them in matters concerning curas. + +That royal decree is in the book of advice to confessors of Indians +which father Fray Juan Baptista, of the Order of St. Francis, published +in Mexico, in the year six hundred; it is on folio 380. On folio +259, it contains what the provincials of the orders of St. Dominic, +St. Francis, and St. Augustine, of the province of Mexico, answered +to it on the twenty-eighth of November, of the said year, 585. That +answer was to accept the said missions _non ex votis charitatis_, +but with the obligation of _in se et justitia_; and in regard to +being visited, they say that, inasmuch as the obstacles of their +disturbance and relaxation of discipline were always to be found, +which induced the apostolic see to exempt them from the visits of +the ordinaries--which obstacles would be more and greater in the +Yndias, if authority were given for it--they would not refuse the +reverence, respect, and submission due to the bishops, as prelates +and shepherds of the Church of God. They said that they were under +greater obligations to them than to any one else, and would respect +them and receive them into their convents with proper reverence, +as they had always done; and that, obeying what his Majesty ordered, +they would be very glad to have them visit in their churches the most +holy sacrament, the baptismal font, and what concerns it; but in all +matters outside the above-mentioned, they petitioned his Majesty not +to give the bishops authority or entrance, for that would mean the +perpetual disquiet and ruin of their order. + +But as for that which the said orders of Nueva Espana declared in that +reply, namely, that the obstacles of disturbance and relaxed discipline +were bound to follow the visits of the bishops, for which the apostolic +see was induced to exempt them from their jurisdiction; nevertheless, +it will be considered that a very different reason will be found +to prevail in this case in respect to which, as regards religious +from whom visits are exempted, they have their special rules and +regulations, which are peculiar to each order. Both for that reason, +and because their institute, life, and government is of the cloister, +and they have no administration, dominion, and jurisdiction over +persons of the world, it was most advisable to give them superiors +who had been reared in the same life, customs, and rules of religion, +since, moreover, their profession was simply that of religious. + +But the ministry of the care of souls that the religious exercise +is not of the cloister, nor does it depend on their special rule or +institute; nor in regard to such are they at all different from the +secular curas, both touching the religious ministers themselves, +and touching the persons who are ministered to, whose spiritual +government is in charge of the bishops. + +And since it is a fact that the religious who accepts an executorship +is obliged to give a strict account of it to the bishop--nor does +he fulfil his duty by giving it to his superior, if it is a matter +with which the deceased entrusted him, who made election and a +confidant of him--with very much greater reason ought an account of +the administration of the souls that are immediately in charge of +the same bishop be given to him; and although in proof of that many +other arguments might be adduced, none will be so effective and so +conclusive as to consider that while there were, as is true, so many +so aged, learned, grave, and holy religious of all the orders present +in the holy council of Trent, who propounded as many difficulties +and obstacles as they could offer, yet the holy council decreed and +ordered as we have seen. + +In conformity with that, notwithstanding the said reply which the +orders of Nueva Espana gave to the decree of his Majesty, the orders +of his Majesty in regard to the said visits seem to have been obeyed, +for ten years after another royal decree was despatched, which the +said father, Fray Juan Baptista, mentions on folio 396 of the said +book, as follows: + +"The King. Reverend father in Christ, bishop of the city of Antequera, +of the valley of Huajaca, of Nueva Espana, and member of my council: +Inasmuch as I have heard that the religious who reside in those +regions, busied in the instruction and conversion of the Indians, give +out that it is a cause of great disquiet and uneasiness to them for you +to send to visit them, in regard to curacies, by clerics or religious +of other orders; and as it is advisable to avoid all occasions that +may divert them from their chief end, especially since (as they say) +it is contrary to their institutes, and is the occasion of their +living disconsolate, and that they are molested: I request and charge +you that when you are unable to visit in person the missions of that +bishopric--in accordance with the order in my decree of June first, +one thousand five hundred and eighty-five, [13] where this matter is +discussed at greater length--for the said visits of religious who shall +be in those missions, in regard to matters of curacies, of the most +holy sacrament, of the baptismal font, of the building of churches, and +all else concerning them, and the divine worship, you send religious +of the same orders. Consequently, where there are Dominican friars, +a friar of the same order shall be sent as visitor; and the same shall +be observed with Augustinians, Franciscans, and those of the Order of +Mercy, and of the Society. That shall be observed for the cases and in +the manner contained in the above-mentioned decree. Given in Madrid, +December twenty-one, one thousand five hundred and ninety-five. [14] + + +[_I The King_] + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +But since it was not expressed in the said royal decree of the year 585 +that the religious who should administer the benefices and missions +of the Indians should first be examined and approved by the bishops; +and since the remedy for the public excesses of the said religious +should be limited to the bishops in the decree, if there should be any +excesses even in respect to curacies--the bishops proceeding in this, +not in the form ruled by the said article II, of section 25, of the +holy council, but by that which is declared in article 14, of the +same section: his Majesty afterward decided, for considerations that +satisfied him, that the authority and jurisdiction of the bishops in +regard to the above be extended further, as the holy council rules; +and accordingly, on November 14, one thousand six hundred and three, +he despatched his royal decree for the metropolitan churches of the +Indias, one of which he sent to the archbishop of these islands, +which is of the following tenor: + +"The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the city +of Manila of the Philipinas Islands, and member of my council: +Notwithstanding that it is very carefully ordered that the ministers +who are appointed to the missions of the Indians, both seculars +and friars, must know the language of the Indians whom they have to +instruct and teach; that they shall have the qualifications that are +required for the duties of the curacies that they have to perform; +and that the religious missionaries be visited by the secular prelates +in regard to the curacies: I have been informed that it is not obeyed +as is advisable; that the prelates do not exercise the care that is +advisable in examining the said religious missionaries, in order to +satisfy you that they are competent and that they thoroughly understand +the language of those whom they are going to teach; and that many of +their omissions and excesses in the administration of the sacraments +and the exercise of the duties of curas are not remedied in the +visitations. That is a great obstacle, and consequently the Indians +suffer considerably in the spiritual and temporal. I have heard that +their superiors are less careful in this, and in the choice of the +persons, than they ought to be. And inasmuch as it is advisable for +the service of God our Lord and for mine, and for the welfare of the +Indians, that the ministers of instruction be such as are required +for this ministry, and that they know the Indians' language, I charge +you strictly that, in accordance with what is decreed and ordained, +you do not permit or allow, in the missions in charge of the orders +in the district of that archbishopric, any religious to come to +perform the duties of cura or to exercise that duty, unless he shall +first be examined and approved by you or by the person who shall be +appointed by you for that purpose, in order to satisfy yourself that +he has the necessary ability, and that he knows the language of the +Chinese or Indians whom he has to instruct. Those whom you shall find, +in the visits that you shall make, who have not the competency, good +qualities, and good example that are requisite, and who do not know +sufficiently the language of the Indians whom they are to instruct, +you shall remove; and you shall advise their superiors, so that they +may appoint others who have the necessary qualifications, in which +they also must be examined. You shall advise me of all that you do +in this matter. Given in San Lorenzo, November fourteen, one thousand +six hundred and three. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +With the above royal decree was despatched another to the royal +Audiencia, in which its observance and fulfilment is ordered and +charged; and another to the same archbishop, which only contains the +statement that he is strictly charged with its fulfilment. [15] His +Majesty says in it that it is advisable to do this for the relief +of his royal conscience and that of the archbishop himself. Those +decrees having arrived in the ships that came in the year six hundred +and five, Don Fray Miguel de Benavides, archbishop at that time, as +soon as he received them, presented all three in the royal meeting +held on the second of June, of the said year, and they were obeyed +and ordered to be fulfilled. But as the said archbishop died within +two months, he could not carry them out; and consequently they were +left unobserved, because the cabildo succeeded to the government of +the vacant see. Afterward, Archbishop Don Diego Vazquez de Mercado, +either because he knew nothing about them, or because he was so +far prevented by his age and infirmity (as all know), did not put +them into practice. At his death, Don Fray Diego de Arce, bishop +of Zibu, governed this archbishopric; but he did not know of the +said decrees. But as they have come to my notice, and since we are +obliged, both myself and your Paternities, to observe and obey what +his Holiness and his Majesty order in regard to this, as above stated, +we cannot excuse ourselves from immediately putting it into execution. + +We shall not be able to delay the observance of the said royal decree, +by saying that since twenty years have passed since its issue, +without having given it a beginning, it will be well to await his +Majesty's will once more; for, besides that things are today in the +same condition as then, it appears that his Majesty, having heard that +the said royal decree was not being observed in Nueva Espana, either +because the bishops had no knowledge of it, or for other reasons, +gave it again to the viceroy, Marquis de Guadalcazar, under date of +November nineteen, six hundred and eighteen, in which, inserting word +for word the first decree above mentioned of November fourteen, six +hundred and three, he orders it to be obeyed in the following words: + +"And inasmuch as it is my intention and will that what I have ordained +and ordered in regard to the above be strictly observed and executed, +I order you to examine the said my decree which is here incorporated, +and to observe and obey it _in toto_, according to its contents +and declarations, just as if I were talking with you, and it were +directed to you. Such is my will, notwithstanding that in the lapse +of time, and with the claims of the prelates and missionaries, +it has been winked at or another custom introduced, which shall, +under no circumstance, be in any manner allowed. Given in Madrid, +November nineteen, one thousand six hundred and eighteen. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Pedro de Ledesma_" + + +And the archbishop of Mexico having reported to his Majesty that the +above decree of his Majesty of six hundred and eighteen had not been +shown by the viceroy, although he had had it in his possession for some +time, his Majesty despatched other new decrees to the said viceroy and +archbishop, under date of February eighteen and August twenty-five, +six hundred and twenty, in which, he again orders them to observe and +obey the said first decree to the said archbishop, in these words: +"And since your person is authorized, not only by the council of Trent, +but by the declaration of the cardinals, and by common law, to proceed +to the visit for the reformation of all the missionaries, both seculars +and regulars, you shall endeavor to relieve your conscience and mine." + +Consequently, neither of us will by any means satisfy our obligations, +if we neglect to carry out the commands of his Holiness and of his +Majesty in this regard, so that we may report to his Majesty in the +first ships that his royal will has been fulfilled. + +From the above, and from the jurisdiction and authority conceded +to the bishops over their sheep by the sacred canons, councils, and +briefs of the holy apostolic see, it is manifest with what want of +reason and foundation has been the assertion and declaration made +three or four times by Father Pedro de San Pablo, provincial of the +Order of St. Francis, in the royal courts about one month ago, while +reporting a suit of the fiscals of the missions of the Indians--namely, +that the provincials of the orders of these islands, and the regular +ministers of the Yndias, had more jurisdiction and power, by virtue +of their privileges, over the Indians in regard to matters concerning +the ministry of their missions than had the bishops and archbishops +in whose dioceses the said missions are located. That appears to be +a universal sentiment and practice of the said religious, by what we +have experienced in the course of the visitation to the Indians of +our archbishopric that we have as yet made. Given in Manila, March +twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [16] + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. + +[On April two and three, Don Gabriel de Mujica, the archbishopric's +secretary, delivered in person a similar copy of the above +notifications to [each of] the fathers-provincial--namely, Fray Juan +Henrriquez, Augustinian; Fray Miguel Ruiz, Dominican; Fray Cristobal +de Santa Ana, commissary visitor of St. Francis. On June 20, the +archbishop began his visits through the parish of Dilao, causing an +edict of the following tenor to be published from the pulpit during +high mass.] + +We, Don Fray Diego Garcia Serrano, by the grace of God and the +holy apostolic see, archbishop of the Philipinas, member of his +Majesty's council, etc.: To you, the faithful Christians, citizens, +dwellers, residents, and inhabitants of the village of Dilao, which +is administered by the Order of St. Francis, of whatever state, rank, +and preeminence you may be, greeting in our Lord Jesus Christ. We +cause you to know that the holy fathers, inspired personally by the +Holy Spirit in their sacred councils, piously and rightly ordered and +commanded that all the prelates and pastors of the universal Church +be obliged, in person or through their visitors, to make annually +a general visit and investigation of their subordinates and clergy, +both seculars and regulars, who have in charge the administration of +souls. This shall include the offices that they hold, in curacies +and in churches, hermitages, hospitals, and confraternities, all +which should be directed to the spiritual welfare of souls--which +consists in being, through the grace of God, our Lord, separated +from sins, especially public and disgraceful sins, which offend His +[Divine] Majesty so greatly. In order to fulfil this our obligation, +we admonish and order that those of you who shall know or who shall +have heard anything said concerning the father cura, your minister, who +has charge of you in the matter of the administration of sacraments, +or of any other person, which cannot or ought not to be tolerated +by the citizens and inhabitants of this said village of Dilao, of +whatever nation and rank he be, shall tell and declare it to us; +especially if he shall have committed what will be mentioned and +related to you later in this edict, in whole or in part, or any other +thing similar to it. You shall declare and manifest the same before +us within the three days first following after this our letter and +edict shall be declared and read to you. + +First, if you know or have heard said whether the said father cura N., +your minister, has been remiss and negligent in the administration +of the holy sacraments of baptism, penance, the eucharist, extreme +unction, and matrimony. + +_Item_: Whether anyone has died without holy baptism through his +neglect and carelessness, or without confession, communion, or +extreme unction. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has not said mass +for you on every Sunday or feast that is observed; or whether he has +made any signal omission in this; and whether he preaches and teaches +the Christian doctrine to you, as he is obliged. + +_Item_: Whether the administration of the holy sacraments takes place +with the reverence and propriety that is fitting; whether he has +married anyone before daybreak, or without the admonitions ordered by +the holy council, or without the notification of our vicars, and their +permission having preceded, in the cases in which it ought to be made +and asked for; and whether the baptisms that have taken place have been +in the baptismal font of the church, with all respect and reverence. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister keeps the tariff +of the fees--both those which pertain to him and those that pertain +to singers, fiscals, and sacristans--written and placed openly +where all may read it, so that they may know what they have to pay; +or whether he has forced the natives to give more alms than they owe +or are willing to give for marriages, baptisms, or burials, whether +in money or in other things. + +_Item_: Whether the said your minister is careful to execute the pious +foundations and the wills of his parishioners; or whether these have +failed to be observed through his fault. + +_Item_: Whether the said your minister is careful to register his +parishioners, both natives and those of other nations, at the time of +Lent; and whether he has confessed them during that time, or tried +to confess them; and whether he has, after Lent, made any effort to +ascertain whether they fulfilled their duties to the church according +to their obligation. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has concealed any +public or notorious sin of his parishioners, that has come to his +notice, and has not endeavored to have it remedied by the persons +who can remedy it. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said your minister has not looked +after the property of the church, the silver, and ornaments, and +everything belonging to it; and whether any property has been lost +by his carelessness and negligence. + +_Item_: If you know whether the said minister, in the public sins +that have come to his notice and that he has punished, has condemned +the sinners to pecuniary fines, or something of value, such as wax, +cloth, or other things; and whether he has failed to apply the said +fines to those to whom they belong, in accordance with his Holiness's +brief and his Majesty's decrees. + +_Item_: If you know whether the fiscals have performed their duty +poorly; or whether they live in sin, or are dishonest, or they conceal +sins or concubinage; or whether they receive bribes; or whether with +their authority as fiscal they have annoyed the Indians, or have +taken rice, fowls, or other things at a less price; or whether they +have imposed any tax under pretext of alms for the church, by their +authority that they possess as ministers of it; or whether they have +taken more fees than belong to them by our tariffs. + +_Item_: If you know whether the choristers and sacristans have +likewise taken larger fees than are assigned them by our said tariffs, +for burials, funeral honors, and other things that belong to them; +and whether, when any poor man has died who has not the wherewithal +to pay the fees, they have refused to bury him unless they are paid, +or unless they receive pledges that they demand before burying him. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any apostates of our holy +Catholic faith; or who practice any evil worship; or who possess or +read books of it. + +_Item_: Whether there are any who are living in public concubinage, +or as whoremongers; or who keep in their houses slave women, or other +women or men of evil life, in order to commit sins. + +_Item_: Whether there are any who have not confessed, or fulfilled +the precept of the church, according to their obligation; or whether +there are any who have eaten meat unnecessarily during Lent on the +fast of Friday or the four ember days. + +_Item_: Whether there are any married twice while the first husbands +or wives are living, or who are married to relatives in the degree +prohibited, without dispensation from him who can give it. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any usurers who loan money at +usury and interest; or who sell on credit at a dearer price than the +things are worth when cash is paid; or who buy at a less price in order +to give the money advanced with the imposition or fraud and usury. + +_Item_: If you know whether there are any, either of you natives, +or of any other nation, either men or women, who are sorcerers, or +witches, or magicians; or those who pray to the devil, or who cast +any kind of lots, whether to discover theft, or to ascertain other +things by enchantments and witchcraft. + +And inasmuch as the above evil is a very great offense and disservice +to God our Lord; and as it is advisable to remedy that herein +contained that has been committed: we order, exhort, and admonish +all the citizens, dwellers, residents, and inhabitants of this said +village of Dilao [to make known these things], within the said term of +three days--under penalty that, if they know it and do not declare it, +they shall, if it be proved, be punished most severely. + +Given in this village of Dilao, June twenty-four, one thousand six +hundred and twenty-two. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. +By order of the bishop, my master: +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +[While the archbishop was proclaiming the visitation in the church +of the above village, father Fray Jose Fonte, secretary of father +commissary Fray Cristobal de Santa Ana, presented to him the following +petition.] + +Fray Christoval de Santa Ana, preacher and commissary visitor of +the discalced Franciscans of this province of San Gregorio, etc.: I +declare that, as I have been informed that your Lordship intends to +visit the missions and their ministers of the said my order in this +archbishopric--which is not only an innovation, and a thing not done +by the other archbishops, the predecessors of your most illustrious +Lordship, but also contrary to the ordinance of the brief of his +Holiness Pius V, despatched in Roma, March twenty-four, one thousand +five hundred and sixty-seven, in which, notwithstanding the ordinance +of the holy council of Trent, authority is given to the religious who +are occupied in the conversion of, and preaching to, the Indians, +to perform the office of curas and administer the holy sacraments, +with subordination to the superiors of their order, and exemption +from the bishops and ordinary judges--accordingly the said my order +receives violence and injury from your Lordship's endeavor. [17] + +I petition and entreat you, in observance of the ordinance of his +Holiness, to preserve the said ministers and the said my order in their +exemption and privileges; if this be not done, I protest that I shall +make use of the other powers conceded to my order by the apostolic see, +and the remedies that belong to it by law. I petition justice, etc. + +_Fray Christoval de Santa Ana_, commissary-visitor. + +... His Lordship having seen the said petition and having noted the +brief of his Holiness and its contents, declared: That besides that +the said brief is revoked by a _motu proprio_ of his Holiness Gregory +XIII, under date of Roma, on the kalends of March, of the year five +hundred and seventy-three, by which are revoked all concessions and +privileges that his Holiness Pius V conceded to the religious of the +mendicant orders, reducing them to the terms of the law and of the holy +council of Trent, even in case that the brief of his Holiness Pius +V, which has been read, is not comprehended in the said revocation, +his Holiness Pius V did not make any innovation in the rulings of +the holy council in regard to the religious who administer souls +being immediately subject as far as such ministers are concerned, +and in everything that pertains to the administration of sacraments, +to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the bishop in whose +diocese they minister. For, as is evident by the said brief, his +Holiness was requested, at the instance of his Majesty, to be pleased +to decree concerning as many things as had been ordered in the holy +council of Trent; namely: first, that marriages should not be allowed +to be celebrated except in the presence of the parish priest or by his +permission; second, that the religious could not preach without the +permission of the bishop; third, that they could not hear confessions +without having been examined by the ordinary; fourth, that the bishops +could erect new parishes in places very far apart. [18] + +And in regard to the fact that the religious were exercising the +duties of parish priests in the Yndias, it was necessary to provide +relief in the above four things. His Holiness, in accordance with that +petition and request, decides the first three points in favor of the +said religious, so that, having been examined and approved by their +superiors, in the form ordered by the said brief, the permission of +the ordinaries was not necessary in order to exercise their offices; +and then his Holiness, immediately providing for the fourth, orders +that there be no innovation by the ordinaries in the custom followed +before. Consequently, his Holiness decided in this regard that, if +it were the custom before the council for the ordinaries to erect new +parishes in the missions administered by the religious of the Yndias, +his Holiness orders that that custom be retained; and if not, that +there be no innovation; and that the said brief does not treat of +other things. Consequently, his Lordship orders that the visitation +that he has commenced be continued; and he made declaration to that +effect through the interpreter, Christoval de Vera. Thus did he decree +and order, and he affixed his signature. + + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop. +Before me: +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_ + + +[Father Fray Alonso de Valdemoro, definitor of the province of +San Gregorio, was then president and minister of the mission and +ministry of Dilao. In consequence of the aforesaid, the archbishop +having ordered him to open the sacristy, in order to inspect the holy +sacrament, and to examine the adornment that was there, he said that +he could not do it. Notwithstanding that reply, the prelate ordered +him once more to open the sacristy, where the most holy sacrament was +kept, in order that he might proceed with the said visit, "which he +was to obey immediately under penalty of the greater excommunication, +_latae sententiae ipso facto incurrenaa_, and four years' suspension +from the office of the ministry of souls." The father minister, having +been informed of the act, insisted on his reply, basing his action +on the pontifical privileges of his order. In respect to the royal +decrees, he said that he was obeying them, but that it was necessary +that they should be communicated to his own regular superior, who +had the right of answering them; "and consequently, that in virtue +of the said briefs, by which he is exempt from the jurisdiction of +the bishops in regard to the ministry and visit that his Excellency +intends to make; and by law, inasmuch as he is not the archbishop's +sheep or subject, the said excommunication ... does not oblige or +bind him. Accordingly, let his most illustrious Lordship determine +that matter with his superior, whom the said father is bound to obey; +and, while this matter is not clear, he does not consider as harmful +the penalties and censures imposed by his Excellency. He affixed +his signature, witnesses being Captain Gregorio de Galarca, Alferez +Antonio de Viana, and Don Melchor de Valdes, and many other persons. + +_Fray Alonso de Valdemoro_, definitor. + +Before me, and I attest it: + +_Licentiate Alonso Ramirez_" + + +Thereupon the archbishop ordered his notary to read the act passed +on the twenty-second of the same month, "in which is discussed the +right of his Excellency to make this visitation. Together with it +the archbishop ordered the clause of the brief of Gregory Fourteenth +to be read and communicated to him, which treats of this visitation +and the decrees of his Majesty which are in these acts, so that the +said father should not pretend ignorance of it. Thus did he order, +and he affixed his signature. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop." + +The definitor responded "that in consideration of the fact that when +his Holiness concedes any indult, and orders any new mandate, he is +seen to address himself, as is his constant custom, to the chief men, +to whom it pertains to carry out any new mandate, the same law extends +to the decrees sent by his Majesty, which are directed to the chief +persons, to whom it pertains to answer the said decrees and mandates +of his Holiness. Consequently, as it does not appear that his prelate +and superior, to whom it pertains to receive and answer the said +decrees and clauses of the said brief that have been communicated +to him, has been notified of them; and as it is not apparent to him +from the said reply: he cannot make any innovation until such time as +the will of his superior, with whom those matters must be discussed, +is known to him...." + +Having received that reply, the archbishop "declared the said father, +Fray Alonso de Valdemoro, to have incurred the penalty of greater +excommunication and of suspension from his office as minister, which +is imposed on him; and that, as such excommunicate, he was deprived +of what excommunication deprives one; and in order that he might +not allege or pretend ignorance, this declaration, stating that he +has incurred the censures imposed, is to be read and communicated +to him...." + +Having heard the act, Father Valdemoro replied: "that, in consideration +of the replies that he has given, and his protestation against the +violence that his Excellency has exercised toward his order, and the +lack of summons, [19] which are an intrinsic right in excommunication, +he does not consider himself as such excommunicate, until information +has been given to his superior, as he has said, and in the meantime +he does not consider himself injured...." + +After the aforesaid, Father Valdemoro took part in a procession, +in which the image of our Lady of Guidance was carried to the city, +so that the Lord might be pleased, through her intervention, to +bring safely to port the ships that were to anchor that year in +Cavite from Acapulco. The ecclesiastical fiscal was informed of it, +and he informed the provisor and vicar-general of it. At that time +the latter was the canon and treasurer, Don Juan Cevicos. He ordered +the father to leave the procession, and by the archbishop's order +he opened an official inquiry, in order to investigate the offense, +and to punish it according to law, "as the said father is a parish +priest and minister for souls in the said mission of Dilao, and the +said offense is dependent on the visit which his said Excellency is +making on him as such minister, inasmuch as he is, in that regard, +under his Lordship's jurisdiction and subject to him...." + +The investigation ended on June 26 of the said year. In it the +depositions were taken of Licentiate Juan de Arguijo, ecclesiastical +fiscal of the archbishop; Don Alonso Garcia de Leon, canon; Licentiate +Jeronimo Rodriguez Lujan, presbyter; Miguel Calderon, presbyter; and +Alferez Francisco del Castillo, chief constable of the archbishop. The +archbishop ordered that the father minister of Dilao be arrested, +"and placed as a prisoner in one of the convents--that of St. Dominic, +or St. Augustine, or the Society of Jesus, or St. Nicolas of the +Recollects of this city--the one which the said father should +select. That convent the archbishop assigns to him as a prison and +place of confinement; and he is ordered not to break it under penalty +of greater excommunication, _latae senteniae ipso facto incurrenda_, and +suspension from active and passive vote for three years. And in order +that the said imprisonment might be effective, and not be hindered +by the religious of the said order, the royal aid shall be petitioned +through this royal Audiencia, to whom it rightly belongs to give that +aid, in order that they may fulfil the decrees of the holy council of +Trent, and a royal decree given for this purpose, under date of San +Lorenzo, November fourteen, six hundred and three, directed to this +royal Audiencia, and another royal decree of the same date directed +to the archbishop of these islands, in which they are ordered to make +effectual the said visit, as such is advisable for the relief of the +consciences of his Majesty and of the said archbishop...." + +The Audiencia having been asked for aid on June 27, declared on July +4, that "there was no occasion at the present time for imparting to +the archbishop of these islands the royal aid asked in his name...." + +While the above was happening, one Sunday, June 26, papers were +seen to be posted on the doors of the cathedral and convents of +Manila. They were signed by father Fray Pedro de Muriel, by order +of the judge conservator appointed to prevent the said visit. He +was father Fray Tomas Villar, rector of the college of St. Dominic, +by virtue of two briefs of Pius V: the first given March 24, 1567; +and the second September 23, 1571 _Universis et singulis venerabilibus +fratribus_. He had accepted his charge one day before the said posters +were put up. In those posters, Don Juan Cevicos was declared to have +incurred the excommunication of the canon _si quis suadente diabolo_, +for having taken Father Valdemoro from the procession the twenty-fourth +of the same month. + +The matter being communicated to the archbishop, "he summoned the +said conservator to immediately refrain from proceeding in the said +causes, under penalty of incurring the penalties established by law; +besides which he would proceed to punish the scandal caused in this +community by his having affixed decrees in which the said provisor +was said to be excommunicated." + +Father Villar replied, declaring his charge as apostolic judge +conservator, and that, as such, "he must proceed in the said +cause. Accordingly, he petitions and requests his Lordship to cease +to proceed in the said visit, that he has intended to make in the +said mission of Dilao; and that he send all that has been written +and done to the said judge conservator; and if not, the latter will +proceed to what is advisable, in accordance with law. In respect to the +provisor, through his having incurred that contained in the said canon, +_si quis suadente_, he ordered that he be proclaimed in the public +parts of this city as excommunicated, so that all may know of it, +and that no person remove, or cause to be removed, the said posters, +under penalty of greater excommunication, _ipso facto incurrenda_ ... " + +In view of the aforesaid, and considering that the Audiencia gave +no support to the archbishop, so that he might prosecute the said +visit that he had begun, he insisted no further on it. But "so that +the aforesaid might be apparent to his Majesty, and that the latter +might provide what relief he pleased, the archbishop ordered--and +he did so order--a testimony to be sent to the royal Council of the +Yndias of all that had been done, and that the briefs mentioned in +this act be sent also ... " + +At the same time he wrote the following letter to his Majesty:] + +Sire. + +Finding myself obliged, both by the holy council of Trent and a brief +of his Holiness Gregory Fourteenth, and by the restraining decrees of +your Majesty, in regard to the visiting of the religious missionaries +by the bishops--respecting curacies, and that they do not exercise +such office without being examined beforehand in the language of +the natives that they administer--I determined to carry out so holy +mandates, from which so many blessings must result to the service of +God and that of your Majesty. Accordingly, having declared my purpose +to the superiors of the said orders, three months before beginning the +said visit, by means of a letter or notification which I gave them, +in which I cited the passages of the said holy council, the brief of +his Holiness, and the decrees of your Majesty, they responded to me +orally, saying that they had an indult from his Holiness, Pius Fifth, +in order that they might not be visited in matters touching curas +and ministers of souls; and that the bishops had no jurisdiction +over their ministries. I began, in fulfilment of the aforesaid, +the visitation on the twenty-fourth of the past month of June, at a +ministry in charge of the Order of St. Francis, in the suburbs of +Manila. Proceeding to the visit, I found so much resistance from +the religious missionaries, both on reading the edict, and when I +happened to request them to open the sacristy in order to inspect the +casket of the most holy sacrament, that it was necessary to order that +under censure, and that was not sufficient to make them agree to my +request. Accordingly, I declared and announced that the minister of +that mission was excommunicated. For the time being I contented myself +with that effort, with which, in order to avoid scandal, I returned +home, with the intention of asking aid from this royal Audiencia. + +But the said minister regarded the ecclesiastical censures and his +prelate as of so little moment, that his subsequent action was just +as if he had not been excommunicated and denounced. In a general +procession that this cathedral made to the chapel of Nuestra Senora +de Guia, for the happy arrival of the ships that we were awaiting +from Nueva Espana, in which were the royal Audiencia, cabildo, city, +and orders--all aware of the event of the previous day, for even the +most secret thing is known in a city so small--all were universally +scandalized. Consequently, my provisor, in order to avoid that scandal, +was obliged to order the said minister to leave the procession, and not +to furnish the bad example that he was setting by showing contempt for +ecclesiastical censures. As he refused to leave, the provisor removed +him from the procession, ordering the fiscal of this archbishopric +to follow him until he ejected him from the procession. As it was a +matter that concerns, and is dependent on, the visit, all the orders +were so angry over it that, speaking through the mouth of the Order of +St. Francis, they elected as judge conservator a friar of St. Dominic, +the rector of this college of Manila, in order to avoid any further +attempts in the said visit to the ministries of the orders. The judge +conservator, without informing me of any apostolic letter or brief of +his Holiness pertaining to the said conservatorship, posted decrees +next day in the churches and public places, declaring the said provisor +as excommunicated and as fallen into the penalties of the clause _si +quis suadente Diabolo_ ... I continued to prosecute the cause of the +visit, and, having found the said minister guilty, I requested aid in +order to proceed against him, and, until he should become obedient, +to keep him confined in one of these convents of Manila. + +The royal Audiencia voted that there was at present no occasion +for the said aid. Thereupon I issued an act, in which I abandoned +the visit until I could give an account to your Majesty--to whom +I enclose a testimony of everything with this letter, and with it +another testimony of the act of the royal Audiencia in regard to the +case against my provisor, whom the judge conservator tried to arrest, +and for which he requested aid, which the auditors refused him. + +I have written your Majesty this relation in order to comply with your +orders to inform you of what should be done in this, and so that you +may see the freedom with which the religious proceed in this country, +confident that they are the greatest part of the community; and that +having, as they do, so great influence in all these provinces which +they administer, they must succeed with whatever they undertake, +even creating a judge conservator, contrary to the ruling of the holy +council and the royal will of your Majesty. That is so true that they +proclaimed in Manila that if the archbishop proceeded with the visit, +they would place him on the list as excommunicated, and would not +absolve him until he should go to their convent of St. Dominic to +beg absolution. I might easily have proceeded with the visit, Sire, +but I preferred to be chidden as remiss, than not to have those great +scandals muzzled which were represented to me to be inevitable if +I went to law with these religious. And speaking with all truth, it +seems to them a case of less value than that any Indian or Spaniard +should imagine that there is any power in these kingdoms greater than +their own. May God preserve the very Catholic person of your Majesty, +with the increase of new kingdoms and the happiness of those that +you possess, as Christendom has need, and as we your Majesty's humble +vassals and chaplains desire. + +Manila, August first, one thousand six hundred and twenty-two. [20] + + +_Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano_, archbishop of Manila. + + +_Regulations concerning the visits of religious_ + +The King. Inasmuch as I have considered it advisable to order to be +given, and gave, one of my decrees of the following tenor: + +"The King. Inasmuch as there have been many differences in regard +to the manner in which the religious of the mendicant orders who +have missions of Indians in their charge in Nueva Espana, are to +be visited by their prelates, and whether it is advisable that they +possess missions; and inasmuch as various decrees have been despatched, +some of which have been carried out, but others, because of finding +some trouble in the execution, have not been observed; and desiring +to end those quarrels and establish the form most advisable for the +service of God and for mine: I ordered that, the papers that treat of +that matter having been collected, what had been done in that matter +be examined in an assembly of ministers and other experienced and +educated persons. The assembly having conferred on the matter, and +advised me of their opinion, I have considered it best to determine +and order, as I do by this present, that, for the present, and until +I order otherwise, the said missions remain to, and be continued by, +the religious as hitherto; and there shall under no consideration be +any innovation in that matter; and the assignment and removal of the +religious who are curas, whenever it may be necessary, shall be made +by my viceroy of those provinces, in my name, the latter observing +in those appointments and promotions the form, together with the +conditions and circumstances, with which it is done in the kingdoms +of Piru; and it is my will that the religious be not admitted to the +exercise or to the service of the said missions, or that they receive +the emoluments of them in any other manner. I also order that the +archbishop of those provinces may visit the said religious in what +refers to the ministry of curas and to nothing else--inspecting the +churches, the sacraments, the chrism, the confraternities, their alms, +and everything pertaining to the mere administration of the holy +sacraments and the said ministry of curas. He shall go to make the +visit in his own person, or shall assign or send for this duty such +persons as he shall choose and find satisfactory, to those districts +where he cannot go in person, or where there is no occasion for his +aid. He shall employ correction and punishment whenever necessary, +strictly within the limits and exercise of curas as above stated, and +nothing further. In respect to personal transgressions in the morals +and lives of such religious curas, the latter shall not remain subject +to the said archbishops and bishops, so that these may punish them +through the visits, even though under pretext that they are curas; +but, on having notice of such matters, they shall, without writing +or drawing up processes, secretly advise their regular superiors of +such persons, so that the latter may correct the wrong. In case that +the latter should not do this, then the former might make use of the +authority given them by the holy council of Trent, in the manner and +in the cases when they can and ought to act in regard to religious +who are not curas. In this instance I order that they have recourse to +the said my viceroy, who shall appoint them and who can remove them, +to represent to him the causes, so that it may be done as has been +and is done in Piru. And inasmuch as the said religious, in regard +to the jurisdiction, are not endeavoring to acquire any right for +the perpetuity of the said missions; and since by the aforesaid the +ordinary jurisdiction is not annulled in cases that conform to law +and to the holy council of Trent: it pertains to the superiors to +try the causes of the religious. That must and shall be understood, +without any prejudice to the ordinary jurisdiction and the right of +my patronage. I order all the above to be thus observed and executed +inviolably by my viceroy, archbishop, bishops of Nueva Espana and +all other persons whom its fulfilment concerns, notwithstanding any +other orders whatever that may exist to the contrary. Such I revoke +and declare null and void. Given in Madrid, June twenty-two, one +thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + + +_I The King_ + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +And in behalf of the archbishop of the metropolitan church of the +city of Manila in the Philipinas Islands, I have been requested to +be pleased to declare whether the decree of November fourteen of the +former year six hundred and three is to be observed in those islands, +in regard to the manner in which the said religious missionaries +are to be visited; or whether the visit is to be exercised with the +limitation and in the form contained in the new decree which was given +to Nueva Espana. The matter having been examined in my royal Council +of the Indias, I have considered it fitting to give the present. By +it I order that everything contained in the decree herein inserted +be observed and obeyed by my governor, archbishop, and bishops of +those islands, and by all other persons whom it concerns, exactly +as is contained in it, for such is my will. Given in Madrid, August +fourteen, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. [21] + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + +CONFLICT BETWEEN CIVIL AND RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES + + +_Case that happened in Manila in the year 1623, in regard to a fugitive +who was taken from the church_ + + +Juan Soto de Vega, whom justice was prosecuting for having stolen +a large sum of money from the ship which was coming from Mejico to +Filipinas, had taken refuge in the asylum [_sagrado_] of the cathedral +of Manila. Desirous of escaping from the prosecution of the secular +tribunal, he tried to get to Eastern or Portuguese Yndia in the month +of December. He begged permission from the provisor and vicar-general, +Don Pedro Monrroy, that he might be taken from the cathedral and kept +in the ecclesiastical prison; and they actually kept him there, but +with guards and in confinement, until the Portuguese boats left for +Yndia. Then they returned him to the cathedral, where he remained for +the space of eight months, until an auditor took him violently from +the church on the fifth of September, 1623, and took him to the public +prison. There he, in company with another auditor, tortured Juan de +la Vega until they broke his arm, which caused a great public scandal. + +The provisor began to take steps in defense of the ecclesiastical +immunity. He demanded the criminal, and publicly declared the auditors +to be excommunicated, threatening to place them under interdict, unless +they would return the prisoner to the church. After the time-limit had +expired, the interdict was imposed. The auditors, on the other hand, +despatched a letter and a second letter to the provisor charging him +to lift the censures and interdict, under penalty of banishment and a +fine of 2,000 ducados, unless he did that in the time-limit that they +assigned him. As he did not fulfil the command, they despatched the +court constable, with soldiers, to look for the provisor in order to +arrest him. They registered all the house of the archbishop, and the +house of the provisor himself, sequestered his goods, broke off the +locks of the cupboards and writing-desks, and ransacked his papers, but +did not find him, for he had hidden in the convent of the Augustinians. + +The archbishop (against whom the proceedings were directed), seconded +by the public opinion, which was contrary to the auditors, summoned +Doctor Don Juan de Renteria, bishop of Nueva Segovia (who was then +in Manila), and various religious, prebendaries, and lawyers, and +assembled or formed a council to discuss what ought to be done in such +a case. The opinion of all was that the auditors were legitimately +excommunicated, and the interdict rightly imposed; and that the +ecclesiastical immunity ought to be sustained, and satisfaction +demanded for the scandal by returning the fugitive to the church. + +While that meeting was being held, the auditors despatched a royal +mandate, which they said was given by Don Felipe, to the archbishop, +ordering him not to retain Don Pedro de Monrroy as provisor, as he +was exiled from the kingdoms, to absolve the excommunicated, and lift +the interdict--under penalty, if he did not do so, of banishment +and a fine of 2,000 ducados. The archbishop replied, demanding a +testimony of the cause and the corresponding acts [of the Audiencia], +in order to determine what he should do. But the auditors sent him +another royal decree, warning him that he would be considered to have +incurred the said penalties if he did not immediately lift the censures +and interdict. Since the archbishop held firm, the auditors sent the +chief court constable, together with the actuary of the Audiencia and +thirty pikemen under command of an adjutant, at four in the afternoon +on that same day, in order to take charge of the episcopal residence, +with orders not to permit any one to leave it or anything to be taken +from it. + +At this juncture, the rector of the Jesuit college and others advised +the archbishop to raise the censures _ad reincidentiam_ [_i.e._, +"until a repetition of the offense"], and the interdict for one week, +since they thought that the auditors would return the prisoner. That +was done, and the archbishop requested the opinion in writing of the +orders and learned persons, which they gave him--with the exception +of the Dominicans, who excused themselves. The archbishop, seeing +that the auditors not only did not do what was promised, but even +issued another decree to arrest and expel the provisor, called another +meeting, at which the Dominicans had no part. In that meeting it was +decided to defend the ecclesiastical immunity, and that two individuals +of the assembly should go to talk with the auditors in the name of +the assembly, and notify them that the prisoner must be returned, or +else the archbishop could not raise the censures or interdict. Two +Jesuits went, and the auditors replied to them that they would not +desist or turn back. The interdict was immediately imposed again, +and the auditors were publicly declared to be excommunicated. + +A Jesuit, who was a friend to the governor, advised him to take a +hand in the matter in order to cut short such scandals. The result +was that the governor decided to see the archbishop at the residence +of the Society, in order to discuss the most suitable method. The +interview was held, but without result. Another interview had the +same result. Meanwhile it was decided to appoint two arbitrators, +one from each side. Doctor Jolo was appointed for the auditors, and +Father Juan de Bueras, [22] rector of the residence of the Society +of Jesus, for the archbishop. They agreed that the prisoner should +be returned to the episcopal prison, and that each side should desist +from their claim in what was accomplished. + +When the time came to execute the agreement of the arbitrators, the +auditors put difficulties in the way. But, since at the same time +it happened that the provisor, as commissary of the holy crusade, +had drawn up acts against the auditors for the violation of his +house and tribunal, against which there was no recourse by force in +these islands; and since, on the other hand, the governor demanded +from them the record of all that had been done (separating himself +from them, as not being a lawyer) in order to inform the king: +they resolved to form an assembly without the governor, and voted +that the prisoner should be returned to the ecclesiastical prison, +while the ecclesiastical judge was investigating whether the church +was protecting him, which was what the archbishop claimed. + +The victorious provisor left the residence of the Society, and with +great pomp, and, accompanied by a mass of people and by his ministers, +drew the prisoner from the public prison and took him to his own. The +interdict was raised, to the chime of the bells of all the churches. + +The auditors begged to be absolved in their houses, but the archbishop +refused, saying that since the scandal had been public, the absolution +also must be so. However, absolution was given in his house to one +who was sick and who was less culpable; as well as to another by the +influence of the Dominicans, who obtained that it be given him by +the parish priest. + + + + +SEMINARY FOR JAPANESE MISSIONARIES + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-third day of July in the year +one thousand six hundred and twenty-four, the honorable president and +auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of these Philipinas +Islands, in whose charge is the government thereof, declared that +[they have resolved upon this measure] in view of the fact that Senor +Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenga, formerly governor and captain-general of +these said islands, and president of the royal Audiencia, undertook +to found a seminary [and] college where Japanese should be educated, +instructed in religion, and taught, so that when they had received holy +orders they might go to the kingdom of Japan and preach and instruct +there in our holy faith, after the manner and likeness of the English +colleges in the kingdoms of Espana, and other Christian countries--for +which purpose he designated space and locations for a church, house, +and garden in the unoccupied land outside the walls of the said city; +and for the income and maintenance of the said seminary [and] college +he designated and applied the income from the passage and navigation +from this city to the port of Cavite, and the monopoly of buyo, bonga, +[23] and tobacco, which he ordered to be established by a royal decree, +which, to this purpose, was despatched in the name of his Majesty +on the twenty-ninth of January of this present year. By this it was +commanded that no person should make use of the said passage, nor of +the carriage and sale of the said buyo, bonga, and tobacco, excepting +those who hold it in lease for the said college and its administrators, +or those named by them for this purpose, under the penalties which +are imposed upon them by the magistrates. From this have resulted +great discontent and scandal in all ranks of this commonwealth, and +particularly among serious persons therein, both ecclesiastical and +lay--who, being moved by zeal for the service of God our Lord, and of +his Majesty, and for the prosperity and preservation of these islands +and the citizens and natives thereof, have made representations of +the many difficulties resulting from the aforesaid grant, not only +in sermons which have many times been preached in regard to this, but +likewise by information and declaration to the judges and ministers of +his Majesty, that they might aid in procuring relief therein, as it +is a thing so important for the royal service. For the establishment +of the said college and seminary was accomplished at a time when +the king of Japon so rigorously prohibited the preaching of the holy +gospel in his kingdom, as is explained in the said royal decree; and +[his resentment] had reached such an extreme that, when ambassadors +were despatched in the past year to negotiate on behalf of these +islands for friendship and good understanding with the said king, +he showed himself to be so ill disposed against them that he did +not allow the said ambassadors to enter his court during the eight +months and more which they passed in his kingdom, seeking an audience +in order to give their message and embassy. According to the letters +and relations received, his resentment was the result of having found +certain religious in his kingdom in secular clothes, and of having +learned that they had been brought from these islands to his land in +disguise and secretly. On this account, and in order to prevent them +from entering Japon, he has ordered all Spaniards who are in his said +kingdom to leave it, and has forbidden and discontinued traffic, and +he will not consent that Japanese ships come to these islands, as they +used to come, to bring provisions and other military stores for the +royal warehouses; this can only result in the ruin of this country, +on account of the lack which this may cause in its armament, trade, +and maintenance. If the king of Japon, who has already ordered that +religious cannot dwell in his kingdom, by not consenting to allow +Spaniards in it, as has been said, should get word that Japanese +are being educated and instructed in the said seminary, to go and +continue the said preaching, it is certain that he must experience +even greater displeasure and annoyance, and adopt more strenuous +measures to stop all communication and passage from these islands to +his said kingdom. As a result, the Spaniards will suffer the greatest +need through the want of provision which is brought to these islands +from there. It might even be the cause that he would unite with +the Dutch enemy, whom he admits peacefully into his said kingdom, +and that they would come with a great number of troops and vessels +against these islands, and cause great losses to them, as we have no +forces sufficient to resist them successfully. On this account it is +expedient to use prudent measures and acts, and not to continue this, +which in all certainty, and evidently, as is generally known by all +the religious orders and serious persons of this city, must result in +harm to the service of God and of his Majesty, and in notable loss to +this commonwealth--both because the said seminary cannot bring about +the good results claimed for it, on account of the little inclination +of the Japanese for it, and the different objects which it is presumed +have been aimed at by it; and because in this case the argument does +not exist that holds good in other kingdoms and parts where there +are colleges of the English and other foreign nations. For, if those +peoples are irritated by the religious instruction and teaching of +the persons who are gathered in the said colleges, there are forces +to resist them; but through this seminary they might cause greater +injury than the said nations are doing without it. As for the location +which was designated for the said seminary, although it was, as has +been said, in the unoccupied land outside the walls of this city, +it appears to have been selected and set aside in the Plaza de Armas +here, close by the village of Laguio, where they have commenced to +erect a building and pillars of stone, contrary to what his Majesty +directed by his royal decree of the sixth of March of the year one +thousand six hundred and eight, which is as follows: + +"The King. In consideration of the fact that a relation has been made +to me on behalf of Hernando de los Rios Coronel, procurator-general of +the Philipinas Islands, to the effect that when the uprising of the +Chinese Sangleys occurred there, there were, about the walls of the +city of Manila, many buildings from which the Sangleys did much damage +to the walls thereof, until they were destroyed; and to prevent this +difficulty for the future, Don Pedro de Acuna, my former governor and +captain-general of those islands, commanded that no buildings should +be erected within three hundred paces from the wall of the said city, +in its entire circuit, and begged me, considering that this was so +expedient as he had given me to understand, in order that the said city +should be provided with the necessary defense, and protected from the +past dangers, that I should be pleased to have this confirmed, or do +as might be according to my pleasure. Having examined it in my royal +Council of the Yndias, the said order which the said Don Pedro issued +has appeared to me to be very effective, as is said. Accordingly it is +my will that this be observed and fulfilled, as exactly and punctually +as if it were issued by myself; and, in fulfilment thereof, I order +that neither now nor at any time shall any building be erected within +the said three hundred paces about the said wall of the said city of +Manila, since this is expedient for my service and for the security +and defense of the said city. Done at Madrid, on the sixth of March +of the year one thousand six hundred and eight. + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king, our lord: _Juan de Civiza_" + +All the aforesaid procedure is contrary to this decree. Besides, +the district and place where the said seminary building has been +commenced are the lots which have been seized and taken away from the +owners who possessed them, the houses which they had built upon them +being removed or torn down, in order to make the said Plaza de Armas; +nor have they thus far been paid for, nor has any satisfaction been +given to the owners. Accordingly, if the said lots were not necessary +for the purpose for which they were taken, they should be returned to +their owners as land and property which pertain and belong to them, +and no work or edifice should be erected thereon until they be paid and +satisfied. As for the income which is appropriated for the work, its +maintenance, and the prosecution of the building for the said seminary, +it was contrary to the rules of justice and to the laws of the kingdom, +and greatly to the prejudice of this whole commonwealth and the Indian +villages in its neighborhood; for the voyage and navigation from this +city to the port of Cavite--as it is not a river passage, but a bay +and an arm of the sea, which may be crossed with all sorts of vessels, +both large and small--cannot be reduced to the status of a private +route and profit, on account of the loss which this would cause to so +great a number of persons as possess the said vessels, and use them to +carry and convey merchandise and other sorts of articles from this city +to the said port. And especially it will cause this loss to the native +Indians of this city and of the villages of Laguio, Mahar, Meytubi, +Dongalo and others of this coast, who will be deprived and prevented +from using the vessels which they ordinarily possess to carry and +convey to the said port persons, merchandise, and other things; and +if this profit be hindered they will have nothing wherewith to sustain +themselves, and will not be able to pay his Majesty the royal tributes, +nor aid in other impositions and personal services. The same losses +will be increased by granting a monopoly of the said buyo, bonga, and +tobacco--not only for the neighboring villages but even for provinces +where it is collected and brought to this city; for their natives +have no other source of income which would be to them so important +and profitable as the gathering, carrying, and sale of buyo, bonga, +and tobacco, and if this were stopped they would be reduced to the +greatest poverty and want. That would make it impossible for them to +succeed in paying the royal tributes, impositions, repartimientos, and +other consequences of the service of his Majesty; and to the citizens +and the people of various nationalities who dwell here, for whom the +said commodities serve as food and sustenance, there would be caused +expense and inconvenience, as has already been seen by experience, for +even without the said monopoly being erected, but merely projected and +intended, the said buyo, bonga, and tobacco have risen and increased in +price, so much that the cost at present is twice what it was before, +and at the time when it was decided to erect the said monopoly--which +not only is of the fruits of the land, and articles which the said +peoples use for their sustenance, but likewise is prohibited by +equity and the laws. Consequently, looking for the greatest service +to God and his Majesty, the growth and preservation of these islands, +and the welfare and comfort of the citizens and natives thereof, they +[_i.e._, the president and auditors] declared that they would revoke, +and they did revoke, the said grant with everything therein contained; +and that they would declare it, and they did declare it, to be null +and of no force and effect. And they declared that they would notify, +and they did notify, each and every magistrate of his Majesty, that +each one of them, in his jurisdiction, in so far as may concern him, +shall not consent to the use of the said monopolies, or of any one +of them, on the part of either the said seminary or of any other +person with a lease-title therefrom, or in any other manner, who may +employ and make use of the said grant; but on the contrary they shall +proceed to the punishment of such, who shall be in their jurisdiction, +as against persons making use of a title and right not pertaining to +them. And as for the said edifice and its demolition, it shall be +entrusted to the captain-general, so that he, when he has examined +it, and found that it is within the said three hundred paces about +the walls, shall have it demolished and razed, until it be put in the +state in which the said Plaza de Armas had been before, and at the time +when the said edifice was commenced, in such manner that the purpose of +the command of his Majesty in the said royal decree shall be complied +with. A royal decree in conformity with this act shall be despatched, +and shall be cried publicly in the customary districts and places, +so that knowledge thereof may come to all. And, by this their act, +they decree and command accordingly, and have signed their names. + + +_Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Lugo_ +Licentiate _Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_ +Licentiate _Don Mathias Delgado y Flores_ +Before me: +_Pedro Alvarez_ + + + +Don Phelipe, by the grace of God king of Castilla, of Leon, of Aragon, +of the two Cicilias, of Hierusalem, of Portugal, of Navarra, of +Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Mayorca, of Sevilla, +of Cerdena, of Cordova, of Corcega, of Murcia, of Jaen, of the +Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, and of the Canaria Islands, +and of the Eastern and Western Yndias, islands and mainland, of the +Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria, Duke of Borgona, of Bramante, and +Milan; Count of Arpspug [_i.e.,_ Hapsburg] and of Flandez, of Tirol, +and of Barcelona; Seignior of Viscaya and of Molina, etc. [Here the +royal decree quotes in full the foregoing act of the royal Audiencia +beginning: "In consideration of the fact that Don Alonso Faxardo de +Tenca," etc., down to "but likewise is prohibited by equity and law."] + +Wherefore, looking for the greatest service to God and myself, the +increase and preservation of the said islands, and the welfare and +comfort of the citizens and dwellers therein, after examination by my +president and auditors of the royal Audiencia and Chancilleria of my +said Philipinas Islands, in whose charge is the government thereof, +through the death of my governor, Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenca, it +was agreed that I should revoke, as by these presents I do revoke, +the said grant and everything therein contained, and I declare it +null and of no force and effect. And I command all my justices and +ministers that each one of them in his jurisdiction, in so far as +concerns him, shall not consent to the use of the said monopolies or +any one of them, on the part either of the said seminary or of any +other person with a lease-title therefrom, or in any other manner, +who may employ and make use of the said grant; but on the other hand +they shall proceed to the punishment of such, who may be in their +jurisdiction, as against persons making use of a title and right not +pertaining to them. And as for the said edifice and its demolition, +it shall be entrusted to the master-of-camp, Don Geronimo de Silva, +captain-general, likewise of the artillery of my said islands, so that +when he has examined it, and found that it is within the said three +hundred paces about the walls of the city of Manila, he shall have it +demolished and razed until it be put in the state in which the said +Plaza de Armas had been before, at the time when the said edifice was +commenced, in such manner that the purpose of my royal command in my +royal decree shall be complied with. And this, my letter and royal +edict, shall be publicly cried in the customary districts and places, +so that it may come to the knowledge of all. Given in the city of +Manila, on the twenty-fourth of July of the year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-four. + + +_Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Luga_ +Licentiate _Don Juan de Saavedra Valderrama_ +Licentiate _Don Matthias Delgado y Flores_ + + +I, Captain Pedro Alvarez, chief secretary of the government and +department of war of these Philipinas Islands for the king our lord, +have had this written by his command with the decision of his president +and auditors. + + +Registered by Don Juan Sarmiento. +_Chancillor Don Juan Sarmiento_ + + +In the city of Manila, on the twenty-fourth of Jury of the year one +thousand six hundred and twenty-four, was published this decree in +conformity with the provision therein, in loud and intelligible words, +by the voice of Augusto de Navarrete, public crier, in front of the +gate of the Audiencia hall, and on the corner where resides Captain +Antonio de Xerez Montoro, and on the site of Bagun Bay, outside the +walls--Captain Martin de Esquival, sargento-mayor, Geronimo Enrriquez +Sotelo, and many other persons being witnesses. To this I certify: + +_Pedro Alvarez_ + +I, Captain Pedro Alvarez, sargento-mayor of the government and +department of war of these Philipinas Islands, at the command of +Senor Doctor Don Alvaro de Messa y Lugo of the council of his Majesty, +and his auditor in the royal Audiencia in these islands--who, as the +senior auditor, fills the office of president thereof--have ordered +to be drawn, and have drawn, this copy of the act and royal decree, +the originals whereof remain in my possession; and this is certain +and true, corrected and compared with the said original, to which +I refer. Witnesses at its correction and comparison were: Captain +Lopez de Olaiz, Sargento Pedro Delgado, and Martin de la Rroca, +citizens and residents of this city of Manila, where this is dated, +on the fifth day of the month of August of the year one thousand six +hundred and twenty-four. + +_Pedro Alvarez_ + +[_Endorsed_: "Copy of the act and royal decree which were published +revoking the grant which was made to the seminary [and] college for +Japanese, of a monopoly of buyo, bonga, and tobacco, and the passage +to the fort of Cavite."] + + + +EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM THE ARCHBISHOP TO FELIPE IV + + +10. The chief argument that induced his Majesty Philippo Second, +our sovereign, to reestablish in these islands, during the term +of Don Francisco Tello's government, the royal Audiencia which he +had suppressed some years before, was in order that the governors +might not be so absolute in regions so remote and so far separated +from his royal presence, but that there might be a superior arm to +restrain them, without allowing extortions on the innocent. That is a +most pious act, and one experienced by all this community during the +time of that sovereignty and superintendency in all things pertaining +to justice, government, and war. If your Majesty be pleased to have +it restored and reestablished with the majesty and power with which +it was founded, it will be of great service to God and your Majesty, +and the consolation and relief of your vassals. For it is certain that +three or four men view a cause which does not concern them with more +impartial eyes than does one man who is sole and absolute, who is at +times governed by passion, and consequently blind in what he orders +executed. Although it be said that demands for justice may be made in +the residencia--as if the poor man who suffers in person, property, +honor, and at times in his life, would appear at the residencia; and, +even if he were alive, could go to obtain satisfaction at that court +[_i.e._, of Mexico], or have method or means to do so, even though +his grievances were enormous and cried out to the heavens--well do +I know that there are testimonies in that royal Council (since they +have been sent from here) that say the contrary. But I equally affirm +this to be the truth, as, to my positive knowledge, it actually +occurs--more true than I would indeed wish, for it would be well +if these things did not happen. And since this royal Audiencia has +no more authority than at present, to suppress it will be of great +service for your Majesty, and even necessary, as the poor auditors +are as much annoyed and molested as are other private persons. What +is worse, your Majesty's authority has been seen humbled by so many +nations who know that this Audiencia immediately represents your royal +person. It will be less troublesome for us private persons to suffer +than that so great authority be seen in such decay. I petition your +Majesty to be pleased to have the importance of a matter of so great +moment considered, as may be most fitting to your royal service. + +It is a fact that this city of Manila, both at the instance of the +governor and by its own action, has caused representations to be +made in that royal Council, that this royal Audiencia should refrain +from making appointments in which the children and relatives of the +auditors occupy the best offices of war, without ever having fired +an arquebus in their lives. These men become captains at one stroke, +to the grievance of the old soldiers who have served, just as if your +Majesty had not provided for this by making such men incapable of +offices--in which intention, I consider, enter the offices of justice +and war. However, even though it is not agreeable to them, it should +be so understood; and if your Majesty be pleased to order this to be +declared, and that favors and rewards for services can be expected +only from your royal hands, this difficulty would be remedied. For I +avow that it is vastly prejudicial, since, when a man has an auditor +to defend his causes, and those inclined to him favor those causes, +his negligence comes to be rewarded. In a matter of war, the present +condition of things very often is wont to be of irreparable damage, +as we in these islands have experienced on various occasions. [August +15, 1624.] + + + + + +ROYAL ORDERS REGARDING THE RELIGIOUS + + +_Regulating their privileges_ + +The King. Inasmuch as the king my sovereign and father (whom may holy +Paradise keep) was informed that the religious who resided in the +Philipinas Islands, busied in the instruction and conversion of the +Indians, were meddling in things that did not concern them, he ordered +Gomez Perez das Marinas, then governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, or the person in whose charge the government might +be--by his decree, dated June eleven, of the former year five hundred +and ninety-four--not to allow the religious to have prisons or jails, +or to make arrests or condemn, unless they have commission from the +bishop for the things in which he can give it in accordance with law; +or not to appoint as fiscals others than those whom the bishop might +assign them, together with other declarations contained in the said +decree. Afterward the king my sovereign and father, who is in glory, +by another decree dated May six, six hundred and fourteen, ordered +the aforesaid to be obeyed and observed, according to its contents, +without violating or exceeding its tenor and form, as is contained +more at length in the said decree and its reissue, which are of the +following tenor: + +"The King. To Don Juan de Silva, my governor and captain-general of +the Philipinas Islands and president of my royal Audiencia of them, +or the person or persons in whose charge may be their government: +The king my sovereign and father, who is in heaven, ordered to be +issued and gave the decree of the following tenor: + +"'The King. To Gomez Perez das Marinas, my governor and captain-general +in the Philippinas Islands, or the person in whose charge may be the +government of them: Inasmuch as I have been informed that the religious +who reside in those islands, busied in the instruction and conversion +of the Indians, meddle in matters that do not concern them, I order you +not to allow them to have prisons or jails, or to arrest or condemn, +unless they be those who have commission from the bishop for those +things in which he can give commission in accordance with law; that +they do not appoint or have other fiscals than those assigned them by +the said bishop; and that they take no fees for burials, marriages, +or baptisms, other than according to the appraisement and declaration +of the said bishop. And inasmuch as I have been informed that they +have proceeded in the exercise of their privileges, with an excess +prejudicial to the suitable progress of the instruction, and that it +would be advisable to declare what privileges be conserved and what +revoked, in order to remove confusions and doubts--for they confess the +Indians without the bishop's authorization, and, although not curas, +perform marriages, which is in direct violation of the ordinance in +the holy council of Trent, incurring risk that the confessions and +marriages are invalid: I order you likewise that you shall communicate +with the superiors of the orders, and command them to examine the said +privileges; and, unless they have such privileges, not to proceed in +the matters here specified, because of the doubts and scandals that +may result. Given in Madrid, June eleven, one thousand five hundred +and ninety-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Juan de Ibarra_' + + +"And now it has been represented to me on the part of the archbishop +of that city that none of the contents of the said decree are observed +or obeyed with the exactness that would be fitting and expedient to +the service of God and to my service. He petitioned me to order that +it be strictly observed, as a remedy for the troubles that arise +from it. Inasmuch as it is my will that this be done, I order you +to observe, and to cause the said decree above inserted of the king +my sovereign and father to be obeyed and observed, exactly according +to its contents and declarations, without violating or exceeding in +any part of it. This I shall regard with approbation; but by the +contrary I shall consider myself as disserved. Given in Madrid, +May six, one thousand six hundred and fourteen. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +And now Don Juan Cevicos, treasurer of the metropolitan church of +the city of Manila of the said Philipinas Islands, has informed me +in the name of the archbishop of the city that, petition having +been made in behalf of Licentiate Don Diego Barquez de Mercado, +while archbishop of the said church, and of the suffragan bishops, +in my royal Audiencia of the said city, for the execution of the said +decree, because it was not observed by the religious of the Order +of St. Francis, and an edict to that effect having been despatched, +the provincial of the said order was notified. He--under pretext +of two other decrees of the sixteenth of March of the said year +six hundred and fourteen, despatched at the petition of the said +religious because they had represented that the said archbishop had +tried to make innovations in the missions by appointing fiscals in +them (as in fact he did do, so that information should be made of +what had been done in this), and that in the meanwhile no innovation +or change should be made in what had been the usual practice at the +time when he entered the said archbishopric--opposed the said edict, +and petitioned that the said decree of the sixteenth of March, six +hundred and fourteen, be observed. The same was done by the other +orders in the said islands. After the cause had been prosecuted in +the said Audiencia, after some questions and answers, it was ordered +by an act lately issued, on the first of August the past year, six +hundred and twenty-two, that the said decrees be observed and obeyed, +and that notice be given to the president, governor and captain-general +of the said islands and to the said archbishop, as was done, so that +they might investigate on what was ordered and charged to them. The +determination in the said cause was sent to my royal Council of the +Indias. Until other provision should be made, there was to be no +innovation and the execution of the said edict was to be suspended, +as was evident and appeared by the testimony of the records, which was, +in accordance with the above said, presented and examined in the said +my Council. I was petitioned to order that the commands of the said +decree of June eleven, five hundred and ninety-four, and its reissue +of May six, six hundred and fourteen, above inserted, be executed; and +that, in accordance with them, the said archbishop and bishops should +appoint and name the said fiscals--as pertains to them, in accordance +with law--and try judicially the crimes and causes of the said Indians; +and that the said religious, who arrest and punish them, as appears, +[should not do this]. Having been examined by the members of the said +my Council of the Indias, it was agreed that I ought to order this +my decree to be given. Therefore I desire, and it is my will, that +the above decrees, above inserted (of June eleven of the said year +five hundred and ninety-four, and May six, six hundred and fourteen), +be observed, obeyed, and executed exactly according to their contents +and declarations, notwithstanding the contents of the said decrees +of March sixteen of the said year six hundred and fourteen, ordering +that the said archbishop make no change in the usual practice in the +appointment of fiscals, and that the said governor investigate. And, +since this is necessary, I render those decrees to be null and void, +and without effect. I order the president and auditors of my royal +Audiencia of the said islands not to violate or exceed the contents +of this my decree, or consent that they be violated or exceeded, now +or henceforth, and in no manner. On the contrary, they shall give +the protection and aid that may be necessary for its execution and +observance. This I shall regard with approbation. Given in Madrid, +August thirty, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + + +_I The King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_ +Signed by the members of the Council. + + +[_Endorsed_: "In order that the decrees above inserted, ordering that +the missionaries of the Filipinas Islands have no prisons or jails; +that they may not condemn, except those who have commission from the +archbishop; and that they appoint no other fiscals than those whom +he shall assign them; notwithstanding the decrees that were given +ordering no innovation in the former practice, be followed in the +appointment of the said fiscals."] + +_Letter to the archbishop_ + +The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Manila in the Filipinas Islands. The +letter which you wrote me on the thirteenth of August of last year, +1623, has been received and considered in my royal Council of the +Indias. In regard to your statement that, on account of the haste in +which were sent from Mexico the ships which arrived that year at those +islands with assistance, the archbishop did not send you the papers +for convening the council, and that you therefore did not carry out +your plan for doing so, but that the necessary measures for it would +be taken this year: I command you, on receiving the despatches, to +execute the orders contained therein with the care and punctuality +that is desirable, and that I expect from you. + +I appreciate the diligence which you exerted in preventing the +attempt to nominate for provincial of the Order of St. Augustine a +person who did not possess the qualifications which are necessary and +requisite. You should always be on your guard against such things, and +attempt to preserve the desirable peace and concord among the orders. + +You advised us that it was necessary to have some ecclesiastical person +to be charged with the guardianship and the mode of governing the +seminary of Santa Potenciana, and to examine the persons who are to +live there. It was resolved to order the president of the Audiencia, +jointly with you, to inform us of what takes place, and that in the +meantime you were both to join in providing the most effective way +of administering the said seminary, with regard to both the persons +who enter it and those who leave it, with this justification, that +it be necessary. Accordingly, you will endeavor, for your own part, +to have these orders executed. + +Your statements regarding the foundation that was being established +so that the youths of those islands might be graduated without going +to the university--which foundations were to be under the patronage +of the most pure conception of Mary most holy, our Lady--have been +considered, and you may proceed. + +As to your proposition that my royal exchequer in those islands should +be inspected, the necessary provisions have already been made. + +You advise us that in the execution of the measures contained in the +decree of August 9, 1621, you have warned the heads of the orders that +they shall not receive in those islands the religious from Yndia, +and that you caused several clerics to embark who arrived at that +city from that country. You will continue to do so, fulfilling your +orders contained in this memorandum. + +The other points mentioned in your letter have been considered, +but answers to you are not yet ready. [Madrid, October 3, 1624.] + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Juan Ruiz de Contreras. + + + +_Ordering the correction of abuses against the Indians by the +Dominicans_ + +Don Phelipe, by the grace of God, king of Castilla, Leon, Aragon, +Jerusalem, Portugal, Navarra, and the Indias. To the reverend and +devout father-general of the Order of St. Dominic: It has been learned +from letters received and examined in my royal Council of the Indias +from Don Alonso Faxardo de Tenza, my governor and captain-general of +the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia resident +therein, that, although the religious of the Order of St. Dominic who +reside there are most exemplary and protect their parishioners so well, +it generally results that there is anger at their encomenderos, and +they do not attend to the affairs of my service as is advisable. On +the other hand, the Indians consider the treatment received from the +religious as severe, for they do not allow even the women to wear +shoes, while they force the men of the province of Nueva Segovia to +guard the church in rotation and turn. For whatever annoyance the +Indians cause them, they question them with regard to the Christian +doctrine, and their questions exceed those that persons with more +reason and education can answer. And thereupon, if they fail in the +least to meet these requirements, the religious have the chiefs and +their wives whipped, and cut off their hair. That has resulted in +causing among the Indians so great resentment that the insurrection +of the Indians that occurred may be attributed to that. Inasmuch +as that is a matter in which it is advisable to apply a remedy; +and inasmuch as the harsh treatment practiced by the said religious +toward their parishioners has appeared excessive, and not in harmony +with what they should do, since their purpose in going to the said +islands is to instruct and teach the natives in the articles of +our holy faith, and with all love and mildness, because they are, +as is a fact, people without reason and so newly converted (for +which reason it is so expensive to my royal revenues, from which +everything necessary is given): I request and charge you to give +what order is advisable so that the aforesaid evils be remedied, +as may be most necessary to the religion that they profess. What +remedy you shall furnish, you shall send to the said my Council, +with all haste, so that it may be remitted to the said islands; +for if that be not done with the promptness required by the case, +the relief that seems most effective will [not] be applied. Madrid, +November twenty-seven, one thousand six hundred and twenty-four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the father-general of the Order of St. Dominic, +directing him to remedy the excesses, committed on the Indians by +punishing them, by the religious of that order, who have missions +in Philipinas."] + + + + + +EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES + + +_Extracts from the Following Works, Covering the History of the +Missions to 1624:_ + + + _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de ... San + Avgvstin_. Fray Andres de San Nicolas; Madrid, 1664. (pp. 396-510.) + _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden + ... S. Augustin_. Fray Lvis de Iesvs; Madrid, 1681. (pp. 1-61.) + _Historia general de Philipinas_. Fray Juan de la Concepcion; + Manila, 1788. (Tomo iv, pp. 189-265; v, pp. 32-100.) + + +_Sources_: The first and second of these are obtained from copies +belonging to Edward E. Ayer, Chicago; the third, from a copy in the +possession of the Editors. + +_Translations_: The matter herein presented is translated and +synopsized by James A. Robertson. + + + + +EARLY RECOLLECT MISSIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES + +GENERAL HISTORY OF THE DISCALCED AUGUSTINIAN FATHERS, BY FRAY ANDRES +DE SAN NICOLAS [24] + + + + +Decade II + + +Chapter V + +_Now the second provincial Chapter is held. The mission to the +Philippinas Islands is effectively discussed. The college of Zaragoca +and the convent of Pedroso are founded. Reference to the life of +Sister Polonia de los Santos_. + +_Year 1605_ + + +[At the second provincial chapter meeting of the Augustinian +Recollects, held in April, 1605, at the convent at Madrid, father +Fray Joan Baptista de Vera was chosen provincial. At that chapter +meeting, the question of the rules of the young order was taken up, +with other business. After the conclusion of their business the +convention dissolved, "while father Fray Joan de San Geronimo [25] +was effecting his passage to the Indias, with his good companions" +(pp. 396, 397).] + + +_First mission of our religious to the Philipinas Islands_ + + +To his arduous labor in the formation and growth of the poor discalced +Augustinians, the first provincial [_i.e._, Fray Joan de San Geronimo] +gave a heroic end by beginning the very observant province of San +Nicolas [26] de Tolentino, in the islands adjacent to Asia which we +commonly call Philippinas.... + +[A short narrative of the early discoverers follows, and the beginnings +of the Augustinian missions. That order proving inadequate to cope with +the immense number of the infidels, the other orders are also given +a part in their conversion. But the need of other laborers is still +felt, and King Felipe II assents to the petition of Fray San Geronimo +"to go to the Indias with twelve associates to preach the gospel, in +that part that he should deem best." King Felipe "immediately decreed +that he should get ready to go to the Philippinas Islands, and ordered +his ministers to give him the despatches immediately. The noted and +pious father had the despatches in hand before the celebration of +the chapter, where after it was called to order, he presented there +the decree, which received prompt obedience."] + +The memorial of this circumstance is found in the old register, +and is in the following form: "May first, one thousand six hundred +and five, while the very reverend fathers were in session, etc. Our +father Fray Joan de San Geronimo, outgoing provincial of this province, +presented certain royal letters of the king our sovereign, and of his +royal Council of the Indias, in which his Majesty gives permission to +the said father Fray Joan de San Geronimo to take twelve religious +to the Philippinas Islands to preach the holy gospel, and to found +monasteries of our holy order in those Philippinas Islands. Having +examined and read them, the expedition seemed to us to be one +of great service to God, and we, the entire body of definitors, +resolved that it should be undertaken accordingly; and that all the +documents and authority necessary should be given to him so that he +should go as superior and vicar-provincial of the said Philippinas +Islands; that he may found monasteries there, and in all parts of the +Indias--with the following proviso, namely, that he shall not have +more authority than that which this province shall give him; and that +those houses that shall be founded there, and the religious in them, +shall always be subject to the father provincial who is, or shall be, +over this province. He shall always correspond with the latter, and at +each chapter held they shall send the elections of vicar-provincial +and priors, and the acts that they shall pass, so that the father +provincial of this province may confirm them, or refuse to confirm, +as he shall deem best. Advice shall be given of all the deceased +of those houses, so that the office may be performed for them, at +the time when the elections of the vicar-provincials shall be sent, +etc." Then, lower in the roll of those elected--or in the catalogue, +as we commonly call it--one reads at the end the words that follow: +"As vicar provincial of the Indias, we nominate the venerable father, +Fray Joannis de Sancto Hieronymo, and assign to him fourteen religious, +who shall always be subject to this provincial of this province of +Hispania." This arrangement having been made (which was made by the +intervention of the royal decrees that were despatched at Valladolid, +April three of that year, and which contained, in fact, the permission +for such, and general authority to found as many convents there as +the new Augustinian Recollect missionaries were able and desired; +to which were added other messages touching spiritual matters which +the pontiff's legate generously conceded), the father provincial, Fray +Joan Baptista, decreed the issue of his warrant, on May two. In this +document, after mentioning that he was ordered and commanded by the +king, and also by the said legate, to send the said father as superior +of the religious, who were about to set out for the help of those who +were occupied in the vineyard of the Lord, in the cultivation of those +islands, the father provincial entrusted to him all his authority, +without reserving anything whatever; but with the conditions that we +mention, in the records and other minutes which are generally made +on such occasions, the permissions that are despatched. + +The father vicar-provincial had already chosen his workers, men like +himself. They were among the choicest and best men that the Reform then +had in their convents. They were as follows: Fathers Fray Andres de +San Nicolas, who was called de Canovas, an apostolic man, and a great +preacher in word and deed; Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, a most exemplary +man, and devoted to the rigorous life; Fray Geronimo de Christo, [27] +very austere and observant; Fray Pedro de San Fulgencio, a capable +and very clever man for all things; Fray Diego de la Anunciacion, +[28] adorned with very singular virtues, and regarded as a saint; +Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, [29] most keen-witted and erudite in +all learning; Fray Francisco Baptista, a penitent to excess, and +regulated by conscience; Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios, most +zealous for the discalced, and for the welfare of his brethren; Fray +Andres del Espiritu Santo, a religious, although very young, very +modest and retiring. [30] The father superintendent also chose four +other religious, lay brethren, who were of use and a great credit to +the Reform, on the voyage, and at the time when they came, whose names +are as follows: Fray Simon de San Joseph; Fray Joan de San Geronimo; +Fray Geronimo de la Madre de Dios; and Fray Joan de San Guillermo. They +all assembled in Madrid on the fifteenth or sixteenth of May. Thence +they left for Sevilla, and from there went later to San Lucar. They +were detained there until they could embark in one of the ships of the +Nueva Espana trading-fleet, which set sail from the great bay of Cadiz, +July twelve, and commenced its voyage happily. The zealous missionaries +were going, very full of God, and consequently did not abate one point +of their observance, fulfilling their religious obligations as if they +were in the most retired house of those which they had left behind in +their province, notwithstanding that they were going in the midst of +the traffic and excitement that seem to be inevitable in sea-voyages, +and more so in so long ones as are those of the Indias. They did not +discontinue the two hours' mental prayer or the choral divine office, +at their proper times, and the silence, fastings, and discipline. If +they were given any moment from those holy exercises, they employed +it in preaching, and in caring for the sick. They cared for and served +the latter with what they needed, and as well as they could. They did +not content themselves only in their own ship, for when good weather +and the quiet of the sea permitted, they went in the small boat or +lancha to the others, in order to console and confess those in need of +it. They gave them wholesome counsels, and encouraged them to serve +God our Lord as they ought. By such course they succeeded in gaining +great credit and esteem. The commander himself always approached them +with his flagship to salute them, and to ask after their health, +and whether they needed anything, while he commended himself very +earnestly to their petitions and prayers. He visited them in the island +of Guadalupe with the great following of his men, charging to them +the prosperous outcome of the fleet. Finally they reached the port of +San Juan de Lua, September seventeen, with the rejoicing common to +those who sail, and especially on those seas. They disembarked and, +after having rested for some little time, they took the road; this +they moderated by stopping several days in La Puebla de los Angeles, +[31] as guests of our calced fathers, where they received the friendly +reception and love that that province has shown to the discalced very +often because their beginning was in that form. + +Since the strictness of that convent was then extreme, it lit up in +great measure the devotion and modesty of ours, the will of all going +well alongside the rare mildness of their customs. The more serious +inmates of the house did not fail to praise the humility, poverty, +and circumspect behavior of our fathers; and consequently not a few +of them were determined to follow their purpose and accompany them on +that holy undertaking, and to enjoy so good examples. They requested +this from the father commissary, but he, being so exact in matters of +attention and courtesy, excused himself prudently, in order not to +anger the prelates of the province; and, besides, because he had no +order from the king, nor any subsidy with which to pay the expenses of +any more persons than he had brought from Espana, although he esteemed +the desire that they showed to aid him. He went immediately to Mexico, +leaving the fathers of La Puebla very enamored and sad. They were +received in that magnificent city with kindness and extraordinary +devotion by the most learned father, Fray Diego de Contreras--to +whom was given, after a few years, the church of Santo Domingo, the +primatial church of the Indias. He was then professor of rhetoric in +the noted university, and rector of the college of San Pablo whose +venerating community went out to meet them in solemn procession and +with pomp, when they entered their gates. The learned master gave +proof of his ardent charity in his hospitality and cordial kindness, +making them very happy. He prepared a room for them, in which they +remained, where they received all comfort and aid, until the father +vicar-provincial rented a comfortable house, into which he and his +subordinates, and the brethren whom he had with him moved, in order +not to give occasion for so much ceremony and so many compliments; +hoping for the near opportunity to depart for the port of Acapulco. + +That one--although formerly a secular lodging, now a very strict +convent--could rival the most famous monastery in the matter of +observance; for, giving themselves to continual prayers, rigorous +fastings, harsh mortifications, and severe penances, all of them were +opposing themselves to the best of their ability in the war against +the flesh. They did not leave the house unless summoned for some work +of charity, such as to confess or to preach, which they performed +very willingly, and to the profit and good of souls. They voted +unanimously not to strive to obtain for themselves or for others, +under any pretext, in person or through others, any offices within +the order, or out of it--in order to give, as was actually seen, +a solid foundation to the province which they afterward erected so +humbly. Their rigid mode of life there was bruited through the city, +and the most noble and the wealthiest, with simple earnestness, asked +them to remain. Some of such persons offered to endow their house, +and others to contribute very ample alms. They begged our fathers at +least to leave them the number sufficient to give a good beginning to +the convent that they desired to establish. The master, Fray Diego de +Contreras, whom we mentioned above, was aiding and encouraging those +arguments, promising that they would become discalced, and that he +would carry forward our Institute, [32] with his great authority and +power, in that kingdom. Father Joan de San Geronimo was tempted by +those pious offers of generosity, but he did not deceive himself; for +many souls would have been lost if he had desisted from that opportune +and holy voyage, or if he had lessened the number of the helpers whom +he took with him--who were but few for the abundant harvest that they +set about gathering, as we shall note with the lapse of years, in the +manner in which it occurred. Accordingly, having closed his ears to all +the proposed advantages, he undertook to go to the port at the end of +that year, where we shall leave him continuing with his observance of +rules and pious devotions on the roads, although these were horrible, +as if he had been in the most comfortable and most quiet convent of +all those which he had lately left well established in Espana. + +[The remainder of chapter V is concerned with matter that does not +touch the Philippines, namely, the founding of the college of Zaragoza, +that of the convent of Pedroso, and the life of Sister Polonia de +los Santos.] + + + + + +Chapter VI + + +_Our religious reach Luzon, after the death of Father Andres de San +Nicolas in sight of the islands. They found the convent, which is +located outside the walls of Manila, and undertake the conversion +of the barbarous Zambales, in which three of their men die from the +hardships, and father Fray Alonso de la Anunciacion at the house +of Portillo._ + +We left father Fray Joan de San Geronimo and his twelve associates, +anxious to finish their journey, continuing their road from Mexico +to the port commonly called Acapulco, because it was necessary to +embark once more in order to reach Philippinas, where God our Lord +had prepared many souls who, oppressed by the demon, had no ministers +to lighten their darkness. There was already in the said port a ship +ready to sail, called "Espiritu Santo," and they were accordingly +detained but a short time. They finally set sail on the twenty-second +of February, that year of one thousand six hundred and six, in all +safety, and all being overjoyed at seeing themselves nearer the land +that they were seeking. Some incidents happened on that voyage which +were afterward regarded as miracles, and all attributed them to the +good company of so notable religious whom they carried. The first +one was that, the ship being all but sent to the bottom by burning, +the fire having approached near some barrels of powder, warning was +given in so good time that it could be extinguished, when if there had +been but little more delay, this would have been impossible. The second +seemed more prodigious; for on a certain very clear and serene night, +shouts came from the bow from those who were stationed there, crying, +"Land! land!" The pilot and sailors were thunderstruck as soon as they +saw themselves upon some shoals or sunken rocks, and already lost +beyond all remedy. Thereupon bewailing their misfortune, they tried +to seek confession, as quickly as possible. They thought that all +efforts were useless; therefore they cared for nothing else. However +they tried to cast the line, but uselessly, for their lines were cut, +and they the more confounded by their slight hopes of life. The ship +went ahead into that chasm [_rebentacon_]--as it is called--as if +it were passing through a strait; and after having sailed a goodly +stretch without accident, among so many reefs, they found themselves +on the high sea, free from everything. + +Father Fray Andres de San Nicolas had preached the previous afternoon +with great energy against the great licentiousness and shameless +conduct of the passengers and the other people, who had no fear of +God. He severely censured their excesses, and the little anxiety +that they showed in that time of greatest danger. With burning words, +he exhorted them to do better, representing to them their danger and +begging them, finally, to confess, since they did not know what was +to happen that night. The fruit that proceeded from that sermon was +large, for, his audience becoming terrified and contrite, many of +them confessed, and others proposed to do the same by having their +entangled consciences examined as soon as possible. After a few hours, +what is described above was experienced, whereby all thought that the +good preacher had had a revelation of that event; and they could not +thank our Lord sufficiently for having granted to them the company +of so good religious, but more especially the company of him who +preached to them of their danger--whom they regarded as a distinguished +servant of God, as he was. Some certified afterward that that place +through which the boat had passed had been a rocky islet, and that +they had seen it on other voyages; and they were astonished at having +escaped on that occasion with life, attributing it, beyond doubt, to a +manifest miracle, which the Lord wrought at the intercession of those +fathers. They desired, therefore, to listen to their teaching daily, +and especially to that of the father who announced to them what we +have seen. Consequently, not sparing themselves at all, the fathers +gave in alternation their inspired discourses, which were the health +and medicine of the many who were there--the ship so conforming itself +to these that it seemed a reformed convent, where before it had been +a house of confusion and bluster, with soldiers, mariners, and seamen. + +The same father, Fray Andres, among the continual sermons, preached +a very fervent one on a certain day, and gave them to understand that +he would live but a short time, and that he was not to reach the land +of promise, for his faults and defects. That happened so, for not long +after, he fell sick, before sighting the islands called Ladrones. His +sickness increasing, when he was told that the islands were in sight, +he arose from his bed, and looking at them, through a porthole of his +cabin, immediately lay down again, saying, "Nunc moriar laetus." [33] +His weakness was already very great, and, as he had already received +the holy sacraments, and was in great resignation and joy of soul, +and all our fathers were present, he begged father Fray Joan de +San Geronimo to have the passion of Jesus Christ our Lord read to +him very slowly. That was done, in the manner that he desired. He, +holding an image of the same crucified Lord in his hands, broke +out into very glowing utterances of love, and shed many tears during +those moments. After the passion was finished--which lasted until near +dawn, on account of so many pauses--he begged pardon of all for his +omissions and neglect. He asked them to remember him in their masses +and prayers. They recited the penitential psalms and other prayers, +at the end of which, the sick man, very happy, conversed with his +brethren with great affability. He charged them to keep their vows +and the observance of the rules of the order. He persuaded them to +persevere steadfastly in their purpose, and to be mindful of the +zeal with which they had been ready to leave their fatherland for +the welfare and conservation of many souls. He encouraged them to +place their confidence in God, for His Sovereign Majesty had especial +providence and care over that small flock. Accordingly, they were +not to become disconsolate with the thought that they had no house +or convent in Philipinas, for already a lodging suitable for their +purposes was being prepared for them. He concluded by urging them +to commend their souls to Him, and then became very calm. All obeyed +him, surprised, and desirous of such a death; and, at the end of the +prayer, that chosen spirit went out in peace and quiet from the waves +and shipwrecks of this world, and reached the safe and calm harbor +of glory. + +Upon beholding his death, one cannot imagine the grief of both +religious and laymen; for, venerating him as a father, they bewailed +him universally, and, in all truth, there was not one who did not show +great affliction. The corpse remained in such manner that it caused +gladness to all who looked at it. Various opinions were expressed as +to whether they should bury it in the sea or not. The laymen promised +that they would deposit it in a fitting place, until they should cast +anchor in the islands now near. Father Fray Joan de San Geronimo did +not consent to this, in order to avoid innovations--and especially when +they were going to countries where they had no home, and where they +knew no one. Therefore, placing the body in a closely-sealed wooden +box, with an inscription written on a certain sheet of lead, which +denoted his name, country, and virtues, amid their lamentations and +tears the body was cast into the sea, without having added the weight +which is used to draw the body to the bottom of the water. On account +of that carelessness the box should have remained on the surface of +the water, without being able to sink at all; but on that occasion the +Lord permitted that the waves should receive such deceased without any +violence. As the ship was in a calm, consequently, all were witnesses +that it settled to the bottom very gradually, and easily. Certain +violent fevers were raging in that vessel, from which about forty +had already died, at the time that the noted Aragonese and observant +religious finished the navigation of his life. But from that instant +all had health, becoming better and recovering very soon. That was +attributed to his prayers in heaven in fulfilment of the word that he +gave them, during the last moments of his life, namely, that he would +commend them to God in glory, provided that he went there, as he had +good hopes of doing. After the conclusion of the services for a death +so fortunate and so bewailed, they soon arrived--May tenth--at the +islands that they were seeking. Having disembarked first, according to +the order that they bore, on the island of Zibu, the discalced were +lodged in the convent of our calced fathers, the venerable bishop, +and that example of prelates, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto, as we saw +in his life, having gone out to receive them in procession. That +most illustrious man desired that the new missionaries should not +go further, and offered them a foundation and whatever they wished, +in order to exercise themselves in the conversion and salvation of +the infidels. It was impossible to assent to so many kindnesses, +for their immediate passage to Manila was unavoidable, in order that +the governor might see the despatches and the decrees from Espana, +which it was necessary to present to him. After having given the +bishop the thanks due, they had to set out as soon as possible. + +Before proceeding with our relation, it will not be out of place +to tell our readers, although in few words, something about the +island of Luzon and the city of Manila, as it is the metropolis of +the kingdoms that the crown of Castilla has there. It was given that +name, then, since the Spaniards have owned it, from a chief village +so named, distant two leguas from Manavilis, which is corruptly called +Marivelez. It was also called Nueva Castilla. It is the largest island +in the Philippinas, and extends farthest north of all those islands. It +is the most populous in nations and tribes, who exceed the others, both +in bravery and in the light of reason, with well-known advantages. Its +least altitude is scant thirteen degrees, and its greatest ten or nine +and one-half. Its circuit, without taking into account certain bays, +comprehends four hundred and twelve leguas. Those who make it three +hundred are in error, for they do not consider its position. It is +all very fertile, and has many large rivers, that of Cagayan or Nueva +Segovia being more swollen than the others. They are all navigable, +more or less. Ships enter that of Manila at full tide with one-half +their cargo, but the galleys enter it generally without any trouble. It +furnishes a location for the aforesaid city, on a certain very pleasant +and beautiful site on the shores of the sea. It is a point made by the +Pasig River in sight of the bay. That bay is affirmed to be one of the +largest and best that men can see in all the world, for it is thirty +leguas in circumference, and has an island of six miles at its mouth, +where a sentinel is always stationed. It sustains more than one hundred +thousand persons daily with fish, counting the Sangleys and Japanese, +and the villages that are settled on its shores. When Adelantado +Miguel Lopez de Legaspi took it by force of arms, May nineteen, one +thousand five hundred and seventy, ten thousand houses beautified it, +and it was the court of the king, Ladya [_sic_] Soliman, a follower +in part of the religion of Mahomet. The same general rebuilt the +city, and left it its former name of Manila--also the proper name +of the island--in the following year of seventy-one. He made it the +capital of the rest of the archipelago, as it was very suitable for +the concourse and commerce of China. Its streets are pleasant and +spacious, and without crossways or turns; for they are all straight, +and have beautiful buildings of stone, which vie with those of Espana +that are considered well made. It is strong by art and by nature, +because of the many creeks and swamps that surround it, together with +the great wall of stone built according to the style of the moderns, +with not a few ramparts. It is well defended with artillery, and has an +excellent and important fortress, supplied with all that is necessary, +even as the most noted forts that are renowned in Europa. Finally, +it is now the finest and richest city of all those of its class that +are known in the world. It enjoys a cathedral with its archbishop, +a royal Chancilleria, a presidio with numerous soldiers, and in short, +all the products that the regions of the Orient yield for the pleasure, +health, and comfort of this life, without having to envy anyone for +anything. That city alone makes the name of Espana very glorious and +formidable there; and what is more, it is that city which maintains the +Catholic religion in those very remote and out-of-the-way hemispheres. + +Writing this brief relation in order to give a beginning to the +entrance of Ours, we shall go after them immediately, and shall +find them safe at the gates of Manila, after a journey of four +thousand eight hundred leguas by the course that they pursued from +Espana. That country was then very joyful over the good news of +the success that their governor, Don Pedro de Acuna, had had in the +capture of Terrenate, one of the enviable islands of Maluco. They were +sheltered in a small house, until they found better accommodations; +and although the whole city, upon hearing of their arrival, came +in throngs to visit them and offer them more suitable lodging, +as also did the holy orders already settled there, with singular +affection, they refused to accept it--except the infirmary, which +they consented to take for some [sick men], in the convent of the +most exemplary Dominican fathers, who immediately gave it with the +greatest charity. At this juncture the victorious governor arrived, +and amid all his victories and triumphs, as soon as he heard of Ours, +he went to visit them and to regale them, as he was so Catholic and +devout a gentleman. Time was wanting to present the royal despatches +to him, for while he was in the height of his glories, sudden death +assaulted him, brought him to his feet, and cast him into the gloom +of a sepulcher. For that reason the recognition of the decrees and +orders was suspended for some time. But at last, having been examined +and ordered by the royal Audiencia and other officials to be observed, +permission was freely given to father Fray Joan de San Geronimo to +erect the establishments that he wished. + +_Foundation of the first convent of Manila_ + +The announcement made by father Fray Andres de San Nicolas while on his +deathbed to his brethren was fulfilled without any failure--namely, +that they should not despair, for divine Providence was already +arranging a house for them, which would give great pleasure to all. The +fact was that, in verification of his words, on the same day on which +the despatches for their voyage were made in Espana, the deceased +governor began to build a very fine summer-house, which had its garden +and its ponds, in a site called Bagunbaian, only three hundred paces +from the walls. It was just being finished when he returned from his +conquest, and when he ended the pleasures and joys of this life. The +retreat and pleasantness of this place were very welcome to Ours; +consequently they tried to buy it, and did so--having collected the +alms in two afternoons. During that time two religious went through +the city, accompanied by certain influential persons, [and collected] +more than three thousand pesos, with which they paid the sum asked, +a great portion of what they should have given having been forgiven to +them. Accordingly, they immediately took possession of their convent +on the day of St. Nicolas de Tolentino, to whom they dedicated it by +a special vow, which all took at the beginning of their navigation +from the shores and coasts of Espana. Under such good horoscope +was born the happy province of the Philipinas Islands. And thus we +should not wonder at the great luster that it has cast, shedding its +rays by its zeal through the darkest and most forgotten districts, +where a notable number of pagans, who were living like wild beasts +in a blind barbarism, received the truth of the faith which we profess. + +The apostolic men first settled the firm foundation of their +house--not in the material of it but in the direction of their solid +virtues. They lived in the greatest poverty and contempt of [earthly] +things, without other end than the seeking of God in prayer, and in +making Him known and loved in their talks and examples. There was +some opposition on the part of our calced fathers in regard to the +title that they gave to the new church, that of the miraculous Father +San Nicolas de Tolentino; for his devotion was practiced in a chapel +of the principal convent and was very popular, and they thought that +it would be lessened or be done away with altogether. Ours, being so +good men, disapproved greatly of litigation; and, although with great +grief, they talked of consenting to change the title, commending the +matter to our Lord very earnestly, with the intervention of peculiar +penances and exercises. The matter was left to be decided by lot, +in which many saints took part, not excluding their own dear one. He, +then, was chosen, the first, second, and third time; and the will of +God was thus made plain. Not only did they confirm what was already +done, but they also placed under his protection the province which was +now in its beginning, and gave it his name. In accordance with this +a very solemn feast was made, that venerable prelate and bishop of +bishops Don Fray Pedro de Agurto saying the first mass. He had come +to Manila from Zibu to be the rainbow [_Iris_] that announced peace +and true brotherhood to calced and discalced, whom we ought to hold +as sons of a good father. Father Fray Pedro Solier--a chosen shoot of +the convent of Salamanca, and afterward provincial of those islands, +bishop of Puerto Rico, and lastly archbishop of Santo Domingo and +primate of the Indias--preached in glowing terms in praise of the +Reform, in the presence of the royal Audiencia, the ecclesiastical +and secular cabildos, the orders, the nobility, and all the people +of Manila--who from that time made greater progress in the veneration +and worship of that saint. The good-will that the city began to have +for the new evangelical ministers was vast. Consequently, the city +desired to shelter them within the girdle of its walls, on noting the +discomfort that they were suffering; and that was done by moving the +convent of San Nicolas, as we shall see. + +It seemed hard for the religious to leave their first foundation, not +so much for the material of the house as for the service that they +were performing for our Lord in that suburb, in administering the +holy sacraments to the not few persons who were living there. Those +people, especially at night, were deprived of spiritual aid, for +it was necessary that the gates of the city be tightly shut and the +necessary guards posted. It was a true inspiration from heaven not to +abandon that convent (now that of San Joan Baptista), since--as was +within a very short time made evident, through the care and presence of +Ours--so great a number of Christians came so frequently from all parts +to confession and to holy communion that four ministers daily have +not been sufficient. They numbered some Spaniards and many negroes, +both free and slave, and more Indians of different nations, who came +to seek in that refuge relief from their sins and failings. They found +that convent always open day and night and the religious ever ready +to give them the health and life of their souls. After several years +the province determined that that house should be made a college, +and accordingly that was carried out. The arts and theology were +studied there, for, although instruction and piety join hands, it +was not advisable that the college and the house be in one place. In +that place rest three incorruptible bodies of the first founders, +and no one knows who they are. All are surprised that they can remain +so well preserved in a country so damp and hot, and it is regarded +by all as a miracle. That college, besides the aforesaid, possessed +a great treasure in the image of our Lady of Health. On bringing it +from Mexico, that image gave proofs of her favors not a few times on +the sea, and perfecting and increasing them in the islands through her +mercy. Her installation was celebrated with great pomp and ostentation +in the presence of the royal Audiencia and the city, which made very +Catholic and pious demonstrations in the feast. The church was filled +in a short time with vows and memorials which the faithful offered. A +brotherhood was founded under the title of Transito de Nuestra Senora +[_i.e._, "Transit of our Lady"], whose chief procession may be seen +and is solemnized on the third Friday of Lent, with the greatest +ostentation and display that one could express in writing or in +speech. The members of the confraternity march clad in very neat white +tunics with blue escapulars, bearing the attributes of the queen of +the skies on pendants of the same color and embroidered at a great +cost--with a numerous accompaniment of children dressed as angels, +who at intervals march along singing praises to the Virgin. It is +not an easy task to count the large tapers and lighted candles; +for, as is said, it is one of the best functions that are seen in +the Philippinas. Then follows the bed of the always glorious and +most pure Virgin, which the most devout and most noble women adorn +with the wealth of the city. The bed is surrounded with a group of +children, also dressed as angels, which is a cause for surprise every +year. Lastly, go about one thousand bleeding penitents; and there many +votive images, which move innumerable persons to compunction, who come +from the neighboring provinces to enjoy that day without fear of any +trouble. Thus has the fitting reverence of that image increased until +it is one of the greatest in the Philippinas; as has been experienced +on various occasions, especially when they put it within the city (for +fear of the Sangleys who revolted) in order to make a novena, in which +took part the royal Chancilleria, the archbishop, and the cabildos, +for the health of the Catholic army which was very sick. From that +prayer resulted not only the attaining of the convalescence of the +soldiers, but also the peace and quiet that was sought. That college +suffered a great blow in the time of a certain governor, whose name, +in order not to cast infamy on him purposely, we suppress. He, +under pretext that its building was a great obstacle to the wall, +rigidly made them demolish it, driving our religious thence, contrary +to justice and the permission of the city and cabildo; they opposed +him until they could do no more, as they saw that he did that, being +desirous of not conducting himself well, for it is said that such +was his custom. But when the end of his office came, the church and +cabildo brought suit for the injury received from that illegal act; +and they sentenced him to twenty-five thousand pesos, notwithstanding +that it is said that the damage exceeded fifty. Thereupon the college +was rebuilt, and the image again placed there. + +_Preaching of Ours in the province of Zambales and of Tugui_ + +Eagerly had the apostolic men left Espana in search of misguided +and lost souls whom they might lead to the knowledge of God and into +the flock of His Church. When once they had set foot on the destined +land they could not be kept from turning their eyes and their desire +to all parts. The first task was to learn some one of the many +languages which are spoken among so many and so barbarous nations, +in order to have the means to convert the people that should happen +to fall to their lot. Accordingly, after well considering the matter, +they determined to study Tagal, as it was the most general tongue, +and the one that was talked as native in Manila and its environs. All +immediately applied themselves to one language with no little desire +and diligence. He who learned it first was father Fray Miguel de +Santa Maria, who was called Bombau. Discussing with him in what part +it would be better to begin their missions, they thought that it was +not advisable to go far from Manila, since they were so few. At that +juncture a very good opportunity came to their hands in the shape of +a village quite near by, now called Marivelez. [34] Its inhabitants +had no ministers, no one of them wishing, although many were at its +very doors, to abide in it--both because of the insalubrious climate +of its location, and because of the bad disposition of the Indians, +who were like brutes in their intercourse and in their customs. The +vicar-provincial stumbled over none of these obstacles, because of his +firm zeal. Accordingly, he sent the said father, Fray Miguel de Santa +Maria, accompanied by father Fray Pedro de San Joseph--who, although +of the Observance, had discalced himself--together with a lay-brother, +named Fray Francisco de Santa Monica, who also went with both of the +former, all of them being skilled in the aforesaid language. They +invoked in common the grace of the Holy Spirit, and, after a fervent +prayer, they took their farewells--these anxious to accomplish their +desires, and the others sick at heart at seeing themselves left behind +them. They were not long in arriving at the lairs of the wild beasts, +who lived eight leguas from Manila, and were desirous to subdue and +soften them, together with the rest of the coast of Zambales and of +Tugui, which extends for a little more than thirty leguas to Bolinao. + +The customs and ceremonies of those people must be touched upon +briefly, not so much for the diversion that they may afford as that +we may certify to the labor of Ours in changing them according to law +and reason, and putting them into a suitable condition. The worship +with which they then reverenced their false deities they were wont +to perform not in the villages, but outside them in the mountains, +or the part nearest to their fields. They had certain little houses +there like chapels, in which they all assembled. But that did not +prevent them from having gods--penates, or idols, which they called +_anitos_. The priesthood was exercised by certain old men, ceremonious +in the extreme, and not less by old women called _catalonas_--witches, +superstitious creatures, diviners, and casters of lots--who were +esteemed and so thoroughly believed that whatever they said, although +lies, was taken as an infallible oracle. The manner of their sacrifices +(which they called by the name _maganitos_), on meeting to make them +in the place that we have spoken of above, was none other than that, +having prepared an unclean animal, very well grown--or for lack of +it, a large cock--they offered it to the devil by means of one of +those witches, with peculiar and curious ceremonies. For, dancing +to the sound of a bell, she took in her hands a small idol, made to +imitate the form in which the father of deceit was wont to appear +to them at times; it was of human form, with very ugly features, and +a long beard. She spoke certain words to it, invoking its presence, +whereupon the iniquitous spirit came, and entered into her miserable +body in order to dictate to her the deceits that are its custom in +such acts. After having declared their false notions to those present, +they ate the animal or bird, and they drank to intoxication, whereupon +the wicked sacrifice was brought to an end. Besides that adoration +which they gave to the devil, they revered several false gods--one, +in especial, called _bathala mey capal_, whose false genealogies +and fabulous deeds they celebrated in certain tunes and verses like +hymns. Their whole religion was based on those songs, and they were +passed on from generation to generation, and were sung in their feasts +and most solemn assemblies. Those who were ignorant of the teachings +of Mahomet adored not less the sun, the moon, the rainbow, birds, +and animals--but especially the cayman or crocodile; a blue bird +closely resembling the thrush; the crow; rocks placed on the shores +of the sea, and those that they see in the sea, such as sunken rocks +and shoals. [35] + +Their ancestors also enjoyed that worship, and more especially those +who had been famous in arms, and in the virtues native to their mode +of belief; and they believed that reward was the lot of the good, +and punishment that of the wicked. From this arose among them the +knowledge of the immortality of the soul. Accordingly, when anyone +died, they bathed the body and buried it with benzoin, storax, and +other aromatic substances, and clothed it then in the best of its +possessions. Before burying the body, they bewailed it for the space +of three days. They anointed the bodies of those of high rank with +certain confections, which kept it from corruption better than do +our unguents of Europa. They did not bury them except in the lower +part of their houses, having placed and deposited them in a coffin +of incorruptible wood. They placed some bits of gold in the mouth, +and on the body the best jewels that they had. To that preparation +they added a box of clothing, which they placed near them, and every +day they carried them food and drink. They did not take especial pains +that, if the dead had possessed more property, everything should be +left to him; but slaves, both men and women, were presented to them +to serve them in the other life (which they no doubt imagined to +be similar to the present life). The custom that they observed with +those slaves was, to behead them immediately after having fed them +sumptuously, so that they might not fail the service and company of +such influential men, since the latter needed them, as they said. In +confirmation of that, it happened that, on the death of a chief of +that race, they killed all the sailors necessary for a boat's crew, +in order that servants, and rowers befitting his station might not +be lacking to him in the life that they ignorantly imagined for such +a person. After the conclusion of those honors, they gave themselves +up to extensive revelry and feasting, which they interspersed with +their mourning, observing a notable silence in the nearest houses +and in the streets. No one worked, just as during a festal occasion; +nor did he have to navigate under any consideration. He who opposed +the aforesaid usage did not escape death, which was inflicted on him +with rigor and without recourse. + +Among all the above and many other follies, they believed that +the world had a beginning, and they had some notion of the flood; +but it was confused with the greatest nonsense and lies. They did +not doubt the fact of there having been in its time a creation of +man, but they believed that the first one had emerged from a bamboo +joint and his wife out of another, under very ridiculous and stupid +circumstances. They did not consider homicide as wrong, and the +taking of as many lives as possible was a great honor. Consequently, +the valiant and those who were feared set the heads of those who +perished at their hands on the doors of their houses, as a proof of +their deeds; for he who hung up the greatest number, in the sight +of his other countrymen was most esteemed and applauded. It was an +abuse of obligation that, a father or mother having died, the son +who inherited should retire from the village into the mountains and +forests until he had despoiled at least two persons of the common +light--even though it should be, as one can well judge, at the risk +of losing the light that he himself was enjoying. When they had more +children than they desired, or than they could support as they wished, +they generally buried them alive. In what pertains to political +government, they had no greater superiority than that which the most +powerful usurped in the matter of life and death over those who were +not powerful, disposing of them as they wished. Accordingly they made +them slaves for very slight reasons and occasions. When any suits +and quarrels arose in regard to criminal or civil matters, their old +men assembled, and composed these difficulties or passed sentence in +them, and no one could appeal or petition from their decisions. They +proved causes orally, examining witnesses and investigating doubts +verbally. Their laws were only traditions and very old customs, but +they observed these carefully--not so much for fear of punishment, +as because they believed that he who violated them would be instantly +killed, or at least become afflicted with the disease of leprosy, +and that another part also of his body would become corrupt. + +Our three religious opposed themselves to so profound darkness as +this, with the light of the gospel, and without taking other arms than +the cross and the scourge of penance, by which all the wretchedness +and misfortunes there were changed into delights and comforts. The +suffering of great hardships was inevitable; for since those brutes +were intractable and ferocious, they did not show the fathers any +hospitality, that had any mark of reason and sense. The fathers +sought them through the thickets and fields where they were living, +and, alluring them with loving words, gave them to understand their +error and the blindness of their souls. They preached to them with +the ardor that came from their hearts of the Triune and One Lord, +who governs the universe, and told them their obligation to love Him +and to bow to the mild yoke of His law; but those people preferred to +condemn themselves forever to the pains of hell. The fathers retired +at night to some very small huts that they had made, in order to take +the necessary refreshment, which consisted only of beans [_frijoles_], +and at most a little rice, which they obtained but seldom. Then they +gave some rest and repose to their weakened and fatigued bodies. That +rest was, however, broken by three cruel disciplines, which all +took every two hours, in order to soften and mollify the diamond +hearts of those barbarians with their blood. With that efficacious +medicine and their tireless care, they continued gradually to soften +those rocks--although from the wretched life that they were living, +and their immense toil in going by day through those rough mountains, +seeking the sheep whom they desired to corral with the flock, within +the sheepfold of the Church, and from the worse sufferings in their +nights, they sickened and died. + +[Accounts of the pious deaths of Fathers Miguel de Santa Maria, +and Pedro de San Joseph, and Brother Francisco de Santa Monica, the +three laborers in this first mission, follow in this same section. The +first named had long been renowned for his asceticism, both in Spain +and in the islands, having been one of the first to join the new +order. The second had been a calced Augustinian, but had transferred +his allegiance to the Recollects after their arrival in the islands, +and was very useful on this mission because of his thorough knowledge +of Tagal. The narrative continues:] + +By the death of those three religious, the others might well fear +to go to complete the reduction of Marivelez, and to prosecute what +was already begun with the perfidious Zambales. But being full of the +love of God, and of zeal for souls, each of them offered himself, just +as if it were to obtain the greatest comfort and abundance that men +generally seek; and all demanded it anxiously, each as best he could, +as their most ambitious desire to go up there and be honored. The city +opposed it, for they thought that it meant to send those fathers to +their death--and all the more as they saw that, since Ours were so +few and so pious, they could serve more usefully in more secure and +healthful places. The holy obstinacy of those who would not consent +to abandon the post conquered. Accordingly, the first lot fell to +father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel. He disposed the minds of those +heathen in such manner that, completing their reduction and leading +them to the yoke of the Lord, and to a civilized and Christian life, +he built a convent in a village called Bacag, adding to it that of +Luzon, which gave name to the island of Manila--through the error +or misunderstanding of the first Spaniards, who discovered it, when +examining and questioning the Indians whom they met in a boat. They +removed afterward to a better site, in the said Marivelez, and that +place has seven other villages, in a distance of twelve leguas, which +it administers as annexes. The persons who were converted to the faith +by the energy and labor of Ours reached one thousand five hundred. + +That fort having been assured against the power and empire of +the devil, the door was opened wider for passage inside, and the +tyrannized souls of the Indians of Zambales were gained. The latter, +confident in their fierceness, were divided along the sea-coast, +and exercised themselves in the chase, by which they sustained +themselves--together with some fish--only zealous in killing men, +which was the greatest glory among them. Consequently, no boats dared +to go to their lands, unless with great risk of the occupants losing +their lives. With such brutality, the mountains of difficulties which +father Fray Rodrigo had to conquer in softening the harshness of those +beasts; and the sweat and labor that it would cost him to make them +comprehend the dictates of reason (from which they were very far), +while he was suffering extreme penury in all things necessary to life, +can be imagined. His food was only wild herbs and some fruit, which +was not on all occasions accompanied by a mouthful of biscuit, sent +as a great treat, if possible, from Manila. His rest, day and night, +was so little, and was so liable to surprises that scarcely could he +rest a moment without the expectation of death before him all the time, +which the heathen, instigated by the devil, promised to give him. He +went through their thickets and along their shores, crying out and +endeavoring to conquer the coldness of those men. By virtue of the +cross, he was finally able, little by little, to soften the insolence +of their fierce breasts, and to render them more tractable, although +they seemed like rocks in the hardness of their obstinate hearts. + +God our Lord decreed that, in order to conquer their obstinate +resistance, it should happen one day that this same father, Fray +Rodrigo, on passing through a thicket consecrated to their devils +(where, as their rites said, it was sacrilege to cut or touch any +branch--besides the great fear that they had conceived that if anyone +should have the audacity to do so, or to take the least thing, he +would surely die immediately), saw a tree covered with a certain fruit +which they call _pahos_, [36] that resemble the excellent plums that +we know in Europa. As it was so ripe and mellow, he ordered them +to climb the tree and get some of the fruit. Those accompanying +him refused roundly, but he insisted on his desire. They finally +explained, and said that they would do it under no consideration; +for, beyond all doubt, those who dared to offend the respect for +that place would die very suddenly. Upon hearing that, the father was +inflamed with zeal for the honor and worship of the true God whom he +was preaching. Asking them whether all trees around about had that +quality of inflicting death on him who touched them, accidentally or +designedly, they answered "Yes." Then elevating his voice, he gave +them a fervent discourse against the delusion under which they were +laboring; and concluded by intimating to them that he himself would +get and eat the fruit, as well as cut down the trees, so that they +might see that one would not die, and so that they might thereby be +freed from the error and blindness of their ancestors. The Indians +were very sorrowful because father Fray Rodrigo had decided to eat +of the fruit, and they accordingly begged him earnestly and humbly +not to do it. But the good religious, arming himself with prayer +and with the sign of the cross, and repeating that antiphony, _Ecce +crucem Domini: fugite partes adversae. Vicit leo de tribu Juda,_ [37] +began to break the branches and to climb the tree, where he gathered +a great quantity of the fruit. He ate not a little of it before them +all, in detestation of their wicked superstitions and ill-founded +fears. The Indians looked at his face, expecting every moment to see +him a dead man. But they immediately recognized the truth of what +he told them. He charged them not to tell anyone what they had seen +him do there. On arriving at the village, he divided the rest of the +fruit that he brought, and kept for that purpose, among the other +chiefs and influential persons, who ate it with gusto, esteeming it +as a present from that father. The next day, after assembling them +(much to their pleasure), he execrated their ignorance in a long +sermon, and told them the secret of the fruit. Thereupon, all of them, +convinced and surprised, not one of them being wanting, followed him +axes in hand, and felled that thicket, casting contempt on the devil; +and many infidels ended by submitting to the knowledge of the truth. + +Encouraged by so good an outcome, Ours proceeded with the conversion +of those peoples. They were not stopped by the manifest danger to +their lives, nor by the famines or other bodily privations that it was +necessary for them to suffer, in lands new, rough, and productive of no +relief for their so many hardships and miseries. However, the divine +providence made all these, and as many more as might be very mild, +by giving the fathers inward consolation, as well as outward aid on +not a few occasions. One of those occasions, experienced by the same +father, Fray Rodrigo, during a trip on the sea, was notable. At that +time, a sudden squall overtaking him, his boat was driven on certain +rocks and knocked to pieces, so that those aboard it were drowned, +although they knew how to swim well. Only the said father, by the +will of God and the beneficent miracle of a wave, which bore him safe +and sound to a rocky islet or reef, escaped. He remained there until +next day, in the fright that one can imagine, but hoping in God our +Lord that He would continue his rescue by conveying him to a place +of safety. That happened after twenty-four hours, for an Indian who +had seen him from a distance swam out to him and took him upon his +shoulders; and he gave thanks to heaven for so great mercy. + +More marvelous was the case of father Fray Joan de la Ascension, who, +while sailing along the coast of Zambales, was struck by a very violent +storm, and the boat in which he was embarked, and all the Chinese who +were accompanying him, were lost, without one of them being saved. The +boat keeled over--as they say--and was turned completely bottom up. The +father remained in the hull of the boat, but so that he could hold +only his arms and head clear of the water, while the rest of his body +was under water. He supported himself in that darkness with his hands +tightly clasping a beam. For the space of three days did he remain +thus, while the hull tossed hither and thither. At the end of that +time, as some Indians were passing through that region and saw the +wreck, they drew nigh to see whether they could find anything. They +thought that they would surely find some pillage, and therefore began +to break open the boat in the part open to view. Consequently, when +they had made a small hole, the pitiful voice of the religious who +was crying for aid was heard. The greedy Indians were frightened, +and were about to flee from the terror caused them by so unexpected +a petition. But proceeding, after the encouragement given them by one +of their number who was bolder, they discovered the said father, who +was already half dead. Getting him out as quickly as possible, they +took care of him and gave him some food, whereupon he recovered, and +told them of his accident. It was told and wondered at, with reason, +in Manila and in other places; and all who heard of it attributed it +to nothing less than a prodigy never seen. + +[Lives of Fathers Alonso de la Anunciacion and Francisco de los Santos, +and Brother Bernardo de San Augustin, follow in the succeeding three +sections of this chapter, which concludes with a section on the] + + +_Foundation of the convent of Masinglo_ + +With just reason can this house be [regarded as] the most precious and +esteemed jewel that the Augustinian Reform venerates, as it was the +fort that was raised against the devil in the lands of the infidels, +which the devil had usurped from the cross and the gospel, when our +religious, after so many labors and sufferings, tamed the untamable +Zambales. That village, before called Masinloc, was suitable for +the foundation, as it was in a location from which they could attend +quickly to the service of God our Lord and of souls. Accordingly, they +chose it, although its inhabitants were more ferocious than the rest +of their neighbors because they had no one to drive away their errors +and illumine their darkness. Father Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, +then, accompanied by two other religious, planted that holy bulwark +to oppose all hell. With great care and helpfulness they tried first +to adorn it with the example of their virtues, so that the neophytes +should become fonder of the law which we profess. At that time the +recently baptized amounted to eight hundred, with whom great efforts +were exerted in separating them from their former evil habits, more +especially that of idolatry, to which was joined that of intoxication; +they were given to these in excess, by the habit that they had acquired +in both things from childhood. With the lapse of time the converted +have surpassed two thousand, because of the reduction of certain more +terrible Indians who lived in the mountains, without houses and away +from the coast. The latter were continually at war with others who +are called Negrillos [_i.e._, "little blacks"], for they seem to be +such, and they are very black. One may now consider the vigilance it +must have cost to attract those brutes, in order to make them live a +social life in accordance with reason, in peace and quiet--things that +were never seen among them until our religious undertook to tame them +and to bring them into rational intercourse. The jurisdiction of that +convent has extended fourteen leguas, and it has ten visitas which are +villages. The missionaries generally go to those villages to care for +their souls, and do not allow them to continue their former wickedness. + +It happened in that village of Masinglo that, an Indian woman finding +herself at the end of her days, they summoned father Fray Bernardo de +San Lorenco so that he might baptize her, for she was then asking for +it. He went to her house, and as he thought that she was but slightly +sick, he judged that it would be well to delay the sacrament until +she knew her prayers well and the other mysteries that any Christian +must know in order to be confessed. He began to instruct her, and +to persuade her with efficacious reasons to hate her idolatries and +to have sorrow for her sins. He tried to leave her in this way until +next day, but she, crying out and moaning, said to him: "Baptize me, +Father, baptize me, immediately; do not leave me or permit me to die +and lose the blessings which thou hast told me that I will obtain by +becoming a Christian." The religious consoled her and answered that +he would baptize her in due time. She continued to urge him to wash +away her sins without delay. Consequently, seeing so much faith, +he baptized her, and left her and her children very happy. And, +although she did not appear sick, she died shortly afterward without +anyone having any warning of it. Upon another occasion another woman +also came to the convent, and urgently requested the same father for +baptism. He asked her why she desired it so urgently. She answered +that one of her eyes pained her, and that she was very much afraid of +dying suddenly without having the health to save herself. The father +performed his duty in catechising her as well as he was able, and +immediately administered the sacrament; she was very glad of this, +and returned to her house, where they shortly afterward found her +dead, without knowing that she had other illness or cause for death +than the above mentioned pain in that eye. + +Thus when a beginning was given to that convent, the religious +discussed, as was unavoidable, the regulation of a new method by +which it, as well as the other convents that should be founded in +the lands and villages of the reduced Indians, should be governed. It +could not be perfected at one time, for experience, that mistress of +seasons, was, little by little, showing what was most advisable for +them. Accordingly, they have established efficient laws in various +assemblies and provincial and private chapters, so that those houses +have shed a luster in the example of their virtues--even though they +do not have an excessive number of religious, because of the lack that +they generally suffer of those who are necessary. It was, therefore, +ordered, in the first place, that all the laws and statutes of our +congregation be observed, without violating the most minute points of +the rules and regulations in force in Espana--especially in regard +to the two hours of mental prayer and the matins at midnight--even +should there be but one religious; since he could say them with +the Indian singers who reside and always live in the enclosure or +within the walls of the convent. Each of the religious was prohibited +strictly, and under well-imposed penalties, from engaging in any +trade or commerce, directly or indirectly, however slight it might +be. In addition, it was ordered that no one should use any piece +of silver or gold, even though it should be a medal, because of the +suspicion that it might arouse in the Indians who should see them, +when they were preaching gospel poverty. They were forbidden to +beg the loan of money, or to ask their stipends in advance from the +encomenderos, contenting themselves with the little that they had; +and living with the greatest possible frugality, in order that their +lives might conform to their discalcedness and their abstraction from +earthly things. The priors were not to leave their districts under any +pretext; and they were not to send their associates and subordinates +unless there were urgent necessity, and after a consultation, to be +registered in the books of the convent. The religious were not to enter +the houses of the Indians, except to administer the sacraments in the +necessary cases; and no one could employ himself in this office until +he should be well acquainted with the language of the land. They were +not to acquire possessions, or more income than the one hundred pesos +of their stipend; and necessity was to be the standard and rule that +they were to seek, as those who were truly poor. They were not to +entertain secular persons, and much less governors, alcaldes-mayor, +or encomenderos; for, if they did so, it would be very prejudicial +to the fitting retirement and strict observance advisable for the +Reform. The Christian doctrine was to be preached and explained to +the young people every morning in the churches, but to everyone on +feast days, with especial care and personal attendance. In order to +conduct the divine worship, they were to endeavor to have music in +all the convents, by teaching the youth not only to sing but also +to play the sweetest and best instruments that we use in Europa, +so that the new Christians might become very fond of frequenting the +sacred offices. They were to be admonished straitly to attend to the +devotion of the most holy Virgin, our Lady, having her rosary recited +every afternoon in the church; and on Saturday mornings they were to be +present at the mass, and before nightfall at the "Hail Mary," holding +their lighted candles in their hands. The religious also made other +resolutions pertaining to the protection and defense of the Indians, +in case that anyone should transgress by trying to do violence to them, +so that, as true fathers, they might oppose themselves courageously +to any annoyance that the malice of the soulless men of this age, +always iniquitous, might attempt. In short, they applied the needed +and fitting preservatives, with the desire of maintaining the good +name and reputation of religious who were seeking the safety of those +souls, and hating that which might have the appearance of love for +temporal things--in consideration of which no earthly interest had +transported them from Espana to Philippinas. + + + + +Chapter VIII + +_The third provincial chapter is held; and after the election a not +slight danger assails the Reform. The first convent of Manila is +moved inside the walls_. + + +[The first section of this chapter deals with affairs of the Recollect +order in Spain. The third election of provincial results in the choice +of father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina. Dissensions immediately +break out in the ranks of the religious, which are engineered by +the retiring provincial, father Fray Joan Baptista. The schism +results in the suppression of the order by a bull of Paul V, and +its absorption into the calced Augustinian ranks. Various influences +are set afoot, however, by those devoted to the Reform, and the new +provincial prepares to go to Rome to entreat the pope to reconsider +the suppression. The second section deals with the] + + +_Removal of the convent of Manila_ + +In order to divert the grief of Ours in Espana for a moment, the +need of referring to the removal of the convent of San Nicolas of +Manila from its location outside the walls (which is now the college +of San Joan Baptista, as above stated) to the other site, within the +enclosure, where now is the glorious capital of the most religious +province of the Philippinas Islands--is interpolated. The credit +acquired by the good founders in a short time was vast, by means +of their exemplary life, and the zeal that they had manifested in +the reduction and conversion of the infidels. They had shed abroad +in all directions the light and splendor of their virtues, and very +especially of their voluntary poverty and abstraction from temporal +things, contenting themselves with but very little, and coveting, at +the most, the attainment of permanent blessings and riches. They won +many persons for God in that city by means of their holy instructions, +and taught them the true way, which very few court. By that course +they made themselves so much masters of the good-will of all that +the people begged them unanimously that they should enter a more +comfortable place--but without abandoning that place, because its +preservation was so useful for the welfare of as many souls as lived +in those suburbs and environs, so that nobles and plebeians might +enjoy the spiritual food that the fathers so promptly distributed to +them. Besides, it seemed unavoidable to do that, so that they might +be more secure and better guarded, whatever happened, because of the +continual and sudden attacks of the Japanese, Chinese, and Sangley +enemies, who are wont to attack those suburbs with courage. Father +Fray Joan de San Geronimo assented to the prayers of the faithful, +and the not little convenience of his own associates; and accordingly, +aided by the alms that were given him, he bought certain small houses, +near to a site where many years ago the artillery was founded. That +site was also given him at the end of the year by Governor Don Joan de +Silva. The opposition of some was not wanting, although that convent +was so desired and applauded. However, that opposition soon ended; +and our religious endured it with signal austerity for many days, +until the very noble gentleman and master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del +Castillo Ribera y Maldonado--a native of Mexico, castellan of the fort, +and regidor of the city--together with his very virtuous wife, Dona +Maria Enriquez de Cespedes, through the devotion that they bore to our +institute and to the holy neo-thaumaturgus Nicolas de Tolentino (at +whose intercession a son was born to him, who died shortly afterward, +the same lady having petitioned our glorious father to negotiate +with God so that that son might not live if he were to grow up bad +and a sinner), assumed the patronage of the church and convent. He +immediately erected a fine building of cut stone, the cost of which +exceeded one hundred thousand pesos. In addition to that, he assigned +it a suitable income--not for the support of the religious, for at +that time it was not the custom for Ours to accept such; but for the +necessary repairs that had to be made later. + +At the conclusion of the work, it was our Lord's pleasure to grant +him a very pious death, prepared, among his many alms, by actions +and customs more resembling those of a perfect religious man of an +arrogant and merry soldier. The religious buried him as if in his +own house, displaying on his honorable tomb the memory of his deeds; +and erecting monuments afterward to him and to his consort in a very +fitting niche, as well as suitable proclamations of thankfulness that +Ours published. He left the devotion of the great titular saint, +whom he greatly loved, well established; consequently, by means of +his authority, the city chose the saint as patron, and decreed that +his day should be celebrated, and that the city should attend in the +form of its cabildo, which has always been done. Governor Don Alonso +Faxardo, governor of the islands, our illustrious benefactor--who gave +us permission, as far as the royal patronage is concerned, to preach +the gospel in the provinces of Butuan and Caragha, together with +the islands of Cuyo and Calamianes--was also buried there. From that +permission have resulted so great increase in numbers to the Church, +and great honors to our Recollect order. Likewise the governor's wife, +Dona Catalina Zambrano, and others--auditors and officials of the +Chancilleria, and many noble gentlemen--keep him company there. A +notable confraternity has been founded in that church, called the +Nazarenos [_i.e._, the Nazarines"], so that on the night of Holy +Thursday they march through the streets in a most devout procession, +just as they are accustomed to do in the kingdoms of Castilla. + +Among the most revered images of those islands is reckoned that of the +holy Christ, which is called "the Christ of humility and patience," +which was lately placed in the right side chapel. Licentiate Joan +de Arauz, cura and beneficiary of the parish church in the city of +Mexico, gave it, and with it a treasure of favors and concessions to +Manila. That image is very natural, and of the best manufacture that +has been known in those remote hemispheres. He manifests himself to the +sight, seated on a rock, with his cheek resting on his hand; and the +sight of him moves the hard heart of the most abandoned to trembling +and devotion. The religious took it aboard at Acapulco in solemn +procession, all of them hoping to arrive safe with so good company, +as happened. Accordingly, as soon as they cast anchor, they carried +that image to the college of San Joan Baptista, so that it might be +lodged until the necessary arrangements were made for the festival +of its entrance. The festival was at last effected after the lapse +of many days, and it was one of the celebrated festivals that have +been seen and admired, both in its pomp and in the concourse that +collected from all parts because of the fame of the image. It was +placed first in the cathedral church, and next day, a very momentous +procession having been ordained, they carried it thence to the convent, +where the beginning was made and the conclusion given to a magnificent +novena. The divine mercy showed its favors very frequently to those who +petitioned it for aid in their troubles with a true and living faith. + +There is another image of our Lady, called "Consolation," because of +the great consolation that those who are afflicted find in it, when +they are most exhausted. Her devotion commenced from the time of the +entrance of our Reform into the islands; and it has been continued +by means of the favors that she scatters in protection of those who +commend themselves to her by invoking her aid. Our patrons had a most +singular affection for her, and therefore they left a clause by which +a mass was to be sung for their souls in all the festivities of the +most blessed Mary. They offered her many gold jewels and articles +of richest clothing, that testified the love with which they humbly +surrendered to the vassalage due to her. Father Fray Antonio de San +Augustin [38] encouraged greatly the worship and veneration of that +sacred and miraculous image, and received instant pay and wages for +his labor. For when he was about to die (the candle being already +in his hand), without anyone perceiving it or having hope of it he +recovered his senses, and talked to those present who were watching +him and assisting him, to the astonishment of all the physicians, +who regarded him as a dead man. He declared what had happened, and +said that having offered in his heart his vows at the feet of the +said Virgin, when he was almost dead, as was thought, he heard her +near him talking to him, together with St. Nicolas de Tolentino; +and she graciously revivified him, saying that he was not to die +from that illness. That was a fact, for within a few days he arose, +just as if he had not been at the gates of death. + +The third image that illumines and ennobles that convent is that of +the famous titular saint, Nicolas de Tolentino. He has chosen to make +himself known in those remote regions as much as in the other regions +of Christendom, by means of the continual prodigies and marvels that he +works there. A great volume might be written of those that have been +seen in Manila alone, and a greater volume of those outside. Suffice +it to say that, because of his having appeared to the sailors in +their greatest straits and troubles, they have all unanimously taken +him as their patron. The glorious saint rewards their pious devotion +by lofty marvels, and does not discontinue for all that to work them +very frequently on land--for which both the Spaniards and the Indians +of the Philippinas Islands venerate him as a refuge, in whom they +consider their relief very sure. + +Strong religious have gone out from that very strict house to combat +the power of the devil, in order to remove his yoke from many souls, +as we shall see in the time of reporting their deeds of valor. + +[The chapter concludes with the pious deaths of Fathers Andres de +San Joseph, Diego de Santa Ana, and Gaspar de la Madre de Dios, and +of Brother Simon de San Augustin, all of whose bodies were buried in +the Manila convent. [39]] + + + + +Chapter IX + + +_Father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina goes to Roma, and presents his +[claim for] justice in the tribunal of the supreme pontiff. The end +of the chapter is concerned with a mission that Ours tried to make +to the Philippinas Islands, the founding of two convents, and the +deaths of two great religious_. + +[The provincial's mission to Roma results disastrously at first, +for he is doomed to many months of dreary waiting is denied audience +with the pope, and even ordered to quit the city. But finally the tide +turns; the pope, having learned of his mission, grants the long-desired +audience, and after hearing the humble representations of the pleader, +looks favorably upon the Reform branch. Although the Augustinians +in Spain attempt to suppress entirely the Reform, public opinion is +too powerful, and the Recollects have too many influential friends; +and consequently, the general of all the Augustinian order, then Juan +Baptista de Asti, orders opposition to cease. Meanwhile, Father Pedro +de San Fulgencio comes as procurator from the Philippines to request +more missionaries. He finds the Reform in almost its last throes, +but, nothing daunted, departs for Rome to urge his mission before +the pope. Being favorably received and his pretensions granted, +after a considerable stay in the Roman court, where he also assists +the provincial Gregorio de Santa Catalina, he sets out on his return +to Spain, but dies at Milan; and, for lack of anyone to carry on his +work everything is lost for the time being. Now Augustinian agents from +Spain take the opportunity to arouse animus against the Reform and to +thwart their designs by saying "that the discalced were unnecessary +in the Philippinas Islands; and that those who had gone were few +and hitherto of no use in the preaching, as they were persons who +could in no way prove advantageous to the Indians. The contrary was +seen then; and by the mercy of God, we have since seen it here, and +shall see it, very clearly, in due course of time. We note here only, +for the confusion of those who boldly devised such a proposition, +the testimonies that have come on different occasions in regard to +the credit and praise of Ours, who have shed luster amid those rude +and very barbarous provinces, with so much glory to themselves, by +illuminating them with the light of the gospel." These testimonials, +some of them later than the period which the present volume covers, +follow:] + +Let the first be that of an inquiry made in Manila, at the time that +the above-mentioned calumny was learned, before Captain Martin de +Herrera, alcalde-in-ordinary of the same city. The report of this +was approved afterward by the city's cabildo, its justices, and +magistrates, the witnesses being fully qualified to act as such: +namely, the master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del Castillo Maldonado, +castellan of the fort; Master-of-camp Don Pedro de Chaves; General +Don Joan Esquerra; Captain Christoval Guiral; General Don Joan Manuel +de la Vega; Don Joan Sarmiento, chancellor of the royal Audiencia; +Don Francisco Gomez de Arellano, dean of the cathedral there, and +commissary-general of the crusade; Don Joan de Aguilar, archdean of +the same church; Captain Hernando de Avalos y Vargas; Licentiate +Rodrigo Guiral, secular priest; Admiral Don Joan de Valmaseda; +Don Luis Enrriquez de Guzman; Don Diego de Leon, school-master of +the said church; Captain and sargento-mayor Don Francisco de Ayala; +Don Luis de Herrera Sandoval, treasurer also of the same church; Luis +de Barrasa, regidor of the city; Captain Melchor de Ayllon; and Don +Antonio de Arze, also regidor of Manila. All those so illustrious +persons deposed that the discalced Augustinian religious who were +living and who had lived there, were serious, learned, spiritual, +beloved men, and that they were gladly seen and heard by those who +lived and dwelt in the Philippinas Islands; and that, by their good +life and example, they had gathered and were gathering much fruit in +the community, and among the natives of the province of Zambales. Those +people had been most fierce enemies of the Spaniards and other nations +before Ours had taken charge of their reduction. By the excellent +instruction of our religious, they had become so tamed and gentle that +now one could pass through their coast; while before one could not +even approach them without evident risk of those people killing him, +with great gusto, as they were so barbarous. Consequently, it would +be well to keep and increase those religious in that archipelago, +for the salvation and profit of souls. + +The second testimony is that of the royal Chancilleria of Manila, in a +letter to the Catholic king of the Espanas, and affirms the following: + +"The discalced religious of the Order of St. Augustine, who are +employed in these islands in preaching the holy gospel, are held +in great esteem in this city of Manila because of their virtue +and good example. They have three or four provinces of Indians in +their charge, and, moved by holy and pious zeal for the welfare of +souls, they continue daily to establish new convents among the most +unconquerable people of the islands. Thus have they been seen to gather +most considerable fruit for the service of God and of your Majesty." + +In another letter are also noted these words, which affirm the above: + +"The discalced religious of St. Augustine are very observant in their +ministries, and attend to the service of your Majesty, on occasions +of enemies by sea and land, where some have been killed and captured." + +Before proceeding further, it will not be an impertinent digression +to mention and explain briefly the services above mentioned, stating +first that our religious serve as chaplains in the forts of Tandag, +Calamianes, Bagangan, and Linao, with notable sacrifice both of +their liberty (for they are often captured and illtreated) and +of their lives, because of the bad voyages on, and hardships of, +the seas. When Don Fernando de Silva was governing the islands, +a fleet was sent against the Bornean and Camucones enemy, who were +devastating the coasts, seizing numbers of captives, and committing +other depredations. As chaplains went fathers Fray Diego de San Joan +Evangelista, native of Zaragoca, and Fray Joan de la Cruz. They bore +themselves so devotedly amid the military excitements, and gave so good +examples, that the chief commander, one Captain Bartolome Diaz, finding +it necessary to absent himself, in order to leave his men with security +and in quiet appointed, with well recognized prudence, the first above +named. For that religious, not as a substitute for the commander, +but as a father, cared for all, and they were satisfied. And they were +surprised, because it happened that, the supply of water falling short, +they sought it, but were unable to find any in various parts of the +islands, and were suffering the anguish and affliction that can be +imagined in such an extremity, when one day the said father said mass, +begging our Lord for help in such need. It happened, then, that after +performing his ministry he returned to the men and told them to be very +joyful, and to look in the direction that he pointed out to them for a +spring that was there. They found it immediately, not very far away, +and praised God for so great a mercy. In the insurrection of Caragha +a numerous fleet was also prepared; Captain Joan Mendez Porras was +accompanied, for the common consolation of the soldiers, by fathers +Fray Lorenco de San Facundo and Fray Diego de Santa Ana. By their +efforts the villages of Bislin, Careel, and Bagangan were conquered +and that land again reduced. In another fleet that set out from the +same province of Caragha, Captain Joan Nicolas chose father Fray +Jacinto de San Fulgencio, whereupon many villages surrendered to +the service of the king; and the Indians of the island of Dinagat, +Baybayon, and Sandegan requested ministers, and five hundred were +baptized. Besides such occasions, which are generally quite common, +Ours have served in divers fleets that have been prepared to oppose +the Dutch who were infesting the shores. Lastly, in two expeditions +made by Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera--one to the kingdom of +Jolo, and the other to that of Mindanao--he took, in the first, +fathers Fray Joan de San Nicolas, and Fray Miguel de la Concepcion; +and in the second, father Fray Lorenco de San Facundo and father +Fray Joan de San Joseph. The last-named religious was very useful, +for he served as ambassador to the Moro king, to whom he was a friend, +as he had been his captive in former times. + +Returning to our narration, and the relation of the security of +Ours, now comes Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, archbishop of Manila, +in a letter to the Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, +[40] and he confirms the work of the same, while he says: + +"The discalced Augustinian religious who live in these Philippinas +Islands are gathering a very large harvest here in the conversion of +souls. Not less known are the advances that Christianity is making +in the kingdoms of Japan by their preaching and teaching, where in +the years one thousand six hundred and twenty-nine and thirty, six +religious of the same institute suffered martyrdom, together with +many others, members of the third order, [41] or _Mantellatos_, and +confriars of the girdle [_correa_] of our father St. Augustine, all +converted to the faith and instructed by the same discalced religious +who are in those regions. Now, to relate the news that we have just +received, two of the same religious are suffering the most exquisite +torments that can be imagined, after two years of the hardest kind of +imprisonment. They are suffering also, in the ministries and convents +which they maintain in these islands, great discomfort and hardship; +for the Indians in their charge are the most unbridled and fierce of +all those known in this archipelago, as experience of last year proved, +when the Indians killed four religious. Their death and the evident +danger of their lives did not frighten the others, and therefore +other missionaries did not hesitate to go." + +While that prelate was bishop of Nueva Segovia, he also wrote two +letters, one to the Catholic king of Espana, and the other to the +above congregation, of the following tenor: + +"The Order of the discalced religious of the Order of our father +St. Augustine are of considerable importance in these islands, and +they are gathering much fruit with their teaching and their good +example. They have many missions in districts remote from this city, +as they were the last who came to the islands, etc." + +"The discalced Augustinian religious," he says in the other, "who +reside in these Philippinas Islands are gathering large harvests in +all parts in the conversion of the souls of these pagans, as they have +done in the kingdom of Iapon. Two years ago six professed religious of +the same order were slain there, by fire and sword, for the preaching +of the gospel, and the conversion of souls, in addition to seventy +other persons who suffered the same death, in the same kingdom, +for the preservation of the faith, which they had received then +through the ministry of two Spanish religious of the same institute, +who were preaching it there. The two latter are also now in prison +for the same reason, and it is thought will already have perished by +fire or in some other way." + +Don Fray Pedro de Arze, bishop of Zugbu, was more minute in describing +the labors and efforts of our religious, in a letter informing the +sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, in which he says +the following: + +"For some years past the discalced Augustinian fathers of the +congregation of Espana have been, and are, gathering very large +harvests in the conversion of the infidels of these islands; for, +besides the many others that they have in other bishoprics, they +have more than ten convents in my diocese alone. They are laboring +therein in the cultivation of the vineyard of the Lord, with the best +of example, strict observance, and care. This is in the newest and +most dangerous posts of these islands, where their lives are exposed +to great risk, as the islands are hostile. But notwithstanding all +these dangers and hardships, they have converted a very great number +of infidels, both adults and children, to our holy Catholic faith. I +trust, God helping, that the conversion of the infidels--and especially +those of one island where those holy religious have their missions, +as it is one of the largest islands of these regions--will, in the +future, by means of their care and industry, advance and increase to +much greater, etc." + +Besides the above, there are three other letters to the same +congregation, of the following tenor: + +"The discalced religious of the Order of our father St. Augustine have +worked hard as long as they have been in these islands (which is many +years), and with good example, in the preaching of the holy gospel; +and they have gathered a great harvest of souls. They have established +many convents in the islands, for which they should receive honor +from your Excellencies, and receive protection, so that his Holiness, +as master and father, may concede them rewards and favors, so that +they may be encouraged to complete what they have begun." + +The second letter contains the following points: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine in +these Philippinas Islands are laboring faithfully in the vineyard +of the Lord, with good example and prodigious danger, as the people +whom they instruct are harsh and fierce. In some districts, they +are making much gain in the conversion of souls; in Japon they have +made a very great gain, and have converted many, both men and women, +who have given their lives for the confession of our holy faith, +as will be seen there by the authentic report that is being sent to +his Holiness. Consequently, they deserve that your most illustrious +Lordships show them every grace and protection, and that you encourage +them to proceed in a work so holy by writing to the king of Espana to +protect and aid them, for that their example and good life deserve it." + +The third letter is of the tenor that is set down here: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine +in these Philippinas Islands are faithfully cultivating, in most +exemplary manner, the vineyard of the Lord, and are preaching His +holy gospel with great hardship and danger to their lives; for those +people whom they have in charge are so harsh and fierce that they +killed four religious the past year. But the others did not fear +on that account to send new ministers to preserve the fruit that +they were gathering among those souls, through their hope that, by +their teaching, they will convert all of those people to the true +knowledge. They have also made much gain in Japon, as has been seen; +since a great number of pagans, abandoning their errors, have embraced +our holy faith through the preaching of the religious of this order +who are in those kingdoms. For their confession, six religious of +that institute, accompanied by many, suffered martyrdom, after they +had taken the habits of Mantellatos, or tertiaries of the same order, +with other confriars, and others who wear the girdle." + +This prelate confirmed the same in two other letters to the Catholic +monarch, in the following manner: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine, +from their first arrival in these islands, have gathered a plentiful +harvest in souls by their good example. They have many convents +and many missions in their charge. In their care are the islands of +Calamianes, and they have charge of a great part of the island of +Mindanao, where they have convents and labor with great zeal for the +salvation of souls." + +In the second letter he wrote these words: + +"The Recollect fathers of the Order of our father St. Augustine +have many convents in these islands, where they administer, with +great care, Christian instruction to the natives of the islands, +to whom they furnish a good example and whom they treat with great +gentleness. Their missions are very dangerous and the people of some of +them are harsh and fierce. They have had very good success in Japon, +and have given many martyrs to the Church, who fortified their lives +by the confession of our holy faith, as will appear there [_i.e._, +in Europe] by the report made here in regard to this. They merit the +aid and protection of your Majesty, so that they may be encouraged +to serve our Lord." + +The ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila, occupying the vacant see, +testified to the same king of Espana in another letter: + +"The discalced Augustinian religious are very austere in their +institute, and in their ministrations to the natives in the missions +under their charge--who, as they are among the most untamable and +fierce people in these regions, have killed and captured several of +the religious. Consequently, they are very short of men, but have +not failed in the service of your Majesty on the occasions that have +offered by land and sea." + +It would be an evident ingratitude not to record here three letters, +which the unconquerable city of Manila wrote to their king and +sovereign, giving him a definite relation of the condition of Ours. + +_First letter_ + +"The order of the discalced Augustinians, which has extended into +these islands, has been and is of great fruit in the spiritual by +their general virtue, their exemplary lives, and their excellent +teaching--both in the settlements of the Spaniards, where they +have convents, and in those of the natives where the ministration +and preaching of the holy gospel results in a very great harvest of +souls. Because they were the last order to settle in these regions, +they had to build some of their convents among the most rude and +warlike natives of these provinces. They have had so good success +with those natives that, through their efforts and the loving +treatment which they have shown them, they have so converted them +to the faith and so subjected them to the obedience of his Majesty, +that the fervent spirit which those religious have infused into both +those tasks is very evident. The order has a great lack of ministers +to occupy their many missions; and they need the favor and protection +of your Majesty, in order to attain their desire of carrying very +far the conversion of souls, and of preserving those who have been +converted to the faith. Therefore, this city is under obligations +to represent it to your Majesty, and to petition your Majesty, as +we do, with all humility, to be pleased to have a goodly number of +religious sent to them, so that they may continue and carry on their +good intentions in the service of God and that of your Majesty. For, +besides that the number of religious here is very few, as they have +scarcely enough for their missions, they fall sick and die, as many of +the sites and posts to which they go are not very healthful; for which +reason, the lack of ministers in their order is greater each day. This +is felt so much the more keenly as the importance of it is known." + +_Second letter_ + +"This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on other occasions +of the great results produced in these islands by the discalced +Recollect religious of the Order of St. Augustine. Their exemplary +devotion is daily increasing this Christianity, as they strive for it +with so great energy. In regions so remote, and so full of enemies +and of heathen people, they, losing the fear of the violent deaths +that they suffer daily, with the holy zeal which accompanies them, +have founded many convents. From that has resulted a very great +conversion of those rude people, they being the most turbulent that +are known in these regions. May our Lord, for whom is this work, +decree that they continue to increase, since so many blessings result +from it for the glory of our Lord and the service of your Majesty. To +you we represent the aforesaid, and their great need of religious so +that they may continue. For two alone who went to Japon have been the +cause of sending seventy Japanese to heaven--some already religious, +and others brothers of the girdle--while the said two fathers were +arrested and destined for martyrdom, and it is expected will by today +have achieved the happy end of it." + +_Third letter_ + +"This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on various occasions of +the great importance to these islands of the order of the discalced +Recollects of the Order of St. Augustine; of the apostolic men in +it; of the great harvest that they are gathering by the preaching +of the holy gospel; of the excellent example which they have always +given, and are giving, with their strict and religious life, and +their so close observance of their rules; and of the so considerable +results that have been achieved by them in the service of our Lord +and in that of your Majesty, with the aid of your royal arms, in +the great number of infidels who have been converted to our holy +Catholic faith, and have been subdued so that they render your +Majesty due homage and tribute. Those people have generally paid +that tribute and pay it every year. [We have written you] that +those religious have exercised and exercise with especial care in +all things the spiritual earnestness that concerns their profession, +both in the maintenance or their work and in their continual desire, +notwithstanding the innumerable annoyances which they endure, to carry +this work onward. They are ever converting new souls to the service +of our Lord and the obedience of your Majesty, while they preserve +great harmony and concord among themselves. Consequently, that order +has always been and is one of the most acceptable orders and one +of the most welcome in these islands. They are the poorest of all, +as all their ministries are in remote regions very distant from this +city, and among the most warlike people in all the provinces of these +islands, as they have been but lately reduced. [We have told you] of +the risk of their lives on account of this, because it has happened +at times that those who seemed to be pacified have rebelled; while at +other times the religious have fallen into the hands of those who were +not pacified, when preaching to them the holy gospel. There have been +many others also who have suffered martyrdom in the kingdom of Japon, +thus enriching the church of God with such noble actions, as well as +the crown of your Majesty. Above all, they have no income except the +alms given them by the faithful. There is no fleet in which they do +not sail for the consolation of the infantry, etc. This city petitions +your Majesty to be pleased to concede permission to the said order, +so that religious may pass from those kingdoms to these islands to +the number that your Majesty may decree, in consideration of the fact +that the need for them, in ministries so distant as theirs, is very +great. In those ministries, through the little nourishment of the +food which they use for the sustenance of human life, for they live +as those who are truly poor, and with great abstinence, which they +observe, without reserving any time because of discomforts, whether of +sun or shower, going through dense forests and inaccessible mountains +in order to reduce the many millions of souls of those districts to +our holy Catholic faith, not one of whom has any light, etc." + +Don Joan Nino de Tavora, governor and captain-general of the +above-named islands, and president of the royal Chancilleria of Manila, +says in another letter to the same king: + +"The Recollect Augustinian fathers who reside in these islands, +inasmuch as they arrived last, have taken the districts most distant +from this city. They are extending their labors into the district of +Caragha, and Calamianes, with success among those Indians, etc. During +the last four years, more than four thousand persons have been baptized +by that order alone. I petition your Majesty to be pleased to order +that their procurators be despatched with the greatest number of +religious possible, etc." + +Lastly, Sabiniano Manrique de Lara, who exercised the aforesaid office, +concludes in another letter, in which he affirms the proposition: + +"The order of discalced Recollects of St. Augustine who reside in +these islands and the districts of them, preserves in its members, +with all virtue and exemplary life, its obligations for the service +of God, in the protection and instruction of their parishioners, +the Indian natives; and in what regards the service of your Majesty, +they show the efficacious zeal of good vassals. For during the time of +my government they have not at all embarrassed me in any way. On the +contrary, as I recognize their good conduct, I am obliged to represent +it to your Majesty; and will your Majesty be pleased to show them every +favor and grace, in whatever opportunity may occur to your Majesty." + +A letter came with those that are here given as addressed to the +sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, who ordered the +two following letters to be written, which we place at the end, in +order to qualify better the labor of Ours, and to conquer the calumny +of those who attempted to obscure and stifle the fervor with which +the Reform commenced the reduction of the barbarous infidels. + +_To the vicar-general of the discalced Augustinians_ + +"Very reverend father: + +"Your Paternity will have learned that a letter was presented and read +in the assembly of the sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the +Faith, received from the bishop of Zibu, etc. The most illustrious +lord cardinals have received most special pleasure in learning from +it the great number of convents that the religious of your order have +built in the Philippinas, and also the great harvest that they are +gathering in the conversion of those heathen by their example and +their good and holy customs. Inasmuch as the said bishop lives with +steadfast hopes of greater progress and advancement if he were again +aided and reenforced with other laborers of their order, such as they, +and resembling them, the sacred Congregation, attentive to this, +petitions your Paternity, with the affection and earnestness that +the salvation of so many souls merits, to effect and strive anew, +with all the earnestness and care possible, to provide new religious +and workers for those so remote and needy regions. We assure your +Paternity that it will be a great service to God and to the holy +apostolic see. And also that act will be one of great pleasure +to their Excellencies the cardinals. The latter advise you that, +in the missions conducted by your Paternity, the contents of the +decree enclosed herewith should be observed and obeyed. Besides this, +the sacred Congregation, in consideration of the services that your +Paternity's order has rendered to the holy apostolic see, has thought +best to protect that order with great pleasure and good-will, etc. + + +_Cardinal Ludovisi_ +_Francisco Ingoli_, secretary." + + +_To the very reverend fathers the father provincial and the definitors +of the discalced Augustinians in the Philippinas Islands_ + +"Very reverend fathers: + +"The relation of the progress that your Reverences have made in those +districts in the conversion of the heathen, and of the efforts put +forth and the hardships suffered for the said object, having been +referred to this sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, +his Holiness and these my most illustrious Lordships, after having +received most special consolation from so good news, have praised +not a little the zeal and piety of your Reverences. They also exhort +you to continue in the future with the same fervor, especially in the +care of the mission destined for Japon. In the same manner they have +ordered that an urgent message be sent to the papal legate [_nuncio_] +of Espana to try to procure prompt despatches for the multiplication +of the ecclesiastical workers in those regions. His Holiness, in +particular, has willingly offered them his consolation with eight +thousand benedictions, etc. + + +_Cardinal Borxa_ +_Francisco Ingoli_, secretary." + + +In order to conclude all this with the destruction of the calumny +that their opponents invented, in regard to the presence of Ours in +Philippinas being without fruit, we might quote certain authors who +have spoken in no uncertain voice in their praise. But we forbear, +except in the case of master Fray Thomas de Herrera, whom, as he +is worth a thousand men, it will be well to cite. In regard to the +aforesaid, he speaks in the following manner in his _Alphabeto_: + +"These fathers, who were not slothful laborers, kindled with zeal +for the Catholic faith, and desirous for the salvation of souls, +crossed the seas in the year 1605, to remote regions of this world, +although at the eleventh hour." (Folio 181, volume i.) + +"The discalced fathers of Hispania crossed the seas in the year 1605, +kindled by their zeal for the salvation of souls (and at times by +the shedding of their blood in the kingdoms of Japonia) to those +remote islands, as planters of the Church or as spreaders of its +tents." (Folio 127, volume ii.) + +"The congregation of the discalced of Hispania, which extends its +vineyards even to the seas and to the Philippinas Islands, sent +laborers about the year 1588 to remote colonies, who preached the +gospel to the Japanese; and with their own blood, shed most profusely, +they either planted or watered the Church in various kingdoms, +and illumined the Augustinian order with a great number of glorious +martyrs." (Folio 485, _ibidem_.) + +[A section devoted to the founding of the convent of Calatayud in +Aragon follows, and the narration of the work in the Philippines is +taken up again in the succeeding section, entitled:] + +_Foundation of the convent of Bolinao_ + +The missionary religious in the Philippinas Islands had complete and +quiet peace, although those who were living in Espana, opposed by +miseries and misfortunes, were trying with all earnestness to recover +their lost quiet. A great field was offered to them, in which to give +vent to the ardor of their desires; but being few in number, they could +not accept as much as was given them. They determined finally to take +the island of Bolinao, near the province of Zambales and of Tugui, +whose warlike and fierce inhabitants, although less so than the others, +gave father Fray Geronimo de Christo, vicar-provincial at that time, +and his associate, father Fray Andres del Santo Espiritu, sufficient +occasion to exercise their patience; for, not wishing to hear them, +they tried daily to kill them. The two fathers persisted in softening +those diamond hearts with their perseverance, after having lived for +some months on only herbs of the field, when the natives deprived +them of food so that, thus needy, the fathers should be compelled +to leave them and go away, or so that they might die of hunger. That +might have happened if God our Lord had not aided them with His grace, +as is His wont in times of greatest stress. The patient endurance of +Ours conquered the barbarians; and, recognizing that those who were +so long-suffering and so kind could not fail to be right in what +they said, they submitted to the yoke of the gospel, very gladly +and joyfully receiving the Christian instruction and baptism. For +that reason it became necessary to found a convent there, and that +was accomplished through the conversion of one thousand six hundred +souls, who are directed, together with those of other villages near +by. In that place occurred a circumstance resembling that of father +Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, which we have recounted above; for while +all the Indians of the village were not yet converted, our religious +learned that those of the village had gone to a bamboo plantation not +very distant, in order to worship it and to venerate their bamboos, as +if they were gods. They followed the Indians, and found them occupied +with their blind observances. The more the religious persuaded them, +they could not induce them to cut a single bamboo, because of the error +which they had accepted from the mouth of the devil, namely, that they +would surely die if they touched the canes. Thereupon the fathers, +although at the evident risk of their lives, amid the great shouting +and lamentations of the Indians, ordered a good Christian servant, who +acted as their guide, to begin to fell the thicket. Proceeding at first +with the fear of those foolish people, the servant felled the entire +thicket to the earth, and then the barbarians were assured of their +error, and without delay they more joyfully accepted Christianity. + +[Two sections follow, treating of the lives of Fathers Geronimo de +Christo and Diego de Jesus, the first of whom was a missionary in +the Philippines and the second in Mexico--who, being captured by the +English, passed through many stirring adventures.] + +[Chapter x contains nothing touching the Philippines except a brief +survey of the life and death of the founder of the Philippine missions, +Father Joan de San Geronimo. He died near Ormuz, while returning to +Spain in order to secure more workers for his mission.] + + + + +Third Decade + +[The first chapter recounts that papal permission was given to erect +four novitiates in the convents in the four Spanish cities of Madrid, +Valladolid, Zaragoza and Valencia.] + + + + +Chapter II + +_Foundation of the convent of Cigayan_ + +_The year 1612_ + + +The missionary fathers of the Philippinas Islands were free from +anxiety, and were far from suffering the strife and upheaval that the +Reform was enduring in Espana. However, in their great anxiety to guide +souls to heaven, they did not desist from their fruitful conversion +along the coasts of Zambales. They needed associates to help them +carry so heavy a burden; but notwithstanding that, in their sorrow for +the lamentable loss of those who did not yet know God because of the +lack of missionaries, after they had converted many infidels in the +village of Cigayan they set about founding a monastery there. They +carried it out that year, and lived therein with all security until +an Indian, instigated by the devil, laid violent hands on father Fray +Alonso de San Augustin, whom he wounded severely in the throat with +a very broad though short dagger, called _igua_ in that country, +which is made purposely for beheading a person at one blow--a vice +common to the Zambales, before they knew the sweet charity of the law +which we profess. But as the stroke was first caught by the hood [of +the father's habit], the barbarian did not succeed in his purpose, +which had been to behead him in a moment. But the wound did not +heal readily, and consequently he lived but a little while. It is +said that there was no further cause for the atrocious and profane +act of the wicked parricide than the desire to free himself from +the censures that that same father had administered to him for his +crimes and wickedness. Thereupon, the Indians of the village rose +in revolt, and after burning the church and the convent, fled to the +mountains. However, some remained, who defended the other religious, +and carried the wounded man to Masinglo. Consequently, the village was +almost deserted. Afterward they tried, and successfully, to subdue +the insurgents again. They succeeded by their energy and toil, and +restored the settlement and church again to their former state for +the administration of seven hundred souls or so, who were the last +ones to comprehend the cry of the gospel. + +It happened in this place that one Sunday, while father Fray Francisco +de Santa Monica was in the church teaching the rudiments of the +Catholic faith to the least intelligent Indians, they came to tell +him that there was a certain woman, at a long legua's distance from +that place, dying of childbirth, who was entreating for baptism very +earnestly. The said father left his exercise, and, seizing a staff, +started to run so fast that, as he himself testified, it seemed as if +he were flying through the air. He was not far wrong, for in less than +one-half hour he reached the place or hut of the poor woman who was +expiring, all swollen and black with the pain and anguish that she was +suffering. He baptized her (and also instructed her as was necessary), +and she immediately gave birth to an infant, which, although alive, +was much deformed because of the danger of the mother. After it had +been washed likewise from the original sin in which all we children +of Adam are born, they both died, to the joy and wonder of that +minister at seeing the depth of the divine decrees in regard to the +predestination of those souls. + +[Chapters iii, iv, and v treat of the European affairs of the order.] + + + + +Chapter VI + +_All of the charges against the Reform are annulled by a brief, and +the fifth provincial chapter is held, with the prorogation which +they claimed. Two convents are established and a mission arranged +for the Philippinas_. + +_The year 1616_ + + +[By a papal decree of May twenty-one, new life is given to the +Recollect order, and their future assured. On the return of Father +Gregorio de Santa Catalina, the chapter which had been delayed until +that time was held. In this chapter, _discretos_ (or persons elected as +assistants in the council of the order) and visitors were abolished, +the latter having been found more expensive than useful. The title of +chief preacher was not to be given to anyone, as it tended to destroy +the democratic principles of the order. A section on the founding of +the college of Caudiel in Spain follows, and then the last section +of this chapter, which is also the last of this volume _in re_ +the Philippines.] + + +_Foundation of the convent of Cabite_ + +Inasmuch as we have left our religious busily occupied in the lofty +ministry of the conversion of the infidels, it will be advisable for us +to turn our attention to them, on the present occasion, praising their +great zeal. Much more must we do so, since they advanced with so few +workers to do all that their forces were able, both in the preaching +of the gospel, and in the spread of their houses, in order that they +might serve with energy in the no small toil that was theirs. That +convent of Cabite seemed to be necessary; and they did not deceive +themselves, for, although only two leguas distant from Manila, it +is of considerable consequence for the conversion of many souls, +as Cabite is a port where men of not a few Asiatic nations assemble +for the sake of its commerce, which is remarkable. Hence that place +comes to be the largest one in the Philippinas Islands after the said +metropolis, and all the seamen live there, in order to be conveniently +near to its traffic and its trade. With such a motive, that convent +was founded by father Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, and under so +good auspices that it has been of use to the service of God and to +the credit of the Reform, because of the spiritual blessing that it +has obtained, as well as by the esteem in which it has been held, +as the various people who come there from the most remote and distant +kingdoms have experienced the example and instruction of Ours. Divine +Omnipotence has there made illustrious, for the feeding of hearts, a +devout image of our Lady of Rule [_Nuestra Senora de Regla_]--modeled +from the one that protects and defends the Andalusian shores between +Cadiz and San Lucar--especially favoring through her means the poor +sailors in the continual dangers of their fearful duty. So many are +the vows that attest her miracles, that it would be a digression to +have to mention them. + +While the useful foundation of that convent was being directed in +Philippinas, father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel was in Espana, working +carefully and diligently in order to get the necessary despatches +to conduct helpers suitable for the prosecution of the spiritual +conquest that had been happily commenced among the Zambales. The +vigilance employed by two commissaries to get the so desired subsidy +for his brothers was disappointed by death, and by the opposition +we have already related. Consequently, the few who were fighting +the devil in the enclosure did not desist, and sent the above-named +father--since he was the most fitting person that could be found for +the attainment of such an enterprise--to whom they consigned papers of +great moment, as a testimonial of the work and of the fruit which they +were gathering with the gain of souls. Our calced fathers themselves +affirmed it, to the confusion of those who here opposed father Fray +Francisco de la Madre de Dios, and their ministries and desires. The +father embarked with great haste, but as he was coming on an affair of +heaven, misfortunes were not wanting in the world, and he endured very +heavy ones. He himself mentioned them in a relation that he made to +Pope Urban Eighth at the latter's command, when he reached his feet, +as the ambassador of certain schismatic princes of the Orient (as we +shall relate in detail when we come to the year of that event). The +father declares, then, that having suffered a severe storm amid the +islands--during which the vessels anchored at Manila were wrecked--he +sailed immediately toward Japon. Thence, after suffering other +tempests, they finally sighted Cape Mendocino in forty-four degrees +of latitude. Then coasting along the shores of Nueva Espana (which +was composed of inaccessible mountains), and through unknown seas +(in which he saw great monsters), for the distance of one thousand +leguas, he sighted the cape of San Lucas. There the gulf of the +Californias begins. The father anchored in Acapulco, the best of the +ports known to the pilots, after having spent more than seven months +on the voyage. He went to Mexico and to Vera Cruz; and, continuing +his journey and encountering a new storm on the ocean, was driven to +the coasts of Terranova [_i.e._, Newfoundland] and of Labrador. As a +consequence so much shortness of food was experienced that only two +onzas of biscuit were given to each man, and about the same amount +of water. The ship began to leak, so that it was as if by a miracle +that it was able to put in at the Terceras. There they refitted, and +the father finished his navigation, by coming to Cadiz, after having +made to that point from Manila seven thousand one hundred and sixty +leguas, in the manner that we have seen. Thence he went to Madrid, +and was given favorable audience; and everything that he petitioned +was conceded to him. But when twenty religious had been assembled, +although they were even about ready to sail in the fleet that was +being sent with reenforcements to the Malucas, the father's luck +turned against him with the order that was received, for the boats +that were ready not to sail. Consequently, he was accommodated on +the fleet of Nueva Espana, but with very few religious. However they +proved to be many, because of the lack of religious in the ministries +and convents of the Indias.... + + + + +General History of the Discalced Religious of St. Augustine By Fray +Luis de Jesus [42] + + + + +Decade Fourth + + +Chapter First + +_The Augustinian Reform is erected, by pontifical favor, into a +congregation, divided into provinces, and governed by a vicar-general._ + +[The first eleven sections of this chapter relate to affairs in +Spain, and contain matters touching the order at large, as well as +the affairs of various districts, and others pertaining to the lives +of various religious of the order. The balance of the chapter deals +with Philippine matters, as follows.] + +_Year 1621_ + + +Sec. XII + +_Foundation of the convent of Zibu in Filipinas_ + +During this year of twenty-one, when our discalced order was erected +into a congregation in Espana, the number of our houses in the +Filipinas Islands was increased by the efforts of the zeal of the +religious who were attending therein to the service of God and the +welfare of so many souls, who were in need of ministers to lighten +them with the divine word upon the pathway of the Lord. Sovereign +Providence, then, arranged that our discalced should have a convent +in that island of Zibu. It has been a station for the entrance of the +publication of the faith of Christ our Lord to many distant provinces +of barbarous and blinded people. + +The famous Magallanes discovered it in the year 1521. It has a +circumference of less than one hundred leguas. Its inhabitants are +called Pintados, because they have various designs on their bodies, +which they make with iron and fire. They were formerly regarded as +lords and chiefs of the other neighboring provinces, for they made +themselves feared by their great valor. Adelantado Miguel Lopez de +Legaspi gained it by force of arms from its king Tupas in the year +1575 [_sic_], and founded there the city of Nombre de Jesus, because +an image of the most holy child Jesus, one-half vara tall, was found +there in the house of an Indian. The Observantine fathers possess +that image in a convent that was built in the same house and on the +same site; it had before been owned and venerated by the heathen, +and is today frequented by the Catholics, who find there relief for +their needs. The city lies in the eastern part, and has a good port, +while there are other ports found in the island. There, then, did the +most pious bishop, Don Fray Pedro de Arce (of the order of our father +St. Augustine, and a son of the most observant province of Castilla, +and of the convent of Salamanca--where he professed in the year one +thousand five hundred and seventy-nine, while father Fray Antonio Munoz +was prior), solicit our discalced to found a convent; for, although +they had been the last in arriving at Filipinas, he hoped that they +were not to be the last in the work of the vineyard of the Lord. + +The bishop assigned the site in a chapel dedicated to the conception +of our Lady, somewhat apart from the traffic of the city, so that, +accordingly, the religious could give themselves more quietly to +prayer. He adjudged them also the spiritual administration of an islet +and small village called Maripipi, not very far from Zibu. About +six hundred souls were instructed there by Ours with great care +and vigilance. The erection of that convent was accomplished by +father Fray Chrisostomo de la Ascension, who was its first prior. He +erected a small building, that afterward was rebuilt because of an +accidental fire, and extended so that now it is a very comfortable +dwelling, well suited to purposes of devotion. That convent has a +devout confraternity of Our Lady of Solitude [_Nuestra Senora de la +Soledad_.] On Holy Thursday, a solemn procession is made after the +ceremony of the descent of Christ from the tree of the cross. That +procession, passing through the streets of the city, is a great +edification and consolation to the faithful. + + +Sec. XIII + +_Foundation of the convent of San Sebastian outside of the walls of +Manila in Filipinas_ + +The very devout and pious gentleman Don Bernardino del Castillo +Ribera y Maldonado was so good a benefactor to our discalced that +his generosity, which could not be satisfied within the circuit of +the walls of Manila, desired that we should make an experiment about +one-half legua from them. There as he had an estate which occupied +all that site, called Calumpan, to the boundaries of a little village +named Sampolog, and in its midst a well-built bit of a house, he made +an entire gift of it, so that a monastery might be built, in which the +religious could live retired, and, free from the excitement of the +city, give themselves up with more quietness to prayer. Father Fray +Rodrigo de San Miguel--whose heroic labors will give us considerable +of which to write--took possession of the estate, and remodeled the +said house in the form of a convent. The aforesaid master-of-camp +and castellan of the fort, Don Bernardino, was of great help, and it +was completed in time. The said village of Sampolog was assigned to +the care of the religious, so that the more than three hundred souls +that it contained should be instructed and taught there by them. + +The comfort of the site was increased, so that the provincials have +chosen it as their place of habitation, because of the quiet that +is enjoyed there, as well as for its pleasantness, which serves as +a just recreation to the continual fatigue that their government +brings with it. One would believe that God looked on that house with +pleasure, for, during the cruel rising of the Sangleys, or Chinese, +it suffered no considerable damage, although they set fire to it in +various parts with the desire of leaving not even a memory of it. We +piously believe that the queen of the angels, our Lady, defended +it, as being her dwelling; for a very holy image is revered there, +under the title of Carmen. Although that image is small in stature, +it is a great and perennial spring of prodigies and favors, which +she performs for those who invoke her. Our religious took it from +Nueva Espana, and even in that very navigation she was able to make +herself known by her miracles. + +Don Juan Velez, dean of that cathedral, was very devoted to our +discalced Recollects. Upon finding himself in the last extremity of +life, to which a very severe illness brought him, he requested that +that holy image, which had been but recently taken there, be carried +to his house. So lively was his faith, accompanied by the prayers of +the religious, that he immediately received entire health on account +of so celestial a visit. As a thank-offering for that favor, the +pious prebendary made one of the most famous feasts that have been +in that city. He founded a brotherhood, with so many brethren that +they exceed four thousand. Consequently, that most holy image is +daily frequented with vows, presents, and novenas, thank-offerings +of the many who are daily favored by that queen of the skies. + +Finally, in this year of our narration was sent the sixth mission of +religious, which the father procurator, Fray Francisco de la Madre +de Dios, arranged in Espana for those islands; and he obtained by +his great energy authority from the Catholic monarch to take twelve +religious there to increase the number of the laborers in the vineyard +of the Lord. + +That year died father Fray Alonso Navarro, and father Fray Antonio +Munoz. Mention was made of the first in the first volume, decade i, +chapter 6. Mention will be made of the second in this fourth decade +of this volume, chapter 9, in the foundation of the convent of Panama, +Sec. 9. + + + + +Chapter Second + + +_The apostolic see confirms what was enacted in the first general +chapter of the reform. Other new privileges are conceded. The preaching +of our religious in Filipinas spreads._ + +_Year 1622_ + +[Papal favor, with the confirmation of the enactments made by the +first general chapter of the Recollects held in Madrid, puts the +reformed order on a tolerably firm footing, and they are able to +proceed with their missionary and other efforts with more peace of +mind. The first section of the present chapter relates entirely to +the affairs of the order at large. The Philippine narration is again +taken up in section ii.] + +Sec. II + +_Preaching of our discalced Recollect religious in the province of +Caragha. Description of the country, with detailed and interesting +information._ + +¶The divine Mercy scattered his accustomed favors upon the province +of San Nicolas of Filipinas that year. For its zealous sons, desiring +to propagate the holy gospel, but lacking sufficient workers, busied +themselves in preserving what had been acquired, until the arrival of +very good companions [of their order], when they undertook to go to +the province of Caragha, a very principal portion of the island called +Mindanao. That island rivals that of Luzon in size. It is one hundred +and fifty leguas distant from Luzon, and is more than three hundred in +circuit, counting promontories and indentations. Its greatest length +is one hundred and thirty-six leguas, namely, from the point of La +Galera to the cape of San Augustin. It has flourishing villages, +especially along the shores of the rivers, which are large and not +few. One which flows out of the famous lake of Malanao is larger than +the others. That lake is formed from other rivers which dash down from +the mountains. The shape of the lake is oval, and its circumference +fifty leguas or more, according to report. Its greatest diameter is +only sixteen leguas, with its points and bays, and without the latter +it is only twelve. In short, that lake is considered as one of the +most famous in the world. Its marge is extremely fertile in rice and +other food products, which abound in the Bisayas. Its mountains are +clothed with cinnamon-trees, brasil-trees, ebony, orange, and other +trees that bear delicious fruit. On the lowlands are bred abundance +of deer, buffaloes, turtle-doves, and fowls, besides other kinds +of game-birds. But in the rough country are sheltered wild boars, +civet-cats, and other fierce and wild animals. + +There are certain birds that possess remarkable characteristics. The +one called _tabon_ is found on the coast of Caragha. [43] It is smaller +than a domestic hen, and very like it [in appearance], although not +in affection for its young. It lays its eggs, which are three times +larger than those of our hens, in sandy places, and easily buries +them in a hole about one braza deep. That done, it abandons them, +and never returns to examine them again. Thereafter, the preservation +of those birds being in the care of divine Providence, the heat of +the sun quickens and hatches them, and the chicks, leaving the shell, +also break out of the sand above them, and gradually get to the surface +in order to enjoy the common light; and thus, without any further aid, +they fly away. If it happens that the chick in the egg is buried with +its head down, it does not get our, for upon breaking the shell and the +sand, it continues to dig always downward, as that is the direction +that its head has; and as it misses the road it gets tired and dies, +and its cradle serves as its tomb. + +Quite different from the _tabon_ is another bird called _cagri_, +which is not found outside of Mindanao. [44] Its shape resembles +that of the bat, although it is much larger. It has no wings, but +only a membrane resembling a cloak, which falls from its shoulders +and covers it even to its feet. That enables it to pass from one tree +to another, but it cannot soar like other birds. It spreads out that +membrane when it wants to, and it is not without a tail. Its eyes +and head resemble those of a very graceful little dog, and its hair +is very soft, and at times colored with various colors, pleasing to +the sight. It bears so great affection to its young that it carries +them hanging to its breasts, just as women do, without leaving them, +although it climbs, flees, or runs. + +The reader will not be wearied with knowing the characteristics +of another animal called _hamac_. It resembles a monkey, although +the head is very round. Its eyes are golden, and very beautiful and +large. Its tail is very large and serves it as a seat, and it neatly +wraps itself about with it. It does not use its feet to walk; for, +in order to go from one part to another, it lets its tail drop, +and supporting itself on it, leaps as it wishes. It is not seen +by day, because it keeps quiet until night, when it looks for its +food, which is only charcoal. [45] All its friendship is with the +moon. Accordingly, seated on a tree, it awaits the moon, until the time +when it shines. It looks at it fixedly without winking, from the time +when it begins to shine until it hides itself. When the dawn comes, +that animal loses its sight and returns to its dwelling. If anyone +discovers it, that animal takes pains to look at him, and measures +and takes note of his person with his sight, from top to toe. That is +usually a cause for fear, to those who do not know that characteristic; +but, if he knows it, that threatening causes him no fear. Finally, +concluding the description of that island, the reader must know that it +is called Cesarea, in memory of the unconquerable Charles Fifth--a name +that was given it by Bernardo de la Torre, captain and master-of-camp +of Ruy Lopez de Villalobos, in the year 1543; and under that name it +was designated by the documents and writings of that period. + +Sec. III + +_Customs of the inhabitants of that island_ + + +Coming to the customs of the inhabitants of that land, we have to +note their common tradition, namely, that the first inhabitants were +blacks. Their barbarous descendants are preserved in the thickest +forests and in the most retired mountains. They have no regular +house, but stay where night overtakes them. They go almost naked, +for they only cover the shame of nature with the bark of certain +trees. Some of them have been seen to wear certain cloths made from +cotton, called _bahaquer_. They use the bow and arrow, and very keen +knives, with which they can sever the head of a man from the body at +one stroke. Their employment is to go in search of Bisayan Indians, +who live in the districts nearer the rivers and seashore; for they +hate the latter with fury because these have, as they give out, +usurped their own land. + +It has been learned from serious and trustworthy persons that tall and +very ugly men have been discovered in those dense forests, whose feet +are turned backward. They live on the flesh of wild game, tree-roots, +and fish, without doing any work. The very sight of those men was so +terrifying that he who unfortunately chanced to see any one of them +was left cross-eyed and squinted forever, just like those whom we +call _vizcos_ [_i.e.,_ "cross-eyed"]. An eyewitness of this piece +of information confirmed this, who declared that he had seen and +known certain Indians who were almost squint-eyed from the effect +produced by the glance of those monstrous men. Those Indians say +that their speed is such that they can catch the swiftest deer by +running; and that upon catching those said Indians, the wild men +talked very confusedly among themselves, but afterward left the +captives hanging to some trees--whence they descended with great +risk, and were left squint-eyed, because of having looked at those +enormous barbarians. Some years later, another eyewitness who had +experience in the affairs of that island added that such monsters, +called _tecmas_, had been seen with ears misshapen because of their +size, and that their mouth was like that of a dog; while they were +so hideous in face and teeth that they caused great fright. + +According to this information, these Indians have languages that are +very diverse, with peculiar characters. But they almost universally +talk the Bisayan, which is common and peculiar to Zibu, the head of +the other provinces called Pintados. Those Indians and the Caraghas, +with their other neighbors, go partly naked; for they cover the +lower part of the body, while they wear certain twisted cloths on +the head in the manner of a crown, or the duliman of the Turks, +but without the little bonnet that the latter are wont to wear. The +women are entirely covered, while, to protect themselves from the sun +and other inclemencies of the weather, they use curiously woven hats +of palm-leaves. + +Their manner of religion was to adore, some the sky, and others the +moon; or their now deceased ancestors; or the mountains or woods in +which they believed their ancestors to dwell, accompanied by certain +deities, enjoying perpetual tranquillity. They regarded it as certain +that those who had been most valiant and tyrannical in this life were +deified, and also that there was eternal punishment for some. Others, +finally, reverenced most ugly idols made of stone or wood, which they +called _divatas_. There were different kinds of such idols: some +being destined for war, and others for sickness, sowing, and such +objects. They were rendered furious by thunder, and defied the deity +whom they supposed to have sent it; they called out loudly to it, +and if that did not suffice, they took arms against it. + +It is said that the ridiculous Alcoran of the Mahometans had +penetrated even to that land from the Orient, having been taken +there by certain zealots of that infamous sect, who were trying to +extend it. However their efforts and false preaching availed them +little; for the inhabitants of those islands were very much given to +intoxication, and very fond of eating flesh forbidden by that false +law. Consequently, that error took root in very few of them. + +They had no certain days established throughout the year for their +sacrifices, but made them as time and opportunity offered. They were +punctual in offering these when they were going to fight. War was +their universal inclination, because of their bestial and ferocious +appetite to rob and to go on raids, committing depredations on +the neighboring islands, and making slaves of all the people who +came to their hands. They also offered sacrifices in sickness, the +beginnings of their sowings, the building of their houses, and for +other necessities. The duties of priest were exercised indifferently by +both men and women, called _baylanes_. They made use of superstitions, +lots, witchery, and other ceremonies. + +The method of their ceremonies was as follows. Those who were to be +present were summoned, handsomely dressed and adorned, by the sound +of certain harsh bells (or, rather, unmusical cattle-bells) to the +house where it seemed best--for they had no assigned temple--which +was adorned with herbs and flowers. While they were waiting for all +to gather, those who first came began certain songs, alternating +between men and women, in time to the sound of a small drum. The +victim was already prepared. It was either a hog or some captive, +whose hands and feet they tied as if he were a young sheep. All the +invited ones having arrived, the priest or priestess began their +barbarous function by going into a private retreat beforehand, where +he made six conjurations; and, after the devil had entered his body, +he left the retreat with infernal fury to explain the oracle which +all were awaiting. Then the priest, taking a small lance in his hand, +danced about the sacrifice to the music of certain cattle-bells and +rustic instruments. Finally, on reaching the animal or captive, the +priest wounded it, and the bystanders killed it with spear-thrusts +and blows. When the victim was dead, if it were a man, they cast it +into the sea; if it were an animal, they quickly skinned, cooked, +and ate it, drinking until they became intoxicated. But they kept +something for the absent ones, as a relic, also reserving the most +choice portion (generally the head), on a table that resembled an +altar, for the devil whom they called the _divata_. No one touched +that portion except the baylan, who afterward threw it into the water +very reverently. The sacrifice was concluded with that ridiculous +ceremony. However, they were wont to add certain other ceremonies, +according to the purposes for which the said sacrifices were being +made, as for instance in war. At such times, after their intoxication +was over, they went to the shore of the river or sea; and, after +launching a small boat, the baylan jumped into it, at the same time +making his lying conjurations. If the boat moved, it was taken as a +good sign, but if it were immovable, it was intimated to them that +that war should not be made, unless they repeated the sacrifices. + +They also made use of another ceremony to ascertain whom each one +would capture. Each one kept in his house a great number of the teeth +of the crocodile or wild boar, strung on a cord. He handed those to +the priest very humbly. The latter received them with many salaams, +ordained so that they should have reverence for him. Then he said +certain badly-pronounced words ordering such teeth to move themselves, +by whose number the said baylan prophesied those who would remain +captive in the power of the owner of the string. In the same way they +cast other lots, in order to ascertain the future and its accidents. + + +Sec. IIII + +_Continuation of the same_ + + +When about to go rowing or sailing, they prayed to the promontories +or capes, attributing to them worship, as to the gods of war, with +very sad cries. They watched to see if a certain bird appeared, +called _limocon_, similar to the turtle-dove of Europa. If they +saw it in the direction that they were taking, it was a bad sign, +and they did not leave the port. They also considered the _toco_ or +_taloto_--called _chacon_ by our Spaniards, and very like the lizard +[46]--as inauspicious. They feared the latter wherever they found +it, as a thing very contrary to their designs. While the war lasted, +they did not eat of the fish called _pulpo_ [47] or of any other fish +caught in a net. For they believed that if they tasted of that, they +would become blind; while, if they ate of the others, they would lose +the victory and would be made captives. They thought that if they ate +with a light, they would be conquered; and consequently, never did +they strike a light to eat, even though night had fallen. Those who +remained in the village did no work for seven consecutive days; for, +if they did not do that, they feared the defeat of their companions. On +returning victorious, they asked their nearest dead relative, with +their rude prayers (having stopped their boats), whether he would +like to have a part in the taking of the captives whom they had. If +the boats moved--which was but natural and necessary, since they were +in the water--they believed that he assented. Thereupon, taking the +best slave, they bound him hand and foot; and, taking him ashore, +they passed the boat over him with great force and weight until they +killed him with brutal cruelty. The sacrifice was concluded in the +house with the death of another captive, who was killed by the wife +of the conqueror. + +They showed themselves very dutiful toward their dead, burying them +with lamentations and remarkable minuteness of detail, increasing or +lessening the obsequies according to the quality and worth of their +actions. The nearest relatives were careful to close their mouths, for +they feared lest the soul of the dead would enter into their bodies +and do them a great deal of harm. Then they began their mourning by +lugubrious songs, which one of the kin intoned, while the others were +very attentive in order to respond, in time, with fearful cries. That +lasted more or less time according to the excellence of the deceased, +whose exploits were mentioned with great exaggeration. The friends and +acquaintances came in, both to console them and to become intoxicated, +which formed the relief for that sorrow. Only the mourners, who wore +white, refrained from drinking, in order that they might receive the +compliments of condolence soberly and in a dignified manner. + +So great was their devotion to the souls of their parents and +grandparents (whom they called _humalagar_), that they always +offered them food in their banquets, especially when they finished +any house, thinking that they themselves would die if they failed in +that. They did the same with the first yield of their fruits. When +they became sick, they invoked these ancestors to aid them, as we do +the saints. Then they summoned certain old witches, who were their +physicians. They respected the latter so greatly that, from the day +on which they entered their doors, no fire was lit in that house, as a +sign of great reverence. The medicines applied were after consultation +with the devil, in the shape of a little idol or a very ugly figure of +a man or woman, whom they asked for the life of the sick person. If +the idol moved, it was a sign of death, just as remaining still was +a sign of life and health. They made the same tests in the water, +by putting a boat in it, and observing from a distance its state of +quietness or motion. + +During the time that those barbarous obsequies lasted, it was +unlawful for anyone to go to any place where the deceased had gone, +or where he had bathed, under penalty of the culprit's losing +his life immediately. After the days for the mourning had been +completed, they covered the eyes and mouth of the corpse with sheets +of gold. They carried it to the field in a coffin, and into distant +caves or sepulchers among themselves; and buried it, together with +a male servant if the deceased was a man, or a female servant if the +deceased was a woman, so that such person might serve them, as they +thought that that was necessary in the other life. Thus did the dead +and living go hand in hand, without any recourse or dispensation. Such +servants of the deceased were set apart for that purpose from their +childhood, and were called _atabang_. If the deceased was rich, a +greater number of servants was added. This is confirmed by the event +that was rumored in the island of Bohol shortly before Miguel Lopez +de Legaspi arrived at Zibu; for those people placed seventy slaves +in the sepulcher of one of those barbarians, all arranged in order +in a little ship, which they call _caracoa_--which was provided with +anchors, rigging, and everything else, even arms and food, as if it +had been launched in the sea. + +Of the aforesaid, it is well known that that people believed in the +error that the soul went with the body, and that they were maintained +in the other life as in this. Consequently, they placed the most costly +clothes in the sepulchers. The relatives added others, and even arms, +if the deceased was a man, and the instruments of her domestic labor +if a woman, together with all the other dishes and jewels of the house +(not even excepting gold and precious jewels), in accordance with +their taste, so that these might be enjoyed in the other life. The +food was carried to them for the space of one year, and it was placed +on an adorned table every day. When it was taken there, the food of +the preceding day was taken away. That they threw into the water, and +no one dared to touch it, as it was a sacred thing. They generally +built a hut over the grave, so that the deceased should not suffer +from the inclemency of the weather. + +If the death were by violence, vengeance pertained to the children, +and in default of children to the nearest relative. The sign of that +obligation was to place certain armlets on the arms, as for instance, +twigs of osier, more or less according to the station of the dead. Upon +killing the first man whom they encountered--even though he were +innocent--one armlet was removed; and thus they continued to kill +until all the rings were removed from the arms. The avenger did not +eat anything hot, or live in a settlement, during that wicked and +barbarous vengeance. + +Each year every relative punctually celebrated the obsequies, and that +was a very festive day. They gathered a great quantity of food and +beverages; they commenced many joyful dances; they stuffed themselves +with what was prepared, taking some to their houses, and reserving the +greater portion to offer to the _divata_, and to the deceased, in the +following manner. A small bamboo boat was prepared, with much care, +and they filled it with fowls, flesh, eggs, fish, and rice, together +with the necessary dishes. The baylan gave a talk or a prolix prayer, +and finished by saying: "May the dead receive that obsequy, by giving +good fortune to the living." Those present answered with great shouting +and happiness. Then they loosed the little boat (sacred, as they +thought), which no one touched, and whose contents they did not eat, +even though they were perishing; for they considered that a great sin. + + +Sec.V + +_Vices of the inhabitants of that island_ + +The vices of that people were indeed enormous. They were never lovers +of peace among themselves, and always were anxious for continual wars, +which they carried on at the slightest excuse. All their desire was to +rob and capture on land and sea, although they had in their ancient +times condemned theft severely. Their arms consisted of a lance; +a long, narrow shield which covered the entire body; and a dagger +resembling a broad knife, with which they easily cut off the head of +him whom they conquered, which was their greatest delight. They also +used bows and steel-pointed arrows with skill. + +Their greed was insatiable, although they were lazy and slothful; and +for that reason they practice unheard-of usury. There is no trace of +reason or justice in them. If one lent another a short measure of rice, +the debtor was obliged to return it in a certain time. If he did not +have the wherewithal to return it, he became a captive, and had no +redress; for the judges, who should have prevented that oppression, +were the first to practice that offense. That was the practice between +peers. If the business were with any chief, the poor wretch remained +a slave forever, even though the sum were for only four reals. They +made a distinction in those captivities; for if one were born of a +slave woman, and a free father, or the contrary, such a one remained +a half slave. Consequently in order for the accomplishment of his +service to his master, it was sufficient for him to serve for six +months scattered along through the twelve of the year. If he were the +child of parents both half slave, he was obliged to serve one month, +remaining free the three following; then he served another month, +continuing in this manner his servitude. Likewise, when a freeman +and a slave had many children, the chiefs were wont to set some free, +while the others remained slaves forever. + +Their intoxication and lust went to excess. They had what wives they +could support, and did not exempt among them their sisters and their +mothers. Marriage consisted in the will of the parents of the bride, +and the suitor paid them the dowry, although it was not handed to them +until after they had children. If either of the parents were dead, +the dowry was given to the nearest relative. They were divorced with +ease, but it was on condition that if the husband solicited it he lost +what was given to his parents-in-law; but if the wife procured it, +the dowry was restored. If adultery were proved, the aggressor and the +aggrieved [husband] came to terms--the same being done in the case of +the wife--in regard to the sum that was agreed upon, after considerable +haggling, and they generally remained fast friends. Consequently, +some husbands were wont to make a business of that, such was their +barbarism, arranging tricks, and providing occasions for their wives +to repeat their adulteries, in order that they might derive infamous +gains. If the culprit had nothing with which to pay, he became a +captive or lost his life. Divorce was very frequent, and agreement was +made to divide the children between husband and wife for their support. + +They gloried in knowing charms and in working them, by consulting the +devil--a means by which some made themselves feared by others, for +they easily deprived them of life. In confirmation of this assertion, +it happened, according to the recital of one of our ministers, that +while he was preaching to a great assembly one Indian went to another, +and breathed against him with the intent of killing him. The breath +reached not the Indian's face, however, but an instrument that he +was carrying, the cords of which immediately leaped out violently, +while the innocent man was left unharmed. The philosophy of such +cases is that the murderer took in his mouth the poisonous herb +given him by the devil, and had another antidotal herb for his own +defense. Then, exhaling his breath in this manner, he deprived of +life whomever he wished. They used arrows full of poison, which +they extracted from the teeth of poisonous serpents. They wounded +and killed as they listed, by shooting these through a blowpipe, +which they concealed between the fingers of their hands with great +dissimulation, blowing the arrows so that they touched the flesh of +their opponent. They practiced consultation with the devil by means +of their baylans, in order to ascertain natural causes, especially +in their illnesses. Consequently, they were very great herbalists, +knowing above all the preservatives from the poisons with which +they attacked one another on slight occasions--especially the women, +who are the more passionate and more easily aroused. + + +Sec. VI + +_Treats of the government of those islanders_ + +The government of those people was neither elective nor hereditary; +for he who had the greatest valor or tyranny in defending himself was +lord. Consequently, everything was reduced to violence, he who was most +powerful dominating the others. When one went to the chief to plead +justice, the latter delivered his sentence without writing anything; +and there was no appeal, whether the sentence were just or unjust. The +rich treated the poor and the plebeians as useless brutes, so that +those poor wretches flung themselves upon the rocks to die, as they +were unable to endure so hard a yoke. If he who was less did not pay +homage to him who was more influential, he was declared as his slave +only because the other wished it. They also deprived those miserable +beings of life for such reasons. Such was their iniquity and madness. + +If any criminal received protection in the house of a chief and the +latter managed his affair, the one protected became a perpetual slave, +together with his wife, children, and descendants, in return for the +protection. Because once while some boats were sailing some drops +of water fell on a chief woman, through the carelessness of him who +was rowing, it was considered so serious an offense that the poor +wretch was condemned to perpetual slavery, together with his wife, +children and relatives. However, our religious destroyed that practice +by spreading the holy gospel in that country. + +The nobility of those Indians was personal. It consisted in one's own +deeds, without reference to those of others. Accordingly, he who was +more valiant and killed most men in war was the more noble. The sign +of that nobility consisted in wearing the cloth wrapped about the head +(of which we have spoken above), of a more or less red color. Those +nobles were exempt from rowing in the public fleets (and that although +they were slaves), and ate with their masters at the table when they +were at sea--a privilege which they gained by their exploits. In +that custom of killing they reared their children and taught them +from an early age, so that beginning early to kill men, they might +become proud and wear the red cloth, the insignia of their nobility. + + +Sec. VII + +_Governor Don Juan de Silva declares war against those Indians, +and our religious enter to preach the gospel faith._ + +We have extended the relation of the barbarous customs of those +Indians, in order that the reader might know the great difficulty in +subjecting them to the law of reason, and (what is more) to the mild +law of the holy gospel. Some Spaniards, accompanied by evangelical +ministers, had penetrated those provinces at times from the year +1597, with great zeal; but they could not remain there because of the +ferocity of the natives, and for other casualties, which make those +provinces less habitable, notwithstanding that they abound in many +things that are necessary to life and advantageous to commerce. + +For these and other reasons, Don Juan de Silva, governor and president +of Manila, called various meetings of commanders, and experienced +captains, in which it was determined to make energetic war on those +barbarians. Charge of the war was given to General Don Juan de Vega, +son of Doctor Don Juan de Vega, auditor of Manila. He with a fine +fleet of four hundred Spaniards and other Indians sailed to humble +the pride of those barbarians. The latter were not unprepared for +resistance; for, joining their forces, they entrenched themselves so +that there was considerable doubt as to the undertaking. Both sides +fought with great valor, and there were many killed and wounded. But +at last our troops were victorious, as their zeal was to the service +of God and the increase of His worship. More than one thousand five +hundred Christian captives were liberated, and a presidio and fort +[48] was erected as a warning for the future. That effort was not +sufficient to quiet those Caraghas islanders; for within four years +three thousand of them assembled and, surrounding the redoubt, +placed it in great straits. They were repulsed by our men with so +great valor that, having retired to the sea, they vented their fury +by inflicting severe injuries on some villages friendly to us. And, +our men also getting a good reenforcement that was sent us from +Manila, those men returned to their homes--where, treating afterward +for articles of peace, they were pardoned for their past boldness, +and their subjection was arranged with the mildness of the gospel yoke. + +Affairs were in that condition, when the most illustrious Don Fray +Pedro de Arce, bishop of Zibu, most worthy son of our Augustinian +order, with his great zeal of gaining souls for God conceded to +our Reform the office of catching them with the net of the gospel +preaching. When the reenforcement of missionaries had arrived from +Espana that year [_i.e._, 1622], as is said in volume i, last chapter, +eight of our religious were appointed for that purpose. Stimulated +by the pity that they had at learning that so many souls were being +lost in the blindness of their idolatry, these missionaries set out in +great fervor from Manila, after having received the blessing of their +superior, and not without the holy envy of the other religious, who +would have liked to spend their lives in that holy employment. These +apostolic men landed at Zibu, where they received the blessings of +the most zealous bishop and many kindnesses with which he wished to +load them. He despatched them with promptness, and in a short time +they reached the redoubt of Tanda, which was the name of the fort +that had been erected there by our Spaniards. + +Then commenced the greatest felicity of that land; for our religious, +having as their object the welfare of those barbarians, tried to +gain their good-will by gentle measures. For that purpose, father +Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, the superior of that spiritual squadron, +refused to settle in the said fortress of Tanda; for, since those +heathen had a horror of it, they would not go to it. Consequently, +despising his life, and exposing it to manifest danger, he determined +to enter the country one legua further, and to build a dwelling-place +on the shores of a river. His design did not succeed badly, for, +attended by good fortune, he continued to attract and gain the +affections of those fierce Indians by making them understand their +illusions and errors. His other associates were not idle amid so much, +for, having separated among the environs (after having left a priest +in the redoubt as chaplain, who was not slothful in his gaining of +souls), they worked fervently in scattering the light of the faith, +in the midst of the darkness of that blind people, without excusing +themselves from great perils and hardships. They chose their residence +in the village of Yguaquet, [49] on the bank of another river where +the country people generally met. Those gospel workers were divided +and separated from one another, in order that they might attend with +greater convenience to the different districts. + +One cannot imagine the toil of our religious in cultivating that wild +forest of barbaric people. They catechised, instructed, and baptized +many, so that what was before a brutish wickedness, where the devil +reigned, began to be a beautiful fragment of the Church. They endured +great suffering, because of the intractability and fierceness of the +islanders, who were hostile to peace and to human intercourse; for +they had so little affection for even their brothers and sons that +they killed them or abandoned them to die, on but slight pretext. But +everything surrenders to the grace of God, and to the earnest zeal of +His ministers, who consider only the honor of His Divine Majesty--from +whom those pious workers received so great strength, that great wonder +is caused by the consideration that people so given to witchcraft, +cruelty, and injustice should have received the worship of the true +God with so great affection and devotion. To see them so surrendered +to the obedience of the Catholic Church, and so fond of the churches +that were soon built by the care and solicitude of Ours, edifies and +consoles one. There are celebrated the feasts of Christ and His most +holy mother, and those of the other saints, in which they show a very +steadfast faith. Finally those people learned some arts and trades, +by which they live in great comfort. + +We cannot avoid mentioning a very notable conversion in that province +of Caraghas. There was a chief, named Inuc, so celebrated and feared +that through his power and cunning he was absolute master of a +considerable territory, and the shores of a river that afterward took +his name. That barbarian was not satisfied with tyrannizing within +his own boundaries, but entering those of others, sailed through +the gulfs and along the coasts, in search of whom he might rob, +capture, and kill. It is said of that man that he had made more than +two thousand persons slaves, and killed innumerable men with his own +hand. Consequently, he was feared in the neighboring islands; while +no vessel dared to go to his lands--especially one of Spaniards, +whom he hated beyond measure, so that he would never agree to make +treaties of peace or of profit with them. + +The perdition of that man and the injuries and offenses that he +committed against God and his neighbors, caused great anguish to +father Fray Juan de la Madre de Dios, [50] a native of Villa-Banez +in old Castilla, and one of the eight who went to Caragha. He took it +upon himself to subdue this man without other aid than confidence of +that of God. In order to achieve it, he prepared himself by special +fasting and prayers. He went alone to look for him; having found +him--to the great surprise of Inuc himself, who thought that the +religious had great boldness in coming into his presence--the latter +talked to him so fittingly and fervently, that the tyrant, having first +pardoned the father's coming without his leave, thanked him for the +holy admonitions that he gave to him. Showing him great affection, +Inuc admitted trade between his countrymen and the Spaniards; +then he consented that the holy gospel might be preached in his +territories. He gave his vassals an example by being baptized; by +sending away his numerous wives and marrying the first according to the +rites of the Church; by freeing his captives; and by issuing an edict +allowing those aggrieved to come to him to receive reparation for the +injuries which he had inflicted on them. He fulfilled that exactly, +binding himself by two judges, namely, our religious and the captain +of the fort of Tanda. They settling and sentencing with all equity, +restored to those interested whatever appeared to be theirs. Thus did +he who was before a haughty tyrant become a humble sheep of the flock +of the Church, and a faithful vassal of the kings of Castilla. News +of that conversion spread throughout those districts, and following +his example, many heathen submitted to the yoke of our holy law. + +Our missionaries were greatly encouraged by that fortunate success, +so that they were not dismayed at the work that they had undertaken, +although its difficulties were many. They were confirmed in their +intent by another case that happened in a village called Ambagan +on that coast of Caragha. A religious was resting one night when an +Indian, instigated by the devil, called together two other companions, +who formed a rearguard for him; while he, entering the house, tried +to kill the innocent man who was asleep. It was at midnight, the time +that he thought most opportune. He left those who accompanied him at +the foot of the house, while he mounted the ladder. At the entrance +of the room of the gospel minister, a venerable old man accosted +him and asked him in his own tongue: "Where art thou going? Seest +thou not that I am watching this man who is asleep, and who is my +son?" Notwithstanding that, the Indian persisted in his evil intent +of entering. But at that juncture the old man raised a staff of gold +which he held in his hand, and threatening the aggressor, scared him +so that, turning his back to descend the ladder, he could not find +it in order to escape, notwithstanding his eager search for it. Thus +did he spend the remainder of the night in great anxiety, and in the +morning he was discovered by the people who lived there. The Indian, +conscience-stricken, demanded that they inform the father, to whom +with great sorrow he related all that had happened, giving him leave +to publish it. He declared also who were his associates--who, growing +tired of waiting, and seeing that day was dawning, had returned in +order not to be discovered. The bystanders were astonished at hearing +the circumstances; and it was believed that that venerable old man +was our father St. Augustine, who defended his religious son with +the pastoral staff. + + +Sec. VIII + +_Our religious preach in the province of Butuan_ + +The province of Butuan--so called from the river of that name which +flows through it and renders to the sea the tribute of its so abundant +waters, while the sea enters the land for one-half legua--has wide +borders and plains where numerous people live who resemble the Caraghas +in their customs and ceremonies. However they are not so rude in their +behavior, perhaps because they were softened by the evangelical law, +which they once enjoyed. However, they abandoned that law because +the ministers abandoned them. [51] That holy conquest was undertaken +with great resolution by father Fray Juan de San Nicolas, one of the +eight, who with a spirit apostolically bold planted the standard of +the cross in the town nearest the seashore. He subdued its inhabitants +by his gentleness, and attracted them to the bosom of the Church by +sermons in their own language. Those sermons produced a great fruit, +not only among those country people, but also among the traders who +came from other districts to traffic. + +With such auspicious beginnings, Ours continued to penetrate the +province, and, going up and down that river, sowed the divine word. It +fell to the lot of father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio, also one of +the eight above mentioned--who regarded but lightly the hardships +that were represented to him, with unfortunate examples, as having +encountered other ministers of the gospel--to journey more than fifty +leguas, preaching the faith of Jesus Christ to the villages. He had +serious and frequent difficulties in making himself heard; for the +devil appeared in a visible form to the Indians, persuading them not +to admit those fathers into their country, because of whom, so they +said, dire calamities and troubles must happen to them. But, as it +was the cause of God, all the deceits and cunning of that common +enemy remained only threats. + +It was no little work to make the Indians leave so many wives as each +one had, obliging them to marry the first, and to free their slaves +whom they miserably oppressed. But he attained it with his mildness, +the inoffensive method by which our religious succored the weakness +of those Indians. Thus did they obtain permission to travel through +the shores of that river, gaining souls for heaven, and building a +dwelling in the village of Linao. [52] + +In that did the superb zeal of father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio +excel wonderfully. For having resolved to go up the river together with +some Butuan Indians, already Christians, and arriving at the said place +of Linao, and seeing that its inhabitants were gentler and more docile, +he erected an altar in a chosen house, where he placed the images--from +which the heathen received great joy, praising their beauty. Then he +assembled the chief men of the district, and preached them a sermon, +in which he informed them who the true God is, and bade them abandon +the customs and rites of the devil. They jested at such a proposition, +but were soon subdued--especially one, who declared the location of +their god or _divata_. Father Fray Jacinto was overjoyed at that, and +schemed how he might see such place of worship, which was located on +the other side of the river. Commending himself, then, to Jesus Christ, +whose cause he was advancing, he ordered a boat to be launched and went +to look for the idol. Some Indians went out to meet him, brandishing +their lances in order to prevent his entrance. Others more humane, +persuaded him that he should abandon that undertaking, saying that, +if he wished to build a church there, they would give him a better +location. The father answered mildly that that house was very much +to his purpose because it was large, and all could gather in it in +order to be instructed in the mysteries of the faith. The Indians who +accompanied the pious father feared that a quarrel was about to ensue, +and that fear went with them even to the door [of the house]. The +father entered the place of worship boldly, to the wonder of all. He +saw various altars on which they sacrificed to the idol, which was +placed on a higher altar covered with curtains. The father carefully +avoided giving any attention to the said idol, and, having assembled +the chiefs, addressed them in regard to erecting an altar to the true +God. All agreed to it. On going out, the father purposely turned his +gaze to the image, and asked who was that who had so much reverence +there. No one replied, whereupon the zealous father seized the image, +which was a fierce devil, made of wood covered with black paint, +which made it altogether ugly and frightful. The barbarians were as +if thunderstruck, for they thought that no one could touch that god +without losing his life, and they could not cease their surprise +that that father had been able to capture their divata. Thereupon +the fervent missionary took occasion to make them understand their +blindness, and to persuade them of the offense which was committed +against the true God in worshiping the devil. After so notable an +action, he returned triumphant, with the protection of heaven, to +his boat, taking the idol with him without any one preventing him. On +the next day the Indians offered a considerable quantity of gold to +ransom their little god. The father paid no attention to it. On the +contrary, he diverted them, and leaving them to forget it, descended +to the convent of Butuan. There the people went to look for him, +proclaiming the little or no value of their god, and saying that they +wished to receive the true God. That was a matter of great consolation +to the father at seeing how well his pains had been recompensed. + +The divine pity approved the holy zeal of our religious by the +experience of that village of Linao, which was located on the shores +of the river, forty leguas away from the sea--that while before they +were molested by crocodiles, which killed numerous people, as soon +as the fathers made a settlement there they suffered no persecution +from those fierce animals. They all attributed it to the most holy +cross now set up, and to the voice of the gospel. Numerous conversions +were made in that country. Very famous is that of an Indian woman who, +having received our holy faith, died shortly afterward on the eve of +St. Catalina, virgin and martyr, at the first watch of the night. On +going next day to deliver her to the fathers in order that they might +bury her, and the grave being already opened, they came from the house +of the deceased woman to say that she was alive. Wondering at the news, +the fathers went to verify the matter, and found it to be truth. For +the deceased talked before them all, declaring that God had permitted +her to return to this life, so that, inasmuch as she had concealed a +very grave sin in confession, she might confess and be saved. She did +so immediately, and the instant when she was absolved she expired; +while Ours gave many thanks to our Lord for the pity that He had had +toward that soul, and to the others, since they became more inclined +to our holy Catholic religion because of that prodigy. + +Also it is worth while to narrate what happened in the province of +Ambongan and the lake of Compongan through the preaching by Ours of +the faith of Jesus Christ. An Indian woman was very near the end of +her life, and her husband and children were sad because at the time +there was no father there to administer the sacraments; for Ours were +at Butuan, whence they could not come without considerable delay. The +sick woman, seeing their sadness, told them to console themselves; +for the most holy Virgin, their advocate, had appeared to her very +beautiful and shining, and had told her to rejoice, for she would not +die until a father should have come to confess her and give her all the +other sacraments of the church. That very thing happened, for within +a month a missionary priest arrived there to visit and console those +villages. The sick woman heard of it, and had herself carried to the +church, where she received the sacraments of penitence, the eucharist, +and extreme unction, in the presence of that village. She returned to +her house, embracing a cross, to which she spoke innumerable tender +words. She died about midnight, leaving behind strong indications of +having gone to enjoy the eternal rest. + + +Sec. IX + +_Ours preach in Calamianes, and Cuyo_ + +The fervor of our religious did not rest with what was accomplished +in the provinces above mentioned. Having obtained some associates, +they determined to preach in Calamianes, islands which remained +in their blindness and idolatry. Their inhabitants were wild, and +great sorcerers and magicians, who knew many herbs. They used the +latter to kill by means of the breath or expiration infected with a +poisonous herb, as we have said above. They are poor, not because of +the sterility of the country, but because the Borneans, Camuzones, +and others of their neighbors plunder them. + +Those islands lie west of the island of Panai, which is one of the +largest of the Filipinas, being eighty leguas long, but narrow in its +breadth, and extends north and south from ten to twelve and one-half +degrees. They are small, for they are only four to six leguas in +circuit, and that which is largest is twenty. The chief islands, those +most frequented by Ours, number nine. In that of Butuagan [_sic_], +the climate is not suited to deer; for they are not raised there; +and if they are taken there they die very soon, without the reason +being known, for all the Filipinas contain many of them. + +That of Coron is also notable, as it is a ledge or rock, very high +and rugged, which is fortified naturally by the crags that girdle +it. Its ascent is steep and intricate. The Indians retire there as +to a sacred place. It cannot be taken except by hunger or thirst, +and the crag or island is dry and barren, so that not a drop of water +can be found on it. Numerous birds resort thither, and there are +also a great number of beehives [53] amid the hollows of the rocks, +and a quantity of honey is produced, as well as wax, without its +costing any care or labor. The Indians gather that harvest, and, +carrying it to other places, obtain the things needful for life. + +All those islands are defended by reefs, which makes the navigation of +those seas very dangerous, even in the time of fair weather. Within +their boundaries there are a number of different kinds of animals, +of rare form. There was one the size of a cat, with the head and feet +of a tiger, and the eyes, nostrils, and hands of a man, and entirely +covered with soft down. There is another little animal seen, which, +as it has no teeth, because these never grow, lives on maggots. To get +them it sticks out its tongue, which is very long, where those little +animals congregate; and, when the tongue is full of them, it draws it +back and swallows them. [54] The forests abound with many incorruptible +woods, such as ebony, cypress, cedar, and small pomegranate trees. + +Those islanders had never had a gospel minister to draw them from +their ignorance. Our discalced, pitying their wretchedness, resolved +to send five religious for that undertaking. Their superior was +father Fray Juan de Santo Tomas. He, not fearing any dangers, and +armed with the divine strength, planted the tree of the cross in the +island of Cuyo. That island is called "the garden of nature," because +of the singular pleasantness and beauty that it enjoys, in which it +is more fortunate than the other islands of that famous sea. It is +six leguas in circuit, as are two others its near neighbors, which +rival it in beauty. It abounds in rice, and very savory fruits. The +mountains are full of fragrant flowers, and shelter a great number +of wild boars. There are many species of birds, and fowls are reared +in considerable abundance. + +Although those islands were densely populated, the people were so +barbarous that they seemed not to possess reason. For that cause +our religious wished to cultivate that forest in order to sow the +seed of the gospel. Notwithstanding [their savagery], father Fray +Francisco de San Nicolas, accompanied by another priest, named Fray +Diego de Santa Ana, and a lay brother, went to the chief island of the +Calamianes. Treating the inhabitants with gentleness, they instructed +and persuaded them to live gathered into villages--a thing that +they utterly abominated, both because of their natural fierceness, +and because they were greatly harassed by the enemies who generally +infested those islands. Much was suffered in the attainment of that, +but it was accomplished, with the most severe toil on the part of +Ours; and they baptized many of those Indians, whose number we shall +declare below, when we treat of the convents which were built in +those islands in spite of the devil and all hell, who opposed them +with all their forces. + +Although it will be somewhat of a digression, we cannot help saying +something of the barbarous customs of those heathen Calamianes. They +recognized a first cause, which governed what was visible. They +attributed good or evil events to fortune and to the star of each +one. They adored a deity who resembled Ceres, to whom they commended +their fields and offered their fruits. They worshiped another petty +deity who resembled Mars, in order to gain his protection in their +battles. They believed in the _humalagar [i.e._, soul of an ancestor] +(as we said of the Charaghas)--whom they summoned in their sicknesses +by means of their priestesses. The priestesses placed a leaf of a +certain kind of palm upon the head of the sick man, and prayed that it +[_i.e._, the soul] would come to sit there, and grant him health. They +also venerated the moon, asking that it would aid them at the time of +death. They celebrated the obsequies of the dead during the full moon. + +Their priests were highly revered, and were called _mangaloc_. The +devil showed them what they asked from him, in water, with certain +shadows or figures. They practiced circumcision, and had ministers +assigned for it. They had as many concubines as they could support. If +the first wife committed adultery, the penalty was to repudiate +her for a certain time. When anyone wished to have a share in the +inheritance of the dead, he laid a piece of his garment upon the +corpse, and thereby acquired that right, but he was obliged to aid the +deceased's children. They had no fidelity among themselves, whence many +conflicts arose. In order to clear themselves of calumnies or charges, +they invented various tricks. At times, divine Providence, breaking +their entanglements, defended the innocent and punished the guilty. + +Their arms consisted of bows and arrows. On the point of the arrow they +fitted a fish spine, with a certain poison that was so effective that +it was mortal even if it only slightly touched the flesh. They used +short spears and certain shields which they called _carazas_. They +carried certain knives with two sharp edges, which were short, like +daggers. They used jackets or doublets of well-twisted cord, and under +those others of rattan, a kind of osier. By means of these they turn +aside the sharp, keen bamboos which, of the length of two brazas, +are hurled in naval battles, with which they do great harm. [55] + +Wonders were not wanting in the conversions of those people. The +Christian parents of an Indian woman brought her into the presence of +father Fray Juan de San Joseph, and, as she was suffering grievously +from a violent fever, begged him to baptize her, for they feared lest +she die without that sacrament. The father instructed and catechised +her, and told her to have confidence, and that baptism would save +her, soul and body. The heathen woman received that instruction +so thoroughly that when she was baptized, she was as well from her +illness as if she had never had it, God rewarding her faith, and +encouraging others so that they should receive baptism. + +Another Indian woman was at the extremity of death, and without +baptism. The father was summoned, but he, thinking that she was not in +so great danger, and that more time was necessary to instruct her in +the mysteries of the faith, wished to postpone her baptism. However, +God put a strong impulse into his heart not to leave the sick woman +in danger; and at last catechising her very briefly, scarcely had he +baptized her when she died happy. + +The devil grieved mightily because the fathers were taking away so many +souls from his captivity, and tried to drive them from that province +of Calamianes. He availed himself of a witch and her son, appearing +in person to them, and ordering them to use all the delusions and +witcheries that they knew, in order to frighten the Spanish soldiers +who were in a fortress near by, so that the gospel ministers should by +this means be induced to depart to Manila. The sorcerers began their +deceits, and one night they seized the soldier on guard and bore him +through the air to the top of a hill more than a legua away. When the +period of his watch was over, others went to relieve him; as they +could not find him, the captain thought that he had deserted, and +sent another soldier to look for him. He was found crying out like a +madman. He was taken manacled to the fortress, and, recognizing that +it was the devil who had maltreated him, they summoned father Fray +Benito de Santa Monica, a native of Sevilla, and a powerful minister, +who had grace to cast out devils. The father began the exorcisms +of the church; and the evil spirit talked--a thing that he had not +done before--and said many things in many languages. Consequently, +the father ordered him not to talk unless he were questioned; the +spirit obeyed, and, finally urged by the exorcisms, made known all +the said trick, and left the body of the soldier. + +The next night the devils entered into eight soldiers, afflicting them +with the same accidental madness as the other. Thus did they continue +to multiply their cases of possession, to the great fear of all the +others. And although our religious did not cease in their exorcisms and +prayers, the infernal spirits were stubborn and pertinacious. Fears +grew greater when legions of devils were seen in the air at night +in most horrible guise. On that account the most holy sacrament was +exposed in the fort. Yielding to its sovereign presence, the demons +fled in confusion to their eternal dungeons, with the ruin of their +deceits; for the Catholics mended their lives, the faith was confirmed, +and the infidels were more inclined to receive it. + + +Sec. X + +_Preaching of Ours in the river of Cagaiang_ + +Let us leave those islands for a moment and return to Mindanao, where +Ours were fervently attending to their ministry. After having put +Christianity on the best footing possible along the shores of Butuan, +they went forty leguas farther on by sea, to look for another river +called Cagaiang, as they had been told that its inhabitants were a +people more docile than the other inhabitants, in order to enlighten +them with the light of the gospel. The lord of that land was an Indian +named Salangsang. He lived on a steep and inaccessible rock, which is +a peninsula called Himologan. It had no other approaches or mode of +ascent than certain ladders made of rattans [_bexucos_], which resemble +strong osiers. When those were removed it was fortified and protected +from the invasions of enemies. The customs of those people are like +those related of the inhabitants of Caraghas. The path opened for +that undertaking was that Dona Magdalena Bacuya, a Christian Indian +woman (the grandmother of the above mentioned Indian, Salangsang), +being moved by zeal for the honor of God, and compassion for the +blindness of those people, went to see her grandson. Although with +difficulty, she succeeded in gaining admittance for our ministers, +who were at that time staying at the island of Camigui without being +able to accomplish that which they wished. Finally, fathers Fray Juan +de San Nicolas and Fray Francisco de la Madre de Dios arrived there +[at Himologan], and found the chief in the presence of five hundred +Indians who lived in that place. That site, perched on its summit, +was a very agreeable residence capacious enough for that people to +live in a house resembling a cloister, so large that they lived in +it with all their families. These had communication on the inside, +while it was strongly enclosed on the outside. In the middle of it +was the _divatahan_ or temple dedicated to the devil. It was a little +house and dirty, as was he who was worshiped there. The prince received +the ministers with some show of affection, for he gave them a little +buffet on the cheek, as a sign that he received them as friends. + +Those people wondered at seeing those ministers in their lands, and +joked about them, taking them for madmen, since they entered without +weapons or other defense, to seek their death. But as those fathers +had God on their side, whose cause they were serving, His sovereign +Majesty ordained that the chief, showing them kindness, should give +them a small corner in his house, so that they might live securely, +although very uncomfortably. For no one gave them anything, and, +in order to live, they had to go fishing and to carry wood and water +on their backs. They suffered considerably from that, but in joy and +gladness, for they were serving the Lord, to whom they were attempting +to offer those barbarous people by means of the preaching of the faith. + +The fathers obtained permission to celebrate the holy mystery of the +mass, although it had to be done outside that rock, the dwelling-place +of the Indians. They selected the shore of a small river near the +sea. There with their own hands they raised an oratory and an altar, +where they celebrated mass with great labor, because they had to carry +on their shoulders all the things necessary for the work, without any +one aiding them. Then they went up, and locked themselves in their +little lodging, which served them as cell and choir, going out only +to discuss with the leading Indians the knowledge of the true God. By +that good example, they steadily gained great love, and the people +presented to them some food. Ours repaid them by fervently preaching +our holy faith to them. The Indians brought their little children +so that they might be taught the holy mysteries and the Christian +doctrine; and these made no poor beginning in this, although the old +fathers, accustomed to their vices, were unwilling to accept it. + +Those Indians were vassals of King Corralat (of whom we shall speak +later) to whom they paid tribute. Collectors came yearly along the +level land from his court to the river to collect the tribute. That +king was a Mahometan, and consequently hostile to Christians. He +learned that our religious were in the lands of his dominion as +guests, and ordered that they be killed without any objection. More +than one thousand men came to do that, but they were not bold enough +to execute the order of their king, for the natives had acquired so +great affection for Ours that they went out in their defense. The +matter was arbitrated and it consisted in the gospel workers paying +tribute to the king. They gladly assented to it, for the charity of +the fathers extended to all things. The payment of the tribute cost +them great trouble, as it was large, and they had to work with their +hands, as they had no support from other directions. + +Corralat did not become quiet with that, or rather it was the +devil who, angry at the great fruit that Ours were gathering in the +vineyard of the Lord, was trying by that means to drive them out +from it. The Mahometan king proclaimed war against the villages of +that river. During it the religious suffered great frights, pains, +and hardships, fleeing to different parts, in dangerous boats, +laden at times with the sacred ornaments; hiding in caves, in need +of food and without comforts; and guarding themselves for a better +occasion, in order to employ their lives in the service of God and +the spread of His faith. His [Divine] Majesty was not displeased +with that earnest zeal, for he freed them all from those dangers; +while the Indians were so energetic in their defense that they refused +obedience to the tyrant king, and begged aid from the Spaniards who +were established at the fortress of Caragha and from those at Zibu, +which was given them immediately. Beyond doubt that was a plan of +the divine pity to enlighten those heathen with the light of truth, +and to withdraw them from the captivity of Satan. For the Indians, +having been defended by the arms of Castilla and instructed by the +religious, became so fond of them that they delivered to them their +_divatahan_, where they built a church, in order to administer baptism +to those who were converted. Salangsang, together with his wife, was +the first to receive baptism in the church, and many others followed +their example. That prince, having become a Christian, became a +willing subject to the kings of Castilla. He built a stronghold +with sufficient ramparts to defend himself against the stratagems +of Corralat. Finally Ours erected the convent called Cagaiang, where +the Indians began to build houses for their dwellings. + +He who labored most in the conversion of those people was father +Fray Augustin de San Pedro, a son of the convent of Valladolid, and a +Portuguese by nationality. He not only took care of the teaching of +the faith, but also instructed the Indians in civilized ways. Thus +did they seem to have been transferred from wild beasts into men. It +happened in a memorable assault that some nearby Indians made at dawn +on the village of Cagaiang, with the intention of killing the fathers +(that was an attempt of the devil, and he instigated the Indians to do +it, in order to break the friendship which those villages had made) +that father Fray Jacinto de Jesus Maria was alone in his cell. The +barbarians entering the house killed eight persons who were guarding +it. Making themselves masters of the door, they fought with their +campilans and other weapons, aiming thrusts, cuts, and strokes in +all directions, so that in the darkness Ours might not hide from +them. But the said father, trusting in God, went out through the +midst of them all, without receiving the slightest blow. It is not +difficult for the divine omnipotence to work those miracles, and He +is wont to perform them often in order to defend His ministers. The +father hid in a thicket, until after the fury had subsided, when he +could place himself in safety. + + +Sec. XI + +_Foundation of the convents of the above-mentioned provinces_ + +We cannot excuse ourselves, for the glory and honor of God, from +referring to the souls whom Ours drew from the darkness of heathenism +into the light of the Christian religion, in the provinces of Caragha, +Butuan, Calamianes, and Cagaiang--for whose conservation it was +thought necessary to found convents, whence the religious set out to +overrun the country, administering sacraments, consoling some, subduing +others, and always gaining souls for the Lord. We have not been able +to ascertain with certainty in what year they were established, but +that amounts to but little. The order in which they are mentioned in +the records of the provincial chapter held at Manila in the year one +thousand six hundred and fifty is as follows: + +_Tandag_ + +1. The convent of Tandag, head of those in the province of Caragha, +where there is a presidio of Spaniards, is one hundred and fifty leguas +distant from Manila. It has to its account seven hundred Christian +families. It was founded by father Fray Miguel de Santa Maria. At first +it was more than one legua up the river but was afterward removed +to the seashore for certain reasons of convenience. It has a devout +confraternity of the most holy Virgin, and another of the girdle of +our father St. Augustine, which has been already established in the +other convents. + +A captain (whose name is carefully suppressed) having been buried +in the church of that house, the prior noted one day that his grave +was higher than the others. Attributing it to the carelessness of +the sacristan, he ordered the latter to level it. That was done; +but on the following day, it was seen to be in the same shape as on +the preceding day. It was leveled again, and a quantity of earth +taken away, but still the grave did not discontinue rising. That +novelty caused much talk, and at last the said prior ascertained +that the said captain had died excommunicated. He ordered the body +to be exposed, and then, absolving it in the manner that the holy +Roman church orders, they buried it again without the earth after +that making any more show of casting him out. By such demonstrations +does God give us to understand the respect and fear that should be +extended to the censures of the Church. + + +_Butuan_ + +2. The convent of Butuan is situated on the shore of the river. That +village numbers one thousand five hundred Christians. The convent was +founded by father Fray Francisco de San Nicolas a native of Portillo, +and a son of the house of Valladolid. He was a most zealous minister +and preacher to those people. + + +_Cuyo_ + +3. The convent of Cuyo, in the island of that name, has to its account +two thousand Catholic families. + + +_Cagaiang_ + +4. The convent of Cagaiang governs and teaches one thousand eight +hundred faithful persons. + + +_Sidargao_ + +5. The convent of Sidargao, [56] which is an island ten leguas distant +from the fort of Tanda, has two thousand Christian families. According +to the testimony of persons of credit, certain manikins, small and +beautiful, resembling pigmies in appearance and size, were seen in +the said island on a certain occasion. They fled with great swiftness +through the thickets of the forests, so that, notwithstanding the +efforts made, they could not be caught. However, it is said that some +of them were caught in former times, but that they died of fright +in a few hours. A cross is preserved near the village of Sapao, +on top of a rock of the size of two dedos above the stone, which +has certain letters. Those letters cannot be read now, as they have +been obliterated by the lashing of the sea, which beats against it +continually. It is a tradition that the first Spanish discoverers of +that gulf made that cross, although it is not known when. + +That islet is five or six leguas in circuit, and lies in nine degrees +of latitude. It is well supplied with food and good water, of which +there are many springs, called _bito_. They are always in the same +condition, and do not increase with the rains, nor diminish with the +dryness of the seasons. It is remarkable for one thing--in which it is +different from that coast of Caragha, and the other islands--namely +that no monkeys are reared there nor can they be reared if brought +there, for they die immediately. During the rainy season, the earth +turns red, and is so sticky that when one walks it tears the shoes from +the feet. There is a remarkable tree that is called _nono_. It springs +from the root of another large and shady tree. As it increases in size, +it embraces it, and by sucking the moisture and nourishment from it, +becomes strong. When it becomes so strong that it can grow alone, +it casts away that tree, and despises that which was its staff, thus +treating it badly until it withers--a living image of the children +of this age. + +Coming to the peculiarities of that coast, we cannot fail to mention +one, namely, that there are trees of the hugest size, so tall that one +would believe that they are trying to reach up into the clouds. The +Indians are wont to make their dwellings in them, specially those +Indians called _cimarrones_. [57] They pay no tribute, so that +their trees serve them as a fort in which to defend themselves from +the Spanish soldiers of the fort of Caragha. The manner of building +those dwellings is as follows: They look out a very stout, high tree; +they trim off all the branches up to the height where the floor of +the house is to be. They put in some cross-bars, which cross on the +trimmed-off branches. They fix them with large timbers in the manner +of an enclosure, with which the trampling-ground is made. Then they +enclose that floor with the same timbers, in the manner of a parapet, +and cover it with a little nipa. The branches above are also protected +from the rain and inclemencies of the weather. Thus the house is +made so strong that it resists any invasion. It has often cost our +soldiers considerable trouble to get those people; for those houses +have no approach except certain light ladders made from rattans +tied together. In those houses they keep all their possessions, +and there live their children and wives, who all help to fight. They +have made a place by which to retire when pursued closely, preparing +a passage from branch to branch in order to escape. Those houses are +so capacious that one of our religious lay brothers, who had been a +soldier in the presidio of Caragha, said that he had seen one that +would hold sixty persons. On climbing into another out of curiosity, +he saw three women hanging--a mother and her daughters. As well as +could be guessed, the mother had hanged the girls and then herself, +in order not to fall into the power of the Castilians. [58] + +_Calamianes or Taitai_ + +6. The convent of Calamianes, or, as it is called, Taitai, where there +is a presidio of Spaniards, and where one thousand six hundred souls +are directed. That convent has another confraternity of our Lady, +the Virgin. + +_Bislin or Bislig_ + +7. The convent of Bislin or Bislig governs two thousand families. There +died most happily father Fray Juan de San Augustin, a son of the +province of Castilla. He was a grand minister of the gospel, and knew +the Bisayan tongue very well. He lived apostolically, and gave a fine +example with his virtues, which made him very lovable to the Indians +themselves, as was seen in the rising of the coast of Caragha, from +which it was necessary to withdraw him and keep him from perils to +the life that he would have lost through the fury of the enemies. His +abstinence was remarkable, for, although the toil of his ministry +was so vast, as he went continually through rugged places, forests, +rivers, and seas, he ate nothing but herbs, and sometimes small fish, +when he was especially fatigued. He was very humble and poor, bearing +himself with the Indians as if he were the meanest of them. By these +and other virtues he gathered great fruit in this life, which will +doubtless have gained him eternal rest. + + +_Baldad, Dignes,and Iaquet_ + +8, 9, and 10. Our most reverend father, Fray Pedro de Santiago, +preacher of Felipe Fourth, examiner of writings for the supreme council +of the Inquisition, vicar-general of our congregation, chronicler of +the kingdom of Aragon, bishop of Solsona, and afterward of Lerida, +referred many times to the convents of Baldad, Dignes, and Iaquet, +in a relation that he published on the going of our religious to the +Indias. However, father Fray Andres del Santo Espiritu, provincial of +Filipinas, in another manuscript relation, calls one of them Iguaquet, +which is thought to be that mentioned as Iaquet. In that convent there +are eight hundred Christian families. It was founded on a river in +the northern part of this coast of Caragha by father Fray Juan de San +Nicolas, a native of the Algarbes in Portugal, who took the habit in +Manila. He was a grand minister and knew the language of the Caraghas +[59] perfectly. He preached with great spirit, and succeeded in making +many miraculous conversions, among both the heathen and the Christian +sinners, who left his sermons so contrite, that they anxiously went +to seek the salvation of their souls in the sacrament of penance. + +11. Another convent is also mentioned as being in certain islets +not far from Iguaquet, in which another eight hundred families of +Christians were cared for. + + +_Laylaia_ + +12. The convent of Laylaia (which sounds the same as [the name of] +the river above), is forty leguas distant from Butuan. There was a +presidio of Spaniards there, which from the indications seems to be +that of Linao. It has in charge one thousand six hundred souls. + + +_Caviscail_ + +13. That of Caviscail, in the Calamianes Islands, was abandoned because +of the murder committed on one of our religious, an able minister of +that village, by the Indians. + + +_Calagdan_ + +14. Father Fray Felipe de la Madre de Dios, provincial of Castilla, +and chronicler, mentions another--in the _Noticias Historiales_, +that he left in manuscript--at Calagdan. He assigns to it seven +hundred families that were converted to the faith. + + +_Binalgavan_ + +15. That of Binalgavan, in the island of Negros, with one thousand +five hundred families. That convent was left in the hands of the +fathers of the Society of Jesus, for reasons that existed for such +action. We cannot avoid mentioning some matters that happened there +when it was in charge of Ours. + +A certain Indian chief had a son two years old, who was very sick. He +made the usual sacrifices to the devil for his health. As he did not +get what he was after, he begged father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio +for a little water passed through the chalice. The father gave it to +the sick child, and the latter was instantly cured. With that occasion, +it was the will of the divine mercy that the child, his parents, +and their household should be baptized and leave their darkness. + +On another occasion they brought an Indian from a mountain with a +leg already rotting; and as he was being treated in the house of the +alcalde-mayor, at an unseasonable hour of the night he called loudly +for baptism. The father went to him, and, upon seeing him, the sick man +said: "Baptize me, Father, since God has brought me into the power of +the Christians for that reason." The religious minister baptized him +immediately, and scarcely had he finished administering the sacrament +to him when the Indian, invoking the most sweet name of Jesus, expired. + +Finally a converted Indian woman, having been convicted of a grave +sin, in order to deny it cursed, saying: "May a crocodile eat me +before I reach my house, if what I said was untrue." God punished +her immediately, for while near her native place, called Passi, in +the island of Panai, a crocodile attacked her, and seizing her in its +mouth, dragged her into the river, and swallowed her. At that time, +father Fray Juan de San Joseph was prior of that convent. + + +_Tagho_ + +16. The convent of Tagho, so called from a river that bathes it, +has in charge the care of nine hundred families of Christians. + + +_Dinai_ + +17. In Calamianes, the convent of Dinai, with seven hundred families, +was removed to Linacapan in order to avoid the continual raids of +the pirates. + + +_Damaran_ + +18. The convent of Damaran had charge of four hundred baptized persons. + +Father Fray Jacinto de San Fulgencio, commissary and procurator of that +province of San Nicolas of Filipinas, while at this court of Madrid +gave a relation of other houses, in addition to those enumerated, +which are as follows: + + +_Layavan_ + +19. The convent of Layavan, with seven hundred families in its charge. + + +_Camigui_ + +20. That of Camigui, with the bay of Liangan, has six hundred families. + +_Baqua_ + +21. That of Baqua has charge of one thousand two hundred families +divided among six villages. + +_Parasao_ + +22. That of Parasao governs eight hundred families who live in +that place. + +_Bagangan_ + +23. That of Bagangan, with eight hundred other Christian families. + +_Tuggaban_ + +24. That of Tuggaban has in charge one thousand three hundred families. + +_Banton_ + +25. That of Banton, with one thousand two hundred families. + +_Divail_ + +26. That of Divail cares for one thousand three hundred families. + +_Parava_ + +27. That of Parava administers one thousand families. + +_Sampongan_ + +28. That of Sampongan governs six hundred families. + +_Surigao_ + +29. That of Surigao another six hundred. + +_Casteel_ + +30. That of Casteel, a like number. + +Father Fray Christoval de Santa Monica, father of the said province, +commissary and procurator-general, added: + +_Gura_ + +31. That of Gura. + +_Baler_ + +32. That of Baler. + +_Binangonan_ + +33. That of Binangonan. + +In other records and documents which have come from the said province +is found the relation of: + +_Abucai_ + +34. That of Abucai. + +_Dagat_ + +35. That of Dagat. + +_Tebastlan_ + +36. That of Tebastlan. + +Many of the said convents are no longer in existence now, either +through lack of religious, or for other accidental reasons; because +these have occurred, it has been deemed advisable to abandon +them--although the churches are still standing and are cared for, +and our religious visit those villages, preserving them in the faith, +so that the spiritual food is not wanting to them. + + +Sec. XII + +_Mention of some hardships which Ours have suffered in the spread of +the Catholic faith_ + + +It would be beyond our powers to tell what Ours suffered in spreading +the gospel truth, and in drawing the souls of so many barbarians +and heathen from their blindness and errors; for, as they have cared +more for gaining the reward of heaven than of earth, what is known +of it is little or almost nothing. We trust in God, who can reward +those who serve Him, and that He will have given great glory to +those who have suffered so much for the extension of His honor, by +bringing so many people to recognize Him. Let us, then, relate that +the father-provincial of the above named houses visits them three +times during the term of his office--and that with so great perils +by land and water that the preservation of his life seems a special +providence of heaven. Father Fray Onofre de la Madre de Dios was met +on one of those occasions by more than twenty caracoas of pirates +and was obliged to cast himself into the water, together with his +secretary. They went to an island, where, naked and without food, +they suffered those miseries that can be imagined. + +Another provincial father, Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, suffered +a violent tempest, in which a number of persons perished. The boat +having overturned, as neither he nor three other religious who +were accompanying him knew how to swim, they seized hold of the +keel. They remained there two days and one night, expecting death +every instant. But God was pleased to have them reach a beach amid +rocks and reefs. There, bruised and full of wounds, they found no +other comfort than to seek roots with which to support themselves +for many days, until unexpected aid came to them from another part. + +Father Fray Nicolas de Tolentino visited the province of Caragha. He +was wrecked three times, and suffered most the last time; for, the boat +having broken, he had nothing to eat in seven days. Having reached an +uninhabited place by dint of his exertions, he went overland through +rough paths and through mountains, at the risk of being eaten by +crocodiles, until he found a little boat, that carried him and his +companion to Manila. They were so weak and hurt that they could not +recover their health for a long time. + +Brother Fray Francisco de San Nicolas, a native of Cadiz, coming from +the island of Negros to attend to certain things of the church service, +suffered so terrible a whirlwind that the boat was driven upon some +rocks and broken into splinters. Its occupants were drowned, and our +lay brother, not knowing how to swim, went to the bottom. Without +knowing how, he found himself in the hollow of a rock which had an +opening at the top. He managed to creep through, by the help of God, +who protected him. Climbing to the top he saw that he was on a rocky +islet of one-half legua in circuit, and remained there until his +cries and shouts brought some passing Indians, who, surprised at so +novel an occurrence, took him off in their boat. + +The captivities and oppressions suffered by Ours would take long to +recount, and so I shall give only one. Jolo is an island that lies +between those of Burnei and Mindanao. It is very famous in that +archipelago, not for its size, but for the warlike daring of its +caciques or petty kings, who have made themselves feared by their +robberies and cruel deeds throughout those seas. While their fleet, +then, was at Calamianes, father Fray Juan de San Joseph, a native +of Granada, was captured. He was then prior of the convent of Cuyo, +and was visiting those villages which had been converted to the +faith, administering the sacraments and the word of God to them--the +employment of those gospel ministers. They took him to their island, +being greedy for the ransom. The amount of it was discussed, but as +the sum demanded by those barbarians was large, and the poor religious +could not collect it in a short time, it was necessarily delayed for +some time. During that time the Mahometan islanders began to persuade +the father to abandon the faith and adopt their vile worship, promising +him great riches and comfort, and marriage with a sister of the lord +or petty king of the island. That would have been a powerful temptation +to one who was not so firm in the law of Jesus Christ, and assisted by +His divine favor. Our religious resisted that strong and troublesome +battery mightily; but those barbarians, seeing themselves despised, +turned the leaf, converting those flatteries into threats of death, +and placed before him many cruel methods of depriving him of life. That +was not what the good father feared most, since he desired to lose his +life for the faith which he professed. The petty king had conceived an +affection for the father, and left untried no means in his power in +order to break down the strength of the religious. To such an extent +did he carry his madness that one of the wives of the barbarian, a +beautiful and unbridled woman, visited our prisoner often, accompanied +by beautiful women of high rank, in order that they might achieve +success in winning him to their disgraceful love; for, had he been +taken in that net, the chaste man would have remained ensnared. That +trick, it is well known, is one of the most persuasive that the devil +furnishes. For he makes war by the affection for the object, and with +the vehement incentives of the appetite. But divine grace was very +well fortified in the soul of the gospel minister. Consequently, +the shots of the devil, the world, and the flesh were weakened and +destroyed. The women returned in confusion, after hearing him preach +of the mysteries of our sacred law. He understood the Bisayan language +very well, and consequently learned the one peculiar to that island +in a short time. Although the instruction did not take root in their +minds, at least they recognized a certain element of grandeur that +aroused their veneration. Father Fray Juan passed considerable time +in those struggles, comforting the Christians who were there, and +obtaining many triumphs for himself. Finally, on the arrival of the +time for his ransom, he returned to his convent at Cuyo, joyous at +having suffered for God, although not well satisfied at not having +given his life for his holy law. But we can declare that if the +barbarians lacked the determination to condemn him to martyrdom, +our Catholic soldier did not want the courage to receive it. + +We shall give an end to this year of twenty-two, by giving a brief +memorial of father Fray Diego de Santo Tomas, a native of Nueva-Espana, +a creole of Cholula, and the son of Diego Garcia de Leon and Dona +Ines Carrillo. He went to Filipinas when very young, where, leaving +the deceits of the world, he betook himself to the port of religion, +taking our holy habit in the convent of San Nicolas of Manila. He +professed in the year 1610. When he saw the so great fervor of +the religious for the spreading of the faith, he took the call so +effectively into his breast that the superiors, employing him in that +exercise, ordered him to become sub-prior. He was afterward prior +of Masinglo, and lastly of Dinai. In the exercise of those duties, +he was careful to employ all his strength in caring for the sheep +reduced to the flock of the church. He went through the Calamianes +Islands, preaching, converting, and confirming those converted in the +faith. And as his cares were prodigious, and he became weakened by +his hardships, his strength failed him; tired out, he became sick, +and died on a desert beach, without any human presence. However the +divine presence would not fail him. Happy soldier, whom death overtook +while fighting in the campaign of the Church of God! + +Let us give a companion to this father, and let him be father Fray +Juan de la Anunciacion. He was born in Madrid, in the parish of +San Gines. His parents were Diego del Castillo and Felipa Manuel de +Benavides. He took our holy habit in the year 1613, while father Fray +Juan Bautista Altaraque was master of novitiates. He professed the +following year under father Fray Augustin de San Gabriel, prior of +the convent of the said town. He went to the Indias, being desirous of +employing his life in the service of God and the welfare of souls. He +thoroughly understood the languages of the Indians. Entering the +rudest of the islands, he preached with great fervor, and converted +many heathen. He spent some years in that employment, and finally his +life, without anyone being present at his death. He died worn out, +and for lack of nourishment. He lived much, since as long as life +lasted for him he employed it in the service of the holy church and +the conversion of the infidels. His body was found and very reverently +given honorable burial. + +[Most of the third chapter is concerned with affairs in Japan. A +short description of that country is followed by the efforts of the +Recollects to gain entrance to its inhospitable shores in 1623. Fired +by the news of the persecution waged against the Christians, two +fathers, Francisco de Jesus and Vincente de San Antonio, disguised +as merchants, set out from Manila to preach the gospel to the +Japanese. But many misfortunes overtake them: their boat, old and weak, +opens at the bow and compels them to put in at the island of Babuyanes; +shortly after setting sail once more, a fierce storm drives them to +the Chinese coast, whence they narrowly escape shipwreck and then +death at the hands of the people, who prove hostile. However, forty +days after leaving Babuyanes, they reach Japan, on June 20. Shortly +begins their journey toward Nangasaqui, which they reach October 14, +1623, noting Japanese customs on the way. There it is reported that +disguised priests are in the city, and an edict published by the +emperor banishes all the Spaniards from the country. Both the fathers, +however, escape the banishment. A section on the life of Father Juan +de la Madre de Dios, a noted laborer in the missions of Mindanao, +and who was buried at the fort of Caragha, follows; and the chapter +closes with a reference to affairs at large connected with the order, +and the obtaining of certain papal decrees.] + + + + + +Chapter Fourth + +_The first provincial chapter is celebrated in Filipinas in the convent +of Manila; and in Espana the first intermediate general chapter of +Portillo. Certain servants of God finish their lives happily._ + + +Sec. I + +_Election of the first provincial of Filipinas, at the convocation +of the first chapter of that province Year 1624_ + +The religious of those islands had been governed since the time +of their arrival there by vicar-provincials, either elected by the +priests who were in the convents or missions, or appointed by the +superior prelate of Espana, according to the letters and patents +which father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios and father Fray Rodrigo +de San Miguel had obtained for it. The first vicar-provincial was the +venerable father Fray Juan de San Geronimo, who governed until the +year 1608. Father Fray Geronimo de Christo followed him, but, as he +died very soon, the chapter was convoked; and, in the following year +of six hundred and nine, the same father Fray Juan de San Geronimo was +elected. When the latter returned to Espana, the chapter was convoked +in the year six hundred and ten, and father Fray Andres del Espiritu +Santo elected. He governed until the year twelve, when father Fray +Pedro de la Madre de Dios came from Espana with the appointment. But, +his patents having expired, the chapter was convoked, in which the said +father was elevated to the same office, and he ruled until the year +15. That year, the chapter having been convoked, father Fray Andres +del Espiritu Santo took the government a second time, until the year +of eighteen, when father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel came from Espana +with the appointment. He had it in charge until the year twenty-two, +when, as he returned to Espana, he was succeeded by the said father, +Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, who had come that same year from +Espana with religious. He governed until the year twenty-three, in +which father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios came from Espana, having +been appointed by the venerable father vicar-general. He convoked +a chapter, in order that a separate provincial might be elected in +that province, as was done in the others. The patents were as follows. + +"His Holiness, our most blessed father Gregory Fifteenth (may God +preserve him), with the desire that is his of aiding the reformed +orders, at the instance made him by his Majesty and our order--who +petitioned him that a vicar-general be given us, and permission that +the convents of our order, with the title and name of province, might +divide into several provinces--conceded a brief for the aforesaid, +which was carried out. For that purpose a chapter was convoked in this +convent of the city of Madrid on November twenty of the following year, +the past year of 1621, in which I was elected vicar-general. The +convents possessed by the order in Espana in those islands were +divided into four provinces. Consequently, that the orders given +by his Holiness and by the general chapter may be executed, I am +sending the messages, so that a provincial chapter may be held. In +that chapter the orders of our Latin constitutions and those of the +new ordinances of our aforesaid general chapter shall be observed. + +"In regard to time, I declare that it shall be held within four months +of the time when your Reverences shall receive the messages and when +the religious who bear them, and who sail in this trading-fleet, +shall arrive at that convent of the city of Manila--so that [there +will be no haste] in case that it should not be a suitable time when +the religious arrive, or it should be necessary to arrange anything +for the celebration; but if time should allow, and the necessary +things should be arranged, it may be held within a month, and not +before. I warn your Reverences that, on receiving and opening the +messages and despatches that I am sending, the form that I order +be observed. And inasmuch as when your Reverences receive these +despatches, two years will have passed of the sexennium--according +to the order laid down in the new ordinances, decreeing that now +and henceforth provincial chapters shall be held, so that those +who are to come to take part in the election of a new vicar-general +may be elected every six years--your Reverences shall take one year +from this first triennium, and this election shall be, but for this +time only, a biennium. Thus shall be done with both the provincial +and definitors, and the rest of the priors and the other offices, +so that in the following provincial chapter of that province, the +definitor and discreto may be elected--who shall come, in its name, +for the new election of vicar-general that is to be made (if our Lord +be so pleased), at Pentecost of the year 1627. + +"The coming shall be arranged in such manner that they may not come +late, nor leave before it is necessary. As soon as the definitor and +discreto (or those who may be elected to fill their places on account +of their death, or for any other legitimate impediment) are elected, +your Reverences shall advise the vicar-general by the first boat, if +they cannot arrive in time. I have chosen to advise your Reverences +of this, so that you might know what you ought and must do; and so +that everything may be done with prudence, devotion, and virtue, +in which may our Lord give us many increases. From this convent of +the discalced of our father St. Augustine, of the city of Madrid, +June 12, 1622. Your Reverences' brother, + +_Fray Geronimo de La Resurreccion_" + +Accordingly, when this order arrived with the other despatches, the +priors of San Nicolas of Manila, of Zibu, of Cabite, of Masinglo, +of Amo, of Bolinao, of Calumpan, of Tanda, of Butuan, of Iguaquet, +of Tibastlan, of Cuyo, of Linacapan, and of Cagaiang assembled. Under +the presidency of the said father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios, they +unanimously elected the venerable father Fray Onofre de la Madre de +Dios, provincial, on the sixth of February of that year twenty-four, +the time that the present history has reached. + +The election was very suitable, as he who was elected was deserving +of other and greater posts. He was a native of Perpinan, in the +county of Rosellon, and a son of the convent of Zaragoca, in Aragon, +where he studied arts and theology. He was prior of the convent of +Zuera, and afterward master of novitiates in that of Madrid, where he +furnished a great example of observance and virtue. He went to the +Indias with the zeal of preaching the faith of Christ our Lord. He +filled some posts worthily, with so much satisfaction to the religious +that he deserved to be the first provincial of that province. He +completed the suitable ordering and economical regime of the houses, +the methods that he practiced being continual presence at the choir, +steadfast application to the divine worship, and the decoration of +the churches. He was modest in his actions, which he adapted to all; +mild in his intercourse, by which he made himself loved; skilful +in business management; extremely poor, and given to continual +mortification. The definitors were father Fray Andres del Espiritu +Santo, father Fray Diego de San Bernardo, father Fray Joseph de San +Augustin, and father Fray Juan de Santo Tomas, chosen men indeed. + +The acts passed are reduced to the following points: "That the +religious living at the missions or villages of the Indians maintain +all the regular observance of the convents, especially in rising at +midnight for matins, and in the two hours of mental prayer morning and +afternoon, even though there should be no more than one priest. That +authority be given to the missionary fathers to carry some books that +are conformable to their profession; and that they be prohibited from +wearing hempen garments, especially since the heat of the country is +contrary to that harshness. That the ministers learn the language of +the Indians within one year; and that, in order to avoid disturbance, +they do not receive guests in their convents, unless it be bishops, +religious, governors, or alcaldes-mayor. + +[A section on the first intermediate general chapter of the Recollects, +which was held at the convent of Portillo, follows. Section iii +treats of the life and death of brother Fray Juan de San Nicolas, +who had professed at Manila, December 21, 1622. The malice of certain +Indians who were taking him up the river from the convent of Iguaquet, +to aid in one of the missions, causes his death; for they overturn +the boat, leaving him to drown while they swim safely to shore. The +chapter ends with an account of the life of Bishop Don Fray Gregorio +de Santa Catalina Alarcon who after having been appointed bishop of +Nueva Caceres, in the Philippines, by King Felipe IV, is appointed +almost immediately afterward to the bishopric of Santiago de Cuba at +Habana. His death occurs at sea while on his way to assume the latter +office. This chapter completes the annals for the year 1624.] + + + + + +GENERAL HISTORY OF THE PHILIPINAS BY FRAY JUAN DE LA CONCEPCION [60] + + + +Volume IV + + +Chapter VII + +_Arrival at these islands of a new mission of the discalced Recollects, +the reformed branch of the Hermits of the order of the great father +St. Augustine_. + + +[Through the solicitations of Felipe II, the supreme general of the +Augustinian order, Gregorio Petrochini, furthers the founding in +Spain of a reformed branch of the order. Accordingly the beginning +is made in the convent of Talavera, from which beginning the branch +gradually grows, although with several set-backs, until the Recollects +(their distinctive name) obtain separation from the regular branch of +the Augustinians. A province is formed, and elections held, at which +Juan de San Geronimo is chosen provincial. After his term of office, +he is created bishop of Chiapa; but, burning with the mission fever, +offers himself and twelve companions as volunteers for the missions +of the Indias.] + +34. So noble a proposition edified the king, who recognized it as +made by a whole and free spirit. The king had information that the +orders appointed for the conquest of Philipinas were not sufficient +for the total conversion and reduction of the many pagans; and, +even if they were sufficient, that they had not exerted all their +strength, distracted by other and less important cares. The +proposition of the father provincial was very much in keeping +with the royal intentions. Accordingly, without any delay, it was +decreed that the father and his associates should prepare to go to +the Philipinas Islands, and executive orders to his ministers for a +speedy despatch were formulated without delay. The venerable father +kept these to himself until the formal session of the chapter, in +whose assembly he presented the decree. It was punctually obeyed, +all of them considering this laborious expedition as a great service +for God. They determined to grant him all the necessary documents, +and appointed as vicar-provincial with full powers father Fray Juan de +San Geronimo himself, with the limitation of recognizing as superior +the father provincial of the province of Castilla. + +35. With this arrangement, and the royal decrees which contained +the permission for their embarcation, and general royal authority +to make as many establishments as possible in these islands, and as +those new missionaries should deem proper (to which were added other +concessions for spiritual matters conceded by the papal legate), +and fortified with all these patents and despatches, the good father +chose his associates, men like himself. Most of them were graduated, +and most of them eminent men of the Reform. He well comprehended that +such new plantations required, since they were to be conspicuous before +all, men of learning and eminent virtue. Having assembled at Madrid, +they set out for Sevilla on the fifteenth of May, in great harmony and +modesty. There they rested somewhat from the fatigues of their journey, +and then continued it to San Lucar de Barrameda. They waited there +until a large trading-fleet sailed, which left the bay of Cadiz for +Nueva Espana, and those religious embarked in one of its ships. The +confessions that they heard, and their exhortations to the sailors, +were a great comfort to the latter, and they did not neglect charitably +to assist the sick. Thus did they acquire unusual estimation throughout +the fleet. The commander-in-chief approached them in his ship, the +flagship, when the weather permitted, to inquire after their health, +and to offer them what they needed, commending himself to their holy +prayers, and placing in their care the prosperous voyage of the fleet. + +36. They reached the port of Vera Cruz with perfect safety, where +the ships were sheltered. They disembarked, and, passing through the +town of Los Angeles, went to Mexico. There they were received in +the college of San Pablo by its rector, father maestro Fray Diego +de Contreras, who was afterward archbishop of Santo Domingo, the +primatial church of the Indias. He kept them with his hospitable aid +until the vicar-provincial rented a comfortable house, in order to +avoid receiving favors, which their strict regulations forbade. While +awaiting the opportunity to go to the port of Acapulco, their mode +of life was retired and edifying. Many noble and wealthy persons +began to entreat them to remain there, and to establish themselves, +offering them their favor and most abundant alms; and they asked that, +if that should not be granted, a competent number would remain and +establish themselves. The father maestro Contreras encouraged these +solicitations, and promised them to allow them to become discalced, +and to give credit to the new institute. + +37. The president Fray Juan considered those so liberal propositions +as annoying temptations, to which, through the motive of their zeal, +not one of his could consent. He considered it advisable to avoid them +by flight, and resolved upon his voyage to the port of Acapulco. There +was already a ship there about to sail to Philipinas on the day of +the invocation of the Holy Ghost. Having embarked on it, they set +sail on the twenty-second of February, one thousand six hundred and +six. They had their terrors on the voyage; the ship caught fire, +and the fire was already quite near the powder-barrels that were +reserved in the "Santa Barbara." [61] Warning was given of this +(which is one of the greatest of dangers), in sufficient time to +enable them to extinguish the fire. Had it reached the powder, +the worst ruin would have surely followed. I think that there is +no peril of the sea so horrible. Another danger happened on a calm, +clear night, when the cry of "Land, land!" came from the bow. That +danger startled the pilots, who had no shoals down on their charts +there. They were aware of them by the breakers in the water, and +the vessel was so engulfed in them that it could neither bear away, +nor put in, without the same risk. As the breaking of the waters +was getting nearer the ship, they considered all their efforts vain, +and without any urging, allowed themselves to be carried in the same +path. They tried to make soundings, but the plunging of the boat and +the violent dragging of the sounding-line on the reefs did not permit +them to make an accurate calculation of the depth. In such a contest, +the hopes of all were already weak, besides which they were entering +amid the breakers. The ship sailed a long distance without meeting +accident, and later they found themselves in the deep sea, free from +so dangerous a fright. That shoal was marked down accurately on the +charts, and was noted on other voyages. It was a rocky islet surrounded +with many covered reefs. They considered it a marvelous occurrence +that they should pass over them without meeting with accident on +them. Father Fray Andres de San Nicolas fell sick near the islands +of the Ladrones, and, recognizing that his attack was serious, he +sought consolation in the holy sacraments. During his last hours he +fervently exhorted all to persevere in the undertaking that had been +begun, promising them a happy result. He yielded up his spirit to God +amid tender colloquies. Those of the ship wished to keep his body in a +well-sealed wooden casket, in order to give it decent burial on shore; +but in order to avoid innovations, the venerable superior, Fray Juan, +did not consent to this. Accordingly, having been placed in a casket, +he was cast into the sea, accompanied with the usual obsequies. + +38. They continued from that moment their voyage prosperously, after +an almost general epidemic of fever, safe and sound. By special orders +they anchored in the port of Zebu. That most venerable prelate, Don +Pedro de Agurto, received the new missionaries with a procession. They +were lodged in the convent of the Augustinian fathers, who received +them as brethren. Much did that illustrious man desire the propagation +of the gospel. He begged and insisted that they stay in his bishopric, +and offered them a foundation to their liking, if they would only +remain for the conversion of the infidelity that was obstinately +persevering for the lack of ministers. He suffered greatly from this, +for so necessary was the remedy. It was impossible for the newcomers +to consent to so favorable arrangements, or to listen to so urgent +and compelling entreaties. Their journey to Manila was unavoidable, in +order to present the royal decrees and despatches to the governor. They +thanked his Excellency fittingly, and all offered to put themselves +at his disposal after the performance of so necessary business. They +set out from that place to execute it, as soon as opportunity +offered. They reached the capital city of Manila without any accident, +then celebrating the victories obtained by their governor, Don Pedro +de Acuna, in the expedition of Terrenate. They were accommodated in +a small house for the time being, where the most influential people +of the city came to visit them. Everyone offered them a more decent +lodging, the orders distinguishing themselves by offering them their +convents. To all they humbly excused themselves, only accepting the +infirmary of the Dominican fathers, for the treatment of some of their +sick, where they were treated with a most benign charity. The governor +arrived, triumphant from his expedition; and as soon as he heard of +the arrival of those new religious, leaving the magnificent trophies, +deigned to be the first to visit them. He consoled and regaled them +as a noble knight. But being eager to finish the despatch of the +ships to Acapulco, and going quickly to Cavite, he could not examine +the royal despatches; nor could he do so afterward, for, as we have +already stated, death attacked him while engaged in this affair, and +laid its spoils in the sepulcher. Thus was suspended his recognition +of the royal decrees; they were presented to the royal Audiencia, who, +recognizing them as authentic, gave them the requisite attention. In +virtue of these, permission was given to the father vice-provincial, +Fray Juan de San Geronimo, to preach the gospel wherever he thought +best, and to establish his houses wherever he should consider it +most advisable. + + + +Chapter VIII + +_This Mission establishes itself at Bagumbayan, and they begin their +evangelical labors_ + + +1. The deceased governor, Acuna, had already finished a country-seat or +summer-house for his retirement from the cares caused by so extensive +a government, at a location called Bagumbayan, three hundred paces +distant from the walls of the city. At the death of that gallant +governor they began to try to dispose of this house. The new +missionaries thought that retreat very suitable for their purpose, +and tried to buy it because it was already offered for sale. For +that purpose they went through the city begging alms of its citizens, +accompanied by certain persons of influence, and in two afternoons they +collected more than three thousand pesos. With them they immediately +paid the price asked, the authorized guardian of estates, Captain Don +Pedro de Ortega, lowering its just price considerably. Licentiate +Don Rodrigo Diaz Guiral, then filling the office of fiscal of the +royal Audiencia, was a zealous and influential party in everything, +and took especial interest in facilitating that accommodation. They +converted the house of recreation into a convent. They assigned a +location for a public church, which they dedicated on the tenth of +September to the glorious St. Nicolas de Tolentino, to whom they had +consecrated themselves by a special vow when they left the coasts +of Espana. That function was very solemn. His Excellency of Zebu, +Don Pedro de Agurto, performed the pontifical office; while the +very reverend father maestro, Fray Pedro Solier, of the Order of +St. Augustine of the Observance, a person distinguished by his merits +and position, preached. He was then provincial of the province of +Santissimo Nombre de Jesus in these islands, bishop of Puerto Rico, +and afterward archbishop of Santo Domingo. The royal Audiencia, the +ecclesiastical and secular cabildos, the orders, and the nobility and +citizens of Manila were present and lent honor to the function With +such favorable beginnings, those evangelical ministers were greatly +consoled and very happy. They were most happy with the favorable +horoscope in which that new province was born, in having St. Nicolas +for their patron. There was some altercation [over this matter] with +the Augustinian fathers of the Observance; the devotion to this saint +had now grown very extensive in their church, in a special chapel, +and they foresaw that worship there would be decreased on account of +this new advocacy. It was not an occasion for a suit, and they tried +modestly to avoid litigation. Although possession could not give better +right, the Recollects yielded, and accommodated themselves to a change +of title, commending to God this serious matter. The calmness of Senor +Agurto was seen in that, at whose direction they cast lots to settle +the controversy satisfactorily. Many other saints took part in the +lots, and in them the said St. Nicolas had success the first, second, +and third time when the cast was repeated. Thus was the will of God +powerfully confirmed, resistance ceased, and they resigned themselves +to it peacefully. They extended the protection of the new church to +the province, which was already in its beginnings. The said first +feast was celebrated with the greatest harmony between the parties, +and unity of minds. + +2. They were not useless in that location, for, accommodating the +active life to the contemplative one, they applied themselves with +fervid ardor to spiritual help in the administration of sacraments and +in gospel preaching to many different peoples, who needed that same +assistance, especially at night, when the city gates were locked. As +there were no parish churches near, many were the sudden calls that +disturbed their rest, for all of which they were very ready and +prepared, as one should be in a matter that concerns the salvation of +the soul. Their zeal could not be restrained here; more arduous was +the obligation which had brought them, and the acquiring of some one +of the many languages which are spoken in these islands. Without that +diligence their application would be useless; without such intercourse, +men must necessarily consider one another as barbarians. Since the +Tagal language is the most general, their most careful study was given +to it. Their eagerness was emulative, and made them rapid in their +haste. He who most quickly penetrated the language was father Fray +Miguel de Santa Maria, native and son of the convent of Zaragoza, +a person of resolution and vigorous mind, and of no common abilities. + +3. With these arrangements they tried to make a beginning in their +apostolate. On discussing where they would better employ themselves, +they thought that they would better not separate far then, since they +were so few. Quite near by, eight leguas distant, was the village +of Marivelez, which had no ministers. The other ministers had left +it because of the insalubrity of its climate and the brutishness +of its natives, who were very obstinate in their superstitions. The +voices of the missionaries did not at all soften them, wherefore with +comfortable maxims they had left them in their obstinacy, shaking +off secretly the dust from their sandals. Truly their religion +was ridiculous. They had their groves or reserved places in the +forest. There were their peculiar penates or minor gods, to whom they +made their sacrifices. Certain old deluded and ceremonious persons +took charge of the sacrifices. They were assisted by certain old women, +called _catalonas_, who had great authority among those deluded people, +which they had acquired by deceitful and delusive tricks. The method of +sacrificing cattle was the common and transcendental one among those +natives. But irreligion was manifest in all their vain observances, +and in the conservation of their traditions, rather than any active +and positive religion. They observed those long-kept and sacrilegious +customs, through fear of punishment if they omitted them; and, even +more, they were persuaded that they would die the instant when they +violated these. + +4. Their laws in political government were no better, being at +the pleasure of the most powerful, who exercised their tyranny +despotically. Many difficulties were those. And if one would +consider that others, who must be considered of equal or greater +spirit, had abandoned them as unconquerable, he would understand +their human prudence, or temerity, or their great conceit. But the +robust vicar-provincial stumbled in nothing, his wonderful zeal +facilitating everything. For that administration and conquest, he +appointed Fray Miguel de Santa Maria the adelantado, giving him as +associates father Fray Pedro de San Josef, and the lay brother Fray +Francisco de Santa Monica, all of them now well acquainted with that +language. They accepted their appointments resignedly, and set out +for Marivelez. They quickly found that profound darkness was opposed +to their new light. They were not dismayed by their inevitable +labors. No welcome was found among so rude and unconquerable a +people. The missionaries solicited them in the woods, where they +gained their livelihood by the labor of their fields. They spoke to +them in affectionate tones; they undeceived them of their errors, +which so darkened their souls. They maintained, at their own cost, +some huts where they retired for the necessary rest at night. When they +took any slight and hurried refreshment, it was for their necessary +relief and rest, since the rest of their time was broken with +penitential exercises. By such unalterable and edifying procedure, +they were gradually softening those hard rocks; and they already +had many converts and baptized people. The other idolaters did not +regard that desertion well, and one day when the father was going on +his rounds to catechise them in the woods, the pagans were awaiting +him, and discharged upon him a shower of stones. He yielded to his +contusions and wounds. He escaped with his life from this exigency, +which was not little. But he was so ill-treated that he could not +recover his health, which became worse; and recognizing that it was +impossible to recover it there because of the utter lack of comfort, +he determined to retire to Manila, in order to die conformably with +his brethren. Some medicines were administered to him here, which he +took rather to please his superior than because he had any idea that +they would be of use. The dissolution of his body rapidly progressing, +he piously received the last sacraments; and, in the midst of lofty +and loving acts, he passed to the eternal rest, leaving this wretched +life with envy. His two courageous companions returned also to the +infirmary at Manila, for they had fallen sick from their continual +troubles; and they ended their lives in so excellent and desirable +a manner, the first fruits of this laborious task. + +5. So arduous an undertaking was not abandoned through fear of +its danger, because those beginnings were, in the general mind, +unfortunate. It fell to the lot of father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, +a man celebrated in the history of his holy province, especially in +the voyage that he made from these islands to Basora and Caldea, +in which he reduced various Armenians of the schism [62] to the +obedience of the holy see, and presented their chiefs to his Holiness, +Urban Eighth, who thanked him for his zeal by special favors and +rewards. He was firm in spirit and of most courageous boldness. He took +possession of that toilsome mission. With his industry, he reduced +to a civilized and Christian life the remainder of those pagans, +in a location called Bagac. There he built his church and dwelling, +and there he gathered many scattered peoples. Afterward he moved it +to that of Marivelez because of the convenience of the port, and its +more equable climate. He arranged other annexed locations within +a distance of twelve leguas, where his tireless industry gathered +about one thousand five hundred souls. Assuring this stronghold, he +opened a gateway by which to pass to the coast beyond. The Zambales +Indians tyrannized over it, and no boats could touch there without +danger of their lives. Those were Indians of barbarous ferocity, and +very bloody-minded. It was very difficult to soften such monsters, +so blinded by their superstitions and by their barbarous customs, +that in no way would they accustom their ears to other things. One +very extraordinary event procured respect for the father among them, +and thereupon they paid more attention to his evangelical words. + +6. Father Fray Rodrigo was one day passing through a thicket. That +thicket was, according to their customs, one of the reserved ones, +and it was considered sacrilegious to cut anything from it, and that +such act would be punished with immediate death. So infatuated were +they with that blindness that no one, even though in great need, +dared to take anything from that place, being restrained by fear. The +father saw a beautiful tree, which they call _pajo_, laden with +ripe fruit. He ordered his followers to gather some by climbing the +tree. They strenuously resisted, but father Fray Rodrigo insisted on +it. They declared that they would not do it under any circumstances, +and that it meant sure death if they offended the respect whose +fatal sentence comprehended all the trees of that place. The father +severely chided them for their error, and to show them that it was so, +he determined to gather the fruit himself. He began to break branches +and to clear the trunk, in order to facilitate the ascent. The Indians +were grieved, and urgently begged him to desist from that undertaking, +which they considered as so rash. But the religious, arming himself +with the sign of the cross, and reciting the antiphon, _Ecce lignum +crucis_, managed to gather some of the ripe fruit, which the tree +offered. He ate it in front of them and liked the fruit very much, +for indeed it is savory. They looked at his face amazed, expecting +his instant death. When that did not happen, they recognized their +delusion, and detested their cheats They also ate without experiencing +any harm. The father charged them to say nothing upon their arrival +at the village. He took with him a goodly quantity of that fruit, +and divided a great portion of it among the chiefs. Esteeming the +gift, they, in their ignorance, ate it without fear. In a sermon on +the following day, the father disclosed the secret and checked their +vain fears; so that, undeceived by experience, they followed him +with their axes, and in short order felled that thicket, which was +a confused center of perverse iniquities. Thereupon, many of those +infidels submitted to the true knowledge. + +7. He continued the conversion of those people after that happy result, +despising dangers, and enduring bodily necessities, very full indeed +of interior consolation. That is a rough coast, and offers grievous +terrors in its times of turbulent weather. Father Fray Rodrigo +was navigating along it when a fierce tempest suddenly overtook +him, which, driving the small boat upon some rocks, dashed it into +pieces. Those who were in it were drowned, although they knew how to +swim. The father alone, by the violent impulse of a wave, reached a +small rocky islet. His life was miraculously saved on it, and God, +who does not grant His blessings incompletely, caused an Indian to +discover him within twenty-four hours. The Indian swam to him, and +carried him from that danger, on his shoulders. Even more marvelous was +another thing that happened to father Fray Juan de la Ascension, while +sailing along that same coast. He was in a boat manned by Chinese, +who, being careless of their sheets, did not loose them in time, when +the wind suddenly shifted furiously. It is most dangerous to coast +along high lands, for so furious winds blow through the passes that +if great care is not taken with the sheets the boats overturn easily. + +8. Thus did it happen with this boat, and its keel was exposed to +the sun. All were drowned, without any aid; only father Fray Juan was +saved by divine Providence. This is more manifest, since the method +was one unheard-of. The father remained inside his craft, while +the overturned boat tossed up and down. Its space did not entirely +fill with water, a small space being left, which served as an arch, +in which the father could keep his head and arms out of the water, +having laid fast hold of a beam. He passed three days thus, until +a boatful of Indians, happening to pass that way, and observing the +floating hull, approached the boat, to see if it contained anything +by which their greed could be advantaged. They began to break +through the open end. As soon as they had opened a small aperture, +they heard the voice of the shipwrecked religious, who begged for +help. The Indians were frightened, and resolved to leave the task +that they had undertaken. One of them, more courageous, inspired them +with the sufficient resolution, and, continuing, they discovered the +father almost at the last extremity. They reached him presently, took +good care of him, and helped him with what they were carrying. With +that he came to himself and recounted his catastrophe. They marveled +greatly at so extraordinary an event, which they regarded only as a +prodigy never before seen. In this manner did they continue with the +conversion of those infidels, until they obtained a good foundation +in the village of Masinloc. It was a very suitable location, as it +was the center of many mountains and settled districts where many and +diverse peoples could easily be reduced to a civilized and Christian +life. The management of its planting was given to father Fray de el +Espiritu Santo; and he, with two associates, was well employed in +those apostolic excursions. In a short time they had eight thousand +newly baptized Indians, and arranged methods for their administration, +and for their catechism. Their first care was divine worship, and +instruction and training musicians and singers. So did those zealous +ministers labor, and we leave them now in that cultivation. + + + + +Volume V + + +Chapter III + + +_The discalced Augustinian religious continue their spiritual conquests +on the coast of Zambales, and pacify it with their labors. They extend +their fervent tasks to the province of Caraga, in Mindanao._ + +1. If God created man with a certain fertility, with which to +propagate other men, although that fertility was not taken away by +the first sin, it is not what it would be if disobedience had not +intervened; and if to that propagation conservation be not added, it +would not proceed according to the form and method of its kind, but +even in these natural arrangements nothing would be done without the +cooperation of the Creator. Proportionally so is it in the spiritual +propagation, in which man is formed for piety and justice. He who +plants or he who waters is nothing, but it is only God who giveth the +increase. For that reason so necessary dispositions are not useless, +but are indispensable in the present providence. How can they hear +unless there be one to preach to them? God gave man understanding, +but it is as dull in infancy as if he did not have one; it must be +excited, and brought to light with the increase of age, in which he +becomes capable of knowledge and of instruction, skilful to perceive +truth and pure and chaste love, with which to fight strenuously +against the engendered vices to which he is inclined naturally from +his youth. Those spiritual propagations in semi-brutish men are very +difficult; for, although reason is not altogether extinguished, the +sparks of it are so feeble that one must use considerable discretion +and prudence in order to arouse them. With those monsters were +the discalced Augustinian religious dealing on the Zambales coast; +having as the object of their living faith the salvation of souls, +they could employ themselves admirably in such spiritual propagations, +planting and watering with immense labor, God granting them the desired +increase in that so blessed intercourse. Establishing themselves in +Masinloc, they did not restrain themselves in the undertaking until +they reached the end of the coast, on whose famous point is the village +of Bolinao. There they had had the first intelligence of the gospel, +which the observantine Augustinians had tried to communicate to +them. But either the ferocity and barbarous customs of the natives, +who threatened to kill them, or their great occupation in other +more abundant missions, compelled them to abandon that attempt. At +the demand of those religious, together with a commission from the +governor then in office, Don Rodrigo de Rivero, and the instance of +the venerable dean and cabildo, the vice-provincial despatched fathers +Fray Christoval de Christo and Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo to that +conversion. The village was then located on an island, which formed +the port of the same point. When the venerable religious entered, the +natives would have nothing to do with them; however they did not dare +to expel the fathers nor lay hands on them. They supported themselves +on certain herbs and roots, which grow naturally and without labor +in the forest, necessarily suffering misery and misfortunes. + +2. Their endurance and suffering made the Bolinaos more tractable; +they were persuaded that their preaching was true, and that their +instruction was important for them. They began to listen to it +without aversion, although with curiosity. The efficacy of the word +of God penetrated strongly into their hearts. Then they conceived +a horror of their barbarous customs. Thereupon, and because of the +continual instruction, they resolved to abandon paganism, and to +surrender their necks to the gospel yoke. One thousand six hundred, +having been catechised satisfactorily, were baptized. They built +a suitable church and a dwelling-house for the father ministers, +and the village of Bolinao was established in very orderly ways, +in matters relating to their common life and to civilization. They +have continued happily in their vocation, and I think that it is one +of the most solid Christian communities in the islands. They are very +devout, and their thoughts are without any superstition, while they +are most inclined to devotion. Thence the fathers extended their zeal +to the near-by and dependent communities; all these were most happily +subjected. That was largely induced by the religious themselves +cutting down a reserved bamboo plantation, and thus removing their +foolish fears that he who dared to cut a single bamboo from it would +die--but which did not happen to them, as the Indians had imagined. By +that means they were undeceived in their previous superstitions. + +3. The fathers also extended their reductions and conversions to +the south of Masinloc. They formed the scattered peoples, and the +rural settlers of Tuguy and Paynayan into villages. Inasmuch as +the Pagans and Negritos of the immediate forests disturbed those +new establishments greatly by making furtive raids on them and +killing several people, seizing those who were heedless at night, +the superior government determined to establish a small fort in +Paynayen, with moderate-sized artillery, and a garrison of Spanish +and Pampanga infantry which would maintain in loyalty those newly +catechised and reduced, and would shelter them from barbarous +hostilities. The expenses for it were to be paid, in order to make +raids in the forests, and to intimidate with their arms those people +of so fierce customs. The only ones still to be conquered on that +long coast were the scattered people of Sigayan, about eight leguas +north of Masinloc. Father Fray Alonso de San Augustin, a son of this +city of Manila, took charge of that undertaking at the order of his +vicar-provincial. His diligence was efficacious and most lively. He +reduced many of those infidels to the true faith; founded a town with +them, which he, with good supervision, established in a commodious +site; and established a church and house. He managed and perfected +the work with great vigilance and the consolation of his soul. One day +when the people were assembled, he preached a fervent sermon, censuring +the resistance of some obstinate infidels. Some of them were respected +and venerated as the greatest chiefs. The sermon mortified them, and +they resolved to take satisfaction for the pretended and supposed +insult. The bolder of them, on some pretext or other, approached +the zealous father, quickly drew a cutting weapon, such as they use, +from its sheath, and at the first blow almost decapitated him with +it. His hood protected him somewhat, but not so much that he was not +grievously wounded. As the wound was given in a dangerous place, its +cure was difficult. Thus he lived but a short time, sacrificing his +life very willingly for the good of those rebellious sheep. After +that parricide the new reduction rose in rebellion. The followers +of the unjust aggressor burned and destroyed the village, convent, +and church, and withdrew to the general asylum and refuge of the +woods. Some faithful Christians remained with the wounded father, whom +they carried to Masinloc, where his happy death occurred. With what +was left, after abandoning that new Christianity for the time being, +the ministers tried later, as if forgetful of the past insult, to have +the reduction returned to its old site. They interested the Indians +of Masinloc, and, partly with mild means and partly with threats, +they attained their object--not without great efforts, fears, and +hardships. The church, house, and village were rebuilt, and about seven +hundred souls were enrolled. That village, after other translations, +is the one now called Santa Cruz, and is dependent on Masinloc. + +4. Those hardships caused those religious to be well received in +Manila. Its citizens became interested in that, without leaving +their first foundation of Bagumbayan, which was very useful for those +suburbs, they should move into a regular convent within the walls of +their fortification--which was unavoidable because of the continual +disputes with Japanese and Chinese, and because of the fears caused +by the Dutch with their fleets. Because of the urgency with which +all compassionately entreated them, with this security, the father +vice-provincial, Fray Juan de San Geronimo, responded gratefully; +and, recognizing the strict advisability of it, bought a small +house near the artillery foundry which then existed. The governor, +then Don Juan de Silva, liberally and willingly facilitated this +undertaking with alms, and conceded the site. Various oppositions +were encountered against that foundation, but they were conquered, +although with difficulty, by constancy. The religious passed many days +of poverty on that site, being uncomfortable and with scanty subsidies, +until the very pious and noble gentleman, Don Bernardino de el Castillo +Rivera y Maldonado, a native of the City of Mexico, master-of-camp of +the royal regiment, castellan of the fort of Santiago, and regidor of +the city--moved likewise by the urgent entreaties of his pious wife, +Dona Maria Enrriquez de Cespedes, who was very strongly inclined +towards this religious institute and to their patron, San Nicolas de +Tholentino (by whose intercession she had obtained a son), who had died +soon afterward--took charge of the foundation. He erected a handsome +building on that site for a church and convent, which was made of +hewn stone. He finished it at a personal cost to his estate of more +than one hundred thousand pesos. He assigned it suitable revenues in +lands, and funds for the necessary repairs and rebuilding--all the +more liberally, as he had no necessary heir. + +5. In an authentic declaration that he made before the +alcalde-in-ordinary of this city, Don Martin de Herrera--received and +testified before the notary-public, Juan de Villa Marin--the patron, +Don Bernardino, declares that the impelling motive for undertaking and +perfecting the work of church and convent was his great devotion to +San Nicolas de Tolentino, and his having recognized in the discalced +Augustinian religious, from the time of their arrival in this city, +learned, virtuous, and serious men; and the knowledge that they were +gathering much fruit in this community and among the natives round +about. In their manner of acting, they persuaded men that they were +all true servants of God. That had moved him to aid them in their very +severe need; and he had taken under his charge convent and church, +building them a new edifice from the foundations up. He had bought +many pieces of ground for them at excessive prices; in that way and +on the work, he had spent a large sum, and he considered it well +employed. He declared that he was ready to spend much more, even to +the extent of all his wealth, and to be left with only his assigned +pay of castellan; for the said Recollect religious deserve it by +their example and virtue. For the repairs and preservation of the +work, he assigned a fitting income from many lands. It is estimated +that he spent on and endowed it, in all, with one hundred and fifty +thousand pesos, although with obligations to chaplaincies. Besides +that, he adorned the church, and continually expended money for it. + +6. He also had a garden or country-house, called Calumpang, because +of its location. He made them a present of it, and of a portion of +the lands surrounding it, on condition that the said religious found +a convent on that site, where some religious could live retired and +free from disturbance. The then vice-provincial, Fray Rodrigo de +San Miguel, took possession, after obtaining the necessary licenses +from the government and from the archbishop. With these was formed a +convent of the same house, and a small church was erected under the +invocation of St. Sebastian, being dedicated to that glorious martyr, +a being to whom especial devotion was paid by its founders, who aided +its cost with their wealth. The archbishop, then Don Fray Miguel Garcia +Serrano, adjudged [to it] the spiritual administration of the tenants +of the lands, to the number of about thirty houses. The minister of +Sampoloc had a suit pending about those tenants, but as soon as they +were adjudged to that new church, they escaped from his demands; +and free possession remained to them, which was confirmed by the +royal patronage. A beautiful image of our Lady of Carmel was placed +in that church a few years afterward, which was brought from Mexico +by a mission of those religious. Her devotion extended her worship, +and her favors made her more famous. The dean of that holy church, Don +Juan Velez, given up by the doctors, and already without hope, begged +the religious to carry the holy image of Carmel to his house. At the +entrance of that Lady, and the fervent prayer of the dean, he suddenly +became well and completely cured. As a thank-offering for so singular +a favor, he returned the image to her church, and made her a very +solemn feast. He founded with the ordinary authority a confraternity, +under the title of Carmel, which attained so many members within +a short time that the number was more than two thousand, of both +sexes. The dean continued the feast every year, but scapularies were +not distributed because they had no authority for it, and because they +had no members of the Carmelite order. [63] Therefore those religious +had recourse to a competent prelate of the Carmelites, who could +concede the permission with apostolic privilege--the very reverend +father-provincial of Andalucia, Maestro Fray Diego de el Castillo, +granting authority to the prior of the convent of San Sebastian in +Philipinas in order that he, in his person alone, could and might +bless the scapularies of his holy order, and distribute them to the +faithful who might request them. From the receipt of that despatch, +and by means of such a distribution, the confraternity became full +to overflowing. The feast could not be held on its appropriate day in +July, which is wont to fall in the height of the rainy season. Having +recourse to the apostolic see, Pope Clement Eleventh erected the +confraternity anew, and set its feast for the twenty-first of January, +with special concessions of a plenary indulgence weekly, and additional +ones during the year on days assigned by the archbishop. Those weekly +indulgences fall on Wednesday, and the others on the four Sundays of +the month in February, May, July; and the last, on the day of the +betrothals. The same pontiff later extended the plenary indulgence +of the twenty-first of February to the following week, in order to +satisfy the devotion of the innumerable crowd. If those nine days +were increased to a fortnight, the crowd would always be numerous. In +the nine days are administered from six to seven thousand communions, +besides many who commune in other churches. It is the most extensive +devotion among Spaniards and natives. That devotion had its failings, +as is usual among numerous crowds, which have been corrected by the +zeal of the superiors. That confraternity has since been established +in the city of Zebu, and has in the same manner been extended into +the Bisayan provinces. + +7. At length his final illness came to this illustrious +benefactor. Recognizing it as such, he made his will, in which he +instituted as his heir San Nicolas de Tolentino. He died, and the +religious accepted that condition, and the remainder of his property +was adjudged to them. He was buried in that church as if in his own +house: on his conspicuous tomb was expressed the record that he left +by his charitable deeds. In the same tomb the body of his wife was +afterward placed. Monuments were erected to them, and in a suitable +niche were placed worthy memorials of gratitude. Since that first +church had the misfortune to be ruined by earthquakes, the fathers +did not recognize the patronage when they entirely rebuilt the church, +regarding their new church as free. + +8. The governor, the bishops, and the encomenderos were urgent for +those religious to extend their apostolic labors. But they were few and +could not attend to those extensions Consequently, the vicar-provincial +decided to send a religious to Espana, to beg king and council for +aid for new operations. Father Fray Pedro de San Fulgencio, a well +known and experienced member of the order, was proposed for that +undertaking. He was given for the voyage legitimate authorizations, +letters of credit from all the governments, very expressive and +liberal, in which the truth and necessity were explained, so that +his Majesty would kindly concede a suitable number of ministers, who +might continue so excellent and important beginnings. That father +reached Madrid without accident, and found his brethren in mortal +anguish and distressing pain, and the reformed branch now breathing +its last and almost destroyed. + +[The outgoing provincial has relaxed the strict rule of the reformed +branch. The internal disputes that follow his term are brought to a +definite head by Paul V's brief, ordering the regular Augustinians +to take over the convents of the Recollects and to absorb that +branch. However, the order is saved by the strenuous efforts exerted +both in Spain and Rome.] + +15. In such condition was this reformed branch when father Fray +Pedro, procurator of Philipinas, reached Espana, without province, +without authority, and without means for cooperation in his urgent +affairs. But his brave spirit did not waver; he was adroit and prompt +in the management of papers; and he was presented to the king with +a brief memorial referring to his commissions. Although his Majesty +was not then very well inclined to the Reform, laying aside those +considerations, he paid good heed to the petition, recognizing its +justification. He conceded the despatch of thirty religions, whom +the procurator could take with him on the first occasion that should +present itself, with the usual subsidies. After that so favorable +result was obtained, it was considered advisable to go to the court +of Roma, in order to move the universal head [of the church] to +favor the general interest by information of the results obtained +in the islands. He obtained audience with the supreme pontiff, Paul +V, to whom he related the labors of his associates in the benefit +of infidel souls. His representation was very well received by the +supreme pontiff. The latter conceded him many favors and indulgences +for the missionaries engaged in conversions and reductions. In order +to aid father Fray Gregorio [64] in his claims, he was detained a long +while. Those public interests and the most important affairs of those +conquests disappointed private interests. Powerful rivals advanced +their claims, but the procurator ought not to have abandoned his own +affairs. He trusted too much to his prompt and favorable commissions, +in whose durability the quickest despatch is not enough; for the agents +on the opposing side, availing themselves of his voluntary absence, +began to depreciate the mission that had been conceded. They declared +that the Recollects were not necessary in Philipinas; that those +who had gone there before were but few and useless. The procurators +of the provinces of Philipinas--who by having taken the habit were +not divested of human passions, for they considered it [_i.e.,_ the +Recollect mission] as a grievance, instead of being moved by a just +and charitable zeal--interested themselves in that report. There was +much that had to be tilled and cleared. Whole provinces were begging +for spiritual aid. But now, since their zeal was mitigated, they were +excusing themselves from labors, and were contenting themselves with +tranquillity. To say that new missions were necessary, without some +of these entering the labors of others, was very apparent to them, +and on very superficial considerations reprehensible. Their immoderate +opposition reached such a point that they declared publicly that they +[_i.e.,_ the Recollects] were not men who could prove at all useful +to the infidels. + +16. Their procurator, Fray Pedro, was well able to answer those +calumnies (for they were calumnies), and to restrain insinuations so +pernicious and prejudicial to the interests with which he was charged; +for he had discretion and a spirit for everything. The most effective +thing in that was the pressing need of his commissions, and the +contents of his credentials. But death, which overtook him at Milan on +his return trip, prevented those advancements and important efforts; +and there was no person to whom to entrust the favorable outcome +of his negotiations at Roma, nor his papers as procurator, which +were the essential part of the negotiation. Upon that so unexpected +disaster, inasmuch as there was no substitution of powers, nor, as +it happened, anyone in whom to substitute them, the above opposition +and contradiction had their opportunity--thus disappointing the +arrangements of several religious who were already preparing for that +voyage, in their anxiety to embark quickly, and assist their associates +in the islands, and extend their laborious work. Those misfortunes and +disturbances were unhappily removed and extended to Philipinas. The +vice-provincial was notified of Paul V's brief, of the extinction of +the province, and the submission to the calced religious, who began to +make use of violent acts of superiority. Although counsel was taken +with erudite men regarding that difficulty, yet in view of that so +executive brief, they wavered in their opinions. The only thing that +militated against the brief was that it was not passed by the royal +Council. But since it had to do with government and monarchy, it was +at least binding on the inner court of the conscience, especially on +subjects who had given a special and solemn obedience to the pontiff, +in regard to the internal government of their institutes. These so +violent disturbances had some rest in the election of provincial +in the person of the father maestro, Fray Miguel Garcia Serrano. In +it the offices of the convents and ministries of the discalced were +confirmed to the persons who held them, and in the same manner; all +taking care, after the representations of such a prelate, to honor +and protect so afflicted a family. + +17. Those so complicated causes for disquietude saddened +extraordinarily the venerable father, Vice-provincial Fray de San +Geronimo. He, upon seeing his edifice being destroyed gradually in +this manner, and that its ruin was a foregone conclusion by such +measures, determined, notwithstanding his age, and the catastrophes +that usually happened, to return to Espana, in order to solicit and +promote the quiet of his reformed branch, and help for the preaching +and conservation of the Indians, by communicating in person to the +Catholic king his fortunate beginnings, being confident in the royal +and benignant attachment to his person, and his merits. His receipt of +certain letters, however, compelled him to cut short the voyage. Those +letters assured him that the mind of the monarch was made up to appoint +him as bishop in one of the vacant sees of these islands. In order +that those obligatory despatches might not find him in the islands, +and as he found a suitable opportunity, he embarked in a vessel to make +his voyage by way of India. That unusual effort also was frustrated, +because he was attacked by his last illness on the high sea, at +the parallel of Ormuz. During it he edified the sailors greatly by +his excellent disposition, and his conformity to the divine will, +in whose kiss he delivered up his spirit. Very sorrowfully they cast +him into the sea, the common tomb of sailors who happen to die thus. + +18. Although few, those reformed religious, condescending at repeated +urging, accepted a foundation in the port of Cavite. There lived the +seamen, who, accustomed to dangers, are also reckless in vices. Men +of nationalities distinct in religion and sect were wintering there +because of the heavy commerce, and through their frequent intercourse +their morals were becoming relaxed. + +19. He who most urgently requested and sighed for such a foundation +was a pious citizen and a good Christian, named Raphael Blanco, chief +of the shore or arsenal, and master of the calkers. He offered to help +in the establishment with a large ground-plot and property on which +he had built some houses, with the necessary condition that it was to +be used as a church and convent. He was ready to sign a legal writ +of gift, provided that the vicar-provincial bound himself to erect +a church on the said ground and site. The parties having come to an +agreement, went before the royal Audiencia, which was governing, +and the bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, governor of this +archipelago. Permission was granted, and a church and convent were +formed in the best manner, in the houses of Raphael Blanco, with the +aid of various alms, with St. Nicolas de Tolentino as its titulary. In +the beginning of its construction it was of wood; but afterward, the +necessary licenses having been granted, it was built of stone. Three +reredoses adorned the temple. Shortly after its foundation its benefit +was experienced. The people of the port were most extraordinarily +afflicted; they frequently saw various horrifying specters in the air, +which gave vent to terrible and formidable cries. Those specters took +possession of various bodies, which they maltreated in many and cruel +ways. Some they made raving mad; to some they caused very dangerous +illnesses; some took to the mountains in flight; some, going up +to the heights, let themselves fall down a precipice. So terrible +a persecution put the whole port beside itself. The churches were +opened and the august sacrament exposed day and night. The greatest +crowd collected in the new convent and church. Missions were preached +there with spirit and fervor, in which their prior at that time, Fray +Pedro de la Madre de Dios, excelled. These aroused all to penitence, +and there was frequent petition for the holy sacraments. The air was +filled with sighing, and the people mortified themselves with fastings +and severe penances, in order to placate the divine wrath, so manifest +in fearful acts of vengeance. The priests were continually employed +in exorcisms against the wicked spirits. Cavite resembled an afflicted +Nineveh. God willed to let the punishment end with threats. The spirits +left their obsessions at the command of the ecclesiastical ministers, +the horrible apparitions ceased, and their mournful howling was no +longer heard. The inhabitants became quiet and were consoled, but +did not fail to be very well warned. For they continued constant in +the correction and the general reform of morals; and it extended to +every kind of people, who were intimidated for a considerable time by +such fearful events, and very thankful to their spiritual benefactors. + +20. Upon hearing of the death of his vice-provincial, father Fray +Rodrigo de San Miguel became very eager to make his voyage to Espana +to solicit new workers. He asked and obtained duplicate despatches +from the most prominent and distinguished inhabitants, from the +ecclesiastical and secular cabildos, from the governor, and from +the royal Audiencia. All the documents were confirmed by the most +illustrious bishops, who said that the discalced Augustinians were +very observant of their rule in their ministries, very zealous in the +conversion of souls, and therefore very advantageous, useful, and even +necessary. That would oblige his Catholic Majesty to concede them the +mission that they desired. The orders also confirmed the documents, +especially the observantine Augustinians, in which they confuted the +preceding adverse testimonies. Then he embarked with so favorable +and extensive despatches; but his voyage was very disagreeable. They +suffered a severe storm amid these islands, in which were lost boats +that had anchored at Manila and Cavite. The stormy winds obliged them +to sail to Japon, from which altitude they continued their course, +with constant squalls, until they sighted Cape Mendocino--whence, +coasting the shores of Nueva Espana, they finally anchored at Acapulco, +after innumerable terrors and dangers, and after a most distressing +voyage of seven months. + +21. The father went overland to the North Sea, and embarking at Vera +Cruz, continued his course. On the voyage a raging tempest carried them +to the coasts and banks of Terra Nova--[_i.e._, Newfoundland]. That +deviation from their course made water and food grow scarce, so much +so that daily rations of only two ounces of sea-biscuit were dealt +out, and the same proportion of water. The ship sprang a leak, and +took so much water into the hold that they reached the Terceras as +by a miracle. There they rested and equipped themselves, in order to +finish their voyage to Cadiz. Thence the father went to Madrid, where +his requests were listened to kindly, and his despatches conceded +to him. In virtue of them, he had already called together twenty +religious; and he determined to embark in the fleet that was being +sent to the Malucas with reenforcements. He could not effect that, +because that order had been lost with the obligations expressed in +another part. Accordingly it was necessary to accommodate himself to +the trading-fleet which was being despatched to Vera-Cruz, although +with a small number of missionaries; however, considering the extreme +lack of them [in the islands] great relief was furnished even by these. + +22. Thereupon, and the contentions of the Roman court having been +favorably determined, because the supreme pontiff had [now] been +thoroughly and sufficiently informed, the latter took pains to console +those whom he recognized as innocent. He did that by his apostolic +brief, in which, with full knowledge of the cause, he explained his +former brief and definitive sentence, confirming the concession of +Clement Eighth, in the erection of the province. He restored the +title and office of provincial to the same father Fray Gregorio, +confirmed his former patents, and restored everything to its former +condition. However, there were certain endurable reservations, by +which they could not found more monasteries or receive novices. At +the end of the three years' term, the calced provincial was to visit +that reformed branch in whose jurisdiction the Recollect convents +were to be. He conceded them many indulgences, privileges, and +favors, by which their minds were calmed, and their desired relief +in Philipinas obtained. This country was reenforced with thirteen +other missionaries, whom the fathers of Espana sent officially in +charge of their commissary, father Fray Christoval de San Augustin. He +reached Mexico, whence he could not proceed farther, as death seized +him. Father Fray Onofre de la Madre de Dios took charge of that +leadership, with whose arrangement they all arrived safe and sound +at Manila. They had their frights in meeting some Dutch urcas, which +followed our ship with a stern wind; and they were about to be captured +when the religious invoked in their favor the glorious St. Nicolas +de Tholentino. Then, luffing, they were able to escape the Dutch. + +23. The most illustrious bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro de Arze, +was in Manila, and requested the reverend father Fray Rodrigo de San +Miguel, the vice-provincial at that time, to send religious to Zebu +to make a foundation in that city. The latter complied with this, by +sending father Fray Juan Chrisostomo de la Ascencion to take charge of +that, in answer to the bishop's venerable and respectful urgency. His +Excellency conceded to the father a site as his especial property, +which had a chapel of our Lady of the Conception somewhat apart from +its center. There the said father established his convent. As his +Excellency's desires were not that the fathers should live in ease, +he immediately assigned to them the administration of the island +of Maripipi, where there were about six hundred souls. Being thus +established in Bisayas, his same Excellency, after consulting the +superior government, and his Excellency Don Alonso Fajardo acquiescing, +charged and intrusted them solemnly with the spiritual administration +of the province of Caraga in Mindanao. That province, although subdued +by Don Juan de Silva, and given as an encomienda, had not yet had +any ministers--or, at most, a secular chaplain for ministration to +the garrison of its fort. It was a difficult undertaking because +of the warlike spirit and the ferocity of the Caragas, whose chief +tenet of religion was the deification or apotheosis of the brave +and of the most tyrannical. From so barbarous a maxim one can infer +something of their fierce customs. The district was large and caused +great labor, for the conquests had to be made through rough and dense +forests. Their superior assigned eight religious for this task, who, +being supplied with the necessary things, arrived without accident +at the presidio of Tandag. [65] + +24. They endeavored to reduce that infidelity with mildness and +gentleness. They made those people see their errors, and God lent such +force to their persuasions that many were baptized. They procured +their conversion through the chiefs, who by their superiority +tyrannized over their dependents. One of those chiefs was called +Ynuc, as renowned for his reputation as feared for his cruelty, by +means of which he was absolute along that coast and formidable in the +neighboring islands. He hated the Spaniards violently, with whom he +always refused to make peace or truce, ever preserving for them an +implacable hatred. The superior of that mission, father Fray Juan de +la Madre de Dios, trusting in God, dared to conquer that monster. He +left Tandag to look for him alone, without any followers. He found +him at his _rancheria_. [66] Ynuc wondered at the father's audacity +in appearing before him without first asking permission. He intended +to take satisfaction for what he considered an intolerable insult, +but the father talked to him with so much mildness and spirituality, +that he not only pardoned his boldness, but also showed pleasure at his +salutary advice. They conversed intimately, and Ynuc was so pleased +with his intercourse that he accepted tolerable treaties of peace +with the Spaniards of Tandag, with whom he opened communication and +commerce. He granted a free permit so that the father might preach +to his subjects, and so that the father might enter and leave his +lands without hindrance, ordering that all give him their help. The +father continuing his intercourse with Ynuc, the opportunity came, +when master of his affections, to treat concerning his conversion, +as his example was so important. Ynuc did not resist the divine call +very strenuously. He disposed himself for catechism, and received +baptism amid great solemnity. In that conversion he performed the +necessary duty, as a proof [of his sincerity], of sending all the +concubines from his house, and marrying the first wife and confirming +by the sacraments the natural contract _in faciae ecclesiae_. [67] He +freed all his slaves, who exceeded two thousand. He issued edicts +ordering that all persons who thought themselves aggrieved should +come for satisfaction, without any fear; and he made the religious +the judges for that, together with the commandant of the fort. They +settled all differences equitably, and to the satisfaction of the +interested parties, entirely contenting them all with their decrees. + +25. That conversion was much bruited throughout the whole province, +and to his example many infidels bowed their necks; however, many +difficulties yet remained. The missionaries resolved to conquer them, +for which they exposed themselves to evident dangers. The superior +either did not recognize them as dangers or despised them. He was +resting one night in a location called Ambagan, not far from Tandag. An +Indian, without other motive than his barbarous inclination, conceived +the thought of killing him, and obtained two companions, who aided +him with their weapons in his depraved purpose. He climbed into the +house boldly, leaving his two companions ready on the ladder. When +he tried to enter the apartment where the minister was sleeping, a +venerable old man stopped him, who asked him in his native language: +"Where art thou going, profligate? I am guarding the sleeper, who is +my son." The Indian, carried away by his headlong wrath, persisted +in entering the forbidden apartment. Thereupon, the venerable old man +raised aloft a golden staff, which he supported in his hand, with which +he threatened the Indian, who conceived so great a horror of it that +in his confusion he was unable to find the ladder by which to descend, +although he sought it in various ways. He remained there, miserable +and afflicted, all that night, without knowing what was passing, until, +the morning having come and the minister having come out of his room, +he placed himself before the latter very contritely, and told him what +had happened, urging him to make it known. His associates confirmed +what referred to them--namely, that becoming tired of waiting at the +foot of the ladder, they had retired thence at daybreak, in order +not to be discovered, abandoning their associate to his fortune. The +father agreed, as did the more judicious, that he whom the Indian +was declaring by his signs was the great father St. Augustine, who +miraculously defended his son with the pastoral staff. + +26. The infidels came to hold these religious in great veneration when +so noteworthy incidents were made known throughout the province, +and the gospel obtained great advantages. The errors in which +the idolatrous priests were trying to maintain the infidels were +dissipated. The priests, seeing their interests waning by the recent +conversions, conspired against the fathers' lives several times; but +they escaped those dangers by a special and divine providence. Several +reductions were formed in the province, and in the adjacent island +of Siargao. The Jesuit fathers could not take care of all their +enterprises in that island. The reduction of Butuan was not assured, +with the visits made at long intervals. Those visits, being transient, +allowed no place for instruction, nor did those people preserve much +of their teaching. The bishop of Zebu communicating that fact to the +superior government, it was agreed that the discalced Augustinians +should take charge of that administration, with a foundation, +as that was important. They accepted it with legal papers, and +had much to do on that great and famous river. They ascended its +waters even to their source, which is the lake of Linao, about fifty +leguas in circuit. There they founded a settlement, in order to +assure their labors. [68] They coasted the shore to little Cagayan, +[69] on that excursion taking also into their charge the island of +Camiguin. Farther on they passed through the rancherias of Higan and +Langaran up to the lake of Malanao. But the opposition of the Jesuits +stopped them; for the latter disputed their right to that spiritual +progress, to such an extent that they produced controversies in the +court. His Catholic Majesty decided the question by the rights of his +royal patronage. He ordered the island of Mindanao to be surveyed, +and distributed the administration of it between the two contending +provinces, granting to that of the Recollects [the coast] from the +point of Sulaban [70] to the cape of San Agustin, while the rest +remained in charge of the Society. Thereby were hostile rivalries +pacified, which would have produced nothing good had they continued +without so powerful arbitration. + + + + +Chapter IV + +_The Augustinian Recollects are charged with the administration and +conquest of the province of Calamianes. Geographical and natural +description of that province_. + + +1. The extension of its spiritual progress to the province of +Calamianes does much honor to the religious Recollect family. It was +not the effect of a rash temerity; it was a matter of slow and careful +deliberation. When once established and determined, resolution free +from terrible doubts was necessary to undertake it. "Not only is fear +not a cause for surety," said the emperor Leo [71] in his tactics, +"but it is also most adverse for good strategies; since in difficult +undertakings it is necessary to consult God, and, assured in one's +inmost beliefs, to attack without trepidation of spirit. The best +good of expeditions (especially military), if they are difficult, +consists in discovering thoroughly the condition of the enemy, +the number and quality of their troops, and their enterprise in +military discipline. With that keen knowledge, the captain prepares +his assaults, and plans his sudden counter strategies." In the present +conversion, maxims so prudent were very suitable--in which, prepared +by the spiritual food of faith, hope, and charity, they made manifest +the mystery of the ineffable Trinity, and subdued the infidels to +the sacrament of holy baptism. It was a difficult thing, and one that +exceeds human strength; but obeying God, attacks become spirited. By +His help one can soothe difficulties, explain intricate mysteries, and +resolve everything easily. After having consulted that superior oracle, +accompanied solely by his armor-bearer, one can attack whole armies, +rout them, and throw them into a general confusion and consternation; +and it is the enemy's own weapons that wound and disperse them. + +2. The archipelago of Calamianes consists of an infinity and +indeterminate number of islands, large and small, and most of them very +fertile. [72] Those best known and best supplied with the products +of commerce which might make them rich are [here] set down. But +their lack of attention [to these products] reduces the natives to +a wretched and unhappy state. The first island, and that which is +first encountered from the course of Mindoro, about fifty leguas +across from Luban, is Calamian the great, which gives name to the +whole province. It is commonly called Busuagan, taking that name from +a principal village or settlement. It is a large and pleasant island +in the form of an oblong, eight long leguas in length and about four +wide. Its rivers are of great volume; there are sufficient mountains; +and from that nature [of the land], there is an abundant yield of +wax of superior quality, which is produced naturally, and without +[human] labor, by the vast multitude of industrious bees. The only +work in it is the gathering of the honeycomb in its season (which +is very securely fastened in the large, high, and leafy branches +of the trees), by the sole effort of making fires with thick smoke, +which compels those little animals, which defend their property at +the cost of their lives, to flee in confusion. + +3. A more profitable product is the nest made by certain small black +birds, which are mistakenly called swallows. The material of which the +nest is made, in order to lay and hatch their eggs, is yet unknown. It +is regarded as sure that its manufacture takes place in the breast or +crop, whence issues a long filament. Those filaments stick together +because of their viscous nature, and at their extremities adhere to +the rock. Those nests are usually located in very overhanging and +rough places, in such a way that the continual rains do not unfasten +or destroy them, although the birds always endeavor to place them +under shelter. The shape of the nest is similar to that of the +regular swallow, although smaller. It is known that that filament +is produced with difficulty. It is like fine vermicelli, which is +sometimes accompanied with drops of blood. It is white and somewhat +transparent, like ice. It is prepared in various ways, but a soup +resembling that of vermicelli, but of better taste, and incomparably +more nourishing, is made with the broth from a substantial olio, +or stew. It is very useful for those who suffer from evacuations +and dysentery; it corrects those ailments and is good as a mild and +dissolvent food. The Chinese esteem it highly, and generally pay, +according to its scarcity or abundance, eight, nine, and sixteen pesos +per cate, which contains twenty-one onzas. They are very difficult to +gather, for the birds always build them in craggy locations, in whose +tortuous and precipitous caverns they are only obtained by descending +a rope. Some are obtained by climbing up bamboos, finding a rest for +the feet on the knots, which are left with large projections for that +purpose. So dangerous evolutions cost even broken arms and legs, and +sometimes even cause death. The taking of the nests is repeated three +times during the calm months of the year. The latter part of December, +those to whom are assigned crags--in which it is not right for one +to meddle with those of another, a rule that is observed with much +fidelity--go out. They gather the old nests, which are sufficiently +blackened by the preceding rains; however, they do not lose much +of their nourishment. Thus do they force the little bird to make a +new nest, as it cannot make use of the old one for breeding. As the +desire to breed is excited by its nature, the industrious little +bird strives to build its nest before breeding. All the month of +January is spent in its costly labors. The destroyers come and tear +them down. Sometimes they are found with eggs, and sometimes even +imperfect; but nothing restrains their greed, and they tear down +all indifferently. The disconsolate birds again begin to build their +nest, and at the end of February or the beginning of March the Indians +repeat their robbery. The saddened bird, forced to build its shelter +at the behest of nature in the multiplication of the species repeats +its anxious labors. Either because there is not enough material for +so many labors, or because the season has passed in their periods, +the bird does not possess the same inclination in its formation; the +nest is finished later, and is less juicy, as experience has shown, +for at that time the rainy season generally sets in. That, and the +Moros who infest these seas cause the harvest of nests involuntarily +to be abandoned. However, if the above circumstances do not prevent, +the third excursion is not lacking. All the crags are not accessible, +and where those furtive assaults cannot be made, the number of those +industrious little birds is prodigious." [73] + +4. The beaches are protracted into very extensive shoals and +reefs. There the excellent balate is very abundant. This is +a shellfish, [74] which when cooked and dried in the smoke is +preserved dry. This product is highly relished by the Chinese or +Sangleys. They lade as much as possible into their boats, paying thirty +and even thirty-eight pesos per pico (which is equivalent to five +arrobas twelve and one-half libras), according to the season. The +flesh is very wholesome, and tastes like shrimp. The fisheries +of fine-shelled turtles are also abundant, and they also form a +conspicuous product. Some of the shells have markings as deep red as +a fine garnet; and the four principal shells are of an extraordinary +size. From the shells are made very neat boxes, trays, and other pretty +things. They are given a jasper finish, which makes their colors shine +out strongly. The island has abundance of deer, wild boars, and wild +hogs, and monkeys and birds of singular rarity. There are many pagans +of good appearance and better disposition. The frequent raids of the +Moros hold that most fertile island in the greatest abandonment. A +narrow channel separates the island of Coron [75] from it. The latter +is a rocky crag about three leguas in circumference. The only entrance +to it is by a narrow tongue of land, which forms, as it were, a small +port. But it is so easy of defense that a few men can prevent any +entrance there without danger. Because of the strength and independence +of its location many natives of savage inclination, and most warlike, +live there. Calamian the little follows, where the capital is at +present located. [76] There is a fort there, well armed. The men in +their capacity as soldiers, with their corresponding officers, defend +from the natives. It is also fertile in the same products, although +less abundantly than Calamian the great, but it is so overrun with rats +or moles that no seed plant can live, for they destroy everything. The +natives are forced to engage in the trade of jars and salt, although +they are much interested in the nest business, and in that of wax; +the one being their own occupation and the other the exchange. + +5. Passing without comment other innumerable islands, comes the famous +one of Paragua, [77] about eighty leguas long and from ten to twenty +in its greatest width. It is a rich and fertile island. Besides the +common articles of commerce, such as wax (of which the harvest is more +abundant than in any other district), nests, fine shell, and balate, it +has various fisheries for fine pearls of beautiful luster, some of them +found at a depth of three or four brazas. Shells, or _madres abiertas_, +of excellent mother-of-pearl, of various beautiful colors, are found +on its coasts. The matrix-shell of these pearls has been seen of one +and one-half ordinary palmos in length and almost one palmo in its +narrowest part--whose pearl could not be obtained, because the valve +opened on drawing it from the sea, and the sensitive fleshy part that +contained the pearl fell into the water. According to its appearance, +it must have contained pearls of many grains and carats in size. The +island has various exquisite and useful woods which distil special +gums. There is one which is an effective remedy for cancers; it is so +powerful a caustic that it burns out the cancer even when it is deep, +although the wounds caused by its burning are dangerous. However, +those wounds have their suitable remedy. There is a quantity of nutmeg +of two varieties--the long and the round. The latter is valued more +because it is more fragrant. It is easily destroyed by grubs, because +the precautions useful for its preservation are unknown. There are +bejucos or Indian canes for walking-sticks, with their branches as +much as five and one-half palmos long; they are of better luster +and of greater toughness than are those gathered by the Dutch in the +islands of the Sonda. I am sure that camphor would be found, if one +looked for it, just as good as that of Borney; for the resemblance of +Paragua's productions to those of that great island is very marked, +and the latter is not very far from its southern point. + +6. There are but few quadrupeds [78] that are not found in the other +islands: porcupines, armadillos, _tezones_, leopards, _colcobos_, +and certain very beautiful foxes, but of the same species as the +stink-foxes of Peru, and very pestilent. They come to the houses in +their greed for fowls, among which they cause considerable havoc. But +whether it is due to their urine or some other posterior evacuation, +such is their stench that is necessary to abandon the house for a +time, as it is unendurable. There are many and rare birds. Royal +peacocks are very common; they are but slightly larger than a hen, +though without any difference from the large peacocks of India in +the vividness of their colors. Several efforts have been made to +domesticate them, but in vain; they become greatly depressed, and +soon die. There are nightingales that sing harmoniously near the +coolness of the small streamlets, repeating their melodious trills, +and gifted with most nimble throats. There are many varieties of +parrots of brilliant colors; green, white, and vari-colored pigeons; +squirrels or _paniquesas_, of several distinct species--some are white +with a black ring which sets them off well; there are some with wings +and some with membranes that facilitate their flight, although that +is but short. It is known that the land is one continuous mineral +district. Extensions of pure iron jut from the shores laid bare by the +breaking of the waves, as rocky shoals. There are others of vitriol +or verdigris, in very rich veins. It must be that the centers of the +mountains are like this. The island abounds in exquisite and healthful +waters, now in the springs, now in the large rivers--so many in number +that sixty-seven are counted from Catbuli to the bay of Ypolote, on the +side and coast of the east. Numerous tribes live there. In the roughest +locations the Aetas or black Cimarrones are gathered. Along the rivers +and level farm lands the natives are of a lighter complexion, and +less ugly in feature. This island is peculiar in what we have already +mentioned, namely, that earthquakes are not experienced there. But +there are stormy clouds that emit vivid lightnings and terrifying +thunder. But we have not heard that the fury of the thunderbolts is +in those clouds, or results from them, for the inhabitants of Paragua +have experienced none of those ravages. Consequently, they do not +have any words or terms peculiar to their language, for these or for +earthquakes, which is a very convincing proof.... + +7. The coasts, bays, and rivers of that large island abound plentifully +in divers and savory fish. In the bay of Malampaya, opposite Taytay, +in the same district as Manila, although with a clear and deep bottom, +there are many islands, which beautify the bay with their foliage. A +vast multitude of vicudas enter the great rivers at the spawning +season--a fine cod-fish that differs in no wise from that of Terranova +[_i.e.,_ Newfoundland], and when fresh they are of delicious taste. The +Indians catch them (although with danger from the Moros), and without +other appliances than certain hooks, and as many as they wish. For +lack of salt, they smoke-dry them, which always leaves an unpleasant +taste, and the fish spoil easily. Paragua has its own near-by islands +scattered along its coast, some of which are inhabited by pigeons, +various species of parrots, peacocks, and aquatic birds; others in +which sailors get as many eggs and squabs, or the young of such birds, +as they wish. The largest and most fertile [of these islands] is that +of Dumaran, which is separated from Paragua by a narrow strait. It is +a fertile island, in which there is a most abundant harvest of rice, +which as a general rule yields more than a hundred-fold. + +8. The island of Alutaya belongs to that province. It is a rocky +and arid land. However, it has plenty of domestic and useful +animals, [the rearing of which forms], the careful industry of +its natives. It is about thirty leguas across the open sea from +the islands of Calamianes. About six leguas away is the island of +Cuyo, which is small, being about three leguas in circuit, and low, +but very fertile. It contains whatever is fitting and desirable for +the sustenance of human life. Its natives, being for the most part +descendants of Sangleys, are industrious and shrewd in trade. In +exchange for the edible and potable products of their island, and +the textiles of Yloylo, and tobacco, they lade fine products in +Calamianes, an exchange that causes anger to the alcaldes-mayor. The +latter endeavor to prevent that trade, which injures their interests; +but those people by their shrewdness deceive them easily, and frustrate +the efforts of the alcaldes. The natives were on the whole very savage, +and had even more barbarous customs and greater stupidity than the +inhabitants of the other islands. They have a knowledge of herbs. In +Paragua especially, there are some very poisonous ones. They use +them to bewitch their fellows and deprive them of life. There is +one of so uncommon deadliness, that if it be chewed in the mouth, +and if the exhalations from it be directed in a gentle current toward +any person whom it is wished to destroy, his life is quickly taken +away. I heard that from some who have intercourse with the Negroes +of Dapit, who know more about it and use it mere easily. The way to +overcome those fatal effects is to carry the effective remedy with +one--another herb or root. Thus the evil breath loses all its force, +and the [aforesaid] herb or root is a sure antidote for its deadliness. + +9. This Recollect province set itself to conquer those savage +monsters. They had but little religion, and that an idolatry +so barbarous and stupid that no light of reason was visible +in it. Their knowledge of the first cause was very erroneous and +confused. They admitted another life, but through certain very confused +transmigrations. They revered their dead greatly, for they prepared +food for their resting-places. They had certain little idols--one who +presided over the fields, one over wars, one over illnesses--and they +offered ridiculous sacrifices to all. They revered the moon greatly, +as the mistress of death, and celebrated their funeral rites only at +the full moon. Their priests had high honor among them, and still more +the priestesses, who arrogated despotic power to themselves. They had +no civil body, but were scattered, and had communication only in their +families. They were timid and cowardly, and avenged their grievances +only by treachery. Five religious were assigned for that difficult +undertaking, their director and superior being father Fray Juan de +Santo Thomas, a missionary of proved spirit and a man of resolute +mind. They left Manila provided with the necessary supplies. They +put in first at the island of Cuyo, whose natives, being of excellent +disposition, were hoping to have Spaniards in their island--although +this was against the will of their priests, who were losing their +profits (which their offices made easy) by admitting them. The +missionaries were received with affection by the others, who had +no such interests. They first reduced those people to a social life +and united them, settling quarrels among the families, and forming a +goodly village; and, urging their obligation, they built a church and +house. They continued gently to insinuate themselves in the natives' +hearts and succeeded in reducing them to the bosom of the Catholic +church. Thence they went to Alutaya. They preached the gospel, and, +in the same manner, established a town, church, and house, for the +people received the instruction with docility. + +10. After those so fortunate beginnings, they determined to send two +of the said religious and one lay brother to Paragua. They entered the +bay of Taytay, where they experienced greater resistance. The people +were opposed to living congregated in one settlement, and that was +the gravest hindrance; but the fathers were able to attain in part, +by dint of patience and constancy. The greatest annoyance arose from +the Moros, who infested those coasts, and the natives were unwilling +to expose themselves to their injuries by establishing themselves on +the beach. The religious hoped that the Spaniards would defend them +with their arms, and that with their reduction they would become +established there. By that method and other effective efforts they +attained the erection of a large village. Thence the religious +informed the superior government of their progress, and that for +its continuation and the defense of the natives--both those already +reduced, and those whom they expected to reduce--the construction of a +fort was necessary for the reduction of the island of Paragua, in which +a Spanish garrison might be stationed. By that means the reduction of +all that large island was certain. Accordingly, that determination +was taken in a meeting of the royal treasury tribunal; and two +companies were detached for the garrison, one Spanish and the other +Pampanga. The title and pay of royal chaplain was given and conceded +to the minister of that village. The fort mounted on its ramparts some +excellent artillery. The conquests were carried farther along that +coast, and inland. The Spaniards were also received, and without any +repugnance the natives accommodated themselves to the fitting homage, +even the infidels recognizing the tribute. Villages were established +on the river of Barbacan, Aborlan, and as far as Ypolote. They also +reduced the island of Dumaran, and spread to the Calamianes Islands, +where they founded reductions in Linacapan, Culiong, or Calamian the +lesser, and in the greater [Oalamian] at Busuagan. To the above, which +they regarded as capitals, they added other near-by villages; and as +their ministrations spread so extraordinarily, it became necessary for +a greater number of religious to go there. That was made possible by +the second arrival from Espana of father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, +[79] who had been sent to make various efforts in their interests, +and who returned with eight religious. + + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +The principal document in this volume, "Early Recollect missions in +the Philippines," is compiled from the following works: + +1. _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de San +Avgvstin_, by Fray Andres de San Nicolas (Madrid, 1664), pp. 396-510. + +2. _Historia general de los religiosos descalzos del orden de +S. Augustin_, by Fray Luis de Jesus (Madrid, 1681), pp. 1-61. (This +work is a continuation of the preceding one.) + +3. _Historia general de Philipinas_, by Fray Juan de la Concepcion +(Manila, 1788), tomo iv, pp. 189-265, and v, pp. 32-100. + +The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general +de Indias, Sevilla: + +4. _Seminary for Japanese missionaries_,--"Simancas-Secular; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del governador de Filipinas vistos +en el Consejo; anos 1600 a 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." + +5. _Extract from Serrano's letter_.--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia +de Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del arzobispo de Manila vistos en +el Consejo; ano de 1579 a 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +6. _Royal orders regarding the religious_.--"Audiencia de Filipinas; +registro de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidas a las autoridades +del distrito de la Audiencia; anos 1597 a 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, +leg. 1." The second part of this document, however, is obtained from +the "Cedulario Indico" of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid: +"tomo 40, fol. 26, verso, n deg.. 38." + +The following document is taken from the Ventura del Arco MSS. (Ayer +library): + +7. _Conflict between civil and religious authorities_.--In vol. i, +pp. 515-523. + +The following document is found in Pastells's edition of Colin's +_Labor evangelica_ (Barcelona, 1904): + +8. _Ecclesiastical affairs in the Philippines_.--In tomo iii, +pp. 674-697. + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Translated from Pastells's _Colin_, iii, pp. 674-677. The +original is conserved in Archivo general de Indias, with the following +pressmark: "Registros de oficio y partes; reales ordenes dirigidos a +las autoridades y particulares del distrito de la Audiencia; 1568-1808; +est. 105, caj. 2, leg. 11, libro 1, folio 233, verso, part 2." + +[2] Thus in Pastells's text (p. 690); but it is apparently a misprint +for June 22, 1622, the date of Serrano's act. + +[3] Throughout this document, the matter contained in brackets is +editorial comment by Rev. Pablo Pastells, S.J., who has published the +present document in the appendix to the third volume of his edition +of Colin's _Labor evangelica_ (Barcelona, 1904), _ut supra_. + +[4] The passage of the council of Trent referred to above reads as +follows: "In monasteries, whether the houses of men or of women, +with which the care of the souls of secular persons is connected, +all persons--excepting those who belong to their monasteries, or +who are servants of those places--both secular and religious, who +exercise that care after this manner, shall be immediately subject +in those things which pertain to the said care and administration +of sacraments, to the jurisdiction, visit, and correction of the +bishop in whose diocese they are located. Neither shall any there, +even those removable at will [_ad nutum amovibilis_], be considered +unless by the consent of that bishop, and by the latter's previous +examination, made personally or by his vicar; excepting the monastery +of Cluny and its boundaries, and also excepting those monasteries or +places in which abbots, generals, or the heads of the orders establish +their ordinary and chief residence, and other monasteries or houses in +which abbots, or other superiors of the regulars, exercise episcopal +or temporal jurisdiction in parish churches and parishes; excepting +likewise from the right of those bishops even persons who exercise +greater jurisdiction in the said places." See the original reading +in Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, appendix, p. 677. + +[5] See the above bull in this series, _Vol_. IV, pp. 119-124. + +[6] See the last two decrees here mentioned, later in this +document. The first decree--the original of which is preserved in the +Archivo general de Indias, in "Cartas y expedientes del gobernador +de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1567-1699; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 10"--which we translate, as well as all the above document, +from Pastells's edition of Colin's _Labor evangelica_, iii, pp. 682, +683, is as follows: + +"The King: Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Mexico of Nueva Espana; reverend +fathers in Christ, bishops of my council, venerable deans, dignidades, +canons, and other persons, who are assembled in the provincial council +which is held in the city of Mexico. You have already been informed +by my decree--of which duplicates signed by my hand were sent out, +directed to all the prelates of the churches of the Yndias--dated +December six, of the year one thousand five hundred and eighty-three, +that I ordered you all, and each of you in particular, that if you +have clerics who are suitable and competent, you shall appoint them +to benefices, curacies, and missions, in preference to the friars +of the mendicant orders, who hold them at present--observing, in +the said appointment, the order that is mentioned in the title of +my patronship, as is more minutely set forth in the said decrees, +the tenor of which, being precisely the same as that of the one sent +to you, the above-mentioned archbishop, is as follows: + +"The King: Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the +metropolitan church of the city of Mexico of Nueva Espana, and +member of our council: Already you know that, in accordance with +the ordinances and established rules of the holy Catholic church, +and with the ancient custom received and observed in Christendom, the +jurisdiction of the holy sacraments in the curacies of the parishes of +the churches belongs to the seculars, they being aided as assistants +in preaching and confessing by the religious of the orders; and that if +missions and curacies have been entrusted to religious of the mendicant +orders in those regions by apostolic concession, it was because of the +lack that was experienced of the said lay priests, and the convenience +that was found in the said religious for busying themselves in the +conversion, instruction, and teaching of the natives, with the example +and profit that is required. Now granting that this was the object +aimed at in that arrangement, and that the effect has been greatly in +accordance with the efforts made for it, and that they have obtained +so much fruit through their apostolic lives and holy perseverance, +and that so great a multitude of souls have come to the knowledge +of our Lord through His favor and aid by means of their teaching: +still, inasmuch as it is advisable to bring back this matter to its +beginning, and that, in so far as is possible, what pertains to the +said curacies of parishes and missions be restored to the common and +received use of the Church, so that there may be no defect in that +of the Indians, I request and charge you that now and henceforth, +if you have suitable and competent clergy, you appoint them to the +said curacies, missions, and benefices, preferring them to the friars, +and observing in the said appointments the order that is mentioned in +the title of our patronship. As long as there are not all the seculars +necessary for the said missions and benefices, you shall divide those +which are left over, equally, among the orders in those provinces, +so that there may be some of all the orders, to the end that each +order may labor according to its obligation, striving to excel in so +holy and apostolic an enterprise. And you shall watch above all, as a +good shepherd, so that your subordinates live with great watchfulness, +relieving our conscience and your own, so that the results that are +desirable be obtained among those natives. Madrid, December six, 1583. + +_I The King_ + +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Eraso_ + + +"Certain religious of the above-mentioned orders having come from +those provinces and from others of the Yndias, and having related +the many annoyances that have followed and that might follow from the +observance and fulfilment of the said decree, I ordered some of the +members of my council and other persons of great learning, prudence, +and intelligence to assemble. They having examined the indults, briefs, +and concessions of the supreme pontiffs, and the other papers that +are filed in the secretary's office of my Council of the Indias, in +regard to this matter of the missions--as well as the informations, +letters, relations, and opinions that have been given, sent, and +brought from all parts but lately, and upon the occasion of this +decree, both by the religious and by the prelates and clergy--have +given me their opinion. Considering that it was proper, in order to +come to a resolution and decision in a matter of so great moment and +importance, and commencing with what is of greatest importance--namely, +to commend it to God our Lord, whom you all, as is done here, +are to entreat very urgently to guide and direct it as may be most +to His service, the proper spiritual government of those kingdoms, +the welfare of the souls of the inhabitants and natives therein, and +the propagation of the holy gospel: I have determined to await a more +detailed relation of what may appear from these new documents, and the +general consensus of opinion in all classes, so that after examining +them all (since we all must aid for one and the same purpose, and the +result must be for the welfare of all, and particularly for mine, for +the fulfilment of the great obligation under which our Lord, besides +the many benefits which I continually receive from His blessed hand, +has placed me by adding thereto so great kingdoms and seigniories, +where so great a multitude of souls have come to His true knowledge, +and where they will continue to come daily, by the help of His grace +which illumines them, so that they may leave their blindness) the best +conclusion may be reached. Accordingly, I request and charge you that, +having assembled and congregated in that holy council, you discuss and +confer over what pertains to this matter. You shall send me a very +minute relation of the measures that you shall deem it advisable to +take in each province and bishopric by itself, and for all in general, +in regard to the execution of the said decree. You shall say what +missions are in possession of the religious and those in charge of +the seculars, and in what villages and vicinity these are, and all +the other things concerning it that you think to be necessary for the +sake of greater clearness; so that, having examined the said relations +and the others that are awaited, and the papers that are here, and +holding consultation with my Council of the Indias, as well as with +the other persons whom I shall appoint for this purpose, I may take +the most advisable measures. While that is being done and determined, +you shall suspend (as I now for the time being do suspend), and I shall +consider as suspended, the execution of the decree herein inserted. + +"All, and each one by himself, if they are in your dioceses, shall +leave the said missions freely and quietly to the said orders and +religious, so that those who have held, hold, and shall hold them, may +hold them as hitherto, without making any innovation, or changing the +manner of filling those missions or appointing the religious to them. + +"Each of you personally, in his own district, without entrusting it +to any other person, shall visit the churches of the missions where +the said religious shall be established, and inspect the most holy +sacraments and the baptismal fonts in them, the buildings of the +said churches, the alms given for them, and all the other things +pertaining to such churches and the services of divine worship. You +shall also visit and fraternally correct the religious established in +the said missions, in regard to curacies, and shall take special care +to consider the honor and good fame of such religious in irregular +acts that may be hidden; and when more than this should be necessary +or advisable you shall inform their prelates, so that these may punish +them. If the latter do not inflict punishment, you shall do so, each +one of you, in accordance with the ordinance of the holy council +of Trent, after the period of time mentioned in it is passed. And +inasmuch as it is not advisable that a matter that is so important as +is the care of souls--and, further, those souls that are so new in +the faith--be at the will of the religious who shall be established +in the said missions, curacies, and benefices, they must understand, +both superiors and members [of the orders] that they are to hold the +office of cura _non ex voto charitatis_, as is said, but by justice +and obligation, administering the holy sacraments, not only to the +Indians, but also to the Spaniards who may be found living among +them--to the Indians by virtue of the above-mentioned apostolic +indults, and to the Spaniards by commission from the prelates. For +that each of you shall give, in his own district, and to me, a very +specific account of how the religious, on their part, observe what +pertains to them of this--which they are to perform exactly and +according to their obligation--together with what, in your opinion, +they may do to aid you in fulfilling your pastoral duties, in which +you shall consider the safety of the souls in your charge, for whom +you must give so strict an account to God our Lord. Barcelona, June +first, one thousand five hundred and eighty-five. + + +_I The King_ +By order of his Majesty: +_Antonio de Erasso_" + +[7] Referring to his _Nova collectio et compilatio privilegiorum +apostolicorum regularium_ (Turnoni, 1609). + +[8] Gregory XIV, in his brief _Cum sicuti nuper accepimus_, after +approving the first diocesan council (convened in Manila by Bishop +Salazar), and the reservation of cases that the bishop should make +with the advice of the said council, imposes on him the visitation +of his flock and of the religious who administer it, forbidding any +religious to go out for the conquest of unpacified infidels without +the express command of their regular superior and the license of the +bishop in writing. The extract to this effect is as follows: + +"And lest the rules and resolutions made for the said bishop [_i.e._, +of Manila], and the religious and missionaries assembled in the same +place, for the happy progress of the Christians newly converted to +the faith, should be infringed by them for their own special pleasure, +profit, or inclination, we will and decree by our apostolic authority +that those things that shall have been ordained and commanded by that +congregation, by the votes of the majority, for the protection of +the Christian faith or for the salvation of souls for the thorough +conversion of those converted Indians, be steadfastly and rigorously +observed, as long and so far as that congregation shall ordain and +command it. + +"Moreover, whenever that bishop, at the advice of the said +congregation, shall have reserved any case for himself, according +to what shall have appeared expedient for the nature of the times, +persons, and affairs, no secular priest nor a member of any religious +order or congregation shall, under pretext of any privilege or indult +(even though apostolic), excepting the bishop himself, or by his +express license and command, be authorized, or dare or presume to +grant absolution in any manner in cases so reserved, during the said +reservation, under penalty of being suspended from the ministry of +the mass and from the confession of the faithful, incurring that +penalty by the very act. + +"Moreover, we enjoin and order that bishop that, since it is the +special duty of the bishop to minister to his own sheep and to +visit them in person, he shall visit the flock entrusted to him, +the religious of the Christian instruction, and those missions, in +his own person or in that of his vicar-general in spiritual things, +or at least in the persons of other very grave men, and not at all by +simple and unskilled clergy, ignorant of letters, and of no judgment. + +"And inasmuch as some of the inhabitants of those islands, and members +of the above-mentioned orders, eager to see new things, and wandering +or passing from one district to another, abandon those newly converted +and baptized; and inasmuch as such persons cause the latter at times +to revert to idolatry, which is greatly to be deplored; and inasmuch +as many others who otherwise would acknowledge the faith and accede to +baptism neglect it on account of the lack of ministers, or remain in +infidelity; and inasmuch as the religious themselves, ignorant even +of the languages of those districts, are despised, to the shame of +their orders, and render more difficult the conversion of the Indians: +We, desirous of checking this evil by an opportune remedy, strictly +forbid and prohibit all and singular, of whatever religious order, +and all others whomsoever who are engaged in the conversion of the +infidels and the teaching of Christian doctrine, under penalty of +excommunication, not to dare or presume to go from a pacified to an +unpacified land, except by the express license and command of their +bishop and of the religious superiors, given in writing. + +Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the seal of the fisherman, +April xviii, MDXCI, in the first year of our pontificate." + +See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 679. + +[9] Tomo i of his _Questiones regulares et canonicae_ was published +at Salamanca in 1598; another edition, in four volumes, was issued +some years later. + +[10] Probably contained in his _Epitome, o compendio de la Suma_ +(Madrid, 1610). + +[11] See the bulls concerning the Indias granted by Alexander VI, +in _Vol_. I of this series, pp. 97-114. The bull here referred to is +the _Inter caetera_ of May 4, 1493. + +[12] This bull was dated May 9, 1522, and begins _Omnimodo exponi +nobis_; it grants authority to the friars of the mendicant orders to +go to the Indias, after securing permission from their king or from +his royal council. See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 677. + +[13] See this decree _ante_, note 6. + +[14] The original of this decree is in the Archivo general of Sevilla, +"Cartas y expedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +anos 1567-99; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 10." + +[15] The two decrees here mentioned (see Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, +iii, pp. 684, 685)--the originals of which are conserved in Archivo +general de Indias, having the same pressmark as that in the preceding +note--are respectively as follows: + +"The King: To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of the +city of Manila, of the Philipinas Islands. Certain prelates of those +regions have written to me that many religious who are appointed to +the missions of Indians which are in charge of the orders do not have +the competency and qualities that are required for the office of cura, +which they fill; that they do not know the language of those whom +they have to instruct; and that the archbishops and bishops cannot +remedy this, because the religious do not come before them to be +examined. And in the visits that the former make, the latter claim +to be exempt from their jurisdiction, even in regard to curacies, +saying that they have an indult for it; neither can their superiors +remedy it. Inasmuch as it is a matter of so great consideration, I +have now ordained that, in so great conformity with what is decreed +and ordained, the said archbishops and bishops shall not allow any +religious to enter to perform or exercise the duties of cura in the +missions which are in their charge, without first being examined +and approved by the prelate of that diocese, both in regard to his +competency and in the language, in order to exercise the duty of cura +and to administer the sacraments to the Indians of their missions, +as well as to the Spaniards who may be there; that, if in the visits +that the said prelates make to them in regard to curacies, any of +the said religious missionaries should be found without the ability, +qualifications, and example that are requisite, and who do not know +sufficiently the language of the Indians whom they instruct, such +religious shall be removed and their superiors advised, so that the +latter may appoint others who have the necessary qualifications, in +which they are to be examined; and that, if any indult or bull of his +Holiness is presented to them exempting the said religious from this, +they shall advise you, so that you may do your duty. And inasmuch as it +is advisable that that be observed, executed, and obeyed, I charge you +that you give the said prelates in that district the encouragement, +protection, and aid necessary for this; and that you do not permit +or allow religious to be admitted into the missions in any other +way. You shall advise me of what you shall do. Given in San Lorenco, +November fourteen, one thousand six hundred and three. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_" + + +"The King. Very reverend father in Christ, archbishop of the city of +Manila of the Philipinas Islands, and member of my council: You will +see by my decree of the same date as this, which this accompanies, +what I have resolved and ordered in regard to the examination of the +religious who shall exercise duties as curas in the district of that +archbishopric--which is not discussed here in regard to seculars, +as it is a settled and fixed matter. And inasmuch as it is advisable +for the relief of my conscience, and that of yours, that that decree +be fulfilled and obeyed carefully, I charge you that you do so; +and if any indult or brief from his Holiness be presented to you, +in behalf of the orders, exempting them from this, you shall advise +my royal audiencias, so that they may do their duty, and my fiscal +shall plead what is suitable. You shall advise me of what you shall +do in everything. San Lorenzo, November fourteen, one thousand six +hundred and three. + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan de Ybarra_." + +[16] The following decree was given by the king prohibiting certain +practices of the regulars: + +"The King. To the president and auditors of my royal Audiencia of the +city of Manila of the Philipinas Islands: I have been informed that the +religious who reside in those regions have the custom of assigning at +times Indian villages for the celebration of their chapter meetings, +from which, besides the annoyances and wrongs that the Indians receive, +it happens that the audiencias and governors are unable to apply the +remedy for certain things that occur in the said chapter meetings, +and that require despatch. And inasmuch as it has been considered that +that is a cause for trouble, it has been deemed advisable to prevent +it by ordering--as I do order and command by this present--that now +and henceforth, chapter meetings of the religious be not celebrated +in Indian villages; and that if there be reasons obliging the meeting +to be celebrated at any time in any such village, those reasons be +communicated to you, both the president and the Audiencia, and that +your order and permission be obtained. Such is my will. Given in +Valladolid, June thirteen, one thousand six hundred and fifteen. + + + +_I The King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: + +_Juan Ruiz de Contreras_" + + +This decree is translated from Pastells's Colin, _ut supra_, p. 685; +its original is conserved in the Archivo general of Sevilla, its +pressmark, "Registros de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidos a las +autoridades del distrito de la Audiencia; anos 1597-1804; est. 105, +caj. 2, leg. 1, lib. 1, vol. 64." + +[17] The passage of the brief referred to above, is as follows: + +"We, therefore, who gladly favor the increase of Divine worship and +the salvation of souls, especially since we have been petitioned by +each of the Catholic kings, giving assent to them petitioning after +this manner, do, by virtue of our apostolic authority, concede and +grant license and authority, by the tenor of these presents, to all +and singular, the religious of any, even the mendicant orders, living +in monasteries of their orders in the said regions of the Indias (of +the Ocean Sea), or outside of them, by the consent of their superiors, +so that they may freely and legally use the license obtained from their +superiors, as is declared in their provincial chapters, to exercise +the office of parish priest in the villages of those regions, such +office having been and being assigned to them by a similar license, +in the celebration of marriages and in the administration of the +ecclesiastical sacraments, as has been their wont hitherto (provided +that they observe the form of the said council in other ceremonies); +and to preach the word of God and hear confessions, as is declared, +so long as those religious know the languages of those districts; +and no other permission of the ordinaries of those places, or of +any other persons, shall be necessary. And moreover, by the same +authority and tenor, we decree and ordain that the said bishop shall +make no innovation in the places of those regions where there are +monasteries of religious who exercise the care of souls. So likewise +[we decree and ordain] that it must be resolved and determined by +any judges and commissaries, who exercise any authority whatever, +delegated to them or to any one of them, to him determining and +interpreting otherwise by virtue of any authority whatever; and we +declare null and void whatever else shall be attempted in regard to +these things, by anyone under any authority whatever.... Given at Rome, +at St. Peter's, under the seal of the fisherman, March 23, 1567." + +See Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, iii, p. 678. + +[18] The passage referred to above, which we translate from the +original bull as given in Pastells's _Colin, ut supra_, p. 678, +is as follows: + +"Since, therefore, our predecessor Pope Pius V of happy memory, after +hearing of the troubles which were said to have been inflicted on the +friars of the mendicant orders by the ordinaries of the places and the +rectors of ecclesiastical parishes in many ways, in regard to ... the +care of souls and the administration of the sacraments ... not only +decreed many things differently in certain of his letters to the said +friars, but even those things that were recently decreed in regard +to these things in the council of Trent, ... we ... decree and ordain +concerning the said and concerning all other letters and regulations +which emanated in any manner from the same predecessor concerning those +matters to any orders and congregations of any regulars, including the +mendicants, and concerning all and whatever is contained therein, that +that regulation and decision, which was legal before the declaration +of the said letters and regulations, whether by the ancient law, +or by the holy decrees of the said council, or in any other way, be +regarded as having force hereafter, and which they would have, had +not those letters and regulations emanated, to which regulation and +decision and to their former undiminished condition and limitation, +we reduce them all.... Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, in the year of +the incarnation of our Lord, 1572 [_sic_] on the kalends of March." + +[19] _Monitoria_: Summons issued by an ecclesiastical judge to command +the personal appearance and deposition of a witness. + +[20] The original of this letter is conserved in the Archivo general +of Sevilla; its pressmark, "Cartas y expedientes del Arzobispo de +Manila; anos 1579-1697; est. 68, caj. I, leg. 32." + +[21] This document is obtained from Pastells's _Colin_, iii, pp. 685, +686. The original decree is conserved in the Archivo general de Indias, +Sevilla; its pressmark the same as that indicated in note 14, _ante_. + +[22] Juan de Bueras was born in the mountains of Burgos. He went to +the American missions after having taught moral theology at Toledo. He +was provincial of the Philippines in 1627. Later he became visitor of +the provinces of New Spain and Mexico, dying at Mexico, February 19, +1646. See Sommervogel's _Bibliotheque_. + +[23] See _Vol_. IV, p. 222. + +[24] Following is a translation of the title page of this work, +a facsimile of which is here presented: + +"General history of the discalced religious of the Order of the +hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, St. Augustine, +of the congregation of Espana and of the Indias. To his Catholic +Majesty our sovereign Felipe Fourth. By father Fray Andres de San +Nicolas, son of the same congregation, its chronicler, and rector +of the college of Alcala de Henares. Volume first. From the year +M.D.LXXXVIII. to that of M.DC.XX. Divided into three decades. With +privilege. In Madrid. Printed by Andres de la Iglesia. Year M.DC.LXIV." + +[25] Fray Juan de San Jeronimo was born at Malagon, Spain; he became +a priest, and when already in middle life entered the discalced +Augustinian order at Talavera, in 1593, making his profession in the +following year. He soon attained high standing in this new order, and +was the envoy sent to Rome to negotiate its separation from the regular +Augustinians and secure approval for its constitution. In 1602 he was +elected its first provincial, and under his rule the order flourished +and spread in Spain. He was nominated to the bishopric of Chiapa, in +Nueva Espana, but declined this honor that he might devote himself to +foreign missions. Arriving at the Philippines in 1606, he organized +there his mission, built a convent at Bagunbayan, and undertook the +conversion of the natives in the province of Zambales. The convent +expanded into a college, but its buildings were demolished in +1644. Being soon afterward rebuilt, it lasted until the eighteenth +century, when it was again torn down. San Jeronimo had charge of it +during two years; but, his health being much enfeebled, he set out on +the return to Spain. When in sight of Ormuz, he died, in 1610. See +account of his life in San Nicolas's _Historia_, pp. 469, 470; and +in _Provincia de S. Nicolas de Tolentino_ (Manila, 1879), pp. 20-23. + +[26] This and various other accents which are grave instead of acute +follow the text of the original work. + +[27] Andres de San Nicolas died at sea, when the ship was in sight +of the Ladrone Islands. + +Miguel de Santa Maria, after reaching Manila, was assigned to +the settlement of Mariveles; but the natives were angered at his +preaching, and stoned him so severely that he died from the effects +of this attack, in the Manila convent. + +Jeronimo de Christo was an old man when he departed for the Philippine +mission, but was noted for his learning and ability. He was elected +prior of the Manila convent, and afterward vicar-provincial in San +Jeronimo's absence; and died while in active service in the missions, +in 1608. + +[28] Pedro de San Fulgencio soon afterward returned to Europe, to +obtain more missionaries; having made arrangements for their voyage, +he died on reaching Milan. + +Diego de la Anunciacion, born in 1565, made his profession in the +Recollect convent at Madrid, in 1597; and held several high positions +in his order before he entered the Philippine mission. He was superior +of the convent at Bagunbayan, and afterward prior. After some years +he returned to Spain, where he spent the rest of his life, dying +December 13, 1625. + +[29] Rodrigo de Agandum Moriz (in religion, Fray Rodrigo de San +Miguel) was born in Valladolid--or, according to some authorities, +in Orio of Guipuzcoa--in 1584, and entered the discalced Augustinian +order at the age of fourteen years. Joining the Philippine mission +in 1606, he ministered to the natives in various districts of Luzon +with great acceptance, employing his poetical talents in teaching +the Christian faith to the Indians. In 1614 he went to Spain for +more missionaries, returning to the islands in 1617-18. Again +voyaging to Europe (1622), he went, via India and Persia, to Rome, +where he arrived in 1626. Declining the pope's offer to make him a +bishop and patriarch in the Indias, he planned a mission to Chaldea; +but he died at Orio, while en route to Madrid, December 26, 1626. He +left several manuscript works, mainly historical, among which was +_Historia general de las islas accidentales a la Asia adyacentes, +llamadas Philipinas_; this was published in _Documentos ineditos +para la historia de Espana_, tomos lxxviii and lxxix (Madrid, 1882), +but it was apparently left unfinished by the author, the part that +is extant treating mainly of the early explorations by Magalhaes and +Villalobos, and of the history of the Moluccas. + +In the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, is the following letter +from Felipe IV to a brother of Fray Rodrigo: + +"The King. It has been learned in the Council of the Indias that +father Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel, a discalced Augustinian religious, +who is said to be a brother of your Grace, brought from the Yndias a +general history of the Filipinas Islands, compiled with great care, +as, in order to write it, he had examined the archives and authentic +memoirs of those regions; that it has been lately our Lord's pleasure +to take father Fray Rodrigo, who has died in Vizcaya; and that your +Grace was given two of his books, especially the above history. And +inasmuch as that work would be very important for what is written +on the general history of the said islands by order of his Majesty, +the matter having been discussed with the father provincial of the +said order, in which the latter has declared that the said history is +in possession of your Grace; the Council has directed me to write to +your Grace, in its name, that it would be greatly to the service of +his Majesty for your Grace to send me the said history for the said +purpose. And if your Grace wish remuneration for it, or that it be +returned after having used it for the said purpose, your Grace will +advise me of what you desire in this matter, so that those gentlemen +may know it, and so that the advisable measures may be taken. May God +preserve your Grace, as I desire. Madrid, May seventeen, one thousand +six hundred and twenty-seven. + +_Antonio Gonzalez de Legardo_ + +On the receipt of this letter, I beg your Grace to advise me +immediately, for the Council anxiously awaits a reply because of the +history." (_Pressmark_: "est. 139, caj. 1, leg. 15.") + +[30] Andres del Espiritu Santo was born at Valladolid in 1585, and +made his profession at Portillo in 1601. Entering the Philippine +mission, he began his labors with the natives in the province of +Zambales, where he was very successful. In 1609, and again in 1615, +he was chosen vicar-provincial. Afterward going to Spain for more +missionaries, he returned to the islands in 1622, and four years +later became provincial, as again in 1632. The rest of his life was +spent at Manila, where he died in 1658. + +[31] A city between Vera Cruz and Mexico City, more commonly known as +Puebla; it was founded about 1530, and became the seat of the diocese +in 1550, and soon was a flourishing agricultural and manufacturing +center. + +[32] _Instituto_: constitution, or rules of observance, adopted by +the order. + +[33] "Now I shall die happy." + +[34] Luis de Jesus states (_Historia_, p. 79) that this name is a +corruption of Manavilis. + +[35] Cf. the accounts by Loarca (_Vol_. V of this series) and Plasencia +(_Vol_. VII). + +[36] This tree (_Mangifera altisima_) resembles the mango, but its +fruit is much smaller. The tree grows to a greater height than the +mango. The fruit is eaten by the natives, being used with vinegar. See +Blanco's _Flora_. + +[37] "Behold the cross of the Lord. Flee, ye adverse ones. The lion +of Judah is conqueror." + +[38] Antonio de San Agustin was born in Manila, the son of Francisco +de las Misas, and made his profession in the Recollect convent there, +in December, 1614. He was a minister in various places, and had been +prior of several convents. In 1658, while returning from an official +visit to the Calamianes Islands, he was captured by Moros, who slew +him. At the time of his death he was sixty-six years old. + +[39] The first father named above was afflicted by a grievous +plague of vermin [_chinches_--literally, "bedbugs"], seemingly +after a request that he might suffer his purgatory on earth. At the +time of his death, "raising his voice and saying, _In manus tuas, +Domine, commendo spiritum meum_, he expired, without making another +movement. Immediately the _chinches_ disappeared and not one could be +found, although one could gather than by handfuls before, as they say." + +[40] The _Congregatio de Propaganda Fide_, one of the "sacred +congregations" of the Catholic Church, was founded in 1622, by Pope +Gregory XV, conferring upon it most ample powers for the propagation +of the faith, and especially for the superintendence of missions +in countries where heretics or infidels had to be evangelized. The +jurisdiction proper of the congregation extends to all territories +which are governed _more missionum_, or as missionary countries--not +by the bishops of the regular hierarchy, but by prefects and vicars +apostolic. It has, moreover, legislative and judicial power. See +Hoffmanns' _Catholic Directory_, 1896, p. 48. + +[41] The status of a tertiary, or "member of the third order," was +originated by St. Francis of Assisi, after the foundation of his own +order, and that of the Minorite nuns who lived under a rule prescribed +by him. In 1221 he instituted a third order, the members of which, men +and women, should be bound by rule to more unworldliness of life, pious +devotion, and works of mercy than those of ordinary persons living in +the world. He called them "Brothers and Sisters of Penance." They had +to take a year's novitiate, and a simple vow to observe the rule. Many +tertiaries, in course of time, desired to take solemn vows and live +in community, while still conforming to the rule of the Third Order; +thus arose various congregations of tertiary monks and nuns. Other +religious orders had their Third Order; that of the Augustinians was +established at the beginning of the fifteenth century. (Addis and +Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, p. 792.) + +[42] Following are translations of the title-pages of this work, +of which facsimiles are here presented: + +_Engraved title-page_: "General History of the discalced religious of +the Order of the hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, +St. Augustine, of the congregation of Espana and of the Indias. To +the most excellent duke of Ixar count of Salinas. By Father Fray Luis +de Jesus son of the same congregation, and its chronicler. Volume +second. From the year M.DC.L. Divided into three decades. Engraved +by Pedro a Villafranca royal engraver, Madrid. 1663." + +_Printed title-page:_ "General History of the discalced religious of +the Order of the hermits of the great father and doctor of the Church, +St. Augustine, of the congregation of Espana and of the Indias. By +Father Fray Luis de Jesus, son of the same congregation, pensioned +lecturer, general chronicler, and acting provincial of Castilla the +old and the new. Dedicated to the most excellent Senor Don Jayme +Francisco de Hijar Silva Sarmiento, etc., protector of our sacred +Reform convent. Volume second. Divided into three decades, from the +year twenty-one to that of fifty. With privilege. In Madrid: Printed +by Lucas Antonio de Bedmar, printer of the kingdom. Year of 1681." + +[43] Delgado in his _Historia_, pp. 813-816, describes this +bird. _Tabon_, he says, is a word that signifies in the Pintados +"to hide by covering, or to cover by concealing it with earth." When +the chick first appears its plumage is white and gray. Its wings +are used at first for aid in running rather than in flying. The bird +lives mainly on fish, which it catches in the sea. The eggs, which +are very nutritious, are eaten with gusto by the natives. + +[44] This is the flying lemur (_Galeopithecus philippinensis_; called +_kaguang_ or _caguan_ by the Visayans), an animal belonging to the +Quadrumana, and the Prosimidae (semi-apes). Alfred R. Wallace found +it in Sumatra, Borneo, and Singapore; see his description of it in +_Malay Archipelago_ (New York, 1869), pp. 145, 146. Jagor found it +in Samar--_Travels in the Philippines_ (English translation, London, +1875), pp. 242-244. See also Delgado's description (_Historia_, +p. 845). This lemur has, like the flying squirrel, a volucral membrane, +which not only covers all its limbs but reaches to its tail; and thus +the creature glides from tree to tree. This explains the writer's +allusion to it as a bird. + +[45] The creature thus described is the tarsier (_Tarsius spectrum_), +belonging to the same class (semi-apes) as the lemur, _ante._ Jagor +(_ut supra_, p. 252) was told in Luzon that it could be found only +in Samar, and that it lived exclusively on charcoal--of course, +an erroneous notion. In Samar it was called _mago_ or _macauco._ +The _Report_ of U.S. Philippine Commission for 1900 (iii, p. 311) +mentions several Islands as its habitat, and the belief of the natives +that it lives on charcoal. Delgado cites the same notion (_Historia_, +p. 875); he supposes the tarsier to be a sort of wild cat. + +[46] The gecko (_Gecko verticillatus_), a reptile allied to the +lizard. Two species of this animal in the Philippines frequent the +houses: one very small, which feeds on mosquitoes, flies, and other +pests, and works noiselessly; the other larger (up to eight inches +long) with a heavy body and a loud call. The latter is, to judge +from Delgado's description (_Historia_,p. 885) the one mentioned in +our text. + +[47] The cuttlefish, or octopus (_Sepia octopus_). + +[48] This was in 1609, and the fort erected was that of Tandag; +it was on a bay on the northeast coast of Surigao province, Mindanao. + +[49] Apparently the same as the present Gigaquit, a town an the +northeast coast of the province of Surigao. + +[50] Juan de la Madre de Dios assumed the habit of the discalced +Augustinians at Valladolid, making his profession in 1615. With eight +other missionaries, he arrived at Manila in 1620; and some two years +later he entered the Mindanao mission. His ministry there was short; +for toward the end of 1623 he was slain by a fierce Moro chief whom +he had rebuked for his acts of injustice and tyranny. See sketches +of his life, in Luis de Jesus's _Historia_, pp. 53-55; and _Provincia +de S. Nicolas de Tolentino_, pp. 308, 309. + +[51] Apparently referring to the missions founded by the Jesuits, +some years before, in northern Mindanao; see _Vol_. XIII, pp. 48, +80. Fuller accounts of these missions are given in Combes's _Historia +de Mindanao_, which will be presented in later volumes of this series. + +[52] Situated in central Surigao, on a chain of lakes and rivers +from which issues the Butuan River, flowing northward into the bay +of same name. + +[53] See Delgado's account of the various kinds of bees in the +Philippines (_Historia_, pp. 848-850). + +[54] The pangolin or _Manis_, commonly known as ant-eater. The +preceding sentence probably refers to the flying lemur (note 44, +_ante_.) + +[55] Cf. account of the weapons used by the Mindanaos, given by Retana +and Pastells in their edition of Combes's _Historia de Mindanao_, +cols. 782 and 783. Also cf. weapons of North American Indians, as +described in _Jesuit Relations_--see Index, vol. lxxii, pp. 337, 338. + +[56] Referring to Siargao Island, off northeast coast of Mindanao; +about twenty-one miles long and fourteen wide. + +[57] _Cimarron_ is an American word meaning "wild" or "unruly," and +is also applied to a runaway slave. O.T. Mason, in his translation +of Blumentritt's _Native Tribes of the Philippines_ (Washington, +1901), says (p. 536) that "this characterization is given to heathen +tribes of most varied affiliation, living without attachment and +in poverty, chiefly posterity of the Remontados." Buzeta and Bravo +(_Diccionario_) say that these people are "collections or tribes of +infidels known by this name in the island of Luzon and others of the +archipelago. There is at present a tribe living in the dense forests +of the mountain Isaroc in the province of Camarines Sur. There are +also some collections of these and some hostiles in the mountains +of the island and province of Samar. They are descendants of the +Negrito race, who seem to become differentiated from their own species +because of their extraordinarily wild and mountainous life." Hence +the name seems to have been given these people in Mindanao simply to +distinguish them as especially barbarous and difficult to establish +relations among. They were probably one of the numerous tribes of +Negritos such as inhabit Mindanao today. + +[58] In a brief description of the Philippine Islands which occurs in +a geographical work by the Chinese writer Chao-Yu-Kua (who flourished +in the thirteenth century)--which account will appear later in this +series--is an interesting mention of "nests" built in trees by the +Aetas or Negritos, who live therein in single families. Professor +Friedrich Ratzel (_History of Mankind_, Butler's translation, London +and New York, 1896) says (i, p. 111) that the Battaks in Sumatra, +and many Melanesians lived in trees; and on p. 422, he says: "Among +the Battaks safe dwelling-places are also found at the point where a +tree-stem forks or throws off branches; the central shoot is lopped +off, and the surrounding branches remain." Continuing he speaks of the +huts built by the Ilongotes of Luzon on tree stems, which are made +from leaves of the nipa-palm and bamboo. "The Orang-Sakei and the +Lubus of Sumatra also live to some extent in trees" (p. 423). There +are also tree-dwellers in Africa and India. + +[59] "In older works are so named [Caragas] the warlike and Christian +inhabitants of the localities subdued by the Spaniards on the east +coast of Mindanao, and, indeed, after their principal city, Caraga. It +has been called, if not a peculiar language, a Visaya dialect, while +now only Visaya (near Manobo and Mandaya) is spoken, and an especial +Caraga nation is no longer known." (Blumentritt's "Native Tribes of +the Philippines," in _Smithsonian Report_, 1899, p. 535.) + +[60] The title-pages of La Concepcion's fourteen volumes show more or +less difference in their wording. Following is a translation of the +title of vol. iv, a facsimile of which is here presented: "General +history of Philipinas: temporal and spiritual conquests of these +Spanish dominions, their establishment, progress, and decadence; +comprehending the empires, kingdoms, and provinces of islands and +continents with which there has been communication and commerce by +immediate coincidences, with general notices regarding geography, +hydrography, natural history, politics, customs, and religions, in +which so universal a title should be interested. By father Fray Juan de +la Concepcion, discalced Augustinian Recollect, pensioned lecturer, +ex-provincial, synodal examiner of the archbishopric of Manila, +and chronicler of his province of San Nicolas of the Philipinas +islands. Volume IV. With permission of the superiors. At Manila, +in the printing office of the royal and conciliar seminary of San +Carlos; printed by Agustin de la Rosa y Balagtas. Year of 1788." + +[61] A term applied to the gun-room on a ship, which was considered +as under the protection of St. Barbara. + +[62] The Armenian church was founded by St. Gregory, who was +consecrated bishop of Armenia in the year 302 A.D. Owing to a +misunderstanding, this church refused to accept the decisions of +the Council of Chalcedon (451 A.D.) regarding certain questions +of heresies, which led to its gradual separation from the Greek +church. In the middle of the fifteenth century arose dissensions, +which resulted in a schism; these were mainly occasioned by Roman +Catholic missionaries who endeavored to proselytize the Armenians to +the doctrine, liturgy, and ceremonies of the Roman church, to which +they gained many adherents. This led to dissensions and persecutions, +which continued until, in the middle of the eighteenth century, +the Armenian patriarch secured the intervention of Peter the Great, +and the protection of the Russian church, under which that of Armenia +has since remained. + +[63] The Order of the Carmelites was founded by a crusader named +Berthold, in the middle of the twelfth century. Some time after +becoming a monk in Calabria he went to Mount Carmel, where he was +joined by various other hermits living there in solitude. They adopted +the rule of life framed for them by Albert, patriarch of Jerusalem, +which consisted of sixteen articles. These forbade the possession of +property; ordered that each hermit should live in a cell by himself; +interdicted meat; recommended manual labor and silence; and imposed +a strict fast from the exaltation of the cross to Easter, Sundays +being excepted. The hermits were compelled to abandon Mount Carmel +by the advance of the Mahomedan power, and established themselves in +Cyprus, and other places. In Europe they were compelled to live in +common and mitigate their rule, and they became known as one of the +mendicant orders. In England, where they became very numerous, they +were called the "White Friars." To St. Simon Stock, the first general, +the Virgin is said to have shown the scapular in a vision. The order +became divided into two branches, according to whether they observed +the strict or the mitigated rule, being designated as Observatines and +Conventuals. The Carmelite nuns were first instituted by John Soreth, +general of the order in the fifteenth century. See Addis and Arnold's +_Catholic Dictionary_, pp. 120-122. + +[64] Gregorio de Santa Catalina, who had gone to Rome with twelve +religious to urge the support of the pope for the Recollects. + +[65] "Fray Miguel de Santa Maria, with his seven companions, arrived +at Tandag in the year 1622" (_Provincia de S. Nicolas de Tolentino_, +p. 276). + +[66] A letter dated May 22, 1904, from father Fray Eduardo Navarro, +O.S.A., Valladolid, Spain, who spent many years in the Philippines, +thus defines several terms as used in the islands. _Pueblo_ ["town" or +"village"] is to be understood in its usual significance. But beside +the pueblo proper, where are established the church, parochial house, +and city hall, all the pueblos have, at a greater or less distance, +groups of a greater or less number of houses. If they belong to +Christians, they are called barrios ["suburbs"], and have a distinctive +name; if of infidels, they are called rancherias ["a collection of +huts"] of such and such a chief. + +[67] _i.e._, "at the entrance to the church;" said of marriages duly +performed with church rites. + +[68] "Strictly speaking, then, the work of the redemption of those +islanders [in Mindanao] belongs to the Jesuits and the Recollects. The +latter commenced their labors by virtue of an arrangement made in the +year 1622, by the bishop of Cebu, Very Reverend Father Fray Pedro de +Arce--agreed upon with the captain-general of the archipelago, who was +then the famous Don Alonso Fajardo de Tenza. Their first enterprises +were on the northern and eastern coasts of Mindanao, as well as in +the adjacent islets of Dinagat, Camiguin, and Siargao. In the year +1631, the ninth of their evangelizing work, the Recollect fathers +suffered painful but glorious losses; for six of those missionaries +were martyred by the inhabitants of the island." (Retana and Pastells, +in their edition of Combes's _Historia de Mindanao_, col. 788.) + +[69] River and pueblo of same name in the province of Misamis, in +northern Mindanao; the river falls into the bay of Macajalar. + +[70] A point on the northern coast of Misamis province. + +[71] Referring to Leo VI, Emperor of the East, styled "the Philosopher" +and "the Wise;" he occupied the throne of Constantinople from 886 to +911 A.D. He wrote several books, among which is a treatise on military +tactics, which was published by J. Meursius, at Leyden, in 1612. + +[72] The islands in the Calamianes and Cuyos groups number one +hundred and forty-five that are charted, besides nearly sixty that +are uncharted. See descriptions of these groups in _U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 412-415, 480-484. The names Calamian and +Busuanga are now applied to separate islands, the largest, of the +Calamianes group. + +[73] The bird here referred to (_Collocalia troglodites_) is a +specie of swift; the nests, composed of a gelatinous secretion from +the salivary glands in the mouths of the birds, sell at high price +almost their weight in gold, when fresh and clean. The best nests are +obtained on the precipitous sides of the Penon de Coron, between Culion +and Busuanga, where the natives gather them at no little personal +risk. The nests are known to commerce as _salangana_. (_U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 170, 482.) + +Delgado says (_Hist. de Filipinas_, p. 821) that the material used by +the bird is a species of seaweed, called _ngoso_, or another called +_lano_--and not, as Colin and San Antonio would have it, the foam of +the sea. See _ut supra_, pp. 727, 728, and 822. + +See also Retana's note in his edition of Zuniga's _Estadismo_, ii, +pp. 430*, 431*. + +[74] The balate--also known as "sea slug," "sea cucumber," "beche de +mer," and commercially as "trepang"--is a slug (_Holothuria edulis_) +used as food in the Eastern Archipelago and in China, in which country +it is regarded as a delicacy by the wealthy classes, and brings from +seven to fifty cents a pound in the markets. (See _U. S. Gazetteer +of Philippine Islands_, pp. 482, 483.) Delgado, writing in 1754, says +(p. 935) that in Manila the dried balate was usually worth thirty-five +to forty (or even more) silver pesos a pico (or pecul; equivalent, +in the Philippines, to 137.9 U.S. pounds). + +[75] "Better known as Penon de Coron ("Crown Peak"); a small, rocky +island off the eastern end of Busuanga Island, famous for the fine +quality of the edible bird's-nests found there. + +[76] Apparently the present Calamian island is here referred to; +its chief town is Culion. + +[77] Now known as Palawan; its northern part forms the province of +Paragua, which includes many dependent islands lying near it. + +[78] "In general it may be said that the Philippines politically +speaking, and the Philippines zoologically speaking, are not +identical areas, for Balabac, Palawan, and the Calamianes Islands +are strongly characterized by the presence of numerous Bornean forms +which are conspicuously absent throughout the remaining islands of +the archipelago. Although the Philippines are commonly held to form +an eastern extension of the Indo-Malayan subregion, it should not +be forgotten that at least among the birds and mammals there is a +large amount of specialization in the islands to the eastward of +the Balabac-Palawan-Calamianes group.... The Philippines are very +poor in mammals.... They are undoubtedly well adapted to a large and +diversified mammalian fauna, and the only plausible explanation of +the scarcity of forms is to suppose either that they have never been +connected with Borneo and the Asiatic continent or that, if at one +time connected, they have since been subjected to such subsidence as to +wipe out the greater part of their mammalian fauna." (U.S. Philippine +Commission's _Report_, 1900, iii, p. 307.) + +[79] This is an error on the part of La Concepcion; Fray Rodrigo went +to Europe in 1622, but died there in 1626. The missions of Mindanao +and Paragua were begun by Recollects who arrived at Manila in 1620 +and 1622, and continued by missionaries who came in 1627 and 1637. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Volume XXI, 1624, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 16203.txt or 16203.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/2/0/16203/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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