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diff --git a/18102-8.txt b/18102-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c19677d --- /dev/null +++ b/18102-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9566 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume +XXIV, 1630-34, 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 XXIV, 1630-34 + 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 + +Commentator: Edward Gaylord Bourne + +Editor: Emma Helen Blair + James Alexander Robertson + +Release Date: April 2, 2006 [EBook #18102] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ + + + + + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and + their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, + as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the + political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those + islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the + close of the nineteenth century, + + Volume XXIV, 1630-34 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXIV + + + Preface 11 + + History of the Augustinian order in the Filipinas Islands + (concluded). Juan de Medina, O.S.A.; 1630 [but printed at + Manila, 1893]. 29 + + Documents of 1630-1633 + + Royal letters and decree. Felipe IV; Madrid, + December 4-31, 1630. 183 + Letter to Felipe IV from the bishop of + Cebú. Pedro de Arce; Manila, July 31, 1631. + 188 + Royal orders, 1632-33. Felipe IV; Madrid, + January-March, 1632, and March, 1633. 192 + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Niño de Tavora; + Manila, July 8, 1632. 197 + Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. [Unsigned]; + Manila, July 2, 1632. 229 + Letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo to + Felipe IV. Miguel Garcetas, and others; Manila, + [undated, but 1632]. 245 + + + Documents of 1633-1634 + + Papal bull concerning missions. Urban VIII; + Maduti, June 28, 1633. 263 + News from the Far East, 1632. Fray Juan García, + O.P.; Sevilla, 1633. 273 + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; + Manila, August 14, 1633. 279 + Report of archbishop on the bakery of + Manila. Hernando de Guerrero; Manila, August + 3, 1634. 295 + News from Felipinas, Japon, and other + parts. [Unsigned]; Manila, August 20, 1634. + 297 + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; + Manila, August 10, 1634. 301 + + + Bibliographical Data. 339 + + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + + Augustinian convent at Manila; photographic view from a plate + in possession of Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, Valladolid. + _Frontispiece_. + Interior of Augustinian church, Manila; photographic view + from plate in possession of Colegio de Agustinos Filipinos, + Valladolid. 61 + Map of the island of Hermosa or Formosa, a portion of China, + and of the island of Manila or Luzón; photographic facsimile + of engraving in _Boletín de la Sociedad Geográfica de Madrid_, + for February, 1882 (Madrid, 1882), xii, no. 2; from copy in + the Library of Congress. 151 + View of volcano and town of Ternate (with inset showing + fortress of Gamma-Lamma); photographic facsimile of + engraving in Valentyn's _Beschryving der Moluccos_ + (contained in vol. i, _Oud en Nieuw Oost Indien_, + Dordrecht and Amsterdam, 1724), first part, p. 4; from + copy in library of Wisconsin State Historical Society. + 281 + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +More than half of this volume is occupied with the concluding +installment of Juan de Medina's early Augustinian history. He recounts +the leading events therein, from one provincialship to another, +and furnishes biographical sketches of the more prominent members +of the order: and he relates various important secular events, +especially those bearing on the work of the missionaries. The most +striking occurrences in this period (1602-30) are the coming to the +islands of missionaries from the Recollect branch of Augustinians, +the assassination of the provincial Sepúlveda, the frequent +attacks on the colony by the Dutch, and certain revolts among the +natives. Miscellaneous documents, dated 1630-34, comprise the rest of +the volume. Affairs in the islands are in fairly prosperous condition, +in the main; the insurgent natives have been pacified, the religious +orders are at peace, the Dutch have been quiet of late, and the +Japanese trade shows some signs of revival. More missionaries are +needed, as also more care in selecting them. The treasury is heavily +indebted, and has not sufficient income; and trade restrictions +and Portuguese competition have greatly injured the commerce of +the islands. Of painful interest to the Philippines are the cruel +persecutions that still rage in Japan. + +Medina, continuing his history, recounts the choice of Lorenzo de León +as provincial of the Augustinian order, and his subsequent deposition; +but this is stated in brief and cautious terms. In 1602 Pedro de Arce +(later bishop of Cebú) is elected to that high post; Medina extols +the virtues and ability of this noted prelate, and relates many +things to show these. He then proceeds to give another version of the +difficulties connected with the second election of Lorenzo de León, +one side of which was told in _vol. xiii_; Medina takes sides with +that provincial, and regrets his deposition from office, but contents +himself with a statement of the bare facts, and some general comments. + +In 1606, missionaries of the discalced (or Recollect) Augustinians +arrive in the Philippines. The missions established by them are +enumerated, many being ceded to them by the regular Augustinians; +their labors extend even to Cuyo and Calamianes, and eastern Mindanao, +among the Moro peoples. León's unexpired term as provincial is most +worthily filled by Pedro de Arce. In 1608 he is succeeded by Fray Pedro +de Solier, a man of great ability and zeal, who conducts the affairs +of the province well, and brings the religious therein under stricter +discipline. Certain differences arise between the two Augustinian +orders, and an inspection of their houses and affairs is ordered +from Rome. For those in Filipinas is appointed (1609) Fray Diego de +Guevara, who had been sent to Europe some years before as an envoy +from the city of Manila and from his order there. He sets out for +the Philippines with a large reënforcement of missionaries; but not +all of these are permitted to embark at Acapulco. Medina gives brief +sketches of the characters and lives of these men, and some account +of Guevara's proceedings as visitor of the province. The provincial +Solier is exonerated from blame, incurred through erroneous reports of +his conduct, but is obliged to go to Spain to render an account of it; +he does this so well that he is made bishop of Porto Rico. In 1611 Fray +Miguel García is elected provincial of Filipinas, and administers his +office very acceptably. Another reënforcement of missionaries arrives +in 1613; their outfit for the journey is so meager that they barely +survive its hardships. By vote of the chapter of 1611, the interval +between its meetings was extended to four years. Much discontent arises +at this, and the act is revoked, the next chapter meeting in 1614. An +attempt is made to reduce the number entitled to vote therein; this +is done, although in the face of strong opposition. At the chapter of +1614, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda is made provincial; his severity of +rule is onerous to his subordinates. The Dutch send a fleet to Arévalo; +the Spanish commandant there takes to cowardly flight, as do all his +forces, and the enemy burn the town. The missionaries seek refuge in +other places; and their convents shelter and feed homeless refugees +and hungry soldiers, to the extent of their resources. After the +enemy's retreat, the fathers return to their missions, and encourage +the Indians to resume their former homes and labors. Another attack by +the Dutch, on Otón, is repulsed by the Spaniards, after a desperate +resistance; and the latter build an excellent fort there, to defend +themselves from such raids. + +Fray Jerónimo de Salas is elected provincial in 1617, but dies +within three weeks' time, and Sepúlveda succeeds to his post. His +rigorous rule arouses much resentment; and he obstinately refuses, +even when advised and warned, to give up his office. Finally, in +August of that same year, Sepúlveda is murdered by three religious +of his own order. One of these escapes from the islands; the other +two are hanged. Another meeting of the chapter is held (October 31, +1617) and Fray Alonso Baraona is made provincial. + +Archbishop Vazquez de Mercado dies, and is succeeded by the Augustinian +Pedro de Arce. The Dutch make an attempt (1618) on Luzón, but are +defeated by Ronquillo at Playa Honda. Juan de Silva's death is followed +by the loss of the galleons that he had taken to Malaca. The Moro +pirates of Mindanao ravage the islands; a Spanish fleet is sent against +them, and destroys many of their craft. An Augustinian friar persuades +the survivors to surrender; these are afterward enslaved. Medina +gives some account of Baraona's management of affairs as provincial. + +In the chapter of 1620 Juan Enríquez is elected provincial; he +administers his office with discretion and faithfulness. Various +events in his term are recorded by Medina. In that period the Recollect +Augustinians establish themselves in Cebú and Mindanao. An insurrection +arises in Bohol, originating among the native sorcerers or priests; +the Jesuit missionaries there induce the Spanish authorities at Cebú +to send troops against the rebels, who are subdued by the aid of the +Holy Child in Cebú. Another rising in Leyte is also put down, and the +islands are saved for Spain. A severe earthquake is felt in all the +islands, and does much damage. The constant danger of attack by the +Dutch greatly hinders the coming of missionaries to the islands. The +hardships and dangers experienced by a band of these gospelers are +depicted by our writer. + +In 1623 Fray Alonso de Méntrida becomes provincial, attaining in that +office great renown, and displaying much ability and zeal. Medina +enumerates, here as elsewhere, the missionaries received by this +province from Spain. The next election raises to this dignity Fray +Hernando Becerra; but his health is very poor, and he dies soon after +becoming provincial. His temporary successor, Méntrida, is opposed by +many, and is finally obliged to resign, the intervention of Governor +Niño de Tavora being required to settle the affair. The government +of the order is now taken by Fray Francisco Bonifacio, "the most +pacific creature that has been in Filipinas." Medina relates some of +the hardships and dangers that the missionaries in that country must +encounter; the hostilities between the Joloans and the Spaniards, +under Tavora; and the burning of the Recollect convent at Cebú, +soon followed by the like destruction of the Augustinian convent +there. Medina goes to Manila, and obtains for his Cebú convent enough +aid to rebuild its house and church, and supply all their necessary +equipment, even better than before. He describes the expeditions +to Formosa under Silva and Tavora, the latter (a futile attempt) +being accompanied by an Augustinian religious; and the burning of the +Parián. The Augustinian missions at Maluco and Cavite are abandoned. + +In 1629 Fray Juan de Henao becomes provincial, at which time arise +various controversies in the order. To settle one of these, an envoy +is sent to Rome, Fray Pedro García; but he dies before reaching +Nueva España. The archbishop of Manila is carried away by a fever; +Medina eulogizes his virtues and ability. He gives an account of the +unsuccessful expedition against the Joloans, led by Olaso; it "returned +to Manila the laughing-stock of all the islands." The burdens imposed +on the Indians for its equipment have occasioned much distress and +many deaths among them; and its failure causes those of Cagayan to +talk of revolt. The year 1630 is unusually stormy, and all the ships +on the Acapulco route suffer disasters and loss of life. Religious +are unwilling to risk their lives in crossing the Pacific, and the +missions in the islands suffer accordingly. A ship built at Cavite +is so poorly constructed that it partially capsizes at the time of +setting sail, by which great loss of property and life ensues. Medina +is so fortunate as to escape to shore--one of many like deliverances, +which he proceeds to recount, as also a miracle performed by the +"Santo Niño" at Cebú. + +The persecutions in Japan still continue, yet religious go thither in +disguise, at the risk of death. An expedition is sent out from Manila +to capture any Dutch vessels that may be encountered on the coasts +of Siam and Camboja. Their destruction of a Japanese junk occasions +various embassies between the Philippines and Japan--the last of these +in 1631, desiring to resume trade between those countries. This and +some other occurrences in that year seem to have been added later +by Medina to his manuscript, which purports to have been written in +1630. In 1629 an expedition is fitted out by the religious orders to +send missionaries to Japan, but it proves a failure. The canonization +of Japanese martyrs is the occasion for magnificent spectacles +in Manila--processions, dances, comedies, etc. Irritated by harsh +treatment from an arrogant Spanish officer, the Indians of Caragán +revolt, killing the Spaniards, among whom are several missionaries; +but troops from Cebú are sent there, and quell the rising. + +Resuming the miscellaneous documents of that period, letters are sent +to Manila (December, 1630) by the king regarding various matters that +have been referred to him. Felipe orders that certain offices shall +be sold; that the natives must pay at least part of their tributes +in kind; and that the salaries of the auditors be more promptly +paid. Command is given that war-ships in the islands be no longer +built so large as hitherto, as they are expensive, unwieldy, and in +some circumstances useless. A letter to the auditors gives directions +for the method of procedure in trying certain cases of appeal; and +answers some questions which the auditors had asked. Bishop Arce, +of Cebú, writes to the king (July 31, 1631). He congratulates Felipe +on the birth of a son; comments on some royal decrees just received; +recommends a person as schoolmaster in the Manila church; and advises +the appointment of the royal fiscal as protector of the Sangleys. + +Early in 1632 several royal orders are despatched to the colony. In a +letter of January 27, the king writes to Tavora on several matters: +the monopoly of the sale of playing-cards, the sale of offices, and +the salary of the acting archbishop. A decree of March 25, addressed +to the municipal authorities of Manila, warns them to enforce the +royal decrees as to the proper consignment and registration of goods +sent to Mexico; and another, issued on the following day, orders that +secular priests from India be not allowed to go to the Philippines. + +The usual report of Governor Tavora (July 8, 1632) is in three +sections, the first devoted to general affairs of government. He +complains that the remittances from Nueva España are painfully +inadequate for the needs of the colony and its troops; and that he +needs more soldiers than are sent to the islands. The royal visitor, +Rojas, is doing very careful and thorough work in inspecting the +administration of the colony, but is arrogating to himself too much +authority in regard to the expenditure of public moneys; accordingly, +Tavora appeals to the king against some of Rojas's decisions, and +argues for allowing a reasonable amount of liberty in this matter +to the governor and Audiencia. This is especially necessary because +the colony has so many enemies that it must always be in a state +of defense, and its people cannot wait to receive royal orders when +an enemy is at their gates. A controversy between the royal and the +municipal officials regarding their respective rights of precedence +has been duly settled. The relations between Manila and Japan, lately +strained by the capture of a Japanese junk by Spaniards, are now more +friendly, and some trade between the two countries is being carried +on. The Japanese have shipped a number of lepers who are Christians +from that country to Manila; the Spaniards accept this charge, and make +room for the lepers in the hospital for natives. The king is asked to +aid in the expenses of their care. Tavora describes his relations with +the peoples on the opposite mainland; makes recommendations regarding +certain offices; explains the condition of the vessel which sank at +Manila in the preceding year; and defends himself from accusations +of illegal participation in the Mexican trade. + +Another section treats of military affairs. Tavora (who writes but a +fortnight before his death) thanks the king for preferment bestowed +upon him, but fears that he will not live to enjoy it; and informs +Felipe of the heavy losses that he has incurred in coming to Filipinas +and acting as governor, asking that some arrangement may be made for +the settlement of his more pressing debts. Trade with the Japanese is +being resumed. The post of general of artillery is superfluous, and +should be abolished. Affairs in Hermosa are prospering; the province +of Cagayán is pacified, and severe punishment has been inflicted on the +rebellious natives of Caraga. The relief expedition to Ternate has been +successful, and the Dutch power seems to be waning in those seas. But +the only effective check upon the Dutch enemy is found in the Spanish +establishments in the Philippines and Moluccas, for which Tavora +urges more systematic and reliable aid from the home government--not +only for the sake of the Philippine colony, but even more for that +of all India, which is in danger of ruin if the heretics be not held +back. The governor has made a successful beginning of shipbuilding +for the islands, in the country of Camboja. Certain disputed matters +connected with the military service are referred to the king. + +Some ecclesiastical affairs are also mentioned. The archbishop-elect +has had some difficulties in securing possession of his see, and the +Audiencia has decided against him. The religious orders refuse to obey +the royal decree as to changes and appointments of missionaries. The +see of Camarines has long been vacant; Tavora suggests that this +diocese be abolished, annexing its territory to those of Cebú +and Manila. The religious orders are in peaceable condition. More +missionaries are needed in the islands but Tavora urges that more +care be exercised in selecting them. He asserts that his solicitude +in this respect has incurred the ill-will of the friars toward him. + +The usual Jesuit chronicle is furnished for the years 1630-32. The +writer notes the general peace enjoyed by the Philippine colony, +who have not been molested of late by the Dutch; also the rebellion +(now being quelled) of the Indians in Caraga. The Japanese offer to +reopen trade with Manila; but this writer regards all their friendly +proposals as a veil for intended treachery toward the Spaniards. The +persecution of Christian teachers and converts in Japan is still +furious; and this subject occupies most of the document, in a +letter from a Jesuit in that country, Father Christoval Ferreira, +to the Manila provincial. This relates the tortures inflicted on five +priests and two women, but without avail, to induce them to give up +the Christian faith; also the martyrdoms of many others. This account +is of peculiar and pathetic interest because its writer, Ferreira, +was the only one of the Jesuits arrested in Japan who became, under +the strain of torture, an apostate; this occurred a year after he +wrote the letter. + +The ecclesiastical cabildo of Manila write to the king (1632), urging +that royal aid be given to the cathedral, in consideration of its +poverty and needs. They complain that the highest positions in the +diocese are filled by friars, to the neglect and discouragement +of the native-born seculars who are being educated in the two +universities at Manila. The cathedral needs a permanent subsidy for +its current provision of wine, etc., and a special grant to finish +its sacristy. Its service is painfully inadequate; to save the +expense of salaries for additional canons, the cabildo recommend +that some of the missions and benefices now held by the religious +orders be turned over to the cathedral. They recommend royal favor +for certain priests in Manila, and especially praise the labors of +the Augustinian order in the islands; more missionaries are needed +there, especially for the Augustinian Recollects. The writers commend +also certain military officials; but they denounce the treasury +officials for having permitted contraband trade of enormous extent +with Mexico. They remonstrate against the appointment of Fray Guerrero +to the archbishopric; and highly commend the character, abilities, +and work of the royal visitor Rojas. + +A papal bull concerning missions is issued (June 28, 1633) by Urban + VIII. After citing previous decrees of the Holy See respecting +the despatch of missionaries to Japan and the Philippines, and their +journeys between those countries, Urban grants permission to the heads +of religious orders to send missionaries to the countries and islands +of Eastern India by other routes than that of Portugal. He also warns +the religious thus sent to observe uniformity of instructions to the +newly-converted heathen, "especially in matters relating to morals," +and "to restrict their teaching to general principles." They must base +their instruction on the Roman Catechism and Bellarmino's "Christian +Doctrine." They are empowered to administer the sacraments to the +Christians in Japan; and are strictly forbidden to engage in any +form of trade, directly or indirectly. The superiors of orders are +directed to enforce the penalties herein imposed on religious who may +violate this prohibition; and disputes arising between orders are to +be settled by the bishops of the respective countries, who are also +directed to enforce the observance of these decrees. + +A Dominican at Manila, Juan García, sends (1632) to Sevilla such news +as he can gather soon after his arrival in the islands. In Japan, it is +said, the emperor has imprisoned many Dutchmen; and, with the decline +of their influence, he has become more lenient to the Christians, +sending them into exile instead of putting them to death. But any +friars or preachers captured there are horribly tortured. The Dominican +mission to Camboja has been unsuccessful. Formosa is being conquered by +soldiers, and Dominican friars are making some conversions there. Some +of these preachers have gone to China, where the field is enormous, +but full of promise. + +Juan Cerezo de Salamanca, governor _ad interim_ between Tavora +and Corcuera, sends a report to the king (August 14, 1633). The +first section relates to military affairs. The forts and troops +in the islands are enumerated. It is somewhat doubtful whether the +occupation of Formosa should be maintained. More care should be taken +in sending reënforcements to Ternate, and Heredia should be superseded +as governor. The galleys belonging to the government are useless, +and Cerezo will dispense with all save that at Ternate. There is +quarreling over the legal status of the army men in the courts, +which should be defined. + +Another section relates to general affairs of government. Cerezo again +points out the importance of the trade with China and Japan. The +relations of Manila, however, with Japan are no longer friendly--a +condition of affairs for which the governor blames the "zeal without +discretion" of certain religious who, disobeying the royal decrees, +go to Japan as preachers. He asks the king to command the religious +orders to send no more friars to that country. The trade with +China is falling off, mainly because the Portuguese of Macao have +absorbed much of it. Cerezo recommends that their trade with Manila +be prohibited. He comments on the scantiness of the male population; +commends the administration of Rojas, the royal inspector; and makes +some minor recommendations to the king. + +In regard to the public revenues, Cerezo states that the treasury +is burdened with debts; the shipyards are bare of supplies; and +the contraband trade with Mexico has attained large proportions. To +check this latter evil, the governor recommends that all money sent +to Manila be openly registered at Acapulco, imposing on it a duty of +five per cent; and a different system of inspecting the Philippine +cargoes there be adopted. + +In compliance with royal command, the archbishop of Manila reports +(August 3, 1634) on the public bakery at Manila. He finds it well +built and managed, and recommends that all ovens in the city should +be merged in this bakery. + +A Jesuit letter from Manila (August 20, 1634) gives interesting +news from Japan. The persecution there is still very cruel, and many +missionaries have been arrested lately; but the emperor is becoming +for the time more lenient, through the influence of certain omens +and of his cure from an illness through the prayers of the captive +missionaries. The writer hopes, therefore, that Iyemidzu "may be the +Constantine of the church" in Japan. + +The annual report of Governor Cerezo for 1634 begins with affairs of +the revenue. The treasury officials refuse to obey the orders left +for them by Rojas; the governor therefore arrests them, which soon +brings them to terms. Nevertheless, he excuses their disobedience +to some extent, on account of the rigorous and difficult nature +of Rojas's orders; he instances some of these which embarrass both +himself and the royal officials. The king has ordered an additional +duty to be levied on goods exported to Nueva España; the citizens +object to paying this, and finally the matter is temporarily settled +by a council of the authorities, both civil and religious, until the +home government can take action. The governor reports that the royal +visitor Rojas did not really accomplish much for the treasury; but +exaggerated his own services. He also reminds the king of his former +suggestion for checking the illegal despatch of money to Filipinas. + +As for affairs of government, there is the usual conflict between +the Audiencia and the governor, which hinders the latter in the +discharge of his duties. They interfere with his authority, try to +secure the trial of the Chinese lawsuits, acquit delinquents, and +meddle in municipal affairs; and he intimates his desire that they +be despatched to other branches of his Majesty's service. Cerezo +asks for enlightenment in several difficult matters connected with +the respective jurisdictions of himself and the Audiencia. This +year the Portuguese of Macao have failed to trade at Manila, and +the Chinese, although they have brought considerable merchandise, +furnish but little cloth. The expedition sent to Formosa is badly +treated by the Portuguese at Macao, of which Cerezo complains to +the king. He describes the island of Formosa, the Spanish settlement +there, the nature of the people, and the reasons why a Spanish post +was established there; he regards this enterprise as useless and +undesirable, and states that the soldiers in that island are needed +at Manila. The persecution of Christians in Japan still continues; +Cerezo doubts the supposed improvement in the shôgun's attitude +toward them, and recommends that no more religious be allowed to +go to that country. He describes his method of procedure toward the +Chinese, both resident and non-resident; he endeavors to treat them +with justice and kindness, and recommends a suitable person for the +post of their protector. Liberal aid has been sent to the islands +this year from Mexico. + +In military affairs, Cerezo recommends the abandonment of Formosa +and other unnecessary forts, and the concentration of the Spanish +forces at Manila. The fort there is in fair state of defense, but the +wall of the city is in ruinous condition, and the governor is having +it repaired and strengthened. He recommends that some galleys be +maintained at Otón or Cebú, to keep the Moro pirates in awe: and that +a new commandant be sent to Ternate in place of Heredia, who has shown +himself unfitted to hold that office. A mutiny has occurred there, +which he has cruelly punished; and he is blamed for an insurrection +in Tidore which has replaced its king with another who is friendly to +the Dutch. The port of Cavite must be well maintained and provided with +supplies. No ships from India have arrived, probably because the Strait +of Malacca and the neighboring waters have been infested by the Dutch. + +Little is said about ecclesiastical affairs. "The orders are conducting +themselves in an exemplary manner, except that they often usurp the +royal jurisdiction, under pretext of defending the natives, and take +away the authority from the alcaldes-mayor." The acting archbishop +is commended, and recent appointments are mentioned. + +_The Editors_ + +March, 1905. + + + + + + + HISTORIA DE LA ORDEN DE S. AGUSTIN DE ESTAS ISLAS FILIPINAS + + (Concluded) + + + By Fray Juan de Medina, O.S.A., Manila, 1893 [but written in 1630]. + + +_Source_: Translated from a copy of the above work, in the possession +of the Editors. + +_Translation_: This document is translated (and in part synopsized) +by James A. Robertson. + + + + + + HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN ORDER IN THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS + + By Fray Juan de Medina, O.S.A. + + (Concluded) + + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +_Of the first election of our father Fray Lorenzo de León_ + + +With the fourth of May, 1596, all the capitular religious of this +province of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús of Filipinas assembled, and +without much debate cast their votes for father Fray Lorenzo de +León, [1] a native of the city of Granada, and son of the house +at Méjico, whose learning, ability to preach, and other good +qualities made him very well known, and caused him to be elected +without opposition. Accordingly he won the contest as provincial, +to the general liking of all the religious of the province, both +those voting and those who had no vote. All were assured that he +would govern rightly because of his prudence, and beyond doubt his +government was all that. The province during his term had the honor +and repute that was proper. Since his method of procedure was alike +for all the religious, it was necessary in the following chapter to +retire the provincial to his devotion; and one may infer that in that +it acted more for the common welfare than its own. + +Thereupon, the voting religious being assembled, cast their votes, +without any opposition, for Fray Juan de Montesdoza, [2] son of +the house at Méjico, a native of the city of Utrera, near Sevilla +in Andalucia. He was a most excellent provincial, for one always +recognized in him a remarkable integrity of morals, and he was much +given to prayer and divine worship. He endeavored as earnestly as +possible to give his whole being to the order, and not to be found +lacking in his ministry. He visited his entire province whenever +possible; and that which has always been most annoying to the +provincials in respect to its visitation--namely, the province of +Bisayas--was not troublesome to him, for he visited it. He did not +hesitate at the suffering or the dangers of navigation, which at +times is wont to be especially perilous, because of the many storms +that generally invade the islands, and the not few enemies. He was +considered lost, for he was not heard of for more than four months; for +they wrote from the Bisayas that he had already embarked for Manila, +and he had not arrived. Finally, the Lord was pleased to bring him +to our doors when he was least expected. God is a Father of pity, +and attends to His children (and more to His servants) when they +find themselves most in need of Him. He was received in the convent +of Manila by many people, for all revered him as a servant of God, +loved him as a father, and respected him as a true prelate. + +On the twenty-second of April, 1602, the chapter was convened in +the house at Manila. Father Fray Pedro Arce, who is now bishop of +the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesús, and who has twice governed +the archbishopric of Manila, was elected in it. Father Fray Mateo de +Mendoza presided at that election, while father Fray Juan de Montesdoza +was the absolute provincial, as we call it, or the freed one, since now +he is no longer provincial. The first definitor was Fray Agustín de +Tapía, the second, Fray Bernabé de Villalobos, the third, Fray Diego +de Zerrabe, and the fourth, Fray Diego de Salcedo. As visitors were +elected Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya and Fray Francisco Serrano. [3] +All, having assembled, as our rules ordered, enacted very wholesome +regulations, and provided for the province with those mandates, +which were seen to be more necessary at that time, in order to check +thereby the boldness of certain men, who were giving room for the +decay of the province, which in nothing loses more than by permitting +it to relax in its rigor. For even there it is said that the bow must +sometimes loose the string which holds it bent, in order to give it +rest and so that it may not break. I grieve over this, that it is +said in the order, so that at times some reasonable recreation may +be allowed; but in that which touches the essential aspects of it, +it does not seem right that it be lost, for never have I seen that +what is once lost in point of religion is regained. It appeared, +therefore, easier to our father St. Ignatius to found a new order +than to reform an old one, where its members were already used to +such and such a manner of life. It is a hard thing, when established, +to reduce them to a greater degree of virtue. And since those men +must remain in the same order, it is always an impossible thing to +reduce them to that which they have never observed.... + +Father Fray Pedro de Arce, who was chosen at this elevation, was such +a person that, were I to praise him, I think, that my tongue would +do him an injury, for another pen and another language must tell his +virtues. He came to this province as a lay brother. He was ordained +here and completed his studies, and always gave signs of what he was +to become; for his modesty, his charity, his devotion, even while a +brother, appeared so conspicuous, and were increasing in such a manner, +that not only were the islands full of his good name and great virtues, +but they even came to the ears of Felipe III, who presented him for +the bishopric of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While in this country, +the decree of the year 1610 was sent him, which caused the holy man +considerable vexation, so that he did not know what to do; for it +seemed a grievous thing for him to abandon the quietness of his cell, +and to exchange it for the majesty of a bishop, to which he was not +inclined. Accordingly, he resigned the bishopric into the hands of +the father master Fray Pedro Solier, [4] who was provincial at that +time. The latter considered that if he [_i.e._, Fray Pedro] were to +accept it honor would come to the order, advantage to the city of +Santísimo Nombre de Jesus, and service to his Majesty, the king our +sovereign, who having heard of the holiness of the person in question, +was considering himself as very well served in that the father should +accept it. Consequently, when he returned to the holy superior--whom +he supplicated on his knees, with the decree in his hand, to allow him +not to accept it--the provincial ordered Fray Pedro, by his obedience, +to comply with his Majesty's commands, and to render him thanks for +it, and that he would do the same for what pertained to the order; +thereupon the former accepted, and gave up his cell, in which there +was nothing of importance. Although he was prior, and exercised the +highest duties of the province, he was ever the keenest advocate +of poverty, and so great a giver of alms that even now, although a +bishop, he must be restrained; for he gives everything away, and he +has no greater happiness than when some needy person begs from him +and enters his gates. + +What then would this holy provincial do? One sees with how much +care he would watch over his flock, striving to maintain them +without quarreling, and observing in everything the entirety of the +rules. With the obstinate, he was rigid and severe; with the humble, +most humble; with the afflicted, he held himself as a pious father +who desires their good, and consoled them. As far as was possible, +he followed the advice of Fray Pedro de Agurto, his successor in the +bishopric, as he was so holy and learned a man. For since the affairs +of the province had somewhat declined, and in visiting he found some +religious who were prohibited by the rules--and, in fact, trying +to remove them--the holy prelate counseled him that such religious +were men of weight, and that he should receive their renunciations +secretly; and that when the intermediate chapter should be assembled, +then he should show them and provide those convents. Thereby would he +be fulfilling his obligation, and would also be considering the honor +of those religious, who if they were removed before, would be injured, +as it would be understood that it had been because of their demerits; +but it was a customary thing to do that in chapter, for it was apparent +to all that religious were changed at that time. He did this as the +bishop had counseled him, and thus the matter was remedied as far as +possible without any scandal. + +He visited the entire province, and went to that of the Pintados--which +was his own, where he was reared, and where he had been prior +of Panay, Octóng, and Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While he was +making the visitation there, it happened that news was brought +that the inhabitants of Mindanao were coming with a large fleet to +destroy the islands. This tidings was certain; and another fleet +was prepared with all possible despatch in Sugbú, in order that +the Spaniards might defend themselves, and if possible, drive the +enemy from the islands. Although diligent efforts were made in this, +when our fleet set sail already had the enemy rounded the island +of Panay. Our fleet, which consisted of seven caracoas and four or +five barangays, followed the enemy. They reached the islets of Asur, +where they heard that the enemy had passed there, with the intention of +burning the city of Arévalo and the village of Octóng, with all their +provisions. The captain and commander of our fleet was Captain Salgado, +then alcalde-mayor of Sugbú. The two fleets met near Pan de Azúcar +[_i.e._, "Sugar Loaf"]. The Spaniards were very resolute. The enemy +formed themselves in a crescent with sixty caracoas. So senseless were +they that they untied their captives, threw them overboard, and came +to attack our boats. I know not the captain's design or purpose, that +made him dally with the enemy, so that the latter were shouting out +spiritedly and imagining that they were feared. The father provincial +and his companion, Fray Hernando Guerrero, [5] talked encouragingly to +the petty leaders, and encouraged and even shamed them so much that, +already late, they gave the signal to attack. Thereupon, the enemy +sought shelter, and after steering their caracoas to where they +thought that they had more safety, they divided. The captain did +not pursue them nor do more than to go to Arévalo. On that account +he lost a good opportunity and much credit. He should have continued +to pursue them; for, when night fell, the caracoas of the frightened +enemy remained along those coasts. The commander could easily have +overhauled them with our caracoas, and could have given the enemy a +blow that would have done much to finish them; but he failed to do +so. The efforts that he finally put forth, and the attack, are owing +to the resolution and bravery of our father Fray Pedro de Arce, in +which one may consider his desire for the common good. For, although +he might have sent other religious, he went in person, and put no value +on his own life. [6] He returned to Manila, where he finished his term, +creating the desire in the fathers to see him provincial forever. + +In the chapter that elected our father Montesdoza, procurators +were sent to España and to the Roman court. The papers and title of +definitor of the chapter were given to our father Fray Lorenzo de León, +who has just finished his provincialate. He embarked at the port of +Cavite, made the trip to Nueva España safely, and likewise to the +court of King Felipe III, of blessed memory. He did not go to Roma, +but sent his papers from España. He was very well received at court, +for the papers that he carried from the islands were excellent, and in +his person he merited everything. They were very desirous to appoint +him archbishop of Manila, and it is even said that they begged him to +accept rewards, and congratulated him. But that shadow was dissipated +instantly, as there was not wanting an evil-minded person to spoil it +all by a malicious tale. For father Fray Lorenzo de León had ever the +name of a most devout religious; and as such the province of Filipinas, +which at that time was most noted for its religious devotion, elected +him as its superior and provincial. But who can free himself from +an evil tongue, and an ill will? For the loyal man lives no longer +than the traitor desires. His hopes were frustrated, a matter that +troubled him little, as he was a humble religious. He undertook to +return [to Filipinas], and our king gave him commission to bring +over a ship-load of religious. He received letters as vicar-general +of the islands from Roma, so that he might always preside at the +chapters held there. He had letters as master, and his academic +degree; and brought a dispensation from our most reverend [general], +so that, if elected as provincial the second time, he might serve; +for the rules prohibit him who presides from becoming provincial. He +reached Méjico, although without that so notable ship-load, which +he failed to bring, because of various casualties; with him came, +however, one who was sufficient to render that vessel glorious, and +even the entire province. This was the holy martyr, Fray Hernando de +San José. [7] Together with him came father Fray Hernando de Morales, +father Fray Felipe Gallada, father Fray Pedro del Castillo, father +Fray Martín de San Nicolás, [8] all from Méjico, and brother Fray +Andrés García. The heads of the Inquisition in Méjico appointed him +[_i.e._, Lorenzo de León] commissary for the islands. With these +honorable titles and honors he came to Manila, one year before the +chapter was held. He gladdened by his coming all the sons [of the +order], and all the others, for the order knows no distinction, +but embraces us all with the same love and charity. His prudence, +his good government, and his great devotion were remembered; and +since he bore letters ordering him to be obeyed as vicar-general, +therefore the number of prelates was increased. Thus presiding in +the following chapter, in 1605, he received votes as provincial, +in rivalry with father Fray Estéban Carrillo [9]--one of the most +eloquent preachers in the islands; and the best loved by all, both +great and small, who has ever been known. Finally the astuteness, +or rather, the diligence of certain ones prevailed, and father Fray +Lorenzo de León became provincial _pro secunda vice_ [_i.e._, "for +the second time"]. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +_Of the second election as provincial of master Father Lorenzo de León_ + + +With the advent, then, of the year 1605, in the latter days of April, +our fathers assembled in the islands, as is the custom. On the Friday +before the third Sunday after Easter, our father Fray Lorenzo de León +went to take over the presidency by virtue of his letters-patent, +and they were found to be such as were required. In consequence, he +was received as president of that chapter, over which he presided, not +only as president, but as vicar-general. The election resulted in [the +choice of] his person, as above stated. In it, the first definitor was +father Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya; the second, father Fray Estéban +Carrillo; the third, father Fray Pedro de Aguirre; and the fourth, +father Fray Roque de Barrionuevo. Father Fray Miguel de Sigüenza +had the vote for president in this definitorio, and as visitors were +elected father Fray Mateo de Peralta [10] and father Fray Francisco +Serrano. All assembled, they ordained and enacted the acts that they +judged advisable in accordance with that time. All those acts show +the sincerity of those who enacted them, and they provided not only +for the welfare of the order, but for that of the native fathers +under our charge; for surely, under our shadow they increase and +are sheltered. And if religious were lacking, what would become of +them? Beyond doubt they would be like the wretched boat exposed to +the fury of the winds, which has no greater security upon the waters +than where the winds choose to carry it. For this one orders them, +that one petitions them, and another one seizes and knocks them about; +but with the protection of the religious they are free from all these +annoyances. Very conformably with this, religious were established +in the missions in order to teach them and often to protect them. + +Our father provincial entered upon the exercise of his office with +the same wisdom and prudence as in his first term, attending to +it with all his might. However, his second term was not apparently +so successful as the first--caused perhaps by various casualties, +which have no place here, and do not affect the matter at all. In +short, the affair was running badly and the body of the province was +becoming laden with humors. I well believe that our father knew it all, +and that he could have been less rigid, and that without dividing +the forces that were forming. He thought that they were religious, +and he the superior; and that all dissent, however violent, would be +only murmur--just like certain huge clouds that predict great storms, +but finally and at the end, the entire storm is expended in clouds +of dust, thunders, and lightnings, so that that storm ends with only +noise. But such did not happen here, but the matter went farther; and +the father definitors, within one and one-half years, after meeting, +deposed our father Fray Lorenzo de León. They sent him to España; but +he remained in the province of Méjico, without wishing more than to +serve our Lord, and ended his days there, as one may understand of so +renowned a religious, leaving his cause in the hands of God. I leave +it likewise; for, if we glance at the definitorio which assembled +there, there is no doubt that it was one of the most sober-minded +councils ever assembled in the province. And even were there none +other in it than our father Fray Pedro de Arce, who presided in it, +he was sufficient to ensure that; but it was much more creditable, +for the others were very erudite. Father Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya +was the most notable man in laws and moral causes that has been in the +islands, and was no less a very great theologue. Father Fray Estéban +Carrillo, as we have said already, was a great orator, and the other +fathers were very learned. On the part of our father provincial, +it was known that he was very devout, very punctual in attending +to his obligations and that his first term was considered as most +successful. Hence, without taking from anyone what belongs to him, +we leave this matter with God, who has already judged it, and He has +been pleased to take all those concerned in it. Bishop Fray Pedro de +Agurto was at his bishopric in Sugbú at this time. He was desirous +of remedying what was already becoming established, and even left +his city for that purpose. But when he reached Manila, he found that +there was no remedy. He sorrowed greatly over this blow at the order, +for, as the true religious that he was, he felt, as keenly as death, +whatever misfortune came upon the order. In the world this proceeding +was discussed with the charity that is exercised in other things; +but, when everything was over, it was also erased from memory--and +more, as the government of our father Fray Pedro de Arce followed +immediately, who exercised the office of rector-provincial for that +one and one-half years, and his fame and well-known virtue filled +everything with fragrance and good-will. + +[The order of discalced Augustinians in Spain petition for leave to go +to the islands in 1605. The petition granted, a number of them set out; +and, after waiting at Sevilla for some time for vessels, reach Mexico, +where they are entreated to found a convent. Refusing this request, +however, they continue on their journey, reaching the Philippines, +in 1606, under the leadership of Juan de San Jerónimo. "They were +given a house outside the city in a garden [11] that had belonged +to Don Pedro de Acuña, who governed these islands.... But those who +treated the said fathers most generously were Ours, for we gave them +our best and brightest jewel, namely, San Nicolás, allowing them to +found their convent in his name. This meant wholly to enrich them and +to leave us poor." Further, a layman named Don Bernardino, captain and +castellan of the port of Manila, builds a convent for the new order +"sufficient for forty religious." At death he and his wife also leave +money to continue the work, and the new order begins to multiply.] + +Since then those fathers have continued to establish convents here. For +as they were the last, and the islands are in the conditions under +which Miguel López de Legazpi left them, there was not before any place +where they could settle. However, outside Manila, they possess a small +house called Sampaloc, because it has many tamarind trees. There they +minister to a few Tagáls, and one religious lives there generally. [12] +It has a stone church and house. They have a garden with a stone +house and its chapel (where one religious lives), near the walls of +Manila, in the suburbs. Opposite the island of Mariveles, in the same +district of Manila, they have a Tagál mission. It is but small, and, +with its visitas, does not amount to four hundred Indians. But farther +along the coast, they have two Zambal missions of settled Indians, +which are situated nearer here than Ilocos. One is called Masinloc +and the other Bolinao. [13] Each one must have more than five hundred +Indians. They have also extended from here to other islands. They must +have three convents in the islands of Cuyo and Calamianes, more than +sixty leguas from Manila. Those islands are full of people, so that, +if they would come down from the mountains, many missions might be +established; for in that region the islands are innumerable. There +is the large island of Paragua, and thence succeed islands and islets +even to Burney, the largest island known in all this archipelago. But +there is little hope of entering it, for the king and all the coast +Indians are Mahometans. But those living in the upland and mountains +are even pagans. By the above, the ease with which this damnable poison +has extended will be apparent. Had God's mercy been retarded a trifle +longer in hastening the steps of the Spaniards, the latter would have +found no place to settle; for as I have remarked, long experience +shows that the Mahometan will not receive the Christian law which is +so contrary to his hellish customs. The religious suffered many things +in those islands as they were exposed to a thousand temporal dangers, +and to enemies, with whom the whole region swarms. Those missions +had seculars; and although they did their best, yet at present that +region has another luster, for it appears that the religious, being +more in number, are more suitable for this work. + +Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce gave the fathers another mission in the +island of Negros, opposite the island of Panay. I think it their best +mission, as it is located nearer us. It has two religious, who do very +good work. The bishop gave them also many missions in Caraga, where +they will be able to spread. Later, we shall conclude this subject with +what the fathers have built in Cavite, the port of Manila, in honor +of San Nicolás--namely, a house and church, which is the best there. + +[About the time that the Recollects sail Father Master Solier is +preparing also to go to the Philippines. He has been given "equal +power with him whom the province sent as procurator, in case of the +latter's death." The procurator dies at sea, whereupon Father Solier +assumes his office. He sails with twenty-six Augustinian religious, +eight of whom remain in New Spain--where they suffer many things, +for the government of affairs there falls into the hands of the +creole fathers.] + +Those who remained were well received in Filipinas, where they were +desired. They were distributed among the convents, as seemed best +to our father Fray Lorenzo de León. But as soon as this contingent +arrived, the discussions that had been aroused increased; so that, +as we have seen, the intermediary chapter deprived him [of his office] +as above stated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +_Of the election of our father Fray Pedro de Solier_ + + +Our father Fray Pedro de Arce, acting with that uprightness that +always characterized him, for the period that remained to govern, +assembled his chapter, in pursuance of the orders of our rules, +namely, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of April, 1608. In this +chapter, there did not fail to be its little animosities, occasioned, +in my opinion, by the fact that the province found itself so far out +of swaddling-clothes, that it had enough people and workers to give +and to found another province. For, as we have seen, men of grand +abilities had gone from España and from Nueva España, while habits +had been given to many good men in Manila. Consequently, there were +many men on whom to set the eyes. Father Fray Estéban Carrillo was +a man of the talents which we have already mentioned, and received +votes. The father president also received them, and so grand a man +was he, and so admired, that opinions were not lacking that he might +become provincial. But the father Master Solier, although he was +youngest of all in years, was apparently well liked for his character, +and his labors in navigations, and the service which he had rendered to +this province in bringing it so glorious men. Finally, God was pleased +that he should win in the contest, and become provincial. The father +president had to confirm this action, giving him a dispensation for +the years that he lacked. Then, proceeding to the other elections, the +following definitors were elected: first, Fray Francisco Serrano; +second, Fray Pedro de Salcedo; third, Fray Jerónimo de Salas; +and fourth, Fray Hernando de Trujillo. [14] The visitors who were +elected were father Fray Juan de Villalobos and father Fray Miguel +Garcia. In council with the president, provincial-elect, and the +rector provincial, they arranged [the affairs of] the province, +both in order to provide the convents with heads, and to-adjust other +things pertaining to the spiritual welfare. And in fact, considering +the enactments of other chapters, it seems that they attained so +much excellence in this chapter, that if it did not surpass them, +at least it shone out strongly--especially a letter which our father +Master Solier sent to the provinces, so learned, spiritual, and so +suitable to the times that it could not be more so. Its warnings were +so necessary, not only for that time, but for any most important +thing. I cannot excuse myself from writing here the chief thing, +so that one may see the desires for the increase of their order, +and the love with which they discussed matters touching the natives, +which shone forth in those fathers. In the time of our father Solier, +the province had a very good reputation, for it made itself feared +and respected. Consequently, there was no difficulty in receiving +his mandates and enforcing them, so that the province was greatly +reformed. The great devotion of our father Fray Miguel García, who +was then chosen as prior of the convent of Manila, aided him. He +was later provincial, and after that he went to España, where his +Majesty presented him as bishop of Cagayán. He returned to these +islands with a fine company [of religious], and in the islands was +appointed archbishop of Manila.... + +Thus, then, as I have said, the convent of Manila did not differ at +all in divine worship from the most devout house in España; for the +exercise in the choir was continuous, both day and night, and there +was no cessation, unless necessity demanded it, when some of it +could be dispensed with; for so did our rules decree for that. The +infirmary was so full of all comforts, and so well cared for, that +truly there was nothing lacking of anything which the sick asked, +or that the physician demanded. I being attacked by a sudden illness +when I arrived at these islands, because of the change in climate, +so great was the attention with which I was cared for that it could +not have been more in the house of my parents, although they were +very wealthy. Consequently, I became better very soon, and was well +enough to go to the province of Bisayas; and, although I was unworthy, +it must have been the will of the Lord that I should come. The fathers +made strenuous efforts to have me remain there, and even our father +prior himself, Fray Miguel García, would have liked me to remain as +master of novitiates. That which grieves me is that I have served the +Lord so very little, although I have been offered enough opportunities +in which to serve Him. + +Two years after the provincialate of our father Solier began, a +visitor-general arrived, to visit this province in behalf of his +Holiness and our most reverend father-general, and to reform it. For +that purpose he was given permission to bring twenty-four religious. He +who came as visitor was father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, who died +afterward as bishop of Camarines. He was most religious, and devout +beyond belief. While living in the convent at Madrid, he was there an +example and model to all those excellent men who are never lacking +in the convents of the capital; and, as that place is the _non plus +ultra_ of the world, one would think that all were keeping the best +men for that place. + +[A professed religious of Salamanca, Guevara, after his arrival +at Manila, serves in several capacities--as reader in the Manila +convent, prior of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and prior of Manila. He +lives an austere life. While prior of Manila occurs "the rising of +the Sangleys, which was ended with so great glory to the Spanish +nation. For the Spaniards were so few, while the Chinese were so many +that those who assert the smallest number say that they exceeded four +thousand. Finally they were killed and destroyed throughout those +districts, and their possessions and houses were ruined and burned, +a thing regarded as marvelous. For they might have killed the Spaniards +with great ease, as the latter were quite unprepared, not expecting any +such thing. The city desired to advise his Majesty of the fortunate +outcome of the matter; and that in regard to those who have entered +Manila through the gates, it has always been extremely fortunate, and +has always triumphed over its enemies, but never been conquered. Our +father Fray Diego Guevara was chosen, and he accepted very willingly +what the city requested, in all having the approbation of our father +provincial. It was learned that a galleon was to be despatched from +Malaca to India, while it was not the season here for despatches. He +took as companion a choir-brother named Fray Diego de Urive, [15] +a native of the town of Consuegra in Mancha." Arrived at Malaca, they +find the galleon gone. They go to Goa, thence to Ormuz, and accomplish +the journey to Rome overland. "Clemente VIII rejoiced greatly at +receiving him, and much more at the good news from the islands of +the West." The general of the order gives Guevara a warm reception, +and allows him to depart for Spain. "At that time some differences +arose between Ours and the Recollect fathers of our order, who were +now commencing to settle. Thereupon an ordinance from Roma ordered +an inspection. On petition of the royal Council, the visitation was +entrusted to father Fray Martín de Perea, an illustrious member of +the province of Castilla, who had been assistant of España. Our +father Fray Diego de Guevara was chosen as his associate. The +father-visitor entrusted to him, because he himself was busy, the +visitation of several convents of the discalced fathers, in which he +acquitted himself with great discretion. While engaged in the said +occupation, Filipinas affairs must have made some stir--and so great, +that news thereof came to the royal Council of the Indias. I think +that the great devotion of the fathers then in chief authority, did +not appear so well to those to whom time had given more license than +was fitting. Therefore they wrote imputing to their prelates what it +was very fitting should be punished." The president of the Council, +Count de Lemos, after consultation with Father Juan de Castro, +of the Augustinian order, secures the necessary papers from Rome +and sends Father Guevara to the Philippines with authority to make +a general inspection of the order. He sails from Sanlúcar, June 22, +1609, taking with him a company of religious, among them Medina. The +voyage to New Spain is made without incident.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +_Continuation of the preceding chapter_ + + +[The missionaries are well received by their brethren in Mexico. But +they despair of getting vessels for the islands, "for already they +were long overdue"--that is, the vessels from the Philippines, which +are to return thither again. However, within a short time the "San +Andrés," bearing two Augustinians, Fathers Carrillo and Plaza, arrives +in port. They bring a tale of storms and almost shipwrecks. "The +almiranta suffered eleven hurricanes, and all had already lost hope of +life. The vessel miraculously made the voyage through the courage of +the pilot Toral, and that of father Fray Estéban Carrillo--who, lashed +to the mizzen-mast, with a crucifix in his hands, consoled the crew, +and animated and encouraged them. He always shared his food with the +sick." Of the other two vessels of the fleet, the flagship runs aground +in Japan, but the crew are saved. "It was one of the greatest losses +sustained by these islands. Don Rodrigo de Vivero was returning in +the vessel. He had governed the islands for one year, in behalf of his +uncle Don Luis de Velasco. The latter sent him for that purpose until +the governor should be nominated in España." The vessel "Santa Ana" +is repaired and makes the voyage the succeeding year. "The arrival of +the almiranta gave great comfort to Nueva España; for, as these vessels +are of great profit, their loss is felt more than that of those coming +from España. All together the latter do not in any way compete with +those coming from Filipinas." The almiranta and another vessel, the +"San Francisco" of Peru, return that year to the islands. The viceroy +refuses to allow all the religious who have come for that purpose to +embark. The following religious embark in the "San Francisco."] + +1. Father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, visitor-general. + +2. Fray Diego de Uribe, his associate, who afterward studied and +preached in the Ilocan language. He died as prior of one of the +Ilocan convents. + +3. Fray Agustín de los Ríos, native of Extremadura, a zealous servant +of God and an eloquent preacher. He returned to Nueva España, in +search of health, and afterward lived for some years there without +it, in the hope of returning; but he died in that country, from +epilepsy. But it is always thought that he, who was so spiritual, +must have died to enjoy God. + +4. Father Fray Hernando Becerra, one of the most learned and +substantial men who have gone to the islands. In but little time he +had filled all the principal offices of the order, such as reader of +theology, chief preacher at Manila, associate of the provincial and +of the visitor-general, prior of many convents, visitor, definitor, +provincial with visitor (which he had been before), and prior of +Manila. But he exercised the office of provincial scarcely two +months. He was very judicious, and therefore acquired the above +offices. God took him to Himself; for he left all envious of his death. + +5. Fray Pedro de Herrera, of excellent mind. Although he could have +been great if he had wished, like his pupil, our Father Becerra (both +of them from Valladolid), yet all do not have equal fortune. This +father was unfortunate. Our father general, before whom he presented +himself, deprived him of his habit, but after seeing that he did +so unjustly, returned it to him; but Father Herrera was much broken +because of so many troubles. He was the best Tagál linguist known. + +6. Fray Andrés de Ocampo, of Córdoba, an excellent religious. He +ministered in the Pampanga speech, and enjoyed good priorates. He +died while returning to España. + +7. Fray Silvestre de Torres, of the same company, came the next +year. He was a native of Granada. He went to Japón and learned from +the sanctity of the holy martyr Fray Hernando de San José. Later, +when the religious were expelled from Japón, he came to Manila. He +was chief preacher of Sugbú, and later of Manila; and had a mission +among the Tagáls. He died by falling from a window. And since the +Lord took him in such fashion, from his piety one will understand +that that was the most appropriate hour for his salvation, as he had +labored so assiduously. + +8. Fray Andrés Jiménez, of Murcia. He came the same year as the +above. He returned to Nueva España, but, not finding any refuge there, +he came back to the shelter of Filipinas--where, partly in the province +of Ilocos, and partly in that of Pampanga, he has done his utmost, +according to the talent that God gave him. + +9. Father Fray Juan Boan came four years ago. He has been very +fortunate; for one would believe that they went to meet him with +honorable duties, in which he has ever carried himself to the honor +of the habit and the esteem of the natives, who have always loved +him. He has made material advances for the province, acting with great +mildness, and it is hoped that he will continue to do so more and more. + +10. Father Fray Pedro de la Peña, a native of Burgos, and an excellent +religious. He read theology in Manila, with great credit. He held +excellent priorates in Pampanga, and before these held some in Ilocos, +where he was vicar-general. He was elected definitor of Roma and +procurator of the province at the Spanish court. He died at sea +in 1631. + +11. Fray Pedro de Zuñiga, one of those whom we can honor most, since +he obtained glorious martyrdom in Japon. I refer to his life. + +12. Fray Juan de Medina, of Sevilla, missionary to the Bisayans. This +is he who writes this history. I confess that the province has honored +me beyond my deserts with offices and honors. + +13. Fray José de Vides, a creole of Nueva España. Unfortunately he +was deprived of the habit with father Fray Pedro de Herrera. He went +to Roma by way of India, and it is not known where he stopped. + +14. Fray Pedro de Mendoza, of Mechoacán, missionary to the Ilocos. He +always refused a priorate (although he could have obtained many, +had he wished), and also the office of provincial. But he is humility +itself, and I think that he will give us an opportunity. + +15. Father Fray Juan de Sahagun, of Salamanca. He has held priorates, +and has lived up to the measure of his strength. + +16. Fray Francisco Figueroa, of Córdoba, a Pampanga missionary. He +has carried himself well, and is esteemed and loved by all. + +17. Father Fray Juan Ruiz, Bisayan missionary in the Bisayas for +several years; and then our God took him to Himself. + +18. This was father Fray Juan de Ocadiz, who was hanged for the murder +of our father Fray Vicente. It would appear that that murder was +needful to him for his salvation, for his penance during the entire +time of his imprisonment was incredible. And his preparation for +death was remarkable. It has been the Lord's will to have given him +His glory, since, to pardon one, He wishes repentance alone. _Si autem +impius egeret pænitentiam ab omnibus peccatis suis, quæ operatus est +... omnium iniquitatum ejus, quæ operatus est, non recordabor._ [16] + +When the violent murder of the provincial was divulged, an auditor went +to [the fathers of] St. Augustine, by order of the royal Audiencia, +to inquire into it. All the religious were assembled, and when all +were in the hall of his Paternity, the auditor ordered all of them +to kiss the hand of the dead provincial. On kissing it, father Fray +Juan de Ocadiz began to tremble, etc., and confessed his guilt. + +19. This was brother Fray Juan Bautista, a native of Genova, but a +devoted servant of God, as he has proved in the time while he has +lived in the Filipinas Islands, in the confidential offices that the +order has entrusted to him. [17] + +Our father visitor-general, seeing that many religious were necessary, +and that very few were going to Manila, resolved to bestow some +habits in the port of Acapulco. It served no other purpose than to +bring to the table those who had to leave it next day, and to give a +better passage to those who would have come exposed to the wretched +lot endured by the soldiers; and, when they wish to give habits, +there is no lack [of men] here in Manila. Therefore, scarcely were +they come to Manila when they left. That year the first archbishop +who has belonged to the islands sailed, namely, Don Pedro Vazquez +de Mercado, a secular. He had been bishop in Nueva España, and, +although any office there is better, accepted this office, as he had +been reared in Filipinas (where he had enjoyed prebends and health), +and because his Majesty ordered it. + +No other order came then. The voyage was fortunate, for, without +furling our sails, day or night, we reached Manila, June 6, 1610; +and no voyage like ours has been made here since, as we sailed on +March 25. Both vessels were very swift, the winds strong, and the +rain-showers must have been a help. + +We were welcomed cordially in Manila, as they were not expecting a +company, for the procurator sent by the province--namely, the father +reader Fray Juan de Pineda [18]--was detained in Nueva España. When we +arrived, already the favor bestowed upon the province by his Majesty +(in a time when, as ran the news, little was expected) was already +being extended; for the news that circulated through the court was +not very reliable. But his Majesty, better informed, attended to +everything as a pious king. He sent religious to the province, and gave +the bishopric to Don Fray Pedro de Arce, as above stated. He gave also +an alms of two thousand pesos to the Manila house, and joined to it a +visitor-general, with orders to attend to whatever needed remedy. His +Majesty should be considered as a most kind benefactor of the orders, +and very thankful for the services that our order has performed in +these regions for him. + +The first thing given attention was the examination of the papers of +our father master Fray Diego de Guevara. When they had been examined +in the definitorio, there were no objections possible. Therefore, +with humble mien, the venerable father definitors were very obedient, +and complied with the letters of our most reverend father. They +were much beholden for the favors received from our pious king, and +served him likewise in this thing that he ordered. Thus was our father +visitor-general received by the definitorio. He was visitor-general +for the entire province, since necessarily the body must obey the +movements of its head. + +Our father visitor was especially charged by the court to inquire into +our Father Solier's acts; and, if necessary, he was to deprive him +of his office and declare it forfeited. But he found matters quite +different from those reported there, for he found Father Solier's +province under his government very much reformed, and his devotion +admirable. For our Father Solier was in all things a remarkable man; +and by his letter to the province and his systematic conduct of it, +and the manner in which he conserved it, one can see how well he played +his part. Thus if he had lost any of his luster in his dispute with the +chapter of the past _intermedium_, he more than made it up. And this +being so understood by our father visitor-general, he congratulated +Father Solier highly, and honored him to the utmost. + +It appears that our Father Solier was obliged to give account of +himself. Therefore leaving the province so well conducted with a +so honored superior, who came to it to honor and to investigate it, +he determined to go to the kingdoms of España. Accordingly, having +obtained leave for this from the father visitor, he set sail that +year, with authorization from the province to take care of its causes +and plead them in the court. Then, accompanied by father Fray Lúcas +de Atienza, [19] an aged religious, and at that time prior of the +convent of Ibabay in the Pintados, he set sail in the vessels which +left that year, in the first part of August. The galleon "San Juan" +was to sail; it had been built to fight the Dutch enemy. Gaining the +victory on St. Mark's day, April 24 of the same year, it had been +repaired again and was to make the voyage. One of the Dutch vessels +captured was to go as almiranta; but it did not make the voyage, as it +was unseaworthy. The trip was prosperous and the father reached España, +attended by the same fortune. There he gave so satisfactory an account +of himself that not only did they not find him deserving of reprimand, +but honored him, by making him bishop of Puerto Rico. Later he was +promoted to the archbishopric of Santo Domingo. He gave the proofs that +all the order promised itself from his great goodness and fervor. His +zeal in conducting the affairs of this province of Filipinas was very +great. He always recognized this province as his mother, and as that +from which his higher station had originated. Therefore, although now +a bishop, he looked after the interests most important to him, namely, +the sending of ministers and missionaries. And indeed he did this by +securing a fine company, whom he sent in charge of father Fray Juan de +Montemayor, a most illustrious preacher, who was living in Andalucía, +and wished to come to these regions. He considered the offer made +to him, to be prior of that company, as not bad; and conducted it to +the Filipinas, as we shall see later. + +The father master Solier appointed our father Fray Miguel García +(then prior of Manila) his vicar in the province of Filipinas; +and left for him letters-patent, and all the authority that he +could. As we have said, he could not have left anyone more suitable, +nor one who more completely filled the vacancy made by Father Solier's +departure. Father Garcia governed during the one remaining year [of +Father Solier's provincialate], with great prudence, and proved what +an excellent provincial he would have made. Yet he was not, on that +account, neglectful of his house of Manila, but governed it with +strictness, which even became greater. He enriched the choir with +beautiful stalls of inlaid work and wood, which, after many years, +are still in excellent condition. He built the largest room in Manila, +namely, the porter's room. Afterward, while provincial, he aided in the +further progress of the work. That house owes more to him than to any +other. Our father visitor chose as his associate father Fray Estacio +Ortíz, [20] who had also been his associate when he went to begin +the [work of the] order in Japón. As he knew his talents and prudence +through that long association, the father visitor thought that he could +make no better choice of one to whom to entrust an office of so great +secrecy than this man whom he considered so good. Therefore as soon as +he reached Manila, he appointed Father Ortíz as such, and therein he +did exceeding well. For, as has been proved, he is the most prudent +man who has come to the Filipinas, very silent, very long-suffering, +and above all, a most devout religious. The province, aware of this, +has never allowed him any rest, but has always entrusted to him the +offices of greatest weight and honor; and he has given most strict +account of them, to the very signal interest of the order. He has +twice been prior of Manila, which place is the rock of experience, +and where each one shows his talents. Both times he labored hard, +performed much, and ruled that convent in all strictness. He was +prior of Sugbú, as well as visitor and definitor of the province at +the same time, and prior of many convents. He ever bore the name of +provincial, to which office he was not elected--not for lack of merit, +but of fortune, which is not always equal; and the lots go by pairs. + +Our father visitor-general began, then, his visit through the +Tagál province Pampanga, and Ilocos, and kept for the following +triennium what remained in the Pintados. He was not limited in time, +and therefore, went slowly. Everywhere he exhibited great prudence +and wisdom, as the religious recognized, and he knew how to carry +himself with them. He provided what he saw was most essential to +the perfection of the province, which he thought to establish with +the earnestness demanded by his care and devotion, and by disposing +their minds to observe what he was teaching them by word and precept. + +When he was in Manila he was an excellent chorister, and in the +other convents he assisted in the same manner. When he saw what was +advisable, he approached Manila to arrange what was needful in the +chapter affairs, for the true reformation is, that the superior be +such. If the superior be perfect, then he must try to see that all +whom he rules be perfect also. _Qualis rector est civitatis, tales +et inhabitantes in ea._ [21] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +_Of the election of our father Fray Miguel García_ + + +Since the province, as we have seen, was so extensive, and all the +houses had a vote, except that there were some few convents which +were vicariates, the men who collected for the chapter were numerous; +and if I do not deceive myself, they were difficult to count--that +is, they were more than sixty. And among so many men (although it is +true that it was always thought that the province was to be for our +father Fray Miguel García), there are different tempers, and factions, +and they say those things which afterward it were well that they had +not said. They found the president inclined not to make our father +Fray Miguel García provincial--not because there were demerits in +his person, but because he had already governed, and he considered +that enough. Such discussions, although they were in good point, did +not have any effect; for the waters flowed in their usual channels, +and this talk served only to disquiet some. In short, our father Fray +Miguel García was declared elected on the twenty-third of April, +of the year 1611, all votes concurring in his election with great +good-will; for they saw that he was the one of whom the province +had need for those times. Thereupon, our father Fray Miguel García +performed an action most worthy of his devout heart, namely, to +kneel down before our president, and with tears to resign his office, +confessing himself as unworthy and insufficient for it, while he did +not have the grace or rather the age for it. This he did with so many +tears that his devotion made many others weep. The bishop-elect of +Sugbú, who was present, caused our father visitor to dispense him in +whatever obstruction he had by reason of his age, and to confirm him +in the election. The bishop coöperated, and considered it good that +the province had elected him; and the province itself insisted on it +by universal acclaim. Consequently, our father visitor confirmed our +father provincial Fray Miguel García, first dispensing him for the +impediment of the lack of age, which was but little. That lack was +more than supplied by his excess of prudence. + +The definitors elected at this chapter were the reverend fathers: +first, Fray Francisco Bonifacio; second, Fray Juan de Tapia; third, +Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda; and fourth, Fray Estacio Ortíz. The +absolute provincial, father Fray Diego Gutiérrez, received a vote. The +visitors who were elected in this definitorio were father Fray +Bernabé de Villalobos and father Fray Antonio de Porras [22], the +latter being _adito_. [23] All the above in assembly made excellent +regulations, and established for that time very good acts and laws; +and they charged our father provincial with the execution of them, +since on that depended the universal good of all the province. + +It was proposed in this chapter, and, in fact, it was so ordered, +for reasons that were very apparent there, that the chapters in the +future should be held every four years, and the intermediary chapters +every two years. The main consideration that influenced them was the +great deficiency that the fathers create in their convents during the +time when they come to the election, and they deemed it advisable +to obviate this injury as much as possible, since it could not be +entirely remedied--concluding that the expenses, if they could not +be avoided, at least would be delayed as late as possible. This was +agreed upon at that time, but later it was considered unadvisable, +and consequently the enactment in this matter was repealed. + +After the election, and the departure of the vessels to Castilla, +our father visitor undertook to go to visit the province of Bisayas, +which he did very slowly. He took as his associate our father Fray +Hernando Becerra, [24] then a recent arrival. He visited the island +of Panay very leisurely. When about to go to the convent of Sugbú, he +took as associate our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida, [25] then without +office, as he had refused any. He established an excellent system in +that convent, of which he had great care. He caused its annuities to +be raised, for it was very poor and overburdened. Father Fray Hernando +Becerra went to Manila to read theology. Although he did this only +for a short time, yet he became very renowned throughout the islands, +and in consequence was cordially received by the other orders. Thence +the father visitor came to Manila to assist in the superior government +of the province, although the government of our father, Fray Miguel +García, was such that, when he was there, no one else was needed. + +In the year 1613, the ships with the reënforcements arrived in good +shape from Nueva España. In them came that company of religious +above mentioned as being sent by Bishop Solier. Father Fray Juan de +Montemayor, their leader, who brought them from Nueva España, did it as +well as he could; but there most of the religious, finding themselves +tired out by the severe voyage, and the breadth of the land and its +mildness and beauty inviting them, and that first courage having +been lost with which they had left their native land and country, +separated in a thousand directions, so that very few of that flock +were left. These embarked and set sail in the port of Acapulco, +March 25, 1613, without enough provisions; and even in what provision +they had so little judgment was shown that they arrived as if by a +miracle. Such was their need that when they arrived at the Embocadero, +which is about eighty leguas from Manila, they had to disembark, +and go from island to island, selling what few clothes they had +left. There the fathers of the Society, who have charge of those +missions, performed toward them a thousand acts of charity, by means +of which they sustained life until, thus broken and with innumerable +necessities, they reached Sugbú. Of a truth, they were ill advised; +for, since they were already in the islands, they would have been +delayed much less in the ships, which were retarded because of the +route that they took, which was full of dangers and not a little +troublesome. But the government does not learn. It is a gift given +by God to those who please Him. Two fathers who remained in the ships +arrived promptly and many months before their associates. + +The religious in that company were as follows: + +1. The father master, Fray Pedro García, own brother of our father Fray +Miguel García. He did not come as master, but his brother negotiated +that for him upon going to España. + +2. Father Fray Juan de Montemayor, one of the greatest preachers who +have been in the islands. + +3. Fray Jerónimo Medrano. + +4. Fray Nicolás de Herrera, a preacher, and a prominent religious. + +5. Fray Cristóbal de Miranda. He was the one who, together with the +master, Fray Pedro García, refused to disembark. That religious has +been very useful. + +6. Father Fray Hernando de Aguilar, a very honored religious. + +7. Father Fray Bartolomé de Salcedo. + +8. Father Fray Jerónimo de Oro. + +9. Father Fray Antonio de los Santos. + +10. Father Fray Juan Cabello. + +11. Father Fray Juan de Pareja Mejía, very skilled in the Ilocan +tongue. I mean that the following year, when the father master went, +he again sent his associate, Fray Lúcas de Atienza, with some religious +whom he found from the other companies whom I have already named, +some of them being in my company. + +Others were Fray Juan de Mena and Fray Lúcas de Rivera. [26] + +With this the government of our father Fray Miguel García was, we might +say, fortunate; for he found himself with two companies, all of whom, +with the half company, numbered more than forty religious. With that +number he was able to supply the missions which now were suffering +for the need of workers. He was able to add new strength to the house +at Manila, so that the choir could be assured--which is, as one might +say, the fort of the province, where prayer is offered to God day and +night for the needs of the province. There they gather those who find +that they have but little strength in the ministry, where with some +more rest they can attend to the profit of their own souls. Our father +Fray Miguel García, considering that our father Fray Diego de Guevara +had visited the provinces so slowly, did not choose to cause more +trouble to the convents, or to spend more on his visits. Consequently, +he was not excessive in this matter, but very mild. + +In the intermediary chapter held in Manila within two years, as had +been determined in the full chapter, it appeared that the province +complained about the [term of the] chapter being lengthened one +year. They advanced not a few reasons in support of this complaint, +and so many that it was ordered that that measure be revoked, and +the chapter meeting be assigned for the next year of 1614. It was to +be held in the house of Guadalupe, a place very suitable, in their +opinion, for the chapter meetings, as it was not very far from Manila, +so that they could supply their needs; and it allowed them to escape +annoyances and importunities of the laymen. + +This [intermediary] chapter considered that many religious were dying, +and that, since the father priors always came to vote, some house +must necessarily remain empty, and be entrusted to the fiscals of +the villages. This appeared full of inconveniences, both temporally +and spiritually, which it is not right to express, since they are so +apparent. And even were there nothing else than the great danger of +many persons dying without holy baptism, and others without confession, +that was sufficient. But there were many other reasons, which, +although not so serious, aided not a little. The expenses that would +be saved were many; and this reason, that the priorates would have +such persons, for the best ones would always be chosen for them. This +was opposed very strongly, and the opposition alleged what, in their +opinion, were not a few reasons. They asserted that this was a kind of +tyranny, and that their opponents were trying to reduce the province +to fewer votes in order to perpetuate themselves in the government; +and that it was less easy to make sixty votes agree than twenty. The +province had commenced thus and should continue thus, and it was a +manifest grievance to deprive those elected by the intermediary (or +rather, the full) chapter of their votes. They said that that matter +was very serious, and should be carried over to the _ipso pleno_ +[_i.e._, the full chapter], in which, after being considered by so +many, it could be determined. The whole question was put to vote by +our father provincial, Fray Miguel García, who held the affirmative +side. With his Paternity were our father Fray Diego de Guevara (who +presided as visitor-general), the father definitor, Fray Vicente de +Sepúlveda, and the father definitor Fray Francisco Bonifacio. On the +other or negative side were father Fray Estacio Ortíz, the father +definitor Fray Juan de Tapia, the father visitor Fray Juan Enríquez, +[27] and the father visitor Fray Juan Villalobos. [28] + +They were equally opposed. One _adito_, father Fray Antonio de +Porras, was not there. Each side put forth its efforts, working +for our Lord's service, at which all aimed, doubtless, but by +different paths. The father commissary took sides with the party +of our father master, Fray Diego de Guevara, as he thought that +the better and more justifiable. And thus this chapter disposed +of all that it had proposed. Five houses in Bisayas were left with +votes, namely, Santísimo Nombre do Jesús, Panay, Barbarán, Passi, +and Octóng. Another five votes were left in Ilocos, namely, Bantay, +Ilagua, Batac, Nalbacán, and Bauang. Thus twelve votes were taken +away from the province of Bisayas, which has sixteen large convents, +leaving the vicars, immediate to the chapter, with the authority and +power in temporal and spiritual matters, as if they were priors. Only +their vote in the chapter was taken away. Of the thirteen convents in +the province of Ilocos, eight were deprived of vote. In the province of +Tagalos, votes were assigned to the house of Manila, that of Guadalupe, +the father sub-prior, the father preacher-general, the convent of Taal, +that of San Pablo de los Montes, the convent of Bay, that of Pasíg, +those of Parañaque, Tondo, Bulacán, Malolos, Agonoy, and Calumpit--in +all, fourteen votes. Many houses--about ten--were deprived of votes; +and of these sometimes they make priorates (or rather, vicariates) +and sometimes visitas. Six votes were given to Pampanga, namely, +Bacolor, México, Guagua, Macabebe, Lubao, and Candaba. Six other +convents were left as vicariates. Thus the houses having vote numbered +twenty-eight. The subprior and procurator-general, four definitors, +two visitors, the discreto of Manila, the provincia and his associate +bring the number up by ten [_sic_], and make thirty-nine; and the +absolute provincial bring it up to forty. + +It was declared that when, through the privations of the time, any +convent should decrease notably, the definitorio could transfer its +vote in that chapter to another convent, as might then seem advisable, +as was seen in the convent of Aclán. When this convent passed from +the order its vote was transferred to the convent of Barbarán. + +Some acts were passed afterward, which, translated into Latin and +printed, are observed in the province. I do not place them here, +as I think that they do not further our purpose in any way. Their +annulment was asked for, for experience has shown that they have been +productive of little good, and that the province had not need of so +great rigor as they contain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +_Of the election of our father Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda_ + + +Our father visitor-general thought that he had complied with +his obligation, and that the affairs of the province were in good +condition. He set about returning to España with the results of his +labor, although for the completion of the visit there was no time +allotted; for he had ample license to remain in the province as long as +he judged it advisable for its advantage and greater good. He did not +have good fortune on that voyage, for, either the poor equipment or +the late departure caused both the almiranta and the flagship to put +back in distress. Our father visitor also came back and resumed his +office, as it was one of which he had made no resignation. Now came +the time for the chapter which was to be held in Guadalupe, according +to the decision made. In this chapter the number of votes was very +much less, in obedience to the acts of the intermediary chapter, and +the father visitor was to be the president as was necessary in that +chapter also, for thus was it ordered in his letters-patent. Some +must have been sorry for it. Finally, the matter arranged itself in +such a way that our father master Fray Diego de Guevara resigned any +right that he might have to that presidency and to the visitation of +those islands, and for greater assurance broke the seal of it when he +entered the chapter. As the only received master in that province, +it was understood that he would be provincial; but I think that the +fathers were very far from thinking of it, for they inclined to our +father Fray Miguel García, who was most keen and very accurate in +matters of government. Being, moreover, a prince of the Church, the +latter was more conspicuous, as all thought; and I have even heard +very influential persons and even governors say of the archbishop, +"He is very wise! He is very wise!" + +Upon the arrival, then, of the nineteenth of the month of May, 1614, +the date upon which our chapter fell, our father Fray Vicente de +Sepúlveda, a person who, one would think, had entered these islands +for eminence in everything, was elected. For coming in the company +of the bishop Solier (I mean the company which he himself brought to +this land), in the year 1606, as soon as the said Solier was elected +provincial, he made him [_i.e._, Sepúlveda] prior of the convent of +Macabebe in Pampanga, one of the best of all the convents. Later, +while our father Fray Miguel García was provincial, he was elected +definitor, and now we see him provincial; and in the succeeding +triennium we shall see him return to the office because of the death +of the holder of it, which is in accordance with the rules. Within a +little more than a month after he had taken the office, we shall see +him choked to death. Thus he served as an official in the province for +scarcely one and one-half years before he was at the head of it. But +so great fortune in temporal affairs announced such a misfortune. + +At that chapter presided the definitor, namely, our father, +Fray Francisco Bonifacio; for, by the resignation of our father +visitor-general, the rules summoned him for it. As definitors were +elected in the chapter: our father Fray Juan Enríquez, father Fray +Pedro García; [29] second, our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida; third, +father Fray Alonso Ruiz; [30] and fourth, Fray Juan Cabero. [31] The +visitors were Fray Jerónimo de Salas and Fray Nicolás de Alreybar. All +of them assembled, they enacted carefully what they deemed most +suitable for the province. + +As prior of the province and definitor of Roma was elected our father +Fray Miguel García; and, as discreto of the general chapter, father +Fray Hernando Guerrero, with sufficient authority so that in case +our father [_i.e._, García] should die he should enter upon his duties. + +Leave was also given to our father visitor-general to go to +España. They made him prior of Manila. His voyages were fortunate, +although in the following year, when they went to España, the fleet was +overtaken by great danger and obliged to put in at Lisboa. But affairs +went so well in the court of España, that after only a short wait his +Majesty appointed them as bishops--our father Fray Miguel García, +of Cagayán; and our father visitor, of Camarines. They arrived at +their bishoprics, and died in the islands, where they furnished an +excellent example. + +Our father Fray Vicente, as one who found himself with the province in +charge, and who took especial care of its increase, managed its affairs +with great assiduity. He visited all the provinces personally. He went +to that of the Bisayas, which even yet bewails the cost to them of that +visit. And if we must confess that the prelate's zeal was proper, +we have not to confess that the province which has ever enjoyed +an austere reputation had grown so careless as to need so bitter +medicine. And since those who were removed from their priorates were +given others, this rigor could well have been avoided, in my opinion, +although perhaps it ought to be considered proper, as the government +of the prelates is paramount. The provincial returned to Manila, +leaving Fray Alonso de Baraona as his vicar-provincial. + +During this period the islands were passing through very great +dangers; for the Dutch from Maluco were vaunting themselves more +than was proper, and every day brought news that the Mindanaos were +assembling to destroy the islands--fears that made the people timorous +and too anxious. Finally their fears came to a head with the arrival +in great force of the Dutch off the coast of the town of Arévalo, +whose purpose was to prevent the aid which was to be sent from that +port to the forts of Térnate. The enemy had ten galleons, of varying +capacity; and it was even told as truth that they were bringing lime +and the other supplies for settling in Ilong-ilong. But later, when +the matter was better considered, it must have been seen that their +residence there would not be productive of any profit, but rather +of a very great expense. Besides, it would be very difficult to send +them aid; while our troops could easily oust them, as the island is +ours. The commandant of the town of Arévalo, also its alcalde-mayor +and overseer-general, without mincing words, was no more a man than +is a hen. Even in bravery, a hen is more than he; since the hen, upon +seeing the approach of the kite, is aroused, and becomes a lioness in +order to guard her chicks. But this person, by name Antonio de Jaréz de +Montero, did no more than to run away, although he had troops to meet +the enemy face to face. He had assembled more than two thousand Indians +from those encomiendas; he had more than two hundred Spaniards. And +so when the Indians saw, the night before, the signal which had been +made from the island of Imalus, [32] they fled, and not one was to +be seen next day; and all of the Spaniards who could, went also. In +the morning, Monday, on such and such a day of October, the enemy +appeared, and came straight to the port of Ilong-ilong, as if they +had frequented it for many years. Thereupon, the alcalde-mayor fled +inland, without taking thought for anything. Thus the field--where had +four Spaniards remained, they would have performed great deeds--was +left to the enemy. I was living at that time in Otóng, where father +Fray Juan de Lecea [33] was prior, a most exemplary religious. Father +Fray Silvestre de Torres, [34] who had come from Japón, was likewise +a conventual of that place. We did the same as the others. We stored +aboard a caracoa the most valuable things of the convent, and buried +the rest. We ordered the Indians to remain with the caracoa among those +creeks, of which there are many. They did so, and hence all the things +aboard the caracoa and those buried were found afterward. The enemy, +not meeting any opposition, landed, came to the town of Arévalo, and +set fire to it all. They burned our convent, which was quite fine and +built of wood They burned that of Salog also, an excellent convent, +which even yet has not been rebuilt. The enemy suffered greatly on +the road, for that season in the islands is the rainy season. We went +to the convent of Baong, one day's journey inland from the town, +although we spent more than two in reaching it. I, although sick, +was first to arrive. The prior of that convent was Father Diego +Oseguera. [35] Although the convent was poor, yet they acted as if +they were wealthy. They shared all the rice and beef of the convent +with all [the fugitives] who kept coming every moment, without taking +account of anything. The convent of Otong, besides its building, +lost a ranch of cattle which it owned then of more than five hundred +head and others of mares of more than one hundred head. For as the +cattle were tame and came to their usual resorts, the enemy caught +some and shot others. The fathers of the Society lost much also. The +rector of their college there was, at that time, Father Encinas, [36] +a man of uncommon holiness. He also came to Baong, by short relays, +and lived in our convents until his order summoned him. + +The commandant and lieutenant-governor of the Pintados, Don Juan +de la Vega, was in Sugbú with two companies of infantry. The news +of the enemy's coming was told to him; accordingly he embarked his +men and brought them thither, but, when he had arrived, the enemy +had burned everything, and were away up the point. Thus the troops, +went to the convent of Passi--one-half day's journey by land--by the +river of Alacaygan. That same day I arrived at Passi, for I went from +Baong to Laglag, and from Laglag to Passi. The Indians were already +vaunting themselves very insolently, and refused to render any aid; +but it appears that with the arrival of those two companies, whom +they had in the heart of the country, they began to become calm. Who +can tell what these convents did, and what they gave and supplied? It +is incredible, for almost from their shoulders hung all those troops, +yet without curtailing anything [of the convent's usual bounty]. The +convents were hostelries for those soldiers and captains, until their +substance was gone. But when that commandant could have collected more +than three hundred Indians (or rather, soldiers), and gone to meet +the enemy and could have inflicted great damage upon him, he spent the +time in scandalous feasting. Afterward he went to Dumangas where all +the people of the town of Otóng and the other soldiers were gathered; +and there, by surfeiting themselves with cocoa-nuts and sugar-cane, +and committing other acts of hoggish greed, more of them died than +if they had fought with the enemy. That commandant was the son of an +auditor, and must have been a brave man, although he caused grief to +everyone; and his blunders must have been fine bits of prudence. He +also lost for the king a galleon named "San Márcos," one of the best +and stoutest vessels built in the islands. Another auditor's son, +Don Pedro de Almazán, when general of the galleys, had the Mindanaos +blockaded in the river Baco, and when already the enemy were thinking +of surrendering, he left the port, whereupon the enemy regained courage +and went away. The sons of auditors have done many things like these, +but I do not write them, as I am not the historian of their acts of +prowess. I have merely remarked this in passing, as it was necessary +to speak of it. Finally, Don Juan de la Vega died suddenly. There he +will have given account to God. Perhaps his intention in something +may save him. + +It will be apparent from what I have written, that there has been +scarcely any event in these islands, either of war or peace, where +those of my order have not distinguished themselves. In the above +they did so no less than in others, for they were fathers to so many +poor, and hosts and support to so many soldiers. They relieved, if +not wholly, at least partially, the needs of so many, which one can +easily believe would be many, since they were abandoning their houses, +burned with what little they contained, and fleeing from the enemy +who were burning their possessions. + +The enemy left the islands after that, whereupon father Fray Juan de +Lecea, as a true father to the end--and what he grieved over, was, in +truth, the leading astray of his flock--went down from the mountains, +as soon as he learned that the enemy were not in Otóng, and reached +(although not without many tears), those sites where had been the +convent, and where the true God had been worshiped. He began to gather +together those dear wretched beings, and gave them alms of the little +that he had. Finally, with God's help, those natives gradually came +down from the mountains and assembled in their village, where they +began to build their houses anew. Father Fray Juan de Lecea showed +so excellent management that he soon had a habitation. I left the +upland then and went to the visita of Guimbal, where the enemy had not +been. From that place I sent Father Lecea men, and what [supplies] I +could, so that the work might progress. There by the Lord's pleasure, +the Tinguianes of that visita, who had never consented to build a +church, nor have the father visit them, at length, through the Lord's +mercy, ceased their obduracy. They built me a church, and I baptized +many of them, both children at the breast and those somewhat older, +and adults. If I have done any service to the Lord in that place, +I pray His Majesty to receive it as a partial payment for my many +acts of disservice. + +On my departure from all those mountains, and my return to Otóng, +I found already a church and small dwelling-house built, and another +under way, larger and more commodious, which was soon finished, +until it finally became a very handsome edifice. + +The convent of Salóg was being rebuilt in better style; and the Indians +were again settling in the village, although not as in the beginning. + +From that place I was exchanged to the convent of Dumalag, by order +of the vicar-provincial of the island, the father commissary, Fray +Antonio de Torres. While I was there the father provincial came to +visit, and there happened the above. The result of his visit was to +send me as prior to Dumangas, which I opposed to my utmost, as I had +left two other priorates because of my ill-health. But obedience had +to force my will. When I arrived there, even yet the Spaniards were +in that river. At last, seeing that they could go, they retired, +and my parishioners were more free to attend to their souls, to +their houses, to their villages, and to their church, which had been +destroyed. Finally, it was the Lord's will that I built there a church +and house of wood, and larger in size [than the former one]. + +The government remained in the hands of the Audiencia, because of +the death of Don Juan de Silva, knight of the Order of Santiago, +governor and captain-general of these islands. He sailed for Malaca +with ten galleons, accompanied by two of our religious, father +Fray Juan de Montemayor, [37] and father Fray Lúcas de Atienza. The +Audiencia governed most carefully and successfully, for it had very +good results in whatever it attempted. It was rumored that the Dutch +enemy were returning to the islands with a greater force, as they +had heard of the death of that man--who must be immortal, and for +fear of whom they were lost; for daily they were indicating this +in their conduct. For as he routed them at Playa Honda, in 1610, +they had no wish to fall into his power a second time. But now, +without any fear, they were about to return to retrieve their loss +and past reputation. The Audiencia appointed as commander-in-chief +of the Pintados Don Diego de Quiñones, one of the most valiant +and courageous gentlemen ever in this land. His first act was to +strengthen the fort of Sugbú, in case the enemy should attack at that +point. While he was busy in that occupation, news came from Otóng of +the approach of the Dutch with ten galleons, and of their intention +to colonize the point of Ilong-ylong. Instantly, he ordered a boat, +loaded it with bread and cheese, and went to Otóng. In the nine days' +interval until the Dutch arrived, he built a redoubt of wood and +fascines, where he awaited the enemy, who arrived September 29. Don +Diego had but few men, although a company from Ternate was there, who +happened to come there in a wrecked fragata. They were of no little +service. His artillery consisted of small pieces which shot a ball no +larger than a very small orange. He had about one hundred men. Lázaro +de Torres was their captain, a man of great courage, and than whom no +one, in such opportunities, has been more fortunate. His alférez was +Don Pedro Zara, a very courageous soldier. In short, they fought so +that it appeared rather rashness than bravery. Two of our religious +were there, father Fray Jerónimo de Alvarado and Fray Juan de Morales, +besides the parish priest of the town, Bartolomé Martes. They confessed +the troops, and encouraged them. The balls rained down, and thus they +penetrated throughout the fort, as if it had been paper. No place was +safe, for the enemy commanded the entire fort from their topmasts; +and no sooner did any one mount the parapet than he was shot. The +commander was wounded, as was Don Pedro Zara. Within that redoubt all +were heaped sweltering in their own blood, awaiting death. For, as +often as the enemy invested that small fort or redoubt, the Spaniards +resisted bravely and killed many of them. But finally, at the end, +the victory had to remain with the conqueror, who could be none other +than the Dutch as they had so strong forces. But our Lord in such a +conflict aided His own, who were fighting there for His honor under so +great odds; and willed that the enemy should abandon the undertaking, +and depart--to the wonder of all, after they had been firing at that +rampart for nearly two days. In that time they must have used more than +five hundred large balls, the reverberations of which sounded on the +heights of that island like thunder. On the departure of the enemy, +our men must have found themselves in great need of everything, for +whatever houses and stores were there were all burned; for the Dutch +have done this three times on that point. Help came then from Baong, +and father Fray Hernando de Morales came overland with two hundred +Indians. He was an angel to the people, and, with the Indians, +aided them in their greatest necessity. By this means they had one +who served and accommodated them, which was no small achievement. He +brought them as much food as he could, and remained with them until +the natives began to aid; for all had been frightened greatly at the +uproar that they had seen. This was a great matter for the natives, +for they all said, "The Dutch have been beaten." + +Captain Don Diego, seeing that the enemy would go there constantly, +began, with the consent of the Audiencia, to build a fort, and +constructed a rampart, furnished with some excellent pieces, which +arrived the same day when the enemy left, and were almost captured by +them. Afterward the fort was completed. It consists of four ramparts, +and is the best in the Filipinas. I have related the above, because +it shows how our religious attend to the service of our Lord. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +_Of the election of our father, Fray Jerónimo de Salas; and of other +events in this province at that time._ + + +The [time for the] chapter arrived in which our father Fray Vicente +left his office, at which he would rejoice; for this matter of +command, although it appears to be all honey, certainly contains +much more of gall and confusion than rest. The father visitor, +Fray Juan de Enríquez, received votes, and he was well liked in +Pampanga. The father-provincial thought that father Fray Agustín +de Mejía [38] was needed for the government of the province, for he +was of Manila, and had maintained that convent with great devotion +and punctuality, and no one had been lacking in anything--and that +in times so calamitous as his own. During that time the ships from +España failed us for two years, and during all that period he had so +great courage that he did splendid things in the convent of Manila, +both for the church and for the house. The monument placed in our house +is the best of all those belonging to the orders; it and many others +are his work. Notwithstanding this, the religious did not consider him +favorably. Consequently, our father provincial, seeing the difficulty, +did not wish, as a prudent man, to venture upon a thing which would +make face against him. For the religious alone are of this condition, +that they play openly; as they look rather at the common good than +that of their own particular interest. Consequently, he cast his eyes +on father Fray Jerónimo de Salas, a man so well received that the +other fathers agreed on him immediately, and he was elected without +much difficulty on the twenty-ninth of April, 1617. That election +was very pleasing to the province, for all were very sure that they +would receive very great consolations at his hands. They were quite +right too, for I could treat of that point, as a very large share of +it fell to me, when I was in Bisayas acting as prior of Dumangas; for +he sent me leave to come to Manila, as he wished me to become subprior. + +Father Fray Jerónimo de Cabero presided at that chapter, as we had +no letters-patent from our father general. As definitors, father Fray +Juan Enríquez, father Fray Pedro de Lesarte, [39] father Fray Alonso de +Baraona, and father Fray Felipe de Tallada were elected. The visitors +were father Fray Estacio Ortíz and father Fray Agustín de Mejía. All +together assembled, they annulled preceding orders and enacted others +for the good management of the province. + +But little life was left for our father provincial, for a very +slight accident occasioned his death, so that, without any medicine +sufficing, he went away and left us on the seventeenth of May, +leaving us disconsolate and very desirous of him. + +Our rules, in such an event, summon the preceding provincial, who +immediately took the seal. Persons were not lacking to advise him to +leave the government of the province, saying that the province was not +well affected toward him. And even persons outside of the order who +were viewing things with some interest, said the same to him. But we +are not to understand that any ambition guided him, but that since he +had had experience in the government, which is not the least thing, +he thought that he could govern better than another. He commenced to +burden the province with mandates, for in his term there was too much +of that. Thereupon, the fathers began to regard him less favorably +than before, and to represent to themselves the evil of his having the +command. There were meetings and discussions in which the coming evil +was clearly presaged and announced. One old religious, who was such +in all things, in order to avoid cavilings and inquisitions went to +confess to him; and told him that he knew most positively that they +wished to kill him, and that he should relinquish his office. He +assented to nothing, carried away, doubtless, by his good zeal. A +brother served him in his cell, a creole whom he wished well and whom +he treated with affection. The latter, in return for the benefits +which he received, gave him pounded glass in his chocolate, for he +had been told that that was the most virulent poison which could be +administered. But the provincial's natural force resisted everything, +for he was robust, though small of body. + +During this time, which was June of the same year, 1617, as the ships +which had been despatched the year before had put back in distress, +the viceroy of Nueva España, in order not to leave the islands without +succor, bought a small Peruvian ship called "San Jerónimo," little +but very staunch. Although they had but little comfort, the bishop, +Don Fray Miguel García, embarked with his fine company of religious; +and he brought them in safety to the port of Cavite, although they +were almost wrecked among the islands, because the vendavals had set +in early and with violent force. At last freed from this and other +dangers by the mercy of God, and as they were laborers chosen by +God for this His vineyard, He did not wish them to lack work in it; +and so He placed them at the doors of the convent of Manila, poor +from the lack of comfort in the voyage, but rich with their hopes +and virtues. Their names were: + +Father Fray Hernando Guerrero, who came as prior of them all. + +Father Fray Antonio de Ocampo, a very eloquent preacher, and a +Castilian. + +Father Fray Juan de Trejo, a very eloquent preacher, and from +Estremadura. + +Father Fray Juan Ramírez, a preacher, from Burgos. + +Father Fray Pedro Ramírez, a preacher, from Burgos. + +Father Fray Diego de Robles, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Diego de Avalos, from Toledo. + +Father Fray Agustín Carreño, from Asturia, a Tagál. + +Father Fray Francisco de Madrid, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +Father Fray Lúcas de Aguilar, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Juan de las Cuevas, from Madrid. + +Father Fray Andrés de Prada, from Burgos. + +Father Fray Antonio de Ulloa, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +Father Fray Alonso Delgado, from Estremadura. + +Father Fray Alonso Rodríguez, a fine organist, and a Castilian. + +Father Fray Juan de Orasco, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Martín de Arastí, a Biscayan. + +Father Fray Félix de Villafuerte. + +Father Fray Antonio Quintano, a preacher, from Burgos. + +Father Fray Juan Gallegos, a preacher, from Mancha. + +Father Fray Jacinto de Herrera; this was the second time that he has +sailed for this land. He is a preacher and a Castilian. + +Father Fray Pedro Mejía, a preacher, from Mancha. + +Father Fray Jerónimo de Paredes, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +Father Fray Martín Vázquez, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Tomás de Villanueva, from Mancha. + +Father Fray Alonso de Carabasal, reader, and who came the following +year. He remained behind because of his poor health. + +Father Fray Antonio de Mójica, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Cristóbal Enríquez, a preacher, from Estremadura. + +Father Fray Juan de Espinosa, a Castilian. + +Father Fray Gaspar de Lorenzana, a Castilian. [40] + +All those fathers who came here were from the province of +Castilla. Their arrival was of great consequence, and with them the +death of the father provincial, Fray Jerónimo de Salas, was, in some +measure, corrected; for, in return for a person whom the Lord took +from the province by that action, He gave it many workers in whom +there were very great hopes. + +Our father rector-provincial, as the matter devolved on him, divided +the fathers among the four provinces of Tagalos, Pampanga, Ilocos, +and Bisayas. He had ordered that father Fray Alonso Baraona, at that +time definitor of the province, should take the religious who fell to +its share to the Pintados; and that he should come to the province +to govern it, since he was his vicar-provincial and visitor. The +religious embarked, therefore, and with them, the father prior of +Sugbú, Fray Luis de Brito, [41] and the prior of Panay, Fray Miguel +de Suaren. [42] As the winds were adverse, because the vendavals were +raging obstinately, they were unable to get away from the island of +Manila for a long time. + +Two ships were sent to Nueva España. One put back and the other, +which was a Portuguese caravel, went to India and was wrecked. The +ships for Castilla were being prepared, and were to sail by the first +of August. Our father provincial tried to have father Fray Juan de +Ocadiz sail in them, as he considered his return to España necessary +for his own quiet; and since he was able to do so, he ordered that +Fray Juan should go immediately to Cavite, for he suspected that, +if anything evil was to occur, it would be perpetrated by that +man. Finally, the religious left, after putting off his departure as +long as possible. He said "goodby," in order to go to embark in the +morning, and permission was given him. That night, the first of August, +1617, one of the most tragic events that has ever happened in these +islands occurred in our province--namely, that that same night our +father rector-provincial, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda, was choked to +death, and was found dead in his bed at two o'clock in the morning, +with clear signs of a violent death. In that most horrible crime were +implicated three religious--one a priest, one a chorister, and one +a lay-brother, namely, the creole who gave the poison to the father, +and whom his relatives hid; and, as he had money, they helped him to +escape out of these islands. The lay-brother was a European, and the +father priest, Fray Juan de Ocadiz, an American. They [_i.e._, the last +two] were hanged near the atrium of our church, in front of the well, +after we had first unfrocked, expelled, and disgraced them. The two +said men were buried beneath the cloister of our convent, near the +porter's lodge, before the altar of St. Nicolás de Tolentino. [43] + +In the interval from the death of our father provincial, Fray Jerónimo +de Salas, which occurred on May 17, until our father rector-provincial +Sepúlveda was killed, a singular case happened in our convent, which +was apparently a presage of the said fatality. It happened that in +the fine infirmary of the said convent, which looks toward the sea, +a white cat was found which was rearing three rats at its breasts, +feeding them as if they were its own kind of offspring, and giving a +complete truce to the natural antipathy of such animals. But after +it had reared and fattened them well, it ate them, ceasing the +unwonted truces in its natural opposition. Almost all the people of +the community of Manila and its environs came to see such a thing, +for scarcely would they credit the truth of it, and all affirmed that +it must be the presage of some great fatality. + +By the death of the said our father Sepúlveda (which was very keenly +felt by our province, and which grieved the hearts of all the members +individually), although the father definitors ought to have taken +up the government, yet they made a renunciation of the right which +pertained to every one of them. Accordingly, announcements were sent +through the provinces to the effect that the provincial chapter should +be held on the last day of October, the thirty-first, of the year 17. + +About this time the very illustrious Don Diego Vázquez de Marcado, +archbishop of Manila, a most worthy prelate, died. He was the +embodiment of learning, virtue, and prudence, and all grieved sorely +at his death. Our bishop of Cebú, Don Fray Pedro de Arce, entered upon +the government of the archbishopric, by a special bull of Paul V, +and he was assigned one _talega_ [44] more salary than he received +in his bishopric. + +During this period occurred the persecution of Christians in Japón +by the emperor Dayfusama, and the martyrdom of our blessed martyrs +in that kingdom. [45] + +Our enemy the Dutch also came with seventy [_sic_] vessels to Playa +Honda in Zambales, seeing that they were unable to attain their +designs--namely, to capture the port of Cavite, and change the minds +of the natives, turn them from the service and homage of our Catholic +monarch, and render them allies to themselves. But on Saturday, April +7, 1617, our fleet left Cavite under command of Master-of-camp Don +Juan Ronquillo, who had the happiness and good luck to sink several +of their vessels, burn another, and put the rest to flight amid the +islands. Our fleet remained intact, except for two vessels which +were roughly handled. May 8, 1618, the fleet returning to the port +of Cavite, was received with great pomp and joy because of their +happy victory, which they had obtained by the Divine favor. Salutes +were fired in honor of Nuestra Señora de Guía [_i.e._, "our Lady of +Guidance"], and Don Juan Ronquillo was acclaimed as the father of +this land and its savior from the Dutch enemy, who were trying to +conquer this archipelago. + +Our religious who were assigned to the Bisayan provinces went to their +respective destinations, and arrived safely, thanks to the Lord, +notwithstanding the dangerous seas among the islands in the season +of báguios and hurricanes. But they were courageous, and confided in +the obedience that conquers all things. + +In the beginning of the month of September, father Fray Juan de Rivera, +prior of Octóng, and father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, prior of Passi, +set forth in an excellent caracoa, and a good crew of sailor folk. As +they were crossing from the island of Tablas to Dumalor, or the +island of Mindoro, they encountered a large boat of Camucones and a +little vessel. The Vizcayan prior of Octóng did not lose his head, but +encouraged their men, and made them attack the enemy's bark. They did +it with great resolution, so that the pirate, imagining that they were +a caracoa belonging to a fleet, began to flee. To do this more quickly, +they abandoned the small boat, after taking off all its crew. Thus they +rowed so quickly that our men could not overtake them. Ours took the +little boat, which proved of no little use; for as they came near the +island of Mindoro, they saw that the weather was growing very bad, that +the clouds were moving more quickly, and that the wild waves of the +swollen sea were running high. They took good counsel--namely, that of +father Fray Juan de Lecea--to place themselves in a little house, and +put ashore all their belongings, and beach the boat, which they could +have done. But the Indians refused to work, a vice quite peculiar to +them, and everything was lost. The elements began to rouse themselves, +and the winds to blow with so great fury that no greater tempest has +been witnessed in the islands. Our caracoa went to pieces and all its +cargo was lost, except what was later cast ashore. During that same +storm six galleons were wrecked in the islands; they were the best +that the king has launched. Among them was that so famous galleon +"La Salvadora." When the fleet returned from Malaca, Don Jerónimo +de Silva, who was in charge of the department of war, ordered those +vessels to be taken out for repairs; and they were taken out, to their +loss. Some sank, others were driven aground. Many men perished, both +Spaniards and Indians, as well as Japanese, Sangleys, and workmen. It +is a loss that Manila will ever bemoan. Therefore they say there: +"In truth thou art welcome, Misfortune, when thou comest alone." [46] +Manila had had a loss as great as that of the governor, Don Juan +de Silva; and now that was followed by the loss of the galleons, +with so many souls. I know, not how a babe at the breast was saved +on the deck of a galleon, or rather in its hatchway. She was found +by Admiral Heredia (who was going to the Pintados), on a beach, +and he reared her as his own daughter. It was the mercy of God, and +when it pleases Him to employ that mercy toward any of His creatures, +there is no power to contradict it, nor any danger from which it does +not issue safe and sound. + +The little boat which the father vicar-provincial, Fray Juan +de Lecea, captured from the Camucon enemy was useful to him. He +embarked in it alone, and coasted along that island as far as Baco, +a distance of more than twenty leguas. Thence he crossed to Manila, +after having bargained with a champan of Baco to go for father Fray +Francisco Bonifacio. But this diligence was not sufficient for him +to arrive in time for the election, because of the weather. The +Indians suffered more, for they returned to their villages singly, +and some of them even were lost, as they did not know the way. The +father prior of Aclán sought shelter in a port of the island of Hambil +during the storm; and although he did his utmost to arrive in time, +he was unable. But he arrived just after the chapter was concluded, +and served for nothing else than to give it obedience and to return +with the others. However, father Fray Francisco Bonifacio remained +as prior of Tondo; although he had wished to go to Bisayas, the sea +so frightened him that he was very fortunate to remain. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +_Of the election of our father, Fray Alonso Baraona_ + + +Upon the arrival of the time set by the province, namely, the last +day of October of the said year 1617, all the fathers who had a vote +assembled, and discussed, as if in conflict, the question of electing +such a head to the province; that he could settle, as far as he was +able, the past quarrel, which had so upset the reputation of the order, +by his authority, example of life, and morals. For in no time had it +been more important for us to cut loose from our self-love and to fix +our eyes on our mother, the order, which was suffering for her sons; +and so that it might be understood that where there had been religious +who had caused so evil an example, there were also those who could, +by their example, edify a great community. According to this, father +Fray Estacio Ortíz seemed very suitable to those who were present. He +was the founder of the missions in Japon, and had always been known +to be of a very religious life and had been highly esteemed by the +civil government. Others declared that father Fray Alonso Ruiz, who +was known to be a person of singular virtue, was the man who ought to +fill that vacancy. Others, who had reasons therefor, sought another, +as they had present father Fray Francisco Bonifacio. In order to know +who he was, it sufficed to say that he had been prior of the convent +of San Nicolás de Sugbú, which is for the natives, without anything +ever being said in depreciation of his person. That, as was proper, +was regarded as a singular case, and not less that he went free as +did the children of Babilonia from the fire. He was a person who was +always the model for all the Pintados. + +The one who was discussed least was our father Baraona, for he was +always humble by nature, and very free from pretensions, as he always +thought of himself with great humility. But, as our Lord regarded +him as provincial, He so managed affairs that votes were cast in his +favor without special effort, and he was elected as provincial. On +the last of October, then, endeavor was made, since there was nothing +to do, to have the voting fathers return to their provinces and +that the good of the province should be attempted, after deciding +on a far-reaching reformation; for our father Baraona had excellent +intentions, and to judge from these, it is to be believed that he would +direct all things in the sight of God. In his own person he visited +the province of Bisayas, which, as it was his own, he regarded with +especial love. That visit was not a small exploit, when one considers +the voyage. He always traveled at small expense, going in a champan, +like any other and very ordinary religious. He was the one who sent +most religious to España. Among them were the father visitor, Fray +Agustín Mejía, who, arriving afterward at Perú, was there adopted and +esteemed as his zeal and devotion deserved; the father definitor, +father Fray Felipe Tallada; father Fray Andrés de Ocampo, prior of +Macabebe; father Fray Baltasar Andrés; and father Fray Francisco de +Cuéllar. All died except father Fray Felipe Tallada, who afterward +returned to the province of Pampanga, where he was a fine linguist. + +In the following year of 1618, with these religious he sent father +Fray Alonso del Rincón (then prior of the convent of Manila) to España +as procurator, in order to give account of the affair in España; and +to bring back religious, for death was rapidly thinning the ranks of +those who remained. He had good success, as we shall see. + +After the good result with the Dutch at Octóng, which we have described +above, it happened that the Mindanaos conspired with their neighbors, +and came to plunder the islands, with a goodly number of caracoas +and vessels of all burden. They robbed much, captured, seized, and +burned, more than what can well be told; and, as fast as they filled +their boats, they sent them home. The commander of the Pintados, +Don Diego de Quiñones, was notified. He happened to be in Octóng, +where he immediately had seven very well equipped caracoas prepared, +with Indians to row and Spaniards to fight. He appointed creditable +men as commanders of them, and, as commander-in-chief of them all, +Captain Lázaro de Torres, the man who was with him in the affair +with the Dutch. The fleet set sail in stormy weather, and coasted the +island of Panay in search of the point of Potol, because the enemy had +to pass by there in order to return home. This occasioned much toil +because of the fury of the wind. Finally they reached the river, four +leguas from Potol. There they anchored, for the brisas, which there +are side winds, were breaking the counterbalances of the caracoas. At +that place the Indians told him that the enemy had arrived at Hambil, +an islet which, stretching between Potol and the island of Tablas, +forms channels between them. Thereupon he left, notwithstanding the +severe weather. Father Fray Martín de San Nicolás, associate in that +priorate, accompanied him from here, in a suitable boat. At length, +by dint of rowing, they reached the island, and when in shelter of it, +they learned that the enemy had anchored near by, behind a point that +served them as a harbor. Then order was given to the caracoas to follow +and do their duty, and at daybreak sail was set, in order to take the +enemy before they could perceive him. I have no wish to cast blame upon +the commanders of the caracoas, for they were men of great courage +and punctilious honor. Hence, they did not remain behind purposely, +but because they could sail no faster, for all boats are not equal. To +conclude, when the enemy were sighted, Captain Lázaro de Torres found +himself alone with three caracoas--his own, that of Alférez Patiño, and +that of Alférez Francisco de Mendoza, a creole from Sugbú. Our flagship +went straight toward the enemy. The others stationed themselves in +between, where they played havoc with the smaller craft. The small +boats of the enemy perceiving themselves attacked so suddenly, without +further counsel than that of fear, took to the open, which is there of +great extent, and scattered. It is reported that their loss was heavy, +and that only such and such a number arrived at Mindanao; and that +their captain-general was drowned. He was the son of Silongan, king of +Mindanao. Those who stayed behind to fight fought so bravely that the +outcome was doubtful; for the captain told me that they fought like +lions. Thus had the company [of the three caracoas] been destroyed, +and our men would have been in danger, for even yet the other four +caracoas had not arrived. Finally, the enemy's flagship was sunk, +and others foundered, while other boats took to flight through fear +of the firing, or allowed themselves to fall aside. Our men killed +many, and those who escaped, defended themselves cutlass in hand, +while swimming. Then approaching the island, our boats ceased firing, +in order to capture the enemy alive, so that they might have rowers +for their galleys. On this account about eighty landed. The Indians +seized a small height in order to defend themselves, whereat our +men were about to open fire on them. As soon as our men were ashore, +father Fray Martín de San Nicolás--who, more courageous than those +who did not come, was in the midst of the whole action, encouraging +our men--went to the Indians, and talked to and assured them so that +they gave up their arms and surrendered. I think that the captain +gave two of those slaves to the order to serve in whatever convent +the superior should think best. The remainder were taken to Octóng, +some of whom were sold, and others placed in the galleys, and those +were the most secure. Since that fleet, although innumerable fleets +have gone to attack the enemy who infest the islands, they have +never had good success, or closed with them while the enemy have +gone in and out from the islands every year, to the great loss of +the country--doubtless a chastisement on us. + +[Several miraculous occurrences in various places are recounted, +all of which caused wonder. Medina continues:] + +Our father Baraona, as he loved the province of Bisayas so dearly, +went through it, abandoning some houses and occupying others, and +exchanging and returning still others. And, in fact, although he did +it for the best, experience has proved that it has been bad for us. He +exchanged Aclán for Barbarán; and although the latter is on the river +Panay, it is a convent needy of all things, and has the most perverse +people, whom even yet we have been unable to subdue. The former was +very fine in all ways, and convenient for us; and within its gates it +is well supplied with all necessaries, both for itself and for other +convents. And although it is true that it could have been returned +to the order, because at the death of its first secular priest, the +bishop gave it. But the order made so little effort that it was lost; +for for what any other order would give a thousand flights, we let +slip for the sake of two steps of work. + +Our order owes the district of Dumalag to the care of our father +Baraona, for he obtained it by entreaty from Don Juan de Silva--and +that while he was merely prior, and not provincial. It cost him +considerable labor, and was like to have cost his life, for he made +many trips to Manila and to Sugbú, and, in his labors in 1612, +he encountered death many times, embarking on the sea in only a +cockle-shell of a boat, and ploughing it for more than thirty hours, +when not a champán or caracoa was to be seen on the sea that was +not knocked to pieces by this storm, and those well equipped were +driven aground on some islands. The storms past, the father found +himself on the island of Mindanao, without food. He had some dogs, +for he was very fond of hunting. He ordered his men to go up the +mountain, and perhaps they would find some game which they could +take, for all were perishing from hunger. All went but himself, and +he remained or the shore. But by and by a deer of unusually large +size came bounding down toward him, to seek the protection of the +water in order to escape from the dogs. Our father, who saw it pass, +eager for the chase, went behind the deer, and seized it, so that +had not his men arrived so promptly after the dogs, he had drowned +there. For the deer had already taken to the deep water; and the +father, weighed down by his thoroughly soaked garments, was almost +drowned. But his men saved him from this danger, and killed the deer. + +After they had embarked and had reached the harbor-bar of Aclán, +the little boat was overturned, so that the father lost everything, +and was able to save only the clothes on his back. Thus that boat, +which withstood so many buffetings of the sea without any harm, +happened to overturn four brazas from shore, through the carelessness +of its steersman. + +After he became provincial, he left the islands with the priorate of +Ibabay for that of Tigbauan. This was not a bad thing, for the latter +was very far from intercourse and people, and in great danger. There +was necessity for religious, and permission was sent to India so +that some could come. They began to come, but experience has proved +that this measure is not effective; for when it is desired to bestow +habits they can be given to youth in Manila, who have come from España, +many clever ones of whom are in the colleges. + +As soon as he could, he made father Fray Alonso de Méntrida--who was +without an appointment in this province of Bisayas, and was a pattern +for the order, as we shall see later--prior of Manila. + +In all other things, he did his utmost in the service of the province, +as the great religious that he ever was. As he busied himself in going +at times to the country, he happened to discover some remarkable +things. Among others, he discovered in Dumalag a vast cave, which +must have extended more than one or two leguas. The father walked +a great distance in it, but never found its end, for his lights +went out. Another time he found a cedar-tree in the mountains of +this district, which some wind had laid low. He had a boat made of +it, the largest one ever seen in these islands that was made from +one log. I embarked in it; it must have been more than one braza +long. It was laden with more than one hundred baskets of winnowed +rice, and it carried many planks of remarkable size before the log +was destroyed. A man on one side of it was unable to see the person +on the other side. To conclude, the tree had the largest diameter +that I have ever seen. I have traveled widely and seen many trees, +but none of equal size. + +While Father Baraona was prior of Salog, he had come from Dumangas, and +was returning to his convent. He did not cross in the open, but went +slowly along the coast. When they reached a beach, his crew stopped to +eat, but he meanwhile walked inland. He had a dog which went before, +and, following it, the father found that it had laid hold of a boar, +which had tusks one palmo long, and which was as large as a yearling +heifer. It was so furious that it had beaten down the reeds as a number +of mares thresh out the corn. No sooner did it see the father than it +attacked him. The father gave it a slight lance-thrust in the skin, +but the point, turning, entered no farther than the very outside. The +dog remained true, and held the boar by one leg; but the boar did not +discontinue to strike at the father with great fury. But the blows +that it thus gave him were received in his habit, which he endured +until the arrival of the Indians, with whose aid they killed that +savage animal. Brother Fray Andrés Garcia assured me that he had +never seen anything so terrible looking in España, Italia, or any +place. Many other things happened to the father, which might make a +long history, but do not apply to the matter in hand. + +He was much loved by the Indians, for he rendered free and open aid +to them, so far as he was able. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +_Of the election of our father Fray Juan Enríquez_ + + +Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona, in the course of his government, +as a person who so well understood the province and its members, +thought that no one was better fitted to govern it than our father +Fray Juan Enríquez, then the senior definitor. Concerning him, I have +not said much of what was seen, and the troubles which he suffered, +on the occasion of the unhappy death of our father Fray Vicente. We +were made to see how unjust that was, for our Lord freed him from +those annoyances with so much honor, by making him provincial, to +the applause and pleasure of all; and he was elected May 7, 1620. The +father master, Fray Pedro García, presided over this chapter, as he +had letters-patent for that from our most reverend father-general, +which the archbishop brought, together with his title as master, when +he came from España to these islands. He was received in the province +although it has not been the custom to have masters in it. May God +arrange matters in the future, for in this [capacity the archbishop] +shows his devotion not a little. As definitors were elected, in +this chapter: father Fray Hernando Guerrero; the second, father Fray +Antonio de Ocampo; [47] the third, father Fray Juan de Henao; [48] +and the fourth, father Fray Hernando Becerra. The visitors were our +father Fray Alonso de Méntrida and father Fray Juan de Tapia. + +The chief proceeding in this chapter after the regular business--that +is, what is here regarded as most important--the provision for offices, +was the appointment of father Fray Juan de Tapia as definitor for Roma, +and also to the procuratorship for the court of España. He is a man +of great worth, and has been very useful in the islands and labored +not a little, to the approbation of all. For he was with Don Pedro de +Acuña in the taking of Maluco, and founded there a house in the name +of the order; and there he was not only the father and consolation +of all, but a very valiant soldier, who strove for the service of +his king as well as the best. While definitor, he was also prior of +Manila, increasing that convent with many works--as he did afterward +in the convents among the natives where he was prelate, which he left +notably increased. During that triennium, while going out as visitor, +he went also as prior of Manila, and on making the voyage to España, +was very well received there. Beyond doubt he would have secured the +bishopric had he been a trifle more active, but he was always slow +when his own affairs were concerned, and did not consider them as +the affairs of the order, which he always managed with the greatest +diligence and care. Consequently, he brought back a fine company +[of religious] as we shall see in due time. + +Our father Juan Enríquez was unwilling that there should he any +failure in the growth of the province during his term. Accordingly, +although it was said that it was of little advantage to have a +convent in Maluco, yet the provincial kept it, sending a father +there. He also maintained the other convents, notwithstanding that +he suppressed that of Cavite--as if it were not the most important, +for that place is growing daily; and although it be not for the gain, +at least it may serve as a hospitium for those journeying to and fro +between here and España. All the orders are doing the same thing, +although they can not support themselves there. + +He visited all his province, although he did not come to that of +Bisayas, for the sea was very much infested with enemies, and his +predecessor had gone through it more than any of the other prelates +had done. At that time the province enjoyed great peace and quiet, +which was due to the prudence of our father, who ever carried himself +as the admirable religious that he was. + +During that triennium I acted as prior of Panay for the second time; +for during the intermediary chapter of our father Baraona I went as +prior to Aclán, which was a house with a vote. Soon after the arrival +of the said visitor, that priorate falling vacant, he appointed me to +it, and for the sake of the vote. And on returning, that triennium, +together with the office of vicar-provincial, while in that convent, +and having in my company father Fray Martín de San Nicolás (who +I have already said was with Captain Lázaro de Torres at the rout +of Mindanao), we were eating one fast day [_dia de pescado_], when +a large fishbone, which must have been as long as a sewing-needle +and was thick and bent, and had a very sharp point, lodged in the +father's throat. Although he said nothing to me for a moment, he +stopped, ceased eating and commenced to groan, as one who feels +a very great pain. Afterward he kept changing color, but without +saying a word. I was about to ask him what was the accident that +caused his pain. I saw him rise, for already his breath was failing, +and with a loud voice he cried, "Ah! blessed St. Nicholas! help me, +for I am choking!" And, upon saying that, he threw from his throat +a fishbone of the size above mentioned. It had been so securely +fastened there that it seemed as if that fishbone could not have been +dislodged without divine aid, as was proved by the mark of the blood +on it. It was considered as a wonderful thing, and the said father, +in token and proof of gratitude, is keeping the fishbone, and tells +the circumstance to everyone, while he always celebrates as best he +can the feast of that saint. Of a surety, he shows himself very devout. + +I cannot refrain from telling here, although out of place, that in +the year in which our father Baraona was elected, when the latter +came to visit the Bisayas in the year 1617, Admiral Pedro de Heredia +had come, with the governor's permission, to the district of Aclán, +his encomienda, to build a ship. And although he claimed to do it with +only his encomienda, the affair went so well with him that he finished +a vessel of greater burden than was reported or believed. No Indian ran +away from him. On the contrary, the Indians were rich, for he paid them +liberally; and Indians even came from other districts to work there, +because of his fair treatment of them. Father Fray Lúcas de la Peña, +[49] a very devout and zealous religious, as we have written before, +was prior of that convent then. He had encounters with the admiral, for +rarely do these fail between the encomenderos and missionaries. These +happened because the Indians were carrying and bringing, and sowing +discord, as they can. The admiral was very indignant, blustered against +the missionary, and said that he would oust him from that place, if +it cost him his estate. When the provincial came, the admiral found a +good opportunity; he went to the provincial, and told him resolutely +that the father must leave there. The father provincial understood +thoroughly that there was no cause for such a proceeding; but he knew +that influential man's obstinacy, and that, if carried away by his +wrath or anger, he might commit some extravagant act. Accordingly, +in order to remove the religious from a dangerous situation, [50] +the father provincial made him resign his mission. This the religious +did very willingly, as it was by the order of the superior. The good +religious has no other desire than to do the will of his superior, +as our father Fulgencio tells us: _Illos veros monarchos esse +dicebat qui, mortificatis voluntatibus suis, nihil velle, nihil +nolle, sed tantum-modo abbatis precepta, servare._ [51] Our father +provincial thereupon changed the said father, thus giving a very +admirable example of humility, patience, and self-mortification; for, +being a prior elected by the chapter, he might well demand, without +being disobedient, that charges should be made against him, and that +according to the result thereof he should be punished. But he refused +to do that, and left his cause to God, who is the most righteous of +judges, and who knows naught by hearsay but by sight, for all things +are plain to Him. Another religious was sent there, with whom the +admiral had a more familiar acquaintance. The ship was finished and +launched. It cost sixteen thousand pesos, for it was the reproach of +[other] ships. But it cost his Majesty much more, without paying the +Indians--many of whom died, for there are no mines so severe as are +the shipyards. It was launched and sails bent, for the Audiencia had +sent for the vessel to make a trip to España. At that time there are +no winds of the sea along that coast; therefore the moorings of the +vessel were all ashore. While in this condition, and with a cargo of +lumber, unexpectedly so furious a wind sprang up on the sea, that +the ship ran aground without being able to make any resistance. As +the vessel was laden with lumber, there was no remedy. The wind was +for no other purpose than the above-mentioned [destruction], since it +ceased its fury with the loss of the ship. The admiral suffered this +blow patiently, for he understood that the Lord had no other reason in +it than to avenge the wrong done to His religious. _Mihi vindicta, et +ego retribuam._ [52] For the Lord esteems the honor of His ministers +as His own, and thus charged them, saying: _Nolite tangere Christos +Meos, et in Prophetis meis nolite malignari._ [53] All the others +understood this and were warned. Often since that have I heard him say +to an encomendero, that even though the missionary should destroy his +encomienda, he would neither enter suit against him, nor do anything +to him that he should not do. For the judgment of men is deceptive, +and their passion generally leads them astray and casts them headlong. + +Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona was very sensitive regarding this +occurrence, and set it right by advancing the father and making +him prior of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and visitor for those +convents. Thus he voted in this chapter which elected father Fray +Juan Enríquez, and himself obtained therefrom the convent of Octóng, +the chief one of the island. + +During this triennium of our father Fray Juan Enríquez, our Recollect +fathers founded a convent in Sugbú, as Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce +was pleased to give them a chapel which is in that city, between +the native and the Spanish towns, and called Nuestra Señora de la +Concepción [_i.e._, "Our Lady of the Conception"]. The city agreed to +it in the vote that was taken--although the city was not sufficiently +large for such a convent, for it contained that of the fathers of +the Society, ours, and the cathedral church; and the Parián, a short +distance from there. However, beyond doubt it suited the fathers; +for the bishop seeing that there were no seculars who would go to +the island of Mindanao, and that, with the fort built by Don Juan de +Silva in Caraga, excellent results might be expected, therefore gave +that district to the Recollect fathers, together with the river of +Butuán, situated in the same island. The Recollects accepted it, and +began to establish priorates. Thus they had already seven priorates, +in which more than fourteen religious resided. The convent of Sugbú +served them as a hospitium, asylum, infirmary, and place to rest--to +which purposes more than to anything else it was devoted. Further, +not only are the convents there not supported by the alms of the +city, but also one can say that they support the city; for most of +the inhabitants are poor soldiers, and many now are married there, +and receive the king's ration, which is very meager. Besides these +are others who have ceased to receive the ration; who are so poor +that, were it not for the aid of the religious, they would doubtless +perish. Those who have the most wealth use it up during the year, +being limited to what comes to them from their encomiendas, in order +not to run into debt; but they borrow the rice in the convents. Thus +laymen and religious form a very friendly village and neighborhood. + +At this time the alcalde-mayor of Sugbú was Don Juan Alcarazo, +a gentleman so deserving of praises, that the sum of his many good +qualities cannot be told in few words. He was endowed with the courage +of a good soldier, and had served thus for many years in the galleons +of España with his brothers and father, whence his Majesty had derived +honors and advantages. He was a Viscayan by birth. During this time, +the island of Bohol rebelled. This island lies, as above stated, +opposite Sugbú, on the side whence blows the vendaval. It was in charge +of the fathers of the Society, who had more than two thousand Indians, +the tallest, handsomest, and stoutest in the island. A _babaylán_ or +priest called Tamblot had deceived them, by telling them that the time +was come when they could throw off the oppression of the Castilians; +for they were assured of the aid of their ancestors and _divatas_, or +gods. And in order that they might know this, it was proved by certain +signs. The priest went with some of the more trusty among them, cut +a bamboo with a small knife, and wine gushed forth. He cut another, +and rice came out. These articles he had hidden there cunningly and +adroitly. Consequently those men were convinced, and became preachers +of those lies, which the Indians love and believe so readily; while +we have no power to enable us to persuade them of the certainty of our +faith so readily as this sort of trickery can influence their natural +disposition. In such manner spread the spark that there was no island +where it did not catch little or much; although they did not dare to +show their faces, but awaited the result in Bohol. The fathers warned +the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and came to solicit aid from +the alcalde-mayor. Here there were no evil-doers among those [natives] +who lived in the city. Don Juan de Alcarazo did not dare [to send out +troops], as he had no order from the governor, Don Alonso Fajardo, +and it might be imputed to him as a blameworthy act. But the fathers, +seeing that whatever delay occurred was to make the wound incurable, +surmounted all difficulties. Consequently, they were able to negotiate +with potent arguments, saying that it was especially important to +check the evil in its first stages, so that it should not spread. The +alcalde-mayor was persuaded, and assembled the soldiers and adventurers +who appeared most suitable to him, besides a number of Sugbú Indians, +armed with sword and buckler. With these he landed in Bohol, and went +to look for the enemy--who, courageous in their mountains and supplied +with rice, thought that they were most safe, and that victory was sure. + +But the most diligent effort made by this gentleman was to go to +our convent to have a mass said to the Holy Child, before whom many +candles were burned; to promise to take Him as patron; and to perform +no action in that war which should not be done in His name. Since His +[Divine] Majesty, he said, had, by His favor, given those islands to +the Spaniards, he prayed that He would not permit them to lose, for +his sins, those that they already possessed. For the Christianity +founded therein with so great toil would be wholly lost, and the +victorious enemies of His name would leave no kind of evil undone to +the conquered, to the contempt of His name. The most Holy Child showed +Himself very gracious, as is His custom in events [that are to be] +prosperous, whereupon victory was regarded as sure. Encouraged by such +omens, they did not hesitate to attack the enemy, who were entrenched +in their fields. The latter were insolent, and reënforced with allies +and supporters. During the battle, the rain was so heavy that they +could not use the arquebuses, so that the enemy were beginning to +prevail. Thereupon, the shields of the Sugbú Indians were brought +into service, and the latter aided excellently, by guarding with them +the powder-flasks and powder-pans of the arquebuses, so that they +were fired with heavy loss [to the enemy]. When the shower of rain +came, the enemy's babaylán encouraged them by saying that there they +could see how their divatas had told them true; for what could be +of greater use to them at that time than the rain, so that the arms +of the Castilians would be useless. Consequently, they became like +mad dogs; and they preferred death to enduring the conditions of the +conqueror. But so many fell that death had to fulfil its duty, namely, +to inspire them with fear. They wounded Don Juan with a stone, but not +very dangerously, as his morion received the blow. Although he fell, +he arose cured, and with renewed courage, by calling on the Holy Child, +who gave the Spaniards the victory, and, with it, the islands for a +second time. Truly, had so good an outcome not befallen the Spaniards +in Bohol, there would not have been a single one of the Pintados--and +these form the bulk of the islands--which would not have risen against +them. After this victory, those who had desired to raise the yoke +placed their necks once more under it. However, it was not sufficient +to deter the natives of Leyte from likewise trying their fortune, +which resulted as ill to them as to the natives of Bohol. Then the +islands became quiet, and the Indians more humble. However, whenever +they see their chance, they will not lose it, as they are a people +who wish to live free. The captured Indians were made slaves for the +space of ten years. Upon learning of this affair, the governor approved +the enterprise, praised it, and promised to reward it. This victory +was recognized as the doing of the most Holy Child. Consequently, +Don Juan de Alcarazo gave Him thanks, and shared the booty with Him. + +There was a terrible earthquake in the islands at this time, which +none of them escaped. In the island of Panay, where I was stationed +then, it lasted more than a fortnight. But none of the succeeding +shocks were equal in violence to the first, which was so severe +that all expected everything to be overthrown. The columns of the +church and house, colliding against one another, strewed the ground +on all sides, so that a thick club could easily be thrust around +the columns. The same thing happened in the other convents, where +the images fell and were broken into bits. In the church of Passi, +which is of stone, and was then just roofed, all the upper part fell, +and it sank in many places. Many rivers changed their course, as that +of Aclán, which abandoned its former bed. Mountains were opened, and +there were innumerable other terrible occurrences during that awful +earthquake. At last it was the Lord's will that it should cease, and +with it the fears of all. In Ilocos the shocks were also exceeding +great, but not so severe in Manila. The Lord allows all this, so +that we may recognize His power; and, recognizing it, love Him; and, +loving Him, not offend Him. + +During these years, the Dutch enemy did not discontinue coming to the +coasts of Manila, where they robbed the Chinese and did all the harm +possible. They tried to capture the ships carrying aid [from Mexico], +so that without war they were growing rich, and disabling the people +of Manila. In this emergency the pilots carried sealed orders, which +they were to open on the return voyage and learn the port where they +had to go, thus defeating the designs of the Dutch enemy, and freeing +themselves from the secret spies who were in Manila--who, as it was +said, were not lacking. Consequently, in many years no company [of +religious] entered Manila directly, so that whatever missionaries +the ships carried were scattered, and, not reaching Manila, no +benefit was derived from them. Father Fray Alonso del Rincón [54] +was coming from España with a fine company of religious. He reached +the port of Acapulco, where that year the flagship from these islands +did not arrive. After it left Manila and rounded the shoals, it had +been wrecked near Verde Island, for the tides drove it upon some +reefs. The almiranta passed on, and immediately another despatch +followed it which the governor made, when advised of the event. In +the latter the pilot and commander was the overseer Gaspar Nuñez. This +boat sailed September 16, and our Lord was pleased to let it arrive, +but both vessels were very small. The governor of Terrenate, Pedro de +Heredia, was coming. At last a vessel happened to arrive from Perú, +and was immediately laden. Our religious embarked in it, as also did +the fathers of the Society. Although the other two small boats had +sailed a fortnight before, this vessel overtook them, and all entered +the port of Casiguran, opposite Manila, about the same time. This +small boat bore religious of our father St. Francis, and all the +vessels suffered from a plague that was like to finish them. All +the Franciscans died, although only one of Ours died, father Fray +Nicolás Goyas, a Viscayan by birth, of the province of Castilla. He +was an excellent Latin scholar, a fine poet, a very good theologian, +and an eloquent preacher--all qualities useful here. But if the Lord +chose to take him, who doubts that it was fitting? + +The rest recovered and reached the said port on June 25, of the year +1622. There are many convents belonging to our father St. Francis +in that district, and they assisted generously the needs of all, and +especially of the religious, who were in need of everything. But for +Ours, while going to Manila, the route which they took overland was so +dangerous and so full of difficulties that daily they braved death a +thousand times at the passage of the rivers. For the rainy season was +at its height, and consequently the rivers were swollen outside their +beds, and had very swift currents. They came afoot and shoeless, for +the mud unshod them in two steps. Their food was _morisqueta_. [55] +They suffered so great need of all things, although not through the +fault of the father commissary, who ever treated them with great +liberality and no less charity; but on the roads they met no people, +but only buffaloes, and in the rainy season they experienced all +these inconveniences. Finally they came to the confines of Pampanga, +where, forgetful of their hardships, they began to receive innumerable +welcomes from those most devout fathers, who know how to show kindness +to strangers, and all the more to their own who came to aid them, +when they had suffered so much and were in need of all things. Thence +they went to Manila, where they were received heartily by our father +Fray Juan Enríquez--who had them rest, so that they should begin +their labor in the Lord's vineyard, for which they had been chosen, +with greater courage. Those who entered Manila in the company of +father Fray Alonso Rincón, their commissary, were the following: + +1. Father Fray Francisco Bibero, a Castilian, an eloquent preacher. + +2. Father Fray Diego Martínez, a preacher, from Mancha. + +3. Father Fray Antonio Portes, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +4. Father Fray Juan de Silva, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +5. Father Fray Juan Venegas, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +6. Father Fray Pedro de Torres, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +7. Father Fray Andrés Verdugo, a reader, from Mancha. + +8. Father Fray Martín de Paz, a reader, and a Castilian. + +9. Father Fray Baltasar Salcedo, a preacher, and a Vizcayan. + +10. Father Fray Juan Basán, a priest, from Andalucía. + +11. Father Fray Juan Velasco, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +12. Father Fray Juan de Aguirre, a priest, and a Castilian. + +13. Father Fray Estéban de Peralta, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +14. Father Fray Pedro del Castillo, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +15. Father Fray Pedro Valenzuela, a preacher, and a Castilian. + +16. Father Fray Baltasar Jiménez, a priest, from Andalucía, who +returned to the province. + +17. Father Fray Felipe Tallada, a preacher, from Andalucía, who +returned to the province. + +18. Father Fray Rodrigo de Quiñones, a priest, from Andalucía. + +19. Father Fray Juan de Ugarte, a priest from Perú, and a +Vizcayan. [56] + +20. Father Fray Francisco Rubio, a priest, and a Castilian. + +Three religious died, in Méjico and San Juan de Ulua, of whom very good +hopes were entertained. This has caused a great lack here as is the +case when any sound religious is taken away. For since so many die, +if there is no one to hold the fortification, what has been gained +must necessarily be lost. For, if the devil learns that there are no +soldiers, who doubts that he will return to gain the mastery of what +was taken from him? Those religious have labored exceedingly well, +and some of them have become eminent linguists; and, God willing, we +shall have to say much about them. Our father provincial immediately +distributed them through the four provinces, very wisely, according +to the need of each. + +At this time one of the Recollect religious, a doctor and scholar, +named Fray Diego Rodrigo, was head of that order here. He bore the +title of father vicar-provincial, for the province had as yet no +authority to elect a provincial. He had some disputes with a beneficed +secular, whereupon the said beneficiary complained to the archbishop, +Don Fray Miguel García. The latter sought advice as to whether he +could try that cause, and, I know not why, kept the priest secluded +in our convent. The cause was continued, and afterward the said +vicar-provincial, Fray Rodrigo, went to España by way of India. Through +that journey he accomplished matters of no little importance; for he +suffered much and served the Catholic church greatly. He converted +and reduced many schismatic Russians [57] to the Catholic church, and +bore a solemn message from them to his Holiness. For this religious +had excellent qualifications for distinction; he was a fine Latin +scholar and an excellent preacher, and was no less a theologian. In +the Roman court he was of great aid to the religious of the Filipinas +against the pretensions of the seculars, so that his arrival there +was very important. He was very well received in that court, and in +that of España; and he would have obtained his desires, had not the +Lord been pleased to cut him off, taking him from this life to enjoy +that which is eternal. He had written a book on the affairs of this +country, but it is not known into whose hands it has fallen. May it +bring to the light achievements so eminent and honorable. Without +doubt they would be of much importance for a knowledge of what there +is in these lands so remote from our own. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +_Of the election of our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida_ + + +This chapter-meeting which follows was somewhat stormy, for the +opposition made it more conspicuous than was right. Our father +provincial, Fray Juan Enríquez, had had a most happy triennium. The +time coming to appoint a successor in his place, he considered our +father Fray Juan de Henao--a man who was well liked in the province +and who had many influential persons who were affectioned unto him--a +suitable man. Others, although few, resented this choice, and therefore +tried to block its accomplishment. Those men were few in number, +but they had great authority. The affair went so far that it came to +the ears of Don Alonso Fajardo, who was governor of the Filipinas. He +tried by means of his authority to mediate, so that there should be no +scandal; for he was well inclined to the order, and grieved over the +matter. Finally, our father Fray Juan Enríquez preferred to set aside +his own pleasure rather than that of the order; and, consequently, +did not attempt to elect a provincial by force, although he could +have done it, for he had many followers. Our father, Fray Juan de +Henao, performed a truly religious action; he stated publicly that +he renounced any claim that he might have on the provincialate, and +signed the same. He declared that those who had hitherto been his +partisans he authorized to support any other man who should be of +greater account to the province. He said that he was not considering +his own welfare, but that of the province, which he recognized as his +mother; and, as such, he would always place its good in the foreground. + +All were highly edified by this, especially the governor and the +archbishop, who were there. Father Fray Alonso del Rincón, who bore +letters-patent to preside, made the same renunciation. Consequently, +without any opposition, our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida was +immediately elected, _viva voce_, on Sunday, May 20, 1623. Father Fray +Hernando Guerrero, senior definitor, presided at this election. The +definitors elected were: our father master, Fray Diego del Aguila; [58] +the second, Fray Alonso del Rincón; the third, Fray Hernando Cabrera; +[59] and the fourth, Fray Francisco Coronel. [60] The visitors were +Fray Juan de Henao and father Fray Hernando Becerra. In assembly +with the outgoing provincial and the father president, they enacted +regulations for the province with the devotion that could be expected +from fathers so venerable. + +[After relating several remarkable and miraculous occurrences connected +with the ministry of certain Augustinians, Medina continues:] + +During this term, although our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida was +so great a religious--for which reason the priorate of the whole +province was given to him, and he was made provincial, with the +greatest renown that any one has ever had in this province--some +trouble occurred in the province of Bisayas. This was occasioned, no +doubt, by our father provincial, who was oppressed with ill-health, +not visiting it, although he was a son of the said province. Although +this province is less desired, as it is so far from Manila, yet the +Lord seems to care more for it, sending to it the most illustrious of +our religious; and taking therefrom the most devout of the province--as +at that time our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida--for its credit and +reputation. He was very zealous, and obtained an increase of income +for the house at Manila, so that it was able to attend better to +its many obligations of choir, study, and infirmary, and those of +so important a community. Our father had the good fortune also to +receive a very distinguished contingent of religious in the second +year of his term. They were brought by father Fray Juan de Tapia, +who, as we have said above, was sent by our father Fray Juan Enríquez +as procurator of the province. The religious were received with open +arms; for the province was now in need of laborers, as the country +was but little suitable to sustain life--especially among young men, +who, as the blood boils in so warm a land, fall sick easily and die. + +The religious who came in that year of 1624 are as follows: + +1. Father Fray Juan de Tapia, their superior and commissary. + +2. Father Fray Francisco Villalón, a reader, a Castilian. + +3. Father Fray Sebastián del Rio, a preacher, a Castilian. + +4. Father Fray Diego de Ordás, a preacher, a Castilian. + +5. Father Fray Martín Claver, an Arragonese, a preacher, and apostolic +notary. + +6. Father Fray Francisco Barela, a reader, a Castilian. + +7. Father Fray Juan de Guevara, a priest, from Andalucía. + +8. Father Fray Francisco de Portillo, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +9. Father Fray Miguel de Peñafiel, a priest, a Castilian. + +10. Father Fray Fulgencio García, a preacher, a Castilian. + +11. Father Fray Diego Solís, a preacher, a Castilian. + +12. Father Fray Rodrigo Angel, a priest, a Castilian, and apostolic +preacher. + +13. Father Fray Alonso de Salazar, a preacher, a Castilian. + +14. Father Fray Pedro de Herrera, a reader, who returned with the +habit. + +15. The father master, Fray Teófilo Mascarós, from Valencia, a +professor, and vicar-provincial for Mallorca. + +16. Father Fray Juan Bautista, a preacher, from Valencia. + +17. Father Fray Luis Ronquillo, an eloquent preacher, a Castilian, +and procurator at that time of Arenas. + +18. Father Fray Andrés de Fuentes, a preacher, a Castilian. + +19. Father Fray Juan de Loza, a preacher, from Andalucía. + +20. Father Fray Pedro de las Mariñas, a priest and a preacher, +a Castilian. + +21. Father Fray Cristóbal de Tapia, a brother, a creole. + +22. Father Fray Melchor de Mosabel, a preacher, a Castilian. [61] + +The father provincial, well-pleased with so fine a company [of +religious], divided them among the provinces. He sent the father +reader, Fray Francisco de Villalón, [62] to read in Manila, and the +father did that very satisfactorily; for there were many religious who +needed it. He sent excellent missionaries to the province of Bisayas; +and it seems that great pains were taken in this, and he did in this +what the province wished. For he sent it the best of the company, +and no error was made in the selection, since all of them have become +very devout religious and careful of their ministry. + +He sent a procurator to España in the first year of his provincialate; +namely, father Fray Antonio de Ocampo, a very eloquent preacher, and +who was accordingly esteemed in the province for that, as well as for +the other offices which he had held. But he had little good fortune +on the voyage, for the flagship did not make the voyage that year, +because of having been detained in necessary repairing, and when it +reached the Embocadero there was no wind to carry it outside, and it +returned at the end of October. The almiranta had time in which to +leave, and made the voyage, although at great risk, reaching Nueva +España in a mastless condition. + +After the second year of his triennium, the provincial sent another +procurator; for the first one, warned by the voyage, thought that he +ought not to embark again. This was father Fray Hernando Guerrero, +whom we have already seen, as he brought the finest company that +has been in or has entered these islands for many years. Making the +second voyage, he brought another company, that would have been no +less excellent if death had not snatched away its best members near +Manila. It seems as if death selected, among all, those of most renown, +although those who were left were distinguished. Let us conclude this +triennium with the fact that our father provincial--although it seemed +from his goodness that he would not try to declare himself too fully, +nor to influence the province against his will--at last, thinking that +he, because of his greater experience in its affairs than others had, +could arbitrate in a so important matter, accordingly set his eyes on +father Fray Antonio de Ocampo, whom we have already mentioned above--a +person certainly worthy of greater things, and a calificador of the +Holy Office. Our father thought it easy to accomplish his intentions, +for he found many who thought the same. But the one who opposed him +was of great account and a great giant, namely, the father master, +Fray Pedro García, the brother of the archbishop, who did not lack +followers and partisans. The contention, if I do not say that it was +greater than the former one, was not less. It is a remarkable thing, +and certain to befall a monarchy, that when it is about to come to +an end it slips and totters. Consequently, it was always suspected +that those appointed by the province were announcing some new method +of governing. The governor also--who was then Don Fernando de Silva, +of the habit of Santiago, and who had been sent by the viceroy of Nueva +España--took a part in it, so that the affairs of the order should not +go outside of its limits. Finally, it was our Lord's pleasure that they +should settle upon a third person, namely, our father Fray Hernando +Becerra, a person very deserving of what the order has given him. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +_Of the election of our father Becerra_ + + +We have already related that our father, Fray Hernando Becerra, +from the time that he set foot in Filipinas, was always climbing +the rungs and going from good to better. He came to the islands in +the company brought by our father visitor, Fray Diego de Guevara; +and as soon as he was ordained, that same year of 1610, he was +sent to Ilocos to be minister in that province. Beyond any doubt +at the time of his arrival, he made so good an impression on those +in authority, and they regarded him as so worthy of eminence, that +almost immediately he was given the chief priorate of that province, +called Bantay. He came to vote, therefore, at the following chapter, +and remained in the province of Tagalos, with the title of reader +of theology. Soon after that the bishop of Camarines, then visitor, +selected him as his associate in the general visitation. + +He afterwards came to read at Manila, and also voted in that chapter +with the title of associate to our father Fray Miguel García. Our +father Fray Vicente chose him as his associate, and immediately gave +him the priorate of Agonoy. During the provincialate of our father +Baraona, he was prior of Bulacán. During that of our father Fray Juan +Enríquez he was definitor; and also, for a year and a half, prior of +Manila. During the triennium of our father Méntrida, he was visitor +and prior of Pasig. After that, in the contest for provincial he fell +a trifle short of the required age, but was dispensed by the father +master, Fray Diego del Aguila--who presided as provincial, or rather, +as senior definitor. The definitors elected in that chapter were: Fray +Francisco Bonifacio (the second time that he had held that office); +the second, Fray Estéban de Peralta; [63] the third, Fray Jerónimo +de Medrano; [64] and the fourth, Fray Alonso de Carvajal. [65] +Those elected as visitors were father Fray Alonso del Rincón, and +father Fray Alonso Ruiz. They made regulations for the province, +and fortified it with good laws. + +Our father Fray Hernando Becerra doubtless forced himself to take +upon his shoulders the weight of the province on account of his love +for it, and in order that it might not go into a decline--although he +would have preferred to rest and to take care of his health; for he +had been ailing for two years, so that he appeared to be rather the +statue of death than a man. The fact that he was still young kept him +alive, for that is a very important point. Although all told him that +his illness was serious, and that it unfitted him for the burden of +government, still he had the greatest courage that one can imagine, +and accordingly was elected prior provincial, on May 2, 1626. + +However, he felt better immediately after assuming his new duties, +but this improvement did not last long; for he was like the candle, +which does not fail to flare up when about to be extinguished. He +received very good treatment, and all were diligently striving to +secure his health, for it was recognized that he was the one of whom +the province had need. It was feared that he would be harsh, and that +he would exercise severity; for he showed that disposition, and all +trembled before him--all that harshness being occasioned, perhaps, +by his severe illness. But in the end those fears lasted but a little +while, for on the day of our father St. Ignatius, the last of July, +God took him to himself by a most comfortable death, which left all +the religious envious and full of tears, so that there was no one who +did not shed them at that spectacle. Two years before he had prepared +himself [for death]; and, although he was always a most observant +religious, he renewed that care upon seeing the pass to which he had +come. The deposit which he held by permission in our order he proceeded +to give to the church, dispossessing himself of everything which could +prevent him from dying as a very poor religious. And when death was +about to seize him he left the government to our father Méntrida, and +went to discuss everything with God, and to arrange his affairs with +His [Divine] Majesty-which, as he was a person of great ability and +[spiritual] wealth was less necessary to him than to others. Knowing +the state in which the province was, he most earnestly begged the +religious to give him their word to call a chapter; for he was of +the opinion that that was necessary for the peace and advancement of +the province. He insisted on the same thing with our father Méntrida, +who was the one on whom the government devolved by right. Thereupon, +he very calmly gave up his soul to his Creator, leaving behind sure +token that he was going straight to His presence. + +Thereupon followed a period of distress in the province, not a +little difficult to settle. The government fell to our father, +Méntrida. The definitors were at variance. Our father Méntrida had +a most severe mandate from our most reverend father [general] that +acted against him, namely, that the provincial who did not visit the +province of Bisayas, at least once during his term was _ipso facto_ +deprived of the rights of voting and election, and the religious were +ordered to obey him no longer. Our father Méntrida had not made that +visit, giving as a pretext his ill-health. The religious argued from +this that, according to that mandate, he could not govern. To his +reply that his illness was the cause of his not obeying the order, +and that if God granted him health he would go, they answered that +that illness, which was asthma, was always in evidence. His adherents +wished him to have the command a second time, but the others would +not consent to it. Finally the governor, Don Juan Niño de Tábora, +had to intervene. Thanks to him, the matter was adjusted, so that +our father Méntrida resigned the government, which was assumed by +father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, the most pacific creature that has +been in Filipinas. He has never been known _directe_ or _indirecte_ +to have any altercation with any religious. He has ever been unwilling +to cause trouble to any one, and therefore has avoided giving it, +and I believe he caused trouble to no one during his term. The Lord +coöperated with this holy intention, giving him a triennium of great +quiet. We might say of him what Solomon said of himself: _nunc autem +requiem dedit Dominus Deus meus mihi per circuitum: et non est satan, +neque occursus malus_. [66] + +[Here follows the relation of the awful calamities that befell certain +persons, both Spaniards and natives, in consequence of their neglect +and scorn of the Holy Child. The narration is continued:] + +In this triennium I became prior of the convent of Santísimo Niño +de Jesús, which has in the city of Manila some six hundred pesos of +annuity, which is the source of that house's growth in the sixty-eight +years of the Spaniards' occupation. In the year 1628 I sent a religious +to collect that money. He was a conventual in that convent, virtuous, +an excellent preacher, and very zealous for that convent; he was a +native of Sevilla. He was empowered sufficiently to attend to what +might arise for the good of that convent. He made his trip to Manila +successfully, and returned to his convent after concluding what had +been entrusted to him. On August 29 of the same year, he left Manila +aboard a champan, the "San Nicolás," belonging to the alcalde-mayor of +Panay, for he had to make in the island some collections of rice that +were given to the said convent. He took two Spaniards with him--one +Jacinto de Lanzacorta, who had married there; the other Alférez +Peña--both devotees of San Nicolás de Tolentino as no less was the +owner of the champan, which he had commended to that saint. As they +were coming in the boat one night, aided by the vendaval, and as they +neared Ilagán (one of the longest crossings that voyagers have to make +there), the wind strengthened so that the waves rolled sky-high. Either +through the carelessness of the steersman, or because the rudder was +out of order, or the sea too heavy, the rudder parted atwain, and the +boat was without other help than that of heaven. For these Sangley +boats are flat bottomed, and the mast is very high; accordingly, all +the strength lies in the rudder by which they are directed--better +than the best bitted horse is governed. The champan tossed fearfully, +so that it was regarded as a good plan to cut down the mast. That was +a precaution that the Sangleys do not practice, and hence the sea +easily swallows them. This being done, the champan was very quiet; +and, although they were in evident danger of death, they did not lose +the hopes which they placed in the glorious saint, confident, by his +intercession, of life and arrival at Panay. For three days they were +the sport of wind and weather, awaiting what the Lord would do with +them, until on Saturday afternoon the same champan entered the port of +an islet two leguas from Burías. It was a miraculous thing, for when +they were rowing the champan and that but slowly, they were not able to +know the route, and hit upon it without any guidance, for already they +had left it. It was God's mercy which was extended to that religious; +for, had not the champan made port, they had fallen into the hands of +the men of Joló, who were sailing about those islands of Burías and +Masbate. They remained there a fortnight, without being able to repair +the champan in order to make their journey until our Lord was pleased +to have the same mast that they cut down in the champan drift into +the port, for the islet contained no suitable trees. They repaired +the champan with that mast, made a half-way rudder and a jury-mast, +and set sail on the sea for Panay, from which they were not very +far. But, after sighting the land of Panay, so furious a storm struck +them that they were unable to contend with it, as the champan lacked +strength in the rudder. They ran aground stern first on the coast of +Camarines, which was very near by, and which they had been prevented +from reaching by a calm, and had been awaiting a slight breeze. It +was our Lord's pleasure that they should be espied by a fleet of +Camucones, who were going through that region, plundering whatever +they might encounter in their raids. These are a very warlike people, +and so cruel that, whenever they capture a Spaniard, they will not +let him escape alive under any consideration; for after they have +tied him to the mast of the boat, they cut off his head and drink +from the skull. They slit the religious up the back and roast them, +or set them in the sun, for they say, just as we do, "So many enemies +the less." Then indeed did they re-commend themselves to St. Nicholas; +as they believed (and rightly) that this was a greater danger than the +past one, because of the less mercy that they could find in the bowels +of those utter barbarians. At length, they boarded the tender of the +champan and rowed ashore. The glorious saint whom they were taking +as patron hid their route from the Camucones in such wise that they +were not followed, for they could have easily been overtaken in two +strokes of the oar. They betook themselves inland to the mountains, +where their sufferings were not abated, for they were barefoot and +naked, until they reached the convents of our father St. Francis, +where they found hospitable welcome, aid, care, and provision. In their +journeyings they reached the shipyard, where a vessel was being built; +for it was necessary to get a champan there to go to Panay, and they +found one. They left the shipyard November 21, and reached Panay next +day. After a few days the enemy from Joló went to the shipyard, burned +it, killed many people, captured others, took away the artillery, +and committed great damage, although there were sufficient men in +the shipyard to defend it from a greater force. But the Spaniard can +never be persuaded of any danger, until it is upon him. Juan Martín, +the best and most reliable shipmaster in the Filipinas, was killed +there. It was a great loss, for there was no other who could fill the +position like him. But the Lord did not choose that the champan should +be lost; for the Camucones did not break it up, as is their wont, +but abandoned it after having plundered its articles of value--which +were considerable, and which caused great loss to the province. The +Sangleys, after seeing that the enemy had gone, went out to the +champan, righted it, and returned it to its owner--who never lost hope +of obtaining it, for he believed thoroughly in the saint. Sargento +Jacinto de Lanzacorta, very thankful for this, celebrates a feast to +St. Nicholas every year. Father Fray Pedro de Torres [67] says that +he arrived at Sugbú in the first part of February, where he had been +regarded as lost, for he was more than five months in making the trip +from Manila to Sugbú. During the whole time he suffered very many +hardships, from which St. Nicholas freed him. The most Holy Child +returned to His house, so that He might be served therein. + +In the beginning of this triennium, as the fathers of Ilocos were +going to their province, two or three of them feared the horror of +the journey by land, which is terrible. Accordingly, as they found +a suitable boat, father Fray Diego Abalos prior of Narbacán, father +Fray Juan Gallegos, [68] prior of Laguag, and father Fray Francisco del +Portillo, [69] prior of Purao, taking the provision for their convents, +went along the coast to Ilocos. But so furious a storm struck them, +that they gave themselves up as lost. Accordingly, as servants of God, +they had recourse to Him, sincerely confessing themselves and praying +earnestly--as well as their terror allowed--to God to beg pardon +for their sins. The Sangleys already, with loosened hair (which +means their last hope gone), did not attempt to do a thing in the +champan, for they thought that they could not escape from it. At last, +encouraged by the fathers, after setting a scrap of sail, they yielded +to the force of the stern-wind, and in less than thirty hours reached +the Chinese coasts. They made more than three hundred leguas in that +short time and route, which, even in fine weather, would take fifteen +or twenty days, or one or two months. They landed, where no little +danger awaited them, as the people tried to kill them. But at last +the Lord's mercy was not found wanting in that country, for through +it they went from land to land, until they reached Macán, a city held +by the Portuguese in the country of China. They were succored there +with great generosity, for in works of charity the Portuguese are most +generous. In Manila, they were thought to have been drowned. As such, +the masses and suffrages that are wont to be said in this province +of the order, for the religious who die in it, were said for them +in all the convents. Afterward, the Portuguese who came to Manila +informed Ours of the [above] event, whereat all rejoiced greatly; +for those regarded as lost were religious who were held in much +esteem. Two of them soon came, namely, father Fray Diego de Abalos +and father Fray Juan Gallegos The third, father Fray Francisco del +Portillo, went to the island of Hermosa, which belonged then to our +Spaniards, and took possession of a convent with the solemnity decreed +by law. Then he came back, and all three returned to their priorates, +to which others had already been appointed by our father provincial. + +The enemy from Joló had often made incursions, to the great loss of +the islands; for they caused many deaths, made many captives, and +occasioned not few expenses, which had been incurred for his Majesty +in opposing them, but all to no purpose. For either the Spaniards did +not try to look for them, or did not find them, or indeed, when they +met them, the enemy took to their heels; for on the one hand their +boats are swifter, and on the other they come more as soldiers than +our men, who seem to have inherited the carelessness and phlegm of the +country. And truly, I think injustice has been done to the Joloans, +and injustice should be done to no one, even one's enemy. But we +shall consider how God avenged the injuries committed by Saul on +the Ammonites, who did not stop until these were atoned for--which +was ended by David, who delivered to them all of Saul's descendants, +all of whom they hanged. And the scriptures say: _Suspenderunt eos in +patibulis in conspectu solis._ [70] For a criminal punished shines +like the sun in the sight of God. These Joloans were going to and +returning from Manila in the character of friends, taking and carrying +away necessaries to both parties. Once, when returning from Manila, +they were charged with robbing and making captives. The governor sent +Alférez Don Fernando de Figueroa after them. After meeting them, he +brought them back, after taking away their cargo, which is reported +to have amounted to more than four thousand pesos. They remained idle +in Manila, until they were freely dismissed, as no crime appeared +against them. Governor Don Alonso Fajardo died, and the Ioloans +returned to their own country, with the intention of asking the new +governor, on his arrival, for what was taken from them; since nothing +was proved against them for which they merited the punishment of the +confiscation of their property. They acted accordingly, and returned to +the presence of Don Fernando de Silva and of his successor, Don Juan +Niño de Tábora. Those barbarians endured very great delay, until, +finding themselves in a desperate condition and poorly equipped, +they returned, committing signal depredations on the way; and since +then they have continued their incursions, to the very great injury of +all the country. And although expeditions have been made against them +from Sugbú and Panay, nothing of importance has been accomplished. It +was resolved to build a good fleet and invade their country. This +was done very secretly, but I am surprised that they did not hear +of it. Its chief officer was Don Cristóbal de Lugo, who filled +the position of lieutenant-governor and captain-general of those +provinces. He assembled a goodly force, both soldiers and Indians, +who would willingly go to avenge themselves, as they said. For the act +of vengeance among the Indians is a terrible thing; and, if possible, +they do not miss it. + +While awaiting the time to go in Sugbú, where the forces were +gathered--who, as they were many, occupied all the houses, even the +smallest ones--some soldiers were cleaning their weapons in one near +the residence of the Recollect fathers. One fired his arquebus, which, +unknown to him, was loaded. It caught in the thatch which formed +the roof of that little house; and, as the sun was hot, and the wind +the greater brisa, the house quickly caught fire. The father prior, +Fray Pedro de San Nicolás, was very much annoyed; and he came out, +and with reason rebuked the soldiers, who lost all their effects. The +father returned to his house, where he learned that more had happened +than he thought; for, as he was going up stairs, he saw that the +greater part of his house was burned. By dint of ringing the bells, +a number of people came in, but they could not prevent the burning +of the house. This happened March 9, 1628, at one o'clock in the +afternoon. It was a great pity, and cause for compassion; for the +convent, by the efforts of father Fray Pedro de San Nicolás, was very +well finished. He had been most diligent in both the building and the +furnishing and adornment of it; and his province lost more than five +thousand pesos by the fire. + +Everything was well advanced for the expedition. Accordingly, all +the forces embarked, being accompanied by a father of the Society, +an Italian named Fabricio de Sorsale. The commander was a devotee +of the most Holy Child, although he did not take Him as patron this +time, a thing he was wont to do. Yet he would not go without bidding +Him farewell, which he did with great devotion, a ceremony which did +not lack many candles. The Child showed Himself so pleased, that I +was obliged to tell the commander that he should take comfort, and +that I promised him in the Child's name a very fortunate expedition, +as happened--and it would have been better, had they known how to use +their victory. The fleet left Sugbú on the fourth of the same month, +with more than one hundred Spaniards and three hundred Indians. There +were two captains of infantry, subordinate to the commander--one +Francisco Benítez, the other Juan del Rio. Other volunteers accompanied +them. They reached Joló, found it unprepared, and burned the town, the +king's houses, the ships, and whatever they found. Had they followed +the people, they would have found them in confusion and hiding in +the grass; for on account of the long peace, the Joloans had not +provisioned their stronghold, which was impregnable. The soldiers +contented themselves with this, and let slip the best opportunity +that could have been desired. + +Upon the day that this occurred, some Spaniards happened to be in +our church with father Fray Pedro de Torres, and they saw that the +Child was laughing. This was the church that had been built by the +said father Fray Pedro de Torres--a fatal one, I call it. For four +days after the fleet had left, on the eighth of the same month, while +I was in the refectory dining with the Recollect fathers, whom I had +brought to our convent, another Recollect came from Manila, who was +coming to be ordained. While recounting to him the misfortune that had +occurred, the prior said: "Tell me, brother, if you saw this convent +ablaze, would you not feel compassion?" We went up stairs, and at one +o'clock the fire began in the middle of the city, to the windward. It +originated from some tobacco; cursed be it, and the harm that that +infernal plant has brought, which must have come from hell. The wind +was brisk, and blowing toward the convent. In short, everything was +burned, though we saved the silver and whatever was possible. The Holy +Child willed to allow His house and most of the city to be burned, +although no two houses had ever before been burned in that city at the +same time. This happened on Saturday, the eve of Passion Sunday. I +gathered together all that escaped from the convent of San Nicolás, +and set about going to Manila, to repair that loss as far as possible. + +While on the way to the island of Panay, my boat was overturned +by a heavy storm, and it was a miracle that I escaped with my +life--which happened, through God's mercy, by the efforts of my Sugbú +Indians. Finally when the storm was appeased, I reached the convent of +Salog, without shoes, naked, and perishing of hunger, on the fifteenth +of the said month of April. The father of that convent, called father +Fray Francisco de Oliva, [71] and all the others of that island, aided +both the convent, and me especially, with the greatest charity. Thus +I obtained there two very large contributions of all necessary for +the convent. I found father Fray Estéban de Peralta, definitor of +the province, there visiting the island. I went to Manila with him, +where I tried to go from Manila to España. The superior did not impose +obedience in regard to it, so that I turned all my efforts to caring +for my house, for which many religious aided from their stores with +great charity. + +At this juncture the ships came from España. They brought the +governor's wife, Doña Magdalena de Oñate. They had been four +whole months in making the port of Cavite and had suffered very +severe weather. Those two ships were very staunch ones, and had +better accommodations for cargo than any that have been seen in the +islands. They were called the "San Luis" and the "San Raimundo." As +commander of the flagship came Don Juan de Quiñones, in whose ship +sailed the governor's wife. It also bore the religious of our father +St. Dominic; while in the almiranta sailed Don Diego Muñoz, Bishop +Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, the latter of whom was at the point of +death, so that his escape was a marvel. We saw above how our father +Méntrida sent him to España as procurator. He made a prosperous trip +[to España], and when he reached España found himself a bishop, a +negotiation effected by heaven rather than his own efforts. For one +always recognized very great grace (I mean humility) in his Lordship, +like the grand religious that he always was. But his many hardships, +journeys, and services in the islands made him worthy of this and of +other greater honors. He went and returned in three years, bringing an +unusually fine company [of religious]. But the plague decimated them, +taking the best of the men, as follows: + +1. Father Fray Francisco Osorio, reader of theology in España, and +an eloquent preacher; and, above all, of most noble temper and blood. + +2. Father Fray Juan Bermans, a preacher from Flanders. He died chaste; +and was a brother of Father Bermans of the Society, who is to be +canonized, and who serves as a model. + +3. Father Fray Diego Bonifáz, a very virtuous religious. + +4. Father Fray Bartolomé de Eraso, a preacher and quite indispensable. + +5. Brother Fray Francisco González, chorister. + +6. Brother Fray Francisco Diego, chorister. + +7. Brother Fray Antonio de Salazar, chorister. + +Those who entered [port] alive were: + +1. Father Fray Francisco de Azuara, from Valencia, lecturer in +theology. + +2. Father Fray Pedro de Quesada, lecturer in arts, from Castilla. + +3. Father Fray Luis de Villerías, a creole, a debater in the +university. [72] + +4. Father Fray Bartolomé de Esterlik, a preacher, an Irishman. [73] + +5. Father Fray Dionisio Suarez, chorister. + +6. Father Fray Juan de Prado, from Castilla, a preacher. + +7. Father Fray Justo Úbeda, from Castilla, a priest. + +8. Father Fray Alonso Ramos, from Castilla, a priest. + +9. Father Fray Francisco de Abendaño, from Castilla, a priest. + +10. Brother Fray Alonso Quijano, from Castilla, chorister. + +11. Brother Fray Diego Tamayo, from Andalucía, chorister. + +12. Father Fray Gonzalo de la Palma, from Castilla, chorister. + +13. Brother Fray Juan Lozano, from Castilla, chorister. + +14. Brother Fray Miguel Dicastís. + +15. Father Fray Gaspar de Castilla, a preacher. + +16. Brother Fray Agustín de Chauru, from Castilla, chorister. [74] + +They were welcomed gladly, although with grief for the great loss +that they had sustained. Those religious suffered greatly; for the +storms compelled them to disembark between Bacón and Verde Island, +which must have cost them dear. Afterward they suffered not a little +on land until they reached Manila, where they were well received +and feasted. The priests began to labor, and the brothers, after +ordination, did the same, since they had come for that purpose. + +I, who had obtained by entreaty what I could to buy two ornaments +and all that was necessary, returned to my field of labor; so that +I left the convent with a house, church, sacristy, and ornaments, +better than before; and all that was necessary for the house, more +abundantly and fully than before. I also increased its annual income +by more than three hundred pesos. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI + +_Continuation of the preceding_ + + +Governor Don Fernando de Silva thought that the trade of this country +with China was annually decreasing, because of the Chinese pirates, +who were now very bold, so that the traders could not leave port +without manifest danger to their property and lives. And indeed, +if any came, it was to bring rather people than cloth and the other +things that the country needed. Besides this, since the Chinese had +Portuguese in their country, they could transport their cloth without +so much danger and sell it to the Portuguese. The latter brought it +from Macán to Manila, and sold it there at whatever price they pleased; +for the Spaniards had to export something, as otherwise they could not +live. For their other incomes, acquired through encomiendas--I know +not how they are valued--do not suffice or enrich, and least of all +satisfy. Perhaps the reason is that in collecting them no attention +is paid to what is produced. Besides that, the governor knew that the +Dutch were settled in Hermosa Island, a very large island, which lies +more than two hundred leguas north of Manila. It is called Hermosa +[_i.e._, "Beautiful"] Island because of its fertility. It is quite +near China, although it is inhabited by Indians, like the rest of the +islands. The governor thought that, from that place, the Dutch were +depriving us of the trade; this would mean the destruction of Manila, +which only a lucrative trade could sustain. To remedy all this, he +thought to capture Hermosa Island, and he discussed and conferred +about this plan. The Dominican fathers, influenced by the gain of +souls, encouraged this affair, because of the nearness of the island +to China. As all are dependent on the governor in these regions, no +one dares to contradict him in whatever pleases him; for they fear +his anger upon them, which often deprives them of sustenance. But, +I think time has proved what an unwise thing was done; for none of +those injuries have been remedied, but have remained. The forces, +which are daily becoming fewer in the islands, were divided, and +there were innumerable other inconveniences. Finally, the governor +sent troops to the island, and possession of it was taken, more than +forty or sixty leguas from the Dutch fort. Only Dominican religious +went on this occasion. Then it befell that many of the troops died, +for the island is very cold. Most of the fruits of Castilla are raised +there. Its inhabitants are fierce, and live without law or reason, +but more as their chiefs dictate. Ours have suffered signal hardships +there. Sargento-mayor N. Careño was governor of that fort and the +troops; and he did his utmost. The Chinese came and offered many things +when the soldiers had money; but, when money failed, all was about to +perish. That year, 1626, Don Juan Niño de Tábora came as governor. He +was told of Hermosa Island and its great importance. Accordingly, +he resolved to make an expedition thither, with as many of the +remaining soldiers as possible. They filled three large galleons +and other smaller ones. Captain Lázaro de Torres, of whom we have +made so much mention, sailed in the "Trinidad," the smallest of all +the ships. They left in August, after the despatch [for New Spain] +of the vessels of 1627. The weather was rough, so that the governor +grew afraid. After incurring so great expenses for his Majesty, and +sailing in galleons which carried fifty or sixty pieces of artillery, +a return was made to Cavite. Only Lázaro de Torres went ahead, with +whom sailed father Fray Lúcas de Atienza, of our order, as prior and +vicar-provincial. They suffered terrible storms, and ran manifest +dangers; especially when, running with the lower sail on the foremast, +they ran aground on an island, which they had not seen because of +a dense fog. At last they all got away. They flung out, or rather +raised, the greater yard (which they were carrying down), shook out +the sails full, and then were able to make land with the sides under +water, and the sea running sky-high. They just missed scraping the +sunken rocks about the island. The most courageous man among them +was our religious, for no one, neither soldier nor sailor, met the +danger with greater courage or resolution. At length they reached +Hermosa Island at a time that proved the redemption of those men, for +already were they eating rats. They were in the extreme of necessity; +for neither did any Chinese come, nor had the Spaniards any silver to +attract them, for that is the most efficacious allurement. Captain Don +Antonio de Vera had gone out with twenty men; but some Indian chiefs +daringly killed him and his men. Captain Lázaro de Torres rallied to +this necessity. He went outside, relieved the fort, gave what food he +had, and then--having nothing to do, and suspecting that the governor +had put back into port--he returned with our religious. The latter +came near dying on account of his great hardships; and indeed death +overcame him after he returned to the land of Manila--where because +of those sufferings he never again raised his head in health. + +During this same time, I mean in 1628, the house of our convent of +Bisayas was burned--the one which I had built with so much trouble. It +was the best in the province. It is suspected that the rebellious +Indians burned it, as it was not the time when fires are wont to +happen, for it was Christmas, when it is always rainy. + +During the triennium of our father Fray Juan Enríquez, the church and +house of Dumangas were burned. They were fine edifices. Both fires +occurred during the night, so that it was a miracle that the religious +escaped; for they were asleep, a sign that the fire was set on purpose. + +During this triennium the Manila Parián was burned. It was a miracle +that the city was not burned; and the interests that were ruined +were very large. Although the church of the Parián was so near to +the houses, and entirely of wood, it did not burn, whereat all the +Sangleys were much surprised. They said afterward in their broken +language, "Here St. Mary great" [_aqui Sta. Maria grande_]. The walls +and supports were aglow with the fire and brightness, or rather, +were ablaze, as they were so hot that the hand could not be placed +upon them. This made the wonder all the greater, and the Sangleys +became more attentive to the consideration of our truths. The Parián +was rebuilt better; its houses were roofed with tile, so that it is +very sightly; and, with the point adjoining it on the river, which +has been finished, it has added glory and honor to the city. All was +done, as I have said, at the cost of the Sangleys. But they cause +the Castilian to pay it, by raising prices universally. + +[The chapter closes with several miraculous occurrences and +pious observations that emphasize the grandeur of the Christian +religion. These marvels are interspersed with other matter as follows:] + +During the triennium of our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida, the +sending of a religious to Maluco was discontinued, and the convent +of Cavite was completely abandoned. It must have been the opinion +of grave fathers that that was not of importance. Many things are +kept, which although they are of no use at the present time, are at +least preserved for the hopes which are entertained that they will +be useful in the future, and that they will prove of advantage. No +notice was taken of that, for four eyes are worth more than two; and +what has appeared in one way to me may appear to others in an entirely +different light. Hence I shall leave the discussion of this matter. + +In the first part of the year 1629, the most holy sacrament was found +missing from the altar of the cathedral of Manila. + +It was a thing that troubled all greatly; but it most troubled the +archbishop of Manila. The greatest and most painstaking efforts +imaginable were made. Many were arrested, and put to severe torture; +and, for many months, no other efforts were made than to ascertain +whether the aggressor could be discovered by any manner or means. But +that one was never found, nor could they discover who stole it, nor +what was done with it. The archbishop retired to San Francisco del +Monte, which is a convent of the religious of our father St. Francis, +who spend their lives there in the contemplative life with notable +perfection and spirituality. There then our archbishop took refuge, +and spent many days in other similar works, furnishing an example to +all the country; and although it is true that he was always an example +during all his life, he seems on this occasion to have redoubled his +acts of penitence--praying God, as a truly contrite man, that, if that +lamentable case and one so worthy of sorrow throughout the islands +had happened through his omissions. He would pardon him and regard +those sheep which had been committed to him with eyes of pity and +kindness; and that he might not be the cause that their punishments be +multiplied. He caused prayers to be said by the convents and parishes, +noting that beyond doubt the sins of the people were great, since the +Lord was working against them and permitted that the sacrament be taken +from its place and dwelling in so sacrilegious a manner. For no less +in the present desecration than in that which these sacrilegious Jews +practiced toward our Lord in the garden, the gravity of the sin is +recognized, since He allows such treatment. And no less is the love +recognized which He has for us, accepting and receiving to Himself +the insults which He does not wish to fall upon His people--like the +pious mother who shielded the dear body of her son, whom she loved, +with her own, so that the tyrant might not wound him, preferring the +welfare of her son to her own. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII + +_Of the election of our father Fray Juan de Henao_ + + +Our father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, with the mildness which we have +seen, with which he began and divided his government, ended it with +the same, not leaving any religious any ground for complaint. For +he loved them all equally, and equally strove for their spiritual +welfare, acting toward them in every respect as a true father and +shepherd. He had cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Medrano as +his successor. The latter was then definitor, and he was a person +of great talent for what the office requires, and had preached at +Manila in a very satisfactory manner. But since there are so many +different understandings in a province, all men cannot judge of a +thing by the same method, for every one feels regarding it as his own +judgment dictates. Consequently, there was a following which tried +to elect father Fray Francisco Coronel, a man of vast learning, and +of whom very great hopes were entertained for the future. But that +following never could gain the full game, nor even check the other +faction. Thereupon they settled on a scheme which did not succeed +badly, and that was to cast their votes for our father Fray Juan de +Henao, who belonged to the other faction, and had the father president +on his side. By this means, the election was conferred upon the man +who was least expected [to gain it]. One would believe that the Lord +chose to give him therein the dignity which He had taken from him six +years before--the reader will remember what we have said about that. + +At this time the fathers born in the Indias, although they were +few, had obtained a bull from his Holiness, so that between them +and the fathers from Castilla there should be alternation [in +the celebration of Corpus Christi]. Its execution was committed +to the archdean of Manila, Alonso García, a creole, who was much +inclined to it. Accordingly he proceeded without allowing any appeal +or argument, although those presented by the Castilian fathers were +very cogent. Finally he proceeded to extreme measures, by declaring +the fathers excommunicated. Here the province refused to admit the +letters of excommunication. Finally, our father Henao was elected +in this contention, with father Fray Estéban de Peralta acting as +presiding officer of the chapter. The definitors elected were: +father Fray Juan de Tapia; the second, Fray Juan de Medina; the +third, Fray Nicolás de Herrera; [75] and the fourth, Fray Martín +de Errasti. [76] The visitors were father Fray Jerónimo Medrano and +father Fray Cristóbal de Miranda. [77] + +The father provincial and the other father definitors looked after +the affairs of the province with great prudence, and discussed the +most important matter of that time--namely, the choice of a person to +go to the court of Roma to represent the causes which had moved them +not to accept the alternation, giving him the money for expenses which +the other fathers are accustomed to carry, with additional pay, and as +the case required. The father master, Fray Pedro García, was selected +for that purpose. He was the brother of the archbishop and a person +of great talent and resources, who would be well received anywhere +because of his person, learning, and excellent mode of procedure. But +the Lord was pleased not to allow him to reach Nueva España. The creole +fathers also requested that permission be granted to them, for they +wished to send a procurator on their own account; and their request +was granted. Accordingly they sent father Fray Alonso de Figueroa, +[78] a person of much ability, and the most suitable that could be +selected among the men of his following. + +Father Fray Hernando de Cabrera, an admirable minister of the +Tagalos, of whom we have already spoken, asked for leave to go to +España. Together with the father master, Fray Pedro García, he took +passage on the flagship "San Juan," a new ship whose first voyage +this was. Aboard it was Don Fernando de Silva, who had governed these +islands, four procurators for the city of Manila, who were being +sent to look after the property of the citizens, on account of unfair +dealings by those of Nueva España in the returns made for it [_i.e._, +for goods exported thither from Manila]. Further, two fathers and a +brother named Fray Juan de Peña took passage with them. Two of our +religious embarked aboard the almiranta--father Fray Lorenzo [_sic_] +de Figueroa as procurator of the creole fathers, and a brother named +Fray Francisco de San Nicolás. They left the port of Cavite, August +4; they experienced considerable suffering, for the vendavals were +blowing vigorously, and those winds make it difficult to get out of +the bay. At last it was God's good pleasure to give them weather which +enabled them to make their voyage. In this line, on the return trip +to Méjico, the ships do not sail in company, but each one takes the +direction which is most expedient for it, relying on God, who will +aid them. The storms were frightful. The almiranta suffered the most +terrible voyage that ever ship has suffered. For after a few blasts +they had to cut down the mast, and, when they reached thirty-six +degrees, they lost their rudder. In such plight they agreed to return, +suffering destructive hurricanes, so that, had not the ship been +so staunch, it would have been swallowed up in the sea a thousand +times. Finally God was pleased to have it return, as if by a miracle; +and as such was it considered by all the inhabitants of Manila. The +other vessel, being a new and larger ship, on perceiving the storm, +went to a lower latitude. It continued to plow the sea, to the great +discomfort of all, for it was six months on the voyage. The father +master, Fray Pedro, died on that voyage, with so excellent an example +that there was no one aboard the ship who was not edified. Father +Cabrera also died with great piety, and like a devoted religious, as +he was. The brother lived. Even the chaplain aboard the ship died. In +all the dead numbered ninety-nine persons, who could have peopled a +world. Those who arrived were in such condition that it was necessary +to let them regain their strength in the port of Valdebanderas. The +procurators on both sides had this lot, which was plainly that which +occurred to all. But against the will of God there is no one who can +go; what is important is, that His will be always done. + +Archbishop Don Fray Miguel Garcia saw that the time was approaching +for the provincial chapter. He hastened and left Manila to visit +and confirm those of his jurisdiction. It is certain that, had +Ours detained him, affairs would have come out better. Finally, +being constrained, they had to summon him; and his coming adjusted +affairs. He returned to his confirmation, being desirous of concluding +it in order to return for the feast of Corpus Christi in the city, +which was his greatest devotion. But his haste cost him his life. He +was corpulent, and had been ailing many days; his blood became heated, +and gave him a fever. He was not attended to in time, and when they +took care of him he was a dead man. His death occurred on that same +day of the most holy sacrament, at nine o'clock at night. He died +as an apostle, after having done his whole duty as religious and +bishop. Great was the concourse of people, for his great sagacity and +prudence made him not only liked but loved by all. He was buried in our +convent, at the foot of the high altar, among the religious. Beyond +doubt our Lord chose to snatch him from this life on that day which +he so much venerated, so that he should see the reward which the +Lord gave him for so great devotion. He was a liberal almsgiver, +and at the time of his death had nothing that was his own. All his +possessions had been expended in charitable works many days before. The +city grieved much over his death, but his church grieved more; for, +besides remaining orphaned, there was no other who would thus look +after it. The bishop of Sugbú came to govern it, by indult of his +Holiness, with which he has governed twice at Manila. + +[After dwelling at some length on the virtue of a Bengal slave woman +and her miraculous escape from death, she having been dangerously +wounded by her would-be seducer, Medina continues:] + +In our father Fray Juan Henao's first year, when we had already +entered upon the year 1630, the orders considered the little security +that they had from the Moros, for the latter were becoming insolent +with their successful forays; and thus, without giving our people any +breathing-space, were destroying the villages and missions in charge +of the orders--and more especially they were pressing the Jesuits, as +those fathers were established in places more exposed to the insolence +and violence of the enemies. The governor, in an endeavor to uproot +so great an evil at one blow, had a fleet built in the islands--the +largest ever made by Indians--at the expense of the king our sovereign, +and of the Indians and encomenderos. A great sum of money was expended +upon it. Command of it was entrusted to the master-of-camp of the +forces at Manila, Don Lorenzo de Olazu, a soldier, and one of those +of highest reputation in those regions. The fleet bore more than +four thousand Indians, taken from all districts at great expense, and +more than five hundred Spaniards, picked men, commanded by captains +of note. The fleet was composed of two galleys, three brigantines, +a number of caracoas, and champans to carry food. With this fleet +it was confidently expected to subdue not only Joló, but all the +hostile islands. + +The Jolog group consists of many islands, but the principal one, where +the king lives, has a hill in the middle of it like a volcano. It +has only one very steep ascent, and is an impregnable point, and as +such it is regarded by all. Accordingly, when the Indians are visited +by enemies, they fortify the hill, and then imagine themselves secure +against any force. But when, about two years ago, Admiral Don Cristóbal +de Lugo had burned their villages, and they knew that the Castilians +were about to attack them, they had fortified the hill strongly, +mounting thereon the guns that they had taken from the [Spanish] +shipyard. The master-of-camp believed himself sufficient to take that +hill alone. Accordingly as soon as he arrived, he landed, and heading +them, led his men up the hill without delay. That fleet was accompanied +by one of our religious, father Fray Fulgencio, an excellent preacher, +and a very good worker, who was preëminent among the others who +went. There was also a Recollect father named Fray Miguel, who did +not move from the side of the master-of-camp. The latter, finding +himself almost alone on the height and near the stockade, many +sharpened stakes and bamboos hardened in the fire were hurled at him, +so that the master-of-camp fell, while others of the more courageous +were wounded, and some killed. Thereupon, had the others ascended +and entered, as the attack would have been less difficult after that +first fury, they would have gained the fort, which had but few men, as +was afterward learned; but they remained inactive. The master-of-camp +arose, and retired without doing more than this; and with this result, +that that fleet, that had made every one afraid, returned. My opinion +is, that the Spaniards were punished for the arrogance that they must +have displayed there; and that along those coasts, and at the expense +of the wretched subjects, they tried to find the pearls of the king +of Joló, which were said to be most beautiful. And accordingly this +was proclaimed, to the sound of drum, in the port of Ilong-ilong +and in Sugbú, and a reward promised to whoever would seize them; +for they considered the victory their own already, and shouted it +forth before obtaining it. If they, as Christians, had gone with +good intent to punish those Mahometan enemies for the desecrations +that they had committed against the churches and sacred images, who +doubts that the Lord, whose cause that was, would have aided them? But +they were greedy for their own interests, and had their eyes on their +own convenience. Thus they lost both the moneys expended and their +reputation; and to save reputation one should expend much toil, for +by it are conserved monarchies and kingdoms. They returned to Manila +the laughing-stock of all the islands. From that time the Indians of +Cagayán began to talk among themselves of lifting the yoke, placed on +their necks by the Castilians; for as has been seen, all is not gold +that glitters. Many deaths occurred among the Indians of different +districts. The expenses of the natives, as above stated, were great, +for although no one goes from his village except with very liberal +aid, in this case that aid was unusually generous. Thus there was +no encomienda that had a thousand Indians that did not expend more +than a thousand pesos, besides rice--in addition to their tribute, +personal services, and other taxes. It should be considered and +recognized how these poor wretches were continually harassed; hence, +why should one wonder that events do not succeed as one would desire? + +In the present year the vessel "San Juan" returned, the ill-fortune of +which was feared, because the almiranta had put back to port. It +gave report of its voyage, whereupon the order voted what was +important. [79] They appointed a procurator who went to España. This +was the father reader, Fray Pedro de la Peña, [80] who was prior of +Macabebe in Pampanga. He took passage on the flagship "San Luis." In +the almiranta embarked another father, from Valencia, named father Fray +Vicente Lidón. These vessels left the port of Cavite on August 4. They +put back to the same port to lighten, and set sail again as heavily +laden as before. They experienced no better voyage than the last ones +had; for, besides putting back, they did not lack misfortunes. The +flagship cut down its mast on the high sea, and was all but lost. The +other vessel also suffered greatly, and between them both they threw +overboard more than one hundred and forty [dead] people, while the +others were like to die of hunger, for the voyage lasted seven and +one-half months. Nueva España no longer expected them, and therefore +despatched [to the islands] two small vessels from Perú, in which +came the visitor of the islands, Don Francisco de Rojas. Both vessels +suffered greatly. They lost their rudders, and their arrival was a +miracle. It is quite apparent that the Lord is very merciful toward +the islands. We surmise that these vessels arrived, one in July and +the other in August of 1631. The worst thing resulting to the order +in what happened to the vessels was, that no one would take passage +on the ships, so that the province came to a condition of the utmost +peril. For, if procurators are lacking in España, there is no hope +of getting religious; and the religious who are here now are dying +daily. For never have I seen a triennium when there were not more than +twenty deaths, and sometimes even thirty; while few are invested with +the habit. Thus, perforce, the province is always in need of men. + +Nevertheless, I, who had always been desiring to go to España, at +last obtained my wish this year of 1631, under the greatest strife +and oppositions that can be told; but I will not speak of them, +as they are personal, although a not small history might be made of +them. Finally I embarked in the flagship (where I went as vicar), +in which no other priest embarked. The ship was a new one, and had +been built in Cavite, during the residence of Governor Don Juan Niño +de Tábora, who named it "La Magdalena" for his wife. It was always +said that the ship had no strength and ought not to make the trip. The +people said this among themselves; but, when they spoke of it to the +governor, they praised it, and said that it was the best vessel in +the world, for the contrary grieved him greatly. It was laden, and +then its weakness was evident, so that they had to change their tune +to that very governor. It was said that it would be made all right +by putting in some stiffening--namely, three planks on each side, +very thick and heavy--whereby it seemed that the vessel would be +strengthened. Accordingly, the people embarked, a thing that ought not +to have been done. On Thursday, at dawn, we were about to set sail; and +when they weighed the anchor that held the ship, it listed to starboard +so rapidly that, had not the point of the largest yard caught on the +shore, the ship would doubtless have turned keel up. To see so many +men perish there and so much property lost, was a day of judgment--an +event such as no one remembers to have heard told before. The artillery +was fired at intervals from the fort of Cavite, whereat the governor +and many vessels came up. I was the first to escape from the ship, +but as by a miracle; for I jumped into the water from the lantern, +clothed as I was with my black habit. By God's help I was enabled to +reach a small boat, in which I escaped, as above described. May the +Lord's will be fulfilled. With this I have been in danger of death +seven times from the water while in the islands, whence the Lord by +His mercy has miraculously drawn and freed me. The first was shortly +after my arrival in the country, at Aclán. While bathing in the river, +suddenly a current came whose rapidity seized me and bore me beyond my +depth. I was already lost and surrendered myself to the mercy of the +water, for I could not swim. God inspired a sacristan who was there, +who dived quickly into the water, followed me, and, catching hold of +me, drew me ashore. The second was while prior of Ibahay, and when +I was visiting the islands. While crossing to one, so fierce a storm +struck me that the Indians gave up hope, and thought only of dying. The +little boat was a poor one, without helm or sail. All human aid being +exhausted, I had recourse to the [departed] souls, who obtained a +change of wind from the Lord; thus, with a powerful north wind, and +the anchor thrown astern from a cable to aid as a rudder, we reached +a little islet at two o'clock at night. There we moored, that stormy +night. As soon as we reached the islet, the vendaval began to blow +again, so that it would seem that the north wind had blown only for +that. The third was in the same river of Ibahay. While ascending it +when it had a very large strong current (for it is a furious river), +it overturned my little boat, and drew me under; but, although I +did not know how to swim, the water was drawn from under me, and I +remained on the surface of the water, in such manner that I did not +sink beyond my girdle. And thus, with half my body out of the water, +the current carried me a long distance. The Indians were following +me in all haste with the little boat, supporting it with their hands; +and, when it overtook me, I climbed on top of it, overturned as it was, +and in that manner they dragged me ashore. From there I went to the +village, passing through streams as deep as my waist, or even to the +shoulders, and many times even up to the throat, at the imminent risk +of attack by crocodiles, and of life, and health; for I did not dare +enter the boat again. The fourth was in Laglag, when I was going on +horseback to the visitas of that district. The road was so close to +the edge of the river that it could not be followed without risk. The +rest of the country was so rough that it could not be penetrated. I +was going carefully, but the horse knew little of the reins, and +made a misstep and fell into the river--from so high a precipice that +surely, had there not been much water in the river at that time, we +had broken all our bones. But it was deep and had a strong current, +so that when we fell into it we sank. The horse reached the shore +immediately by swimming. The current carried me above water for a +very great distance, until I seized some reed-grass by which I was +able to reach the shore, where I thanked God for so many mercies. The +fifth was by falling into the Dumangas River from a little boat. The +above one of the ship is the sixth. I have left untold countless +other dangers, while on the sea so many times--now from enemies, now +from the weather. The seventh time is the loss of Sugbú, after the +burning of that city and convent. It is not little to tell what the +missionaries suffer here; but, as they are caused by works for God, +His [Divine] Majesty aids us with His help and protection, when by +any other means it seems impossible to save one's life on account of +the enemies and hardships that surround a religious on all sides. May +thanks be given to His [Divine] Majesty for all. Amen. + +In 1631 there happened a wonderful thing in Sugbú. On account of the +ill-success achieved at Joló, the governor sent Sargento-mayor Tufino +to Sugbú, so that, being posted in Dapitan (situated in Mindanao), +he might prove an obstacle to the Joloans, so that they should not +infest the islands. He reached the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, +and was lodged in a house belonging to the convent, opposite the +prison; the two houses are separated only by a very wide street. The +sargento-mayor stored his powder, amounting to sixteen barrels, in +his house. The prison caught afire. All the people ran thither, since +if the fire leaped to the house opposite, and caught in the powder, +the city would surely be blown to pieces. The most Holy Child was +immediately taken out, at sight of whom the fire was checked, and +burned only the nipas of that piece, and left the supports on which +it rests intact. This is the latest thing [of this sort] that has +been seen. It was a solemn miracle; but that Lord who is omnipotent +in all things can do this. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII + +_Continuation of the preceding_ + + +The trade and commerce of the Japanese Islands has always been +considered of great importance in these islands; for, as the former +are rich in metals and foods, what is needed here can be brought +thence at moderate prices. Formerly the Manila traders made much +more profit by sending their goods to Japón than to España, for +they saw the returns from them more quickly and at less risk. The +governors have sought this trade very earnestly. Don Alfonso Fajardo +sent two ambassadors, namely, Don Juan de Arceo and Don Fernando +de Ayala, who were very influential men of Manila; they carried a +goodly present with them. But that barbarian refused to admit them, +whereupon they returned abashed, without effecting anything. All +this rancor has arisen through his expulsion of the orders [from +Japan], and his prohibition against preaching any new religion in his +country. Although the emperors have done this in their zeal for their +idolatries, the credence given to a falsehood told them by the Dutch +has aided greatly in it. The Dutch told the emperor, in short, that +he should beware of the European religious, for that by their means +the king of Castilla made himself sovereign of foreign kingdoms; for +after they had entered the country and reduced it to their religion, +the rest was easy. It is not necessary to prove the falsity of this, +so apparent is it. Disguised religious have not on that account +discontinued going to Japón, but continue that work, although the +severity of the persecution is ever increasing. + +In the year 30, the governor sent out two large galleons, with five +hundred soldiers, besides the sailors; they were ordered to capture +and bring to Manila any Dutch vessel found on the coasts of Siam and +Camboja. Don Juan de Alcarazo was commander of the galleons, and Don +Pedro de Mendiola was admiral. They sailed the seas at signal risk, +as they were not extra large ships, and the city was very anxious. For +should those galleons be lost, then was lost the strength of the +islands. But, finally, the Lord brought them safely home, which +was not a little fortunate. In the course of their wanderings they +seized two ships or junks, one belonging to Siamese, the other to +Japanese. They sent the Siamese vessel to Manila, but sacked and even +burned the Japanese vessel. It is said they found great riches on +it. Who could know the truth? This was learned in Japón, whereupon +the hate and ill-will of that people toward us redoubled. They tried +to collect the value of the junk from the Portuguese, who trade with +Japón. They said that, since the Castilians and Portuguese had the +same king, it made no difference which one of them paid. They seized +the goods of the Portuguese from them, and then the latter found their +business quickly despatched. They sent their ambassadors to Manila, +and a most dignified father of the Society came to manage the affair, +namely, Father Moregón--a Castilian, but so changed into a Portuguese +by his long intercourse with them, that he did nothing without +them. Nothing was concluded upon this occasion. Later, in the year +1631, two junks came from Japón, one Portuguese, the other Japanese, +with an embassy. The governor granted them audience in very circumspect +fashion. On that occasion he assembled all the infantry in two columns, +and had them escort the Japanese who acted as ambassadors, to whom he +gave horses and trappings and a fine carriage. In short, they had come, +in behalf of the governor of Nangasaqui, to confer about the junk, +and the means by which trade could be opened. But it was straitly +stipulated that no religious should go, for the Japanese had no +liking for them. Two of our Japanese friars were the translators of +all the matter contained in the letters. The governor satisfied them +in everything, and treated them very well in Manila. The religious +took the greatest pleasure from the embassy, considering the power +of God. For when that gate was, in man's judgment, most tightly +locked, the Lord opened it. For naught is impossible to Him. _Non +erit impossibile apud Deum omne verbum._ [81] He who brought the +Magian kings to the feet of One newly-born, by following a star, +that same One brings the other nations to His bosom, when He wills, +and opens the door to them so that they may enter into the bosom of +His Church. The religious had the greatest hope of seeing the doors +of Japón opened widely, so that those harvests might be gathered. The +Lord, then, has been well pleased in those kingdoms with so much +blood as has been shed there by His faithful ones, in testimony of +His holy law. May He act as He shall see best in this matter. + +It appears that in the year 1629 the orders were moved to send +religious to Japón at their own cost. These were the Dominican fathers, +the Franciscans, our Recollects, and those of our own order. They +furnished the expenses on shares, built a champan, hired sailors, and +paid a pilot. But that expedition could not have been for the best, +for the Lord proceeded to defeat it, by allowing their champan to be +wrecked. Afterward, although they bought another in China (or rather in +Ilocos), it had no better success. Ours spent more than five hundred +pesos. The father reader, Fray Pedro de Quesada, [82] and father Fray +Agustín de Chauru went. The sufferings of the religious from storms, +rains, roads, and famines would not be believed. It seems that they +can say with St. Paul: _Omnia superamus propter eum qui dilexit nos._ +[83] They had to return because their superiors thus ordered, for +in any other way they would not have done it; as they know very well +how to suffer with Christ and for Christ, whose hardships were sweet +to them, as to another St. Paul: _Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in +cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi._ [84] + +That same year certain splendid feasts were celebrated in Manila for +the holy martyrs of Japón who were canonized by his Holiness Pope Urban + VII. There were twenty-one of them. Three were dogicos of the Society; +the others belonged to the order of our father St. Francis. The +religious marched in glittering vestments, all at the cost of the +pious and religious inhabitants of Manila. The orders invited one +another. There was a general procession in which the altars were +excellent. As for that of our house, if it were not the best one, +none of the others were ahead of it. It is certain that the dances, +comedies, and the other things which made the festival magnificent, +could have been envied by the best cities of España, to the honor and +glory of its sons; for they have so pacified this earth that even at +the limits of the world may be seen so many grandeurs to the honor +and glory of the Author of all. Of this not a little redounds to +the Catholic sovereigns of España; for by their expenses of men and +money the banners of the Church have floated over the most remote and +unknown parts of the world. Our kings of España deserve much, no doubt, +since God has made use of them for so great affairs in His service. + +Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora sent Captain Juan Bautista, +who had married one of his servants, to the fort and presidio +of Caragán. He was a very energetic and courageous youth, as he +had proved on all opportunities that arose--both in that presidio, +where he made many successful expeditions, and in other places where +he had been sent. He had been badly wounded in Joló. When he beheld +himself head of that fort, he resolved to make an entrance among the +Tagabaloes. [85] He assembled many men from the friendly villages; +as is the custom--although I know not with what justice they have +taken to make forays on them, capturing them, carrying them away, and +selling them, for those Indians where they go are not Moros, nor even +have they done any harm to the Spaniards, but remaining quiet in their +own lands, they eke out a miserable existence. But this [custom] is +inherited from one [generation] to another. While about to make a foray +in this manner, Captain Bautista quarreled with a chief of Caragán, +the chief of all that district; and, not satisfied with treating him +badly with words, the captain attacked him, threw him to the ground, +and gave him many blows and kicks. Captain Bautista was unarmed, +as were also the Spaniards with him, who are very self-reliant in +all things. Then the chief returned to his own people and asked +them if they were not ashamed of what had happened. "Then," said he, +"how do you consent that the Castilians and captain treat me thus in +your presence, when you could easily kill them?" As they were few and +unarmed, the natives killed the captain and twelve soldiers, and Father +Jacinto Cor, a Recollect father, who was going with them. After this +first misfortune, resulting from the anger of an imprudent captain, +the natives went about warning and killing all the Spaniards whom they +found on their coasts, and tried to take the fort by strategy. But +already the matter was known, and on that account they did not take +the fort, which was the only means of recovering that post. They +killed four more religious, among whom was father Fray Juan de Santo +Tomás, prior in Tangda, who was near the same fort. He was a holy +man, as he showed at his death; for, seeing them resolved to kill +him, he asked permission to commend himself to God. He knelt down, +and while he was commending his soul to God, they thrust him through +with a lance. This religious was very learned and devout, and took +especial care of his soul. Therefore it is believed that by that +title of martyr our Lord chose to take him to His glory and crown +him there. They wounded brother Fray Francisco, a layman, severely, +as well as the father reader, Fray Lorenzo; but they did not die, +and were afterward ransomed. The other religious were very devoted +to God. How fortunate they, since they died so happily and in so +heroic a quest; for those idolators killed them for hatred of their +teachings. As much help was taken there as possible from Sugbú. The +chief commander in this was Captain Chaves, encomendero of Caragán, +who was living in Sugbú. He performed good services, repairing as +much as possible the evil and harm that had been begun. Afterward, +the commander-in-chief, Martin Larios, went with more soldiers to +punish those Indians. + +It was reported as certain that those Indians, desirous of throwing +off the yoke from themselves, revolted because of the result +in Solog, aroused by what they saw in Joló, among a people less +resolute than themselves, as well as by the lack of bravery that +they had witnessed in the Spaniards. The natives gathered, and held +assemblies and tried to ally themselves with the Joloans, Mindanaos, +and all the other neighboring natives that could help them. Things +were not in the condition that they wished; so they were gathering, +and biding their time. The above opportunity was presented, and they +hurled themselves to their own greater loss, since they began what +they could not finish. It was permitted by God, so that the many +souls whom the fathers have baptized and hope to baptize there may +not apostatize; for thereabout are multitudes of heathen Indians, +among whom the worship of Mahomet has not yet entered, and with the +care of the fathers the harvest, without doubt, will be very plentiful. + +The Recollect fathers returned to visit, or rather, to rebuild their +house burned in Sugbú. They built it better, and roofed it with tile, +whereby it will be safer than a roofing of nipa, which is so exposed +to fire and flames. + +In August, 1629, the governor sent Captain Don Sebastián de Libite--a +very noble Navarrese knight, who had been a very good soldier in +Flandes--to the Pintados as commander-in-chief. He went with his wife +and household to the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. The weather +was very stormy, and they were often menaced by death. This lady, Doña +Catalina de Aguilar, and her whole household were very devoted to the +most Holy Child, and called upon Him with great anxiety. Finally, in a +disastrous storm that struck them, where death was facing them, this +lady said to her husband: "Listen, Don Sebastián, promise something +to the Holy Child, so that He may help us, and may allow us to see +Him." He promised one hundred pesos. "What, no more than that?" replied +Doña Catalina; "If we are drowning, for what do we love Him?" Finally, +he promised five hundred pesos. The most Holy Child beheld their +devotion, and miraculously saved them from their danger and conveyed +them safe to Sugbú, where they fulfilled their vow. And it is a fact +that although they were persons of great wealth of spirit and nobility, +they are people who have less of the temporal. But what they possess is +greater, which, at the end, will be a pledge of their reaching heaven. + +[Father Medina's editor, Father Coco, follows the narrative with +a list of the Augustinian provincials in the Philippines from +1632-1893--eighty-two in all.] + + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1630-1633 + + + Royal letters and decree. Felipe IV; December 4-31, 1630. + Letter to Felipe IV from the bishop of Cebú. Pedro de Arce; + July 31, 1631. + Royal orders, 1632-33. Felipe IV; January-March, 1632, and + March, 1633. + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Niño de Tavora; July 8, 1632. + Events in Filipinas, 1630-32. [Unsigned]; July 2, 1632. + Letter from the ecclesiastical cabildo to Felipe IV. Miguel + Garcetas, and others; [undated, but 1632]. + + +_Sources_: The first and third documents are obtained from MSS. in the +Archivo Histórico Nacional, Madrid; the second, fourth, and sixth, +from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; the fifth, +from a MS. in the Academia Real de la Historia, Madrid. + +_Translations_: The fifth document, and the first letter each in the +first and the third, are translated by Robert W. Haight; the remainder, +by James A. Robertson. + + + + + + +ROYAL LETTERS AND DECREE + + +_Letter to Tavora_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-general +of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia which +sits there. Your letter of August 4, 628, which treats of matters +concerning the exchequer, has been received and examined in my royal +Council of the Yndias, and this will be your answer. + +As to what you say that it is not expedient to continue the custom +introduced under the governorship of Don Juan de Silva, namely, that +the officials of my royal exchequer in those islands should not make +payments without your order--considering that they have not half the +money which is needed, and that it will be necessary to set limits +to the payments, so that they may be made only in the most necessary +cases--you will observe the order which you have for this matter, +taking care that the payments made be entirely justified. + +I have looked into the difficulties which you mentioned as resulting +from the sale of offices of notaries in the provinces of the islands; +but as it seems that the considerations in favor of it are the +weightiest, you will order that they be immediately sold, or at least +one in the chief town of each province, and will advise me when this +is put into execution, and the amount for which each one is sold. + +It will be well, as you say, that with the approval of another council +like that which was held in the time of Don Pedro Acuña, decisions +should be made whether it would be best to make a new valuation of the +produce in which the Indians are obliged to pay the tribute. Granting +the arguments which you bring forward, you will take care that they +pay some of their taxes in kind; because otherwise they would not +take the care that is desirable in stock-raising and farming. + +You will see to it that the payment of salaries to the auditors of +that Audiencia be not postponed; but on the other hand you shall +prefer them to all others, whereby the complaint which they make of +you on that score will be avoided. [Madrid, December 4, 1630] + + +_I the King_ Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras. + + + +_Royal decree to regulate shipbuilding_ + +The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, my governor and captain-general +of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, +or the person or persons in whose charge their government may be. It +has been learned by my royal Council of the Indias that the warships +which are built in those islands are so large that they can be used +only to fight in a stationary position in any battle; and that they +cannot avail for navigation, to make or leave port when desired, to +sail to windward, to pursue, or for any other purpose; and that there +are not sailors or soldiers or artillerymen in sufficient numbers with +whom to man them, as the smallest ship is of a thousand toneladas' +burden. In order to equip them many war supplies are needed, also +huge cables and heavy anchors, of which there is a great scarcity +in that country. We have been informed that, now and henceforth, it +would be advisable that no ships of greater burden than five or six +hundred toneladas be built which will be suitable for the commerce +and trade with Nueva España, and for the war fleet. And inasmuch as it +is advisable that the best plan be adopted in this matter, you shall +assemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuilding +and in navigation, and in accordance with their opinion you shall +proceed in building the ships. You shall endeavor to consider in their +construction what regards both strength and capacity, and the other +matters above mentioned. You shall advise me of what resolution you +shall adopt. Given in Madrid, December fourteen, one thousand six +hundred and thirty. + + +_I the King_ + +Countersigned by Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras, and signed by the +members of the Council. + +[_Endorsed_: "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him to +assemble the persons of that city most experienced in shipbuilding +and navigation, and in accordance with their opinion to regulate the +building of ships."] + + + +_Letter to the Manila Audiencia_ + +The King. To the auditors of my royal Audiencia of the city of Manila +in the Filipinas Islands. Your letter of the first of _[month omitted_] +628 has been received and considered in my royal Council of the Indias, +and I hereby give you answer to it. + +In regard to what you say touching the fact that the officials of my +royal treasury of those islands do not pay you your salaries promptly +when due, saying that the governor has ordered them not to pay it +without his decree, I am having the said governor ordered to endeavor +not to delay the payment of your salaries; but that, on the contrary, +you be preferred to all others in the payment of them. + +You say that, in accordance with what was ordained by laws of the +kingdom and ordinances of the Audiencia there, appeals have been +admitted in it, from the decisions of the alcaldes-in-ordinary, +[and] edicts of the governor; [but] that he has imposed a standard +and measure, in matters of the political government, with certain +penalties, on the Sangleys regarding the manner in which they have to +make timber, tiling, and other like articles; and that the governor +has prevented these causes from being appealed to that Audiencia, +declaring his purpose to give me an account of it. As he has done this, +and has asked for a declaration of what he ought to do, I have ordered +him to observe, in the method of reporting these contentions to me, +and in the form on which they must be grounded, the order that is +given by various decrees; and in the meanwhile he shall observe the +custom in similar cases. And if there are no similar cases, then no +innovation shall be introduced in the trial of the said appeals. + +The said governor also writes me in regard to what you say about +his prohibiting disputes from going to that Audiencia, or to any of +the auditors, as alcaldes of court, as he believes that the parties +can go to place the disputes before the ordinary judges; so that, +if there should be any act of injustice, the case may go on appeal +to that Audiencia. In that regard, he has been answered to observe +the existing laws on that matter. + +What you say about ceasing to maintain a room, separate from the other +collegiates, in the college of San Josef (which is under charge of +the fathers of the Society), for the instruction of the Japanese in +our holy faith, is approved for the present, as communication with +that kingdom has ceased. + +The other sections of the said letter were examined, but there is +nothing to answer to them at present. Madrid, December 31, 1630. + + +_I the King_ +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Francisco Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + + +LETTER TO FELIPE IV FROM THE BISHOP OF CEBU + + +Sire: + +July 26, 1631, I received three decrees from your Majesty, in which +your Majesty granted me the favor to advise me of the birth of the +prince, [86] our sovereign, whom may God preserve. I feel especial joy +and satisfaction at the favor that our Lord has shown toward España, +in giving us a successor to your Majesty. In regard to the thanks +that your Majesty orders me to give to God, I shall take especial +pains to do as your Majesty orders. + +In the second decree of your Majesty, your Majesty orders that the +natives of these islands be treated gently, and that they be relieved +as far as possible from injuries and too heavy burdens. I have always +done my utmost, so far as I am concerned, in regard to this; and now +and henceforth, I shall do it more carefully, since your Majesty has +ordered it. + +In your third decree, your Majesty orders that the governor appoint +an ecclesiastical person to assist him in the examinations in what +concerns the royal patronage, because of the troubles that have +occurred in the vacant see. What I can tell your Majesty in perfect +truth is, that I have always tried to have benefices given to the most +praiseworthy, and to those most suitable to minister to the Indians; +but if your Majesty judges an agent advisable, I shall willingly obey +what your Majesty orders. + +Your Majesty has appointed the archdean of the church of Cebu, Don +Alonso de Campos, to the dignity of schoolmaster in this church of +Manila. He has not been graduated in any science, and in this regard he +is not possessed of the qualities that the council of Trent demands, +nor those which the dignity of this church demands, for he is not +a bachelor of arts. He who now exercises that office _ad interim_ +is Don Alonso Ramirez Bravo. He has been graduated in both kinds +of law, and is a man of good qualities, who is at present provisor +and vicar-general of this archbishopric. He has had in charge the +bishoprics of Çubu and Camarines. He is a most praiseworthy person, +in whom are found the necessary qualifications. Will your Majesty +grant him the favor of this dignity? for he merits it, and is serving +in it by appointment of the governor of these islands. + +Your Majesty orders me by a decree of your Majesty, under date of +March twenty-seven of the year twenty-nine, directed to the archbishop +of this city of Manila--which I received, as I have in charge this +church in the said vacancy--to make investigation regarding the +claims of Doctor Don Juan de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoça, fiscal of +this royal Audiencia, that he has been given a royal decree to act +as protector of the Sangleys, as his predecessors have been. Your +Majesty orders me to ascertain whether a protector is necessary, +whether the Sangleys ask for one, and whether it be advisable that he +should be the fiscal. The relation made in the royal decree, Sire, by +the said Doctor Don Juan de Quesada, is the truth, without adding one +jot to it. What I can say to your Majesty is that the Sangleys need a +protector to defend them; and that they have no defense, as has been +experienced, except when they have had the fiscals as protectors. This +is the reason why they have always been appointed. Often many injuries +and annoyances inflicted on the Sangleys are remedied by the sole +authority of the fiscal, without commencing suit. The Sangleys, +Sire, ask a protector, and ask that he be the fiscal. I have seen +a petition which was presented to the governor of these islands, +Don Juan Niño de Tabora, signed by very many Sangleys, in which they +petition him to give them the said Don Juan de Quesada, the fiscal, +as protector. He has not determined to appoint the latter, because +of the decree that he has received from your Majesty. However, I am +fully persuaded of the great advantage to the Sangleys in having +the fiscal as protector. This is the reason why no other has been +appointed; for the governor says that, in conscience, he finds it very +desirable for the Sangleys that the fiscal be their protector. The +Sangleys have always petitioned for a protector. They are the ones +who pay him his salary, and not your Majesty; consequently I cannot +see that there should be any inconvenience in your Majesty giving +them the one whom they desire and whom they pay, especially when it +does not militate against your Majesty or your royal treasury. The +Sangleys are very unprotected since your Majesty ordered that the +fiscal should not be their protector. They are much better off, as +they have experienced (as we all experience) the Christian spirit +and honesty with which the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, has served +and serves your Majesty. Consequently, it seems to me advisable that +the present fiscal, and those who shall fill that office hereafter, +be the protectors of the Sangleys. The contrary, I believe, would +result in harm to the Sangleys. No protector can have less trading +and business relations with the Sangleys than the fiscal, to whom +your Majesty has prohibited trade and traffic; and he has forsworn +it. May our Lord preserve the Catholic person of your Majesty for +many years for the welfare of His kingdoms. Manila, July last, 1631. + + +_Fray Pedro_, +bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus. + + + + + + +ROYAL ORDERS, 1632-33 + +_Letter to Tavora_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora of my Council of War, my governor +and captain-general of the Filipinas Islands, and president of my +royal Audiencia there. Your letter of June 20 of the past year 630, +concerning the exchequer, has been examined in my royal Council of +the Yndias, and an answer is given you in this concerning the matters +thereof in which decision has been made, and those which require reply. + +I have considered what you say in regard to the inexpediency of +including these islands in the monopoly of playing-cards established +in Mexico; [87] also the act which you issued to the effect that the +[monopoly] contracted for with Don Francisco de la Torre, a citizen +of that city, should be put into execution. You will order this to be +observed and complied with, during the time that it shall last; for +it is already agreed to, with this stipulation, and I have confirmed +it. As for the future I wish to know the advantages or difficulties +which may result to my royal exchequer from doing away with this +income, and not including those islands in it, and whatever else in +this matter may occur to you, you will inform me in regard to it very +fully on the first occasion; and I likewise command, by a decree of +this day, that the said Audiencia do this. + +You say that the office of secretary of the cabildo of that city was +sold for twelve thousand five hundred pesos in coin, with the condition +of having a voice and vote in the cabildo--which you conceded because +the greater part of the offices of regidor there of were vacant, as +there was no one to buy them; and that the price of the said office +should rise, as otherwise it would not pass six or eight thousand +pesos. You also stated that it was sold under condition that, if I +should find it inexpedient and for this reason should not confirm it, +nothing should be returned to the buyer; and as the said condition of +his having a voice and vote in the cabildo has appeared prejudicial +and illegal, you will correct this immediately--supposing, as you say, +that the contract need not be altered for this reason, or anything +given back to the person concerned. + +For repairing of the losses which result from the fact that the royal +officials make the winning bids for the offices which are sold in +those islands, without notifying you of the amount and the person to +whom they are sold, I am sending a decree of this date to command +them to comply with and execute, on all occasions which may arise, +the act which you have issued to this effect, which I approve. + +That the said royal officials may always be at peace with you and well +disposed, letters are being written to them as to how they should +conduct themselves; and you, on your part, will maintain friendly +relations with them. + +The additional pay of a thousand pesos which you set aside for the +bishop of Cebú, during the time while he governs that archbishopric, +has been approved, since the reasons which oblige you to it are so +justifiable. [Madrid, January 27, 1632.] + +_I the King_ + +By command of the king our lord: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + +_Decree forbidding secular priests from Eastern India in the +Philippines_ + + +The King. To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava, +member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, or the +person or persons in whose charge their government may be. I have been +informed that the secular priests who go to those islands from Eastern +India with their trading-ships generally are those expelled and exiled; +that they remain there, and are often employed in vicariates, curacies, +and benefices, to the injury of the natives, and the patrimonial rights +of the country. After examination of the matter by my royal Council +of the Indias, I have considered it proper to issue the present, +by which I order you not to permit any of the secular priests from +those districts [of Eastern India] to enter those islands; nor shall +you admit them to any exercise of office, for this is my will. [Given +in Madrid, March twenty-six, one thousand six hundred and thirty-two.] + + +_I the King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + +Signed by the Council. + +[_Endorsed:_ "To the governor of Philipinas, ordering him not to +allow any of the secular priests who might go from Eastern India to +the islands to enter therein or admit them to any exercise of office."] + + + +_Order to the city of Manila regarding the Mexican trade_ + + +The King. To the council, justices, and magistracy of the city of +Manila, of the Philipinas Islands. In response to what Don Juan Niño +de Tavora, my governor and captain-general of those islands, wrote me, +in the former year of 1629, about your petition for the fulfilment of +the decree of 1593 which permits the inhabitants of that island to +go to sell their goods in Mexico, or to send them under charge of a +satisfactory person--and not to send or consign them, except it be in +the second place--in a section of a letter which I wrote on December 4 +of the former year of 630 to the said my governor, I charged him that, +if the encomenderos living in that city who had sent persons with +their possessions to Mexico proceeded dishonestly, or formed trusts +[_ligas_], or monopolies among themselves, they should be punished +according to law; and that if, in addition to the inconveniences that +should arise in the observance of the said decree, others should be +discovered, he should advise me thereof, so that suitable measures +might be enacted. I also had my viceroy of Nueva España ordered +to watch carefully what the inhabitants of Mexico did, so that he +might apply the advisable remedy. Now, Don Juan Grau y Monfalcon, +your procurator, has informed me that the decree given in the said +year of 593, ordering that the inhabitants of those islands might send +persons to Nueva España to sell or take care of their merchandise; and +that no one might consign them, except to one of the persons appointed +for that purpose, who would reside in Mexico, was put into execution; +but that, in violation of it, many of the inhabitants secretly send +large quantities of merchandise to Mexico, entrusting those goods to +the passengers and sailors without registering them, although that +city has persons of credit and trust in Mexico. Thus result many +embarrassments and frauds to my royal duties. He petitioned me to be +pleased to have my royal decree issued, ordering that such unlawful +acts be not permitted. The matter having been examined in my royal +Council of the Indias, bearing in mind what my fiscal said there, I +have considered it fitting to advise you of the aforesaid, so that you +may understand it, and I order you, in so far as it pertains to you, +to keep, obey, and execute, and cause to be kept, obeyed, and executed, +what has been enacted in this respect. Madrid, March 25, 1633. + + +_I the King_ + +By order of the king our sovereign: +_Don Fernando Ruiz de Contreras_ + + + + + + +LETTERS FROM TAVORA TO FELIPE IV + + + +I + +_Government affairs_ + + +Sire: + +I sent a despatch by way of India in the month of November of the +past year 631, because the flagship which sailed for Nueva España +sank here in port, and the almiranta put back. A copy of the despatch +which they carried goes in the first mail, with this, and I refer to +it. Accordingly I shall now begin to give an account to your Majesty +of what has happened since then. + +The ships which had remained in Nueva España last year, reached here +during the last part of May after a favorable trip. Therefore I trust +that they will depart earlier than in previous years, and that the +voyages may become regular. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +The ships brought as a subsidy two hundred and thirty-four thousand +pesos for the royal treasury. Two hundred thousand came last +year. The viceroy writes that he can do no more. The visitor here +will not, I believe, consider it little, since he does not have it +in his charge. Certain it is that the last six remittances which the +viceroy has made to these islands have all been smaller than those +made by the other viceroys. I confess that the times have become +hard; but one can but ill sustain a number of men, or take care of +the expenses of war, on less than what their pay and salaries amount +to. The accounts for the five years which were asked are enclosed, +and have been made out with all clearness. For the last three, it +will be seen how much smaller have been the receipts and expenses +than those of my predecessors. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +Neither have the men come who are needed; for the past year came +eighty-odd soldiers, and this year ninety. That is but a scant +number for the many men who die here, for our forces are steadily +diminishing. I can do no more, for money has not been coined here, +nor do the people multiply. I ask, Sire, for what is needed to fulfil +my obligations. The viceroy does not send the orders which are given +him from there; they can not be so illiberal. As this is a case of +need, I give notice of it, in order that blame may not be cast on me +at any time. [_In the margin:_ "Have letters to the viceroy written, +charging him with this." "The viceroy has been charged with this by +a decree which was despatched at the petition of the city."] + +The visitor, Don Francisco de Rojas, is proceeding with his visit +with excellent judgment, and with his personal efforts and close +occupation. This community grieves over the results, for they are +many. I trust that he may administer justice so fully in all things +that only the liquidations and the balances should be those which are +collected. He has attempted (as he thinks that he bears authority for +it) to make the final decision of what may be spent by councils of +the treasury, and in fact has begun it with this royal Audiencia and +with me. That has appeared a strong course to us, for his commission +does not extend to that. Neither would it be right for only one judge +to declare as improper any expense which the governor, auditors, +and royal officials had approved by their opinions. The councils of +the treasury were established for expenses of government and war. If +there were no authority for those expenses, it would be an evil, +and nothing could be accomplished. That will be the case on the +day when we shall be subject to have one accountant proceed, in the +visitation, against those who gave their opinion as to the expenses +which may have been incurred. Who would dare give his opinion freely, +if he had to fear that it might be amplified or not? Your Majesty +already does not trust your governor alone for this responsibility, +and orders him to meet in council with the Audiencia and the royal +officials, and that the majority of votes shall rule. That has so +many inconveniences that the service of your Majesty comes to suffer +greatly from them. If the more important things are entrusted to your +governor, why not the lesser? When the archbishop died here, as your +Majesty was advised, the bishop of Zibu, who entered into his place, +petitioned that he be given some gratuity from the salary enjoyed +by the archbishop, because of the many expenses of living in this +city--taking a precedent from the vacant see of the other archbishop, +in which the treasury council assigned him one thousand two hundred +pesos. On this occasion it seemed necessary, so that the bishop +might be able to support himself, to assign him one thousand pesos +annually; and it was ordered that your Majesty be advised thereof, +as was done, so that you might consider it a proper expense. It was +necessary and unavoidable, for in any other way the bishop could not +live three years--the time during which we have to wait for a reply, +if we first had to advise your Majesty. The visitor, Don Francisco +de Rojas, has added this item, and formed an opinion unfavorable +to the auditors who gave their votes to it, and has ordered that +they make satisfaction for it. His commission does not announce this; +accordingly, as a matter inferred from good government, he has no right +to inspect this affair. He has also taken issue against the auditors +of the last Audiencia, who were the ones who assigned the one thousand +two hundred pesos during the other vacancy. Your Majesty, by decrees +received here this year, grants concession to the archbishop-elect +of a third part of the salary which the dead archbishop would have +received. Your Majesty orders that another third be given to the +cathedral. In accordance with this, there is much more justice and +reason in giving suitable maintenance to him who is serving the +cathedral. I petition your Majesty in all humility to be pleased to +confirm what was done with so great a desire of serving you well--acts +which were so thoroughly grounded on justice and right. I assure you +that we desire to economize your royal revenues, and that economy is +the very thing which is necessary. I have written to the visitor, Don +Francisco de Rojas, a document (a copy of which I enclose herewith) +in regard to the matter of the proceedings which he is attempting to +obtain from the treasury councils, after having first consulted with +the Audiencia in regard to it. He replies as will also be seen by the +same copy. I have thought best to inform your Majesty of everything, +so that you may be advised of the matter. What he appears to take as +his basis of action, and on which he places more stress, according +to what he has told me, is a section of a decree of your Majesty sent +to Don Alonso Fajardo, dated Madrid, December 10, 1618, in which your +Majesty uses the following language: + +"We have also learned that, through the opportunity furnished by +fulfilling an order which my officials of my royal treasury of +those islands had--that, if a necessary and unavoidable case arose +in which some new expense would have to be incurred, the governor, +Audiencia, and the royal officials should assemble and discuss it, +and what should have the majority of votes should be executed, +giving me advice thereof--on this account many expenses, salaries, +and wages have been incurred and increased without any necessity, +for the private ends of each one. Consequently, I order you not to +make these expenses, except in sudden cases of invasion by enemies; +for by doing the contrary so much injury to my royal treasury results." + +There are two chief points in this section which can be discussed. The +first is that your Majesty says that you have heard that the expenses +have been incurred for private ends, and not because they are +justified. He who told your Majesty that the wills of the governor, +auditors, and royal officials in Filipinas could be unanimous, even +for their private interests, has deceived you; for experience shows +the contrary. Neither should your Majesty believe that we are all so +vile that we would be making unlawful expenditures of your revenues +in order to pleasure one another. Well assured can you be of this by +the limitation and restriction that would have to be because of the +majority of votes; and because the governor, in whom your Majesty +trusts most fully, does not have the final decision. Scarcely any +authority is given him in this, and a great deal is taken away +from him. + +In regard to the second point, what occurs to me to say is that, if we +are to understand that we must wait for sudden emergencies, and until +the enemy is at our gates, in order that we may make any expenses +in defense of it; I, Sire, as a soldier (which is my profession), +declare that in the Filipinas Islands there is a continual invasion +of enemies. Accordingly, since we are confronting so many, it is +necessary that we be always in a state of defense. Consequently, +we must not wait until they arrive before we make the expenses for +the necessary precautions--especially since Manila is surrounded by +Chinese and Japanese, and full of slaves, all of whom need no more +than to see us without preparation, in order to revolt. All these +are so cogent reasons, in my poor judgment, that I consider it beyond +doubt that it will be for your Majesty's service to have a new order +issued giving your governor and captain-general authority. In order +that he may fill those offices effectively in your Majesty's service, +it is necessary for him to have that authority in the royal treasury, +for extraordinary expenses which result from government and war--as +your captains-general have in Flandes, in Milan, in Napoles, and in +Sicilia, where there is war, and state affairs arise which render +that necessary. It is the same in the Filipinas, because of so many +enemies who are within its gates, and so many negroes roundabout, +with whom it is necessary to have intercourse and against whom it is +necessary to be on our guard. I do not say that there should not be +a council in the form ordered by your Majesty, but after the council +the governor should have the power to take such measures as he deems +best. I do not petition this for myself; for, when a reply to this +shall come, already the term of my government will be finished. Your +Majesty's service moved me, through my zeal for it. I shall exercise +the opposition to the visitor which seems advisable in this matter +of the treasury tribunal, your Majesty always retaining the right to +order what shall be your pleasure. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +In the letters which I am writing by way of Yndia, I discuss the +controversy which the royal officials had with the city, before the +visitor, in regard to the seats. That contention ceased after the +visitor had pronounced judgment against the city, to which I did +not assent, affairs having been adjusted in this regard until your +Majesty should order what should be most to your pleasure. After many +excommunications which had been issued, search was made for the decree +in which your Majesty mentions the form which must be observed in this, +and in which you order that they be seated in the places which they +occupied while regidors; finally, the decree appeared among the others +that the royal officials had in their office. The same Don Francisco +de Rojas found it by chance, while looking for other decrees in the +books which he had demanded from them for the inspection, and after +they had, under oath, denied having it. The excommunications which +intervened in the matter having been annulled (for in this way do +we live in the Yndias), the visitor was at last convinced of what I +always told him; and this point is settled, that the royal officials +are to use the seats which they had when regidors. [_In the margin:_ +"File it with what has been petitioned in this matter."] + +It might be that the said visitor will write to your Majesty in +regard to certain points of government and war, of which he has been +accustomed to advise me by notes, of which authentic copies are +taken. It seems to him that, as a minister so superior, this duty +can devolve on him. I have respected it, for what these acts may +indicate of friendship; but I cannot help mistrusting it, because of +the caution with which it is done. Consequently, I have the authentic +replies also, so that at any time what he wrote and what I replied may +be evident. I desire his friendship and am striving for it, since there +will always result a greater service for your Majesty--an intercourse +which I would swear that he ought not to remember in the visitation; +for soldiers (and more, soldiers of my rank) do not profess to be +witnesses, nor can we be. I do not believe that he will have appeared +careless, yet I take this precaution on general grounds, so that, +if perchance he may have written something, a hearing may be kept +for me, and that new decisions may not be sent from there in matters +pertaining to government and war, simply on his report; for he is a +lawyer, and new in the country, and the most that he will set forth +in this matter will be what was told him. [_In the margin:_ "Seen."] + +The decrees which I received last year from your Majesty were obeyed +and carried out. The same will be done with those which come this +year. I humbly kiss your Majesty's hand for the honor and reward +which you have conferred upon me in having an answer written to me +with so great promptness to the despatches of the years 28 and 29. In +what you charge me, namely, that I preserve friendship with Japon, I +have had very great care; for after the events of the year 27, I have +managed to give that king to understand the irregularity of the case, +[88] and your Majesty's desire for friendship with his kingdoms. My +efforts have already succeeded so well that this matter is already +settled with the inhabitants of Macan, and the embargo has been removed +from their ships. Having invited the same Japanese to come to trade +with this city of Manila, two ships came last year, as I wrote in the +last despatches. The answers which we gave to their propositions and +letters seemed somewhat satisfactory to them; for this year they have +again sent two ships, with letters from the governor of Nagansaqui. In +these he tells me that the trade is open as before, and that ships may +go there from here, and that others will come here from there. That +nation is very cautious, and there is little confidence to be put in +them. If a person should come here whom they wished to go there to +trade, I would not dare for the present to permit it, until matters +are on a more firm basis; for it is certain that their hearts are +not quiet, nor will they easily become so. They take vengeance at +a fitting time. May they bring us bread and ammunition, as they are +doing. I gave them good treatment here, so that it is now procured +that the gains which they make on their merchandise and the lapse +of time will accommodate all things. Their king died, leaving his +son as heir. There are fears of war, that Christianity may not be so +persecuted. I do not think that it would be a bad thing to have a bit +of a revolution because of their contempt and selfishness. In these +ships were sent one hundred and thirty poor lepers exiled to these +islands, whom the heathen had tried to make renegades to the faith of +Christ (as many others have become); but their entreaties had no effect +on these people. I called a council of state to determine whether +those lepers should be received, and in what manner they should be +received. It was not because I hesitated to receive them; for, even +though they might fasten the disease on me, I would not dare to leave +an apparent Christian in the sight of so many opposed to the faith, +and in the face of the persecution which has been raging in that +kingdom. It was determined that they should be received immediately, +and taken straight to the church; and that they should be welcomed, +entertained, and supported with the alms which this community desired +to apportion. A beginning has been made in collecting alms, and a room +has been arranged in the hospital of the natives where they are to be +put. Your Majesty gives that hospital a yearly alms of five hundred +pesos and a quantity of fowls and rice, with which aid it has now so +increased the number of sick [who are cared for]. For a work so pious, +and so worthy that your Majesty accept it as your own, I do not doubt +that you will have its alms increased somewhat, in case that the fervor +that is now beginning in the charity of the inhabitants should become +somewhat cooled. [_In the margin_: "An order was sent to the governor +ordering him to give a certain alms for six years. Consult with his +Majesty. Let two hundred ducados more be given to him in the same way, +for a limited time and while it lasts."] + +I am awaiting a ship from Camboja which has been built there at +your Majesty's account. I am informed that it is already about to +be launched in the sea. If it arrives before the sailing of this +despatch, I shall advise you. We have friendly relations with that +king, and he has maintained the same until now with the vassals of +your Majesty. If this matter of the shipbuilding be established, it +will be a negotiation of considerable importance. [_In the margin_: +"Seen."] + +Trade with the kingdom of Cochinchina is of no importance to us; +for the products of the country are of little value here, while the +products taken there from Japon are brought to us here. Shipbuilding +cannot be effected in the said kingdom, as I wrote you in the year +of 30. May God have allowed you to have received the letters. [_In +the margin_: "Seen."] + +There is little to hope from the kingdom of Sian, as those people are +very treacherous, and are hand in glove with the Dutch. No injury +will be inflicted upon them, but, if I had sufficient force, it is +certain that it would be to your Majesty's service that it be used in +restraining them; for the evil course which they have pursued toward +these islands, as well as the same so far as India is concerned, +deserves that. I thoroughly believe that if those of India are able, +they should make head against the Siamese from Malaca. In the year +30 they seized a patache that had been sent there on an embassy from +Macan, and aboard which was a messenger whom I sent to them. And +although they declared that it was because they did not like my +letter, the truth (as was written to me by the messenger) is, that +their act was induced by their coveting the goods aboard the patache, +which they thought to be considerable. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +A ship has arrived from Macan, and several from China. With the +goods which they brought, those from the ship that put back, what +came late from Macan last year, and others which were recovered from +the ship that sank, this community has enough to make a shipment. It +has a good return from the merchandise sent to Nueva España in the +year of 30, with which I hope that the inhabitants will be somewhat +encouraged. May God look upon us favorably, so that these islands +may prosper for your Majesty, by my means; for as a faithful vassal +I surely desire that. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +By a decree of December of the year 30, your Majesty orders me to +inform you whether it would be advisable to abolish the posts of +commander of the galleys, and of the lieutenant and accountant +for them: That of lieutenant is abolished. That of accountant, +was abolished from the past year. I wrote that I had cut off the +pay for it. Later, this year, the papers have been given into +the possession of the royal officials here. That is a very great +burden, in addition to the many that they have, as the visitor, +Don Francisco de Rojas, thought; and I assented to it. It is not +advisable that the post of commander of the galleys be abolished, +for there is no security here that they may not have to fight many +times with the galleys. Consequently, it is proper for them to have +a commander who may do it, and who knows how to do it. The saving +would be very little. The office is now held by Antonio Carreño de +Valdes, with whom your Majesty was saved six hundred pesos, which he +received as an allowance; and not more than two hundred are spent, +as the galleys have only eight hundred for wages. [_In the margin_: +"File it with those papers which led him to make this report."] + +Your Majesty orders by another decree of the same date that I +inform you as to whether it will be advisable to abolish the post of +lieutenant-general of Pintados. In reply to that, I say that the pay +was cut off as soon as I reached this government, but the title is now +allowed; for it is advisable to have one who holds that authority in +those provinces, as they are very far from here. Hence it is given to +the alcalde-mayor and infantry captain who resides in Zibu, and who +does not enjoy more pay than that for the post captain. This is the +officer who goes out in the fleets against the Joloans, Camucones, and +Mindanaos. He orders in detail what is here decided upon in general. He +is on the watch in present emergencies, and if he did not have power +and authority to command the chief men of all those provinces, a +great part of the service of your Majesty would cease. Consequently, +it is not advisable that this office be abolished, and it is enough +to have cut off the pay of it. He who holds the office at present +is occupied in the pacification of the province of Caraga, of whose +revolt I informed you in my last despatch, and which I now communicate +in my letter treating of military affairs. He has twice entered that +province with a fleet; the first time, he inflicted a very severe +punishment, and from the second, which was made this month of May, +I hope that no less a result will ensue. [_In the margin_: "The same."] + +The construction of galleys at Cavite has been changed; for one +unfavorable result changes the opinions of men which are of but +little stability. Certain workmen declared that the woods of which +the ship "Santa Maria Magdalena" was made (which was the one which +sank last year) were heavy; and that for that reason it had become +worthless--and not because its sides were defective. That was a lie, +for having drawn it ashore, as I wrote, laden (which was a heroic task, +and which could only have been done where there was so much apparatus +for it) the ship was then repaired with a lining of knees. It has +been tested in this bay, and it is very staunch, and carries all the +sail that can be spread. Hence it was a lie to cast the blame on the +lumber; but, as the common people and the friars (who desire that +there should be a shipyard near here) urged it earnestly on account +of this rumor, it was necessary to order that a shipyard be sought +in another place. Consequently, the master-workmen have been sent to +the Embocadero to build a ship for the coming year; for those ships +which came from Acapulco this year are not to return there. They have +well gained their cost. I sent the measures for a galleon, of the +burden that we need here, to Cochin, and I trust that some agreement +which will prove very advantageous to these islands will be made; +for scarcely is there anything that will be more important than to +suspend shipbuilding here for some time. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +I am glad of the decree for Don Felipe Mascareñas, and that the Council +of Portugal has ordered that thanks be extended to him because he +assisted these islands with ammunition and the other things which +were asked from him. + +The galleons have been repaired this year, and were completely +overhauled so that they will last another four years. That is the best +that can be done, because of the poor quality of the woods. [_In the +margin_: "Seen."] + +In the year of 28, the ships left here without register. I have had +no answer from your Majesty to the causes which, as I wrote to you, +existed for that. I have heard that some reports have been made in +that royal Council against me, in regard to it, by persons who did +not understand or know the matter thoroughly. They used up much time +in writing treatises to your Majesty; and lest, perchance, I did not +give entire satisfaction by what I lately wrote, the acts and messages +which were despatched in regard to the matter are herewith enclosed, +in order that the reason which caused the ships to go without register +may be seen. The goods which the officers of the ships carried were in +their own boxes, and not in a collection of boxes or bales, for they +were not allowed to embark them in that way. If any official embarked +anything, it was secretly. The penalty which was impeded (which will +be seen by the records) could have been executed in Nueva España. The +viceroy knew that I made strenuous efforts so that everything might +be declared. He found but a little quantity [of contraband goods], +as I understand; and matters cannot be so well regulated, that +with their risk there should not be some who venture to disobey the +orders and edicts. What is certain, Sire, is that none of my goods +were found, as certain persons tried to intimate in regard to me, +for I do not engage in such pursuits. And that is plainly seen to +be so, for I have less property than when I came to Filipinas. The +viceroy of Nueva España wrote me in regard to the matter with some +haughtiness; I answered him that I thought that, if perchance he had +been informed about it to my disfavor, my precautions should be seen, +and my efforts ascertained--which he did, as he will have written +to you--and finally our purpose would have been recognized, which +was your Majesty's service and the welfare of this community. May God +preserve the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as Christendom +needs. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, + + +_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_ + + +[_In the margin_: "This matter is reserved for the inspection or +residencia of the marquis of Cerralbo. The decree."] + +[_Endorsed_: "Read and decreed September 15, 1633."] + + + + +II + +_Military affairs_ + + +Sire: + + +I am duly grateful that your Majesty ordered the letters which I +wrote from here in the years 28 and 29 to be examined in that your +Council of War of the Yndias. Your Majesty has answered them, and has +done me honor in accordance with your usual custom toward those who +serve you. And thus with new courage I pray God that He may give me +life and better health in order to serve you. I have for a year back +been in so poor health, by reason of great exhaustion and weakness, +that I greatly fear that I shall not be able to leave this place. If I +shall not do that, I shall have fulfilled my duty by giving my life +in the service of your Majesty. Your Majesty knows that I am not +fit for the burden of government since the death of Doña Magdalena, +who is in heaven. Everything has been hardship for me; and I have +become so exhausted that I can scarce rise from my bed, and I have +been very near my end twice or thrice. May God fulfil His will, +and may your Majesty be pleased to give orders that I be relieved, +if you wish affairs to be safe here; for surely the country will be +very quickly in the power of the auditors, if some person does not +come from there who will not let it be lost. If God give me life, +I shall be contented even with retiring to the post with which your +Majesty has favored me, as your commissary of war. Notwithstanding +that I assure your Majesty as your faithful vassal, and as a person +who would prefer to lose a thousand lives than to utter one falsehood +to his king, that the Filipinas have been worth nothing to me, during +the six years of my residence herein; but rather I have lost the twenty +thousand pesos which I have spent from the dowry that Doña Magdalena +brought me. And had not our Lord been pleased to give me a son (at +whose birth she died), she would not have had enough whereby to have +returned safely home to her parents. I confess that it must seem to +politicians that one does not come so far not to gain a bit of bread; +but it is certain that if one is to serve your Majesty to the letter, +and live as a Christian, it is difficult to acquire much property. I +arrived at these islands very deeply pledged, for the expenses of +the Indias are heavy. I brought many men, so that they might serve +your Majesty here. I have carried myself in accordance with the honor +which your Majesty bestowed upon me; and, consequently, I have not +been able to save enough from my salary to pay the expenses of the +return (if God grants me life). I am anxious; for it is not right to +spend the possessions of this child. If some accommodation, in some +of the ways that my agents will represent there, were to be allowed +me for this purpose, I would appreciate it; for that would enable me +to take from here something with which to serve your Majesty in Europa. + +I wrote about affairs pertaining to Japon last year, by way of +India. In this despatch I enclose a copy of it in the first mail. May +God bear it in safety; for, judging by what the fleets of the Northern +Sea encounter, we are always in fear. This year those of Japon have +come with their ships; and the governor of Nangasaqui says in answer +to my letters that the trade may be considered as open, and that the +ships from both sides may go and come, and that they will be well +received. In regard to the passport [_chapa_] of the emperor, which +is the license that they usually give for trade with their kingdoms, +he says that he will arrange that. They send one hundred and thirty +lepers in these ships, who were exiled for the faith. We believe, +through the assurance that we have of the bad disposition of that +race, that this action has been a sort of vengeance or contempt; +but it is quite certain that, although they may have done it for that +purpose, it has resulted very well for us; for we have exercised an +act of charity, which I hope, God helping, will confound them. For we +received the lepers with great pomp and display of charity; and this +city, aided by the religious orders, is striving to collect liberal +alms for them. Those ships have brought a quantity of bronze for the +founding of artillery, besides an abundance of flour. Since they are +doing this, and we are not for the present going there securely, +the matter is to be considered as more evil-intentioned than they +may regard it. I shall endeavor, as heretofore, to promote peace and +cordial intercourse, and that they may obtain all satisfaction for +the affair in Sian. If they come to ask for it rightly, satisfaction +will be given them, and the guilt of the commander who had charge of +the galleons will be settled. + +The viceroy of Nueva España asks me to cast him some artillery, +of the calibers ordered, and it will be sent him promptly. + +I wrote your Majesty, in the year that Don Geronimo de Silva died +here, how superfluous was the post of general of artillery; for he +does not take the field, nor is there any artillery train [to be +transported], or more than a few artillerymen scattered through the +ordinary presidios. For as many as there are, it would be sufficient +to have one captain of artillery; for it requires nothing else than +to order a ship to be equipped, and that is done with the order +of the captain-general; and with greater ease and less red-tape, +orders can be given to the captain of artillery, who is the one who +has to execute it, than to a general of artillery, who has to order +another to do it. Juan Bautista de Molina has served your Majesty +many years, but the Filipinas do not need so many heads, nor so many +to draw pay from its treasury. I, Sire, shall not appoint anyone to +the post (although it is vacant), as your Majesty orders me, for I +do not desire to do a thing in which I believe that I would be doing +you a disservice; and since your Majesty orders me to abolish other +posts, I do not believe that it will be disservice to add this post +to them. In the meantime, will your Majesty please inform us whether +the master-of-camp of these islands or the general of artillery is to +govern at the death of the governor and captain-general, or during +his absence. Certain it is that he who has more authority and power +is the master-of-camp, and he ought to be second in command. For +there is not any general master-of-camp here, nor is it necessary; +nor is there more than one regiment that he governs. Juan Bautista +de Molina is exercising his charge in accordance with your Majesty's +letters-patent, which will be observed to the letter. + +I wrote, with the ship that sailed to India, the good news that was +had from the island of Hermosa. We have not received later news. The +disobedient Indians have been punished, and affairs have been better +regulated. May God in His mercy bring them to a knowledge of His holy +faith. I am sending two ships there, so that more abundant relief +may be sent to our men. They will bring back the general, Don Juan de +Alcaraso, who is there. The sargento-mayor will remain in his place +until another person is sent, as he is a person of trust and worth. + +The province of Cagayan is more quiet than before. A company there +was abolished, for the war has ceased; and hopes are daily entertained +that more peaceful Indians will come down [from the hills]. + +The inhabitants of Caraga revolted, as I stated in my last despatch, +after killing the captain and commander, with twenty soldiers, in +an expedition that he made. Thinking that they could gain the fort +with that force, they came to it, but it did not fall out as they +imagined. The greater part of the province rose, and killed four +discalced Recollect religious. A severe punishment was inflicted on +them in the month of September; and recently, in the month of May just +passed, another fleet went there to punish and to reduce them. I trust, +our Lord helping, that they will remain quiet, although they are not +Christians; for there is little confidence to be placed in them. + +The four pataches which were sent to Terrenate arrived there safely; +and the enemy were unable to overtake them, although they came with +hopes of doing much more here than usual, and searched for the ships +from dawn until four o'clock in the afternoon. Pedro de Heredia is +somewhat disconsolate at seeing that your Majesty does not withdraw +him. He sent no news of importance, except that the enemy is not +so powerful as formerly. During the coming year I intend to send a +greater reënforcement than usual, in order to see whether we can +capture the enemy's ship which prowls thereabout. There will be +considerable opposition, and there are very few men for what is +necessary, but I shall do what is possible. + +Nueva España aids me with very little money; for this year not more +than two hundred and thirty-four thousand pesos has come for the +expenses of the treasury, and during all the past years aid came in +almost the same way. The viceroy thinks that he is doing his duty in +not sending more. I would like him to have charge of affairs here, +to see whether he could maintain armed fleets, infantry, friars, +ministers of justice, the extraordinary expenses of presidios, and +many other expenses--which will be seen there from the reports which +your Majesty asked, and which are sent this year--with so little +cloth. He also sent me only ninety soldiers as a reënforcement, for +whom, I am assured, twenty warrants were given. The best of all is +that I am told very positively that the levy will begin very early, +just as if that had the tune that was to attract many men. If the +captains who raise the men were the ones who had to bring them, they +would make men. But as they are not the ones to bring them, and as +the matter is reduced to three companies who have to come here, and +the captains of these come to obtain the men on the wing--that is, +on the road or at the very port of Acapulco--they find that already +the men have deserted to the other captains. Many of them die here, +and there is but a low birth rate in this country. Thus the garrisons +at Terrenate and the other presidios lack men, although the visitor +thinks it all too much. I am not surprised at that, for his desire is +the same as mine, namely, to cut short your Majesty's expenses. But it +is certain that some economies come to be wasteful. He told me that +I should reduce the soldiery in these islands to the number that was +established by Gomez Perez Dasmariñas. As he does not know what it +means to have Dutch enemies about us, he thinks that we could get +along with fewer men [than we have here]. I find, Sire, that your +Majesty does not have another military establishment more important +in the Yndias than the Filipinas Islands. And, that it may be evident +whether I make a wrong assertion, consider what part of the Yndias the +enemy have made their own--except Xava, where they hold Xacatra, three +hundred leguas from here. There they have their principal fort, and +have their ammunition and magazines. Here, Sire, here, is where your +Majesty, joining Malaca and Macan to this government, must maintain +your forces and oppose them to those of the enemy. If that is not done, +there is but little to hope from these Yndias, which will be ruined in +a short time; or, at the least, will incur so many expenses that they +will be of no use. May God take me to that court, where I hope to make +the affairs of these regions understood as they are, and not as people +imagine there. Neither heavy expenses nor large fleets are necessary +for this. The continual plying of four galleons and two pataches, and +four galleons in the strait of Malaca, will keep the enemy so hemmed +in that they will make no captures or have any trade; and they would +have to go in company and armed, and thus incur expenses. Castilla +has no trading company for the expenses of war. Without prizes or +trade they would be able to inflict the first injury on the Dutch; +for the strait of Malaca, which is the place where the Dutch conduct +the greater part of their trade, would be secure with the galleys, +for there are no winds there, as a rule. The tide allows the ships +to enter and leave by three straits, the broadest of which is very +narrow, for only one ship can tack in it. That strait is not the one +generally used, but the other two. I am assured that in both the ends +of the yards of the galleons brush through the trees ashore. I wrote in +regard to this matter, in the year of 30, by Admiral Diego Lopez Lobo, +whom I was sending to that court to treat of that matter alone; but +God was pleased to let him drown in the flagship of the trading-fleet +which was lost in the past year of 31. I wish that at least one of the +three mails which I have always despatched since my arrival at these +islands had reached you. On my part I have not failed to advise you +of everything, nor shall I fail to desire and to propose what shall +seem best to me for the increase of the service of your Majesty. + +It will not be difficult to unite these camps under one head, even +though they are of two crowns. If they do not unite of themselves, they +will have no strength. Portugal and Castilla belong to your Majesty, +and that is a reason why their arms should be united; for the forces +of Francia, Olanda, Ynglaterra, and Dinamarca [89] are united in +these districts. If those of your Majesty were combined, not only +would we defend what has been gained, but we would steadily extend +farther. Your Majesty sees them united against you, although they are +of so many different sovereigns, religions, and nationalities. Then why +do not Portugal and Castilla unite in this South Sea and the coasts +of Asia, where the enemy acquires so much wealth? I do not attempt +this so that I may remain here longer, nor so that everything may be +placed in my charge; for I have no health, nor is it just to exile +me so many years in regions so remote. I express my feelings, and I +desire to express them more in detail in that Council, as experience +has shown things to me. + +I sent a galliot to Yndia in November of last year, 631, in order to +continue my negotiations with that viceroy in regard to this matter +of joining hands in order better to attack the enemy. Particularly +did I inform him of the order sent me by your Majesty about making +an expedition to the island of Hermosa, asking him for the aid which +I considered necessary. I wrote the same to Macan, so that it might +for its part make other necessary preparations. I am advised that the +said galliot, because it was well equipped, escaped from the enemy who +were stationed in the above-mentioned strait of Malaca awaiting the +galliots from China--which latter they captured, together with another +ship belonging to a merchant of this city. May God remedy this loss. + +I am advised from Camboja that a galleon which I am having built there +at your Majesty's account has been already launched. No one thought +that this would be accomplished; but it has been God's will that the +difficulties should be conquered at last, and that this shipbuilding +should be established in a place where this ship has been built at +much less cost, and from more durable woods, than [it could have +been] in these islands. As this one has been built, so can many +others be constructed; and these provinces can be relieved from the +great burden of their shipyards. I also have under discussion another +negotiation with the city of Cochin in regard to this same matter; +and, if it succeeds, it will be of great service to your Majesty. + +Some difficulties have arisen in military matters, which it is +necessary for your Majesty to have determined in your Council of the +Yndias. Since your Majesty has had armed forces in these islands, the +ships which enter this port and that of Cabite have been inspected +by the military department. The governor does not go in person, +both because of his many duties and also because every year he gives +commission, by his authority, to one of the persons in whom he trusts, +for that person to go in his name. This appointee goes in company +with a notary, and inspects the number of the people, and the arms, +ammunition, and the amount of property, to see if everything is in +accordance with the orders given from the time of Governor Don Juan +de Silva to the Chinese, so that they might not burden these islands +with useless ships and people (as will be seen by the copy of the +commission, which is sent to your Majesty in your royal Council of +the Indias). Several discontented regidors--thinking to annoy me, +and incited perhaps by some of this royal Audiencia who is but little +inclined to my course of action--presented a decree of your Majesty +(of which a copy is also enclosed to your said royal Council), under +date of the year 20, in which it is ordained that, in order to give +this commission, the governor must meet with the auditors, and that +all in assembly choose the person to whom it shall be given. This +detracts authority from the office of the captain-general, to maintain +which efforts should be made in that royal Council of the Yndias. I +am now with spurs on my heels, as they say, [ready] either for the +other world, or to finish this government. Consequently, I cannot +negotiate this matter with the intention of enjoying it; I am doing +this for the service of your Majesty and for the authority of the +office--considering that, although it would be very proper to have +this commission granted by the votes of four, never would those votes +conform, for each one would try to have it given to his friend. For +the commission entails but little work; and, if many ships come, it is +worth quite one thousand or one thousand five hundred pesos. The tariff +of fees is appraised by the Audiencia, of which I also send a copy to +that said royal Council. I petition your Majesty that it be examined +in that royal Council, so that the military department may have a +defense on its part, and so that its rights of preëminence may be kept. + +There has also arisen a quarrel this year over criminal jurisdiction +between the master-of-camp of these islands and the castellan of the +fort of Santiago of Manila, in regard to the imprisonment of a soldier +of the fort whom the master-of-camp arrested for offenses committed +outside of the fort. The castellan demanded the soldier, saying that +the jurisdiction over the men of his fort belongs to him, wherever +they may commit their offenses. On the other hand, your Majesty makes +the master-of-camp of this camp judge in the first instance of all +the soldiers in the Filipinas Islands (Terrenate excepted). Therefore +the latter declares that he must be judge in the first instance of all +the causes which are prosecuted in the island of Hermosa, and in the +presidios of Caraga, Cagayan, Zibu, and Oton; and that the commandants +there can do no more than to conduct the cause to the point of giving +sentence therein, sending it to him so that he may do this. The same is +declared by the castellan of the fort of Santiago of this city; but, +although it seems that he cites warrant for it, his predecessors have +not been wont to exercise it. On the other hand, the castellan alleges +that his predecessors have always exercised separate jurisdiction. In +regard to the governor of the island of Hermosa and the commandants +in the remote provinces, it cannot fail to be a hindrance that they +cannot give sentence. Accordingly, I petition your Majesty to have +this made clear; and at the same time to decide who is to try in +the first instance the illegal acts that the castellan of the fort, +the master-of-camp himself, the general of the artillery, and the +commander of the galleys may commit. This is not clear, and there +may be cases in which such action may be necessary. May God preserve +the Catholic and royal person of your Majesty, as is necessary to +Christendom. Manila, July 8, 1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, + + +_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_ + + + + +III + +_Ecclesiastical affairs_ + + +Sire: + +It is three years since the death of the archbishop (who is in glory), +and during those years the land has enjoyed peace and harmony between +the two jurisdictions--ecclesiastical and secular; for the provisors +who have governed in this vacant see have been more learned and more +peaceable than was the archbishop. May it please God that it may +be the same in the time of Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, to whom your +Majesty has granted the favor of this archbishopric. + +The latter presented before the cabildo of this cathedral a decree +from your Majesty, despatched in the ordinary form, so that the +government should be given to him while waiting for the bulls from his +Holiness. It is not the said cabildo who governs, but Don Fray Pedro +Arce, bishop of Zibu, by virtue of a brief of his Holiness and a decree +of your Majesty. They order that during the first three vacancies of +this archbishopric (which began to be reckoned from the date of the +brief), the cabildo should not govern, but the senior bishop of the +islands (who is at present the bishop of Zibu); for it was considered +unadvisable for the government to be entrusted to the cabildo for the +space of three years--the least time that a vacancy can last here. Upon +this occasion the cabildo responded that it could not give to the +archbishop-elect the government that it did not possess. The bishop of +Zibu says that he cannot leave the government without a special order +from your Majesty and from his Holiness, who are the persons who have +given it to him. After receiving this reply, the archbishop-elect +came on appeal from fuerza to the Audiencia. They, after having +thoroughly aired the matter, judged that there was no occasion [for +this plea], because the documents lacked some clauses requisite to +make them effective, and the cabildo had not committed fuerza. They +told the archbishop to prefer his claims before him who had the right +[to judge his case]. The good archbishop was desirous of governing, +and accordingly, took hold of the affair with too much energy, aided +by his natural disposition, which is not so moderate as his dignity +demands. He thinks that we are all to blame, and I in particular; +accordingly, he shows me little favor. I mention this so that in case +that he should write anything against me, your Majesty may be warned, +and give no credit to his relation until the proof of it be adduced. + +The decree in which your Majesty lays down the order that must be +observed in the changing of missions and in the appointment of the +ministers thereof on account of the death of their predecessors, was +obeyed, and notice of it given to the bishops and to the superiors of +the orders. The latter oppose it stoutly, and say that in no event can +they be ruled by it without the order of their generals, and that they +will abandon their missions first. In the year of 29 I wrote to your +Majesty at length upon this matter, in regard to which no particular +answer was given to me besides the sending of this decree--which, as I +judge, is general for all the Yndias. The point is very serious, and +is one of peculiar difficulty in these islands. Although we here are +sufficiently ministers of your Majesty to be able to decide it in case +that the religious leave their missions, yet we desire to have some +clearer light on the matter from there, in order that we may better +succeed in your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_: "File it with, +the letter of the bishop of Zibu, who writes concerning this matter, +which is submitted to the fiscal."] + +For many years the bishopric of Camarines has had no prelate; for, +although your Majesty has appointed many, no one comes here. That +must be because they hear how wretched a post it is. Your Majesty +could abolish that bishopric by adding the half of it to that of +Cebu, which is very conveniently located for this purpose, and the +other half to this archbishopric of Manila, which does not have too +great a district; and by that means would save that salary, and avoid +many animosities that he who shall arrive from España to occupy that +bishopric must surely encounter. [_In the margin_: "To be considered +by all the Council, together with what the viceroy wrote." "A bishop +has already gone to Camarines."] + +The religious orders are at peace, and are attending to the welfare +of the natives and your Majesty's service. Three of them held +chapter-meetings this year, and all quietly. That of St. Francis, +and that of the Augustinian Recollects were exemplary, and they made +their elections immediately. The calced Augustinians also made their +elections--but not so quickly that we could avoid sending to them to +remind them not to allow the disturbances of other times to occur in +their chapter--by having made them beforehand through their devotion +to the outgoing provincial, who managed the succession for another +as worthy as he. [90] May God grant that the elections be canonical. + +A procurator is sent to ask your Majesty for more religious. On +other occasions, your Majesty has been informed of the existing +need for exemplary religious who may assist in the reformation of +the province. As for him who is not so, it were better that he do +not come. I cannot hide these things, nor hesitate to tell the truth +about them when opportunity offers. For that reason I am not liked; +and I have heard that reports against me have gone to that court from +several of the orders. I am very sure that your Majesty will not give +them ear without reserving another ear for me. The religious in this +country wish to govern; and, if the governor does not allow them to do +so, they regard him as an evil-conditioned man, and easily lend ear +to the malcontents. May God preserve the Catholic and royal person +of your Majesty, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 8, +1632. Sire, your Majesty's humble vassal, + + +_Don Juan Niño de Tavora_ + + + + + + +EVENTS IN FILIPINAS, 1630-32 + +_Relation of what has occurred in the Filipinas Islands and other +regions adjacent, from July, 1630, to July, 1632._ + + +Great has been the peace which we have enjoyed in these Philipinas +Islands for the last two years; for the forces of the Dutch have been +scanty, owing to the failure of reënforcements; from Holland, and hence +there has been peace in the Malucas Islands as well. Nevertheless, +there have not been wanting here some disturbances from domestic +enemies. The Indians of the province of Caraga, which is in one of +these Philipinas Islands, rebelled and killed the Spaniards and the +religious, their ministers (although not for any cause connected with +the faith); these are discalced Augustinian friars. This uprising gave +us anxiety enough, as it seemed to be the beginning of a universal +mutiny; and it was particularly disturbing to us, as all our missions +are in the neighborhood of the said province of Caraga, which is +gradually being subdued and the leaders of the mutiny punished. + +In Japon they are still pricked with the thorn of the ship which some +years ago our galleons captured and burned on the bar of Sian. To +avenge this, notable councils have been held in Japon, in order to +come and wage war against this land; in order beforehand to have it +well explored, they sent last year in January two merchant ships, +under cloak of trade and traffic. Although in Manilla warning of this +double object had been received, this was not made known; and they were +received and regaled as ambassadors from the Tono of Arima and Bungo. A +ceremonious reception and very handsome present were given to them; +but the city was put in readiness for whatever might happen. This +year they have begun again to send ships to trade and traffic, and +asked that our ships should go to Japon. But we are holding back +here, because what they wish to do is to seize the property which +might be in the vessels, and put the Castilians to the sword. They +sent in these ships a hundred or more Christian lepers, who, whatever +they did with them, would not abandon the faith; and in order not to +stain their catans, as they said, with such people, they left them +alive and exiled them to the Philipinas. Here they were very kindly +received--as was required by Christian piety, and by the cause for +which they had been exiled--without considering the affront which the +Japanese thought to put upon us by sending the dregs of that kingdom. + +The persecution there was very severe, as will be seen by a letter +which Father Christoval Ferreyra [91] writes from Nangasaqui to the +father provincial of this province--which, being translated from the +Portuguese into Castilian, reads as follows: + +"By the last ship, I wrote to your Reverence the state of the +Christian church here. I shall now continue with what has happened +since then; and it may all be summed up as new persecutions, labors, +and hardships. I will commence with the five religious who, in the year +twenty-nine, were taken prisoners on account of the faith. These are +fathers Fray Bartolome Gutierrez, Fray Francisco de Jesus, Fray Vicente +de San Antonio, all three Augustinians; Father Antonio Yxida, of our +Society; and brother Fray Gabriel de Magdalena, a Franciscan. The +governor of Nangasaqui, named Uneme, attempted to make them deny the +faith, and in this way to discredit our holy faith and its ministers, +and to break the spirit of the Christians, so that with the example of +these they might more easily leave the faith, and thus he would gain +credit and honor before Xongun [_i.e._, the Shogun], emperor of Japon. + +"With this diabolical intention--which, it appears, he had already +discussed in the court--he ordered them to be taken from the prison +of Omura and brought to Nangasaqui, on the twenty-fifth of November +last. As he did not say for what purpose, they were persuaded that it +was to burn them alive for the faith which they professed and taught; +therefore they all went very joyfully, as men who were sighing for such +a happy death. But contrary to what they expected, they were put in the +prison of that city, where they remained until the third of December, +without knowing in the meantime what the governor intended to do. + +"Twice during this time the governor ordered our Father Antonio +Yxida to be brought to his house, and although he did not find him +the first time, he, with a servant of his named Saitogonnay (who was +considered an unusually learned man in the Juto [92] sect), asked him +very affectionately that at any rate he would abandon the faith of +Christ and adopt one of the religions of Japon; and if for any reason +he did not wish to abandon at present the one which he followed, at +least he should show himself neutral, neither abandoning nor following +it. And, in order that the father might deliberate over all this, +he would give him one more year of hope; and when this was passed, +he should make known to the governor his final decision. The father +answered him that his decision was, as it had been and always would be, +to follow and confess always the faith of God, and for this no time +was necessary to deliberate in this affair; for he would always find +in him the same resolution and the same response, howsoever much time +be should give him for respite. The father added that the governor +might immediately do that which he had determined to do at the end +of the said year; for the response which he would then have to give +was the same as what he gave at present, nor would he ever accept +the alternative proposed. + +"This counsel being refused, the learned man set about convincing +him by argument, attempting to prove that the Tayquio was the same, +and that the Juto sect was based upon, and regarded as the beginning +of all things, the God which we Christians adore. Wherefore, as the +question was one of names, and not of substance, the two faiths were +in accord, and that he should conform to the words also of the Juto +sect. Easily and clearly the father showed him the difference between +the one sect and he other, and in what each consisted; and convinced +him in such wise that the ignorant learned man had no other refuge +but to fall back on his reason--saying that it was indeed as the +father declared, but that reason dictated that he should follow and +obey the mandate of the emperor, whose vassal he was, and abandon the +faith of God, at least outwardly, following in his heart whatever he +pleased. 'Neither the faith which I profess,' answered the father, 'nor +pure reason itself, will consent to these deceits and maskings. The +faith of God which I follow in my heart I shall follow and confess +outwardly still; nor can the mandate of the emperor have force or +strength against that of God, the universal Lord of all things.' + +"This dispute and combat lasted a day and a night, during which time +the father maintained such resolution and firmness that when the +governor tried to be stern, in order to make him change his opinion +of that idolatry, the father told him, undeceiving him, that he was +striving in vain, for in no way could he win him over. On this account, +the next day he was sent back to the prison. But as the governor's +servants knew that he desired to succeed in his endeavor, one of +them asked that the father be called out again and delivered to him, +for he hoped to subdue him. Accordingly the father himself, as well +as the others, was persuaded that this second time he was called out +to be tortured, that he might deny his faith and reveal the other +religious and their households, for this had been the practice in the +city for some time past. With astonishing courage the father went out, +resolved to suffer any torment whatever before he would deny Christ +or reveal his brothers. + +"When he arrived at the house of the governor there came out to meet +him the servant who had sought to see him, who had been present at +the late dispute, and at one which the father had formerly had with +the governor, when they arrested him. Although now the same means +of controversy were attempted, finding that, nevertheless, the more +they argued the more convinced he was, the principal means which they +used was to explain to the father how much the governor desired to +grant him life and to favor him, as he could have seen every time he +discussed this matter. He was promised in behalf of the same governor +great riches and position; and they strongly insisted that not only +on account of what he owed to the friendship which the governor +showed him, but for what concerned his own welfare and interest, he +ought to abandon the faith of God, outwardly only, and to follow it +in his heart, as any man of good judgment would do--saying that he +would show himself to be such by using this expedient, for he would +not abandon the faith which he followed, and would attain riches and +repose. The answer was that even if the governor should give him all +the riches that he possessed and all that there are in the world, +and should make him lord of all, by no means would he turn his back +to God or abandon His most holy faith--no, not even outwardly. + +"The governor, finding then that he could not win the father over +by arguments, advice, or promises, ordered him to be taken back to +the prison, determined to use other more rigorous measures, with +which he considered it certain that he would overcome him and the +other religious who were in prison. This was by ordering them to be +tortured in a spring of exceedingly hot water, at the mountain Unjen; +[93] for although some told him that this also would not win over +either Father Antonio or the others, it appeared impossible that +they should not yield under this most extreme torture--as experience +had shown him in the year 1629, when he ordered the Christians of +Nangasaqui to be tortured in this way. Accordingly, he ordered the +aforesaid five religious to be conveyed to that mountain, there to be +tortured with hot water until they should deny the faith, but in such +wise that they should not die. By the same order he sent likewise +in their company Beatriz de Acosta, the wife of Antonio de Silva, +and Maria her daughter; for they would not deny their faith, although +they had long been labored with--and this notwithstanding the fact +that Beatriz de Acosta was Japanese only on the side of her mother, +and the daughter much less so, as her father was a Portuguese, and her +mother a half-Portuguese; and they do not proceed in this persecution +[except] against Japanese and ministers of the gospel. + +"On the third of December they left Nangasaqui alone, and started +for Unjen. The two women rode in a litter, and the five religious on +horseback, each one in the habit of his order, accompanied by many +people as a guard; they were very joyful as they took leave of a +multitude of people who came out to see this spectacle, in spite of +the fact that the governor had rigorously prohibited it. When they +arrived at the point of Fimi, a league distant from there, their arms +were tied, fetters were put upon their feet, and each one was put +on board separately, being tied to the boat. On this same afternoon +they arrived at the point of Oharna, which is within the boundaries +of Tacacu, and at the foot of the mountain Unjen. The next day they +ascended the mountain, where they immediately erected a number of huts; +then they placed the seven prisoners therein, each in a separate one, +without allowing them to see each other again so long as they were +there, so that they might not encourage one another. They kept them day +and night with fetters on their feet, and manacles upon their hands, +watched by guards. + +"Besides the men of the governor of Nangasaqui, the governors of +Tacacu sent theirs likewise to be present at this act, as well as to +aid whenever necessary. Beside these, there were a number of others +as sentinels on all the roads through which this mountain could be +approached, who let no person pass by without a written permission +from the officials who were assigned to this duty. + +"On the next day, the fourth of the same month, the torture commenced +in the following manner: They took each one of the seven by himself +to the most furious pool there, and, showing him the boiling water, +tried to persuade him to leave the faith of Christ before undergoing +that most horrible torture, which certainly they would not be able +to endure. Father Antonio writes that, notwithstanding the severity +of the cold that then prevailed, the water in the ponds did [not] +cease boiling, with such fury that the sight of it alone would strike +dismay to any one who was not greatly comforted by the grace of God; +but they were comforted in such manner that all, with extraordinary +courage, answered without delay that they would be tortured, for in +no wise would they abandon the faith which they profess. When this +steadfast answer was heard, they were stripped naked and, tied hand +and foot with four cords, were borne each by four men. They took +some of the water which was boiling most furiously, in a wooden dish +which held about a half-arroba; this water they poured upon each one +from the dish thrice filled--not all at once, but little by little, +opening a minute hole in the bottom so that it would last longer. The +constancy, courage, and valor with which the confessors of Christ +suffered that most horrible torment was such that they never made +the slightest movement of their bodies, to the great fright of those +who saw and heard them. Maria alone, as she was young and delicate, +was dismayed by the severity of the torture, and fell to the ground +and the torturers, who only desired some pretext whereby they could +say that she had recanted, and misrepresenting this fall, cried out, +saying, 'She has yielded, she has yielded!' Thereupon they took her +back to her hut, and the next day to Nangasaqui--although she opposed +them violently and protested that she had not given up the faith, +and that they had no reason for torturing her, or for tormenting and +killing her mother and the rest. + +"The other six remained on that mountain, where they spent twenty-three +days, during which Father Antonio, father Fray Francisco, and Beatriz +de Acosta were tortured, each one six times, with hot water in the +manner that I have described. Father Fray Vicente was tortured four +times, father Fray Bartolome and brother Fray Gabriel twice, without +any one of them having made the least movement during the whole +time; or shown any sign of feeling the torture. On the contrary, with +wonderful cheerfulness and courage they gave thanks to their torturers, +and sometimes told them that the torture had been slight; at others, +that they should find some other and more cruel torment, so that their +desire to suffer for Christ might be further fulfilled. As a result, +the infidels were as if astounded, for they found them each time more +constant, cheerful, and desirous of suffering; and in Nangasaqui and +Tacacu nothing was talked of but the invincible courage and valor +with which they suffered the torture, whereupon the Christians were +full of joy and remained firmer in the faith. Several of the heathen +began to complain and sneer at the governor of Nangasaqui, who had +tried to make them deny their faith. Accordingly Father Antonio +writes [94] that, during the time while he was on that mountain, +several were brought to the faith; and among the heathen who saw +him and listened to the continual sermons which he preached to them, +many gave him their word to receive the faith, and all conceived the +highest opinion of the faith of God. + +"The reason for torturing some oftener than others was that +Father Antonio, being a Japanese, had disobeyed the mandate of the +emperor, and would not follow the counsels and persuasions of the +governor of Nangasaqui and his ministers, nor be affected by the +tortures. Father Fray Francisco suffered because he spoke to them with +much Christian freedom, sang, and prayed in a loud voice, contrary to +their prohibition; and Beatriz de Acosta because, although a woman, +she showed more than a man's courage, both in the tortures and in +resisting the advice which they gave her--for which reason, beside +the torture of boiling water, they inflicted others upon her. They +made her stand upright a long time upon a small rock, threatening her +with insults and affronts; but the more they insisted, the stronger +they found her. The others, being weak and infirm, were not tortured +so long, because the tyrant did not intend to kill them, but only to +conquer them; and for this reason they had, during the whole time, +a physician upon the mountain to cure their hurts. + +"Finally the governor saw that he could by no means conquer them; but, +on the contrary, his men informed him that, judging by the courage +and valor which they showed, they would suffer till all the pools and +wells in Unjen were drained, rather than give in. He therefore lost +all hope of a victory over them, and decided to order that they be +taken to Nangasaqui, although he would not do so before his departure +for the court at Meaco; for he thought that it would diminish his +prestige to have them enter as victors into that city while he was +there. After his departure, therefore, he sent on the way advice to +his deputy whom he left there, to bring them to Nangasaqui. This he +accordingly did on the fifth of January, placing Beatriz de Acosta in a +certain house, and putting the five religious into the public prison, +where they still remain. Such was the victorious end of this battle, +wherein our holy faith was nobly vindicated, the Christians encouraged, +and the tyrant overcome and confounded, quite the contrary of what +he had expected and promised. + +"During the same time this governor seized and sent to Sendo [95] +the wives and daughters of the holy martyrs who have perished in +Nangasaqui from the year 1617 to the present one, one thousand +six hundred and thirty-two--separating many of them, who were +already married, from their husbands and sons. They all accepted +captivity for so holy a cause with a good will, and before leaving +protested before the governor that they were and always would be +Christians. Three Christians were taken prisoners for the faith in +Fingo at the beginning of the year 631. One of them died most happily +in the prison, a short time ago; and the other two, father and son, +remain in captivity. In Xiqui there were thrown alive into the sea +for the faith, on the twelfth of February past, Thome and Ynes, his +wife; likewise in Firando, a short time ago, another man was thrown +into the sea for the same cause. + +"In Oxu [96] a man became a Christian fraudulently; and, after learning +about the principal Christians of Vacamatzu and Ayzu from one of our +household of Ojaca, called Paulo, he went and gave a list thereof to +the governors of Tenca. These immediately advised the governors of +the first two places, and there those whom the talebearer had given +in the list were taken prisoners--among them Brother Juan Yama, of +our Society, who was one whom I had catechized and baptized. Thus +far we have not learned whether they have been martyred or not. + +"The governors of Tacacu sent the same information regarding Paulo, +who, although he was not in that city, was so diligently sought after +that they succeeded in arresting him; and some time afterward he, +with his wife Maria and four sons, suffered martyrdom. This led to +a furious persecution, not only in Oxu, but likewise in other parts +of the country, and in the cities of Cami, Meaco, Fugimi, Ojaca, +and Sacay. The cruelty of the tyrant reached such a point that he +sent this year, as exiles to Manilla, even the infirm and leprous +Christians of the before-mentioned cities of Cami; and already more +than ninety of them are at Nangasaqui, awaiting the monsoon, and +others are expected to go. With this, under the holy benediction of +your Reverence, etc. March 22, 1632. + + +_Christoval Ferreyra_" + + +From Japon we pass on to China, where the state of Christianity has +been more quiet, and where it is very prosperous. The Society is +established in eight provinces and eleven cities, and, if it were +not for the lack of workers, it would he extended much farther, +and with great results. At present there are in the whole of China +seventeen priests and a few brothers-coadjutor, who are all laboring +with praiseworthy zeal for the conversion of this great kingdom +of China. May the Lord prosper and protect your Reverence as I +desire. Manila, July 2, 1632. + +[Another copy of this document, in the same collection (to. 114, +no. 401), adds the following matter as a postscript, dated July 6, +1632:] + +The emperor of Japan is dead; [97] so is the king of Arima, +who had intended to come to attack Manila. It is said that his +death was most horrible, and that he caused his servants to put +him to death with clubs, after having scalded him with the water +with which he had tormented the martyrs. All say that this was +plainly a punishment for his tyrannous acts; and that he is paying +for them in hell--whence issued demons in the form of foxes, who +went dancing before his carriage or litter when he returned from +Nangasaqui [_words illegible_] ambassadors, spies sent to Manila, +Father Miguel Matruda, of the Society. These ambassadors--who came as +envoys in behalf of Uni Nudino, governor of Nangasaqui, and of the +tono of Arima, called Asimadoro or Bungodon--were received with the +pomp and courtesy which such an embassy demanded. On that occasion +much caution was displayed by this colony through its chief, who is +governor and captain-general of these islands. For, on the one hand, +he exhibited before those ambassadors the strength of this [_word +illegible_] with its officers and infantry, which was drawn up in +martial array along the streets--almost all the way from the street +nearest the beach where the Japanese disembarked, up to the palace; +and, on the other, he paid them honor with a splendid and friendly +reception. He also offered them presents and entertainments as if +they were envoys sent by Christian princes and our best friends. This +has been cordially remembered, to judge from what has since then been +learned of their designs--at least, that of one of those lords, the +ruler of Arima. This was, that the envoys should carefully ascertain +what were the forces in Manila, in order to see whether the former +plans were adequate. [Our transcriber in Madrid here adds: "This letter +(dated March 30, 1632) goes on to describe the martyrdoms, and ends +thus: 'After these torments, we were again conveyed to the prison +from which they had taken us, where we now are. There are five of us +religious, besides other servants of God who are also prisoners for +His sake. I think that this autumn, when the governor comes, he will +pronounce final sentence upon us.'" It is most probable that this is +part of the letter by Father Antonio Yxida, mentioned in the text.] + + + + + +LETTER FROM THE ECCLESIASTICAL CABILDO TO FELIPE IV + + +In all the most opulent kingdoms, provinces, and cities of the Catholic +monarchy of your Majesty, the most remote, the most separated, and +the most distant from the royal presence of its king and sovereign +is the metropolitan cathedral church of this archipelago of islands +without number. Consequently, its cabildo is poorer, more needy, +and more liable to be forgotten than any other; for in order to +set forth its afflictions and poverty, it even has neither feet, +whereby it may go to cast itself at the feet of your Majesty, +nor hands for the solicitude and works that the demand alone would +require. One effort only we can make easily, and that has been made +for many years; that is, to write, petitioning, importuning, urging, +and informing your Majesty of the most important things, not to our +especial advantage. And well do we know that your Majesty is not so +wealthy that you can be liberal in proportion to your greatness; +but only in the points most necessary and important to the Divine +service and worship, and to your Majesty's honor and glory, at whose +expense it flourishes throughout Christendom--especially in this city, +fortified post, and empire of almost all the nations discovered and +known; for in that it equals Roma, and the cities of most commerce in +the whole world. That is the reason that has always moved us to urge +and petition your Majesty, representing the following points. [_In the +margin_: "July 30, 1625. [98] Reply to the cabildo, encouraging them; +and tell them that what they say in their letter will receive care +and attention, without particularizing the paragraphs or the things +that they say."] + +One of the things which this cathedral has considered, and considers, +intolerable, is that it always has to be governed by friars. That is a +matter that has in itself many grave inconveniences, that would take +long to relate in a letter which demands brevity. We wish only for +your Majesty to understand and to be assured that the seculars can be +better governed than any other clergy; and that they live with greater +quietness and peace, not only in their souls and spiritual government, +but in what concerns the temporal. Not only do the seculars recognize +this, but the religious themselves; for the secular is always in the +midst of affairs, while the friar must necessarily incline himself +to his order and to those with whom he has been reared. It would be +worse if such a person had not been, in his order, of much learning +and of known virtues, but rather the contrary. Your Majesty will +consider the estimation that all will have for such a man who knew +him before. When this is so, it does not result to edification, which +is your Majesty's intent, but to depreciation of and contempt for the +episcopal dignity, which requires the highest perfection. God our Lord +would be greatly pleased if the honors, dignities, and prelacies of +this country be given to those who have served and labored in it. From +that three blessings of high importance will follow. The first, +that your Majesty will have fulfilled your obligation in accordance +with the excellent principle of distributive justice. Thus have our +sovereigns Kings Philipo Second and Third, of glorious memory, your +Majesty's grand-father and father, ruled, ordered, and commanded in +their royal patronage. And most certain can your Majesty be that there +have always been and there are now men worthy, capable, and of great +talents, from whom much may be expected, both in this cabildo and in +the orders--especially that of St. Dominic and that of St. Francis; +but, since they do not try to obtain the prebendaries of this church, +never will their affairs be known, nor will any of them ever be seen +in that royal court, for neither can they go, nor do they possess the +wherewithal to send. These arguments will have greater force and power +in the future, because of the two universities which your Majesty +has permitted in this city--one in the residence of the Society of +Jesus, and the other in that of Santo Tomas of the Dominican friars, +where students are being trained and many graduated. Thus this city +is today full of poverty-stricken seculars, and one must fear that +there will be so many within a few years that they will die of hunger, +because we have not any benefices to give them in this archbishopric +or throughout the islands; for these are held by friars, who cost your +Majesty so dearly. It is very desirable to refrain from sending many +of the religious who come from España, which is an argument worthy +of much consideration. [_In the margin_: "That great care will be +given to this point when vacancies occur in those churches."] + +The need and poverty of this metropolitan church is known and +notorious, for it has no income or revenue other than the concessions +of your Majesty, especially the four hundred pesos that have been +given thus far, by means of which the church is kept in wine, wax, and +oil. For none of those things are given from the royal warehouses, as +they are to the other convents of this city. Consequently, we petition +your Majesty to continue that concession, for it is not a perpetual +concession, but was only for four or six years; and, when that time +expired, it was conceded for another term of four or six years. If it +were made perpetual, your Majesty would be making it a more valuable +concession; for at each prolongation of the time it is necessary to +spend at least one hundred pesos with the agent who is sent from here +to that court. Thus that amount would be saved, and that is a matter +of consideration and importance to so poor a church. [_In the margin_: +"See what is provided in regard to this." "The concession was made."] + +This church is also in great need of ornaments and of a sacristy. That +which it now uses is borrowed; but with the sum of three or four +thousand pesos the one that was commenced more than ten years ago +could be finished. It has been impossible to finish it, because we +had not the means to do so. In order that your Majesty need not spend +anything from your royal treasury (which we most earnestly desire), +this could be done by your Majesty ordering that vacant encomiendas, +or pensions on those to which appointments are being made, be given +to the church, in accordance with the condition of the encomienda, +at the will of the governor--as has been done with the house of the +Society of Jesus in this city, to which your Majesty made a grant of +ten thousand pesos, as an aid to the edifice that they are at present +erecting, [_In the margin_: "See what has been ordered in this." "The +concession was made."] + +We have often represented to your Majesty the great importance of +having this church well served, as this city is a place of so great +trade and commerce, where so many and so different nations come, as has +been said. The number of prebendaries that the church has at present +is not at all sufficient; for besides the five dignidades, it has no +more than four canons, two racioneros, and two medio-racioneros. And +since the land is so unhealthful and sickly, most of the prebendaries +are generally disabled, and for the greater portion of the year the +work is loaded upon only one canon and one racionero. For that reason, +we earnestly desired in the past years that your Majesty would give us +an increase Of two additional canons and four racioneros; but seeing +that that was not effected because of the great need in which the +times have placed your Majesty, we have found an easy and feasible +remedy for it--namely, to apply to this church some of the benefices +and missions that the orders hold near this city. Let the governor +and archbishop select those which would be most suitable; and let +each of them be given to two seculars--or more, if they should be so +rich. There is a mission outside the walls of this city owned by the +religious of St. Augustine, by name Tondo, where three seculars could +be maintained. One of them could be proprietary, with the title of +archdean or prior of such place and canon of this cathedral, with the +obligation to serve in it, as do the other canons. By this method +the prebendaries would be increased, and the number of religious +whom your Majesty would have to send would be lessened; while the +students who are growing up here in steadily increasing numbers +would be provided for, rewarding the sons of the conquistadors and +settlers, besides many other blessings and advantages which would +follow by so doing. [_In the margin_: "See what has been provided in +this regard, and have this section taken to the fiscal, together with +that provision." "It was taken."] + +One of the persons on whom this cabildo has set its eyes--and, +together with all this community, we have been sure that your Majesty +would show him honor--is the archdean, Don Alonso Garcia de Leon; +but, only through his great modesty, he has never put forward any +such claim. Consequently, we petition your Majesty to honor us all +through him--assuring you, with the truth that one ought to speak in +regard to such a matter, that we judge him to be worthy of any favor +and honor that your Majesty might be pleased to show him, which will +be for the glory of God and your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_: +"Consult the memorial."] + +Doctor Don Juan Briceño came to these islands twenty-three years ago +with the ordination of a priest, in company with Archbishop Don Diego +Vazquez de Mercado. He immediately occupied himself in learning the +language and in ministering to the natives, to their great approbation +and with benefit to their souls. He has also served this cathedral +more than nine years in the prebends of canon and precentor, the +latter of which he holds at present. He is also at present exercising +the office of vicar-general of this archbishopric, and has been its +visitor-general. In both offices he has acted and given the account +that could be expected from a good priest, learned and experienced, +and publicly recognized as a man of good life and example. Ever since +he came to these islands, there has been nothing contrary to this; +so that he deserves to have your Majesty employ him in matters of +your service, and to honor him according to the merit of his many +good services. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial."] + +It is well-known that the Order of St. Augustine was the first to +plant the cross of Christ in these remote islands; and it has always +been foremost in continuing that work. Hence it is the one of all +the orders which has most missions, and consequently, most need +of ministers. Many years, no religious come to them from España; +and many of those who are here die, and very quickly. Thus, if your +Majesty do not show them the favor of protecting and replenishing +so necessary and good ministers, they will be obliged to leave many +missions, to the detriment of souls, and of the service of God and +your Majesty--whom it has cost so much from your royal patrimony to +set this flourishing and extensive Christian church in its present +condition. The propagation of Christianity here is due, at least in its +greater part, to that holy order and to its sons, as you will be more +minutely informed by father Fray Diego de Robles, who is now to go as +their procurator-general and definitor, to attend the general chapter +of his order. We are acquainted with his person, and know that he came +to these islands sixteen years ago. He soon learned two languages of +the natives, and has administered in the islands some of the houses, +convents, and missions of greatest importance. His order has honored +him, and has occupied him, now in the ministry of the pulpit for the +Spaniards, now in priorates, and in other offices and dignities of +his order. In all of them he has always furnished a very excellent +example, and has attained fame and renown as a good religious and one +worthy of all credit and honor. Consequently, this cabildo petitions +your Majesty to honor him and his order, for in both things will God +our Lord be greatly pleased. [_In the margin_: "When religious are +requested, have this section brought." "Consult the memorial."] + +The Recollect religious of St. Augustine are the last who came to labor +in this field; and for that reason the most toilsome, laborious, and +dangerous part has fallen to their share, as they have been unable to +have their missions and houses together, or in contiguous provinces, +like the other orders; but their convents are separated in different +islands, very far one from another. Although they are the last, we +assure your Majesty that in point of work, zeal for the propagation +of the holy gospel, and the cultivation of souls, the other orders do +not have any advantage over them. Well have they proved that with their +blood; for about three years ago, when the province of Caraga revolted, +the rebels killed seven religious. However, by the grace of God, those +rebels have been reduced again, and punished by the excellent efforts +of Captain Juan de Chaves, one of the best soldiers, and one of the +men of best judgment that your Majesty has in these islands. It will +be of very great service to God and your Majesty to have religious +sent to the said fathers, for many years have passed since a single +religious has come to them, and it is right to encourage and aid so +good workers, [_In the margin_: "When this order shall petition for +religious, let this section be brought."] + +The master-of-camp, Don Lorenço de Olasso, who exercises the office +of captain-general because of the death of Governor Don Juan Niño +de Tavora this year, has carried himself with prudence, peace, and +tranquillity. For in this office and in that of master-of-camp, which +he holds by right of appointment, he has shown his good judgment, +especially in his care and vigilance in fortifying the city and +in attending to all that concerns the obligation of his office, +and welfare of this city, and the service of your Majesty. [_In the +margin_: "Consult the memorial."] + +As this noble and loyal city had so great need for sending a suitable +person as its procurator to that royal court, it made choice of the +person of General Don Diego de Arqueta Minchaca. It was a choice +so prudent and so well considered, that in quality, services of +his forbears and his own, capacity, prudence, experience, and other +qualities necessary for such action, there is not his equal in this +city. For besides the said qualifications and services (which will +be apparent by his papers), considering the chief thing, namely, +your Majesty's service and the welfare of this community, he is a +person so capable in all matters of government and war, that both +through experience and observation he can inform your Majesty as one +who has seen both all these islands and the Malucas, and as far as +Malaca; because he took part and embarked in all the fleets [sent +against] the invasions of the Dutch enemy, that have been gathered +in these islands since he was a young lad. We assure ourselves of +great results for the increase of Christianity in these islands, +the welfare of this community, and your Majesty's service, by his +going and management. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +Captain Juan Sarmiento, chancellor of this royal Audiencia, is +the legitimate son of Captain Pedro Sarmiento (one of the first +conquistadors and settlers of these islands), and one of the most +valiant captains who has served your Majesty herein, as will appear +more authoritatively by his papers. He is married to a daughter of +Licentiate Tellez de Almaçan, who was an auditor who came to establish +this Audiencia for the second time. And even were he not so worthy +in his person, he was sufficiently so to be worthy of your Majesty +showing him very great favors. For we recognize in the said auditor a +judge truly upright and Christian, and so in harmony with divine and +human laws, that these islands will ever cherish his memory. God our +Lord has given him abundance of sons and daughters, so that this city +is ennobled by such progeny and posterity. He deserves honor from +your Majesty, and aid, in order that he may become more prosperous +and not less. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial."] + +Since we are so loyal vassals and chaplains of your Majesty, it grieves +us and rends our soul to see the damage done to your Majesty's royal +treasury, because there are not any faithful officials to execute the +so pious and excellent order that was decreed and determined by the +royal decrees of your Majesty, and by the glorious progenitors of your +Majesty; especially in regard to the money that passes annually from +Nueva España to these islands. We inform your Majesty that, besides +the permission of the four hundred thousand pesos that your Majesty has +given for the inhabitants of this city, it is certain that two millions +are brought. That sum is brought from Nueva España by companies and +agents who call themselves inhabitants of Mexico; and your judges +and officials [there] allow them to pass, and dis-simulate because +of the great profit that falls to them in Acapulco. The efforts are +not made in this city either that could be made by those who ought +to make them. Accordingly, having seen this so great loss, both to +your Majesty and to the inhabitants of this city, in assemblies of +the orders that the reverend bishop, governor of this archbishopric, +called on petition of the city, censures were issued, ordering no +one to employ the money of the inhabitants of Nueva España or Piru, +thinking that that would be an efficient remedy. But experience has +demonstrated that it has been of no effect, for all have employed that +money and no one has been denounced. This needs, a stringent remedy, +and there is no other except to carry out fittingly what was ordered by +your Majesty, by appointing trustworthy officials of Christian spirit +and well-known zeal for your Majesty's service. [_In the margin_: +"Let them be advised of what decision was made in this."] + +One of the greatest services that the cabildos and corporations can +perform for your Majesty is to advise, inform, and report concerning +the deserving persons who attend to your Majesty's service. For, as the +matter passes before so many eyes, they cannot do else than to write +with great consideration and exactness of truth. One of the men who has +served your Majesty in these islands with ardor, eagerness, and care, +and who has occupied, since the day of his entrance into this city, +posts of great importance (as will appear in detail by his papers), +is General Don Andres Perez Franco. The limitations of a letter do not +allow us to mention his good qualities as a skilled and successful +soldier; for besides being that, God has given him good fortune in +feats of war. In matters of government and of peace, he is so excellent +and accomplished that he has been considered by most of the people +of Cavite, where he has been chief commander most of the time, as a +father rather than as a commander. God has endowed him with affability, +valor, and ability to govern and command with generosity, and actions +which make him loved, feared, and respected. That is apparent to this +cabildo, and we know that it is public and notorious. Will your Majesty +please honor him according to his many good services, so that others +may imitate him, and that they may be encouraged by his example to +serve your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Consult the memorial."] + +Your Majesty granted this archbishopric to Don Fray Hernando de +Guerrero, bishop of Nueva Segovia, an aged religious, and one well +known in these islands. He presented in this cabildo the ordinary +decree which the royal Council generally gives to the persons presented +by your Majesty, in order that the government might be given into +his charge until the bulls come from his Holiness. Inasmuch as this +cabildo is at present deprived of this jurisdiction--given to it by a +canonical law by special brief and indult of his Holiness, obtained +by your Majesty, ordering the senior bishop to govern, by virtue of +which the reverend father, Fray Pedro Arce, archbishop of Zubu, is +governing this church, a holy person and one of blameless life--this +cabildo answered that no one can give what he does not possess; that +the said bishop had the government; and that this cabildo had nothing +more to answer. However the said archbishop insisted upon it as he was +deceived by certain ill-informed lawyers. He even went to the royal +Audiencia, who delayed undeceiving him for many days and after many +meetings. All that was with the object of giving him to understand that +they were doing something for him. That had the end and object that +the auditors know; and it is not unknown that the archbishop wrote +in their favor to the royal Council. That was almost self-evident, +for the explicit manner in which Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas y +Oñate, visitor of these islands, enlightened him was not sufficient, +when the visitor said that he had no right, and that neither the +cabildo nor the bishop could do anything else. The same thing was +declared by the religious, the lecturers, and professors, and the +other learned men who examined the matter thoroughly; and lastly by +that which was declared, after many meetings and delays, by the royal +assembly. Hence, Sire, the said archbishop has maintained hostility +and ill-will toward this cabildo, and cannot conceal it; but shows +it by words unworthy his dignity, and threats against the time when +the bulls come for him. We see well, Sire, that all the above has no +remedy now, and that your Majesty made him archbishop. We suffer for +God's sake, and He will give us patience. But for the future we humbly +petition your Majesty to consider and repair this so serious damage, +from which so many troubles result, by making choice of learned +and holy persons, of known virtue. There are many in these islands, +both seculars and religious, as we informed your Majesty on another +occasion. Friars should not be consulted who only go to that court +laden with money to demand bishoprics, since by the same case they +make themselves unworthy. Necessarily the injuries that ensue from +this are felt by the poor subordinates; and they even scandalize +the faithful Christians, when they see that the holy and virtuous +priests who are laboring throughout these islands are net rewarded, +because they do not go or send [to that court], [_In the margin_: +"When our bishops are sent, if there should be a number of governors, +have what information there is here brought, so that the senior bishop +of the islands may govern; and have this section also brought."] + +Often, Sire, have we given thanks in this cabildo to God our Lord, +deliberating and considering how clearly the presence of the Holy +Ghost is seen in the decisions, ordinances, and enactments in the +royal decrees of your Majesty, looking toward the good government and +increase of the common welfare of these islands. For, if your Majesty +and every one of your counselors had lived in and seen this city and +these islands for many years, they could not have better understood the +matters treated and decided in the said royal decrees. Consequently, +one of your opportune and fortunate measures was the excellent choice +that your Majesty has made in sending Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas +y Oñate as visitor; for, as long experience and the histories teach us, +and even in the present times we have seen the disputes, the confusion, +the unrest, and anxiety caused in a kingdom by any visitor; while in +this city we have seen quite the contrary with the said visitor. And +he has not been at all lacking in his duty, exercising rigor and +seventy with kindness. He has calmed troubles without drawing blood, +and has obtained the observance of your royal decrees so equitably that +those who were most opposed to him confessed that he was just. Lastly, +Sire, he is completing his visit this year, without having inflicted +extortion or wrong on a single person. He has attended to the service +of your Majesty with continual and incessant labor--which, although +he has not had at all good health, he has not spared by day or night, +on feast days, or in holiday seasons, times in which others rest. In +short, he has been a father to this republic, and a person worthy of +being occupied by your Majesty in things of greater importance in your +service; for God has given him talent for great things, a Christian +spirit, and the fear of God. That he showed because, as soon as he +entered this city, he went to confession and communed often. He chose +as confessor father Fray Domingo Gonçales, one of the most holy and +learned men of the Order of St. Dominic. So great and so illustrious +is his learning that often, when the orders have come together to +argue, they have confessed that, upon asking him his opinion in very +knotty questions, their problems have been solved by his tolerance, +forbearance, and patience; for he did not cause disputes and scandals +on many occasions that people inconsiderate and bold gave him, as +is seen by certain of the writings that he carries; Consequently, we +greatly desire and we earnestly petition His Divine Majesty that he, +may have health, and that He will bear him to your Majesty's feet, +so that he may inform you of what he has seen, accomplished, and +known. From his report we hope ior the relief of these islands in +every way, and increase to the service of God and your Majesty. + + +_Don Miguel Garcetas_ +_Don Alonso García de Leon_ +_Doctor Don Juan Reyes_ +The treasurer, _Don Thomas Guimarano_ +_Don Francisco de Valdes_ +_Don Pedro de Quesada Hurtado de Mendoza_ +The racionero, _Pablo Rodriguez_ +The racionero, _Ruiz de Escalona_ +_Diego Ramirez_ + + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila. To his Majesty. The ecclesiastical cabildo. No +date. Examined July 30, and decreed within."] + + + + + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1633-1634 + + + Papal bull concerning missions. Urban VIII; June 28, 1633. + News from the Far East, 1632. Fray Juan García, O.P.; 1633. + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; August 14, + 1633. + Report of archbishop on the bakery of Manila. Hernando de + Guerrero; August 3, 1634. + News from Felipinas, Japon, and other parts. [Unsigned]; + August 20, 1634. + Letters to Felipe IV. Juan Cerezo de Salamanca; August 10, + 1634. + + +_Sources_: The first, third, fourth, and sixth of these documents +are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; +the second and fifth, from MSS. in the Academia Real de la Historia, +Madrid. + +_Translations_: The first document is translated by +Rev. T. C. Middleton, O.S.A.; the third and sixth, by James +A. Robertson; the remainder, by Robert W. Haight. + + + + + +PAPAL BULL CONCERNING MISSIONS + +_Constitution of our most holy lord, by divine Providence pope, +Urban VIII, concerning the missions of religious to Japan and other +regions of the Eastern Indias. Rome: from the press of the reverend +Apostolic Chamber. MDCXX[X]III._ + +_Urban VIII_ + + +To all the faithful of Christ who shall scan these present letters, +health and apostolic benediction. In fulfilment of our pastoral charge +in regard to the safety of souls and the spread of the Catholic faith, +while readily changing those things which have been wisely, ordained +by the Roman pontiffs our predecessors, wherever through the teachings +of experience change seems advisable, we have made some arrangements, +as the same have seemed expedient in the Lord, in regard to the spread +of the Catholic faith and the health of souls. + +In sooth, by his letters in form similar to a brief given on the +twenty-eighth day of January, 1585, and the thirteenth year of his +pontificate, Pope Gregory XIII, our predecessor of happy memory, +led thereto through certain reasons known at the time, issued an +interdict and prohibition to all patriarchs and bishops, including +even the province of China and Japan, under pain of ecclesiastical +interdict and of suspension, from entering the church portals and +the exercise of pontifical power, to all others besides priests, +clerics, and ecclesiastical ministers, both secular and regular--of +whatsoever order, standing, degree, rank, and condition they might +be--under pain of major excommunication to be incurred _ipso facto_, +to this effect: that without his express license and that of the +apostolic see, no one should dare go to the aforesaid countries and +provinces of Japan to preach the gospel, teach Christian doctrine, +administer the sacraments, or discharge other ecclesiastical duties. + +Subsequently, however, Pope Clement VIII, also our predecessor of +renowned memory, having learned that the countries and provinces of +China and Japan, as well as of other near-by and adjacent islands, +besides the neighboring kingdoms of Eastern India, were very extensive +and thickly inhabited; that, moreover, in order to bring so great +a multitude of souls to the Catholic faith and strengthen them with +spiritual nourishment, more workmen and ministers were needed than +could be levied from the religious of the Society of Jesus, therefore +to all and singular the masters or priors-general of the mendicant +orders for the time being did he make the following grant, to wit: +that whenever necessity required they might send--by way, however, +of Portugal only, and thence by sea to the Indias and the city of +Goa--to the local superiors of their orders resident in those lands, +whomsoever of their subjects they might deem fitting and serviceable +for the discharge of the said offices and ministries, provided the +same were of respectable character and learning. Again, that the +religious of the said orders to be thus sent to the said countries +of the Indias, as well as their fellow-members resident therein, +who had been chosen and approved for the discharge of this said +duty by their masters or priors-general, or other superiors, might +go to the said Japan as well as its near-by and adjacent islands, +and even to the said islands, countries, and provinces of China and +the neighbor-kingdoms and mainland [_terra firma_] of Eastern India. + +Moreover, under pain of major excommunication (wherefrom, unless +at the point of death, absolution was not to be granted save by the +Roman pontiff himself); of forfeiture besides of active and passive +vote, and of all dignities, administrations, and offices whatsoever; +furthermore, of disqualification to hold and exercise the same in the +future--all moreover to be incurred _ipso facto_ by all religious, no +matter what privileges had been granted them by the said Clement and +other Roman pontiffs his predecessors, of no matter what tenor or form, +whether general or special, even though with permit attached to preach +the word of God throughout the whole world--no matter, either, whether +hereafter the same or like privileges should be granted, approved, +and renewed as long as therein special, specific, and express mention +of this prohibition and interdict should not be made with annulment of +the same--thereupon he interdicted and forbade them all and singular, +under no matter what pretext or color of design, to leave the islands +known as the Philippines or any other part of the Western Indias or +country held as part of the Western Indias and thence to pass to the +said Japanese Islands, provinces, and countries and other near-by, +adjacent, and neighboring lands. Furthermore he ordered that should +any one have gone to the said Japan or countries near by, or in the +future should go thither, no matter what his reasons, on being warned +he should immediately depart thence and return to the said Philippine +Islands or other countries of the Western Indias, under the same +penalties as above; and, moreover, under the same penalties as well +as others at the option of any ecclesiastical judge whomsoever he +might be constrained and compelled thereto. + +While later Pope Paul V, also our predecessor of happy memory, having +learned by experience that the prohibition to go to the Indias and +the city of Goa otherwise than by way of Portugal was neither obeyed, +nor even advantageous for the spread of the Catholic faith: in order +therefore that, as he desired, he might make due provision whereby so +important a work of God might be carried on without hindrance, made +the following grant to all and singular the masters, ministers and +priors--general of the mendicant orders--or the heads of orders for +the time being, by whatever title they might be known--that whenever +necessity should require them to send to Japan and other near-by, +adjacent, and neighboring islands, provinces arid countries, to the +superiors of their orders resident therein, any religious of their +order of respectable character and learning, whomsoever they might deem +fit and serviceable for the discharge of the said duties and offices, +to this end they might freely and lawfully send them otherwise than +by way of Portugal--in all remaining matters, however, being bound in +all respects to observe the said letters of his predecessor Clement, +and the fuller instructions contained in those issued by the said +Gregory and Clement and his predecessor Paul V the tenor whereof in +these our presents we wish to be considered as expressed therein. + +Since, however, the experience of many years has shown that the +ordinances contained in the foregoing letters were not of avail, and +that other provision was needed whereby the sacred holy gospel of the +Lord Christ might be the more easily preached and spread throughout +the said islands and kingdoms, therefore in the discharge of our +pastoral duty, following the norm of the said Paul our predecessor, +after mature counsel with our venerable brethren, cardinals of the holy +Roman church, who are in care of the spread of the faith throughout +the whole world, in virtue of these presents to all and singular +the masters, ministers, and priors-general of any religious order, +or institute, even of the Society of Jesus, or the heads of orders, by +whatsoever other title they may be known, hereby through our apostolic +authority, we do grant and convey the following powers, to wit: that +whenever it be deemed expedient, they may freely and lawfully send to +the said islands, provinces, countries, and kingdoms of Eastern India +by other way than by Portugal whatever members of their orders and +institutes they may deem suitable for the missions by reason of age, +character, morals, and learning--provided, however, that in all other +matters (and not otherwise) they follow the said instructions of our +predecessor Clement. Moreover, under penalty of excommunication _latae +sententiae,_ we forbid all ecclesiastics and religious, of whatsoever +order and institute, both of non-mendicants and mendicants, even those +of the Society of Jesus, as well as the seculars of religious, from +hindering the journey of the aforesaid religious to the above-named +islands, provinces, countries, and kingdoms. + +At the same time we exhort most earnestly in the Lord the said +religious who are to be, or even have been, sent to the said places, +to observe uniformity in their instructions to the people, especially +those who have been recently converted to the Christian faith, in order +that such neophytes be not scandalized through conflicting teachings, +especially in matters relating to morals. + +Wherefore since in matters of so great concern we hold that care +and watchfulness on the part of the aforesaid are of much avail, +hence we again and again urge them to restrict their teachings to +general principles. + +Accordingly, to the end that this be the more easily carried out, +in their instructions to the peoples of the said places in Eastern +India, the said religious shall as far as possible use exclusively the +Roman Catechism, and the "Christian Doctrine" (both small and large) of +Robert Bellarmino, a cardinal of the holy Roman church of good renown, +translated and printed in the dialects of the aforesaid peoples. + +But since, to the no little grief of our heart, we have learned +that in Japan now for many years is raging a most bitter persecution +against Christians, especially against religious, we therefore grant +and convey to all and singular the Christians now as well as in the +future resident in Japan, the power to receive freely and lawfully +the sacraments (such however as require episcopal ministry being +excepted) even those that appertain to parish priests, from any +priests, as the above, whose services they may secure--provided, +however, these have been, or shall be, sent thither by their generals. + +Furthermore, since by the sacred canons, the decrees of councils and +apostolic constitutions, all religious and even other ecclesiastics, +especially such as are in holy orders, are forbidden strictly to +engage in worldly affairs and traffickings, as gravely harmful, +undignified, and unbecoming to persons consecrated to divine service, +especially such as are vowed to the preaching of the sacred holy +gospels of the Lord Christ, therefore following the norm of the said +sacred canons, decrees, and apostolic constitutions, by our apostolic +authority, in virtue of these presents, we interdict and forbid all +and singular the religious in the afore-named places, or who shall go +thither--no matter of what order and institute, whether non-mendicant +or mendicant, even of the Society of Jesus--to devote themselves to, +or engage in, any business or trafficking, no matter in what way, +whether personally or through others, in their own name or that +of their community, be the same directly or indirectly, no matter +under what pretense or color of design; and this under penalty of +excommunication _latae sententiae_ to be incurred _ipso facto_, of +deprival moreover of active and passive vote, and of all offices, +degrees, and dignities whatsoever, of disqualification besides to +hold the same, as well as of forfeiture of all merchandise and the +gains accruing therefrom--the same to be set apart by the superiors +of the orders whereof the delinquents were members, for the service +of the missions in the said Indias in charge of the said orders, +now and hereafter, nor to be used for any other purpose whatsoever. + +Moreover, under the same penalties we charge the same superiors, +while keeping watch strictly in this regard, to proceed against +delinquents with the said penalties, nor relieve them from the duty +of forfeiture of the said merchandise, or the repayment of gains, +no matter how small the amount involved. However should disputes +(which God forfend) spring up among the religious of the said orders, +let them be settled and ended by the bishops of the said places for +the time being, in their capacity of delegates of the apostolic see. + +But should matters of graver moment be brought to their notice, +let the said bishops without delay refer them to us and the Roman +pontiffs our successors, to the end that, whatever the ruling and +decree, this may be provided for after mature deliberation. Such is +our wish and command. + +Moreover, while commanding that without fail these present letters be +observed by all and singular to whom for the time being they appertain, +we withdraw from all and singular the judges--no matter of what rank, +whether ordinary or delegate, even though the same be auditors of +cases appertaining to the apostolic palace--the power and authority +to rule and interpret otherwise, any decisions to the contrary +heretofore given, whether knowingly or through mistake, no matter by +what authority, to be held as null and void. Therefore we command +all and singular the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and other +prelates of churches and palaces, even those of religious, throughout +the whole world, without fail to have these present letters observed +in their provinces, cities, dioceses, chapters, and jurisdictions, +besides whenever requested by the religious of the said orders to have +and see that the same be published solemnly, [99] notwithstanding to +the contrary any interdict, prohibitions, letters, or other premises +of our said predecessors, nor any apostolic or synodal decree, be +the same issued in provincial or general council, no matter whether +embodied in special or general constitutions and ordinances (even +in those granted to the Society of Jesus and the other said orders, +provinces and regions); no matter whether confirmed by apostolic pledge +or otherwise by statute, custom, privilege, or apostolic indult and +letters, even those granted by the pontiffs in the fulness of their +power, be the same general or special--all which, in so far as they +conflict with these our present letters, prohibition, and interdict, +wherefore they are to be considered as having been duly expressed and +inserted therein, we hereby desire and command shall be invoked in +favor of no one, no matter of what order, even though of the Society of +Jesus, but be held as null and void. And since it would be difficult +to have these present letters exhibited and published in all places, +we desire that to all copies of them (even in print), whenever the +same be certified to by any public notary, or the secretary of any of +the said orders, and attested with his seal by any church dignitary, +or the generals of the aforesaid orders, the same respect be accorded +in court, or outside, as would be given to these presents were they +themselves to be exhibited or shown. Given at Rome at St. Peter's, +under the seal of the Fisherman, the twenty-second day of February, +1632, and the tenth year of our pontificate. + +_M. A. Maraldi_ + + +We, Cæsar Montius, by the grace of God and the apostolic see patriarch +of Antioch, nuncio of our most holy lord Urban VIII, by divine +Providence pope, with power of legate _a latere_ of the same see in +the kingdoms of the Spains, and collector-general for the apostolic +chamber, to all and singular who shall view and see as well as hear +these present letters, hereby do attest and in the word of truth do +vouch that this present copy of the same agrees with the original in +every respect. Wherefore we command that to it full regard be shown. In +testimony whereof we have sealed these presents, signed by our own +hand, and have ordered the same to be issued by our secretary. Maduti, +of the diocese of Ysleta, the twenty-eighth day of June, 1633. + +By order of the same most illustrious lord: + +_D. Francisco Gutierrez Corrilla_, secretary. + + + + + +NEWS FROM THE FAR EAST, 1632 + + +_Information which has been sent from the city of Manila of the present +condition of the Catholic religion in Philipinas, Japon, and Great +China; sent by father Fray Juan Garcia, [100] professed religious +of the Order of St. Dominic, to the royal convent of San Pablo at +Sevilla. Account of how the king our lord has taken an island in +Great China, called La Hermosa, with a great fortress which is there_. + + +During the former year of 631, twenty-eight professed religious of the +Order of St. Dominic, from different convents in Spaña, who voluntarily +offered themselves for the service of God our Lord, the holy apostolic +Roman see, and their order, left the port of San Lucar de Barameda, +having embarked to cross over to the province of Nueva España in the +Yndias, thence to the Philipinas Islands, Japon, and the kingdom of +Great China, in order to preach the faith of Jesus Christ in those +said kingdoms to the barbarous and idolatrous heathen there. After a +prosperous voyage of eleven months they arrived at the city of Manila, +where they were well received by the other religious who reside in +those islands. However there died during the said voyage father Fray +Juan Quixada, a native of Xerez, and a son of that convent; father Fray +Vicente Ripol, a native of Zaragoça, and a son of the same convent; +father Fray Francisco Castañeda and brother Fray Jacinto Robles, both +sons of Salamanca; brother Fray Vicenta Ybañes, a son of the convent +of Valencia; and brother Fray Jayme Escuder, native of Mallorca. The +rest arrived safe and sound, full of joy at finding themselves where +they desired to be busied in the preaching of the holy gospel. + +The news from Japon has it that the emperor of that country is holding +a large number of Dutch in prison, on account of difficulties which +they have had with the Japanese, and even worse [were their dealings] +with our people; for through friendship for the Dutch has arisen +the great persecution and martyrdom of so many religious, of so many +different orders, who have suffered martyrdom in those regions. Having +ingratiated themselves with the emperor until they stood well with him, +in order that there might be no increase in the faith of Jesus Christ +they counseled him that it was altogether inexpedient to consent that +any friar of any order should enter his kingdom, for that they were +a vile people, driven out of España, to preach the faith of a God +whom they adored, who had died crucified upon a cross; and that with +that humble garb they were doing great harm, converting the people to +their faith and straightway delivering over the country to the king +of España, as they had done in other parts of the Yndias. But as God +our Lord is ever mindful of his own, His Divine Majesty has permitted +that these works of cunning and these heretical counsels, unfriendly +to our holy Catholic faith, should have no success, and so at present +they have not. For the emperor has commanded that in no way shall any +Japanese be martyred for turning Christian; but that they should be +exiled from the realms of Japon, and landed in a Christian country, +so that, since they had accepted that faith, they might there be +supported and given the necessaries of life. The reason which moved +the emperor to order that they be not martyred is because he fears +that through the martyrdom many heathen Japanese would be converted, +if they were to see those who are martyred dying unwavering in their +Christian faith. Accordingly, in the month of May in the past year of +one thousand six hundred and thirty-two there arrived in this city of +Manila a Japanese ship with more than a hundred Japanese, with their +wives and children. They were exiled Christians who had been told in +their own country that if they abandoned the faith not only would they +not be exiled from their fatherland, but that they would be cared for +at the expense of the emperor. They chose to set out as exiles, fathers +parting from their sons, wives from their husbands, and children +from their parents, to preserve the faith of Jesus Christ, trusting +solely to the providence of God. They arrived at this city of Manila, +having suffered ill-treatment and disease. As soon as they had landed +and been received by the Christians of this city, they all began--men, +women, and children--to sing _Laudate Dominum omnes gentes_, and other +psalms, so that it would have moved stones to pity. They were taken +immediately to a church, at their own request, in procession. And no +sooner did they find themselves in the temple of the Lord for whom +they had suffered so much, than they all commenced to sing aloud +_Nunc dimittis_, from beginning to end, so that the Christians of the +primitive church could have done no more. They were then taken to a +hospital, where they are being cared for at present with liberal good +cheer, for on every hand they are supplied with plentiful alms. The +heathen Japanese went back astonished at this charitable reception +which they received; and therefore they now make martyrs no more, +because they realize that this affects the people, and that more +are converted in the public martyrdoms which they were inflicting +in order to strike the others with fear. What they now do with the +ministers of the gospel whom they can capture is as follows--as has +been done lately with six religious whom they hold prisoners among +them, two of these belonging to our order of St. Dominic: Within the +prison they strip the fathers, and throw boiling hot water on them +over their whole bodies, until they are horribly burned and wounded, +and their skin is quite flayed off. Then they are cared for; and when +they are recovering they are again stripped, and the same thing done, +and so they have been kept for a year. + +Concerning missions in the kingdom of Camboxa, we learn that four years +ago, when the king sent to ask for religious in order to make himself +and his kingdom Christian, six belonging to our Dominican order only, +went there, and carried to him a handsome present on behalf of the +governor of Manila. The king received them with much kindness at +first. Afterwards, when they instructed him in our faith and told +him he must give up his idolatries to receive it, he began to hate +them--until, after two years, he ordered them to return; and so that +kingdom is without a Christian, as it was impossible to persuade a +single person; for they are wild barbarians, who, like the negroes, +go about attired in skins. + +As for Great China, it is the chief object of our desire; for the +people are intelligent, and the country great and populous. The King +of España has taken an island which lies eighteen leguas from Great +China, and is called Hermosa Island--a thing which was considered +impossible, for it seemed that all the power in the world would +not be enough to conquer it. In this island there is a great fort +and a city, where many Spaniards are in garrison; and six of our +religious, with none of any other order. A ship-load of provisions, +and one company of soldiers, are sent to them every year from this +city of Manila. Five of our friars went this year. In that island +they are engaged in conquering it with soldiers, although most of +it has made peace. Our friars are converting some whose conversion, +through the goodness of God, is very effective. From this island two +of our religious went to Great China; and eight days ago we received +a letter from one of them which reads as follows: + +"Your reverences may give thanks to our Lord, for the Order of +St. Dominic is already within Great China. They killed my companion +immediately after we landed. I am considering how the conversion of +this land can be best accomplished, etc. In this city there are about +six hundred Christians, natives of Great China, among eleven thousand +heathen, largely merchants who come to trade. It should be a matter +commended to God to be pleased to open the eyes of this people to a +knowledge of Him, as there are so many souls there to be damned--for +(so they say) there are more people in Great China than in half of +all the rest of the world. It has been revealed to a holy nun, and to +one of our friars of rare virtue, that those who are now living will +see the conversion of this people. I can assure you that the labor is +great, and the workers few; for there are missions in these islands +where, on account of the lack of religious, we can have no more than +one; and he has more than two thousand souls in his charge, and four +villages where he says mass every feast-day, with the permission of the +superior, though one village is two leguas or more from another. It +is a matter for wonder that even one religious is left, after all +this labor and service in so hot and enervating a country." + +The original of this letter was addressed to the father master Fray +Alonso Tamariz, formerly prior of this convent of Sevilla. + +This information has been sent to the most reverend father-general +of the Order of St. Dominic, that his most reverend Paternity may +prepare those under his command to continue this great enterprise, +and go to those regions, whence so great results are hoped and desired +for the increase and propagation of the holy Catholic faith. + +With the permission of the lord provisor and of the alcalde Don Pedro +Pantoja de Ayala. In Sevilla: sold by Juan Gomez de Blas, close to +the Correo Mayor, this year of 1633. + + + + + +LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV + + +_Military affairs_ + + +Sire: + +By two letters of the same date as this, I have informed your Majesty +of my arrival in these islands, in accordance with the orders to +the incumbents of vacancies in these governments. Referring to them, +I intend in this letter to give brief information of what concerns +military matters. + +The conservation and increase of the islands depends on the trade with +China and Japon, providing that the other provinces shall steadily +maintain a suitable population. This will be secured by maintaining +the reputation of your Majesty's arms and true military discipline; +and by taking heed to preserve what your Majesty holds today, without +attempting new enterprises. For the one your Majesty has sufficient +force, but for the other there would be needed other and fresh forces. + +The army of these islands is composed of nineteen companies. Six of +them are in garrison in this city, and one in the fort of Cavite; six +others in Terrenate; three in the island of Hermosa; one in the island +of Oton; another in that of Cibú; and another in that of Caraga. These +companies will be frequently changed, so that they may all share +alike in the work and the leisure, and so that all may become soldiers. + +The castle of Manila has its usual garrison, and is in a state of +defense. The forts of Cavite guard the port where the ships are +anchored; while under its artillery the building and repair of the +ships is carried on. That fort always has one company of the army. The +fort of Zibu is important because of its distance, and because it +has a port in which the reënforcements for Terrenate are made ready; +while it confronts the insurgent Indians of Mindanao and Xolo. For that +reason its garrison has one company of volunteers [_sobresaliente_], +and one of the army. The other two forts of Oton and Caraga are kept +up for the same purpose. As I have but recently arrived, I do not +make so full a relation of them as I shall give next year. + +In regard to the island of Hermosa, I shall not inform your Majesty, +until I have sufficient knowledge to do so, of what I think; for I +see that the expenses incurred by your Majesty are heavy, while the +island is of no use. On the other hand, trustworthy persons give +confident expectations of its population, growth, and utility. + +The reënforcements for Terrenate are what cause most solicitude; they +are made at great risk, and at a heavy cost to your Majesty. That of +last year reached the fort with reputation, because it was carried +by a powerful ship which could withstand the Dutch, defensively +and offensively. The governor [of Terrenate], Pedro de Heredia, +has advised us that it will be expedient for your Majesty's service +that the first reënforcement be sent in such manner that it may +not be endangered, inasmuch as the enemy is making preparations to +await it with greater forces. Consequently, I am trying to have it +conveyed by two war galleons, and to have them leave at the time +considered advisable by men of experience. From now on, all the +reënforcements will carry two entire infantry companies, so that two +others may return in their place. In this way that garrison will be +changed every three years, and all the companies of the army will +share the work equally. It is advisable for your Majesty to order +the governors to do this, absolutely; for in this there has been +lack of system. Your Majesty should not allow portions of companies +to be sent; but whole companies should go, so that the unprotected +should not be wronged, or the privileged favored. [_In the margin_: +"Let this be marked, and also let advice of this clause be given +to the new governor. [101] Portions of companies shall not be sent +to Terrenate, but whole companies shall go there, as is here said, +so that those companies which are changed may return entire."] + +Pedro de Heredia, who has been many years governor of Terrenate, +is a good soldier; but he is old and rich, and it is advisable for +your Majesty to send a successor to him. He should be one who will +be content with the honor and dignity of the post of governor. + +Your Majesty has sustained here a number of galleys at a great +expense. They have been of very little or of no service. Some of +them have fallen to pieces with the lapse of time; and others have +been wrecked, not so much on account of disasters, as for the lack +of experienced officers for that navigation, as it is very different +from that of galleons. In this port there is now but one old galley; +and as I have taken a trip in it, I can assure your Majesty that it +serves for nothing else than vanity. To keep it up costs considerable, +and therefore, and because this treasury is so deeply in debt, I have +determined to prevent so excessive a cost to your Majesty. I shall +only keep up the galley of Terrenate, which is necessary and cannot be +spared; for your Majesty's revenues do not allow superfluities. And, +so long as your Majesty does not resolve upon another course, I shall +not venture upon more at present than to repair this galley, which is +old and unmanageable, in order that there may be something in which +to occupy the crew (who lie idle the whole year), until a new order +comes from your Majesty. [_In the margin_: "Have the new governor +notified, in accordance with what the last one has written, in how bad +a condition is the galley of which mention is made, the great expense +that would be required to repair it, of how little use it is; that it +can be dispensed with; and that, if there are no other reasons that +prevent, or any inconveniences, he shall do so, and, after doing it, +he shall give information of what has occurred, and of his opinion."] + +Your Majesty has a captain-general of artillery here, which is a +superfluous post, not only on account of the little that there is for +him to do, but because there will never be a land campaign; and on +all occasions the governor attends to this, as to other things. It +is also proper to adjust the jurisdictions of all [the officers], +for they are all at variance, as some are trying to meddle in the +affairs of others. That results in confusion and disorder; for the +master-of-camp, in accordance with his title, claims that he can try +causes in the first instance of all the men who are paid, both in +and out of the army. The governor of the artillery, the castellans, +the military captains, the substitutes [_entretenidos_], and others +who are not soldiers of the army claim that they are exempt from +such jurisdiction. I have thought it best to inform your Majesty, +so that you may please order the measures taken that are most to your +pleasure. [_In the margin_: "When that post falls vacant, have this +section brought."] + +It is not advisable that it be known here that the governors +should give so particular an account as I am giving, and as I shall +always give, in accordance with the dictates of my conscience; for +others, fearful of it, will not neglect to advise of many things of +importance. Will your Majesty provide throughout, what is most to your +pleasure. May God preserve your Majesty, etc. Manila, August 14, 1633. + + +_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_ + + + + +_Government matters_ + +Sire: + + +I have informed your Majesty from Mexico that, in accordance with the +regulations in regard to the vacancies in this government of Filipinas, +the viceroy of Nueva España entrusted me _ad interim_ with it because +of the death of Don Juan Niño de Tavora, the regularly-appointed +incumbent. I left Acapulco April 5, and entered these islands with the +flagship and almiranta July 8, after a prosperous voyage, although +the great calms of this year have obliged the ships to make port in +the island of Mindoro, at a distance of twenty-five leguas from this +city, where they are awaiting suitable weather to enable them to get +to this city of Cavite. Accordingly, I came in an oared vessel to +take possession of this government, on the second of the present month. + +I am obliged to inform your Majesty of the judicial, treasury, +military, and government matters, and as a new arrival I shall be able +to do it quite free from interest and passion, and with the sole desire +of fulfilling my duty as a vassal. I shall endeavor with all truth to +give a succinct relation of all that I have found, so that, after your +Majesty has read them, you may have the most advisable measures taken. + +This government and the preservation of its provinces consists in +that the commerce of Great China and Japon be current, and especially +that of Japon. In truth this is more considerable, both as it is a +powerful neighbor, and because they are wont to bring from that kingdom +many products which are needed [here]--namely, iron, copper, lead, +saltpeter, flour, salt pork, vegetables, drugs, and silver--and which +it costs your Majesty considerable to have to supply from Nueva España. + +Our relations with Japon are broken up, because the Dutch with their +accustomed scheming--that king having been irritated on account of +the religious who have preached the holy gospel from these provinces, +and fearful of new conquest--have converted into hate the old-time +friendship. The Japanese employ extraordinary harshness toward the +Catholics; and although your Majesty has ordered my predecessors +in so prudent and Christian a manner, by your royal decrees, not +to allow the religious to go to Japon until the times change, they +have been unable to prevent it; for the religious have imprudently +embarked in secret, thereby causing more trouble than good. They +have thus left a deficiency in the missions of these provinces, +where they have sufficient in which to busy themselves, since whole +nations are heathens. The measure that I believe to be practical is +for your Majesty to command the provincials of the orders not to allow +any religious to go to Japon for the present; for they only serve to +irritate one who, if placated, will some day, when undeceived in regard +to the Dutch malice, grant the liberty which he now denies. Now and +henceforth I shall endeavor to give Japon to understand your Majesty's +desire of good friendship and relationship. In accordance with this +I shall attempt the same with the provincials, and have them concern +themselves in converting the Japanese and Sangleys who live among us, +until your Majesty be pleased to order otherwise, [_In the margin_: +"This was provided for by writing to the governor to pay attention +to this matter, and to arrange matters as may be most advisable."] + +The trade with Great China has also declined, because the Portuguese of +Macan have become masters of it, as they are so near. Being admitted +here, contrary to all good government, they come here to retail the +products which the said Sangleys formerly brought directly, whereby +these provinces are suffering a great scarcity. All of that results to +our damage and to the advantage of China, because of the great advance +in price over the [former] cheapness of their goods--[an excess] +which, moreover, they carry to their own land. The relief that I +believe can be had, although at its beginning some privation may be +felt, is for your Majesty to prohibit the trade of Macan with Manila, +and decree that no Portuguese be admitted in this government. Besides +the attainment of the aforesaid object, your Majesty's duties will +increase--which is a matter worth consideration; for until now all +has been expense. [_In the margin_: "Collect the papers that we have +upon this matter and those written upon it, and bring them here."] + +I have found these islands in need of men, whose numbers are decreasing +because of the poor climate. The need of them requires that your +Majesty provide a remedy; for the reënforcements from Nueva España +are costly. Although the governors have exceeded their authority by +giving licenses [to leave the country], I can not avoid representing +to your Majesty that the inhabitants of Manila are worthy of the +favors that your Majesty may be pleased to show them, provided it +does not result in disservice to your Majesty--as I warn you by a +separate letter touching revenue matters, in order that I may not +confuse those matters in this letter; and in another letter touching +military matters, I advise your Majesty of certain points, which also +depend on the same thing. [_In the margin_: "Write to the governor +to avoid giving licenses; and to the viceroy [of Nueva España] that +he send some men there, as is ordered."] + +The governors whom your Majesty shall provide for these islands +should be as experienced in nautical matters as in those of the land; +and should at the same time understand judicial and legislative +matters. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +Licentiate Don Francisco de Rojas finished his visit, and has proceeded +in it as an honest and good minister. He has done considerable in +so brief a term, when one considers his poor health. He goes well +informed on the affairs of these regions, in order to inform your +Majesty of what he has seen. Although he has borne himself with +discretion, he leaves these provinces afflicted, because he has +taken away encomiendas from very poor persons who have served well, +and who by virtue of these grants have become citizens. They have +been condemned because they did not secure the confirmation of your +Majesty within the time set. Their excuse is, not only that it is not +more than two years since your Majesty's decree requiring that the +confirmation be given was proclaimed, but that, besides their living +in the most remote provinces in the world, the advice-ships from Nueva +España were wrecked this year. The ships sailing hence have put back to +port, and their despatches have not arrived; and as they are soldiers, +with careless agents who employ but little effort in soliciting their +causes, will your Majesty be pleased to show them the favor that is +agreeable to you. [_In the margin_: "It was provided."] + +Two auditors have remained in this royal Audiencia, because the visitor +suspended the other two. There is a lack of officials, for I also +found that the fiscal, Don Juan de Quesada, was dead. The government +appointed in his place, before my arrival, Don Juan Fernandez de +Ledo, until your Majesty order otherwise. I am informed that he is +a capable person, and that he is very learned and of praiseworthy +morals. Will your Majesty be pleased to show him the favor that you +may deem advisable. [_In the margin_: "It was provided."] + +Because of my having taken possession of this government so late, +although your Majesty had ordered that the ships that sail annually to +Nueva España should depart on the first of June I have found, on the +second of August, their despatch so delayed that it has been impossible +to make it before now, although I have not endeavored to accomplish any +other thing since my arrival. I desire to have your Majesty informed +that this despatch is not chargeable to me. [_In the margin_: "Seen."] + +May God preserve your Majesty, etc. Manila, August 14, 1633. + +_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_ + + + +_Revenue matters_ + + +Sire: + +Although I informed your Majesty in two other letters, of equal date +with this, of my arrival in these islands, and that this temporary +government is in my hands, I intend to tell briefly in this letter +only the matters that I observe concerning the revenues. + +I have found your Majesty's revenues very inadequate, and that the +royal treasury owes eighty-eight thousand eight hundred pesos to the +inhabitants of Manila, which have been borrowed in reals; and it is +necessary to pay them from the aid that I bring. + +I have found no lumber in the shipyards for the repair of the ships, +and for the other needs that are wont to arise. There is a lack of +rigging, of food, and of all the supplies necessary. I advise your +Majesty of it, in case my ability should not be sufficient to supply +so great needs as there have been; although my principal endeavor +shall be to strive, in these beginnings, that all shall be restored +to its former condition. [_In the margin_: "Examined January 25, +34. Write to the new governor that we have heard of the lack of +wood and of the other things that are [_word illegible in MS._; +necessary?] in the magazines, so that everything may be provided as +is expected from his care and zeal."] + +I am obliged in conscience to inform your Majesty (in case my own +efforts should prove insufficient) of all that I shall esteem worthy +of correction in your royal service; and of what I saw in the port +of Acapulco, where I embarked, and in the ships up to the present. In +order to be able to do so, it is necessary for me to repeat in brief +the favors and privileges which your Majesty has conceded to these +inhabitants of Manila, in order to show them favor, with the desire +that they increase in numbers, and so that they alone may enjoy the +fruits of the trade and traffic of these provinces, entirely excluding +from it the inhabitants of Nueva España. Surely this is an important +matter, but the custom and malice of men has had so much influence +that experience shows us that neither that which your Majesty orders +is sufficient, nor do the citizens of Manila realize the value of the +favors which they receive. The worst of all is that, to judge from +the condition of affairs, there is no one from whom to obtain the +fitting remedy. The principal abuse is that, although your Majesty +ordered that no money pass from Nueva España here, and although you +granted permission to these inhabitants to receive only five hundred +thousand ducados, a way has been found whereby they secretly send +annually as much as they wish--and that without the said prohibition +being any hindrance to any person of Nueva España, or those of any +other region. The governors my predecessors have had knowledge of this +abuse, but they have not dared to remedy it because of the annoyances +that arise in so well-established a practice, and one in which nearly +all the vassals of your Majesty are included. For this same reason, +and because I have so recently arrived, I have considered it fitting to +inform your Majesty, so that, in so grave a matter, you may determine +what will be most fitting to your royal service. [_In the margin_: +"Send this letter to Don Juan de Palafox, so that he may be informed +of it." "Seen by the [_word illegible in MS._] J. Palafox."] + +It is my opinion that since it has been impossible to check the +practice of sending every year money for these parts from Nueva España +(and I suspect that two millions are sent, and that the dearness +occasioned by this abundance of silver results only to the benefit +of Great China, where the money stops without your Majesty having +collected your duties), it will be considered as an aid to the great +expenses of the galleons of this line that your Majesty allow the money +that shall have to pass to be openly registered in Acapulco, at the +rate of five per cent. By so doing your Majesty will enjoy what has +hitherto been usurped by the officers (both the higher and the lower) +of the said ships; and at a reasonable price, and with permission, +no one would conceal the money that he was sending. And now since no +other remedy is found, it will be right for your Majesty to do this, +so that you may not lose your duties. In regard to the difficulties +on account of which they might at Acapulco refuse to accept this tax, +which will reach so great an amount of income, I answer that the trade +of these islands is not injured nor will the exchanges of the money +that comes annually from Nueva España increase. Only that which has +hitherto been done surreptitiously will be done openly in the future, +to the benefit of the royal treasury. The higher and lower officers +of the galleons will content themselves with the emoluments of their +offices, which are those that they are enjoying for this. Will your +Majesty have this matter considered very closely; for here, to one +who has the matter before him, it is a clear case. + +In the port of Acapulco, your Majesty has three royal officials, who +are present from the time of the arrival of these ships until they +have once more set sail. In the despatching of the vessels they look +as much to their own comforts as to the service of your Majesty. They +make friends among the registrars, and shut their eyes to the money +that is wont to be sent on commission. The governors are powerless to +remedy this from here. I think that your Majesty can dispense with +all these three positions; and that, besides saving their salaries, +your Majesty will be much better served if, at the arrival of the +ships, your Majesty order that the castellan and the alcalde-mayor +of Acapulco do not permit them to discharge their cargoes, and that +an accountant-in-chief of the bureau of accounts be always sent from +Mexico on the first of December to attend to the unlading; and that he +be accompanied by the alcalde-mayor of Acapulco, or by the castellan +of that fort. + +In the letters that I write pertaining to government and military +affairs, I touch on some points which also touch this matter of the +revenue; and I do not repeat them, in order not to become prolix. I +only go back in this to represent the difficulties occasioned here by +its being known that the governors give account of everything--as I am +giving it and shall continue to give it as my conscience dictates to +me; for others will not neglect to advise you of many things pertaining +to your royal service. Will your Majesty provide in this what will be +most suitable. May God preserve your Majesty. Manila, August 14, 1633. + +_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_ + + + + + + +REPORT OF ARCHBISHOP ON THE BAKERY OF MANILA + + +Sire: + +On behalf of this city a royal decree has been presented to me in +which your Majesty commands me to inform you in regard to the favor +which Governor Don Fernando de Silva extended to the said city +and to Captain Andres Fernandez de Puebla, giving them the income +from the bakery of this city, which was established on the site and +lot belonging to the said Andres Fernandez de Puebla, he enjoying +half the rent and the said city the other half. The said Andres +Fernandez de Puebla is an old citizen, who has served your Majesty +with approval. Complying with the said instruction, and in order to +investigate the matter with fairness and accuracy, as it should be, +I personally went to the said bakery and inspected it. I found it +walled entirely about with cut stone, and with doors and stout locks, +so that when it is locked up at night no one can go in or come out. The +site is ramparted and habitable where the ovens stand. Although there +are some filling timbers lacking in the middle, it is nothing of +importance, and may be easily repaired. I found in the said bakery +a Spanish overseer, who serves as a faithful manager and who lives +there continually, as I have been informed. He does not allow the +Chinese bakers to adulterate the flour, and is always present to see +that they make clean bread. It seems to me that it is very useful +and advantageous for this city that all the ovens be placed together +in the said bakery, and in no other place. It is fitting that your +Majesty should order this; for there are very great difficulties in +the maintenance of ovens in private houses, as they are haunts where +are committed thefts and offenses against God, which are commonly +known. This is my opinion and is based on my forty years' experience +since I have been in these islands. May God protect the Catholic and +royal person of your Majesty, according to the needs of Christianity. + +Dated at Manila, on the third of August, 1634. + + +_Fray Hernando_, archbishop of Manila. + + + + + +NEWS FROM FELIPINAS, JAPON, AND OTHER PARTS + + +By the last express the following news arrived in a letter which came +from Manila, dated August 20, 634: "Father Manuel Cuello writes that +he is in Camboja in disguise, in order to pass on to Japon, where the +persecution is so bloody that it is publicly cried that five hundred +pesos will be given to any person who makes known the whereabouts of +any priest. In this way during four months sixteen of our fathers +have been arrested, besides the brothers and dogicos who are being +seized every day. While they were awaiting death, it happened that the +emperor was bedridden, suffering with the leprosy for a long time; +and he could find no remedy in his medicines, nor in the sacrifices +to his idols. He heard many loud cries and wails in the garden, +and commanded his people to learn what it was. When they came back, +they said that the sounds proceeded from a large bamboo, a plant which +is very plentiful in that country. They opened it and found within a +cross, red as if dipped in blood, which caused them great wonder. They +took it to the emperor, who was much more astounded because the day +before he had seen a very brilliant cross in the air, although he had +told no one of it; but, when this portent was found in his garden, he +had his soothsayers called in to tell him what it meant. Some of them +said one thing and some another; but the chief of them said that these +crosses were from the fathers who, although blameless, had been put to +death for teaching the veneration of the cross. This explanation was +confirmed by a bonze, one of his favorites, who added that he believed +that the leprosy which he suffered was owing to his having slain so +many innocent people. When the emperor asked him [what he meant], he +added: 'The fathers and Christians whom your Majesty ordered to be +killed at Nangasaqui. I believe that your Majesty has already seen +that with all our efforts we cannot cure you; and you should call +upon the bonzes of Nanbamcas (as they call our fathers) and perhaps +they may be able to grant and perform this miracle, as they do others.' + +"It is a great deal that soothsayers and bonzes, who are so much +opposed to us, should speak so in our favor; but the Lord can do +much greater things, and as it seems that the portent is His work, +[_words illegible_] the interpretation. The result was that the emperor +immediately sent messengers to Nangasaqui and other places to bring +to him the fathers who were in prison. They brought from Nangasaqui +father Fray Luis, of the Franciscan order; and the father-provincial +Christobal Ferreira, and Father Sevastian de Viera, of the Society--the +latter having been for a long time a laborer in that church whence +he was sent to Rome as procurator. When our father invited him to +remain here, as he was so old and had labored so long, he preferred +to end his life with the children whom he had begotten in Christ, +since they were engaged in such wars, rather than enjoy the peace of +Europa. Two years ago he arrived at Manila from Rome; and a little +more than a half a year ago he left Manila for Japon, in the garb +of a Sangley. But as he was so well known, as soon as he secured an +entrance to that country, and the search for the Christians began, +more than a thousand agents were sent over the whole kingdom in search +of him, so great a desire had they to get hold of him. As they were +so numerous, and the reward great, he was unable to escape. He finally +was made a prisoner with the other Christians at Nangasaqui, who were +awaiting death (it was this that made him go back to Japon); and, +although they believed it to be certain when the order came to convey +them to court, all were greatly encouraged to suffer it. But, in place +of that, the ambassador of Macao who is at that court writes that the +kindly treatment which the emperor extended to them was remarkable. He +ordered them to be taken from the prisons and spoke to them with much +gentleness. He told the fathers that if their faith was such truth as +they said, they should obtain from their God the cure of his leprosy, +so that he might recognize its truth; and see that he had done wrong +in taking the lives of those who followed it. The fathers offered to +ask this from our Lord, if his Majesty wished, for the cause was His; +and He heard their petitions and our desires. This emperor may be the +Constantine of that church, in whom the blood that he shed of so many +noble laborers wrought the health which was restored to him; and this +made him unwilling to shed the blood of the humble innocents. We hope +that this omen has assuaged the persecution, and his health goes far +to confirm this. We have the same hope for China, where our Lord has +made us so acceptable to the emperor that he has given us one of the +study-halls at his court at Paquin. Our fathers are giving lectures +to large audiences, and are highly esteemed by all the court, whence +springs our hope of founding many colleges in that kingdom. [102] +May it please his Majesty to further this." + + + + + +LETTERS FROM JUAN CEREZO DE SALAMANCA TO FELIPE IV + + +_Revenue affairs_ + + +Sire: + +I informed your Majesty by way of Yndia, on the twenty-second of +October of last year, of the treasury matters, and of the resistance +which these royal officials were making about accepting the new +ordinances that were left them by the visitor, Don Francisco de Roxas, +by having appealed from them, and having represented in the royal +Council of the Yndias the impossibility of being able to comply +with these in the service of your Majesty. Notwithstanding their +allegations, and the resignation of their offices which they made in +writing, I continued, by what methods I could avail myself of, to urge +them to accept the said ordinances of the visitor. As they persevered +in their disobedience, I arrested all three royal officials, and kept +them together in the treasury, so that the despatch [of business] +might not cease; thereupon they obeyed, and from that time on we have +been following the new ordinances. Although I blamed the too great +resistance which they made, ever since I have excused them somewhat, +through having experienced the great inconvenience and embarrassments +which some of the ordinances contained; and I confess how prudent +they were in the exercise of their authority before they experienced +the present damage. Matters are in such condition that while I am +trying to adjust myself to the new ordinances and not to depart one +jot from them, I find myself more embarrassed, and the despatches that +demand the greatest haste delayed--as happened to me in the stress of +sending the reënforcements in a fleet which I sent to Terrenate this +year, in which consisted the security of those forts, which were in +danger. It was necessary for me to facilitate it by making use of the +precedents of other times. Now, in order to fulfil my obligation, I +assure you that what most is needed in Philipinas is the facilitation +of the course of business, and the choice of [government] ministers +who are entirely trustworthy; for in so remote provinces where all +is invasion from the enemy, it will be most difficult to succeed in +performing your Majesty's service, if the jurisdiction and authority +are so limited. In order to be able to await what your Majesty may be +pleased [to order], I have adopted, in certain doubts, the expedient +which has seemed most advisable, after holding meetings and consulting +with persons in whom I have confidence. + +One of these new ordinances directs that the governor shall deliver, +whether in large or small quantity, all the goods and wares of +these magazines which are used for various purposes. Those which +are in danger of spoiling shall be distributed by his order; and +what shall not be thus disposed of shall not be passed over, at the +time, to the royal officials. That ordinance is impractical, for, +besides the continual occupations of the governor in affairs of greater +importance and his inability to personally supervise things so minute, +your Majesty had issued the necessary ordinance before the visit, and +I have followed it in the preparation of fleets and reëenforcements; +and I do not pay any attention to the delivery in small quantities when +that is necessary. But I am endeavoring to make it understood that +it is impossible to do so always, without obstructing the despatches +which usually demand attention suddenly. What is of importance to the +service of your Majesty is that we, the governor, royal officials, +and other ministers, are attending to the best administration of the +royal revenues. + +In accordance with these new ordinances, the alcaldes-mayor, the +assistants of the royal officials, and shipmasters must annually settle +their accounts exactly. Because of the difficulty of navigation between +some of the islands, it is impossible to obey this ordinance to the +letter, or to cease receiving from such men at the time of [settling] +the account, what their salaries allow, as the emoluments which +they receive are small or nothing. Thus do we continue to proceed, +according to the weather-conditions of the season, and the distance +[from Manila] of the places where they live. + +Whenever ships or fleets have been despatched, some advance pay +has been given to the regular sailors and soldiers. It is a harsh +measure that because we do not have, for all the greater and less +matters that arise, a distinct decree from your Majesty which is in +accord with one of the new ordinances, the royal officials should +continually impugn and oppose the orders that exist in some of the +same matters; and although there should be nothing else to do than +to obey the ordinances, the greater part of the time is passed in +summons and replies. I have received in these ships a royal decree +from your Majesty, under date of August 26 of the past year, in which +your Majesty is pleased to order me to collect two per cent on the +merchandise exported to Nueva España, in addition to the other three +per cent that has been paid hitherto, in accordance with what the +visitor agreed with this city by way of a gracious gift; and that +on the first occasion _[word illegible in MS._; I make?] decision +of what must be observed, and give information whether this duty is +collected here, or whether the benefit of it is obtained along with +the situado of these islands. I caused it to be obeyed and executed +according to its contents. And in order that these citizens might +appraise their goods in accordance with this order I had the said +royal decree published in the usual places, and it was communicated to +the cabildo, judiciary, and magistracy of this city. Seeing that the +citizens were exceedingly remiss in lading, and the time far advanced +for the ships to make their voyage, I proceeded to stimulate them +by edicts and orders, and finally by placing them under the penalty +of losing the favors which your Majesty has granted them in allowing +the five hundred thousand pesos that are brought every year from Nueva +España. The city replied to that by appealing from my act and from the +said royal decree to your Majesty, as the relation given by the visitor +was not in harmony with the acts, and as their citizens had not made +any [such] agreement. The four thousand pesos which they gave as a +donation was for that time, provided that no further action should +be taken regarding this duty until the matter had been discussed +in the royal Council of the Yndias. In proof of it, the visitor +embarked without having made a beginning in this collection. After +many discussions, the citizens had resolved not to lade any goods at +present for Nueva España. I gave a copy of all this to the fiscal and +the royal officials. I resolved [not] to despatch the ships without +cargoes, and even to take the boxes and bales from where they should +be found and actually put them on board the ships; but the auditors +and officials believed that it would be contrary to law to force the +citizens. Therefore I determined to call a meeting of the Audiencia, +archbishop, fiscal, and royal officials, in order to determine what +ought to be done in this matter. All were of the opinion that the +ships should be laded, even though we should postpone the fulfilment +of what your Majesty lately ordered, for the damage that would ensue +from the ships going empty would be beyond comparison far greater +than the gain of the two per cent; and that the appeal interposed by +the citizens ought to be granted, as it was apparent that the report +which the visitor had made was different from what had actually and +truly taken place. In accordance with this, the city has given bonds +for all the sum to which this duty can amount, now and henceforth, +until your Majesty be pleased to provide what is most advisable. In +order that this may be apparent from the investigations, I enclose +herewith a testimony of the acts. + +In respect to my report, Sire, I declare that the three per cent which +has been collected hitherto, has entered into this royal treasury, +and has never been reckoned with the situado. The same will have +to be done with this two per cent, for it is all needed for the +ordinary support, unless that your Majesty should be better served +[by ordering otherwise]. + +The visitor at his departure gave me an account of all that he had done +during the two years while he has been occupied in his visit. According +to the report which he gave me of accounts which had been settled, +I learned that this treasury was clear of debt, and had much money +besides. But I have found by experience since then that, although in +appearance he stirred up affairs, in fact the expense was greater than +the gain. For most of the settlements of which he made a parade are in +litigation, and are being nullified by the acquittal of the parties +[in the suit], while others in the Audiencia are even abandoned; +and few reach the point of collecting [the amounts due]. Some of the +new ordinances that he left suffered the same misfortune, because +he did not dictate them or draw them up, but entrusted them to two +clerks before his visit--for his poor health did not permit him to +do more. It is not to be believed that a well-informed lawyer would +try to obstruct the service of your Majesty, for nearly all his +ordinances are directed to and reflect distrust of the fidelity of +the royal officials, to whom your Majesty has hitherto entrusted your +revenues. From the good disposition that I observe in them and the work +that they do, I judge them to be your very good and faithful servants. + +It is advisable that your Majesty be pleased to send an accountant +for settling accounts, and that he be a person of authority, +with adequate pay. He who serves in that office in the meanwhile +was formerly the servant of one of these auditors; and he is more +concerned in occupying his time in sustaining friendships than in +attending to what is necessary. On that account if some of the new +ordinances were to be remade, this would be bettered. + +I received some decrees in these last ships, which were despatched in +the year thirty-two, and others of the year thirty-three, concerning +the treasury, which are obeyed and will be carried out as is therein +contained. When these ships set sail--and that has not been done +before as the decrees were received late, and by way of India--I +shall give an account of the condition of these matters. + +The viceroy of Nueva España has sent me four companies as a +reënforcement, and this camp has six others. I have reorganized five, +so that there are now six companies in this city, each with more +than one hundred soldiers, which is the least number that a company +generally has. + +Since the month of August of last year, when I began to govern these +islands, the half-annats [103] have been collected with the care +ordered by your Majesty, in which I coöperated with the commissary +for that tax. The royal officials and the auditor who was appointed +commissary are doing as they should. + +In the ships of last year, and by way of Yndia, I informed your +Majesty how expedient it was to charge five per cent duty on the +silver and reals that are sent annually from Nueva España, as no +remedy has been found whereby that commerce can be adjusted to the +permission of only five hundred thousand pesos, which your Majesty +has conceded to these islands. Past times can ill be compared with +the present; and granting the accidents which oblige the viceroys of +Nueva España not to practice the rigor which they themselves make the +governors of Philipinas overlook, and considering the present thing, +and watching out for the greater service of your Majesty, I am grieved +because the royal officials of the ships enjoy this advantage--which +as I have seen, amounts to more than one hundred thousand pesos per +year--and, notwithstanding this new tax, the inconvenience of the +quantities of money passing from those regions will increase; for it +is most certain that those to whom belongs the trade of Philipinas +always find a way by which to attain their objects; and because the +viceroy of Mexico undertook to check it this year, by only threats, +the inhabitants of these islands are ruined and left without their +capital, which remained in Nueva España. May our Lord preserve and +prosper the royal person of your Majesty, as we your vassals desire +and need. Manila, August 10, 1634. + + +_Don Juan Cerezo Salamanca_ + + + + +_Government affairs_ + + +Sire: + +I have given your Majesty an account on all occasions of my coming +to these islands, and of the condition of affairs in them, although +with limitations, and with the caution of a new arrival. But now, +after having governed them a year, I shall be able to discuss their +affairs with experience and more freedom, so that your Majesty, having +been informed, may enact what is most advisable for your royal service. + +The disputes which generally arise between the governor and the +auditors of this royal Audiencia are usually more prejudicial in these +islands than in the rest of your Majesty's monarchy, as these are +the most remote; for their preservation lies in the governor being +obeyed and respected, and in his orders being executed and entirely +observed, without the auditors hindering him, or casting any doubt +on his supremacy, as they are often wont to do. + +The jurisdiction of this Audiencia is set at rest from the +ecclesiastical fuerzas and the litigations of these inhabitants--who, +as is seen from the chart which I am sending under other covers, amount +in all to 151 married men, 81 single men, 45 widows, and 160 children, +besides fifty other men who live in other places. All the rest are +paid sailors and soldiers, with whom the Audiencia has nothing to do; +and from that one can infer how few affairs of justice arise. That +is the cause of the disputes, and of the auditors actually deciding +the affairs of government under pretext of appeals, without waiting +until the governors grant or deny them, in accordance with law--to +the considerable discredit, of the authority that your Majesty has +conceded to the government. That results in nothing that is ordered +being executed. And although your Majesty has provided a remedy for +these accidents with decrees, so that, in case of doubt, the governor +may declare what occurs to him, and that the auditors may pass for +this purpose into Philipinas, still that has not sufficed; for they +take care to give the decrees a different meaning, and will not be +subdued by any means that I have used. In proof of this I cite the +following examples. + +Your Majesty has prohibited the Audiencia from trying causes concerning +the Sangleys of the Parián, and ordered that they be tried only by +the alcalde-mayor and the governor, reserving only the sin against +nature to the Audiencia. Nevertheless, they meddle by taking the +[trial of] first instance from the alcaldes-mayor. + +Your Majesty permits only four thousand Sangleys in these islands, +but a greater number has been tolerated because of the advantage of +the licenses that they pay, and in order not to disturb the trade +with China. In respect to these and many other troubles, the former +governors have endeavored very earnestly to assure that nation, +charging the justices to be very attentive in their jurisdictions, +and not allowing them to grant passage from one part to another +without permission. Especially is it charged upon the alcalde-mayor +of the jurisdiction of Vinondo--the point where the Sangleys fortified +themselves during the insurrection. For this so laborious occupation, +in a special meeting fees were assigned for each license, at the +rate of one real and a quarter for him and his clerk. This has been +the practice for many years. This Audiencia having begun to govern +these islands because of the death of Don Juan Niño de Tavora, the +Order [104] of St. Dominic endeavored to alter these licenses and +the fee, by representing the injury that was done the Sangleys. But +the auditors, in consideration of the above so superior reasons, +confirmed to the letter the last act made concerning this matter +by the deceased governor; and when I succeeded to the government in +accordance with your Majesty's order, the said religious endeavored to +do the same thing. Upon becoming thoroughly familiar with the matter, +I confirmed the said governmental acts, enacted by the Audiencia and +by Don Juan Niño de Tavora. Nevertheless, from this they have stirred +up this pretension, trying the subterfuge of having recourse to the +Audiencia for an affair of justice--where they are admitted without +these same auditors heeding that they have [already] cast their votes +for the government measure. + +In the month of September of the past year, five Sangley ships +were wrecked on this coast of the province of Ilocos, with a great +amount of silver. When preparing to send a person to look for it, +the fiscal presented a petition in the Audiencia, although he ought +to have presented it to the government. Not to confuse matters by +withdrawing them from his charge, and to avoid controversy, and in +order that what was to be done be accomplished quickly, I tolerated +this mode of despatching the business through the Audiencia, hoping +that the alcalde-mayor, to whom the matter would be committed, would +make diligent efforts. But seeing that he sent to this treasury but +little more than three thousand pesos, I am left with deserved pain +for having allowed the jurisdiction of the government to be usurped. I +have sent a new alcalde-mayor, with new ordinances for the purpose. + +Geronimo de Fuentes bid at auction [for the position of regidor], +and the judges of the auction knocked it down to him; and after he +had paid to the treasury the price and the half-annat, his title +as regidor was made out in the ordinary form. When he went to take +possession of his post, some regidors opposed him, appealing to the +Audiencia, as is their custom, with the intention that the royal +decrees and the orders of the government should never be fulfilled; +and, in order not to open the door so that those alcaldes-mayor of +the provinces might attempt the same thing with their successors, +I had possession of his post given to him, reserving to the party +concerned his right, safe and in full force. + +Your Majesty has prohibited any one from sending money to Macan, +and the governors order the same by their edicts under penalty of +confiscation. Antonio Fiallo gave information of over thirteen thousand +pesos sent him by Bartolome Tenorio, chief-constable of the court, +making a gift to your Majesty of the portion which pertained to him +as denouncer. And although this cause originated from the edicts of +the government, the auditors tried it, acquitting the said Bartolome +Tenorio--commenting on the suit in examination and review during my +absence, without carrying it to the regular session. + +The ordinances governing the cabildo of this city were given +by Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, governor of this island, with the +command that none of them be altered without an order from the +governors. One of them prescribes the form of the election of +alcaldes-in-ordinary. Although time has somewhat vitiated it, the +order that the regidors should give account to the governor of all that +occurred has been observed. Consequently, they send him annually two +commissaries from their last cabildo meeting with the nomination of +eighteen or more persons, on whom they have cast their eyes for the +choice of two alcaldes. This year, while separated into factions, +the regidors--finding one of them favored by an auditor who was +trying for his own private ends to oust an alcalde in opposition +to the community--tried to pervert the said custom of sending me +the nomination. I did not allow that, because of the innovation and +because of the difficulty involved therein that, in a presidio that +is open to so many enemies, alcaldes may be chosen to whom the city +cannot be entrusted--for the alcaldes are captains of the inhabitants +when occasion arises--declaring, besides, the more than thirty years +of this practice. They obeyed, and proposed eleven persons who were +satisfactory in every respect. The other new regidors, who had offered +the said auditor more than they could perform, opposed the nomination, +appealing to the Audiencia, and refusing to make the election on +the following day, the first of January. As it was vacation time, +I gave one of the auditors commission to preside in the cabildo, +in accordance with that fact. He excused himself on account of +sickness; whereupon I gave it next to the other remaining auditor, +who also excused himself. In default of both of them, I gave the same +commission to him who performs the duties of fiscal, basing my reason +for it on the grounds that, according to the ordinance he has a vote in +a deadlock; and on the fact that one of the auditors usually presides +in that act, although there are precedents of some unprofessional +men having presided. Don Juan Sarmiento, a creole, and Admiral Don +Fernando Galindo, of España, a man of great worth, were elected. + +After the vacations were past, the two auditors and the fiscal +conspired together, in order to annul the said election and to make +another new one. They offered the necessary support to the regidors of +their party, in order to have them present themselves in the Audiencia +under pretext of appeal. This they did, heaping up nullities in order +to make a suit of suits for the purpose of constituting themselves +judges of what my delegate did in virtue of a commission of the +government, without allowing it to be returned to the delegate, who +was ignorant of what had happened in the election. They carried the +matter so far that they actually tried to take the cause from me. That +compelled me to censure their procedure, and to tell them that the +appeals would be granted according to law--but not by violence; +giving boldness to the litigants so that those who remained without +due punishment because of the support that they were giving them, +should become disrespectful, as they had done; and that I would +consult the lawyers and learned persons of this city, so that, if +that suit did not belong to the government, I might refer the cause +[to the other court]. The lawyers gave me their opinions, saying +that that matter pertained to the government. On that I founded my +declaration in virtue of royal decrees which so ordered, especially +one of November 4, 1606. However they did not refrain from it on that +account--as they are obliged to do, even if I should go further; and, +prosecuting the matter in accordance with the dangerous argument of +time, I remitted the case as definitive to Doctor Arias de Mora, +advocate of this Audiencia. With him I gave sentence, confirming +the said election of alcalde as according to law. As such, the +said Don Juan Sarmiento and the senior regidor--because of the +absence of Admiral Don Fernando Galindo, who has been occupied in +the service of your Majesty--are in the exercise of their offices; +and this has resulted in the quiet and peace of this community and +that of the appellants themselves. The latter already confess their +error, although lately, and as a matter of form, they have presented +themselves in appeal from the definitive act; while the other party +has refused the two auditors, and there is talk of settling the cause. + +[_Words illegible in MS._ The assembly hall?] has been shut often +because of the sickness of these auditors, and more than two months +have gone by without any session. Although the business that arises +is but slight, it is well for the governors to know what is their +obligation when there is a deficiency of auditors in a district so +remote from your Majesty; and whether the progress of the suits ought +to be stopped on account of death or long illness, for three or four +years, until the remedy comes from España; or whether one can proceed +as was done when there was no Audiencia. Also it is desirable to +know whether it is exactly and legally necessary for an auditor to +preside every year at the elections of alcaldes; or whether it will +be sufficient, in the absence of auditors, to appoint a person from +the number of the influential persons of Filipinas, since the auditor +did not _per se_ possess jurisdiction to preside, except by virtue +of the commission given him by the government; or whether the said +election of alcaldes must cease because there is no one to preside. + +By decree of June 8, 1621, your Majesty orders, under severe penalties, +that those who still owe anything of the proceeds from saleable +offices can neither vote nor be elected as alcaldes-in-ordinary. This +has been observed; but certain persons, because of their revengeful +dispositions and passions, have extended the decree to [cover] other +and different debts. Especially this year has the fiscal tried to +prevent the votes of some regidors by obtaining statements [of their +accounts] from the accountancy department--some of which debts the +visitor brought forward, although that had not been done hitherto, +except when only royal officials have (and only in a few years) +given a memorandum of those disqualified by evident debts; and in +the three preceding years none of these same exhibits were of this +sort. They were a disqualification while the visitor was present here, +and the interested parties demanded a declaration as the said royal +decree did not concern them, and these statements were not obtained +from the visit; they have made an appeal, in regard to these points, +and they are pending in the royal Council. None of those debts are +regarded as evident while they are in litigation, and while the royal +officials do not begin to investigate them. I referred their petitions +to the said royal officials, so that they could investigate and give +their opinions. Having examined it, I declared that those therein +contained were able to vote and to be elected, in accordance with +the aforesaid; and that, in a community so limited as this, it is +not right to give permission to avenge one's passions under pretext +of this royal decree. That extends, according to its terms, only +to the debts for saleable offices. Few would be the former regidors +and alcaldes who would not be included; and it is advisable for your +Majesty to be pleased to have the proper decision made known. + +During disputes in this Audiencia, it is the president's privilege +to appoint judges; and when the auditors are challenged, he alone +remains unchallenged. Moreover, he has appointed them without any +opposition, basing his action on the old custom of this Audiencia, and +on the words of the law: "The president, the members of my Council, +and the auditors who shall remain unchallenged, shall appoint +lawyers." But recently they have tried to make an innovation and +to read the petitions of the recusants and to ascertain the causes +that they give. That they did in opposition to the accountant, Martin +Ruiz de Zalazar, in regard to a plea of appeal. As they were not in +harmony, I appointed as judge an advocate of this royal Audiencia, +who having been summoned to the session, and being asked whether the +case had right of appeal, declared in favor of the said accountant: +without allowing him to vote the auditors made him leave the session, +and proceeded by act against the party. The said accountant again +challenging him, because of these and other injuries, the said auditor, +without allowing him to read the appeal, declared that his associate +was not challenged; and the latter, as his alternate, proceeded to try +the new challenge, without its being sufficient to contradict it in +writing in the session. The so open enmity between the Audiencia and +the royal officials being evident, I have withdrawn the papers until +your Majesty be pleased to provide the remedy. A similar difficulty +has happened to me in regard to the appointment of a lawyer in the +challenge of the said Don Juan Sarmiento; and it is necessary for +the governors to know what pertains to them in such cases, since the +appointment of lawyers is not a point of law, but of the direction of +that Audiencia as president; and when he is not there they appoint, +without considering whether or not there have been judges in the cause. + +The two auditors whom Don Francisco de Rojas suspended have died. Those +who are left will attend better to the service of your Majesty +anywhere else than in Philipinas. That will mean the cessation of many +challenges and other indignities, as well as the vengeance feared by +those who have made depositions against them during the visit. + +Your Majesty orders me, by a decree of August 26 of the past year, +that in matters of government and expenses of the royal treasury, +when at the request of part of my [_word illegible_], I refer them +to the fiscal, so that he may advise according to his judgment. I +have observed that from the commencement of my government, and I +shall observe it with greater care in the future; but it will be +advisable to have the fiscal ordered to defend, in the disputes with +the Audiencia over jurisdiction, the royal decrees which are in favor +of the jurisdiction of the government. + +Your Majesty orders me by another royal decree of the same date to see +that the ships which are despatched from all these islands to Nueva +España leave every year from this port in the beginning of June. That +is advisable, but it is impossible to establish it this year; for never +have these ships left without having to wait for the arrival of the +others [from Nueva España], in order that [the inhabitants] answer +their agents in regard to their [commercial] relations, and because +no other opportunity for this arises during the year. Consequently, +although the ships have been, as far as I am concerned, prepared in +time with all that is necessary, the inhabitants have not begun to lade +them until they have seen those which arrived safely on the twentieth +of July. Since that, the fulfilment of this royal decree touching +the two per cent has been discussed, as appears more in detail from +the sworn statement of the acts, which I enclose. From now on I have +commenced to order that the ships in the coming year are to set sail +without those which are now departing; and that the royal decree of +your Majesty must be inviolably kept and observed; but even with this +warning in advance the early despatch has many inconveniences. + +This year no ships have come from Macan, so that the Chinese have +brought more merchandise than usual. Their main deficiency has been +that of not coming laden with woven stuffs; but with the fair treatment +that has been given them, it is hoped that a great abundance of cloth +of all kinds will come in the first champans. + +The loan of 60,000 [pesos] made to the royal treasury by the +inhabitants of Macan, which I ordered to be paid, was opposed by the +fiscal, because the Portuguese have kept a quantity of the goods of +our citizens. Consequently that sum remains on deposit, in a separate +account, so that, when the account is adjusted, their money may be +returned to them. + +The reënforcements for the island of Hermosa, which left here during +the last part of August of last year, sought shelter because of bad +weather, and went to anchor at Macan, for there was no other place +wherein to take shelter. Although the ship bore the [new] governor +of the island of Hermosa, namely, the sargento-mayor Alonso Garcia +Romero, with his wife and family, and the provincial of the Order of +St. Dominic, Fray Domingo Gonçalez, together with other religious, +the Portuguese attempted their accustomed discourtesy, endeavoring +to give it color by the pretext that the ship had put in there in +order to invest a quantity of money that they were carrying. And +although [the said Romero] maintained his men at a great expense, +only awaiting suitable weather to carry aid to the island of Hermosa, +the Portuguese maliciously detained your Majesty's ship, and did not +allow it to depart until the first of April, when the said governor +determined to leave the port at all hazards. He put his determination +into effect with the secret permission of the captain-general [of +Macan], who, as was right, assisted him; but the Portuguese render +so little obedience toward him that they fired twenty-three pieces +charged with balls, and it was only by good fortune that the vessel +was not sunk. That is the usual practice of the Portuguese toward all +the vessels that arrive there from these islands. That is the reason +why the governors of Philipinas refuse to send any ships there for +supplies, except in a case of extreme necessity. Will your Majesty be +pleased to order the inhabitants of Macan to give a different welcome +to the vassals of your Majesty who belong to the crown of Castilla. + +I have until the present refrained from writing about the island +of Hermosa; but now, after a year of residence here, I am obliged +to do so. [_Word illegible in MS._] that it was settled, and some +forts have been built. They are occupied by three companies of +infantry, and together with the Pampango soldiers and the other men +of service they number more than four hundred, counting the rations +which are given them. During the year two pataches ply back and +forth in August and April with the reënforcements, and carry what is +necessary for the said presidio. The climate is mild, as the island +lies in twenty-five degrees of latitude. The soil is fertile, but the +natives so intractable that they do not allow us to avail ourselves of +the fruits of it; and as yet the religious have not reduced a single +reasonable person to holy baptism. They are so treacherous a race that, +when we believe that they are most peaceful, they suddenly revolt, +and kill whomever they meet unprepared. + +On its northern side, this island is about one hundred and twenty-five +leguas from the Philipinas; and so near to China that only a channel +of thirty leguas separates it from the province of Ucheo. Sailing +even farther north, Japon is 195 leguas away. The men are well built, +and not so brown as other Indians. The island lacks ports, and only +small vessels can reach our forts. The Dutch fortified themselves +on the same island first, and in a better place than we; and it was +as easy to drive them from it [then] as it is now difficult. From +their location to our settlement is a distance of fifty leguas by +sea, and there is no road overland or by the other sea. There was no +resistance offered to our settlement, although that is the usual thing +that happens when one desires to fortify himself in these regions. + +The motive for settlement was the desire to be able to enjoy the +trade with China near at hand, which would redound to the advantage +and profit of the surrounding islands. That has not had the desired +effect, because of the difficulties that have arisen, distinct from +the facilities of the first plan--to which are added new accidents, +which are being continually experienced. The chief of all is that your +Majesty has more than two thousand infantry-men in various presidios, +while in this camp [_i.e._, Manila] those who remain do not exceed +six hundred. From this place are sent out all the reënforcements for +all parts. If it were necessary to fit out six or eight galleons, +it would be very difficult to do so without the infantry now in the +island of Hermosa; and yet, with that infantry, they could attempt +great things. In my opinion, even if all the purposes for which the +island of Hermosa had been settled had come to pass, it would result +in loss to the rest of Philipinas; for it is advisable for the good +of these islands, that the Chinese, Japanese, and other nations bring +their merchandise from their lands to this city at their own account +and risk, and never at ours; and permission should not be given to make +a way-station, or to maintain anyone to buy their goods. The advantage +of that will be little, and the scarcity [of goods] general. I am not +bold enough to say that the forts of the island of Hermosa should be +abandoned, but I affirm stoutly that it would be well had they never +been commenced. + +In the letter touching military matters, I write at length of what +has occurred in the forts of Terrenate, and I refer you to that +letter. This is where we can now give the greatest care. + +As for the kingdoms of Japon, I am informed that the persecution of +Christians was greater than ever last year, and that more than twenty +religious from all the orders were martyred, and that even those most +carefully concealed were betrayed by their confidants for the reward of +one thousand taes which was promised by edict for each religious. Later +they write here, but with little foundation, that that fury had ceased, +and that the king was proving more humane; but the fact is that it is +advisable to prohibit (so that what the provincials for the present +are applying as the suitable remedy may have the desired effect) +all religious from passing to the said kingdom. For, besides the +little or no result that they obtain, that trade is shut to these +islands for that reason; and that is what we ought most to desire, +and what is of greatest importance to your Majesty's service and to +the conversion of Japon itself. + +By virtue of your Majesty's decree in which you are pleased to +grant authority to those governors to take the residencia of their +predecessors, because of the inconvenience experienced in their +going away without giving it, the decree was presented to me in +behalf of Governor Don Juan Niño de Tabora, deceased. By virtue of +it I have taken his residencia, and send the same to your Majesty. I +have not discovered that there is any charge to make against him, +as he has lived honorably, and in the praiseworthy manner that his +obligations demanded. + +The Sangleys celebrate their festival, according to their custom, +every year in the month of March, in their Parián. They are very fond +of gambling, and, by the advice of all the orders, they are permitted +to play during their pastimes. The money given by the winners has been +distributed among the servants of the governors, because they do not +have any means of livelihood, and because the obligation of the charge +is so great that the pay is scarcely able to support them decently. But +I have distributed this money among the retired captains, the poor, the +widows, and worthy men who suffer necessity. The Order of St. Dominic +is the only one that dissents from the opinions of the orders. + +When the Audiencia was governing, there was a change in the method of +collecting the licenses of the Sangleys; but it resulted in so much +loss that, as has been found by experience, this [year's] collection +has exceeded by many thousand [pesos] the collections made last year. + +They have tried to establish the same policy in the inspection of the +Sangley ships, contrary to all good government; for it is fitting that +those people have many to protect them, as I tell more at length in +the section treating of the licenses given by the alcalde-mayor of +Tondo. In no year have they been less humbled than in this. + +The wheat used by the inhabitants comes from China, because these +islands do not grow it. Consequently, the common sustenance is +rice. Formerly, as a policy of good government, the past governors +assigned a place where the bread ovens were gathered together, and +prohibited the baking of bread in any other place. In order to make +this bread near at hand, the city made a contract with Captain Andres +Fernandez de Puebla, so that it might be made on a site belonging to +him--with the provision that he, spending in the building what then +seemed sufficient, should enjoy half of the income of the said ovens, +while the other half should remain for the city. All the governors +have confirmed this, as it appeared of utility to the community. This +is what I have to inform you of, according to your Majesty's orders +in your royal decree. + +The post of protector of the Sangleys is vacant, as your Majesty has +ordered that account be given of it, and that six suitable persons +be proposed for it, who must be lawyers. It is impossible to find +so many in this community, because of the few inhabitants here; and +some do not care for the said post of protector on these terms. I +propose to your Majesty the person of Captain Matheo de Heredia, who, +besides having served for many years in various exercises, is one of +the best lawyers in Philipinas. The royal Audiencia entrusts business +of importance to him, and he possesses ability and merits for things +of greater worth, and this favor will be well bestowed on him. + +The viceroy of Nueva España has sent abundant reënforcements this +year, with three hundred thousand pesos in money and the materials +for the clothing of the soldiers (the best that have ever come here); +this has been of great relief for the present needs. + +The captain-general of the artillery claims that he can issue +warrants on the treasury as well as I, because of his office. The +royal officials oppose that, as there is no money assigned for it, +and they are not subordinate to any other but the governor, and that +was not done in the time of his predecessor. It will be fitting for +your Majesty to declare what is your pleasure, considering the fact +that this treasury is poor, and that it is troublesome to have many +giving warrants on it. May God preserve the royal person of your +Majesty, as is needful to us your vassals. Manila, August 10, 1634. + + +_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_ + + + +_Military affairs_ + +Sire: + +On the twenty-second of October, I informed your Majesty of military +affairs. Now I shall do the same in detail, with the zeal of a true and +faithful vassal; in accordance with which I say that the conservation +of these islands consists in not embarking in new enterprises, but in +keeping the presidios well defended which cannot be dispensed with, +and to abolish those of least importance. By so doing there will be +men in this camp for undertaking great things, as has been done in +other times by your Majesty's governors; while the contrary is true +now, for the aforesaid reason, and the governors content themselves +with not losing anything that is in their charge. + +I imagine that there will be difficulty in abandoning the +forts of the island of Hermosa; nevertheless, by my remarks in +my letter on government affairs, to which I refer, that seems +advisable. Accordingly, that can be reduced to but two posts, thus +saving most of the rations which are consumed; but in my opinion all +that may be done is superfluous. + +The fort of this city is in a state of defense, although not in the +perfection that is practiced in these times; but the fortification +of the city is ruinous, to the degree of which your Majesty is +informed. On the other hand, the location of its settlement is +admirable, for more than half of it extends along the seashore where +it cannot be approached by any enemies; while another part of the +wall is bathed by the river. But on the land side it has a height, +and a location suitable for opening trenches up to the walls. The +latter has no terreplein, and is seven palmos in height. The redoubts +are smaller and have no regularity; on the contrary, the casements of +three cavaliers of the said wall are in the way. The moat is filled +up, and there is scarcely a sign of there having been one. This is +no cause of blame to the past governors, for without doubt much was +done in walling the city; for the only purpose then was to assure +themselves from the domestic enemy from China and Xapon, and from +the natives of the land, without imagining that Europeans would be +able to cause any anxiety in parts so remote. But the governors who +have successively come here, having experienced the armed wars with +which the Dutch have appeared in this port, have tried to repair and +improve somewhat the old wall, as is proved by three cavaliers of +great importance that they had built. With slight repair the requisite +completeness was given to it. Considering the great importance of +this post and that building is very cheap and costs less than in any +other part, I resolved, after gathering up the remains of what stood +there to repair the fortifications, to build a royal cavalier in the +modern style at the weakest part of the wall. Without troubling the +royal treasury, I began the work some four months ago, and now I hope +to have it finished in two more. At the same time, we are opening a +suitable moat, and we shall reduce the defense of the city to fewer +posts. That it may be more strongly fortified, all the redoubts +that impede communication between the cavaliers will be torn down, +so that the wall will consist of only four stout bulwarks. + +What most surprised me in Philipinas is the careless way in which +the powder is kept; for all that there is in the islands is kept in +one room in the fort at Manila, and that in a very prominent part +of it, that overlooks the wall. And if that powder should explode +through any accident (which may God forbid), besides the danger to +the city, there would be no powder in the islands, or any material +for its manufacture. In order to obviate so extremely great a danger, +two towers will be built in one of the four cavaliers, in order to +separate and preserve a goodly portion of it. + +One of the motives which compelled me to fortify the wall is because +the orders have built very near it churches so large that two of them +in particular are commanding eminences; and because between one of the +churches (which is called Minondo) and the church of the Parián there +is generally a settlement of twenty thousand or more Sangleys during +the year. They are the people who formerly rose in rebellion. By +suitable measures, those of the Parián have aided me in this work, +with forty thousand pesos from their communal fund. + +I have informed your Majesty of the little importance of the galleys, +and that only that of Terrenate was suitable to be maintained; but, +having considered the matter more fully, I am of a different opinion, +and I say that they are necessary so that we may aid Terrenate in +any perilous need. However, they are not of any use in this port of +Cavite, where they are kept, as they would be if sent to the province +of Pintados at Oton or Cibu, in sight of the domestic enemy, namely, +the Mindanaos, Joloans, and Camucones. These people are the ones who +pillage the natives; and because we have had only twenty oared vessels +in those districts this year, not any of those enemies have left +their lands, although they generally render the provinces disquieted +and fearful. + +The person whom your Majesty has in these islands of the greatest +service, and fit for any important mission, is Don Lorenzo de Olaso, +master-of-camp of this army, who became captain-general at the death +of Don Juan Niño de Tavora. He has assisted me greatly in everything, +especially in the work of the cavalier which is being built. While the +Audiencia was governing, he carried himself prudently; for by their +quarrels over jurisdiction they occasioned him great troubles, which +with any one else might have been more embarrassing and far-reaching. + +On August 14 and October 22 of the past year I wrote to your Majesty +concerning a matter of importance, namely, that a governor be sent to +Terrenate, for Pedro de Heredia is old and rich. I say the same now, +and by what has since occurred it will be recognized that only your +Majesty's royal service moved me [to advise thus], having understood +the dangerous state in which those forts are found to be, on account +of their [present] condition. + +On August thirteen of the same year, the said Pedro de Heredia +advised me that many soldiers of that presidio were about to mutiny, +but that he was making the best of it, as well as he could, until +the reënforcements should arrive. This, he said, had happened +because Father Manuel Rinto, [105] commissary of the Holy Office, +had published an edict regarding the sin against nature, in which +many had been included. The father had given them two months in +which to seek absolution. To this was joined their understanding +that the governor would make an examination of those who should be +absolved, from which arose their desperation. He also said that, +both on this account and because the Dutch had a galleon of great +strength in Malayo and were awaiting other galleons from Chacatra, it +was advisable that the usual reënforcements come, and be well guarded; +for if it came in the usual manner it would infallibly be lost. + +That despatch found me already preparing two galleons and one patache +for that purpose, for the conjectures that occupied my mind gave me +greater anxiety than did the enemy themselves. In a council that I +summoned, some thought that I should not risk or weaken our forces; +and that I should send that aid in light vessels, and in the usual +way. But, considering the condition and danger of those forts, I +resolved to reënforce them in a creditable manner by sending the said +two galleons, manned with good infantry and with first-class troops; +taking for that purpose one company of volunteer soldiers from the +camp. That was a move of importance, and one that it is advisable +to make every year, so that no soldiers should be forced to go; +and, knowing that they will be exchanged, many will go willingly. I +appointed as commander Admiral Don Jeronimo de Tremonte. He filled +this post extremely well, and observed his orders not to turn aside +for other enterprises, but to place the reënforcements in Terrenate, +and to defend himself from whomever tried to hinder him, but nothing +more. The two [Dutch] ships that the enemy were expecting were boarded +and burned by the Botunes [106] Indians of the kingdom of Macassar, who +found them anchored and their crews ashore; they killed those who were +on land. But the ship of Malayo, confident in its strength and great +swiftness, attempted to drive away the reënforcements alone--risking +itself because of the great importance of this matter to the Dutch, for +they knew that the soldiers of our presidio were watching the outcome +[of this battle] in order to decide upon the murder of the governor +and the chief officers, in accordance with the plot that they had +made. It fought with our ships for eight hours, and then took flight, +disabled and with great loss. Seven persons were killed in our ships, +including the chief pilot. Accordingly, the reënforcements arrived +in safety, when the said Pedro de Heredia had arrested one hundred +and fifty persons; [of these] he had burned and garroted eleven men, +while many had died in prison, and [only] forty were left alive. These +he sent to me by the same ships that brought, the reënforcements. At +present their trial is proceeding, in the first instance, under Don +Juan Lorenzo Olaso, master-of-camp of the army of Philipinas. Inasmuch +as the charges against them are insufficiently substantiated, there +are opinions expressed that we should overlook their acts. But, +considering that if those forty soldiers are guilty, they may infect +the presidios where they may be stationed; and since the matter is so +public, and open to the gaze of so many barbarians--especially of the +Sangleys, who are more liable [to this sin] than any other nation, +this wretched affair ought to be punished with great severity and +vigor. [_In the margin_: "His Majesty has ordered, by a decree of +the past year 635, that convict soldiers be not sent to Terrenate; +and that those who are there be removed every three years, so that +they may serve with greater comfort and good will."] + +The volunteer soldiers remained in Terrenate, and more than one +hundred and forty were changed. To these was given one installment +of pay that was sent them; and it had been many years since they had +received any pay. The rest were provided with materials for clothing, +and with food; and, since they know that the same thing is to be done +every year, that presidio remained happy and safe. + +But the said governor, Pedro de Heredia, lately writes me that the +natives of the island of Terrenate, who have until now recognized +Cachil Varo as king of Tidore, have refused to obey him; and they have +crowned another Moro in his place, a chief named Cachil Borotalo, +as they say that the latter is the true heir of that kingdom, +and that Cachil Varo was an intruder. That makes me most anxious, +because, besides that it is not my duty to disinherit kings, the +new one who claims to be king has, until now, been living in Malayo +under the protection of the Dutch and serving in the post of naval +commander. Although he has sent ambassadors to me, and promises to be +faithful, there is little trust to be placed in his word, while Cachil +Varo is a very valiant Moro, and a true servant to your Majesty. Every +year, hitherto, a present has been sent to him, as well as to his +father before him; and besides being very much of a Spaniard, he has +retired into his fort of Tidore (which is of greater importance than +the forts that we ourselves hold), and the great mass of the people, +with more than two thousand chiefs, obey him. + +The governor [of Terrenate], Pedro de Heredia, tells me that he has not +meddled in any way with these disturbances, but that he is neutral. But +the said king of Tidore complains of him, and attributes to him the +insurrection of his vassals and the summoning of a Dutchman to be new +king. That does not change him, and he will remain faithful to your +Majesty. He knows that you are ignorant of the injuries that are being +done him because of the governor's greed for the ransom of the damage. + +Such is the condition of the affair at present. I do not blame the king +or clear the governor, notwithstanding the many years during which +affairs have been going badly. But that the latter has been found +lacking in the alliance, and has neglected to aid the king, has not +furnished any reason why the other allies should not take warning by +this and renounce our friendship. These are schemes of which the Dutch +avail themselves. Those who are acquainted with the king of Tidore, +and know of his services, grieve, and think that it is necessary to +protect him. I am now reflecting on the way in which these matters +can be settled, so that they may not fall into a worse condition, +by making use of the relationship between them. But in case of need +I shall not be found lacking to Cachil Varo; and because this matter +demands expedition, and so much expense cannot always be incurred as in +the past reënforcements, I shall send this aid in October, in galleys +and pataches; for that is the time when the enemy have gone away. + +Last year the Audiencia wrote that one galleon and one galley had +been finished. It is a fact that more than thirty thousand pesos have +been spent in their construction, having been commenced in the time +of Don Juan Niño de Tavora. + +There is nothing of so great importance in this government, as that +the port of Cavite be well provided with the necessary naval supplies; +and that this matter be charged to a competent and very intelligent +person; for the other offices are bestowed as favors, but for this one +we are looking for a person whom we can ask to accept it. Accordingly, +we have found him, in the person of him who is commander of the +fort there and river-master, namely, Captain Juan de Olaez. He has +so borne himself that the port has never for many years been found +so well supplied and more faithfully administered--which is quite +different from the utterly destitute condition in which I found it. + +The rewards of Philipinas are poor, and especially those +which I have had to give, because I have had no power to provide +encomiendias. Consequently, on this account, and because of the events +that have occurred in my time, I have promoted some worthy soldiers +with the titles of infantry captains, in consideration of the fact that +they are those who have toiled in what is most necessary, and who have, +besides their pay, only their simple posts, as before. Some, under +warrant of this honor, have become married and settled as citizens; +that is a matter that ought to receive much attention. The sons of +influential men have been encouraged to enlist as soldiers, and have +begun to serve in the infantry, which was considerably in decline. I +have taken special precautions not to appoint my servants to these +posts, except in the case of my captain of the guard, as was done by +all the other governors. The judicial posts have been bestowed upon +the worthy and old settlers, but those who ask for them are very few, +for they do not care to go far from the city; and it is at times +necessary to beg them to accept those posts which are far away. + +No ship has come from Yndia as yet, for they are late. That causes +us to doubt whether we may expect the return of three citizens [who +have gone] from this place, besides those who generally cross these +seas. I think that they are detained in Malaca, and that they have +not gone past that place, because they found the enemy on the sea. At +least, I am assured by letters from the king of Macasar that fourteen +urcas were on his coasts on the tenth of January of last year, where +they remained for forty days. They asked him for refreshment, but he +denied it to them. He said that the enemy had returned to the strait +with another ship (with which they had succored Malayo), and the +one that had fought. At that same time the king of Cochinchina wrote +me that twelve other urcas had left his shores, which on their way +from coasting along China, brought at least six which had been lost +in a storm; but that they were rich with the booty captured from the +Sangley prizes they had made. All those ships took their station in +the strait of Malaca, and consequently, I do not expect any from Yndia +this year. May our Lord preserve and prosper the royal person of your +Majesty, as we your vassals desire and need. Manila, August 10, 1634. + + +_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_ + + +[_In the margin_: "This letter is accompanied by the plans of the +old and the new city of Manila."] + + + +_Ecclesiastical affairs_ + + +Sire: + +There is but little for me to mention in ecclesiastical matters; +for the orders are conducting themselves in an exemplary manner, +except that they often usurp the royal jurisdiction, under pretext +of defending the natives; and they take away the authority from the +alcaldes-mayor, so that nothing that the latter order is carried out, +so that sometimes a layman is obeyed better than they. It is advisable +to correct this, and to order that the bishops live in their dioceses, +and not in this city. [107] + +The bishop of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus is governing this metropolitan +see during the vacancy. He is an apostolic man. I have consulted with +him in regard to the appointments for the prebends that have become +vacant by the death of the archdean and precentor. The prebends +have only been changed by promotion; and the only one to enter new +is Don Juan de Olaso Aclotequi, whom--because of his great virtue, +and because he is the uncle of Don Lorenzo Olasso, master-of-camp of +these islands and formerly captain-general of them--I presented as +treasurer. He had before been canon. With that this holy church is +well administered, and has good subjects. In particular, the bachelor, +Pedro Diaz de la Rivera, is considered a good ecclesiastic; and his +gray hairs are worthy of whatever favor your Majesty will be pleased +to show him. May our Lord preserve the royal person of your Majesty, +as is necessary to us your vassals. Manila, August 10, 1634. + + +_Don Juan Cereso Salamanca_ + + + + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo general +de Indias, Sevilla: + +1. _Letter from bishop of Cebú._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y espedientes de los obispos sufragáneos de Manila; +años de 1598 á 1698; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 34." + +2. _Letters from Tavora._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes del gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +años de 1629 á 1639; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 8." + +3. _Letter from cabildo._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del cabildo eclesiastico de Filipinas +vistos en el Consejo; años de 1568 á 1670; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 35." + +4. _Papal bull._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y espedientes de religiosos misioneros de Filipinas vistos en +el Consejo; años de 1617 á 1642; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 38." + +5. _Letters from Salamanca_, 1633 and 1634.--The same as No. 2. + +6. _Report of archbishop on bakery._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; +Audiencia de Filipinas; cartas y espedientes de los arzobispos de +Manila; años de 1579 á 1697; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +_Royal letters_, 1630.--The second of these is in "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 others are found in the Archivo Historico +Nacional, as noted below. + +The following documents are obtained from the "Cedulario Indico" +of the Archivo Historico Nacional, Madrid: + +8. _Royal letters, 1630._--The first and third of these are in tomo +40, fol. 71 verso and 76 verso respectively. + +9. _Royal orders, 1632-33._--The first is in tomo 40, fol. 86 verso, +no. 99; the second is in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla, +the same as No. 7; the third, in tomo 31, fol. 145 verso. + +The following documents are obtained from MSS. in the Academia Real +de la Historia, Madrid, in the collection "Papeles de los Jesuitas:" + +10. _Events in Filipinas, 1630-32._--In tomo 84, no. 15; the additional +paragraph is from another copy of this document in the same collection, +in tomo 114, no. 401. + +11. _News from Far East._--In tomo 114, no. 587 (copied from a pamphlet +printed at Sevilla in 1633). + +12. _News from Felipinas, 1634._--In tomo 146, no. 113. + + + + + +NOTES + + +[1] See _Vol. VIII_, p. 217, note 32; also _Vol. XIII_, p. 292, +note 39. + +[2] Fray Juan de Montesdoça went to Mexico with his parents who gave +him a good education. He professed in the Augustinian convent in 1575, +and went to the Philippines in 1582. He quickly mastered the Pampanga +dialect, and ministered in the villages of Bacolór (1590), Mexico +(1593), and Macabebe (1596). He was elected subprior and procurator +of the Manila convent in 1594, provincial secretary in 1597, and +prior provincial in 1599. He was missionary at Apálit in 1602, and +prior of Guadalupe in 1605. He died at Malate in 1612, having gone +thither in 1608. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 30, 31. + +[3] Fray Mateo Mendoza, born of noble stock, was intended for +the profession of arms. Having gone to the Philippines, he was +received into the Augustinian order at Manila in 1575. He was sent +to Mexico to receive holy orders, as there was then no bishop in the +islands. He was missionary at Malolos in 1580, Arévalo (in 1584), +San Pablos de los Montes (in 1586), and Pórac (in 1594). Although +elected definitor-general in 1596, he resigned that office to go +to Japan. Returning to Manila in 1598, he became first definitor in +1599, and presided at the provincial chapter in 1602; and labored at +Parañaque in 1603, and Tondo in 1605, dying that same year. + +Fray Agustín de Tapia was a native of Burgos, and professed in the +convent at the same city. He had charge of the mission which arrived at +Manila in June, 1595; was preacher and confessor in September of the +same year; preacher-general in 1597; missionary in Panay in 1599; at +Guagua in 1601; definitor and prior of Cavite in 1602. He died in 1604. + +For brief sketch of Fray Bernabé Villalobos see _vol. xxiii_, note 32. + +Fray Diego Cerrabe was a native of Burgos, professing in the convent +of that city in 1584. On going to the islands he became confessor +and preacher in 1595, examiner in 1596, and lecturer and minister +at Pásig in 1600-1602, going to Europe as definitor of the general +chapter in the last year, and probably remaining in Spain. + +Fray Pedro(_not_ Diego) Salcedo was born of an illustrious family +in Mexico, and took his vows at that city in 1583 at the age of +twenty-five. He went to the Philippines in 1598, where he exercised the +care of souls in Bay in 1600, in Hagonoy in 1607 and 1617, in Bulacán +in 1614, and in Malolos in 1618. He was definitor in 1602 and 1608, +and prior of Manila in 1605 and 1611. His death occurred at Malolos +in 1619. + +Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya was a native of Castilla, and after +professing at the convent in Burgos went to the Philippines, where +he was subprior and master of novitiates in the Manila convent +(1581-1583), and missionary in Cagayán (1583-1586), after which he +returned to Manila, but the same year went to Macao, where he remained +until 1591. He acted as definitor that same year, and afterward was +missionary at a number of villages, where he lived a busy life, his +death occurring in 1632. He wrote sermons in Tagál, and translated +the catechism into the same language, and wrote a history of the +Augustinian order in the Philippines. + +Fray Francisco Serrano professed at San Felipe el Real in 1574. After +going to the islands he labored at Macabebe, Lubao, Candaba, and Guagua +until 1596, when he was appointed provincial secretary. At the end of +his term in that office, he was chosen subprior of the Manila convent, +visitor, and finally definitor. He died in 1613. + +The above notices are taken from Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[4] Fray Pedro Solier was born in the town of Barajas in 1578, and +began his studies in Toledo. Me entered the Augustinian convent at +Salamanca in 1593, where he remained until 1598, when he went to +the Philippines. He was appointed provincial reader, and retained +that office until 1603, when he returned to Spain as commissary +procurator. After three years he went again to the islands, laden +with honors; and after ministering for two years at Bacolór, was +elected provincial in 1608, governing until 1610, when on account of +the deposition of Fray Lorenzo de León, he went to Spain to give a +report of that matter. He was appointed bishop of Puerto Rico in 1614 +and took possession of his see in 1615. In 1619 he became archbishop +of Santo Domingo. He died in 1620. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 57. + +[5] Fray Hernando Guerrero, a native of Alcaráz, professed in the +convent of San Felipe el Real in 1588. After his arrival at the +Philippines, he labored in various Bisayan villages (1599-1613). In +1613, he went to Spain, whence he returned in 1617. He went again +to Spain and Rome in 1625. In 1628 he was appointed bishop of Nueva +Segovia, and, in 1635, archbishop of Manila. His term in the latter +office was marked by contests with the Jesuits, and he was finally +excommunicated by a secular priest, and then exiled to Mariveles by +the governor, Corcuera--only leaving that island on signing certain +conditions. He died July 1, 1641, at seventy-five years of age. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 48, 49; and Buzeta and Bravo's _Diccionario_, +ii, p. 275. + +[6] Innumerable are the names which might be cited here of religious +who have given proofs of the keenest patriotism, defending the islands +with the cross in one hand and the sword in the other: Father Agustín +de San Pedro, a discalced Augustinian, called "Father Captain" for his +prowess against the Mindanao Moros; the no less famous Father Pascual +Ibañez de Santa Filomena, Augustinian Recollect, who died while bravely +assaulting the fort of Abisi, Jolo, in 1857; the Jesuit, Father Ducos; +the fathers of all the orders, especially the Augustinians in the war +with the English; the Augustinian fathers who accompanied General +Malcampo on his expedition to Jolo in 1875; Father Ramón Zueco, +Recollect, of imperishable memory, besides innumerable others.--_Coco_. + +Continuing his note, Father Coco quotes from Father Fabián Rodriguez +in _Revista Agustiniana_ for January 5, 1886, the remarkable defense +and military record of the Augustinian Father Julián Bermejo in Cebú, +from the latter part of the eighteenth century until his death in 1851. + +[7] Fray Hernando de San José, the Japanese martyr, whose family +name was Ayala, was born at Vallesteros, in 1575, and took his vows +in the Augustinian convent of Montilla, May 19, 1593. He arrived in +the Philippines in August, 1604, and was soon sent to Japan, whence +he returned in 1607 to Manila as procurator. On his return to Japan, +he labored in various places, and founded the convent at Nagasaki, +of which he was made prior in 1613. He was martyred June 1, 1617. See +Diaz's _Conquistas_ (Valladolid, 1890), pp. 76-103. + +[8] Fray Hernando Morales, a native of Montilla, in the province +of Córdoba, professed in the Córdoba convent, and on his arrival at +the Philippines was sent to labor among the Aetas in Panay. He was +minister of Sibucao in 1611, and of Laglag in 1618, in which year he +took charge of San Nicolás de Cebú, going later to Dumalag. He died +in the last place in 1647. + +Fray Felipe Tallada was born in Estepa, in the province of +Sevilla. Professing in the city of Sevilla, he was sent to the +Philippines, where he labored in the province of Pampanga at various +periods from 1605 to 1645. He was definitor and examiner in 1617, +and procurator to Spain and Rome in 1618. His death occurred in +Betis in 1645. He wrote a life of St. Nicholas of Tolentino in the +Pampanga dialect. + +Fray Pedro del Castillo became a conventual of Pototan in 1605, and +was minister of Dingle in 1611 and 1633, of Jaro in 1614, of Laglag in +1617, and of San Nicolás de Cebú in 1621. He was also subprior of the +convent of San Pablo in Manila in 1623, and minister of Santa Cruz +in Ilocos the same year; was procurator-general; and exercised the +care of souls in Bacarra in 1626, and in Purao in 1629, dying in 1642. + +Fray Martín de San Nicolás was a native of Osma, and made his +profession in the convent of Puebla de los Angeles. He was a missionary +in Maluco and Japan for some years. While vicar at Guimbal in 1617, +he accompanied the troops on an expedition against the Moros of +Mindanao. He died at Manila in 1630. + +See Perez's _Catálogo_. + +[9] Fray Estéban Carrillo was a native of the city of Écija and +made his profession in the Córdoba convent, where he obtained +a professorship. On going to the Philippines he spent four years +among the highlands of Ilocos. He was preacher-general (1602-1609), +provincial secretary (October 31, 1603), prior of Manila (December 24, +1603), definitor (1605), and procurator-commissary to Madrid (1607). He +was one of the foremost orators in Manila, which city he left in 1609 +for Spain, where he died in 1617. See Perez's _Catálogo_, p. 52. + +[10] Fray Pedro de Aguirre took his vows in the convent at Mexico. He +was, after his arrival at the islands, a conventual in Pásig and +Bombón until 1600, in which year he went to Taguig, whence he +passed to Calumpit in 1602. He was prior of Santo Niño in 1603, +and commissary-procurator to Spain and Rome in 1607, dying in 1631. + +Fray Roque de Barrionuevo, a native of Lubia, took his vows in the +convent of Agreda in 1589. In 1597 he was laboring in Tanauan, and +in Malolos in 1600. In 1606, while in Hagonoy, he went to Ternate +at the request of Pedro de Acuña, whence he returned in 1608. He was +definitor and minister of Malolos in 1609, of Tondo in 1612. He died +in 1649. He wrote a grammar and dictionary of the Márdica dialect. + +Fray Miguel de Sigüenza professed at the Burgos convent in 1579. From +1581 to 1599 he labored at various missions in the Visayas and in +Luzon. He was provincial secretary in 1602 and visitor to the Tagáls +the same year, after which (1605) he exercised the care of souls in +Hagonoy and in Calumpit until 1607, in which year he died. + +Fray Mateo de Peralta was a conventual at Lubao in 1584, of Pangasinan +in 1587, of Calumpit in 1590; after which he was at the missions in +Mexico (1591 and 1607), Pórac (in 1594), Candaba (in 1597), Lubao +(in 1602), Betis (in 1608), and Apálit in 1609, where he died in the +same year. + +See Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[11] The text reads _puerta_, "gate," which is probably an error for +_huerta_, "garden." See account of their establishment, in _Vol_. xxi, +p. 269. + +[12] The Franciscans now (1893) have charge of Sampaloc.--_Coco_. + +[13] Ceded to them by the Augustinians.--_Coco_. + +[14] Fray Jerónimo de Salas was born in Olias and professed in +the convent at Madrid in 1590. He was missionary in the Philippine +villages of Guagua (1602-1611) and Macabebe (1605). He served as +definitor and visitor, and in 1617 was elected provincial, but died +May 17 of the same year. + +Fray Fernando de Santa Maria Trujillo was conventual at Calumtian +in 1596, prior at Barutao in 1598, missionary at Bacarra in 1599 +and 1605, at Lingayén and Laoag in 1600, at Bantay in 1602, and at +Candón 1605-1611, when he was appointed definitor. After his term, +he labored in Tagál villages, and died in 1618. + +See Perez's _Catálogo_. + +[15] Fray Diego Uribe del Castillo was missionary in the Ilocan +villages of Purao (1613), Santa Cruz (1614), Tagudín (1612), and Agoó +(1621). He was examiner in the native language and reader of the +province for some time. He died in 1622. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 79. + +[16] Ezekiel xviii, 21, 22.--_Coco_. + +[17] See Pérez's _Catálogo_ for sketches of these religious. + +[18] Fray Juan Pineda was preacher and confessor in 1598, missionary at +Apálit in 1602, of México in 1603, of Hagonoy in 1605, and vicar-prior +of Cebú the same year. Later he returned to Manila, where he became +reader, and afterward procurator until 1609. He then went to Rome +to take part in the general chapter, where he obtained the degree +of master of sacred theology. He died probably in 1611. See Pérez's +_Catálogo_, p. 64. + +[19] Fray Lucas Atienza was missionary in Ibahay in 1608, of Dumalag +in 1614, and prior of the convent of Ternate 1615-1617. Returning +in the latter year to the islands, he was in charge of the mission +of Parañaque in 1623 and of Tayabas in 1624. He was assigned to +the island of Formosa, but did not go. He died at Tiaong (Tayabas) +in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 188. + +[20] Fray Eustaquio Ortíz was born in Alpechín in Mexico, making his +profession in the City of Mexico. On arriving at the Philippines he was +given the office of conventual procurator; and later was missionary +among the Zambales. In 1602, when prior of Bolinao, he went to Japón +with Father Guevara, remaining there six years. On returning to the +islands he became provincial secretary (1609), prior of Santo Niño +of Cebú (1614) and of Manila (1623), minister of Tondo (1626), and +lastly prior of Guadalupe, where he completed the convent in 1629. He +died May 4, 1636. He wrote two books or treatises in the Japanese +language. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 45, 46. + +[21] Ecclesiasticus x, 2.--_Coco_. + +[22] Fray Francisco de Bonifacio, a native of Sevilla, took his vows in +the Salamanca convent in 1586. He was fluent in the language of Cebú, +and labored in various missions among the Bisayas (1596-1611). The +latter year he was chosen definitor, and in 1614 presided over the +chapter. He was minister at Pásig in 1617, at Tondo in 1618, and at +Bulacán in 1620. In 1621 he went to Otón, as his presence there was +necessary. In 1626, while definitor, he acted as provincial because +of the death of Father Becerra, after which period he had care of +missions in Luzón, until his death in Manila in 1645. Two manuscripts +written by him were conserved in the convent at Cebú. + +Fray Vicente Sepúlveda was a native of Castilla, and professed +in that province. In the Philippines he became chief sacristan of +the Manila convent, and learned thoroughly the Pampanga dialect, +ministering in that province for five years. He was definitor in 1611, +and provincial in 1614. His term was one of discord because of his +rigorous enforcement of the laws passed by the father visitor. In 1617, +he was chosen to fill out the term of provincial, that office becoming +vacant by the death of Jerónimo de Salas. He was killed August 21, +1617, as the result of a conspiracy of brother Augustinians who were +opposed to him. + +Fray Diego Gutiérrez was a native of Sigüenza in the province of +Guadalajara, and professed in the convent of Agreda in 1574. He went +to the Philippines in 1578, where he had charge of various missions +in Luzón. He served as definitor during the chapters of 1578 and +1590. His death occurred at Lubao in 1613. + +Fray Antonio de Porras was born in Sevilla and professed in the convent +of that city. He arrived at Manila in 1598, where he exercised the duty +of master of novitiates in the convent. He went to Bisayas instead +of Japan which was his chosen field, working there from 1600 to 1639 +(the year of his death). He held several important ecclesiastical +offices in the Bisayas. + +See Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[23] Definitors are the fathers who compose the council of the +provincial. Aditos are those who are to be substituted for any +definitor because of his death.--_Coco_. + +[24] Fray Fernando Becerra was born in Valladolid and took his vows +in the convent of Salamanca, where he read sacred theology. On going +to the Philippines he was missionary in Bantay in 1611, preacher and +reader in 1613, provincial secretary in 1614, missionary at Hagonoy in +1615, at Pásig, 1617, 1620, and 1623, after having served as visitor +and definitor. He was elected provincial by acclamation in 1626, +but died July 31 of the same year. He left several writings. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 81, 82. + +[25] Fray Alonso Méntrida, an illustrious Bisayan missionary and a +noted writer, was born in the city of Méntrida, and took his vows in +the convent of Casarrubios in 1590, where he became reader for some +time, later exercising the same duty at Manila and Lubao until he went +to the Bisayas, where most of his work thereafter lay, although he +ministered in some of the Luzón missions. He served as definitor in +1614, as prior of Manila in 1618, and as provincial in 1623. He died +at the age of seventy-eight, on March 22, 1637. He compiled a grammar +and dictionary in Bisayan dialects. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 53-55. + +[26] For sketches of these religious, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[27] Juan Enriquez was a professed religious of the Toledo +convent. After going to the Philippines he labored in San Pablo de +los Montes in 1607, in Taal in 1608, and in Malate in 1611. He was +definitor in 1617, and visitor and provincial in 1620. In 1625 he went +to Spain as procurator, and died there in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 77. + +[28] Fray Juan de Villalobos was a conventual in Panay in 1593, +prior of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1599, first prior of the convent of +Guadalupe in 1602 and 1605, and later visitor and definitor. He died +in 1620. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 45. + +[29] Fray Pedro García Serrano, a native of the town of Chinchón, in +the province of Madrid, took his vows in the province of Castilla. He +had considerable reputation as an orator, and was given the title +of master in sacred theology some time after his arrival at the +islands in 1613. He filled many posts in the order, among them that of +vicar-provincial, definitor (1629), and prior of Guadalupe (1624-1629), +as well as that of commissary of the Inquisition and _calificador_ +of the Holy Office in the archbishopric of Manila. He died in Mexico +in 1631, while on a voyage to Spain, having been appointed definitor +of the general chapter and commissary-procurator. He wrote some moral +sermons in the Pampanga dialect, while exercising the care of missions +in that province. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 90. + +[30] Fray Alonso Ruiz was a native of Coimbra, Portugal, and professed +in the Salamanca convent in 1574. He was minister of the village of +Aclán in 1602, and of San Nicolás de Cebú in 1607, sub-prior of the +convent of Manila and master of novitiates in 1611, definitor and +prior of Guadalupe in 1617, and prior of Taal in 1620. He afterward +served in a number of Pampanga villages, and died in that of Minalin +in 1640. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 70. + +[31] Possibly an error for Jerónimo Cavero, who ministered in certain +Luzon villages from 1596 to 1611, and attained great fluency in the +Ilocan language. He became definitor, and examiner and president of the +provincial chapter of 1617. He died in 1622. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 51. + +[32] Guimarás, opposite Iloilo.--_Coco_. + +[33] Fray Juan de Lecea was a native of Mondragón in the province +of Vizcaya, and took his vows in the convent of Burgos. Arriving at +the Philippines he was destined for the Bisayas, laboring in various +missions in that district from 1600 to 1618, during which time he +filled several ecclesiastical offices. He died in 1618 at Otón. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 56. + +[34] Fray Silvestre Torres, a native of Córdoba, was missionary in +Japan in 1616, subprior of the convent of San Pablo in Manila in +1617, minister of Malate in 1618, and prior of Ternate 1620-1623. On +returning to Manila he had charge of the convent of Batangas, and +died in the Manila convent in 1626. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 86. + +[35] Fray Diego Oseguera was a choir student in 1607, minister of +Mambúsao in 1611 and of Baong in 1614. He was especially useful in +quieting the Indians who were in rebellion in the Bisayas. He died +in 1615. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 187, 188. + +[36] Francisco Encinas, S.J., was born at Avila in 1570, and took his +vows in 1596. After going to the Philippines, he taught grammar for +some time, and then spent more than thirty years in the Bisayas. Having +been sent to Rome as procurator for his order, in 1626, he was captured +by the Dutch; but, after ransom, returned to the Philippines in 1632, +and died at Manila, January 11, 1633. He was equally versed in Tagál +and the Bisayan speech. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_. + +[37] Fray Juan de Montemayor was confessor to Governor Juan de +Silva and a prominent orator. He was stationed at Malate 1614-1620, +being appointed provincial secretary in the latter year. He was +procurator-general in 1621, prior of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1623, +missionary at Pásig, 1625-1629, of Parañaque in 1626, provincial +chronicler in 1630, and prior of Guadalupe in 1635. He died at Manila +in 1638. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. + +[38] Fray Agustín Mejía was a Mexican missionary, and after going to +the Philippines served in mission work in México in 1608, in Bacolór +in 1611, in Guagua in 1614, and in México in 1617. He was prior of +Manila in 1615, definitor, visitor, and vicar-provincial; and died +in 1630, leaving a volume of Ilocan verses, the "Life of San Barlám +y Jósaphat," which remained many years in the convent of Bantay. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 79. + +[39] Fray Pedro Lasarte (_not_ Lesarte) professed in the convent +of Toledo in 1572. He was missionary in Purao in 1600, in Bacarra +in 1602, in Bauang in 1605, 1611, 1614, and 1620, and in Bantay in +1608 and 1611. He was definitor in 1617, prior of Manila in 1626, and +again missionary of Bantay in 1629, dying in that place in 1636. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 50. + +[40] For sketches of these Augustinians, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[41] Pérez mentions no missionary by this name. + +[42] Evidently an error for Fray Miguel de Suárez. He was from the +branch of the order in India. In the Philippines, he served as a Tagál +and Visayan missionary, laboring in Batan in 1605, in Masbate in 1607, +in Ibahay in 1611, in Aclán in 1614, in Panay in 1617, in Batangas in +1621 and 1633, in Tanauan in 1623, in Tambobong in 1626, in Taal in +1629, in Bugason in Bisayas in 1630, in Guiguinto in 1632 and 1639, +in San Pablo de los Montes in 1636, and in Caruyan in 1641. He was +also procurator-general in 1620, and prior of the convent of Cebú in +1638, dying in 1642. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 186. + +[43] In the unfortunate event which Father Medina mentions with +as much minuteness as candor, two important points must not be +overlooked by the judicious reader, which were the cause of this +unfortunate deed. One was the extreme harshness of the provincial in +his government, which must have been very excessive.... The imposition +of new commands must have been very heavy for the religious, since +even laymen intervened with the provincial, either for him to moderate +unnecessary harshness or to renounce the provincialate. The second +fact which also enters strongly into this case, is human passion +exasperated even to obscuring the intelligence, and personified in +Father Juan de Ocadiz, ... a man peevish and melancholy.... Hard beyond +measure must he have thought the measures taken against him. He saw +in the distance his perpetual dishonor, yet did not have the virtue +sufficient to resign himself; and, instigated by the spirit of evil, +perpetrated the crime which he expiated with his own life.--_Coco_. + +[44] Literally, a sack containing one thousand pesos in silver. + +[45] There were eleven Augustinians martyred, and they received +beatification from Pius X in 1867.--_Coco_. + +[46] Equivalent to the English proverb, "Misfortunes never come +singly." + +[47] Fray Antonio Ocampo was of the province of Castilla, and was a +religious of great activity. He was missionary to Bulacán in 1618, +to Tondo and Hagonoy in 1626, and definitor in 1620. He was sent +to Spain as procurator in 1632, but died at Acapulco on the way +thither. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 91. + +[48] Fray Juan Ennao took his vows in the Toledo convent, and became +an excellent preacher. He was stationed at San Pablo de los Montes +in 1609; at Bulacán in 1611 and 1613; at Bay in 1613 and 1617; and +at Taal in 1614. He was provincial in 1615, and prior of Guadalupe +the same year, definitor in 1620, visitor and provincial in 1629, +returning for the third time after his provincialate to the village of +Bulacán (1635), where he died in 1636. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 77. + +[49] Fray Lúcas de la Peña was very fluent in the Bisayan language, +and labored in the missions of the Bisayan group from 1600 to 1630, +probably dying soon after the last named year. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +pp. 184, 185. + +[50] Spanish, _del tropel de los caballos_--literally, "from the +trampling of the horses." + +[51] "He said that those were true monks who, stifling their own wills, +wished or refused nothing, but desired only to obey the commands of +the abbot." + +[52] Paul's Epistle to the Hebrews, x, 30.--_Coco_. + +[53] Psalms civ, 15.--_Coco_. + +[54] Fray Alonso Rincón professed in the convent of San Felipe el Real, +and after going to the Philippines became preacher at Arévalo in 1607, +and was minister in Betis in 1609 and 1626. After administering the +villages of Pórac in 1611, Macabebe in 1614, and Guagua in 1615, he +was appointed definitor, visitor, and prior of the convent of Manila +in 1617. He was commissary-procurator to Spain and Rome in 1618, and +returned to Manila in 1622. He was elected definitor for the second +time in 1629, and died at Manila in 1631. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 77. + +[55] The native dish of rice. + +[56] See Pérez's _Catálogo_ for sketches of these friars. + +[57] Spanish, _Rutenos_--a now obsolete name for _Ruso_ +("Russians"). The term Ruthenians is applied to the people of Little +Russia (also known as Ukrania and Ruthenia), dwelling in the steppes +of Southern Russia, mainly in the valley of the Dnieper River; +they have also extended into Hungary and Galicia. The reference +in the text to "Russians" probably indicates only somewhat vague +or erroneous notions as to the geography and political condition of +Western Asia at that time: for it was not until 1722 that the Russians +advanced beyond the Black Sea into Asia, conquering the province of +Caucasus. Medina's "Diego Rodrigo" apparently means Fray Rodrigo de +San Miguel (_Vol. XXI_, p. 116), who spent some time in Persia and +Chaldea, and converted many "schismatic Christians" there to the Roman +Catholic Church. On his return to Rome, he carried a letter addressed +to the pope, from "the Chaldean Christians of Bassora." See _Vol. XXI_, +note 62. + +[58] Fray Diego del Aguila, a master of the number in the +ecclesiastical province of Andalucía, was, in spite of his protests, +elected superior of the province of Mechoacán in Mexico while en route +for the Philippines; but he finally followed his first determination, +and sailed for the islands in 1618. He there became visitor, definitor +(1623), vicar-provincial, prior of Guadalupe (1620), and president of +the provincial chapter in 1626. He died at Manila in 1628. See Pérez's +_Catálogo_, p. 98. Pérez has evidently confused Diego del Aguila with +Lúcas de Aguilar, who was definitor in 1650. See Diaz's _Conquistas_ +(Valladolid, 1890), p. 516. + +[59] Fray Hernando Cabrero professed at the Córdoba convent in +1601. He became sub-prior of Manila in 1609, and of San Pablo de +los Montes in 1618, 1626, and 1629. He also acted as definitor, +examiner, and definitor-general, and died at sea while en route to +Nueva España. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 78, 79. + +[60] Fray Francisco Coronel was a native of Torija in the province of +Guadalajara, and took the habit in Mexico. He went to the Philippines +in 1606 as deacon. He had charge of the parish mission of México in +1611, and officiated later in Lubao (1613), Bacolór (1617, 1629), +and Macabebe (1620, 1626). He was definitor twice, and also visitor +and prior of the convent of Guadalupe in 1619. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 80. + +[61] For sketches of these friars, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[62] Fray Francisco Villalón was minister at Tondo in 1630, and labored +later in the villages of Tambolong, Tanauan, Caruyan, Bay, Hagonoy, and +Guiguinto, until 1653. He was twice definitor (1638, 1653), and prior +of the convent of Santo Niño (1645). He died in Guiguinto in 1655. He +was well versed in the Tagál language. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 104. + +[63] Fray Estéban Peralta held various charges in the province of +Castilla before going to the Philippines. He was stationed in the +islands at the mission in Cebu, being proposed several times as +provincial. In 1623 he was procurator-general, in 1626 definitor, +and was at the missions at Tondo (1629) and Hagonoy (1632), where he +died. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 98. + +[64] Fray Jerónimo Medrano was a native of Estella, and took his vows +at the convent of Soría in 1604. He labored in the missions of Caruyan +(1615), Quingua (1617), Malolos (1620), Taal (1621), Hagonoy (1623), +Parañaque (1629), and Tondo (1638 and 1647). He was definitor and +visitor, and three times provincial (1632, 1641, and 1650). His death +occurred in 1656. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. + +[65] Fray Alonso Carbajal was a native of Salamanca, and professed in +the province of Castilla, where he read sacred theology and obtained +the degree of master. Dates regarding his life are meager. He was +prior of Manila in 1623 and 1653; of Guadalupe, 1638; definitor, 1626 +and 1653; visitor and provincial, 1644; while he renounced several +bishoprics. Besides this he had charge of mission work in Guagua in +1620, Macabebe in 1632, and Bacolór in 1650, after which he served +in the Bisayas until his death. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 96, 97. + +[66] Kings III [_i.e._, Kings I of the Protestant version], v, +4.--_Coco_. + +[67] Fray Pedro de Torres was born in Andalucía. He ministered in +the Philippines in Mambúsao in 1629, and at Oton in 1632, dying in +Manila about 1633. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 100. + +[68] Fray Juan Gallegos was a native of Mancha, and took his vows in +the convent at Burgos. He was Ilocan minister at the town of Narvacán +(1620) and Laoag (1623). He refused an appointment (1625) as procurator +to Spain and Rome, preferring to devote himself to his ministry. He +was at Bantay in 1626 and 1630; at the villages of Candón in 1629, +1635, and 1644; and Bauang in 1633. He was subprior in 1617, and twice +definitor and visitor, dying in 1648 at Candón. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 94. He is to be distinguished from the other Augustinian religious +of the same name who died while definitor in 1581. + +[69] Fray Francisco del Portillo was one of the best orators of his +time. He died in 1628 after exercising the care of souls in Purao in +1626, and taking possession of the land necessary to found a convent +in Formosa. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, pp. 103, 104. + +[70] "They hanged them on gibbets in the sight of the sun." + +[71] Fray Francisco de Santa Maria Oliva took his vows in the Toledo +convent in 1581. He was minister of Dumaguete in 1599, and later +of Potól, Ibabay, Mambusao, and Jaro, until 1628, when he died. See +Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 38. + +[72] In the text, _actuanse_, which is apparently a misprint for +_actuante_. + +[73] Pérez (_Catálogo_, p. 107) says that this friar, whom he calls +Bartolomé Blas Esterlich, was from Flanders. He was a confessor and +preacher in Manila, and ministered in the Ilocan villages of Bangui +(1633) and Agoó (1635), dying in 1640. + +[74] For sketches of these friars, see Pérez's _Catálogo_. + +[75] Fray Nicolás de Herrera was a missionary in Sesmoan (1618), Lubao +(1623 and 1626), and Bacolór (1632). He was definitor in 1629, prior +of Manila in 1635, and president of the provincial chapter in 1638, +dying in 1647. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 89. + +[76] Fray Martín de Errasti was a native of Vizcaya, and professed +in the convent of Burgos. After going to the Philippines, he became +missionary in Pórac, Apálit, and Bacolór (1635). He acted as definitor +and prior of Manila. He was elected provincial in 1638, but died in +1639. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 93. + +[77] Cristóbal de Miranda was a missionary in the villages of México +in 1614, and of Apálit, Betis, Sesmoan, Guagua, Minalin, Candaba, +Macabebe, and Bacolór until 1641. He was definitor in 1632 and died +in 1646. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 88. + +[78] Fray Lorenzo (_not_ Alonso) Figueroa labored in the villages of +Caruyan, Parañaque (1620), Santa Cruz (1626), and Agoó (1626). He +was elected prior of the convent of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1629, +after which he was sent to the villages of Lipa, Bigaá, Malate, +Sala, Malalos, and San Pablo de los Montes (1653). His death is not +recorded. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 96. + +[79] Doubtless masses for the deaths of Father Pedro García and +Father Cabrera. + +[80] Fray Pedro de la Peña was born in Burgos, and professed in the +convent of Badaya in 1599. He worked in the Ilocan villages of Bantay, +and Narvacán (1617). After laboring also in the villages of Apálit and +Macabebe (1626), he was chosen commissary-procurator to Madrid (1630), +dying in the following year, aboard ship. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, +p. 86. + +[81] St. Luke, i, 37.--Coco. + +[82] Fray Pedro de Quesada, a native of Jaen, took his vows in the +province of Castilla. He was appointed preacher-general and reader of +theology in 1630, and labored afterward in the villages of Malolos +(1632), Lipa (1636), and Bulacán (1638). In 1639 he went to Spain +as procurator-commissary of Madrid and definitor-general; but the +intermediary chapter having annulled his appointment, he set out +again for the islands as president of a mission of religious, dying +in Mexico in 1645. See Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 107. + +[83] Paul's Epistle to the Romans, viii, 37.--Coco. + +[84] Paul's Epistle to the Galatians, vi, 14.--Coco. + +[85] Blumentritt in his _List of Native Tribes of the Philippines_ +(Mason's translation, Washington, 1901), says of the people of +this name: "In a chart of the Philippines for 1744, by P. Murillo +Velarde, S. J., this name is to be seen west of Caraga and Bislig +(Mindanao). English authors speak of the Tagaboloyes, Waitz mentions +their clear color, and Mas calls them Igorrotes. Others add that they +were Mestizos of Indians, and more fables to the same effect. Their +region has been well explored, but only Manabos and Mandayas have +been found there. The last named are clear colored, so Tagaboloyes +seems to be another name for Mandayas. The name sounds temptingly +like Tagabalíes." + +[86] This was Balthasar Carlos, born in 1630; he died in 1646. He +was betrothed to Mariana of Austria, but his father, Felipe IV, +married her in 1649. + +[87] In 1552 Felipe II ordered a royal monopoly on playing-cards to +be established throughout his western dominions. All cards were to be +stamped with the royal arms. The manufacture and sale of them was sold +in 1578 to Hernando de Caseres, who paid a royalty of one real for each +pack. The value of the privilege gradually increased as well as the +price of cards paid by the public. (Bancroft's _History of Mexico_, +iii, pp. 663, 664.) + +This monopoly was established in the Philippines in 1591, by Gomez +Perez Dasmariñas; see _Vol. VIII_, pp. 169, 271; and _IX_, p. 62. + +[88] Apparently a reference to the capture of the Japanese junk by +Spaniards, frequently referred to in previous documents. + +[89] The Oriental commerce of Denmark began with the despatch of +an expedition in 1618 to open trade with Ceylon. Being unfavorably +received there, the Danes went to the Coromandel coast of India, and +founded a trading-post at Tranquebar, one hundred and forty miles +southwest of Madras, defended by the fortress of Dansbourg. For +some time this post and its trade had considerable prosperity, +but European wars prevented its fitting support and the commercial +company was unable to maintain it. In 1670 a new company resumed this +enterprise, but was even more unfortunate than the other, and finally +expired in 1730. Two years later a third company was formed, which +was liberally endowed with privileges and subsidies, and was highly +successful. Tranquebar remained in possession of Denmark until 1846, +when it was purchased by England. + +See account of this colony and the Danish trade in the East, in +_Establecimientos ultramarinos de las naciones Europeas_, by Malo +de Luque (Madrid, 1784-90), iv, pp. 9-31. See map of "District of +Tranquebar," in Bellin's _Atlas maritime_, iii, fol. 36. + +[90] This was Father Jerónimo Medrano; he was again elected to the +dignity of provincial in 1641 and in 1650. + +[91] Christoval Ferreira was born in Portugal, in 1580. At the age +of sixteen he entered the Jesuit order, and in 1609 was sent to the +Japan mission; he remained there through many years of persecution, +and was long the provincial of his order in Japan. In 1633 he was +seized and imprisoned, and finally, under the strain of cruel tortures, +recanted his faith--being, it is claimed, the only Jesuit who in all +those fierce persecutions, became an apostate. His life was spared, +but he was compelled by the Japanese to witness the martyrdom of his +brethren, and even to decree their fate. At last Ferreira, tormented +by remorse and shame, surrendered himself to the authorities as being +still a Christian, and died (1652) as a martyr, suffering long and +extreme torments. See Crétineau-Joly's account of his career, in +_Hist. Comp. de Jésus_, iii, pp. 161-164. + +Murdoch and Yamagata say of this Jesuit (_Hist. Japan_, p. 633): "As to +the story that Ferreyra repented and was _fossed_ at Nagasaki in 1653 +(at the age of seventy-four), there seems to be no foundation for it." + +[92] Apparently a corrupt Spanish pronunciation of the Japanese Jodo +(also written Jíôdo, and Jodo), the name of one of the Buddhist sects +which flourish in Japan. It was founded in 1174 _A.D._--by one Honen, +according to Griffis; by Genku, according to Rein. Iyeyasu and his +successors were adherents and benefactors of this sect. "Its priests +strictly insisted upon celibacy, and abhorred the eating of flesh. They +taught that the health of the soul depends less upon virtue and +moral perfection than upon the strict observance of pious practices" +(Rein). See Griffis's account of Buddhism in Japan, in his _Mikado's +Empire_, pp. 158-175; and the chapter on religious systems in Rein's +_Japan_, pp. 442-464. + +[93] This is the volcanic mountain called Onzenga-take, situated in +the northern part of Shimábara peninsula--noted for the terrible +massacre of Christians, in 1637, at Arima, a town in the south of +the peninsula--and east of Nagasaki. The last great eruption of this +volcano took place in 1791-93, in which, it is said, fifty-three +thousand people lost their lives. Its height is estimated at one +thousand meters, and at its base are numerous hot springs. See Rein's +_Japan_, pp. 17, 43, 54, 86. + +[94] Regarding this letter, see note in brackets at end of this +document. + +[95] Probably Sendai, in the province of Satsuma. + +[96] This would seem to be Otsu, the chief town of the province of Omi; +it lies northeast of Ozaka (the Ojaca of the text). + +[97] This must have been some gossip or canard cited by the writer; +for Iyemidzu (grandson of Iyeyasu), who was then shogun, reigned +from 1623 to 1651. The death of the "King" (_i.e._, tono or daimio) +of Arima is also related, in more detail, by La Concepción (_Hist. de +Philipinas_, v, pp. 160, 161); he says that a multitude of foxes +surrounded Bugandono on the road from Nangasaqui, accompanying him, +leaping and barking about his litter "until he reached Ximabara, +where they suddenly disappeared. Immediately that wretched man was +overpowered by a fury against himself, so great that, sword in hand, +he compelled his servants to beat him soundly with bamboos. They dealt +him so many blows that they inflicted upon him a wretched death"--a +punishment for his cruelties against the Christians. + +"The great Shinto temple of Inari [the goddess of rice] at Kyoto is the +model of all other shrines dedicated to this popular divinity, for on +this lonely hillside twelve hundred years ago Inari was supposed to +manifest herself to mortals. A colossal red gateway and a flight of +moss-grown steps lead to the main entrance flanked by the great stone +foxes which guard every temple of Inari, and symbolize the goddess +worshipped under their form. Japanese superstition regards the fox +with abject terror; his craft and cunning are celebrated in legendary +ballads; and a condition of mental disorder, known as 'possession by +the fox,' is a common belief, bringing crowds of devotees to Inari's +temples, either to pray for the exorcism of the demoniac influence, or +to avert the danger of falling under the dreadful spell." (_Macmillan's +Magazine_, December, 1904, p. 117.) + +[98] Thus in the transcript, but evidently should be 1633; for the +reference to the _ad interim_ government of Lorenzo de Olasso, past +the middle of this document, shows that it was written in 1632. + +[99] From this point to nearly the end of the bull, I have found +it necessary to simplify the phraseology considerably, while +carefully preserving the sense. The passage in question, while not +hard to understand in Latin, would be, if translated literally, +almost unintelligible in English--a long, wordy repetition of +revocatory and annulling clauses, for many of which there is no +precise and brief equivalent in English. Nor is the Latin itself +elegant; and a few words and phrases can only be guessed at--these, +however, not affecting the real sense, or involving any matter of +importance.--_Rev. T. C. Middleton_, translator. + +[100] Juan García (afterward named "de la Cruz") came to the +Philippines in 1632; he must therefore have sent to Sevilla almost +immediately after his arrival in the islands the letter from which +this document was printed. He spent four years laboring in the +Formosa mission; and in 1636 went to China, where he spent most of his +remaining years. Persecuted in that country as a Christian preacher, +he finally was seized by Chinese soldiers, and so maltreated that +his injuries caused his death December 8, 1665, at Fogan; he was then +sixty years of age. See _Reseña biog. Sant. Rosario_, i, pp. 411-414, +for sketch of his life. + +[101] Sebastián Hurtado de Corcuera. See vol. xvii, p. 291. + +[102] See account of the founding of the Jesuit missions in China, +_vol. vi_, p. 208. The work begun by Ricci (see _vol. xv_, p. 178) +was continued by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, a German Jesuit, who +entered China in 1622, remaining there until his death in 1669. He was +a noted astronomer and mathematician, and for his learning and talents +was greatly esteemed by the Chinese, especially at the imperial court; +the reformation of the Chinese calendar was entrusted to him, and +rank and emoluments were conferred upon him. The missions in China +were not molested by the authorities after 1622; but the conflicts +between the Chinese and Tartars, which ended in the overthrow of the +Ming dynasty, greatly injured the work of the missionaries from 1630 to +1660. At the time of our text, the Jesuits were on friendly terms with +the authorities, and their work prospered especially in Peking. See +account of Catholic missions in China, in Williams's _Middle Kingdom,_ +ii, pp. 290-325; and in Crétineau-Joly's _Hist. Comp. de Jésus_, iii, +pp. 165-184. + +[103] _Medias anatas_: half of the first year's income; a tax which +was paid to the crown upon entering any office, pension, or grant. It +was introduced into the Indias by a law of 1632. See _Recopilación +leyes de Indias_, lib. viii, tit. xix. + +[104] Spanish, _Religion_. This word was first used in the sense of +"monastic order" or "monastery" in the sixth century, in France. This +narrower sense was used along with the broader one, until the latter +was gradually crowded out (during the second half of the fourteenth +century); being, however, finally recovered during the epoch of the +Reformation; The term "man of religion" (_homo religionis_, _homme de +religion_) was never used in Latin, French, or English to mean a pious +man, but exclusively for a man belonging to a religious order. See +"History of the word _religio_ in the Middle Ages," by. Professor Ewald +Flügel, of Leland Stanford Junior University--an abstract of which +is printed in _Transactions_ of American Philological Association, +1902, pp. ci, cii. + +[105] Thus in our transcript; but in the king's answer to this letter +(_post_) the name appears as Rivero. + +[106] Probably referring to the people of Butung or boeton, a large +island off the southeastern peninsula of Celebes; their state of +civilization is similar to that of the Macassar and Bugis of that +island. + +[107] This recommendation was thus answered by the king, in a despatch +to Corcuera dated Madrid, December 1, 1636: "Inasmuch as it is proper +that all the prelates take personal charge of the government of their +churches, thus fulfilling their so stringent obligations for that, I +have thought it best--notwithstanding that I charge them by a decree +of the same date as this that, if they should be absent from their +churches, they shall without fail go to reside in them--to order +you, as I am doing, to see for your part by repeated urgings that +they go to reside at and to serve their churches, in case that any +of them should be absent." This is found in the "Cedulario Indico," +at Madrid--pressmark, "Tomo 39, fol. 228." + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Volume XXIV, 1630-34, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** + +***** This file should be named 18102-8.txt or 18102-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/1/0/18102/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ + + +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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