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diff --git a/42399-8.txt b/42399-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d10d144..0000000 --- a/42399-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8059 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume -XXXI, 1640, by Diego Aduarte - -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 XXXI, 1640 - 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: Diego Aduarte - -Editor: Emma Helen Blair - James Alexander Robertson - -Release Date: March 24, 2013 [EBook #42399] - -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/ for Project -Gutenberg. - - - - - - - - - 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 XXXI, 1640 - - - - Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson - with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord - Bourne. - - - The Arthur H. Clark Company - Cleveland, Ohio - MCMV - - - - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXXI - - - Preface 9 - - Historia de la provincia del Sancto Rosario de la Orden - de Predicadores (continued) - Diego Aduarte, O.P.; Manila, 1640 23 - - Bibliographical Data 301 - - - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Title-page of Historia de la provincia del Santo Rosario - de Filipinas, tomo primero, by Diego Aduarte, O.P. - (Zaragoca, 1693); photographic facsimile from copy in - library of Harvard University 21 - - Map showing portions of Cochinchina and the Philippine - Islands; photographic facsimile of Dutch parchment MS. - map (in colors; undated, but of eighteenth century), in - Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris 177 - - Map of Ituy and other provinces in northern Luzón, ca. - 1641; photographic facsimile from original MS. map in - Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 289 - - - - - - - -PREFACE - - -The present volume is devoted to a further installment of Aduarte's -Historia, begun in Vol. XXX--which work will be completed in our -next issue. The part here given covers the years 1596 to 1608 in the -history of the Dominican order in the Philippines. - -Resuming Aduarte's account of the missions carried on by his order -among the Indians of Cagayán, in northern Luzón, the pious and -devout acts of their converts, and the joy and gratitude of the -religious thereat, are recounted at length. In 1596, news comes to -the islands of the death of Bishop Salazar in Spain. Aduarte describes -in detail the life, achievements, and virtues of that prelate. He was -distinguished--not only in the Philippines, but during a long residence -in Nueva España--as the friend and protector of the Indian natives. His -mode of life was most simple and austere; he was charitable and -generous to the full extent of his limited means. By nature choleric -and quick-tempered, he trained himself to patience and forbearance; -and the slanders of the evil-minded against him only roused his -compassion. He was public-spirited, and foremost in all enterprises -for the good of the community. To him are attributed the royal grant -to the Jesuits for maintaining a school, and the establishment and -much of the endowment of the hospital for sick Indians. - -Bishop Salazar's journey to Spain enables him to secure for -his cathedral important aid, and the division of his diocese, -so that its manifold duties may be more satisfactorily performed; -soon afterward, he dies at Madrid. During his absence, his see is -directed by his vicar-general, Fray Christobal de Salvatierra, to -an account of whose exemplary life, valuable labors, and apostolic -virtues a chapter is devoted. He protects the Indians, and does much -to reform the morals of the Spaniards. Among other things, he compels -the Chinese to cease such of their theatrical performances as contain -idolatrous and superstitious matter; and obliges the Spaniards to give -up attendance at these comedies. It is he who begins the spiritual -conquest of the Cagayán region, and he goes on other expeditions; -and he assumes charge of the Bataán mission until missionaries come -for that field. At his death, he appoints two Dominicans to assume his -duties as vicar-general; but they are so opposed by the ecclesiastical -cabildo that they resign the office to the latter. Next comes a -biographical sketch of the younger Juan de Castro, who is assigned -to the toilsome and difficult mission of Pangasinán. In December, -1593, he accompanies an embassy to China; on the return voyage, the -ship is wrecked. Castro escapes to land, but soon afterward dies as -a result of the shock and exposure thus suffered. - -Aduarte recounts, with much detail, the expedition of 1596 to Cambodia, -which is accompanied by himself and another Dominican, Fray Alonso -Ximenez. Velloso's junk is driven ashore by a storm, and the men, after -much privation and suffering, make it over into a shallow oared vessel, -and row along the coast in search of water and inhabited places. When -reduced to the last extremity, they accidentally find fresh water, -and thus are saved, finally making their way to a fort where some -Cambojan soldiers are stationed. From these the Spaniards learn that -the king who was friendly to them has been driven out by a usurper, -and that one of their consorts in the Spanish fleet has reached that -country. They join this ship, and soon afterward, learning that the -king is plotting to destroy them all, and coming to blows with the -Chinese traders who have come to Chordemuco, the Spaniards attack -the Cambojans at night and defeat them, killing the usurper of that -throne. The Spanish commander Gallinato arrives, and decides to -return to Manila; but contrary winds force them to land at Malaca, -after twice encountering enemies. Nearly a year later, they succeed -in reaching Manila, without other result of their journey "but that -of having suffered for the gospel." - -In 1596, Fray Bernardo de Santa Catharina is elected provincial; under -his rule, the conversion of the natives greatly increases. A new band -of missionaries arrives soon afterward, most of whom go to the Cagayán -field. In Cambodia Velloso and Blas Ruiz, Spanish adventurers, have -aided the lawful king to regain his throne, and they persuade him to -send to Manila requesting soldiers and the return of the two Dominican -friars. Luis Pérez Dasmariñas offers to make this expedition at his own -cost, and Aduarte and Ximenez accompany him. A fierce storm scatters -the ships; that of Dasmariñas is driven upon the coast of China, -and that in which Aduarte sails is wrecked on one of the Babuyanes -group. He sends word of this misfortune to Manila; the governor orders -the Spaniards to proceed to China, on which coast they again suffer -shipwreck, but find Dasmariñas--who has met a like disaster there, -and is enduring great privations. Aduarte has meanwhile returned -to Manila; but word of Dasmariñas's misfortune reaches that place, -and Governor Tello sends him a ship with aid, and orders to return at -once to Manila. Aduarte accompanies this vessel. He goes to Canton, -to obtain the viceroy's permission for Dasmariñas's return to Manila; -but there falls into the hands of a greedy and corrupt official, who, -thinking to extort money from the friar, has him tortured. Finally, -Aduarte is placed in prison with the Spanish sailors, but is soon -bailed out by a Chinese friend. He makes his escape, and joins -Dasmariñas; the latter returns to Manila, but Aduarte's health is -so injured that he is obliged to halt at Macao. Fray Alonso Ximenez -dies at that place, as a result of his hardships and sufferings in -the Camboja expedition; a sketch of his life and virtues is given. - -In 1597 another mission arrives at the islands, with Bishop -Benavides. The intermediate chapter of the Dominican province is in -session, and the new arrivals are therefore assigned to the needy -missions; various incidents in those of Cagayán and Pangasinan -are related. Biographical sketches of Antonio de Soria and other -pioneer missionaries are given. Two of these are sent (1598) on a -politico-religious mission to Camboja, with a Spanish officer named -Mendoza; they are attacked by Malays, and most of the Spaniards -are slain. The rest escape to Siam, but are attacked there also, -with further loss of life. Among the dead are the two Dominicans -and Mendoza. - -At the chapter-session of 1600, Juan de Santo Thomas is elected -provincial. The Cagayán missions are extended further into the -interior; and the religious zealously pursue and destroy any trace -of idol-worship. At the intermediate chapter of 1602, the house of -San Juan del Monte, without the city, is established as a retreat for -convalescent brethren of the order. At that time occurs a miraculous -healing of a friar possessed by an evil spirit; also, a large band of -missionaries arrives from Spain, being divinely aided to escape various -dangers of pestilence and shipwreck. With these friars all the convents -in the province are supplied, and some even go to Japan. Aduarte -explains the reason for Dominican missionaries being called to that -country, and describes their first establishment, which is in Satsuma. - -In 1603 the new king of Camboja asks the Manila government for soldiers -and missionaries. Three Dominicans are sent, with a few soldiers as -guards, and letters to the king. They are well received; but two -of them die, and the factions in that country and the fickleness -of the natives induce the remaining friar to return to Manila. In -April, 1604, occurs the great conflagration in Manila, and, in the -succeeding autumn, the revolt and massacre of the Chinese in and near -that city--which have been fully described in previous volumes. - -At the chapter of 1604, Fray Miguel de San Jacinto is elected -provincial, and several new churches in heathen communities are -received. These are supplied with ministers from a new company that -arrives that year from Spain. Some account is given of the journey -of these friars, with its hardships and dangers--among these being -an attack made upon them by hostile Indians at Guadalupe Island, -in which six friars are slain and three wounded. Many of these new -missionaries are sent to the Cagayán missions--some to the Itaves -Indians, who were considered fierce and untamable by the Spaniards -(some of whom, having oppressed the natives, were slain by them) -until "the holy gospel declared by the Dominican religious changed -them from bloodthirsty wolves to gentle sheep." Aduarte declares -that wonderful results were thus achieved, rendering those Indians -moral and obedient, and achieving this entirely by kindness and -gentleness. The Indians even consent to change their abodes to the -mission reductions. The fathers are almost worn out by these tasks, -and one dies; but they are encouraged by the wonderful results of -their labor and by miracles which the Lord vouchsafes them. - -Aduarte presents a long biographical account of Archbishop Benavides, -Salazar's immediate successor. He is distinguished in Spain, both -as a student and as an instructor. Coming to the Philippines, he -immediately undertakes to learn the Chinese language, that he may -minister to the men of that nation who come to Manila; and founds -a hospital for the poor sick Chinese there. Benavides goes to China -(as previously narrated), and afterward to Spain. There he does good -service in refuting the opinion prevalent there that conquest must -precede conversion, and soldiers clear the way for missionaries. He -also procures the recall of a papal brief authorizing the bishops to -visit the friars in charge of the Indians, the same as if they were -parish priests; and accomplishes other important business, especially -in behalf of the Indians, winning golden opinions of his abilities, -good judgment, and virtue. Returning to the islands, Benavides takes -charge of the diocese of Nueva Segovia, where he labors zealously -for the moral improvement of the Spaniards, but most of all for the -protection of the Indians from Spanish rapacity. After Salazar's -death, Benavides takes charge of the vacant see, and is finally -appointed archbishop; but his mode of life is always as simple and -austere as that of the poorest friar, and he spends all his income in -almsgiving. At his death, he bequeaths the little that he possesses to -his brethren, for the founding of a college at Manila. Biographical -accounts of other friars are presented. One of these, Jacinto Pardo, -dies suddenly, it is supposed from poison given him by hostile -Indians. Another, Juan de la Cruz, is a notable linguist. - -In 1605, a papal brief (obtained by the Jesuits) forbids any religious -to go to Japan except by way of India; but it is revoked three years -later. This, in the interim, causes the friar orders much trouble; -and Japan, moreover, is greatly unsettled and disturbed by various -political matters. In 1606 an intermediate chapter is held at Manila, -at which the religious of the order are directed to collect materials -(of which Aduarte has availed himself) for a history of the Dominican -province. The great victory of Acuña at Maluco, which occurs about -that time, is ascribed to the agency of our Lady of the Rosary, -to whom the Dominicans have a special devotion; a confraternity in -her honor had been founded in Acuña's army, and the captured town is -dedicated to her. In this same year, another company of religious -arrives from Spain; one dies before reaching Manila. At this time, -a Dominican mission is established in the province of Hizen, Japan. - -In 1605 the mission in Pangasinan is extended to the village of -Manáoag, farther inland; and, "within a few months, there was not a -heathen in the village." A chief in a neighboring village is also -converted, to whom a miracle occurs. In 1607, two new churches -are established in Cagayán. In Nalfotan the Indians, led by their -excellent chief, build a church even before a missionary is sent to -them; and all is prospering when a priestess of the old idols stirs -up the people, against the new faith, and the villagers take to the -hills. Later, they burn the church; but the good chief saves the -missionary's life. Another revolt occurs in that province, caused -by the cruelty of an encomendero. Troops are sent from Manila; their -commander finds that the Indians had cause for revolt, and sends the -people of Nalfotan home with their pastor. This mission prospers, and -the chief is its mainstay during his life--a function long continued -by his pious sister. - -The provincial chosen in 1608 is Baltasar Fort. Some account is given -of the persecution of Christians in Japan; they are banished from -Satsuma, but many find shelter in Nagasaki. The Dominicans accomplish -much in Hizen. They also extend their missionary labors among the wild -mountaineers of northern Luzón, gathering many scattered hamlets into -larger villages, and converting many of their heathen inhabitants. In -Ituy they attempt to open a mission, but the Franciscans claim that -as their territory; the Dominicans yield, but regret to see these -Indians abandoned soon afterward by their Franciscan teachers. In 1609 -the general of their order commands the provincials of the mission -provinces to report every year the work and achievements of the -missionaries, with information regarding the numbers and condition of -the order in each province. Several friars die in that year, of whom -biographical sketches are presented. One of these, Pedro Rodriguez, -has rendered special and distinguished service in the hospital for -Chinese at Manila. - - - The Editors - - August, 1905. - - - - - - - - HISTORIA DE LA PROVINCIA DEL - SANCTO ROSARIO DE LA ORDEN - DE PREDICADORES - - (Continued) - - By Diego Aduarte, O.P.; Manila, 1640. - - - Source: Translated from a copy of the above work in the - possession of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. - - Translation: This is made by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University - of Wisconsin. The present instalment covers pp. 167-384 of book i - of the Historia (which will be concluded in Vol. XXXII). - - - - - - - -HISTORY OF THE DOMINICAN PROVINCE OF THE HOLY ROSARY - -By Fray Diego Aduarte, O.P. - -(Continued) - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII - -The advance made by the Indians of this province in virtue, and their -attendance upon the sacraments - - -Even if the religious in this province of Nueva Segovia had done -no other good than bringing to an end or preventing so many sins of -idolatry as these Indians used to commit, every day and every hour, -by adoring the devil and offering him superstitious reverence in -all the ways which have already been described, a very great service -indeed would have been done to the Lord, to whom all such actions as -these are directly offensive. In these idolatrous acts His honor is -taken from Him, and His divine supremacy is overthrown and given to -His greatest enemy. To prevent one of these offenses to God would be -of much more merit than to prevent any homicide whatsoever, for that -is a direct offense only against a man; while idolatry is directly -against God, and takes from Him His divine honor, which is much more -valuable than the life of a man. If this be true, how high is the -merit of having prevented the innumerable acts of idolatry which used -to be committed daily by those Indians, and having brought to an end -the multitude of sins which followed upon this one--constant wars, -murders, robberies, drunkennesses which surpassed one another, lewd -actions, and all the other vices which were committed--without the -rulers of those people concerning themselves the least in them or -punishing them, except when they personally were wronged. And this -they did, not out of zeal for justice, but as their personal act of -revenge, so that they sinned more in the excess of the punishment -than the delinquents had sinned in the faults for which they were -punished. Now all these evils came to an end, as the result of the -preaching of the religious, to the great glory of God. Hence, if they -had done no more than this, very great indeed would the service have -been which thereby they wrought and continue to work for the Creator of -all and the universal Lord. But this was not all; for when these evil -growths had been rooted out, there were planted in the hearts of these -Indians the opposite virtues. By the aid of the Lord they began so -soon to bear flowers and fruit that the first bishop of this province, -Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, a holy and most learned prelate, wrote -to his Holiness Clement VIII, who at that time governed the church, -the following report, in which he gives a faithful account of the -establishment of his bishopric, with the accuracy to which his office -and dignity obliged him. "This province," he says, "is very new in the -preaching of the gospel, for it is only three years since there were -ministers of the Order of St. Dominic in it. Before that time there -used to be seen now and then a priest in the place where the Spaniards -lived. As for preaching to the Indians, there was no idea of such a -thing. This province is very near Great China, being distant from it -less than seventy leguas; so that now the faith of the Lord appears -to be approaching their powerful and great kingdom. The native race -of the province is a very spirited one, whom it has cost the Spaniards -many efforts and the lives of many men to subdue. As soon as the Order -of St. Dominic came into this region, they immediately went to live -among the Indians; and they built their churches and houses, which -were more like huts built to last two days. They employed upon them -very few laborers, and had no teacher or journeymen. The Indians would -have died before they admitted them to their villages (and, as it was, -there was some difficulty about it), if the good name of those who had -been in Pangasinan had not reached these Indians also--who in this way -learned how the religious treated the Indians as if they were their -own children, and defended them against those who wronged them. When -they began to consider the mode of life followed by the religious, -their patience and labors, their avoidance of flesh food, their many -fasts, continual prayers, great poverty--for the poverty of the Order -of St. Dominic here is very great--and the gentleness and love with -which they treated the natives, God was pleased that in those villages -where there are missionary religious, all the inhabitants desired -to be Christians. They have not only become very devout toward God, -but very friendly to the Spaniards; thus the religious have put peace -and security where they were not before. As a result, in regions where -soldiers and garrisons used to be necessary, there now are none, and -the country is very peaceful. Every evening the men gather together and -recite prayers before a cross, which is usually set up in the plaza -of the village, the women doing the same by themselves in another -place. Baptisms in the heathen villages are constantly increasing, -while those for whom there are not missionaries enough ask for them -with all their hearts, and are so desirous to become Christians that -we ought therefore to offer thanks to God. [Some chiefs invited the -missionaries to their village, saying that they all wished to become -Christians. A Spaniard who had command in one village where they were -building a church, directed the soldiers to interfere with the work, -which would have injured his private interests; but within a short -time all those men died horribly. The fathers drive out devils from -those who are possessed by them. It is only for lack of missionaries -that the whole country is not filled with churches." - -The report is very short, and it is therefore necessary for us to -expand upon it, making use of the reports of the founders and first -missionaries themselves. In addition to what has already been said, -they report as follows. Great as was the labor of bringing these souls -from darkness to light, they have come to understand their duties, -worshiping the Lord with great devotion, and regularly attending -His holy sacraments. They go beyond the commandments of God and of -His church to do additional works of devotion--especially the women, -for they can more easily come to be instructed, and can more easily -do what they are told, as they are less occupied than the men are with -things to distract their minds and thoughts. Some of them are so devout -that they walk always in the presence of God, doing nothing without -an inward prayer to Him. In Tular, or Abulug, a village of more than -a thousand inhabitants, in which there were more communicants than -in the other villages, the religious taught many of them to strive to -meditate every day upon some of the mysteries of the rosary. This was -an exercise to which the first founder of the province, father Fray -Juan de Castro, was very much given, and in which many of his disciples -and subjects have followed him. Thus these Indians day by day meditate -upon one after another of the fifteen mysteries of the rosary. Other -Indians lay aside part of their daily food for charity. Bringing -about these results requires from the minister much labor, teaching, -assistance, perseverance, and prayer; for without these there is very -little or nothing that they can do of themselves, without books or -any other guide to direct them. As it is, the Indians have advanced -wonderfully--visiting and caring for their sick, especially when -they are poor; taking discipline at night in their houses; fasting -beyond what they are required; frequenting the churches; and offering -their prayers at dawn and at evening. There were some of them who, -at the very beginning of their Christian career, went through the -fields looking for the little children of poor people who could not -take them to town; and, bringing these to be baptized, they acted as -their sponsors, making gifts to them afterward of swaddling-clothes -or some such thing. Heavy as are the labors of the religious, their -joy in them is still greater. - -Very great difficulty was found, at first, in bringing the Indians -to confess. They regarded it as a shameful thing for them to report -to the confessor all the evil things they had done and thought, and -they also feared to give the religious power to annoy or blame them by -means of their confession. "When a dozen persons were gathered together -for their first confession, there was not one of them who was willing -to begin, for everyone wished the other to make the experiment. At -last the fathers summoned an Indian who came from Pangasinan, and -who had longer been a Christian and was better acquainted with the -fathers. The Indians asked him many questions about the matter, -all of which he answered well, encouraging them greatly; he told -them that in his country the Christians confessed without any evil -results following. At last one Indian woman, more courageous than -the rest, ventured to go to make her confession where the father -was patiently waiting in the church--commending the matter to God -with all his heart, because it was very plain that the hesitation -of the Indians was on account of the fear they felt. She confessed, -went away very well satisfied, and, returning to the rest, told them -what had happened. They asked her a thousand new questions, especially -if the father was angry when she told her sins, and whether he had -scolded her. She answered 'No,' and that, on the contrary, he had -treated her very kindly and lovingly; so they all determined to make -their confessions, and began them heartily." So they come now and make -their confessions; and in general it is not necessary to summon them, -for they anticipate the confessors, and sometimes even beg that their -confessions may be heard, as a penance. They showed the greatest faith -and sincerity in their confessions, striving to be reconciled with all -their enemies before making their confession. The religious generally -encouraged them to make their confessions on the day of their patron -saint; and one Indian woman, named for St. Anne, was unwilling to -confess on that saint's day. When the father asked her the reason, -she answered that she had had a quarrel with one of her neighbors, -and that they did not speak to each other; and she begged the father -to reconcile them. After he had done that, she very readily made her -confession. It frequently happens that a man accused in a court of -law denies the accusation, and that the religious is unable to draw -anything else from him; while in confession the same man will clearly -accuse himself of the same fault which he had previously denied, and -will deny again if the same question is asked him on another trial. It -not infrequently happens that if they have any ill-will against the -religious, or have said anything against him, they confess to that -very man, telling him of the ill-will that they have felt against him.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX - -The devotion with which these Indians approached the holy communion, -and some events which give much glory to the Lord. - - -[Since the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist is so high and -difficult a thing to teach a people whose heathen state makes them -opposed to ideas so lofty, the religious in this region spend a great -deal of effort upon teaching the Indians this supreme mystery.] At -first, only very few and very carefully chosen persons were admitted -to the communion, according to the ordinance of a provincial council -of Lima, confirmed by the Apostolic See, which in Act ii, chapter -20, says, [1] Precepit sancta sinodus parochis, ceterisque Indorum -praedicatoribus, ut saepe ac serio, de fide huius mysterii eos -instituant; and, later, Quos autem parochus, et satis instructus, -et correctione vitae idoneos iudicaverit, iis saltem in paschate, -Eucharistiam administrare non praetermittat. It is true that the -Indians of these regions have much greater capacity than those of Peru, -of whom this council spoke; yet because they were so new in the faith, -and so badly fitted by their ancient customs for this supreme mystery, -the holy communion is not given to them indifferently at Easter, but -is given to those whom the minister judges to be properly prepared. At -the beginning, greater attention and caution were necessary. Hence, -after they had been thoroughly instructed in the mysteries of the -faith, and in particular in the doctrine of this holy mystery, -and when they showed a desire to receive the holy communion, they -were examined as to their lives, habits, and reputation, the most -credible witnesses in the village being called in to testify. If -they were found prepared, they were admitted to this supreme meal, -to this holy table. A week before they communicated, unless they -were occupied--and they generally gave up their occupations for this -purpose--they went to church and heard spiritual addresses every -day. [On these days they prepared themselves with more than ordinary -prayer, and rose at midnight to pray and to take their discipline. If -they were married, they separated their beds at least on the eve -and the day of the communion. Many of the men went to the convent, -and followed the hours with the religious. On the day of receiving -communion, they followed the same customs as did the members of our -order, dedicating the whole day to God, and keeping in it the silence -which we observe in our convents on the day when those religious who -are not priests communicate. They were taught to say something after -mass in order to give thanks to the Lord; for since they cannot read, -and have no books, the ministers have to teach them everything of -this kind--especially at the beginning, for afterward there are many -of them who teach the others. At the same time, they receive what the -minister tells them with greater respect. Many extraordinary examples -of piety have been exhibited by the communicants.] In the village -of Pata there was an Indian chief, a man of great valor, named Don -Francisco Yringan, of whom mention has several times been made. He, -being governor there, had as a guest in his house a Spaniard who -was traveling that way. He treated him kindly and entertained him as -well as he could. The guest, not being content with this, asked him -to find an Indian woman, that he might sleep with her; and gave him -some trinkets with which to gratify her. But the Indian refused to -accept them and to do what the Spaniard asked him, saying that this -was wicked and that no one ought to do such a thing, least of all a -communicant. This was a reply with which the old Christian ought to -have been put to confusion, and which should have made him correct -his desires; but it was not so; on the contrary, he grew angry at -the answer, and threatened to cane the Indian unless he did what -he was told. The Indian turned his back and bending his head said, -"Give me as much of a caning as you please, for I am not going to do -what you ask." The Spaniard was so intemperate and discourteous that -he vented his anger upon him and caned him, the Indian suffering with -great patience, as if he had received from God not only faith in Him, -but the power of suffering because he refused to offend Him. This is -a grace which the Apostle praises, urging the Philippians to esteem -it highly; and now it was found in a Philippine Indian. The Indian -who suffered this was a man who could have employed lawyers against -him who wronged him, though he was alone; and, if he had shouted to -his followers, they would have cut the Spaniard to pieces. But, as he -was a communicant, he would neither be an accomplice in the sin of the -Spaniard, nor would he avenge himself; nor would he even make use of -a just defense, as was taught in the counsel of Paul quoted above, -Non vos defendentes carissimi [i.e., "Not defending yourselves, -beloved"]. On another occasion when a great insult was offered to -this same Indian, a religious comforted him and encouraged him to -patience. The Indian answered: "O father, how good it would be if we -all served God with truth. If it were so, that wrong which has been -done to me would not have been done. If this thing had happened in -the days of our heathendom, it would have sufficed to cause me and -my followers to make war to the death against this town; but now that -we are Christians, patience!" He said nothing more and uttered not a -word of indignation, but passed over his sufferings and endured the -insult, although he felt it keenly and was ashamed (though in a very -Christian manner). Thus he gave proof that his virtue was enduring, -because such a blow could not overthrow it. There was one poor Indian -slave woman whom a Spaniard, who had communicated a few days before -in that village, tried to violate. She resisted him with spirit; and, -as if horrified at the lack of respect which by his actions he showed -to the Lord, whom he had received, she said to him: "How is it that, -being a communicant, you dare to commit such a sin?" In this way may -be seen how some of the new Christians surpass others who are old -in the faith, going beyond them in virtue, devotion, and the fear -of God. [In the village of Masi, which is near to that of which we -have been speaking, there was an Indian, a communicant, the fiscal -of the church, who was of blameless life. His name was Sebastian -Calelao. His sown rice had not sprouted on account of the drought; -but, in response to his prayers, God sent rain so that his crop -was saved. In Pilitan there was an Indian woman, named Ysabel Pato, -a faithful Christian. When she was about to receive the viaticum, -the priest found that the Lord had anticipated him. Other marvels and -instances of virtue have been exhibited among these Indians.] Some -Indian women accused themselves of having eaten buyos on fast-days, -but not on Fridays. When the confessor asked them if they had -fasted on other days than Friday--for the Indians are not obliged -to fast on the other days in Lent--they answered that they fasted -the whole of Lent, performing these fasts as works of devotion; for -the holy Apostolic See has excused them from this fast, because of -their weakness and the scantiness of their food. When the religious -thought that this was excessive, and told them that they could not -do so much, they answered that by the favor of God they could do -so, as they had already fasted during the whole of Lent on previous -occasions. The buyo is an aromatic leaf, shaped like an ivy-leaf, -which the Indians are accustomed to chew with a sort of wild acorn -and a little bit of lime. Even some of the Spaniards in this country -very commonly use it, though they do not swallow it, so that only the -juice reaches the stomach; it invigorates the stomach, and preserves -the teeth. To carry some buyos in their mouths, if there were not -many of them, would not break their fast; but in spite of all this, -these Indian women made a scruple of taking it in their fasts, out of -pure devotion and in an entirely voluntary way. [Visions of demons -are frequent among the Indians. One such happened in a part of this -province called Ytabes, of which the order took charge in 1604. The -Indian concerned had a vision of demons driven away by persons whom -he did not know, but who were clothed with white underneath and with -black cloaks. This was something which the Indian had never seen, -because the religious rarely wear their cloaks in the Indian villages, -assuming them only when they go into the pulpit to preach. At that -time the Christians there were so few that the sermons were not -delivered from the pulpit, but from a seat, the cloak not being put -on for the purpose. Frightful visions of the anito drove the father -of Don Francisco Tuliau to baptism. In Camalaniugan father Fray Gaspar -Zarfate drove out several demons who were tormenting Indian women.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XL - -The great comfort which the religious commonly felt in their ministry -both in life and in death - - -[In spite of the sufferings of the religious in this region--the heat, -the strangeness, the homesickness, the poverty of their life--they had -great joy in their work. The aniteras, or priestesses of the devil, -who became Christians, often told them that as soon as they came to -heathen villages the devil left the houses in which he was worshiped, -which were wretched little hovels. They dreamed that they saw their -anitos in the form of carabaos, or buffaloes, and of black men; -and that they likewise suffered greatly at such times, because the -devil was so much their owner that he used to enter them visibly--one -of them, who was the mistress of the others, saying that he entered -her in the form of a shadow, and in that way gave his oracles. The -aniteras were, as the Indians said, beside themselves and out of -their minds at such times. Many miracles were wrought by the fathers, -and they had great joy in the marvels which the Lord showed them -in permitting them to save by holy baptism children and others who -were at the point of death, from eternal damnation. The bishop of -Nueva Segovia, Don Fray Diego de Soria, writing to his great friend, -father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Cathalina, or Navarro, on March 24, -1608, said that when they had come from the province of Ylocos, they -had been detained in a port for two weeks by as heavy a storm as if -they had been in Segovia itself, and that they had suffered much on -the road; but that now they felt consoled by what they had found in -the province, which was a perfect picture of Pangasinan. He reported -that in the mountains of Fotol and Alamonag they had confirmed more -than six hundred Indians; and that even the little boys and girls knew -the definition of the sacrament of confirmation. He reports that the -religious of the province are very harmonious, especially those who -came from the college of Alcala, to which they purpose sending a golden -cup worth a thousand pesos, hoping that the college may pay for it with -missionaries, which will not be simony. He goes on to say that he had -been three days in the village, and that they had already confirmed -eight or nine thousand Indians. The cup of gold was sent, but never -reached its destination. His remarks with reference to the college -of Alcala are due to the fact that several of the religious who came -over on various expeditions had been supplied by that college. Among -them were some of the most devoted of the missionaries--for instance, -the bishop himself, father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Cathalina, and -father Fray Juan Cobo. The report of this father may well be followed -by that of father Fray Francisco de San Joseph, or Blancas, [2] who -wrote from this province of Nueva Segovia to the father provincial, -father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho. His letter is given in full by -Aduarte; the substance of it is as follows: "I have seen with my own -eyes something of what I have read in the letters of your Reverence -with regard to the great need of ministers here, and to the desire of -the people for them. We found the inhabitants kindly and peaceful, and -delighted to see us. When we disembarked at one of the heathen villages -on the way, some of the children ran to kiss our scapulars. Some of -the boys ran before us, reciting the prayers very well, not because -they had been taught, but because they had picked them up from a -couple of our boys whom they had seen several times. Yet in spite of -all this they will be lost and damned, for lack of friars. The wife -of the governor of this village was very ill; and desiring to die -a Christian, she had herself carried to the village of Pia, which -is a Christian village about a day's journey from hers. Father Fray -Pedro was at Pipig, a village near there, at the time, so that he was -in time to baptize her." In another letter to the same provincial, -he said: "Your Reverence might see here this morning a company of -old men learning the doctrines of Christianity; another of girls; -another of married women; another of young boys--giving praises -to God like so many choirs of angels, proclaiming His doctrine and -learning it to prepare themselves for baptism." Father Fray Jacintho -de San Geronimo, [3] who is still living, writes a letter to a friend -of his in Nueva España, which is dated on the last day of the feast -of the Resurrection, in 1607. It is substantially as follows: "I am -at present in the province of Nueva Segovia, in great happiness to -see the desire of the people to become Christians. Our poverty and -disinterestedness have caused them to have great confidence in us. I -would not change my lot for any other in the world, in spite of the -hardness of our life here." The same father wrote another letter to -a friend in Manila, to the following effect: "There are more than -four thousand souls in this village, not the eighth part of whom are -Christians, though all desire to become so. On Holy Saturday three of -us baptized six hundred persons." The date of this letter was April 2, -1607. Although this father had been but a short time in the province, -he had already learned enough of the language for such great results, -and could rejoice in the fruit of his labors. From all this it is -plain that the missionaries in this region who are busied with the -ministry of souls have no need of España nor of anything Spanish -for their comfort, except companions to help them in the work. As -there is no rule without an exception, it must be so in this case; -but if any missionary is unhappy here, it is generally because he has -failed in his obligations and become lukewarm in his devotions. Those -that can speak the language and thereby convert souls are happy -in their work; and those who cannot learn the language should -accordingly be unhappy. But the Lord is not so poor as that, as will -be sufficiently shown by a letter from father Fray Garcia de Oroz, -written from Nueva Segovia to a brother at Manila: "Though I have been -told that I would be very unhappy and discouraged by the difficulty of -learning the language, and though I find that it is very difficult to -me because of my age and lack of memory, I am not disconsolate; because -merely to be in company with a father who is a master of the language, -and to act as his confessor, will greatly serve our Lord. This region -is a pleasant one, and my health is good in it during the winter, which -lasts from the beginning of October to March. It resembles the climate -of Valencia during the same period, having cool and fresh nights. A -great part of the country is very open, and the mountains are not high -or rugged. Some of the convents are on the shore of the sea; others, -on the bank of a copious river, which is navigated by canoes for a -distance of sixty leguas up the river. No one has reached the head of -it, or knows where the spring is." The happiness of the missionaries -in their work will be plain from what has been said. As a result of -having lived devoted lives they died happy deaths, rejoicing in their -firm hope that they were going to enjoy the Lord whom they had served, -and for whom they had abandoned their parents, kinsmen, native lands, -and the ease which they might have enjoyed in España.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLI - -The servant of God, Don Fray Domingo de Salaçar, first bishop of -the Philippinas - - -By the ships which came to these islands from Nueva España in 1596, -arrived the sad news of the death of their father and first bishop, -Don Fray Domingo de Salaçar. This was one of the greatest losses -which they could have met with at that time, for they lost in him a -most loving father and a most faithful defender. In their defense -he had not hesitated to set out on a long and perilous journey to -España, and that in his very last years, when his great age would -have excused him from such excessive labors. But the fervent love -which he had for his sheep would not permit him to offer any excuses, -when he saw them in so great need as they were in at that time. There -was in these regions no place from which he could obtain relief for -them, nor could he have obtained relief from España if he had not -gone there in person to get it, for he had tried all other means. He -had sent a procurator; and he had written most urgent letters, and -had learned by experience that they did not bring about the results -desired. In fine, these islands lost a shepherd and a holy bishop; -and when this has been said, everything has been said. The Order of -St. Dominic, which had been so recently established in these islands, -suffered the greatest loss in this general affliction, for it had -in him a father and a brother who loved it most affectionately; -and a continual benefactor, who, though he was poor in the extreme, -seemed rich and generous in the benefits which he conferred upon the -order. Without them it would have suffered much, because the religious -came as apostolic preachers, in the greatest poverty, and in the -greatest need of the favor which they always received from this pious -bishop. Don Fray Domingo de Salacar was born in La Rioja in Castilla, -and had assumed the habit in the distinguished convent of San Estevan -at Salamanca, where he was contemporary with some who afterward became -famous professors of theology in this illustrious university--the -father masters Fray Domingo Bañes and Fray Bartholome de Medina -[Fray Domingo de Salacar was not inferior to them in scholarship, -but his heart was set more on sanctity than on learning; and hence -he desired to go to the province of Santiago de Mexico, which seemed -to have renewed the primitive austerity of the time of our father -St. Dominic. When he reached Mexico, though he wished to labor among -the Indians, the orders of his superior kept him from doing so, and -he became a teacher, and finally a master of theology, the highest -degree of this kind which can be reached in the order. His virtue was -such that during all the time while he was in Nueva España (namely, -forty years), he never broke any of our sacred constitutions in any -point. As one of the popes has said, a religious who thus follows the -constitutions of our order, has done enough to be canonized. When the -directions of his superiors at last permitted him to give the reins -to his desire, he devoted himself to missionary work among the Indian -tribes in the province of Vaxac. He suffered deeply from every wrong -that the Spaniards did to the Indians; and his suffering was doubled -because he could not remedy their wrongs. However, he did what he could -for those that were under his charge by comforting them and encouraging -them to patience; and it is no small consolation for the unfortunate -to see that there is someone who pities them and sympathizes with their -suffering. So desirous was father Fray Domingo of laboring for the Lord -that he joined the expedition to Florida, [4] accompanying the holy -Fray Domingo de la Anunciacion in the hardships which he endured, -which he felt the more because he could not make the conversions -which he hoped for among those Indians. Before beginning his journey, -he asked the superior to bless all the waters of the streams and -rivers from which he should have to drink, that he might not break -the constitution which directs us not to drink without permission and -a blessing. The want of food from which they suffered was such that -they were obliged to boil the leather straps of their helmets and of -the other parts of their armor that they might have something to keep -them alive, or to delay death a little. When they had exhausted this -supply they ate roots and the bark of wild trees. On this journey our -Lady of the Rosary showed her favor to father Fray Domingo by assisting -him in a remarkable way on several occasions. Once she enabled him -to save the life of a poor soldier who had been condemned to death, -and once gave him grace to change the heart of a man who intended to -commit suicide. Although he desired to give himself to work among the -Indians, he was obliged by the orders of his superiors and by his -vow of obedience to assume several honorable posts in the province -of Mexico, becoming prior and vicar-provincial, and finally the chief -consultor of the Holy Office; but he gave up these positions as soon -as he could to devote himself to the work which he preferred among -the natives. He spent thirty-eight years in laboring for those poor -people, teaching them, and protecting them against wrong. He was at -one time sent to España by his superiors on matters of important -business connected with the missions to the Indians. Here he met -many difficulties, as vested interests and great wealth were arrayed -against him; and on one occasion the nuncio of his Holiness, to -whom he had complained, commanded him not to visit the palace. But, -though he did not attain the end for which he set out, he made a -great impression upon his Majesty, who appointed him first bishop of -the Philippinas.] His Majesty felt a particular affection for these -islands, because their conversion had begun in his time and as a -result of his initiative. As they had received their name from his, -he desired also to give them a bishop with his own hand. He chose a man -whose learning, virtue, and deep zeal for the good and the protection -of the Indians qualified him to be the father and first shepherd -of regions so new and so remote from the presence of their king. In -such regions it is very easy for the wrongs which the powerful do to -the weak to be more and greater than in others; hence they needed a -valiant defender, and a strong pastor and master to contend with the -great difficulties which are always met with in new conquests. At -first father Fray Domingo did not venture to accept the bishopric, -and consulted learned and able religious. They all advised him to -accept it, as being a very heavy charge, but one in which he could do -great service to God and be of great advantage to the Indians. They -suggested that, if he were the bishop of the Indians, he could -help them better in the great sufferings which it might be expected -that they would have to endure, as all newly-conquered people have -endured them. These sufferings he saw and deplored when he went to his -bishopric; and he strove to remedy them as completely as he could. He -accepted the dignity for the labor and the banishment which it offered -him, knowing well that there was no honor and profit to be expected -from it. At this time he strove to bring with him religious of his own -order, feeling that they would be more closely allied to him and under -greater obligations to him; and that thus they would help him to carry -his burden. His Majesty granted them to him, and they reached Mexico; -[5] but here there were so many who died or fell ill that he had left -but one companion, father Fray Christobal de Salvatierra--who was a -wonderfully helpful associate, and aided him greatly in the government -of his bishopric, as well as in everything else which had to be done; -and these additional duties were neither few nor pleasant. He went to -the city of Manila and built in it his cathedral church, assigning -prebends and arranging everything necessary for the service of the -cathedral--although poorly, because he had no ecclesiastical income, -and because the royal income in these islands was very small. He found -his bishopric like sheep without a shepherd, and strove to gather them -together and bring them to order; but, as they had learned to live -without control, they took his efforts very ill. Some of them broke -bounds entirely, one of them going so far that he dared to tell the -bishop to his face that he would better moderate his enthusiasm; for -that if he did not, the speaker could hit a mitre at fifty paces with -his arquebus. But the good bishop in these and similar cases followed -the commands of St. Paul to his disciple St. Timothy: Argue, obsecra, -increpa, in omni patientia et doctrina. [6] The good prelate put his -shoulder and his breast to the wheel against all these difficulties, -and with all his heart strove to reform the morals of the colony. By -his example he animated the preachers and confessors to tell the -truth with greater clearness and courage than before; and, that -this might be the better and more effectively done, he called a -conference, or quasi-synod, composed of the superiors from all the -religious orders and of the learned men who were in the land, both -theologians and jurists. This conference sat for a long time. In it -there were also six captains who had had experience in that country, -and in the conquests which had been made there. These officers were -added to the conference that they might give information with regard -to many matters of fact upon which the determination of justice and -conscience in the case depended; and that the truth and righteousness -of the proceedings of the conference might be more apparent. It was -hoped that in this way the decisions of the conference would be better -received. In this assembly the holy bishop showed his great capacity, -his great knowledge and the clearness of his mind; and skilfully -directed and disposed of a great variety of matters which were there -very effectively decided. Many questions were there propounded and -settled; and from the decrees of the conference there resulted a -sort of general list or set of rules by which the confessors were -to govern themselves in assigning penance to all sorts of people -in that country. These rules affected the governor, the auditors, -the royal officials, the alcaldes, the corregidors, those who had -taken part in the conquest, the encomenderos, the collectors of -tributes, and people of all ranks--in a word, all the inhabitants -of the country. It had validity for what had been done as well as -for what was to come. This was a very helpful matter, because it -dealt with affairs which offered no precedents, did not regularly -happen, and could not be understood by everyone because of their great -difficulty. On this account those who understood them best, and desired -to deal with them as truth and reason required, were not respected by -those who were most concerned. The latter, in order that they might -avoid their obligations, ordinarily tried to find confessors who would -show leniency, to their own harm and to that of their penitents. But as -soon as these decrees appeared, having been voted by so many learned -and holy men, they were such that neither confessors nor penitents -dared oppose them. This conference was accordingly a very important -one; and in a few days it was possible to see the new light which had -come to these islands and to perceive how thoughtful and careful, -and how full of knowledge, was the new shepherd and spouse of this -church. The holy bishop afforded much edification with his teaching, -his addresses, and his sermons, for he was a learned theologian and an -excellent preacher; but he did very much more by the example of his -admirable life. The sermons which he preached in this way had great -power over the souls of those who looked upon this noble example, -and even hardened hearts could not resist them. He did not alter his -habit, his bed, or his diet. His habit was of serge, as was customary -in Nueva España. He wore a woolen shirt, and slept upon a bed which -was even poorer than that of the poorest religious. His food was eggs -and fish; his dwelling had no paintings or adornments in it. He rose -at midnight to recite matins, and after this he offered his mental -prayer. That he might not trouble anyone to give him a light, he -always kept a tinder and flint, and struck and kindled his own light -without having any servant to attend upon him when he went to bed or -when he rose. He was especially devoted to our Lady of the Rosary, -whose grace and favor he had many times experienced; and he desired -to see this same devotion well established in all. When he spoke upon -this matter, he seemed to surpass himself; and some believed that our -Lady spoke in him, because of the grandeur of the heavenly ideas which -he uttered on this subject. When our religious reached this country, -he entertained them in his dwelling, as has been said; and he kept -and cherished them there for many days, gave them extraordinary alms, -and bought a site for their convent. He helped very much in the -building of the convent, without ever feeling poor for this or for -similar objects--though he was really in extreme poverty on account -of the smallness of the salary which he received, without having -any other source of income. Although the salary was small, it never -failed him when the poor required it, to whom belonged everything -that he acquired. Thus he was always consuming his income, without -ever lacking something to give. - - - - - -CHAPTER XLII - -A more detailed account of the virtues of the servant of God, Don -Fray Domingo de Salaçar - - -The conformity of the good bishop with the divine will, and his desire -to be approved before the pure eyes of that heavenly Lord with whom he -always desired most intimately to unite himself, and the knowledge that -he could not attain this approval without striving with all his heart -to imitate His virtues, and by means of them to acquire something of -His likeness, made the bishop endeavor constantly with great solicitude -to attain these virtues--although to attain them it was necessary for -him to strive manfully to conquer his own nature; in so far as it was -opposed to them; and to multiply, in order to attain this victory over -himself, penances and austerities, to the end that his nature might -surrender and be subjected. The virtue of patience, which is in all -circumstances very desirable, and no less difficult to acquire and -maintain, was that which the bishop most needed, for at every step -occasions offered themselves for the exercise of this virtue. Since -he was by nature wrathful and hot-tempered, and was always engaged -in defending the right, it cost him much to control himself and to -be patient. However, he had so restrained himself and so become lord -of his nature, that he did not permit it to display itself. This -was not only in cases where he had time for consideration and for -preparation, but in those sudden and unexpected accidents in which -those who are wronged are accustomed to lose control of themselves, -if the virtue of patience is not well rooted within their souls or has -not reached perfection. He was often obliged to hear many insulting -words from soldiers who were angry because he had interfered with their -excesses; but he kept silent, and walked on as if he had not heard -them, attending to his business without taking any account of things -which did not belong to it. Since the Indians suffered from the abuses -which were inflicted upon them, he went in one day to speak on their -behalf to the governor who was then in office. He was not permitted -to proceed with his business without hearing many insulting words -from the governor, who even put his hands upon his breast and gave -him a push. The bishop did not change countenance; and, following the -counsel of St. Paul, who bids us give place to wrath, he left the hall -that he might not more inflame the wrath of this man. After a while, -when he thought it was time, he went in again, and with great serenity -of countenance and with gentleness of heart and words, he said to him: -"Bend your knees, because my heart does not permit me to leave you -under so heavy a condemnation;" and he added: "By virtue of a brief -of the Supreme Pontiff which I have for this purpose, I absolve you -from the most dreadful excommunication which you have incurred." When -he had done this, he went out again; and even commanded the cleric -who accompanied him not to reveal to anyone what had happened, under -penalty of excommunication. On another occasion another ecclesiastic -whom he rebuked said to him, very angrily: "How badly you treat me, -though you know that I am better than you are." The bishop answered, -with great calmness, that he was delighted to have in his bishopric so -honorable a person. With this gentleness he suffered the blows of those -who exercised his patience, leaving his cause to God, as God commands -us. The Lord assumed the care of his cause, and rigorously chastised -those who spoke evil of him. Some people wrote letters against him to -España; and, before the answer came back, they were called upon to give -their answer before the tribunal of God, ending their lives in sudden -and dreadful death. He took great pains to preserve his chastity and -the purity with which he was born, esteeming it highly like a precious -jewel, and performing many penances to defend it from the assaults of -the enemies who hated its beauty and ever strove to destroy it. Two -priests have borne witness that he was a virgin: father Fray Diego -de Soria, late bishop of Nueva Segovia, to whom he made a general -confession in his old age, at the time when he was about to embark -on the last voyage which he made to España. The other priest was a -clergyman to whom he had confessed more than two hundred times, and -who was well acquainted with the state of his conscience. This priest -confirmed his testimony with an oath. In spite of this, the world -is such that the chaste bishop found it necessary to defend himself -against accusations in regard to this matter, and to bear testimony -to the purity of his own conscience. At a public celebration of the -holy sacrifice of the mass, with the divine sacrament in his hands, he -affirmed, because necessity required it, that he hoped this celestial -food might be his eternal damnation if he was conscious of any fault -of such a kind. If those who spoke against him in this matter had -been only laymen, angry because they had been corrected and forcibly -drawn from such vices, and mad with passion--for such persons will -not forgive those who are most holy--if this accusation had proceeded -from such as these, it would have been matter for sorrow, but would -not have been intolerable; but there were even some ecclesiastics -who saw that the bishop took great pains to seclude abandoned women, -and who ventured to make themselves defenders of these persons of -disorderly life. They declared that a man who gathered in so many -of these women of evil life (some of them handsome), shut them up, -and heard them at their trials, would be sure to put out his hand and -select those who pleased him. This reached the ears of the bishop; -and the vengeance which he took was to commend them to the Lord in -prayer with all his heart--pitying them as being persons who were -really worthy of compassion; since, without comparison, the harm that -one who speaks evil does to himself is greater than the harm done to -him who is wronged. The Lord heard these pious prayers, and touched -their hearts. They acknowledged the evil that they had spoken, and -very repentantly came to beg his pardon, at the episcopal residence, -in the presence of those who lived there. The bishop received them -with open arms and with abundance of tears, and had them that day -as companions at his table. The vengeance which the saints desire to -take upon their enemies is, to have them repent for their faults when -they become conscious of their errors. - -He was very compassionate, and felt the utmost pity for the sufferings -of his neighbor. Of this a marked example was given on the voyage from -Nueva España to Manila. There were in the same ship more than twenty -Augustinian religious, and, while they were at sea, their water gave -out. This is one of the greatest hardships which may be suffered on a -voyage. The bishop took pity upon them; and, although he had not enough -to supply the necessity of so many, he preferred suffering with the -others to seeing them suffer while he was comfortable. Accordingly -he offered them the opportunity to drink from what he carried in -his martabana, which is a large jar holding twenty cantaros [7] -of water. Their need would not permit them to refuse what was thus -offered them voluntarily; and, though they all drank of it, the Lord -was pleased that it should last until they landed on the islands, -as the servant of God had prayed. It is no new or rare thing for the -Lord to multiply food and drink, that it may not be lacking to those -who bring themselves to need out of pity. This same virtue caused -the bishop to watch over this municipality of Manila, by taking care -that in the houses of the fathers of the Society [of Jesus] there -should be religious to give instruction in profitable learning to -those who desired to study it. That this might be made permanent, -and that there might not be any failure in it, he brought it about -that his Majesty gave command that the religious should receive an -allowance to be spent upon the teachers. The answer of his Majesty is -contained in the royal decree given at Barcelona the eighth [sic] of -fifteen eighty-three. The document runs as follows: "To the reverend -father in Christ, Fray Domingo de Salacar, bishop of the Philippinas -Islands. Three letters from you have been received from my Council, -etc. Considering the good report which you give of the great results -which have followed and which are likely to follow from the maintenance -of the Order of the Society of Jesus, and considering that to this end -it is necessary that the Society should receive from me what is needed -for the support of the religious who desire to teach and instruct in -Latinity, sciences and good morals, those who come to them, I have, -until some one shall come forward to undertake this business, granted -the decree enclosed. In pursuance of this decree, the president of -the Audiencia and you will together determine how this object may -be carried out," etc. From this same spirit of compassion arose the -benevolence which he displayed toward all the natives by building -a hospital in Manila in which sick Indians might be cared for. He -gave so much energy to this that he not only was the chief person -who concerned himself with it, but he gave the first and the chief -contribution to establish and endow it. At the very beginning of -the hospital he did something worthy of his virtue and prudence. The -sick in this hospital were cared for by religious of the order of the -seraphic father St. Francis, and particularly by a brother named Fray -Juan Clemente. The infirmity for which they were ordinarily treated -was buboes, which are very frequent on these poor Indians because -they ordinarily have to walk in the water in their grain-fields. [8] -The brother had much to suffer with the Indian men, and still more -with the Indian women, the care of whom was in general not very -consonant with decency. On this account, the religious determined -to give up this duty, and actually asked the bishop for permission -to leave the hospital. The bishop, who was well acquainted with the -conscience of Fray Juan, and who saw the reason for his unhappiness, -encouraged and consoled him; and exhorted him not to give up, on -account of these temptations, the good work and the service which he -had begun there. He gave the brother holy and devout reasons for this, -and finally said: "My son Fray Juan, fast for three days in the week; -give yourself a discipline, and keep your hour of prayer. As for the -rest, I will charge myself with it, and will take the responsibility -upon myself." The result was marvelous, for, because of the good -advice which had been given him and the prayer which the bishop made -for him, Fray Juan found himself so much consoled and changed that he -no longer felt the least difficulty or disquiet in the world; and, -as if he had cast all these difficulties upon another person, he no -longer perceived them in himself. Yet before this he had found himself -so much oppressed by them that, in order not to fall, he had desired to -flee. In a case of this kind, to take flight is to conquer--but not so -nobly as when the Lord puts forth His hand that His servants may handle -such serpents as these without being harmed by them, which happened -in this case as the result of the prayer of His servant the bishop. - -The many virtues which this servant of God possessed were higher in -degree as a result of the fire of charity which dwelt in his breast, -which, as a queen of all the rest, held the highest place in his -soul and governed all. He could not eat or drink in comfort without -dividing with the poor; and therefore every day he set aside a part of -his food, and, placing it on the corner of the table, said: "You know -for whom this is"--namely, the poor, as his servants understood. This -was given to them, and not only this, but other alms. That the matter -might be the better attended to, they kept, by order of the bishop, -a memorandum of the poor and needy of the city. He directed his -servants that whenever the poor women who asked alms were Spaniards, -they should indicate the fact by saying, "Here is a lady that asks -alms;" if they were Indians or mestizas, they should say, "Here is a -woman." In this way, without seeing them, he would be able to tell -their station, and to aid them conformably thereto. Still, when he -was told about some such matter, he often went down with the servant; -and, if it was the first time that she came, he used to say to her: -"Come, good friend, what is the matter now? Beware not to offend God, -nor to be tricked by the devil into doing any base act for need or -for selfish interest. Trust in God, who will aid you; and I for my -part will assist with all my heart." In order that she might see that -these were not merely good words, he used to give her some assistance -and to write her name with the rest, so that he might aid her with the -care required by her need, and by that of her children, if she had -any. Every week he visited the prisons and the hospitals, generally -assigning Fridays for that purpose. He encouraged and consoled the -prisoners and the sick with kindly words and with alms, according -to the need of each one. The money which he could get together from -restitutions and confirmations he kept with the greatest care, that -not a real might be lost; and, as if he were the most miserly man in -the world, he took care of it for the poor alone, without permitting -the members of his household or anyone else to take anything from the -confirmations, as is customary. He used to say that this belonged to -the poor, and that it was not proper that one who was not poor should -share with them. From some of these alms, and from what he could add -from his own poor income, he bought some lots near the Franciscan -convent, and some cattle, with which he established a stock-farm, -and gave it for the establishment of a hospital for the care of the -natives. The hospital was built and still exists, having been very -greatly increased by the care of the Franciscan fathers, who attend -to it with the greatest charity. To exalt the hospital still more, the -bishop obtained for it a liberal concession of plenary indulgence for -the Sunday of Lazarus, [9] as he did for the hospital of the Spaniards -on Palm Sunday. So great was his charity and his desire to do good to -the poor that once, when he was without money to give them, he sold -his pectoral cross, which was worth one thousand eight hundred pesos, -and gave it to them in alms. In the same way went his table silver; -and his silver pontifical ornaments were almost always in pawn. His -steward used to try to excuse himself when he was told to give alms, -saying that he had not the means. The bishop, calling him to one side, -would say to him, "Tell me the truth; how much money have you?" He -commonly said that there was not in the house more than eight reals -for the daily expense, and sometimes only four. The bishop then -made him give half of what he had, saying that it was sufficient -good-fortune to have some money in the house all the time, so long as -the Lord would provide more; and the Lord to whom he gave took care -that he should never lack, sending him what he needed for himself -and for his poor from some source from which he had never expected -it. When he got it, he would show it to the steward, or give it to -him, and say: "Trust in God, father, and know that even if you had -given me all that you had, the Lord would have sent us more." It was -a common saying among the people of his household that the Father of -the poor provided money miraculously, in order that the bishop might -give them alms. A person of rank was once obliged by necessity to ask -alms from him. The bishop was much grieved, as this person seemed to -be an honorable one; and he directed the steward to give him all the -money there was in the house. As he found no more than eight reals, -the bishop gave this to him, and asked the man to pardon him, saying -that there was no more at that time, but that, as soon as he had any, -he would be sure to come to his aid. The Lord did not delay assisting -him who had not only given alms from his superfluity, but had given -all that he had for the maintenance of himself and his household. For -on that very night He touched the heart of a man who had laid upon -him for ten years the duty of the restitution of four hundred pesos, -and caused him, without waiting till morning, to embark at night and -to come from Cavite to Manila; and in the morning he gave the money to -the bishop without the bishop's ever having spoken to him. The bishop -had desired that his penniless condition should be cared for wholly by -the Lord, who was called upon to relieve the urgent need of him who -was in such need as a result of aiding the poor. When the bishop saw -himself suddenly enriched with four hundred pesos, he gave thanks to -the Lord, from whose hand he had received them rather than from the -hand of him who had brought them hither. He instantly summoned the -person to whom he had given only one peso the day before, because he -had no more, and said to him: "For the little which I have given you -and the much which you desired, the Lord has sent me some money. Take -these fifty pesos and give me that one which I gave you yesterday; -for it is that which attracted all this. Be sure that you spend well -that which I give you; and, when you shall see yourself in prosperity, -take care to be liberal to the poor." The good man promised this; -and in a short time God, in fulfilment of what the bishop had said -to him, gave him so much money that he brought four hundred pesos, -and gave them to the bishop to be distributed among the poor. The rest -of what the bishop had received he did not spend on his household, -though it was so poor; but published in the church that he had some -money to distribute, and summoned the poor to his residence. Among -them he distributed it (as he wished to) very quickly; and, showing -them the eight-real piece which he had given in the first place, -he said to them with much happiness and joy: "Just this peso is for -me, because it is that which attracted so many." When the bishop -was at his meal, having with him at the table the first founders of -this province, who had recently come to the city, a man came to beg -alms. The bishop gave him a peso; and, as it seemed to the beggar -too little, he showed it to the bishop, and said that he had not -given him as much as he needed. This conduct appeared to those who -were present bold, and even insolent; so they told the bishop that he -ought to send the man away, because he had received sufficient alms, -and that it was impossible at one time to succor every necessity. The -bishop agreed; but before long his heart was moved to compassion -at the thought that the poor man had gone away dissatisfied; and, -with his eyes moist with tears, he said: "Call that poor fellow back -again. His need must be very great, because it has forced him to be -importunate." The beggar came back; and the bishop, augmenting the -alms so that the beggar should be contented, was contented himself, -and sent him away with his blessing. Once it happened that he went -to bed with fifteen pesos, which, though for persons of his dignity -it was a mere nothing, for him who gave everything to the poor it -was great riches; and in the morning before nine o'clock he had not a -penny, because the poor had taken it all. He used to say: "The riches -of bishops are in caring for the poor, who are their proper purses; -and, so long as my money is not in them, they will suppose that I have -appropriated it." This did not appear only in his words, but he was -so certain of the truth of it that he carried it out in practice; and -it often resulted that he did not have money for the ordinary expenses -of his household. He was obliged to set sail from Manila to España on -important business; and one of the chief supplies which he ordered to -be laid in was a provision of chickens and of conserves--things which -he never tasted, and which were so foreign to his way of living that -he ate nothing but fish, as if he had been in the refectory of an -extremely austere convent. They got together three hundred chickens -for him; but before he had left port two hundred of them were gone; -while with the conserves and other things that he took he was all -the time feasting and making presents to the poor and needy, so that -nobody could even induce him to taste a chicken. [On the road from -Mexico to San Juan de Ulua, though very ill, he charitably undertook -the ordination of some candidates for the priesthood, who had been -caught in a flood on their way to be ordained at Jalapa.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII - -The marvels wrought by our Lord for His servants while in this life, -and the happy death of the bishop. - - -[It is not strange that the Lord should have honored the virtues of -the bishop by working many marvels through him. Many of these have -fallen into oblivion because he strove to keep them concealed, and -also because there has been no one to keep a record of them. Several -times his prayers have saved men in imminent danger of death; among -these was father Fray Miguel de Venavides, who fell overboard on the -voyage from Manila to Nueva España.] - -When he reached España it is said that his Majesty at first was vexed -on account of his return, because his bishopric would need him during -his absence. But afterward, when he saw him, his Majesty was greatly -pleased with him, and carried out the wishes of the bishop in regard -to the principal matters which had brought him there. The income of -the church was greatly augmented, his Majesty bestowing upon him a -large gift, and greatly increasing the small income assigned for the -prebendaries. He succeeded in augmenting the number of prebends so that -the church might be better served. A single bishop was not sufficient -to attend to the confirmations and other episcopal acts in all the -islands, still less to watch over the conversion of so many provinces -as are contained in them, practically all of them being at that time -heathen. Hence the bishop succeeded in having his bishopric divided -among four prelates--an archbishop and three suffragan bishops--and -he marked out the limits of each bishopric. He succeeded in gaining -in Roma what he desired, and was himself appointed archbishop. This -promotion did not suffice to alter the ordinary mode of life of this -servant of God, and made no more change in him than if he had never -been promoted. It is even said that he did not care to be informed -or assured with regard to it; that as his soul had other purposes and -more elevated desires, he cared little for these things. He was right -in doing so, since he was soon to see how little substance there is -in them; for he was attacked by a severe infirmity which, before the -bulls for his archbishopric were despatched from Roma, despatched him -to heaven, ending his labors and commencing his eternal rest. He had -no need to make a will, for he distributed all that he could get among -the poor. In the hour of his death, he had no more than six reals; -and though he had a poor sister, he never gave her a real, because of -his helping those who were in greater need. This came to the knowledge -of his Majesty, and it pleased him so much that he displayed his royal -generosity toward her, as indeed our Lord does command, who takes upon -His own shoulders the obligations which His disciples fail to fulfil -because of their love for Him. [These facts attracted great attention -in the court, and the small estate of the bishop of the Indias became -famous. He was buried in his convent of San Thomas at Madrid. The day -before, the archbishop of Toledo had died, Don Gaspar de Quiroga; he -was cardinal, and the richest prelate in Christendom. As he was to be -buried on that same day, the counselors of the king did not know which -funeral to attend; and his Majesty directed that they should go to -that of the poorest. His epitaph states that he died December 4, 1594.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV - -Father Fray Christobal de Salvatierra, associate of the first bishop -of the Philippinas and governor of his bishopric. - - -There was but a short space of time between the death of the first -bishop of this region of which we have just spoken, and that of his -associate and vicar-general, father Fray Christobal de Salvatierra. The -bishop, when he went to España, had selected him as governor of his -bishopric--having by many years' acquaintance come to know that he was -worthy, not only of this charge, but of much greater ones, because of -his great and well-established virtue, his marked ability, singular -prudence, watchful zeal for the honor of God, indomitable spirit, -and the other noble qualities which he had found in father Fray -Christobal. All these were necessary for the duties of vicar-general -and governor of this bishopric at such times as these, which were so -near to the first conquest of these islands. Even though the conquest -had continued for some time, the very great difficulties encountered -in their spiritual government will be evident. It will be even better -understood by any one who has any knowledge of the conquests of the -Indias; for though it did not involve so many cruelties as others, -it was still impossible to avoid many evil deeds which wars always -bring with them, however well justified they may be. This is still -more the case against poor Indians, who cannot defend themselves, -and sometimes who cannot even complain of the wrongs that have been -done to them, since these are committed by those from whom their -redress should proceed. Since there had not been in the islands, -before the coming of the first bishop and his vicar-general, any -bishop to govern them as their own prelate, the two ecclesiastics -found them abounding in vices which by inveterate custom had put -out such roots and obtained such strength that it was not possible -to destroy them without great difficulty and labor, much vigilance, -and a courageous spirit, in order to meet the thousand peril which -these duties brought with them at this time. God, who never fails the -government of His church, provided for these offices persons with such -endowments as were possessed by father Fray Christobal. He was a son -of the distinguished convent of San Esteban at Salamanca; and showed -that he was so, not only by words, which often perish on the wind, but -by works--and by noble works, which he had learned in that so prominent -school of virtue and letters. He left his convent, intending to become -one of the pioneers assembled by the bishop for this province. The -number of these, as has been stated, was thirty. When they reached -Nueva España, many died and others fell sick. The rest of them, -daunted by the voyage which they had already taken, and attracted by -the agreeable climate of Mexico, remained there. The good bishop was -unable to persuade any of them to come to these regions except father -Fray Christobal, who, like an immovable column, was always firm in his -opposition to these temptations, never abandoned the company of the -bishop, and remained constantly at his side--not only in this tempest, -in which all the others fell away, but in all the other and greater -tempests which afterwards fell upon them. He was greatly aided in this -by the conformity that there was in the natures of the two men. They -were both grave and prudent, intrepid of soul in the performance of -the right, and fearful of everything that not only might be evil, but -might even seem so. Above all, they were of one mind in their efforts -to attain virtue--devout, chaste, charitable, religious; zealous for -the honor of God, in themselves and in others; and ready for this -cause to undergo hardships or dangers of any kind. Hence, though the -dangers through which they had gone had conquered all the others and -discouraged them, father Fray Christobal was always firm and faithful -to his promise; and he accomplished it by persevering with constancy -in that which he had begun, even until death. This he did to his own -great good and to that of his neighbors, serving the Lord not only as -one good religious, but as if he had been many. He was like another Aod -[i.e., Ehud], working with both hands, and having spirit, courage, and -industry for every undertaking of importance that offered itself. He -carried on together the offices of vicar-general and of missionary -to Bataan, at a day's journey from Manila, where he was obliged to -reside. Withal, he filled the functions of these two positions, -which seemed incompatible, with such perfection and vigilance, -that he has left for each one of them eternal fame behind him. As if -this was but little in itself, whenever any military expedition was -undertaken he accompanied the soldiers, in the capacity of chaplain, -as if he had been the most unoccupied person in the province. He gave -his greatest energies to the office of vicar-general, which he filled -with the greatest justice and watchfulness, and in which he offered -a very edifying example. He was greatly loved by the good and feared -by the bad; for his only purposes were to do good to all, to adjust -their disputes, and to make friendships, or to unmake them when they -were bad. He defended and protected the Indians, as being a race in -the greatest need of defense and protection. When it was necessary, -he chastised them, but like a loving father. Hence he was much loved -by them, and was feared both by them and the Spaniards--even by the -Spaniards in official positions, because, when there was a question as -to making restitution for the honor of God, he pardoned no one. The -zeal which he displayed in rooting out vices and scandalous sins -was extraordinary. He never hesitated at any labor in this cause, -however great it might be; he never feared any danger which appeared in -the prosecution of his holy purpose, not even the danger of death. He -was at one time threatened with death itself; for a desperate man -entered his very room with the purpose of taking his life, at a time -when he was careless and not expecting any such evil intention. But the -Lord, to whom he left his defense, protected him; and the malevolent -man was unable to carry out his purpose and to conquer the constancy -of Fray Christobal. The latter knew that whatsoever hardship or -death befell him in this way would surely be for his own greater -glory; and hence, certain that no evil could happen to him that was -really an evil, he did his duty with courage in opposing all the -wicked, fearing no one, but feared by all. This was the case not -only when he was present in the city or village where people were -living scandalously, but even when he was at a distance from them; -because without any warning he would appear, like a ray of light, -in any place where he was needed. He would be at night in the city, -and in the morning ten or twelve leguas away, following the track of -those who were living in concubinage. When they seemed to themselves -to be most safe, he caught them in flagranti delicto. He used to take -out wicked women from any house, no matter how prominent it was, -and no matter to what insults he might be exposed. Nothing of this -kind daunted him, or held him back, or harmed him; nay, it did him -much good, for, armed with patience for any wrong to himself, he was -able to overcome any opposition to his holy zeal, and came out always -victorious and with the upper hand. He knew the women of evil life so -well that they were not able to escape him, or to conceal themselves -from him. The punishment which he gave them was very appropriate, -because he shut them up in a secure place and forced them to work -to earn their living; and this, on account of their licentiousness -and idleness, was the worst punishment that could be inflicted upon -them, while for the holy purposes of Fray Christoval, it was the most -efficacious remedy which could be applied. By being shut up they were -kept from the sins which were caused by their being at large; while -by their bodily labor they paid for something of what they wasted -in their idleness. Hence in the time of this father this wretched -class of people fled to the mountains, without daring to appear -in the city. The Spaniards feared and hesitated to do many things -which after his days began to be very common. All of these actions -of the father were accompanied by such prudence, purity of life -and manners, and by such love and such good works for the people, -that although at the time those who were blinded and carried away -by their passions suffered greatly, and were very angry with the -man who interfered with their vices, still afterwards, when their -minds became calmed, they could not fail to recognize the goodness -of father Fray Christobal. He even gained the hearts of these people, -and forced them to love and esteem them. Wherever he went, he received -information from the most honorable people of what needed a remedy; -and being sure that they were persons who would not deceive him, -he immediately applied the remedy, with the least possible cost to -the delinquents. He knew them all very well, and knew how to treat -them. Hence with some he used no more rigorous means than looking at -them, and letting them know that he was acquainted with their faults; -and this was enough to bring about their improvement, which was what -he purposed and desired. But when more severe measures were requisite, -he was not slow or hesitating in employing them. Accordingly he was -very useful to God in his office by attacking many sins and scandals, -and by preventing others (which is an act of higher prudence). For -the juridical acts which he performed as an ecclesiastical judge he -accepted no fees, and he moderated as much as possible the fees of -the officials of his jurisdiction. Since he understood the language -of the Indians, he had no need of an interpreter, a matter of great -importance and the means of avoiding much injury, deceit, and expense -in the suits of the Indians. Since their means are very small, it is -very easy to distort justice by bribing them, unless the activity -of the judges prevents this evil. Even when this does not happen, -the expenses of suitors are always very large. The vicar-general -was desirous of avoiding these expenses, and therefore employed no -interpreter, as in everything he took care that all might plead and -gain their rights at small expense. This is an evidence that the great -fear which he caused was not due to the fact that he was quarrelsome -or litigious, but because he was zealous for the honor of God and the -good of the souls that were in his care. So long as the bishop was -in the islands, he had some comfort and defense; but as soon as the -bishop had gone to España the father, being the sole governor of the -bishopric (which at that time included all the islands), could not fail -to suffer from the great increase of his labors, and greatly feel the -want of the bishop's support. The thing to which he gave the greatest -amount of attention and in which he found the greatest difficulty, -was the prohibition to the Chinese heathen of the comedies that they -performed, and to Spanish men and women attendance on those comedies, -on account of the manner in which they were performed, which was full -of superstition and idolatry. Up to the time when our religious had -come, there was no one who understood their language and customs, so -no one paid any attention to this point. The Chinese felt sure that -no one but themselves could understand their comedies, and performed -them as in China, full of superstitions and idolatries. This was found -out by Father Juan Cobo when he had learned their language, letters, -and customs. He gave notice thereof to the vicar-general, who ordered -the comedies to cease, as being superstitious. The Chinese were greatly -grieved, and so were the Spaniards--the latter because, although they -did not understand the comedies, they enjoyed seeing them for the sake -of the actions and representations which the Chinese make in a very -realistic way; and the Chinese, because they are devoted to this kind -of entertainment. So every one, including the governor, was opposed -to the vicar-general. He, because he did not understand the evil in -the thing, took the side of the Chinese; but the vicar-general was -certain that these comedies were an offense to the Lord, as well for -the reason stated as because they were performed by night, and many -other evil results used to follow. They were attended at night by -Spanish men and Spanish women and their female servants, and by other -Indian women--who, covered by the dark cloak of night, did many things -which ought not to be done in Christian lands. But the vicar-general -put his shoulder to the difficulty, and commanded that no one, on -pain of excommunication, should go to see the comedies. Since the -governor was of the opposite opinion, there was no one who dared to -publish the excommunications; so the vicar-general himself went and -fastened them on the church-doors, accompanied only by his friars, -since there was no one else who ventured to accompany him. At last, -although it cost him much and much evil was said against him, he -brought this evil practice to an end. Since that time Spanish men, -and many more Spanish women, do not go to see these comedies; and no -permission is given for their performance until they are first looked -over and approved by a religious who understands the language, and -who sees that they are not superstitious but are historical, or have -plots which are not idolatrous. This is what ought to be done in the -realms of a Catholic prince, although the comedies are performed by -heathens and idolaters; for as the latter are not permitted to perform -their idolatries, they ought not to be permitted to play superstitious -comedies made in honor of false gods, for such comedies are part of the -idolatry, which is forbidden to them. It would be supposed that father -Fray Christobal, being so busy and so usefully occupied, would have no -time to attend to anything else except to his position as governor and -vicar-general of this diocese. Yet this was not the case, but whenever -the opportunity was offered--as was not often, there being then so few -whom he could employ--he took advantage of it to leave his duties for -the time. Hence when the first Spaniards went to the pacification or -conquest of Nueva Segovia, he went as chaplain of the soldiers, and -was with them in all the conflicts which they had with the Japanese, -which conflicts have already been described. He was the first priest -that entered that country--as it were, to take possession of it for the -friars of his order, who afterward converted it to the law of God and -to His gospel. In the same way, when another expedition was made to -Maluco, he embarked as chaplain, purposing in both expeditions to do -the greater service to his king and lord by restraining the soldiers, -by his authority and by the respect which they had for him, from the -disorders which the inconsiderate are likely to be guilty of under -such circumstances as these. This same desire of being useful in all -things caused him to take charge of the district of Bataan, which, -although it contained many Christians, had no minister and no one to -take pity upon them or to assume the charge of them. This aroused great -compassion in him; and though these Indians were a day's journey by sea -from Manila, where he was obliged to reside, he assumed the ministry -to them and cared for them with great solicitude and love and with -no less labor. [The situation of that district made the labor of the -ministry very great. Father Fray Christobal went on foot through all -the lakes and swamps, attending to the needs of all the Indians, for -whom the four religious who succeeded him were scarcely able to do the -work. He did all this labor in spite of a painful ailment from which -he suffered. Among the things which afflicted him was the necessity of -sleeping in his clothes for the little time when he could repose. This -is no small discomfort in so hot a country. His love for the Indians -was such that, although his labors caused him this painful infirmity, -he devoted himself to them up to the time of the coming of the other -missionaries; and even after they came he used to take his holidays -by visiting these Indians as his beloved sons. He greatly assisted the -first religious to learn who were and who were not Christians, for the -absence or loss of records had brought everything into confusion. He -was very charitable, especially to the Indians. To the Spaniards he -was a father and a master, assisting them in all their necessities -in peace and in war. He showed his zeal for the honor of God and -for the rooting out of vice in the very last hours of his life, -by writing to the governor, Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, the request -that he would have a bad woman taken from a captain's house which he -indicated; and that he would send three soldiers to arrest a cleric -of whom the report was spread that he was leading an evil life. The -asthma from which he had so long suffered finally brought his life -to an end. He died in the hospital of the Sangleys, in the midst -of the brethren of his order.] He was mourned by the whole country, -and especially by the religious of all the orders who were in it. All -declared that there would never again come to this region such a friar, -such a governor of the diocese, such a father of the poor, such a -zealot for the honor of God, a man of such gifts for everything. When -he died, the need of him was exhibited by the public way in which -those vices which, so long as he lived, dared not appear or lift up -their heads, began to prevail in the country. He received a solemn -interment, attended by the ecclesiastical chapter and by all the -religious orders, to all of whom he had done many friendly acts, -and by all of whom he was therefore heartily beloved. At this very -day his fame is as much alive as if he had died but yesterday. He -appointed to be governors of the diocese, by the authority which he -had received therefor from the bishop (whose death was not yet known), -father Fray Alonso Ximenez, provincial of this province, and father -Fray Juan de San Pedro Martyr, or Maldonado. The ecclesiastical chapter -resisted; and although the nominees plainly had right on their side, -and the governor, Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, offered to put them in -possession, they were unwilling to obtain the control of the bishopric -by lawsuits. They renounced or did not accept the appointment, and left -the government to the chapter, as something which should not be sought -or even received except as the result of compulsion or sheer necessity, -not for one's own advantage, but for the common weal--which very seldom -is attained when the entry upon such offices is obtained by lawsuits. - - - - - -CHAPTER XLV - -Father Fray Juan de Castro, one of the first founders of this province - - -[When father Fray Juan de Chrisostomo went to Rome to get the documents -necessary for founding the new province, he carefully looked in every -one of the convents that he visited for men of the devotion, prudence, -and holiness which he regarded as necessary for a firm establishment -of the new province. In it the rule and the constitutions were to -be punctually observed, and the religious were not to be contented -with observing them as others do, for we all profess to observe them -as they were written. He purposed to make this province one of such -virtue that it should be not only holy in itself, but should have -power by the aid of the Lord to fix holiness and virtue in the souls of -persons so alienated from them as were these Indians, who had always -been in the service of the devil. Among those upon whom father Fray -Juan Chrisostomo turned his eyes was father Juan de Castro, of the -convent of Sancta Cathalina in Barcelona. He was from the city of -Burgos, and was the nephew of the other father, Fray Juan de Castro, -the provincial of this province. God always shows His power in His -saints; but to be superior among many saints, to shine with special -glory among shining stars, is a much more marvelous effect of the -divine grace. Such was father Fray Juan de Castro in this convent, -which of itself has the name of being a very religious one; and -father Fray Juan Chrisostomo selected him for the high end which -he designed. Christ our Lord did not need to seek for holy men. His -divine power was such that He could make apostles of great sinners, -like St. Matthew or St. Paul; but Father Juan Chrisostomo, being a -man, was obliged to choose, for the foundation of the province upon -which he had begun, persons whose holiness was already formed. In -order to obtain father Fray Juan de Castro, he caused the general -of the order to assign him by name to the new enterprise. In this -way the convent of Barcelona, much as they regretted losing Father -Juan de Castro, were obliged to let him go to the Philippinas. His -uncle, having been appointed to the leadership of this company, sent -his nephew to the most laborious, but most meritorious part of the -work--namely, to the province of Pangasinan. Father Fray Juan, to -save the other fathers from hardship, carried water from the river, -brought and split the wood, kindled and stirred the fire, and was, -in a word, the servant of the rest; he anticipated all the others -in these works and labors, so that the rest of the religious might -not be wearied out, and that the Indians might not be annoyed, or -feel ill-will toward the preachers of the gospel, by being forced, -against their declared intention, to bring what was necessary for -the services of the church and of the poor convent. He suffered the -lack of food with special content and joy. He took great care of the -neatness and cleanliness of the church and the altar. In spiritual -things he distinguished himself as he did in these material labors; -yet his uncle did not appoint him to any place as superior, but gave -him that which he most delighted in, the position of the greatest -labor and the lowest honor. When the heaviest part of the duty in -Pangasinan was over, the Lord ordained that he should seek labor -somewhere else. It was decided to send an embassy to China after the -death of the governor, Gomez Perez das Mariñas. He had been killed -by some Chinese traitors, who had afterwards made their escape with -the galley, in which was the royal standard, much good artillery, -and other things of value. The purpose of the embassy was to demand -justice upon these traitors. On account of father Fray Juan Cobo's -success in the embassy to Japan, it was decided to select religious -of the same order for the present embassy. Father Fray Luis Gandullo -was accordingly chosen, and named as his associate father Fray Juan de -Castro. As secular ambassador went Don Fernando de Castro, cousin of -the governor who sent the embassy, and nephew of the dead governor. A -storm blew them out of their course toward the province of Chincheo, -to which they had intended to go, and drove them to the province of -Canton, one of the thirteen into which the Chinese realm is divided. As -the Chinese there had had no dealings with the people of Manila, they -did not receive the ambassadors with the respect due their office, -or with the kindness which ought to be shown to men who had suffered -so from the storms of the sea. They were arrested on the charge of -piracy, but, by giving two hostages, they obtained somewhat better -treatment. They were finally permitted to go to Macan, and afterward -proceeded to Chincheo, but could not find a trace of the galley which -they were looking for. The traitors had not gone back to their own -country, but to a neighboring kingdom which was less civilized and had -less justice. Some of them, not expecting to be recognized, afterward -ventured to go to Malaca, and paid for their crime with death. At -last the ambassadors returned, without having obtained any of the -results which were desired from the embassy. The fathers, however, -had at least carried the sweet savor of the Christian religion to -those regions. On the return journey, they met with such a storm that -the vessel was lost, and the people aboard her had to save themselves -by swimming. Father Fray Juan de Castro was carried by a plank to the -coast of Pangasinan, a day's journey from the coast of Bolinao, where -the wreck occurred. The exposure brought on a severe illness. Father -Fray Juan was taken to Manila and died in the hospital of the Chinese, -passing away serenely and devoutly.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI - -The journey made by the father provincial Fray Alonso Ximenez to -Camboxa - - -[After father Fray Alonso Ximenez had completed his provincialate, -he went to Camboxa to preach the gospel there. Circumstances seemed -to make this absolutely necessary. In 1595 there came to the city -of Manila as ambassadors from the king of Camboxa two soldiers--a -Portuguese, named Diego Velloso; and a Castilian, a native of La -Mancha, named Blas Ruiz de Fernan Goncales. The kingdom of Camboxa -is on the mainland, like China and like Spain. The king asked the -governor of Manila for soldiers to assist in the defense of his kingdom -against the king of Siam, his neighbor; and also for Dominican friars, -to preach the law of God in his kingdom. The people of Camboja have -special knowledge of our order because of some religious, from the -India of Portugal, who lived there a long time. [10] One of them, named -Fray Silvestre, was so highly esteemed by the king that he had him -about his person continually. The Portuguese, however, were unwilling -to attempt the conversion of this region, because they thought, -and quite properly, that they could not carry it on to advantage -from India. The governor, in spite of the small force of soldiers -which he had, and the religious order, although likewise they had -but few laborers, decided to do what they could to fulfil the wishes -of the king. The order accordingly appointed the father provincial, -who was within a few months of the end of his term. The governor gave -him the title of ambassador, associating with him in the embassy -the commander of the forces, Captain Juan Xuarez Gallinato. Great -difficulty was found in providing an ecclesiastical companion for the -father provincial, as those who were at first suggested could not be -spared from their duties. Finally I was appointed, accepting this duty -in accordance with my vow of obedience. Three vessels were prepared -for the expedition, one of them of Spanish build, the other two of -the sort used in this country which are known as juncos. These are -large boats, and carry a great deal of freight; but they are weakly -built to meet the storms, and have very little rigging on their -masts, and accordingly are easily lost in bad weather. A hundred and -thirty soldiers were collected, most of them without permission of -the governor, who had given his license for only forty. There were -also some Japanese, who are too much given to rashness in war; and -some Indians of this country, who on occasions of honor are very -good auxiliaries. The leader of the expedition [i.e., Gallinato] -commanded the frigate; Diego Velloso, the smaller junk, in which we -religious went; and Blas Ruiz de Fernan Gonçalez, the larger, which -contained most of the forces. [11] January 18, 1596, we set sail -from the harbor of Manila, badly equipped and worse accommodated, -as usually happens on such occasions. We went to the island of Luban, -[12] fourteen leguas from the fort, to finish our preparations for the -voyage, which, though it is but a short one (only two hundred leguas in -length), is across a treacherous sea; for the best-fitted vessels often -suffer severely upon it, much more so those which are poorly equipped, -as were ours. The frigate and the smaller junk made port that night; -but the larger junk was unable to enter, and was not to be seen in -the morning. We assumed, as was true, that it had taken advantage of -the favorable wind and proceeded with its journey. We were, however, -anxious; because it was not well supplied with food or water, though -it was better supplied than the other vessels. Two days afterward, -we set sail; but on a calm sea, and with the wind fair, our mainmast -snapped as if it had been made of candy. It was all rotten; and we -were left like a cart on the water, with nothing but our foresail, -and that very small. The flagship took us in tow and we towed a -small boat with four Chinese sailors, which was the cause of no -little trouble. We sailed in this way for eight days, the sea being -calm. One night at the end of this time, the boat cable broke. The -sailors that were in the boat called out for us to wait for them; -and the flagship hove to, and began to sound while we were waiting -for the boat. Finding bottom in forty brazas, they perceived that we -were near the country of Camboja. In order to reach port early on the -following day, they left us, thinking that in spite of the smallness -of our sail we could reach there on the same day. The result, however, -was not as was expected; for by bad navigation we had gone many leguas -to leeward of the port. To make our way back there we had to sail -against the wind. A storm arose soon after, and the flagship was -obliged to run before the wind; it made port in Malaca, more than -two hundred leguas to leeward of its destination, and was unable to -return for three months. Our vessel could not make sail against the -sea, being entirely unequipped, and good for nothing but to ask for -the mercy of God. Under these circumstances fell the night between -the eighth and ninth of February. We all supposed that this was the -last of our days, and no man expected to see the next morning. The -force of the wind drove us aground more than two leguas from shore; we -had to cut away the stump of the mainmast, which was still standing, -and to throw into the sea the rudder and everything there was in -the ship. The boat, which might have saved us, was swamped; and the -sailors who were in it got aboard the ship. The waves broke over the -vessel, but could not sink it because it was already fast aground.] I -sat all that night in the waist (for it was impossible to stand), -confessing the Christians and catechizing the heathen. I baptized -twenty-two of them, feeling that the great danger in which we were, -authorized the act. When they had all received the sacraments, -I encouraged them to the work which was necessary to keep us from -perishing. Several times I went into the poop to confess myself, -and to receive the confession of the holy old man, my provincial, -who was there waiting for death--at the point of which we now were, -with the rope, as they say, about our necks. We could do nothing but -put up supplications and appeal from the justice to the mercy of God, -by whom sentence of death seemed to have been issued upon us. It was, -however, only a sentence of warning; and He accepted our prayer for -the time, giving us hope that with His aid we might atone for our -transgressions. The efficacy of God's mercy we almost felt with our -hands on this occasion; for death appeared to be actually upon us, -making execution upon the lives of those who were there. We were -somewhat encouraged by the hope of reaching the land which was so -near to us; but we did not know what it was, and what we were to -expect from it. If we had known, we would have preferred to die in -the sea; for our sufferings in this way would have been less than -those which we underwent by reaching the land. We were like those -of whom Jeremiah speaks in his Lamentations, for whom it would have -been better to have the lot of those who died with the sword at one -stroke than of those whose lives were brought to an end by hunger; -for the latter died a prolonged and painful death, being destroyed -by the barrenness of the land. The barrenness of this coast was such -that it greatly exceeded that of which Jeremiah speaks. It was such -that no one would go to it, even to escape death, unless, like us, -he was not acquainted with it. Finally those waves which were on their -way to burst upon the shore pushed on the ship, which was practically -empty, and went along as if it had been a dry stick. This was a result -of the coming in of the tide, and when the tide ebbed afterwards, -we were left aground, a cannon-shot from the sea; and we saw in the -mud (of which all this coast is composed) the track of the ship like -a trench, for the force of the sea as it rose had pushed it along, -breaking a road in the very ground. On this same day the tide came in -again with such fury, because it was a spring-tide, that it carried -the ship up to the trees and even buffeted it about there with such -violence that we were obliged to disembark for fear of perishing -in it. When we were on shore, exploring parties went off in various -directions. After they had made an arduous march, they brought back -the news that it was a wilderness inhabited only by wild beasts, -without any trace of a river or a spring, at least near the coast; -and that the country within proved to be inaccessible because it was -overflowed and very thickly overgrown. This news made us feel that -the sea was less evil for us than such a land, and that the tortures -which we had endured were slight compared with those to which we were -exposed by this desired but unhappy landing. Since eating and drinking -are a necessary and a daily obligation, and as our supply of food -and drink was very small, while we were more than a hundred persons, -we put forth all our energies to search for some remedy. As thirst -was that from which we suffered most, we dug wells in the dryest -parts we found, and when we met water, it was more salty than that -of the sea. I declare, as one who has found out by experience, that -the very dew which appeared in the morning on the leaves of the wild -trees there, was salt. Hence since the land denied us the sustenance -which we required, we determined to return to the sea, which had at -least granted us our lives, and which now gave us greater hopes than -the land of being able to preserve them. For this it was necessary to -help ourselves by means of the unlucky ship which was stranded on the -shore, for it had remained there after the spring tide was over. It -had no masts, or sails, or rudder, or anything that could be used, -because between losing them and perishing there had been no choice. To -supply these, it was necessary to put our hands to the work, until -it was finished. The most necessary thing to be done to the ship was -to cut it down and fit it so that it would draw but little water, and -might be rowed along the coast. Our relief was to be sought on land, -but he who should find it had to seek for it by sea. We were not now -planning for conquests or embassies, but for getting water--for which -we would have given all that has been yielded by the hill of Potosi, -if it had been ours. We spent ten days in getting the ship ready. We -cast overboard all the upper works and a good part of the under -works. We fitted to it twelve oars. In this way it was like a badly -made galliot; rudder, masts, and sails we replaced by rowing. While -some of us were at this work, others went to explore the country, -doing their utmost in the search for water. Some of these came back -very joyful, with good news, saying that about four leguas up the -coast from there a great river ran up into the land; that where it -flowed into the sea the water was salt, but that it must be fresh -above. They also said that they had seen the footprints of men on the -shore. The work was hurried on in the hope of satisfying our thirst, -which was increased by it, and still more by the heat of that region; -for we were in the most torrid part of the torrid zone, and had -practically no defense or covering against the heat. The vessel, -being of so light a draught, was easily launched; and embarking in -it all that we had left of provisions and clothes, which was very -little, we put forth one evening and entered the bight of the river -of which we have spoken, reaching its mouth in the morning by hard -rowing. We entered it with great delight, which was increased by the -sight of a hut on the bank not far from the ocean. Though there was -no one in it, we promised ourselves large towns when we saw it, and -even assured ourselves of certain news of our companions, of whom as -yet we knew nothing, nor they of us. But within a few days we found -out the deceit and lost our joy in it. After going for three days up -the river, we constantly found the water salt like that of the sea, -whose arm it was, and not a river. Upon its banks on either side -there was nothing but impassable undergrowth. At last we reached a -point from which we could not go further up, because the seeming river -divided into so many little creeks that the ship had not room in any -of them. The change from the false hope of water and of towns, which -had possessed our minds, served to redouble our misery; since now, as -it seemed to us, we had lost the hope of relief by land or by sea. Our -necessity had now reached such an extreme that the food was distributed -by ounces, and the drink almost by drops--though the labor of rowing, -each man in his turn (from which no one was excused), was such as to -require much food; and the heat was so excessive that even if we had -been in idleness we should have needed much to drink. But at last, -having confidence in the Father of mercies--who, though He distresses, -does not overwhelm; and, though He chastises, does not slay--we -returned to the sea by which we had come. At sight of it we left the -vessel, in order to rest a little from the labor which we had endured -to attain that for which we were hoping; and I went on land with my -four Chinese (with whom I was very intimate), and had them build a -little boat of four planks--fastened together by some twigs, so to -speak, for we had no nails; and calked with clay, for we had no tow, -or any other thing better than the clay. This made a sort of canoe. If -awkwardly handled, it filled with water. But, such as it was, I had -two of the soldiers get into it--for if they kept close to shore they -would run no risk--and told them to go up to the hut that we had seen -to discover whether there were any people there; because perhaps they -had hidden themselves, from fear of our vessel, when they saw it on -the way up the river. They did so, and at nightfall they discovered -two grown Indians and a boy. They made their way up to them, little by -little; and when they got near them they found that they were asleep -on the shore, not expecting anything to happen to them. They caught -the Indians, and bound them. When the rest of us came by soon after -in our ship, they called out from the land, telling us what they had -done. Our joy was so great that to render thanks the holy old man -and I sang a Te Deum laudamus; and at this hour, which was midnight, -half a cuartillo [i.e., pint] of water was served out to the troops -in token of joy. The soldiers came on board with their captives, -treating them gently and showing them all sorts of kindness. It -seemed to us that God had sent them to us as angels to guide us, -as He sent St. Raphael to Tobias. We began to put questions to them -by an interpreter, asking what country this was, what population it -had; and where they had come from, and where they ate and drank. They -answered that they were from Camboxa, and that the country along this -coast, and inland for many leguas, was uninhabited; and that to go -to the towns we should have to enter a large river and to sail up -for eighty leguas. They said that large vessels went up the river, -and that it was many leguas to windward of this place. They declared -that they were natives of that country, slaves of one of its chief -lords; and that, because of the ill treatment which they had received, -they had fled from him, and had come hither where no man had ever -landed. They said that they ate nothing except shell-fish, which -they caught with their hands, and wild cocoanuts, that grew there; -and that they had no other water except what fell from heaven. When -it rained they caught what they could and kept it in some large reeds -to drink afterward. They said that two years had passed since they -had come there. The effect of such sad news upon the hearts of men -who had suffered as we had may easily be imagined. They also told -us that some days' journey further there was a port; but that, if -we meant to go inland, where the king was, it would be necessary to -leave the vessel at the port, because there was no river that entered -inland. Since our desire was only not to die of thirst, any means by -which we could get water seemed easy and light to us. We accordingly -set out by sea in search of this port, taking these Indians with us, -not with the purpose of increasing consumers when we had so little -to consume, but to have guides. We went along the coast, running -up to it very often wherever we thought we saw any signs of water, -and sometimes digging wells, but always in vain, for the land could -not give what it did not have. On the day of St. Matthew the Apostle, -we discovered a high island in the sea, named Pulonubi. [13] It was -about six leguas from land. We laid our course toward it in search -of water, thinking that doubtless it would have some, being high and -mountainous, and having a sandy shore; but as the equipment of the -ship was fastened on with pins, as the saying is, our rudder broke, -when we had gone out a legua to sea. Being buffeted by the slight sea -which was running, we had to return to land, and even to run aground, -in order to mend the rudder. The Lord seemed to have declared that He -intended to bring death upon us, because the sustenance necessary for -our life was entirely consumed; for since we had no water, we were -not only without drink, but also without food, our provision being -rice, which cannot be eaten unless it is boiled in water. For lack -of water, some ate it parched, which dried their entrails. Others -ate it imperfectly boiled in the steam of salt water, putting it -in a little basket over a pot of this water on the fire, so that by -the steam thus sent out it might be softened. The water was so salt -that it made the rice like itself, and left it uneatable. There were -some who, even after this fine example of cookery, drank sea-water, -which increased the thirst they were so impatiently desiring to -remedy. Others distilled it over the fire and got some fresh water, -but very little, at the expense of much wood and with the necessity -of keeping up fire day and night, which dried them more than the -water that they got moistened them. All this taught us the great need -in which we live, with our life on a thread, and the Lord many times -threatening to cut it short. When we had mended the rudder as well as -we could at the time, we went on up the coast, being disillusioned, -so that we would not have thought of going out to sea even if the -ocean had been as smooth as milk. Three days later, the twenty-seventh -of February, which was Shrove Tuesday, we took our hands from the -oars and placed ourselves in those of God, despairing of life. The -remedy came to us as from God's own hand without our expecting it, -when we were overcome by labor, and dying of hunger and thirst, and -had given up ourselves to death. Thus it is most certain that the Lord -comes to the aid of him who calls upon Him when all things created -fail him--blessed be God's holy name. We had reached such an extremity -that of that sorry ration of water which we had now had about a month, -and which was less than half a cuartillo daily for each person, there -was only enough for two days. We were not now thinking of making -any effort to find any, but had our minds wholly turned to preparing -ourselves for death, when the Lord of life ordained that the waves -of the sea should drive us into a little inlet which the land formed -there, where we went on shore with the intention of never leaving the -place, but of ending in it our voyage and our lives. It happened that -one of the Indians in the ship went to bathe in the water, to relieve -the great heat from which he suffered, and somewhat to moderate the -thirst which was destroying us. He swam to land, and there right on the -shore (which was muddy, like all of that along which we had coasted), -his feet sank in at the foot of a wild palm-tree. Feeling that they -had gone into water, he drew them out, applied his lips to the hole -which he had made, and found that the water was fresh. The thirst -from which he suffered not permitting him to wait until it settled, -he drank mud and water until he was satisfied. He shouted to us to -tell us what he had discovered, but no one believed him. At last, -the Indian persisting in his affirmation, all hurried to the water -to look upon this marvel, which might be compared to that which God -performed in drawing water from a rock that His people might drink in -the desert; for no less miraculous appeared to us this fresh water -in a marsh so near the ocean. We gave God a thousand thanks, and -rejoicing in the feast, we forgot the labor and the fasting which -we had undergone in the long vigil. We easily dug a well, for the -whole soil was muddy, and on the next morning we filled all our casks -with the water, which had now settled. We set sail to look for food, -and even aspired to greater things. [In a few days we reached the -port, where there was a garrison of Indians against their neighbors, -the Siamese. All the news which we obtained about our comrades, and -about the country to which we had come, was bad. The flagship had -not been heard of, and the other ship was at Churdumuco, which is a -large town eight leguas from the port and eighty from the sea. [14] -We were told that the king who had sent for us from Manila, and -whose name was Langara, was not in the country; but that his place -in the kingdom had been taken by his chief vassal, because of the -following circumstances. The king of Sian had made war against the -king of Camboja, with eight hundred thousand men. This number should -not astonish anyone, because the kings could make war almost at no -expense, their vassals providing their own arms and food. The king -of Camboja did not dare to wait for so great a multitude of enemies, -and retreated up the river to another kingdom known as that of the -Laos. The king of Siam made himself master of the country, and after -burning it all returned to his own country, being harassed by hunger, -which made more war upon him than did the king his enemy. The army -being in disorder, one of the chiefs of Camboja, with those who had -retreated to the mountains (about thirty thousand men), attacked -his rearguard, thus obliging him to hasten his retreat. This chief, -having conquered him who had conquered his king, took possession of -the kingdom. The new king regarded those who had come at the request -of the previous king as allies of his enemy, and therefore as his own -enemies. This news alarmed us greatly, as we were without our comrades, -our commander-in-chief, and our ships. However, being obliged to -disembark, and to put ourselves into the hands of the rulers of the -country, we made an honest man of the thief, as the proverb goes, -and decided to send a soldier to him as an ambassador--offering to -him our aid and service, on the ground that we had come to help the -king of this country, and found no other king in it but him. The king -received him kindly, saying that he only held the kingdom as a regent, -and that he was ready to restore it to the lawful king when he should -return. He sent an order to the mandarin of the coast where we were, -to provide us with boats and carts. The soldier on his return met the -Spaniards of the other ship, and learned from them that all that the -king had said was false and that his purpose was to kill us at his -ease. They advised us to join them in their ship, dissimulating in -regard to our affairs, and keeping on our guard. The father provincial -sent me ahead to confess those in the ship, because it was Lent, -and they had sent to him to ask for a confessor. I was on foot and -suffered much, although some things that I saw on the journey afforded -me some alleviation of these hardships. I one day reached a village -where there was a monastery of religious of their sort, of whom there -are many in this kingdom. I went to it and talked to a venerable old -man, who was as it were the superior of it. He was seated on a little -platform about a palm's breadth in height, with a small mat on it, -and the others sat on the ground. Without saying anything, I sat down -next to the old man--at which they smiled, thinking that I had done -so because I did not understand the custom of the country, which did -not permit that. We both showed each other much courtesy by signs, -and I by using some words of their language which I knew, although, -because I did not put them together properly, they laughed much. They -gave me a collation of some fruits; and the sacristan immediately took -me to his temple, which was at some distance from the house. It had a -sort of cemetery about it, surrounded by some slightly raised stones -which divided it from the rest. The door to the temple was small, and -the temple itself was arched, round, and small. (Here follows a full -account of the appearance of the temple. Some description of their -prayers and of their religious customs is also given. Aduarte states, -upon the authority of the Portuguese religious, that these native monks -are vicious and licentious in the extreme.) I finally reached the ship -of our people, and on both sides we told each other what had happened.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII - -The wars which followed in the prosecution of this embassy - - -[By the sufferings and danger which we had passed through, the Lord -had prepared us to endure those which were to follow. To protect the -ship, some of the men had encamped on a little sand island in the -middle of the river. On one bank was the town (i.e., Chordamuco) -of the natives, near which there were about two thousand Chinese, -some settled here, others who had recently come from China as traders, -with their merchandise, in five large vessels, which they kept in the -river near the town. They had controlled the natives, and resented -the coming of the Spaniards, thinking that the latter had come to -disturb or take away the superiority which they had. So they sought -for an opportunity to quarrel with them, seeing that the Spaniards -were few and that they were many. Whenever the men on the ship went to -buy food on land, the Chinese tried their patience by annoying them -without any reason. By orders of the captain, Blas Ruyz de Fernan -Goncalez, they endured this annoyance, though sorely against their -will. The captain sent a message to the king asking him to bring the -Chinese to order. The king spoke fair words, but did nothing. Finally, -the anger of our men got beyond their control. On the Sunday after -Easter, when all had received communion, three or four were in the -town with the captain's permission. One of them came back with his -sword drawn, saying that the Chinese had chased and abused them, and -that they had not dared to violate the captain's orders. The troops -armed themselves, and, breaking away from all restraints, went to take -vengeance on the Chinese. I went along to calm the Chinese, if I could, -by speaking to them in their language, which I understood. They were -all armed with their catanas (a sort of hanger), and languinatas, or -long knives drawn to a point. I dared not put myself in their hands, -because I was told that they would be better pleased to get me than -anyone else. Soon after, sixty of our men in two companies, with some -of our Japanese and Indians, came ashore and instantly attacked the -Chinese. As our bullets took effect at such a distance that the latter -could not attack our troops hand to hand, the Chinese were routed; -and our men followed, killing them, until they had driven them out of -the town. The natives of the country took no part in the conflict on -either side. I saved as many lives as I could. The soldiers, seeing -themselves masters of the field, pursued the Chinese to their ships, -into which the Spaniards were able to shoot from the high banks. In -this way they soon got control of the ships, which was necessary, -because with these large ships they would easily have overcome our -smaller vessel, and thus all hope to escape from the anger of the -king would have been taken away from us. The king [15] was in great -wrath. To send a message to him, and to carry a statement of the -case, the father provincial, Fray Alonso Ximenez, was chosen. He -went accompanied by half of the forces, the rest of us remaining in -the ships. Several days were passed in sending messages backwards and -forwards, but the king would not receive the ambassadors in person. It -was plain that the king was planning to take all our lives. The demands -which he made would have put us entirely in his power; and, when the -father provincial asked permission to return and discuss them with the -rest of the forces, the king refused permission for anyone to return -except the father provincial alone. The intention of the king was to -wait for a rainy day, so that our powder should be moistened and we -be unable to use our arquebuses. When the father provincial came back, -he asked me if I would venture to go to the camp, confess the soldiers -and encourage them, and carry to the king our response declining to -follow his wishes. When I reached the forces near the palace of the -king, we did not consider the question of taking any answer to him, -but discussed two plans of escape. One was to withdraw in good order, -defending ourselves on the way; the other to attack the palace of -the king by night and strive to capture him, his son, or his wife, -whom we might use as hostages. Captain Diego Velloso declared that -if we should attack these Indians boldly they would retreat to the -mountains, and leave the field to us; but that if we should retreat -they would all attack us. He had had experience in this part of the -world, and what he said was confirmed by others, so that his plan was -accepted. That night I confessed the men and told them what under the -circumstances it was lawful for them to do, enjoining them to commit no -unnecessary violence, and to take no lives except in self-defense. The -attack was planned carefully, the troops being divided into a front -and a rear guard, and some of the soldiers being left with a barge -in the river near where we were encamped, with orders to capture -two Indian boats as soon as they should hear the noise of conflict, -so that we could make use of them in our retreat. I should have been -glad to remain with the barge in order to avoid being present at -the conflict, which promised to be sanguinary.] However, it seemed -necessary for me to accompany the rest, and, armed as they were, -and wearing no part of my habit except my scapular, I accompanied the -troops who advanced against the palace. We were immediately detected, -but succeeded in reaching the royal dwelling--which was built of wood, -like the other houses in the town, but was very large. We broke in -the doors, but the people all escaped through other doors; and thus, -though we gained control of the palace, it was empty and we had failed -in our purpose. I restrained the troops from burning the palace; -but we lighted some bonfires, so that we might see each other. One -of these saved my life, for as an Indian on an elephant was charging -upon me and was already very close to me, so that I looked around -at hearing the noise, the beast fled in alarm, being scared away -by the fire. The Indians were not frightened by our daring, as we -had falsely imagined that they would be, but gathered in a large -square near the palace to face us. Everything, however, was noise -and confusion among them, surprised as they were, and there was no -less among us; for the number of our opponents was so much greater -than theirs that, if darkness had not protected us, they could have -buried us in handfuls of sand. [Like Joshua, I would have held back -the dawn if I could. At daylight we were all in disorder. When the -Indians could distinguish us from themselves and saw how few we were, -they began to rain arrows upon us, several being wounded, Captain -Diego Velloso having one leg pinned to another, so that he could not -walk. Our troops were in entire confusion, some calling out that we -ought to come to an understanding with the Indians, others finding -fault with the plan that we had followed, until God was pleased to -give me courage that I might give courage to the others, and I took -upon myself the office of captain. Our last day, as we expected it -to be, was bright and clear. A body of courageous Indians charged -down the street at us, and their captain almost reached our line. I -confess that I wished to leap out upon him, not that I might kill him, -but that I might be the first to die, and not see the carnage which -I feared--or the worse than carnage, if we were taken alive. But -wisdom ruled me, and I ordered Captain Blas Ruiz to attack him with -his halberd; with one blow he thrust the Indian through, shield and -body. The death of their captain somewhat abated the courage of the -rest. God was pleased that one of our bullets should strike the king, -who was in the rear, unseen by us, animating his troops. We did not -learn of this for some days afterward, but we could see that the -Indians attacked us with less ardor. The Indians cut off our retreat -to the barge, and we were obliged to leave the soldiers who were with -it and to make our way, back by the road. As we marched along, we were -obliged to defend ourselves on all sides, and especially against the -crowd of Indians which followed in our rear. We could go but slowly, -burdened as we were with our arms, and being obliged to carry our -wounded.] Two arrows struck but did not wound me, one being caught by -a coat of mail which I wore, and the other by my shield. We suffered -greatly from hunger and thirst. When we came to some puddles with -rain-water in them (which was more mud than water), all drank of them, -and when I came there, though I was one of the last, I did the same; -and though the best had already been drunk, and the rest was mixed -with mud, it tasted better to me than any water that I ever drank in -my life. Under all these circumstances, we marched on this day, which -was the twelfth of May, four leguas by four o'clock in the afternoon, -[when we were obliged to halt because we had reached the bank of a -river. The Indians and we ourselves supposed that we should never -be able to cross. Here some of our men urged that we ought to give -ourselves up to the Indians as slaves for life; others declared that -we ought to attack them, and force them to kill us. At nightfall, rain -began; and the Indians, supposing that our powder would be moistened, -prepared to attack us. I passed along the line, confessing some and -encouraging all, though I must admit I was in great fear myself lest -before midnight we should be cut into bits, that each one of our -enemy might have his piece, as is the custom of Indians when they -are victorious. The storm ceased before they dared to attack, but -the river was still before us. There were two fords, one narrow and -deep; the other, wide and shallow, and at about ten o'clock at night I -decided that we ought to make the venture, and learn whether we were -to live or die. We chose the longer and shallower ford, marching as -quietly as we could, and leaving behind us a number of burning bits -of the matches that we used for firing our guns, tied on the bushes, -in order to make the Indians suppose that there was a large number -of troops there. Our retreat was covered by six courageous men with -two arquebuses each. When we entered the river, our vanguard, which -was already in the middle, began to retreat upon us, fearing the -people who were on the other bank, and their elephants, which they -said they were driving into the water. I succeeded in reanimating -them, and they fired a volley from the middle of the stream, where -the water reached the beards of many of them. The enemy fled, and -our passage was impeded only by the difficulty of dragging ourselves -through the mud. We marched on for the rest of the night very slowly, -with our clothes sticking to our bodies. On the morrow we found -some fruit-trees and broke our fast of two nights and one day. We -had great difficulty in carrying our wounded. One of the men being -left behind by all, I had to carry him myself with his arms over my -shoulders, for he was taller than I, until, after his wound began to -grow feverish, he was able to walk a little himself. Not long before -sunrise we reached the great river in which the ships were, but at a -distance of two leguas from us. We put three of the wounded who were -the hardest to carry into a little boat there, and ordered them to -row down the river and carry the news of what had happened, and to -direct the others to bring the ship near the bank where we were. In -the meantime we cut some trees and made a breastwork; and when the -Indians (who are not accustomed to attack by night) prepared to make -their last rush and overwhelm us, our ship came up and, approaching -the bank as closely as possible, played on the Indians with some -artillery, and fired at them with arquebuses. Under this protection -we succeeded in getting to the ship, being carried in two boat-loads.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII - -Our departure from the kingdom and the events which happened during -our return to Manila - - -[On the same day on which we reached the ships, Captain Juan Xuarez -Gallinato arrived. He was told of our experience with the Chinese -and with the Cambodians, and of the good-will displayed in this -kingdom for its conversion, and also for the temporal ends proposed -in the service of his Majesty. Captain Gallinato showed that he -disbelieved much of what was told him, and that what he did believe -impressed him badly. In spite of all that was done to persuade him -to wait a few days, he was resolved to depart immediately; so we -sailed to Cochinchina for provisions. Here we were at first very -well received. Then Gallinato sent Captain Gregorio de Vargas as -ambassador to visit the king, and to ask him for the royal standard, -the galley, and the artillery, and the other things which had been -carried to that kingdom by the traitors who murdered Governor Gomez -Perez das Mariñas. The king took this demand so ill that he tried -to kill the ambassador, who barely escaped with his life. The king, -partly because of his rage, and partly from fear that the news of his -treatment of the ambassador would be carried back by the Spaniards, -sent two fleets and a large land force to destroy us. We here got -news of the death of the tyrant who had ruled over the kingdom of -Camboja and of the plan of a number of loyal chiefs to reinstate the -lawful king with the assistance of the Spaniards, to whom they meant -to offer great rewards. The Spanish ships were just putting out to -sea when the Indians reached the shore with the purpose of giving -them this invitation. It was known that the kingdom of the Laos -(to which the king of Camboja had withdrawn) was very near that of -Cochinchina; and Captains Blas Ruyz and Diego Velloso asked permission -to go by land and find the king. Gallinato permitted them to do so, -and I accompanied them to the city of Sinoa, where a son of the king -acted as viceroy. Some Augustinian friars who were in that country -begged father Fray Alonso Ximenez to go with them and celebrate the -feast of St. Augustine. During his absence, the rumor that the Indians -intended to murder us treacherously kept increasing; so that we all -went aboard, in order to be able to defend ourselves better. The time -for sailing to Manila had come, of which we had to take advantage -without waiting for either father Fray Alonso or the captain, because -we should otherwise have been obliged to winter there. On the third -of September, a multitude of people suddenly appeared on the hills, -and a fleet came sailing up into the cove where we were. There were -many galleys and small boats, and among them there were fifteen larger -two-masted vessels, fastened together three by three, with no one on -them but a steersman. These were loaded with wood and fagots, to set -fire to us; while, if we took refuge in the water, the people in the -small boats were ready to receive us. The men on the hills began to -shoot at us with their arquebuses, which they used skilfully, aiming -well, though they were slow in taking aim. The bullets, however, -fell short. Our two smaller vessels set sail, and by the aid of a -light breeze moved out into the middle of the bay. The ship in which -I was was larger; and, though we tried to do as the other boats did, -the wind was too light for us, and the fire-boats came upon us and -gave us a great deal of trouble. They came so near that from the top -of our poop we could see the steersmen, some of whom our men shot, -while others took refuge in some little boats which they towed. When -the fire-boats were left without anyone to steer them, they followed -the current of the water, and left us in peace. At this point father -Fray Alonso Ximenez reached the shore. They took off his habit and -dragged him, with nothing on but his breeches, before the viceroy, -who had come as general of this enterprise. He told him to put on his -habit again, and talked of his ransom; but our captain was so angry -at their treachery that he sent back a very wrathful answer. Thus -father Fray Alonso Ximenez was left a prisoner, but was not ill -treated. He received permission to live with the Augustinian fathers, -and at last was permitted to go to Macan without being obliged to pay -a ransom. From there he came back to this country at the end of a year -and a half. On the next day we set sail for Manila. There are shoals in -the midst of this gulf running for eighty leguas directly across the -straight course for Manila; and to pass these shoals it was necessary -to round one of the two ends of the chain--one in latitude nine, the -other in latitude seventeen. The latter being nearer the direct line, -we governed our course by it; and the flagship, sailing well against -the wind, rounded it. The vessel in which I was, being a poor sailer, -went by the other end, but got out of its course. We were becalmed -one night, so near the coast of the Philippinas that the people were -already beginning to prepare their clothes for going on shore. In the -morning we found ourselves in the midst of reefs which were not on -the charts. To make our way out from them, we were obliged to sail -back on our course; and after we had made our way out the wind was -against us, and we were obliged to sail toward the country which we -had left. We decided to land at Malaca, that we might at least escape -with our persons, for we cared little for anything else.] We reached -an island named Pulotimon, [16] which is forty leguas from Malaca. The -Indians here told us that there were some pirates in that sea; that -they were anchored about five leguas off, and that we should have -to pass them. This news greatly disquieted us, because our vessel -did not sail well or answer the helm well, which is the worst thing -that can be in a sea-fight. But it was not possible to escape this -danger, because there was greater danger in every other direction -where we wished to go. So we continued our voyage and met with the -pirates, as they had told us. They had five ships, four of them small, -and one of them large, strong, and well equipped, and provided with -nettings. On these boats there were many little flags, which, we were -told, were tokens of the prizes that they had taken. They were of a -tribe called China-patan, descendants of Chinese who have colonized -the kingdom of Patan. They had learned this business [of piracy], -because it is easier than others; and they had now sailed out to -practice it. That we might not show fear, but might excite fear in -them, we passed close to their ships, with our flag flying and our -drum beating. They failed to see that our invitation was feigned, -accepted it, and, weighing their anchors, followed us all night, giving -us chase till morning. The small vessels surrounded us, and with the -large one attacked us. Their arms at close quarters were pikes and -javelins with points hardened in the fire [tostadas]. The arms which -they used at a distance were culverins and arquebuses. In using our -arquebuses we did not waste a bullet, for there were many on whom to -employ them. [We were alarmed by the explosion of a keg of powder, but -fortunately only one man was killed. I was standing alone on the poop, -watching for the result of the fight; and at first the enemy did not -notice me, since the waist was full of their pikemen. At last, one of -them perceived me and flung a pike at me, giving me a wound of three -dedos in depth. I descended from the poop; but, before I reached the -deck, one of the fire-hardened lances struck me in the right jaw, -leaving its point and innumerable splinters in the flesh. With my -two hands upon my two wounds I went to confess some wounded men -who were in danger. At last when the enemies saw that their prize -cost them much, they left us and went away without our being able to -follow them, because our vessel was so unfit. We afterward learned in -Malaca that out of two hundred pirates (which was their total number) -more than half had been killed. Most of us were wounded, and two or -three died--besides two others, who were shot by accident by their -own friends. After we had escaped this danger we came, two days later, -upon a surprise which was equally great. In the strait of Sincapura, -by which we were obliged to pass, we found a fleet of eighty large -galleys, with heavy artillery amidships and along the sides. This -was the fleet of the king of Achen, who was going to do what injury -he could to the king of Jor [i.e., Johor] to whom belongs the country -of that strait. The latter had sixteen galleys for its defense, which -were in the mouths of the rivers to prevent his enemy from entering -them. Malaca is between these two kingdoms. There was at that time an -agreement that neither of these kings should be assisted with men, -but only with provisions and ammunition, one side receiving the -one and the other the other, but neither receiving both. We passed -ourselves off to them as Portuguese; and when they called upon us to -enter their galleys we excused ourselves, because of the aforesaid -agreement, and went on in peace to Malaca. I went to our convent, -where the religious were surprised at my coming, partly because it -was the middle of November, when they did not expect a vessel from -any direction, and partly because they saw me in so coarse a habit, -very different from that which they wore. Besides that, I was very -dirty and very lean, and had my body and face all bound up because -of my wounds. Although my appearance was so strange, they were so -discreet (or I had better say so charitable) that, without asking any -questions they arranged to take care of me, called in the surgeon, -and brought me underwear and a habit after their fashion. After I -was cared for and clothed, they asked me whence I came and how I had -been brought there. I was charmed with the kindness which they had -shown me, and told of my wanderings and of the sufferings which I had -endured, by which they were greatly astonished. I remained there for -six months. My cure took three months, and from the wound in my face -every day two or three splinters were discharged, some larger and -others smaller, until at least a hundred had come out. Though the -wound closed, two remained within, which came out two years later, -two dedos below the wound. I was much inconvenienced during those -three months, because I could only open my mouth a little way; and -hence it was very painful for me to eat until, by exercise, my jaw -came back to its former usefulness. Of the soldiers who came with me, -some went to India and twelve to Camboxa, supposing that the rightful -king was now probably there. They found on the throne his son, -who with a great army given him by the king of the Laos, and with -the captains of whom I have spoken, had returned to his kingdom of -Camboxa and pacified it. Here they remained for a considerable time, -though they were disappointed in everything. I and the others returned -to Manila. The voyage is one of five hundred leguas, and it took us -fifty days because of the many calms.] One calm night, when there -was no one at the helm, the binnacle, or three-wicked candle which -lights up the compass, fell down from the quarterdeck; and the flame -instantly burst out through a hatchway which was over it, frightening -all of us--for there is nothing more dreadful at sea than fire, for -everything in a ship is like tinder. In this ship, although it was -small, there were more than three hundred slaves, men and women. All of -them raised their cries to heaven. The captain, whose duty it was to -encourage them, immediately fell on his knees to make his confession, -as if things had already gone beyond remedy, but I pushed him away a -pace and a half, saying that it was not time for that yet, and that -he ought to look out for the fire first. I am almost certain that if -he had been permitted to confess to me we should all have burned to -death, because, however little our safety might have been delayed -by confessions, there would have been no remedy afterwards. We put -all the clothes there were there into the water, to soak them, and -then threw them down the hatchway, one on top of another. In this way -God was pleased that the fire should be put out; and we were left as -much amazed by this sudden and dangerous accident as people are who -are waked out of their sleep by a beam of light falling on them. We -at last reached Manila by St. John's day at the end of a year and a -half of this tedious and painful journeying. Soon after, father Fray -Alonso Ximenez arrived by way of Macan from Cochinchina, where he had -remained a prisoner. After all our hardships, afflictions, dangers, -and wounds, we brought back no other fruit but that of having suffered -for the gospel. Our only intention was to go to preach in that kingdom, -having been invited by its king, and influenced by his promises to that -end. These were great, though he was unable to fulfil them, since he -had been despoiled of his kingdom when we reached it, as has been said. - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX - -The election as provincial of father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Catharina -or Navarro, and the churches which were incorporated in the province - - -On the fifteenth of June, 1596, the fathers assembled in the convent -of Manila to elect a provincial, because father Fray Alonso Ximenez -had finished his term. The definitors (who, as they afterward were -to confirm the provincial, were elected first) were: father Fray -Diego de Soria, second time prior of the said convent; father Fray -Bartholome de Nieva, a religious of very superior virtue, as will be -narrated in due time; father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas, or Ormaca; -and father Fray Juan Garcia--all persons of conspicuous devotion to -their religious duties, and of noble example. Several times they -cast votes for the provincial without result. Because there were -many who deserved the office, and because the votes were divided -among them, no one had the number necessary for election. Those who -had the largest number of votes were father Fray Diego de Soria and -father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas. These same persons endeavored to -persuade everyone to vote for father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Catharina, -who was accordingly elected. The election was a very satisfactory -one, for, in addition to being a very holy man, he was very wise -and learned, and most devoted to the ministry and preaching of the -holy gospel--in which, and in patience, and in the endurance of the -most severe hardships which befell him for this cause, no one ever -surpassed him, and he surpassed many. During his time he had seen -the province greatly favored by the Lord, by a very great spread of -the Christian faith among the Indians who were under his care. Many -of them in the villages where there were religious were baptized; -and, where there were no religious, they were desirous and eager -to receive baptism. Accordingly, at this chapter not only were new -churches admitted which had been built in the towns where there were -already religious--as, among the Chinese, the church of San Gabriel -at Minondoc; and, in Bataan, the church in the village of Samal, -besides others--but it also seemed good to admit heathen villages, -although they had no religious, and there were none in the province so -that teachers could be provided for them. Yet in this way they strove -to comfort those who asked and desired them, and raised in them the -hope that in this way they would receive religious when they came from -España. Thus were received the church of San Vicente of the village -of Buguey, afterward called Sancta Anna; Sancta Catarina of Nasiping, -afterward called San Miguel; and others like them--to which, in the -course of time, religious were sent when they came to the islands. - -Soon after this provincial chapter had come to an end, another -shipload of religious arrived from España. They had been gathered -with great care and diligence by the new bishop of Nueva Segovia, -Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, whose new dignity had not sufficed to -diminish the love which he felt for his associates. He gave to this -matter more than ordinary attention, because he knew how greatly -needed were good workmen to aid in the great harvest which the Lord -had placed in their hands, ready to be gathered by the means of -baptism into this church militant, that the faithful might pass from -it to the church triumphant. The Indians themselves asked to have -preachers sent to their villages, and were grieved that these could -not be given to them. This not a little afflicted the religious, who -desired to satisfy them by the fulfilment of their just desires, but -were unable to do so on account of their own small number--too small -even for that which they had undertaken, and much more to go to the -aid of new regions. Besides this, the careful bishop was influenced -by the need of his own sheep; for nearly everything to which we -ministered fell within the bishopric of Nueva Segovia, which was -under his direction. Accordingly, taking advantage of his authority -as a bishop, and of the reputation which he had as a learned and holy -religious, he gathered the second shipload, and afterward the third -(with which he came). Father Fray Pedro de Ledesma [17] happened -to be in Castilla when the shipload which the good bishop sent was -about to sail. His presence was very convenient for his superior, -because he was an old and venerable father who had been many years -in the Indias in the very religious province of Guatimala, and who -therefore knew what was needed for the voyage. He was also of a very -gentle disposition, which is of great importance for such purposes -as his. The bishop laid upon this father the charge of conducting -the religious who had been gathered for this province; and he, being -inclined to all good, readily accepted the office, although he knew -that it was a very troublesome one. It not only required him to go -on business to the office of accounts--and, to him who knows what -that is, it is not necessary to say anything more--but he had also -to keep in contentment many religious who, as it was the first time -when they were at sea, were seasick, miserable, and very much in need -of someone to comfort them, bear with them, and encourage them. For -all this father Fray Pedro was very well suited, and conducted them -as comfortably as possible through the two long voyages which have -to be made on the way from España here. He did not shrink from the -great labor which this duty brought with it, that he might serve the -Lord, and aid in the preaching of His gospel and in the conversion of -these heathen. They arrived in the month of July in this year of 1596, -and were received with great joy; and with them those missions which -were in need of religious were strengthened. - -Captains Blas Ruiz de Fernan Goncalez and Diego Velloso, who (as -has been stated in the preceding chapter) went from Cochinchina to -the kingdom of the Laos to look for the king of Camboja, met with -success. They found his son (for the king was already dead), and -told him all that the Spaniards had already done to help him, and how -they had slain the tyrant who had undertaken to establish himself in -the kingdom and had usurped it. They told him that they had come to -seek him that they might put him in quiet possession of his kingdom, -and other things of this kind, and roused his courage so that he put -himself in their hands. Depending upon them, he returned to Camboja -with a tolerably large army, which the king of the Laos gave him; and -the Spaniards fulfilled their word and established him in his royal -throne and palace, causing the largest and best part of the kingdom -to be obedient to him. The king in reward of services so faithful -and useful gave them lands and vassals in his kingdom. To Blas Ruiz -he gave the province of Tran; to Diego Velloso that of Bapano, with -titles very honorable in this kingdom. The two captains in their -new favor did not forget God, to whom they had so especial reasons -to be thankful; or their natural king and lord, from whom also they -had received rewards. They informed the king of Camboja of the great -good that it would be to his kingdom to know and reverence God by -entering into His service through holy baptism, and to have the king -of España for his friend. For the first purpose, father Fray Alonso -Ximenez and myself were proposed. They urged the great devotion, -virtue, and prudence of the holy old man, and the many sufferings -which we had both undergone from favoring the king's own cause; and -they said that, if he sent to call us back, we would very readily -come to preach the holy gospel. As for the second purpose they said -that he ought to send an embassy to the governor of Manila; and, as -a sign of the beginning of this friendship, that he ought to ask for -some soldiers, by whose aid he might easily complete the pacification -of his country. The king assented to all this, and sent his embassy -with letters to the governor, telling him that his principal reason -for asking for soldiers was that his vassals might be baptized with -greater certainty and less difficulty. To father Fray Alonso Ximenez -he wrote another letter, in the language and characters which those -people use, and sealed with his royal seal, of a red color. In the -Castilian language its tenor was as follows: ["Prauncar, king of -Camboja, to father Fray Alonso Ximenez of the Order of St. Dominic: -Greeting. From what I have heard from the captain Chofa Don Blas -Ruiz of Castilla, and from the captain Chofa Don Diego of Portugal, -with regard to the conduct of father Fray Alonso Ximenez when the -Spaniards slew Anacaparan, I have conceived a great affection for -father Fray Alonso Ximenez. Now that I am in my kingdom I beg father -Fray Alonso Ximenez to come to it, and to bring with him father Fray -Diego. I promise to build them churches and convents, and to give -permission to all in my kingdom to become Christians. Though I have -shown the two chofas [18] great favor and wish to keep them in my -kingdom, they are unwilling to stay, because there are no religious -here." The two captains wrote in the same strain to the fathers, -begging them to come and reunite this kingdom with the Church. - -The governor of Manila saw how much could be done for the service of -the king by sending the soldiers for whom the king of Camboja asked; -but they were in such need of men and money that they could not well -meet his desires. For this reason, a knight of the Habit of Calatraba -who had been governor of these islands, by name Don Luis Perez das -Mariñas, promised to pay the expenses of the expedition from his own -fortune. The enterprise thus being made possible, we two religious -of the order for whom the king of Camboja asked were obliged to go; -and with us some religious of the Order of St. Francis, who were -much beloved by Don Luis. There were equipped for the expedition two -vessels of Spanish build, of moderate tonnage, and a galleot. The -preparations were made (as preparations usually are made by the -hand of servants of the king) slowly and faultily, as was seen by -the results. We did not set out for some months, and our ships were -so badly equipped and so weak that they began to leak as soon as the -voyage began--a forewarning of the evils that we afterwards suffered, -in which the poor knight Don Luis was disappointed, while all of us -who accompanied him paid for the inadequacy of the preparation. [19] -Since we were so late, the pilots decided to follow the course by -the gulf of Haynau to go round the shoals by the end in latitude -seventeen, because in that way the wind would be favorable; while if -they rounded the end in latitude nine, which was the regular course, -the wind would be adverse. They left Manila September 17 [1598], with -one hundred and fifty soldiers and sailors. In the flagship Don Luis, -who went as commander, took with him father Fray Alonso Ximenez and -the two Franciscan fathers. He directed me to go in the ship of the -second in command, [20] giving that officer orders to govern himself -by my advice. Within six days the vessels were scattered in the storm -and were all lost, no one knowing anything of the rest, and each one -supposing that the others were continuing their voyage in safety. The -galleot met with the best fortune, for, although damaged, it reached a -friendly port, was repaired, and continued its journey. The flagship -was obliged to cut away the mainmast, and sailing under its foresail, -ran aground in China on the eve of St. Francis. All who were on board -had to save themselves by swimming, and lost even their clothes. In -the ship of the second in command, in which I was, the mainmast broke -close to the deck, fortunately falling over the side so as not to -injure the vessel or to kill any of the men. The mizzenmast, being -badly wedged, began to topple, and had to be cut away. We sailed -on under the foresail, hoping to reach a port. But the fury of the -tempest and the force of the waves were such as to break the gudgeons -of the rudder. Some of our men flung themselves into the sea after -it and brought it back, but it was lost again; and we steered the -vessel with two long spars fastened to the side of the boat with a -cable. The ship was so strained that the boards on the sides began to -play up and down like organ-keys; but we threw cables about her, and -drew them taut with arquebuses. Then the bow began to work loose, from -the weight of the foremast and bowsprit, and we were forced to bind it -firmly with cables to the poop. All that we could do against the storm -and the wind was like the strength of a child exerted to restrain the -fury of a mad bull. In fear of another storm, we took refuge upon an -island which we encountered, one of the group called the Babuyanes. We -found a harbor, ran the bow ashore, and dropped two anchors from the -poop. We put the ammunition and the provisions that we had on shore; -and had hardly begun to dry our clothes, on the eve of St. Francis, -when the storm broke upon us with such violence that it seemed to me to -try to swallow us. The ship was broken in pieces; but the keel, and the -artillery which was carried as ballast, being too heavy for the deck, -were buried in the sand. We protected ourselves from the storm--which -lasted two days, and was one of both wind and rain--in some huts, which -we built on the beach of branches.] After the storm was over we dug up -the artillery, which consisted of four medium-sized cannon, mounted, -and set them up in a little fort which we made of logs, because there -were many Indians on the islands, and we did not know whether they -were friends or enemies. In a short time many of them appeared in a -troop on the shore, with their weapons. These consisted of two lances, -one for hurling, and the other large like a pike, with iron points; -both were made of ebony, of which there is much here. For defensive -armor they had sheets of the bark of trees, resembling cork. We sent -to them a man as a hostage and mark of peace, and they made signs to -him from a distance to put down his arms. He laid them at one side -and went to the Indians; and then they sent to us one of their own -number, whom we treated kindly, and after giving him some trinkets, -sent him back to his comrades; agreeing with him that they should -bring us provisions at a just price. They did this for two days, -although very scantily; and on the third day they broke the peace -by killing one of our Japanese, and badly wounding another who had -come in our company. He came back with his arm pierced, and with a -wound a span long above the pit of his stomach, but not entering it; -but he was very well satisfied because, by throwing himself forward -by the pike, he had killed the Indian who had wounded him--so proud -is that race. Now that our supplies were cut off, we were obliged, -since food is necessary, to take it by force, where we could find it, -since they would not sell it willingly; so for several mornings a -troop of our Indians went out under escort of our soldiers, gathered -what they could from the fields, and brought it back as food for -all. At one time when they were engaged in this, they thought that -they had discovered a great treasure; for they found some jars of -moderate size covered by others of similar size. Inside they found -some dead bodies dried, and nothing else. In that shipwreck we had -had the good luck to bring the boat ashore, and thus to save it. This -we intended to make use of by sending it to ask for aid from Nueva -Segovia, which was only twenty leguas distant. In order to do this, -it was necessary to lengthen the keel a braza, and to raise the sides -about half a vara. Both these things were done, though there was no -one among us who understood more carpentry than that best teacher, -Necessity, had taught them. We all thought that it was best that the -pilot and two men and I should go in it, because they believed that, -if I went, more effectual aid would be sent. We did so, and then, -when we sailed around the island we gave thanks to the Lord for His -kindness in having brought us to this little bay; for on any of the -other sides of the island we should certainly have been drowned in -the ocean, or, if any of us had escaped, should have perished at -the hands of the Indians. The Lord gave us a favorable wind, which -was needed by our tiny boat in that rough ocean, and we reached the -river of Nueva Segovia, which is very large; the distance from the -mouth to the city is three leguas. The alcalde-mayor immediately set -about the rescue, appropriated two fragatas, and had them prepared -to go to our people who were in the islands. At the same time I wrote -to Manila to the agents of Don Luys to send a ship, ship-stores, and -everything else required for continuing the voyage. I also wrote to my -superior, giving him an account of what had happened. The answer to my -letters was made plain, both on the island and in Manila. The governor -commanded that the voyage should be continued, all of the expenditure -being made anew, while my superior directed me to return to Manila; -and so I did, although my companions were greatly grieved. In truth, -by failing to go with them I caused their destruction; because, as they -were sailing toward the coast of China, they saw a Chinese ship, and, -against the will of the pilot and some few others, the rest determined -to pursue and plunder it. The ship fled, turning toward the coast of -its own country, which was all sown with shallows, well known to them -but not to our men. So eagerly did the Spaniards chase after them -in their greed for the prize, which they now regarded as certain, -that our ship ran aground and broke into two parts. The men were all -thrown into the sea, where some of them were drowned immediately, -and others, who took refuge on shoals, were drowned when the tide came -in. Some few only escaped, with the pilot, in a raft which they made of -planks from the ship. Even of those few some died of the cold, which -was very great, and was still more severe for them because they were -all wet. At last those who escaped reached the coast, with difficulty -enough. They were seized by the Chinese, and carried about for many -leguas from one judge to another. In this way they learned that Don -Luis was on the same coast, and that he had been wrecked on the same -day of St. Francis, and at the same time with us. They learned that -he was twenty leguas from there, on an island called Lampacao. They -received permission to join him; and in spite of their miseries they -forgot their ills in their pity for the poor knight and his men, -who kept themselves alive with shellfish, which they found there -and ate in small quantities. They all suffered patiently, because -of the example of their commander--who, that he might not offend -[the people of] the land, never allowed his men to ask for anything, -even what necessity almost compelled them to request. - - - - - -CHAPTER L - -I am commanded to go to China; events there, and the death of father -Fray Alonso Ximenez - - -[In spite of the wretched state of the noble knight Don Luis, the -Portuguese of Macan, who were only seven leguas away, were so far -from pitying him that they rather made bloody war against him. He -accordingly decided to send the pilot of the second in command, -with eight other men, to Manila in a small boat, to ask for what was -needed to escape from that labyrinth. They arrived after great peril, -and delivered their letters which were filled with the innumerable -complaints of those who remained there. They moved all the city to -great compassion, but our religious more than the others, who always -had a very tender regard for the good knight, Don Luis, both for his -virtue, and for his great love toward us. He never forsook us or our -churches, where he received all the sacraments, and went to hear all -the masses that were said, to the great edification of the village -of Minondoc--where he lived, near to our house. Consequently, I was -charged with the immediate care of procuring what was needed for the -relief of the present trouble, since the past troubles had none. My -superior notified me that I should go to take the relief to Don Luis, -and ordered me to attend to that matter with the greatest possible -despatch, since delay meant manifest danger. With all that care he was -unable to get the help out within four months, and notwithstanding -that I exercised very great earnestness in it, and attended to -the equipment of the ship that was assigned, which I had fitted -up so that it would stand any storm--having taken warning from the -previous ships, which had proved deficient in the first storm that -came upon us. By such diligence, we set sail, with suitable relief, -on September six. Arriving with it in less than twenty days, we were as -well received, as we were so heartily desired. We also found bad news -from Camboja, which had been brought by some ships that had returned -from that country. That news was that all the Spaniards there--both -those of our galliot, and all the others--had perished at the hands -of the Indians themselves, because of quarrelsome persons among -them, who were intolerable to the natives. Since it was impossible -to go thither as friends, and since our forces were very few to go -in any other manner, consequently, a general council having been -held, it resulted that we should return to Manila. To carry that -into effect, it was necessary to go to the court of the viceroy at -Canton to get permission, for we could not leave his port without -it. It was determined that I should go to get the permission. I was -accompanied by two soldiers and an Indian up a large river with most -beautiful and refreshing banks, which contained some very densely -populated villages. Arrived at Canton, we were lodged in a house -in the suburbs, as foreigners were not allowed to live in the city, -nor even to enter it without express permission from the judge who is -in charge. Guards are stationed for that reason at all the gates, so -that they may refuse admittance without such permission. It happened -that there was a eunuch of the king there at that time, as inspector -of that province. Within his palace the king of China is served only -by eunuchs, and many are castrated, in order to be eligible to serve -the king; and as they alone have access to his person and ear, they -persuade him of whatever they wish, and derive immense bribes from -the judges throughout the kingdom. The latter give them the bribes, -so that the inspectors may hand in a good report of them. That year -the eunuchs got for themselves the inspection of the provinces of that -kingdom, as a great harvest was offered therefrom, not only to the king -but also to the others who remained at his side in order to perpetuate -their acts of injustice with security, the gates to the complaints -that could have been uttered against them having been closed. Then -was it my unhappy lot that I should fall into the hands of one of -them, called Liculifu, who had charge of the visit to Canton, and -who, under pretext of the visit, was making haste to impoverish the -country and the inhabitants; for his charge there also comprehended -the inspection of a pearl-fishery for the king in the gulf of Haynao, -which was situated about one hundred leguas farther along the coast. It -was said that he had borrowed one thousand ships for that purpose, -and that he was in haste; but that he wanted first what fish he -could get on land--for which he had innumerable parasites at his -side who were wont to seek out means by which, rightly or wrongly, -he could employ them, by which they were always the gainers; and who, -in addition, always flattered him by showing him such means of gain, -by which he considered himself as well served, and rewarded those -most who were most advantaged by it. Certain of those creatures, -ferreting us out, immediately went to denounce us, not as evildoers, -but as men absolutely rolling in silver; for that is their opinion -of the Spaniards, even though they see them going naked. Therefore, -it suited him to employ his greed on us, although asking silver from -us was equivalent to asking pears from the elm tree. The inspector, -believing that we had maliciously concealed the silver, tried to get -it by force; but instead of silver he drew blood. Acting upon that -information he had us summoned before him, a day or two after our -arrival. We entered the gate used by foreigners, and there is only -one such gate. The guards registered us there, so carefully do they -watch and guard their city, although so rare are the foreigners who -enter it. We approached the inspector's court, but before we entered -it I had the inspector notified, by an interpreter whom I had with -me, that I would not kneel before him, as such was not the custom of -Castilians--whether religious or captains--even were it before the -kings of that land. He had me told that I should do so, but I answered -to the contrary twice more. However, finally paying greater heed to -the advantage that he expected [to derive], than to his honor and -courtesy which he claimed, he had me told that the soldiers should -kneel and that I should make him the bow and reverence that I was -wont to make to my king. Thereupon we entered, and found him seated -in great state at his desk, on which were the instruments used in -writing, according to their usage. Many servants stood near him, in a -chapel-like place that faced a large open court, whence those having -business entered as he summoned them. Placed on their knees between -two rows of executioners with frightful visages--twelve to the side, -who stood there--their cases were disposed of, and they were punished -there immediately, as soon as he ordered it, without further appeal -or recourse. The soldiers and the interpreter knelt before them, -while I remained upright, after having made him a very deep bow. He -received us well, and addressed some pleasant words to us. I thanked -him heartily, and made him a present of a piece of scarlet cloth -and a large and excellent mirror, with its silver chain by which to -hang it up, which had been given me for that purpose by General Don -Luis. The latter already was aware that no business was transacted -without a present. The inspector received the present very gladly, -as it consisted of articles that were scarce in that country. He -expressed many scruples in regard to it, so that it might not appear -that he was receiving it as a bribe, and said that it would be taken -as part payment of the duties due and to be paid by the ships; and that -he had a conscience and kept his gaze on the heavens, so that he might -not commit any unjust act. But in truth, although I thought that he -would be satisfied with that present, he regarded it as the beginning -of what we had to give and waited for the rest. I asked him to send -someone to measure the ships and receive the duties, for it was now -time for us to leave. He did so immediately, and sent officials like -himself. Those officials declared, because they were not bribed at -the beginning, that the duties amounted to one thousand eight hundred -ducados. Don Luis, having been advised of what ought to be done, -asked that the measurements be made a second time; and after he had -given them their bribe, they took off the thousand ducados, and the -duties remained at only eight hundred. Believing that the inspector's -greed was satisfied, I delayed two or three days in going to see him; -but he, as his appetite had been whetted for the desire of more with -the taste that he had received, took my delay very ill, and had only -the two soldiers and the interpreter summoned, but ordered me not to go -to him. On seeing them, he broke out into great anger because they had -not treated him according to his dignity. He ordered the interpreter -to be beaten as the most guilty, since, knowing the custom of the -country, he had not advised us thereof. They actually administered -five blows to him, and the blows that they give are always few, but -very severe. Those blows accordingly formed great wounds on the upper -part of his legs, that being where they are administered. He ordered -the soldiers to be all but lashed. They were thrown to the ground, -and their legs bared, while the executioner stood near them with his -lash raised. That instrument is made from a very large bamboo (such -as grow there), split in two and weighted somewhat with lead, and -having many slits, whose edges cut like knives. And as the executioner -stood thus, waiting for the order to strike the blow, he ordered him -to stay his hand, being satisfied to see them thus fearful. Then -he ordered all three to be taken prisoners to a public prison, -which was located at a considerable distance from his house. While -on the way thither they had me summoned, and bribed the officials -to stop in an idol temple. I went there alone, although with great -difficulty. They implored me again and again not to leave them in -custody, for they would die in prison. I promised them not to leave -that place until they were liberated, or else I would share the same -fortune with them. I well understood that those blows were directed -at me, rather than at them; and that, although given to others, -were a threat to me so that I should tremble and give the inspector -what he desired, or he would cause me also to suffer such things, -or even greater. I knew already that his parasites had informed him -of the esteem in which the Spanish hold their priests and religious, -and that they would redeem by weight of silver whatever insult he -might try to inflict on me; and that if he wished to fill his hand -well, he should make what extortions from me his tyrannous and greedy -taste dictated. I had no silver to satisfy his desire, nor, even had -I desired to supply that lack by any efforts, did I have any method -or means to do so. It even cost me very dearly to enter the city, -and I could not go on that account. I was persecuted by children, who -accosted me as did the children of Bethel the holy prophet Elisha; -while not one of the men had compassion on me, for they do not know -what compassion means toward their own countrymen, however afflicted -they see them to be. And further, if they behold them persecuted by -the more influential men, then in such case they flee from the sight -of them, in fear lest they receive a portion of the punishment, as -being accomplices in the guilt. The soldiers, as they were afflicted, -attributed the slowness of the relief to my neglect, and the inspector -to obstinacy. Finally he endeavored to satisfy his greed by making -open proof of my patience. Therefore, he summoned me on All Saints' -day. I heard of his resolve some days beforehand, and prepared for it -by saying mass--for which I had the opportunity, as the Portuguese -from Macan happened to be there at that time, by virtue of their -ordinary permission to go to Canton twice each year, to purchase -the articles that they need in certain fairs which are held there -at that time. However, they are not permitted to live in the city, -but must remain in their own boats in the river. As that purchasing -(which lasts many days) is a matter of consequence, the Portuguese -bring a priest, who says mass to them, in a little house near the -river. At that time there were three fathers of the Society there, -one of whom was acting in the capacity of chaplain for the traders, -while the other two were about to enter the interior with Father Matheo -Riccio, who had lived there for years. One of those two fathers, one -Lacaro Catanio, had lived with the above father for some years; and, -having gone to Macan on business, was then returning with another -Spaniard named Diego Pantoja. Both of them dressed themselves, -on the afternoon of the eve of All Saints, in Chinese habits, in -order to make their journey with some guides that they had with -them. Father Lacaro Catanio, as he had been a long time in China, -had long hair and beard, but the other father, having only recently -arrived, did not; and consequently he was in some danger, as he did -not follow the customs of the country in everything. By way, then, -of those fathers I was enabled to say mass. Scarcely had I concluded -it, when I was accosted by an official of the inspector, with his -chapa (or summons) to take me before the inspector. I went thither, -and found him in his courtroom, as at the first time. Although I -intended to show him the same courtesy as the first time, he made me -kneel down, besides going between those two files of executioners, who -appeared to me like demons. The inspector began then to shout at me, -in his treble voice, and poured forth a torrent of words, which were -explained to me by a Chinese who understood some Portuguese. He charged -me in his speech with being a spy, as I had not observed my duty. At -the end of the speech came his deeds. At the inspector's order one -of those executioners threw me to the ground, and, baring my legs, -raised himself in a position to lash me. While in that position, -the inspector repeated many times his assertion that I must be a -spy. Thereupon I drew a report from my bosom that I brought from -the Chinese who were living in Manila, both Christians and heathens, -which told of the great good that the members of my order had done -there to all of their nation--how we cared for their sick, supported -the poor, and defended them all from injuries which were attempted -against them. It was written in their own characters, on a sheet of -paper one braza long, and was folded within a covering, also made of -paper, after their manner and custom. I had come prepared with that -for whatever might happen, and accordingly I presented it at that so -pressing moment. The inspector read it, while I was kept stretched out -and bared ready for the lash, and the executioner awaiting only the -sign to chastise me. As the letter was not to the inspector's liking, -he paid no heed to it. However, he did not carry out the execution -[of the punishment], but ordered me to rise and adjust my clothing -and come to his desk. I thought that it was to make peace, but it -was only to vary the mode of affliction by changing the torture, -which he ordered to be given me between the fingers, while placed on -my knees before him with folded hands. For that purpose some little -rounded sticks were brought, in which there were some small grooves -at each end and in the middle. Those sticks were placed between the -fingers of both hands and were then pressed together by some cords, -tighter and tighter as the inspector ordered--until, when I fell as if -in a faint, he ordered the torment to cease. He ordered me to be gone, -and said that, if I did not give him a thousand taes of silver on the -morrow (each tae being equivalent to ten reals, thus all amounting to -about one thousand ducados), he would kill me. I left his presence, -with the bad treatment that I have described, and went to my lodgings -as best as I could, where I found an order from the inspector not to -receive me. I knew not where to go, for all fled from me, being fearful -lest some blow should come upon them by reason of me. I determined to -go to the ship where the fathers were. Then the merchants returned, -much earlier than was their custom, saying that all the city had -risen against them, because I had gone to their ship. They besought -me not to do so evil an act, for they feared a serious danger from -that. As they refused to receive me, I returned to the shore, where -a Chinese trader who had been in Manila on various occasions received -me into his house. He got me the loan of one hundred taes of silver, -payable with interest; and that night I went clad as a Chinese, -so that I might not be recognized, to the Portuguese ships. On my -word--which I pledged on that of General Don Luis, in whose cause -I was acting--they lent me two hundred more. I sent that whole sum -to the inspector next day by my host, who was a man of esteem in -the city; I also had him ask that the inspector would be satisfied -with that amount, as I had borrowed it as an alms, and could find -no more, and that he would be pleased to liberate the prisoners, -and grant us permission to go to our ship. That was a just petition, -but it was ill received and worse despatched; for although I thought -that that gift would soften that heart of stone, I discovered that it -had been like throwing a little water on the forge which blazes all -the fiercer. The inspector sent a constable with his chapa to summon -me that afternoon. It was necessary to go; and, thanks to my host, -who accompanied me, they took me to the entrance by another gate of -the city, as it was nearer his house. But when the guards saw me they -refused to allow me to enter, and although the constable showed them -the chapa of the inspector, they declared that that concerned me, and -not them; accordingly, they refused me entrance. It was necessary for -the constable to go to his master, and report the matter to him. The -latter gave another chapa for the gatekeepers, and they, taking it, -copied it and allowed me to enter. I did not find the inspector in his -court, but in a lodging nearer the center of the city. He was the only -one seated, while all his officials were standing. The money which I -had had sent to him was on a desk. I knelt down, at a considerable -distance from him, whereupon he began to chide me, and to say many -things to me that I did not understand. It seemed to me that he was -asking questions of me, and I only answered Purhiautet--that is to say, -"I do not understand." He rose from his chair, and came toward me, -in order to address me from a shorter distance. It seemed from his -actions that he meant to scratch out my eyes with his fingers (they -are great men for such deeds, the more when they are angry). He finally -satisfied his wrath by ordering me to be taken straight to the prison -where the soldiers were. An iron chain was therefore quickly put about -my neck, and fastened with a padlock; and one of the executioners, -holding the end of it, walked before me, obliging me thus to follow -him as a captive. The prison was at a considerable distance, and was -under the orders of another mandarin, to whom he sent me, so that -the latter might incarcerate me. In such guise, I crossed all those -streets, which swarmed with people, at four o'clock in the afternoon, -and appeared before this mandarin--who was in his tribunal, into which -the door of the prison opened. When the soldiers saw me through the -door, they began to weep. [I fell on my knees before him, and he asked -me through my interpreter the cause of my imprisonment. I replied, -and the cause seemed to him bad: but he told me that no one could -undo what the inspector did. He said that he would try to satisfy the -inspector, because the latter was obliged to go off very quickly on -his inspection, and, if he left me a prisoner here, no one else had -the authority to release me. With this he ordered the chains to be -taken off, and sent me into the prison. When I saw myself in prison -with the soldiers I was without anxiety, because for their sake I -had made all these stations, [21] and after all without succeeding in -rescuing the prisoners--though I could have taken refuge in our ships -if I had chosen, as I afterwards did; while now, by adventuring the -same fortune with them, I left God to watch over all. There were in -this prison some three hundred prisoners, many condemned to death, -but permitted to work during the daytime in order to earn their -food. I suffered in the prison, because I had little protection and -the weather was very cold. God delivered me within only three days; -my host became my security for a thousand taes. As I was about to -leave the prison, all the servants crowded about me asking for plata -(silver), for they already knew its name in our Castilian. There were -so many that, even if I had had much to give, there would have been -little for each one. As I had nothing to give, I gave them nothing, -and they paid me with hard words and blows. It was very late; and we -were obliged to go to the house of the inspector, and from it to that -of the guarantor outside of the city, in which we were not permitted -to sleep. All this was to be done before they closed the gates. We -were kept waiting in the courtyard of the inspector for some time. In -addition to falling on our knees before him, he made us bow our heads -and then turned us over to our bondsman. When we reached the latter's -house, we had to enter by leaping over a lighted fire which they said -was the ceremony of security. The poor guarantor immediately began -to suffer persecution, for all the servants and attendants of the -inspector, though they had in no way intervened in our business, came -to beg money from him from that which they said he must have received -from me, to persuade him to become my security. The man brought all -these demands to me; but I answered him that nothing more was to be -paid than the thousand taes, and these we should get from Don Luis. He -was unwilling to go to Don Luis, and took great care to prevent us from -escaping. We, fearing that Don Luis and his soldiers might be forced -by our delay to leave us in this embarrassment, determined to save -ourselves. We agreed with a Chinaman, for ten taes to help us escape, -letting us out through a secret door opening upon a creek that flowed -into the large river, and taking us down in a boat. We sailed down -stream that night and the next day, no one appearing on the boat in -the daytime except the Chinese sailors. We succeeded in eluding all -the vessels that might have wished to inspect us, and reached our -ships. As soon as our sailors received their pay they ran away. A -few hours later, my guarantor appeared with an armed vessel. He was -unable to find out who had helped us, and was satisfied with receiving -the amount of money for which he had been pledged. We then set sail, -Don Luis and the rest to Manila, and I to Macan, for I was in such a -condition of ill health as a result of hardship and exposure that I did -not dare to undertake the voyage to Manila. At this time father Fray -Alonso Ximenez died in Macan. His death was caused by the hardships -and exposure which he had undergone in endeavoring to evangelize the -kingdom of Camboja. Though he was almost seventy years of age when -he set out on the expedition, he endured everything that befell him -with patience and courage, consoling the others, though he had always -himself the most to suffer. He was very devout, never omitting his -daily hours of prayer on his journeys or voyages. When in Cochinchina, -his captivity was comforted by the opportunity given him to convert -two condemned criminals. The failures of his attempts to reach the -kingdom of Camboja and to convert the people there did not discourage -him or diminish his enthusiasm. When Don Luis and his men were -cruelly attacked by the Portuguese of Macan, father Fray Alonso -went to Macan to interpose his authority, and to act as mediator -between the Portuguese and the Castilians. Father Fray Alonso had -great difficulty in pacifying the Portuguese, and was obliged to -encounter much vituperation; but he received more joy in the baptism -of two sick persons at the point of death than he had lost in all -the sufferings which have been narrated. He died in our convent at -Macan, to the great sorrow of the religious about him at the loss of -so holy an associate. General Don Luis and all of the troops that he -had brought with him attributed to the loss of father Fray Alonso -all the sufferings which they were obliged to undergo afterward; -while they ascribed to his presence and his prayers the rescue of -their ship in the dreadful storm which they had experienced on the -day of St. Francis. On that day they had been in the midst of shoals, -and had seen many Chinese vessels wrecked about them; and the wind had -been so violent that it had thrown down many strongly-rooted trees -on land. Father Fray Alonso was a son of the convent of S. Esteban -at Salamanca. Desirous for the conversion of the Indians, he passed -his youth in the devout province of Guatemala. Having retired -to his convent, to take up the works of Mary after he had done -those of Martha, he heard of the foundation of the province of the -Philippinas. When many were turned back by the difficulties in Mexico, -father Fray Alonso was always firm and constant. When he reached -Manila, the ministry of Batan fell to his lot. In spite of his age, and -the great difficulty which he had in learning the Indian language, he -at length succeeded. In this ministry he suffered the hardships which -have been described already. He was especially kind and serviceable -to sick Indians, preparing dishes of meat or eggs for them, and even -putting the food in their mouths, with his own hands. Being taken -severely ill as a result of all the hardships to which he was exposed, -he was carried to the convent of Manila. Scarcely did he feel better, -when he left his bed and began to work at the building of the church, -turning his hand to this manual labor with the greatest skill. When -he was elected prior, he had no assistance in the convent except one -priest and one lay brother; but, few as they were, they performed all -the offices of a community. As he had a sonorous voice and understood -music well, he would sing the whole mass alone; then leave the choir -to go to the pulpit and preach, and then return to the choir, though -he had been hearing confessions all the morning. This he did without -failing to make his regular daily prayer. Even when alone he used to -say matins aloud, and on some feast-days would sing a great part of -them. He was elected provincial from this office of prior; and in his -provincialate he made many excellent ordinances for the ministry to -the Indians, which are still observed and esteemed as if they had been -ordained yesterday. During his time the province was greatly extended, -the whole of the province of Nueva Segovia being admitted, and many -new churches and missions being established in that of Pangasinan. It -was his desire also that the kingdom of Camboxa should be added to -it; and in the glorious enterprise of extending the gospel to that -kingdom he ended his life.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LI - -The coming of some religious to the province, and the transactions -of the intermediate chapter - - -Though the procurator whom this province had in España [i.e., -Benavides] had become bishop of Nueva Segovia, he gave his main -attention to the augmentation of the province, having seen with -his own eyes the service done by the religious here to the Lord, -and their service to their neighbors. So, though he had sent off -two shipments [of missionaries], he prepared to send a third, whom -he should accompany when he went to his bishopric. So greatly had -the hearts of the religious of all the provinces in España been -moved that sixty were found gathered and assembled together, having -been designated by Father Juan Volante. They were all far advanced -in religion and letters, which are the excellences that the order -desires and strives for in its sons, that they may fulfil the command -of its institutes, by laboring not only for their own salvation, -but for that of others. It happened at this time that the English -found the city of Cadiz unguarded and unprepared, and sacked it. [22] -This aroused a great excitement in all the ports of Andalucia; and -the announcement was made that in that year there would be no fleet -for Nueva España. Though all these religious were at that time in or -near Andalucia, they returned to their provinces of España and Aragon -whence they had set out, with the exception of some few who waited -to see the end of this matter. Although it was true that there was -no fleet, a rumor spread that some ships were being fitted out for -the voyage. Hereupon the bishop--who had come on foot from Madrid, -but had been several days on the return journey because of the -misfortune which had happened--took courage and went to the port a -second time, reassembling the religious as well as he could. With -these, and with some others who offered themselves, he made up a -reasonable number. When they reached the port they found that the -ships which were about to sail were only some galizabras, with troops -who were going to guard the silver which came from Peru and Nueva -España. It seemed that for a second time the purpose of the bishop -and the religious had been frustrated and their labor wasted; but God -sent them a patache or fragata, with only one deck, which was to carry -the baggage and the ship's stores; but it had no accommodations for -passengers, and was not designed to carry them, because of its small -size. In spite of this, their willingness to suffer even greater -evils for God made them despise the hardships which they might -suffer by making so long a voyage on so uncomfortable a vessel, and -they determined to sail in it. They spread the only tarpaulin which -there was, that they might have some defense from the sun and the -rain. They could not place it high enough for them to stand under it, -and whenever the sea was rough the waves dashed over it; but, as there -was no better ship, the bishop and the religious had to take advantage -of this one. The Lord felt such compassion for their discomfort as -to give them fair weather, so that during the sixty days of their -voyage it only rained twice: thus they were able to sleep on deck, -and at least to enjoy the coolness of night if they could not avoid -the heat of the day. During the voyage, they acted as if they were in -a very well-organized convent. The bishop filled the place of reader; -and upon what he read they held daily conferences, and very frequent -sermons and spiritual discourses. On the great feasts they had, as -it were, literary contests, composing verses in praise of God and of -His saints. Being thus very well occupied, they felt the discomfort -of the ship less; and as a result of the fair weather they were all -cheerful. The bishop alone was silent--so much so that his religious -became anxious, and felt obliged to ask him the reason. He answered: -"I am afraid, fathers, that the Lord does not look upon us as His -own, so much happiness does He grant us in so cramped a ship. Such -fair weather, and not more than one religious sick; we are not what -we ought to be, for the Lord has sent us no hardships. My coming was -sufficient to prevent you from receiving that blessing." When they -reached Mexico, he planned to buy a house where the religious who came -to this province from that of España might be cared for. He wished to -avoid scattering them among the towns, the evil results of which had -already been learned by experience. He found someone to make a gift -of a piece of land suited for the purpose, with the obligation of -building a church upon it named for St. Just and Pastor. The writings -were already made out; but afterward, because of difficulties which -arose, the agreement went no further and had to be given up. - -The voyage which they made from Acapulco to Manila was very -prosperous. The religious having been divided between the two ships, -those who embarked in the flagship, called "Rosario," were unable -to get their ship-stores on board because of the great hurry of the -commander, Don Fernando de Castro. But God provided for them from the -ocean; for every day without exception they fished from that ship, -and thus the food of the religious was supplied. This is something -which never happened before or since that voyage to any ship. Being so -extraordinary, it caused astonishment, and gave reason for reflecting -upon and praising the divine Providence, which with so free a hand -comes to the aid of those who depend upon it in their need. The -intermediate provincial chapter was in session when the bishop and -the religious reached Manila; and thus they were received joyfully -and gladly, and the meeting was enriched by their presence. Religious -were assigned to the conversion of villages which, though they had been -admitted for their own comfort and for the sake of somewhat encouraging -the holy desires with which they so eagerly begged for missionaries, -could not hitherto obtain them, because of the lack of missionaries -to send. In the convent of Manila a regular school of theology and -arts was established. The chapter appointed as preacher-general father -Fray Diego de Soria in place of father Fray Miguel de Venavides, who -had hitherto held this place and had now become bishop. Because of the -small number of religious and of convents up to this time, it had been -customary that some should be designated from the distant provinces -to come and vote in the provincial chapters, although they were not -superiors. Now, however, as there was a sufficient number of convents -and of superiors, vicariates were designated, the vicars of which were -to be in the place of priors. These and no others were now to have a -vote in the provincial chapter, in conformity with the constitutions -and privileges of the provinces of the Indias. It was also ordained -that the confirmation of the newly-elected provincial should belong -to the eldest definitor, according to the privilege of Nueva España, -which is likewise that of this province. At this chapter there were -received: in Nueva Segovia the village of Dumon, the church of which -at that time was called San Antonino; the villages of Gatarang and -Talapa, with the church of Sancta Catalina; and the village on the -estuary of Lobo, the church of which was San Raymundo. The title of -vicariate was given to San Pablo of Pilitan in Yrraya. [23] In this -place it seemed that another climate had been found, different from -that of the rest of this province, other fields and spacious meadows, -another temperature, and another race of people. The country is very -fertile, and abounds in game. It is very well watered, very pleasant -and very healthful, although at first it did not seem so for the -religious. The first vicar straightway died, and those whom he took -as associates were afflicted with severe illness. For this reason -and because of the distance from the other convents, it seemed to -many that it would be best to abandon it; but the desire prevailed to -go to the aid of those souls, though at the cost of health and life, -since on no occasion could these be better offered. [The devil greatly -resented their coming, and complained and uttered frightful howlings -through the mouths of his priestesses or aniteras. The coming of the -missionaries and the building of churches forced him to show himself -in his true light to his deluded followers. He often appeared to them -in dreams, bidding them resist and not become Christians. When they -reminded him that he did not resist, he answered that he could not -endure the sight of "those barbarians with white teeth." He called -the religious "barbarians," because of their little knowledge of -the language at the beginning; and he spoke of their white teeth -because the Indians regard this as a blemish, and make their own teeth -black.] In this mission of Pilitan the fathers found a madman with a -child, whom they desired to baptize as other children generally were -baptized; the father feared that they wished to take it away, and -never left it. He ate with it, slept with it, and went to the bath -with it. He did all he could to give it pleasure, but as a madman -would. Hence, often, in bathing it, he plunged it down so far under -the water that he drew it out half dead. The religious was in great -anxiety, fearing some disaster, and finally baptized it. Soon after, -the father caught a venomous serpent, ate it, and caused his child -to share in the meal. They both died, but the child to live forever, -thanks to the care of the missionary in baptizing it so as to give it -grace and glory. [From the last village which at that time had been -discovered, which was named Balisi, an Indian came with his family to -that of Pilitan to spend a few days. He brought with him his little -daughter, who was only six years old. She was so bright and charming -that all who saw her loved her. She grew so fond of the church that, -though she was a heathen, she wept bitterly when she was obliged by -her father to return to their own village. Soon after, falling sick -to death, she was baptized by a Spaniard named Alonso Vazquez, who -happened to be there. The Lord showed His kindness in several other -striking or marvelous instances of baptism. In one case a little girl -was very ill and the father had given his permission for baptism, -but the relatives and all the rest of the village resisted. Father -Antonio de Soria went there and asked him that they would let him -look at her to cure her. Spreading over her a moist cloth which he -had brought purposely, he cured her soul, which was soon to taste -the joys of eternal salvation. - -To the province of Pangasinan there was added by this chapter a church -and village, that of San Jacintho, which was formed here of people -from different regions, on a very pleasant river named Magaldan, -[24] the inhabitants gathering to it from several villages and some -from the mountains of the region. The Lord showed His kindness to -one woman by striking her with blindness when she purposed to run -away from the baptism which she had promised to receive, and by thus -bringing her back to the salvation of her soul. - -At this time the Lord took to himself father Fray Antonio de Soria, -one of the first missionaries of Nueva Segovia. He did not enter upon -the religious life, as generally happens, when he was in boyhood or -youth, but in mature manhood. He had been left a widower; and though -he had sons to care for, he provided for them in such a way that -he was no longer needed to attend to them. Being thus left free for -the service of God alone, he determined to become a religious, and -was accepted in the convent of our order at Puebla de Los Angeles, -in Nueva España. Most persons of this age and condition, especially -when they have lived in the luxuries which are common in Nueva España, -find it difficult to accommodate themselves to the severities of -religious life, both in little and in great things. Father Antonio -was not such. He began with the greatest humility to study Latin, -and became a master of the tongue. He entered upon greater studies, -following them with such success that he was made lecturer in arts -and a director of students. And as he was so superior not only in -his learning, but also in virtue, he was also appointed master of -novices, which is the same thing as being a teacher of the religious -life. He joined the fathers who came to these islands in 1595, and -became one of the first missionaries to the province of Nueva Segovia, -there suffering all the want, discomfort, and hunger which have been -described. The first results of his mission were at Camalaniugan, where -he drove a demon out of a woman who was possessed. In the following -provincial chapter, he was appointed superior of Nueva Segovia, to -preach to and teach and guide the Spanish, who in these new conquests -need the best of teachers. For his consolation they gave him the care -of the villages of Camalaniugan and Buguey. Not satisfied with all -this, he also took charge of the village of Daludu.] There lived in -that city Captain Alonso de Carvajal, encomendero of Pilitan, which -is distant from the city five or more days' journey. He collected -his tribute from the natives, and desired to give them a minister, -as he was obliged; but he was unable to find anyone who was willing -to undertake the mission. He accordingly urged father Fray Antonio -to go to visit these Indians and their country, called Yrraya, to -see if he could attract them to the law of God and the belief in -His holy gospel. The journey was long and hard, not only because it -was up the river, but because there were enemies on the road; and, -besides, there was no religious to leave in his place. Yet the desire -of converting heathen was so strong in father Fray Antonio that he -overcame all these obstacles and went to this new spiritual conquest, -in which all of the rest of the religious soon aided him. He preached -the holy gospel, and the Lord gave him such favor with that tribe, -that he led them by his command like tame sheep. The credit which they -gave to his teaching was such that long after, when Christianity was -more settled in Yrraya, and there was some difficulty in rooting out -some superstition which had remained among them, the old people said: -"If father Fray Antonio had commanded us that, there would not now -be a trace of it, or anyone to contradict him." To build the church -in the village of Pilitan, he threw down the hut of an old woman, a -noted anitera, by whom the devil gave answers to the questions which -were asked him. As this was done in this hut, the devil regarded it -as his own, and therefore greatly resented the overthrow of it. This -he said on many occasions, and he even sometimes said that he had -killed the father for tearing down his hut. But in this the Father -of Lies should not be credited; for, as he often confessed, he was -not able to appear before the religious; how much less, then, to kill -them. The manner of living followed by this father among these Indians -was exemplary, and such as to cause wonder among them. He suffered -and endured many hardships, and hunger and want, that he might not -inconvenience them. He was at once the master and the servant, at the -house. In order that a boy who served him by preparing his food might -not be offended at the work, the father went to the river and carried -the water that he had to drink; he was the sacristan who cared for the -church, the porter who closed and opened the doors of the house. He -it was who attended to everything that was needed, that he might not -trouble any persons by making them serve him. It was a journey of -a day and a half from Pilitan to the village of Nalavangan. He went -there and built a church, and baptized many; for the spirit of Fray -Antonio was to undertake much, and he was never contented with that -which would have seemed excessive to others. While he was engaged in -these holy exercises, the time of the intermediate chapter arrived, -and he was obliged to go to it to Manila. Here he was definitor, -and gave an account of the good work which was being wrought by -the Lord in the conversion of Yrraya. The chapter, feeling that the -Lord had chosen him therefor, appointed him as first vicar of San -Pablo at Pilitan. He returned in great contentment, because he was -going where he would have more to do than in other places, much as -there was to do everywhere, since all of these were new conversions, -where the labor is great and the ease very little. When he was among -his children he gave himself with such devotion to the labor of the -ministry that within six months he was attacked by a mortal disease, -which obliged him to return to the city to be cared for. Here, when he -had received the holy sacrament, he gave up his soul to his Creator, -to the great sorrow of all the religious, who were greatly afflicted -to lose such a father and associate. He made some compositions in -the language of the natives, which served as a guide to those who -followed him; but the greatest guidance that he gave was that of his -life spent and consumed in these so holy exercises. - - - - - -CHAPTER LII - -Fathers Fray Pedro de Soto, Fray Juan de San Pedro Martyr, and Fray -Pedro de la Bastida who died at this time. - - -[Father Fray Pedro de Soto was a native of Burgos, and assumed the -habit in the convent of San Andres at Medina del Campo, where he -professed, and whence he went to study in the distinguished convent of -San Pablo at Valladolid. Here he showed signs of his great ability and -the subtlety of his mind, soaring above his fellow-students as does a -royal eagle above all other birds of less flight. In him the fathers -hoped that they were to have a third Soto, in addition to the other two -famous ones whom that province has had. He exhibited as much virtue as -learning. When the religious for this province began to be gathered, -his superiors were planning that he should become a professor. The -devotion and the severity of the discipline, and the opportunity to -save souls, attracted father Fray Pedro; he was also influenced by -the example of his two masters, Fray Miguel de Venavides and Fray -Antonio Arcediano, who had left their chairs of theology to enter -the new province, as had also two other fathers, lecturers in arts -at the same convent. The father master Fray Hernando del Castillo, -who was then prior, strove by all means to prevent him from going; -but the calling and inspiration of God prevailed in the heart of father -Fray Pedro. He arrived at Manila July 23, and on the day of our father -St. Dominic, less than a fortnight later, they asked him to hold some -public discussions of theology in the main church. Father Fray Pedro -avoided display of his knowledge and ability; but, on occasions when -necessity required him to speak, he made evident the great superiority -of his mind and his great learning. In the first distribution of the -religious, he was assigned to Pangasinan. The people of this region -still lived in their ancient villages and rancherias in the hills and -mountains, without civilization, order, or system, any more than if -they had never known Spaniards. Father Fray Pedro lived among these -tribes for three years, suffering the hardships and perils which -have been already described. He was constantly in danger of death, -being particularly hateful to the hostile natives because he was -the first one who learned the language of the Indians. When some of -them began to accept the faith, he offered money for information as -to those who continued to sacrifice to the devil. Keeping secret the -source of his information, he immediately went] in haste to the place, -sometimes alone, and caught the sacrificers in the very act. Without -waiting an instant, he upset everything, and broke the dishes and -bowls and other vessels which they used in their rites; poured out -their wine; burned the robes in which the aniteras or priestesses -dress themselves on such occasions, and the curtains with which -they covered up everything else; threw down the hut, and completely -destroyed it. In this way he made them understand how little all those -things availed, and how vain were the threats which the devil uttered -against those who would not venerate him; and, in brief, that this -was all falsehood and deceit. Many were thus aroused and undeceived; -while others, and not a few, were angry, so that it was a wonder -that he was not slain. [The rest of the fathers followed his plan; -but father Fray Pedro led them all, following the track of this chase, -in which his scent was so keen that nothing could escape him. At his -death, father Fray Pedro was able to say that he was sure of the two -aureoles of virgin and of doctor, and that he had almost succeeded -in gaining that of martyr. The village of Magaldan was the most -obstinate of all these villages in their errors. They had striven to -kill a father of the Order of St. Francis, insomuch that the dagger -was already lifted above him for that purpose, and he had fled. They -had refused to admit the fathers of the Order of St. Augustine, and -they would not listen to a secular priest who was assigned to them, -although the alcalde-mayor fined and punished them. It was these -Indians whom father Fray Pedro de Soto came to conquer with patience -and Christian charity. The Indians said that he never employed a -word of their language wrong. He was engaged for a whole year in -translating the gospel into this language, and translated some lives -of saints and instances of virtue--which though they were composed in -the very beginning, are still esteemed and are greatly prized, because -of the propriety of the words and the elevated style with which he -treated these matters. He was devoted to the study of theology and -sacred letters, and was continual in both mental and vocal prayer, -to which he added fasting. Being taken to Manila to be treated for -the fever from which he suffered, he died there. - -In spite of the failure of the two previous expeditions to Camboja, -the governor, Don Francisco Tello, judged it desirable to send another -ship with troops, and asked the order to send some of their friars with -it. The father provincial directed that father Fray Juan de S. Pedro -Martyr (or Maldonado) and father Fray Pedro Jesus (or de la Bastida) -should go. Father Fray Juan was then commissary of the Holy Office. He -was a native of Alcala de Guadiana, [25] and belonged to a rich and -honorable family. He studied canon law at Salamanca, and assumed -the habit in the illustrious convent of San Pablo at Valladolid. The -influence of Father Juan Chrisostomo attracted him to the new province -to be established in the Philippinas Islands. When he was about to set -forth, a certain Doctor Bobadilla, a canon in the church in Valladolid, -took him to one side and assured him that he was to die a martyr; -and this prophecy was corroborated by another devoted monk. It was -on this account that he changed his name of Maldonado to that of -S. Pedro Martyr. He spent his first year in the Philipinas in Manila; -and in his second year was sent as vicar to a village in Pangasinan, -which was at that time the most difficult in the province. From that -place he was transferred to the vicariate of Bataan, the language of -which he learned very well. When Father Juan Cobo went as ambassador -to Japon, father Fray Juan was assigned to the mission to the Chinese, -being thus required to learn a third language in addition to the two -which he already knew. He learned more words of the Chinese language -than any other member of the order, though he was not successful -with the pronunciation. He assisted the Chinese so much that they -named him as their protector; and he was, as it were, the advocate -of their causes, so that they became very much attached to him, and -listened with good-will to his preaching and his corrections. During -the absence of the father provincial in Camboja, the province could -find no one more suitable to govern it in his place, and accordingly -father Fray Juan was nominated as vicar-general. In the following -provincial chapter he was appointed lecturer in theology, for there -was nothing which the province did not find him competent to do. He -made no objection to carrying out any orders that were given him, -although they dragged him about hither and thither, causing him to -learn so many languages and immediately to drop them again. This is a -great evidence of his obedience and subjection to his superior. His -reputation outside of the order was very great.] The tribunal of -the Holy Office of Mexico appointed him commissary-general of the -Philippinas, which office he filled with the prudence and strength -of mind which the Lord has given in these regions to the sons of the -first inquisitor-general, our father St. Dominic. Don Luis Perez das -Mariñas, a wise and holy knight, refused to accept the governorship of -these islands until Fray Juan persuaded him to do so, stood security -for him, and undertook the duty of confessing him and of aiding him -with his good advice, that he might the better fulfil the office. This -he did in spite of the fact that this was certain to be, as it was, -to his own damage; for suitors who did not receive what they desired -immediately threw the blame on Father Juan, whom they well knew that -the governor consulted as to the appointments which he made. Father -Fray Juan knew all this well, but accepted it very readily, in order -that he might undertake the direction of so upright a man as Don -Luis. In spite of the fact that the esteem which was felt for Father -Juan within and without the order was very great, the counterweight -of humility and the consciousness of his own inferiority which he had -was much greater. He regarded himself as the most useless in all the -province, and treated himself as such. Hence, when he was named for -vicar-general of the province, he managed that this title and office -should be given to father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas. [In the same way, -when he was nominated prior of the convent of Manila at the time when -father Fray Diego de Soria went as procurator to España, he succeeded -in bringing about the election of another religious. He likewise strove -to resign the office of commissary in favor of father Fray Bernardo de -Sancta Cathalina, or Navarro. Such was the character of father Fray -Juan de San Pedro Martyr, whom the province was willing to spare for -the mission to Camboja. They would have spared an even more perfect -religious if they could, well knowing that he who had to preach the -gospel in a heathen kingdom like this should be such as father Fray -Juan was, or even greater in all things. The companion of father -Fray Juan, father Fray Pedro de Jesus or de la Bastida, a religious -of great virtue, had come to the islands in the previous year, 1591, -with the rest who were brought from España by father Fray Francisco de -Morales. He had displayed high qualities in the mission to Bataan, to -which he had been assigned. He had come from the very devout province -of Aragon, of which he was a son. When they reached the great river -of Camboja, father Fray Juan endeavored to carry out his mission, -both for the conversion of those tribes and as an ambassador of -the king our lord. He was contemptuously treated by the king, [26] -the son of that king who had sent to ask for religious. The present -king was wholly in the hands of Mahometan Malays, who persuaded him -that the embassy involved some evil to him. When father Fray Juan -asked his permission to return to the ship which they had left in -the port, the king refused to grant it, and thus showed that he -was plotting treachery. Father Fray Juan saw no opportunity for -preaching the gospel, as the country was disturbed and in arms; and -as the two captains, Diego Velloso and Blas Ruiz de Fernan Goncalez, -were in a difficult situation because their comrades were so few, -and the Malays, their enemies, were in such favor. The captain of -the ship [i.e., Mendoza] attempted to secure peace between these -factions, but did not disembark from his vessel. The same thing was -done by the captain of a fragata that had come from Sian. The Malays, -seeing that they had the advantage because their vessel was larger and -stronger than ours, made an attack and shot contrivances of fire and -powder to burn the Spaniards and the Japanese. The ship caught fire, -and those on board had to leap into the water to escape. Father Fray -Pedro de Jesus was unable to swim, and took refuge from the fire on -the poop. Here the Moros came out in small boats and thrust lances -at him. He fell into the water and died of his wounds, or was drowned -by the hands of the Moros. This vessel had done no harm to the Moros, -and had not even tried to aid the Spanish captains in the kingdom. The -only reason for attacking it was the desire of the Moros to prevent the -preaching of the gospel; and hence father Fray Pedro died a glorious -martyr. Father Fray Juan succeeded in reaching the fragata commanded -by Juan de Mendoça. In it father Fray Juan made his escape to Sian, -being wounded in the throat by a shot which had passed obliquely -through it; and thus half of the prophecy had been fulfilled that he -and his comrade were to die the death of martyrs. Father Fray Juan -went to Sian that he might be near to the kingdom of Camboja. The king -of that country was a cruel and barbarous tyrant; he took delight in -causing men to be thrown to wild elephants, who tore them to pieces -with their trunks. He caused others to be fried with a very small -quantity of oil, and their flesh to be torn off from them with pincers -while they were thus tortured, and to be thrust into their mouths, -that by force of the pain which they suffered they might bite and eat -their own flesh. When there were no criminals, he used to perpetrate -these cruelties solely for his own recreation; and that not to one, -or a few, but to a thousand at a time. Only a few days before, he had -had four or five Portuguese fried alive for some trifling offense, -for which they had already paid a fine to him. There were here at this -time a Portuguese religious, Fray Jorje de la Mota, [27] and several -other Portuguese who were now trying to escape from the country. The -force of the tides is so great that, when the tide is coming in, it -is impossible to make head against it; and as they were fifty leguas -from the sea, it was easy to follow and catch them. Overjoyed with -the possibility of escape offered by the coming of Father Juan, they -prayed him for the love of God to rescue them in his boat without the -knowledge of the king. The Spaniards planned to do so; but, because -of the too great haste and anxiety of the Portuguese, the vessel was -followed and found before it had made its escape into the sea. The -king was mad with rage, and sent three separate expeditions after -it. They surrounded the boat and fired at it with small cannon, -arquebuses, arrows, and lances. There were about twenty persons, -Castilians and Portuguese, on the ship, and they had about a dozen -muskets and a few arquebuses to protect themselves with. So long as -the tide was going out, they managed to defend themselves fairly well, -because they could manage to engage a part of the enemy only at one -time. When the tide came in they were obliged to anchor, and they -were like a target for the Sianese. After three days of this torture, -they managed to get to sea. The pilot had been slain by a shot; and -the captain, Juan de Mendoca, and father Fray Jorje de la Mota were so -badly wounded that they afterward died. The arm of father Fray Juan -de San Pedro Martir was broken by a shot from a small culverin. As -they had lost all their drinking-water in the combat, the sufferings -of father Fray Juan were very great. He saw that his hour was come, -and confessed to father Fray Jorje. He wrote to the fathers in this -province an account of the fortunes of this voyage; and expressed -his joy in dying on an expedition carried out by the command of his -superior for the purpose of preaching the gospel, in which he had saved -those poor Portuguese from dreadful danger to both their lives and -their souls.] Almost at the end of the letter which he sent he wrote: -"What we have in this province is good, and God is greatly served in -the province. Let us strive to keep what we have, by observing those -things which we have established; for I am sure that God will show us a -thousand favors. The arms of Saul do not fit all men; nor is preaching -in these regions suitable to any but a very holy man." [They buried him -on land near the port of Cochinchina, on an island called Pulocatovan, -at the root of a tree--not daring to set up a cross, for fear of the -derision of those heathen. He had set out upon this voyage certain -to meet his death in it; and at the beginning of the expedition he -had shown the perfection of his obedience in several ways.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIII - -The election as provincial of father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas, -and the death of father Fray Damian Valaguer. - - -[On the second of June, 1600, the electors assembled in the -convent of Manila to elect a successor to father Fray Bernardo de -Sancta Cathalina. The example of father Fray Bernardo was so grand -that it was difficult for his successor to reach the same pitch of -excellence. Although all felt that father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas, -or Ormaca, was fitted for the position by character and abilities, -there was some doubt whether his ill-health would permit him to fill -the office as it ought to be filled. He was constantly under the -necessity of receiving dispensations from the severity of the rules; -and though this did no harm in a private friar, it was most unfortunate -in a superior. It was also feared that he would be physically unable -to perform the duties of the situation. One of the best physicians -of the city was called in, without the knowledge of father Fray Juan, -to express his opinion as to the ability of father Fray Juan to fulfil -the duties of the office. His judgment was favorable, and father Fray -Juan was elected. The election was a most fortunate one, for father -Fray Juan was able, learned, and holy; and his nature was so gentle -that the vicar-general, Fray Juan de Castro, who had a gift from heaven -of special insight into character, chose him as his usual associate, -and appointed him to the first position as superior in a mission to -Indians. He filled the office well, and not only lived out the four -years of his provincialship, but has seen ten other elections of -provincials since his own; and he is still alive while this is being -written, in the year 1637. Since he is still living, let us content -ourselves with what has been said--leaving the rest till the time -when, after the end of his life, it may be discussed with greater -freedom. During his term, the Lord opened the gates for the entrance -of the order to Japan, as will be narrated later; this was a great -reward for the hardships suffered by the religious of this province, -and by him in particular, from the perils and miseries of travel by -land and by sea. Many new convents were admitted at this chapter, -both in Pangasinan and Nueva Segovia; for the duties of the ministry -in these regions were constantly increasing, and the religious kept -constantly reaching out to new places. Many excellent ordinances were -passed for the exercise of the ministry to the Indians, and also for -the better maintenance of the rules affecting us--especially in the -matter of showing ourselves disinterested, and careful not to annoy -the Indians. - -In the province of Nueva Segovia the religious labored hard in the -search throughout mountains and valleys, and other secret places, -for the huts where the devil had been adored, to which those people -used to make pilgrimages in search of health or other favors, -giving offerings of bits of gold, or of stones regarded by them as -precious. The natives dared not take anything from those places, or -cut a reed or a tree from the natural growth of the earth in them, -for fear of death, with which the devil had threatened them. In the -villages on the coast many such little huts were found, with many -little figures and idols in them. The religious burnt and broke the -boxes with the offerings; took the gold and the stones, and all the -other offerings; and burnt and ground to dust everything, and cast it -into the sea, that it might not remain to be a stumbling-block to the -Indians. When the heathen saw that the threats of the devil were not -being carried out, their eyes were opened and they were very eager -to be baptized. Great aid was received from an epidemic of smallpox -which attacked a whole region. In this way the Lord took to himself -many souls, especially of children; for there were many newly baptized -in the province of Pangasinan and in that of Nueva Segovia.] Many of -those who seemed to be near their end recovered after they received -the water of baptism. All, therefore, came to be baptized, and the -Lord, by means of those who recovered, gave authority to the baptism; -while of the vast number who died baptized He peopled heaven with -new angels. This brought great comfort to the missionaries, who, -although worn out and greatly fatigued by going from house to house -baptizing and confessing, and giving the sacraments to sick persons, -saw their labors successful and rewarded by the sending to heaven of -so many souls, and also by the strengthening of their hope that they -should go to accompany those souls in glory; for it is not possible -that these should not be grateful, and pray and strive to obtain -salvation for those who labored, with such zeal, to give it to them -by the means of baptism, without which it cannot be obtained. - -[Soon after the provincial chapter, one of the definitors, father -Fray Damian Balaguer, died. He had lived but a short time in the -province, but had gained great reputation in it; and his early death -was much mourned. He was a native of the kingdom of Valencia, and had -two brothers in the same order--one, the present Fray Pedro Martyr de -Balaguer; and the other master Fray Andres Balaguer, at one time bishop -of Albarracin and afterward of Origuela. Father Fray Damian took the -habit in the convent of the Preachers in Valencia, which has been happy -in giving saints to the church. During all his novitiate, the master of -the novices never had occasion to discipline him, even for the merest -trifle--although by the advice of another father he assigned him some -discipline, without any fault on the part of Fray Damian, but not -without a cause; for it is necessary for the novices to be initiated -in these punishments of the order, that they may not afterward be new -and strange to them. He was constant in prayer and fasting, given to -speaking of the things of God, and to mortification. For many years he -was accustomed to repeat the whole of the Psalter of David daily, in -imitation of St. Vincent of Ferrara. He studied at Origuela, becoming a -lecturer in arts in the same college, and afterward in theology--having -a singular grace given him to declare with clearness the gravest and -most profound difficulties of this holy science. He was an excellent -and a moving preacher, having the power to change the hearts of many -of his hearers, who selected him as their spiritual guide. Whenever -he left the convent, which he did only on important occasions, he -was followed by a troop of his disciples, who gathered not only to -honor him, but to profit by what they heard him say. He showed all -his life the greatest humility, and from day to day did not change, -except by the augmentation and advance of his virtue. Being eager for -the conversion of souls, he went to Mexico with master Fray Alonso -Bayllo, who was going out to Mexico with authority to divide the -province of Vaxac from that of Santiago. [28] For the space of two -years he directed the schools in the city of Vaxac; but, as that was -not the end which he had intended, he was dissatisfied. When he heard -that many ministers of the holy gospel were needed in the Philippinas, -he took advantage of the arrival in Mexico of father Fray Francisco -de Morales to ask that he would take him to the islands with the -rest of the company whom he was bringing over. Arriving in 1598, -he was assigned to Nueva Segovia, where in a short time he learned -enough of the language to be able to hear confessions. Father Fray -Damian was first vicar and superior of the mission of Abulug. As such, -he was a definitor in the provincial chapter, and returned to Nueva -Segovia as vicar of the village of Pata. He died greatly mourned. - -At this time there died in the same province of Nueva Segovia brother -Fray Domingo de San Blas, a lay religious of much virtue and known -sanctity, a son of the convent of San Pablo at Sevilla, who came to -these islands in the year 1594. He was of much use to the Indians, -of whose language he learned enough to be understood by them and to -teach them to pray, to attract the Christians to the church, and to -teach the heathen the knowledge of the doctrine of Christianity. He -was fervent in prayer, being often moved to sighs and tears during -his devotions. He strove to hide them from his companion, father Fray -Ambrosio de la Madre de Dios, but was unable to do so. Father Fray -Ambrosio said to him that, as they two lived alone and like brothers, -there was no reason why one should try to conceal anything from the -other. With this permission from his superior he broke out in sobs, -and his heart melted away in tears, directed mainly to the conversion -of these heathen and to the perfecting in Christianity of the already -baptized. Two extraordinary things happened in this village of Pata -while this brother lived there: One was the receiving of a fish on the -day of St. Dominic, under such circumstances that there could be no -doubt that the Lord had sent it to enable them properly to celebrate -the feast of the holy founder of this order. The second event was -the marvelous recovery or restoration to life, at the intercession of -St. Dominic, of an Indian who had been given over for dead. It was the -very man who had given them the fish. Father Fray Domingo died from -exposure to the sun. He was sent back to the convent of Manila for -care, and there grew worse; and, after having very devoutly received -the holy sacraments, exchanged this wretched life for the eternal one.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIV - -The intermediate chapter; an extraordinary event which took place in -it, and the coming of religious to the province. - - -In the year of our Lord 1602, the voting fathers assembled in their -intermediate provincial chapter, at which was accepted the house of -San Juan del Monte, which is situated a legua from the city of Manila -in a solitary place, a healthful and pleasant situation. There were -two motives and ends with which this house was built. The first was -the consideration that some aged fathers, after their many labors -and years passed in the ministry, desired, having performed the -duties of Martha, to give themselves up wholly to those of Mary by -leading the life of contemplation. For this purpose the locality is -very well suited, for there is nothing in it to disturb the calm of -prayer and contemplation. But it did not serve much for this end, -because it was soon found by experience that these servants of God, -the aged ministers, were of much more usefulness in the ministries, -since their example and authority were very efficacious for the -spiritual increase of faith and devotion in the Indians. Teaching -and doctrine were received much better from such venerable ministers, -who were well known, loved, and regarded. It was also found that the -example of these venerable fathers was of great use to those who -had newly entered upon the ministry, since they could not fail to -venerate and follow the acts and the teaching which they beheld in -these ancient and venerable ministers. Even though there are some -who on account of their great age and infirmity can not continue -in the service, they are of more use in the convent of the city, -where their infirmities may be better cared for, and where their -good example and venerable age are more valuable. The second motive -and object is one which is obviously of great advantage. It is found -that in the city convalescence takes place slowly, or not at all; -therefore those who are being treated for any sickness leave the city -for their convalescence, by the advice of the physicians. If the order -did not have this convent outside of the city, in a situation which -is healthful and where the air is good--which is what convalescents -most require--the religious would be obliged to ask for permission to -go for their convalescence to the farms or fruit-gardens of laymen, -which are never so appropriate as the convent. Now that they have this -convent, no permission is granted to go for convalescence to any other -place, which is to the great advantage of the province. Also when a -religious is worn out and afflicted by the heats of the city, which -are very great, he is permitted to go and obtain some refreshment and -ease at San Juan del Monte, and soon returns to his labors in the city -with new energy; and this, too, is of great value. While the fathers -were assembled at this chapter an event occurred which caused special -awe in the hearts of the religious, and created greater respect for -the sacred constitutions which we promise to observe. Even when the -obligation does not involve a matter of sin, even venial sin, still -the Lord desires us to keep them with the greatest accuracy--not -only in matters of importance, but even in the less significant -ones. It was a very extraordinary incident, and one which seems -to have happened like the blindness of the man who was born blind, -as the gospel tells us, "not because of his own sins nor those of -his fathers, but for the glory of God." Although there was a fault, -it was such a fault as the Lord is accustomed to pass over (and even -greater ones) in us. Therefore it was, as I said, that it seemed to -be for the greater glory of God and of St. Cecilia, who, as we shall -see, had a share in the remedy. There was a religious who came from -the province of Andalucia, in which he had lived in a very devout -convent. It happened one evening that this religious ate between meals -a few capers without the permission and blessing of the superior. This -is something which in the eyes of men did not appear a special fault; -but it was so in the sight of God, who punished this excess. From that -evening the religious suffered from a pain, which seemed to him to be -in his heart. Although from evening to evening it sometimes was very -severe, still it was not of such a nature that on account of it they -hesitated to ordain him, or, after he was ordained, prohibited him -from the use of the orders which he had received. He came into these -regions, and went as minister to the Indians in Pangasinan. In the -course of time his sufferings increased, and afflicted him to such an -extent that he was prohibited from saying mass, as it was feared that -the malady would attack him during the celebration. During this time -when he did not celebrate mass, his malady continually increased and -afflicted him more than before, so that the religious suffered great -torture; and they gave him great care, and as much comfort as was -consistent with our poverty. In spite of this he grew worse and worse, -and suffered greater afflictions and torments. It attacked him one day, -and they gave him some relics. Thereupon he began to be so furious that -he lifted up and carried along the religious who came to hold him. It -seemed to them that it was some evil spirit which received the holy -thing so ill. The prior at that time, who was father Fray Francisco -de Morales, afterward a holy martyr in Japon, asked permission of the -father provincial to exorcise him. While he was saying the litany, -the grimaces and gestures made by the afflicted man were many; but -when the prior reached the glorious name of the martyr St. Cecilia, -his fury became so great that with the torment of it he fell to the -ground, deprived of strength as if in a faint. Now it happened that -this religious was very devoted to this most illustrious saint, and -had composed a special office which he used to recite out of devotion -to her. He had even abandoned his own proper surname, and was called -and called himself "de Sancta Cecilia." Although he did not perceive it -himself, this was of great aid to him against the devil who tormented -him; therefore it was that the evil spirit resented it so much when -the religious invoked her. When the religious saw this, they called -upon her many times, and all those present made a vow to fast for a -day on bread and water, from reverence for this saint. The provincial -vowed to celebrate a feast in her honor, and the church and an altar -were prepared for saying a mass to her with great solemnity. All the -religious were with the afflicted friar in the choir, singing the -mass to the saint. At the first Kyrie, he began to be changed; and, -when the priest said the first prayer, the noise which he made in -the choir was so great that he disturbed the ministers who were at -the altar. While they were singing in the creed the words Ex Maria -Virgine, et homo factus est [of the Virgin Mary and was made man] -the noise became very much greater; and at the lifting up of the Host -his sobs and groans and cries were so loud that, to avoid exciting -the people in the church, they kept sounding clarions to the end of -the mass. They took him from the choir to the oratory. Here in the -presence of all the religious gathered together, he performed an act -of humility, saying that his faults had brought him to this wretched -state, and begging them to pray to God to pardon him; and that, if -it was best for him to suffer all the pains of hell, he was ready to -receive them. He asked permission of the provincial to kiss the feet -of those who were present. The provincial comforted him, and they went -on with the exorcism, during which the devil became calmer. The friar -answered all the questions which were put to him, and, when they gave -him the holy cross, he kissed it with reverence. These were evidences -of his recovery. The friar became so weary that it was necessary for -him to repose. When he lay down to sleep it seemed to him, whether -in dreams or not he could not tell, that the devil complained of -being suffocated, that a religious was repeating exorcisms to him, -and that the glorious St. Cecilia came to his assistance. On the -following day the religious fasted, as they had promised, on bread -and water, and repeated the exorcisms. During them it became evident -that the evil guest had departed, and that he must be one of those of -whom the Lord said that they are not to be cast out except by fasting -and prayer. There was no more necessity of cure for that malady. As a -result, the religious became very much devoted to this glorious saint, -who has favored the order on many other occasions; and they became -very fearful of violating the constitutions, when they saw that the -Lord was zealous for them in such a manner. Among the babblings which -the Father of Lies muttered through the mouth of the afflicted friar, -it was noticed that when he was directed to read the epistle in -the mass of the cross, where the apostle says, Christus factus est -pro nobis obediens usque ad mortem, [29] he read pro vobis [i.e., -"for your sake"], excluding the devils from the benefit of the holy -Passion. When one of those present said that Christ our Lord had not -died for devils, the proud one answered immediately: "Then we have the -less to be thankful for." When he reached the words of the apostle, -that "at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in -heaven, on earth, and in the hells," he refused to utter this last -word, which affects the devils; and, when they forced him to utter -it, he answered that it was enough to say that every tongue should -confess that He was seated at the right hand of the Father. All this -was to continue further the pride with which he was always tormented. - -At the same time, at the end of April, those religious reached -Manila whom father Fray Diego de Soria had collected in España -during the previous year. He assembled them at the port, where he -delivered them to father Fray Thomas Hernandez, [30] father Fray -Diego remaining in España to collect and conduct another company, -in which he succeeded. The body of friars which arrived at this time -was one of the best which had come to this province. [31] It contained -fourteen members from the colleges of the provinces of España, Aragon -and Romana. These were all very superior in ability and advanced in -knowledge, and still more so in religion and virtue. The provinces -of España were not a little grieved to lose them. There, however, -there was a very easy remedy because of the many who were left behind; -while for this province these friars were of the greatest value, and -have given it dignity and support in various ways, in the offices that -belong to it. It appeared from the beginning that the Lord gave them -His benediction, and such a spirit of constancy and firmness that, -although they had the most urgent reasons for remaining behind, not one -of those who were designated failed to come. This is something which -probably never happened with any other shipload. There also came many -besides [the fourteen above mentioned], taking the chance as to their -being desired, which was an even greater marvel. This was in the year -sixty-one, when Sevilla was afflicted with the plague. It was here -that the religious were to assemble, and to wait for the sailing of -the fleet. On the road, they met many who asked them where they were -going. When they answered, "To Sevilla," those that heard them were -amazed and answered: "You see, fathers, that we, who are inhabitants -of Sevilla, have abandoned our houses and our fortunes almost to -destruction, fleeing from the plague there. Are your Reverences going -to place yourselves in the midst of it?" But nothing sufficed to -prevent a single one of them from continuing his journey, for they -regarded dying in such an enterprise as good fortune, and death on -such a journey as happy. At the court father Fray Thomas Hernandez -and three companions who were with him found the father provincial -of España, who at that time was the father master Fray Andres de -Caso, an intimate friend of him who at that time was president of -the Indias. He said to them, "Where are you going? There is no fleet, -for the president of the Indias has told me so." In spite of all this, -the religious were all moved by a higher impulse; and although it was -true that, on account of the plague, it had been ordered that there -should be no fleet, one was afterward permitted to sail. The religious -reached Sevilla after much hardship; because in many places they were -unwilling to admit them to the towns, or to private houses, or even -to our own convents, so great was the fear of the plague. They were -even unwilling to be satisfied with the evidence that the religious -brought with them that they were healthy. When they reached Sevilla -they saw the plague-stricken taken almost dead to the hospitals and -even this did not frighten them. They were in the Guerta del Corco -[i.e., "garden of the deer"]; and there one of them was taken with the -plague, and was carried suddenly off in two more days. Even then, not -one of them even thought of giving up the voyage, although they saw -the plague and death within the house where they were dwelling. The -Lord favored them so that no one else took the plague. When they saw -the danger more clearly, they gave greater thanks to Him who had not -only rescued them from it, but had taken from them the fear which -they naturally had of it--especially as they had almost all come on -foot, asking alms, all the way from the innermost parts of Castilla -la Vieja; and though they were persons who were not inured to that -sort of hardship, and therefore were the more likely to fall sick, -especially in a season of plague. [The religious who died was Fray -Juan de Solis, a son of the licentiate Jofre de Solis. He was a -man of jovial disposition and fond of company, but corrected his -weakness when he proposed to go to the Philippinas. His relatives and -several of his fellow-friars tried to dissuade him, but he insisted -upon going. In Sevilla, as there was no lay religious with them, he -undertook the duty of cooking for the rest of the company; and it may -be that the great heat and consequent exhaustion were the reasons for -his being taken by the plague.] When the religious reached Sevilla, -they were received with much joy and charity by father Fray Diego -de Soria. Everything they had--their books, their clothes, their -money, and everything, down to their very handkerchiefs--all became -common property; if they had any debts unpaid, the community took -charge of these, and the religious were left without any care, and -even without the use of anything for themselves, except the habit -which they wore. From that day they even said all their masses for -the community, which provided for every one what he had need of, -while no one possessed anything (not even by permission) except -books. Everything else was in common for all of them; and hence they -did not have to think of carrying anything with them for the voyage, -except the very small outfit provided for the whole company. [On the -voyage they strove to live as much as possible as if they were in a -very strict convent. They encountered a frightful storm, so great that -there was not a single vessel which did not lose at least one mast; -and one of the largest and best of the vessels foundered, although -without loss of life. Even the pilots confessed, which they avoid as -much as possible for fear of disheartening the crew. The ship on which -the religious were was very old, and was being sent on its last voyage, -to be broken up and sold as old lumber in the port. In response to a -vow of the religious, the Virgin of the Rosary showed them grace, and -brought the storm to an end. In Mexico some were sick, but none died; -and not one remained behind. This greatly astonished the fathers of -the province of Mexico, because in every shipload some give up the -distant mission--being wearied by the voyage which they have taken, -fearful of the dangers to come, and pleased with the delightful climate -of Mexico. This shipload was the first which occupied the hospice -of St. Hyacinth, where they lived as if in a convent, following -all the rules of the province. While in the hospice, they studied -and had frequent theological conferences. They very rarely visited -the city. On the journey from Mexico to Acapulco, which is very long -and over a very bad road, many of them went on foot. As this was not -customary at that time, it greatly edified those who saw them. There -was only one ship in from the Philippinas; and this and more were -needed by the governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, for the accommodation -of himself and his troops. But while the religious were praying and -offering vows to the Virgin for her aid, they were rejoiced by the -news that one ship had come in from the Philippinas and two from Peru, -which were all taken to make up the fleet. On the voyage they did much -for the consciences of those who were in their ship, dividing among -themselves all the people, from the admiral and his companions down -to the lowest convict or ship-boy. They taught these men and heard -their confessions, opening the way of peace and liberty to many a -captive and unhappy soul. At the port of Acapulco died father Fray -Vicente de Liaño, a religious of much devotion and patience under -suffering, for he was a confirmed invalid. When they reached Manila -they were immediately distributed by the provincial council, which -was then sitting. The number of religious was the largest that has -entered the province since its establishment. All of the houses in -the province were filled, and enough were left to comply with the -wishes of the king of Satzuma, who had sent to ask for religious.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LV - -The causes of the entry of our religious into Japon, and the -circumstances under which they entered Satzuma. - - -[Christianity in the kingdoms of Japon took its origin from the -Society of Jesus, the first preacher and apostle therein being -St. Francis Xavier. The fathers of this Society had entered Japon -according to the rule of the gospel, without weapons or soldiers, but -with peace and mercy and in the strength of holy living. Christianity -flourished so that the first missionaries were obliged to call in aid; -and they sent for assistance to the Philippinas, where at that time -there were discalced Franciscans and Augustinians, besides members of -the Society. Father Gaspar Coello, vice-provincial of the fathers in -Japon, wrote to the governor, Dr. Santiago de Vera, to the bishop, -Don Fray Domingo de Salacar, and to the guardian of St. Francis, -and the rector of the Society in Manila, urging the establishment of -trade between the Philippinas and Japon. The bishop made a number of -formal inquiries, which were verified before a notary. One is dated -at Nangasaqui, September 11, 1584; and the other from the kingdom -of Fixen, January 24, 1585. The witnesses when asked especially if -it would be an advantage to have religious of various orders, and -especially religious under the vow of poverty, replied unanimously -that such would be very well received. They called to witness the -case of the holy Fray Juan Pobre, a discalced friar who disembarked -in Japon on his way to China, and whom the Japanese, both heathen and -Christian, adored. It must be admitted that soon afterward the fathers -of the Society in Japon changed their opinion, in spite of the fact -that the extension of Christianity in Japon required more laborers in -the field and that the empire was large enough for all the religious -orders. God was pleased to put it into the heart of many of the kings, -or tonos, of that realm to send to Manila to ask for religious of all -the orders. The particular reason for the calling of our religious was -as follows: In 1601 a number of Japanese vessels, with many Christians -on them, touched at Manila. A number of these Christians became very -fond of our convent, and often visited it. One of them, by name Juan -Sandaya, brought the captain of his ship to the prior, Fray Francisco -de Morales; and they discussed the possibility of sending religious -of the Order of St. Dominic to Satzuma, whence the captain came. In -the following year a letter was brought from the king of Satzuma, -Tintionguen, inviting them to come to his kingdom. The letter was -dated on the twenty-second day of the ninth month in the sixth year -of Keycho. [32] In response to it religious were sent. Father Fray -Francisco de Morales went as vicar and superior, accompanied by the -fathers Fray Thomas Hernandez, Fray Alonso de Mena, and Fray Thomas del -Spiritu Santo, or Zumarraga, and brother Fray Juan de la Abadia, a lay -brother. [33] They set sail on the day of the most holy Trinity. They -carried but little in the way of temporal things, expecting to live -upon the alms which they should receive in Japon. They rested the first -night in a heathen temple in the island of Coxiqui. [34] The priest of -the idols removed the images, and left the temple unoccupied, and the -fathers consecrated it and set up in it an altar. The Japanese were -very curious about the new missionaries, and were greatly pleased with -them. They were welcomed in a few days by some Japanese gentlemen, -who made them a very ceremonious greeting and welcomed them in the -name of their king. They were escorted to the court of the tono, where -they were honorably received. The black and white colors of the habit -pleased the Japanese, for these are customary in that country; while -the eating of fish as an ordinary article of food is very common in -Japon. They also greatly admired the devotion of the fathers to study, -for they esteem their boncos [or "bonzes"] in proportion as they are -learned; but what above all they admired was the contempt of these -fathers for comforts and worldly advantages. The favor with which -the religious were received enraged the priests of the idols, who -insisted that the Japanese princes who had become Christians had been -unfortunate. They mentioned the instance of Don Augustin Tzunotami, -[35] a great and valiant lord who had been destroyed by the emperor; -also that of Don Francisco, the king of Bungo, [36] who had been -conquered and lost his life; while this kingdom of Satzuma had been -protected by its devotion to its gods, and especially to Faquiman, -who is their god of war. It was no wonder that two Christian princes -should have been overwhelmed when thousands of heathen had suffered -the same overthrow, but the idol priests passed that over. The emperor -intervened, and enacted a decree that no king or tono, and not even -any gentleman of distinction, should become a Christian. The king -of Satzuma, however, would not banish the religious, but gave them -permission to build a church and a house. Not infrequently, however, -they were forgotten, and did not receive their customary supply of -rice. The fathers converted the family of the man in whose house they -lived, and made a chapel in the oratory of the house. The queen was -desirous of seeing the image of the Virgin which was set up in the -chapel; and it was carried to the palace, and there worshiped with -the greatest respect by the chief personages of the court. The king, -being unable to make up his mind how to treat the religious because -of the opposition of the emperor, permitted them, at their request, -to return to the island of Quoxiqui, where they had landed, and -where they had something of an establishment. Here they suffered -from the rigors of the Japanese winter in a wretched hut. They had -insufficient food, and received very small alms. In case of illness, -it was impossible to give the sick man any treatment, or even proper -food. The Lord, however, preserved them; and the tono at last, pitying -them and being edified by their way of living, offered them a town, -the income derived from which would suffice to maintain them. This -they declined, as being against the rule of the province to which they -belonged. The king was much amazed, and gave them some interpreters -to speak for them when they preached. Being on an island seven leguas -at sea, they could not preach to advantage, or learn the language; -the king gave them permission to build a house and a church in the -city of Quiodomari. They said their first mass here on the day of -the Visitation of the Virgin Mary in 1606. Here the fathers made a -number of conversions, although they were permitted to baptize only -the common people, the conversion of persons of rank or of soldiers -being forbidden. Some, however, came secretly and were baptized. One -of them, a soldier by the name of Leon, received the crown of martyrdom -in four months.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LVI - -Another mission of the religious to the kingdom of Camboja - - -In España many times the conquest of Camboja, Sian, and Champan, -neighboring kingdoms, was much discussed. The theologians whom his -Majesty consulted declared that this conquest was justified within -certain limitations. As captain-general was appointed the Conde de -Bailen. There came to Manila in 1603 an embassy from the new king -[of Camboja] asking for the friendship of the governor, for a force -of soldiers, and, most important of all, for religious to come and -preach the gospel. The king disclaimed any part in the murders which -had been committed a few years before by the king his predecessor (who -was his nephew), and by the Malay Moros whom that king favored. By -them all the Portuguese and Castilians who were there had been slain, -except one who made his escape. [37] This new king had had nothing -to do with that murder, because he was at the time a prisoner and -captive in Sian, and had been taken from prison there to the kingdom -at the death of his nephew, who had been slain by the Malay Moros -whom he had favored. They had taken possession of the kingdom, -thus rewarding the ungrateful treachery which he had shown to the -Spaniards, although they had restored him to his kingdom. At this time -the governor of these islands was Don Pedro de Acuña, a man of noble -birth and a brave soldier, a devoted servant of his Majesty, and a -true Christian. In this same year the Lord had given him a glorious -victory over fifteen or sixteen thousand Chinese who attacked this -city, of whom scarcely one was left alive, the Lord aiding this noble -gentleman and the few Spaniards who were in Manila. Not long afterward -He gave him the great victory by which Maluco was recovered and given -into the possession of his Majesty, without the loss of a man, which -greatly enhanced the victory. [The governor was delighted by this -embassy from Camboja, and sent to ask preachers of the order which -had spent so much and labored so hard to introduce the gospel among -these tribes. The province immediately appointed father Fray Iñigo -de Santa Maria as vicar, and, as associates and apostolic preachers, -father Fray Geronimo de Belen [38] and father Fray Alonso Collar, or -de Santa Cathalina--whom the governor despatched with six Spaniards, -letters, and a present, in a good frigate. They had bad weather, -and were obliged to touch at Cochinchina and to coast along the -kingdom of Champan, where they were attacked by Indians when they -went on shore to get fresh water. They reached the port of Camboja -called Chordemuco, in April. The king received them with great marks -of honor, showing particular favor to the religious. The kingdom -was in constant disturbance, but the king was greatly encouraged -even by the presence of these Spaniards. He was greatly desirous of -receiving further assistance from the Philippinas; but the fathers -were doubtful whether any ought to come, for fear that things would -turn out as they had before. Some vessels came from Cochinchina, the -captain of one of them being one of those Sangleys who had killed the -governor of the Philippinas (Dasmariñas); he took possession of the -Spanish galley, and became a pirate. He had at this time the title of -ambassador from the king of Cochinchina. Some of the Japanese knew him, -since he had stolen a ship from them; and they wished to kill him, -but were restrained by the religious. Soon after, when some more -Japanese vessels came into port, they plotted against the man, and -took his life, before the fathers could hinder them. At this time the -fathers and the Spaniards suffered great risks, because the Siamese, -the Chinese, and the Cochin-chinese, and much more the Malay Moros, -who were all assembled here, hate Christianity. There was promise of -much disquiet and many factions; and, to pacify them, the king asked -one of the fathers to go to Manila and to ask for reenforcements -of soldiers and for more fathers, promising to pay the soldiers, -who might defend and guard those who were converted. Father Fray -Iñigo went back for that purpose. The priests, or bonços, frequented -our church and approved our manner of life, giving hopes of their -conversion if the religious should remain. Some conversions were made, -and the manner of life of the fathers greatly impressed all the people -of the city. On his way back to Manila, father Fray Yñigo lost his -life. He was a son of San Estevan at Salamanca, and was almost one -of the first who came to this province, having been sent as a result -of the activity of the first bishop of these islands, and of his -associate, Fray Miguel de Venavides. He was a great preacher and -very devout in prayer. He was elected to the priory of Manila, and -was most useful in enlightening the consciences of the inhabitants -of that city. He was most devoted to St. Cecilia and to St. Ursula; -and when he called upon their names, miracles were wrought for him -by the supplying of a convent in Pangasinan with fish at his prayers, -and on other occasions. He showed at some times the spirit of prophecy. - -At the same time there died in Camboja father Fray Alonso Collar or -de Sancta Cathalina. Father Fray Alonso was a native of Cangas de -Tineo, and assumed the habit and professed in Oviedo. He had come -to the province in the previous year (1602), and after beginning -to learn the Chinese language, had been sent by the order of his -superior on this expedition. His death caused great grief in Camboja, -and his funeral was attended like that of one of the grandees of the -nation. His bones were afterwards taken to Manila, that he might be -buried with his brethren. Thus there remained in Camboja, in the -midst of many and great perils, one single religious (Jerónimo de -Belén), who dared not baptize the people, although he had the license -of the king to do so, because of the confusion and disquiet of the -time. Looking for no future success, and knowing the fickleness of -the Indians of that region--who had asked to have missionaries and -soldiers sent to them, and who then had received them so ill, and -had finally killed them--he wrote back asking permission to return; -this was granted him by the provincial, until such time as the affairs -of this kingdom should promise greater stability and quiet.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LVII - -Some misfortunes which happened at this time, and the experience of -the religious during them - - -The city of Manila is the finest and richest of its size known in all -the world. It is of great strength, being almost surrounded by the -sea and by a large river, which wash its walls. It is the capital and -court city of these islands, where the governor and captain-general -of them has his residence, as well as the royal Audiencia and -Chancillería. Here is situated the largest garrison of soldiers, -with its master-of-camp, sargento-mayor, and captains. From here are -sent out the forces and garrisons subject to this government, which -are very many and very wide-spread, for it includes Maluco and the -island of Hermosa--one of them almost under the torrid zone, and the -other almost within view of Great China and very near Japon. This -city makes the name of España renowned and feared throughout all -these neighboring kingdoms; for, although its inhabitants and its -soldiers are few, yet by the aid of the Lord, whose faith they spread -abroad, they have performed so many glorious exploits that even the -barbarians of the smallest capacity have come to esteem above measure -their greatness, when they see the Spaniards always victorious over -enemies who so surpass them in number that experience only might make -such victories credible. As a kind father with his son, whose good he -desires, not only strives to give him honor and wealth, but in time -provides him with punishment and discipline, therefore, after our Lord -had made the city illustrious with glorious victories and had filled -it with riches, then in the year 1604, at the end of April, He sent -upon it a fire which, defying all efforts to control it, burned to the -ground a third part of the city--with such swiftness that many had no -opportunity to escape it (although the fire occurred about midday), -and they perished in the flames; while the loss of wealth was so -great that it can hardly be believed. Hearing the news of the fire, -which was at some distance from our convent, the religious went to -help extinguish it; for on such occasions as this they labor more -and have more confidence than others. In a moment, as if it were -flying, the fire reached our convent; and since there was no one -to protect it, it was almost wholly burnt, the Lord leaving only so -much as was necessary to supply a crowded shelter for the religious, -without being obliged to go to the house of any other person. In -this we were among the more fortunate who escaped; for the fire was -so extensive that others had not even this small comfort. Many who -on that morning were rich, and had great houses and great wealth, -had that night no house where they might lodge or shelter themselves, -such is at times the fury of this terrible element. - -At the beginning of October in this same year, this city, and -consequently all the islands, were in great danger of being lost, -because of a revolt against it of the Chinese who lived near it. The -event happened in the following way. In the previous year, in one of -the merchant vessels which come to this city from China every year -there arrived three persons of authority, who are called by the -Spaniards "mandarins." These are their judges or leading officers -in war. They entered the city, borne on men's shoulders, on gilded -ivory seats, having the insignia of magistracy: and they were received -with the display due to ambassadors of so powerful a king. They had -come to search for a mountain which a Chinese, named Tiongong, had -described to his king as being all gold. The name of this mountain -was Cavite, and from it he promised to bring back to China ships -laden with gold. The mandarins made their investigations, for which -purpose they carried Tiongong with them; and when they reached the -place which he described, they found no mountain of gold, nor any -sign of one. When they accused him of fraud and deceit, he answered, -"If you wish it to be gold, it is gold" (referring to the ornaments -which the Indians wear, and much more to the wealth of the Spaniards); -"if you wish it to be sand, it is sand." All this was done in the sight -of the Spaniards, who came there with a good deal of interest to know -the reason why these mandarins had come so far away from their regular -duties--and especially their chief, who was, as it were, sargento-mayor -of the province of Chincheo, one of the most prominent officers in -their army. The whole thing aroused suspicion; and the archbishop, -Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, a friar of our habit and a religious -of this province, urged the governor to send them back immediately, -that they might not perceive how small a force the Spaniards had, -and might not make the other reconnoissances which are customary -when foreign cities or kingdoms are to be attacked. They feared that -China was intending an attack upon us. The religious of the order, -as they knew the language, visited the mandarins and learned from them -that this Tiongong meant to inform the king that the wealth of these -islands in the hands of Spaniards and Indians was great; and that, -if he would send ships and forces, he might easily make himself lord -of it all. They accordingly urged the governor to hasten sending -the mandarins away, and he did so. After this event the Spaniards -did not rest secure, but were very fearful that the king of China, -being a heathen, might be carried away by avarice, and might be greedy -for the great wealth which this trickster offered him. Since he was -a very powerful king, his resources would certainly be greater than -this country could resist without great damage to itself. Even if the -city were to be victorious, the result would be its destruction. It -would lose a great many of its people, and the indignation of the -king would be aroused because of his defeat. He would therefore -take away their commerce from them, without which this country could -not be sustained. All these reasonings and considerations made the -Spaniards very anxious and suspicious. Their suspicions were very -greatly increased when the heathen Chinese kept saying that they -believed a fleet would come the next year. This was heard by some -Chinese Christians who were so in truth; and they went immediately -and told it to our religious who had the direction of them. There -were some of them who put on false hair that they might look like -heathen, and went with studied negligence to the alcaiceria [i.e., -"silk market"] where the heathen lived, and heard their conversations -at night with reference to the coming of the fleet. They immediately -reported these things to their religious, and they to the governor -and the archbishop. The archbishop, in a sermon preached at the feast -of the most holy Sacrament in our convent, informed the governor and -the city that they ought to make preparations, because the Chinese -were about to rebel. Although the governor knew all these things, -because he had been told of them by our religious, on the aforesaid -authority, he could never be persuaded that the Chinese were going to -rebel, because of the great harm and the little or no advantage which -they would receive from the revolt. Yet, to make ready for what might -happen, he began to show special kindness to the Japanese who lived -near Manila, and to prepare them so that in case of necessity they -might be on the side of the Spaniards. He followed the same plan with -the Indians, directing them to prepare themselves with arms and arrows, -to be ready if they should be needed. None of this was conceded from -the Chinese, for it could not be kept secret from so many; and they -even heard with their own ears the most prominent people in Manila say: -"We cannot go out against the Chinese, if they come with a fleet, -and leave behind us such a multitude as there is around the city; -so, if we have news that there is a fleet of the Chinese, we shall -have to kill all there are here, and go out and meet those who are -coming." This kind of talk greatly afflicted them; and besides this, -the more ignorant class of people already began to look at them as -enemies, and treated them very badly. The result was that they became -very much disquieted and fearful. In addition, there were not lacking -some to go and tell them lies, bidding them be on their guard, for on -such and such a day the Spaniards were going to break out upon them. In -proof of this lie they called their attention to some facts which the -Sangleys could see--for instance, that all the Spaniards were getting -ready their weapons, and the Indians were making new ones, though -they had no other enemies, unless it were the Chinese. At last, more -out of fear than from any purpose of their own, they rose in revolt, -insomuch that some of them were seen to go where others had fortified -themselves, weeping bitterly because they saw their destruction, -but feeling that there was no other means to save their lives. The -governor and the Audiencia made great efforts to undeceive them and -to pacify them, but nothing that was done gave them any security. On -the contrary, it seemed to them a trick to catch them unawares. It -was a pity to see them leave their houses, which were many, and flee -without knowing where, or considering how they were to obtain food -for so great a multitude. Some of them in this affliction hanged -themselves, to avoid the miseries which as they saw would befall -them if they revolted, and the violent death which they feared if -they did not rise. Finally, on the eve of the glorious St. Francis, -they threw off the mask and came forward as declared rebels against -the city. Sounding warlike music and waving banners, they began to -burn houses and to kill people; and on that night they attacked in a -body the town of Binondo, which is composed of Christians of their -own nation. Their purpose was to force these to join them; but our -religious, to whom the teaching of these Chinese was committed, caused -the women and children to be brought for protection to the church, -while the Chinese Christians took their arms and defended the town -under the leadership of the good knight Don Luis Perez das Mariñas, -who lived there next our church. With twenty arquebusiers, who were -on guard in that town, they drove the enemy back without suffering -any damage. The enemy, however, inflicted injury upon those who were -at work in the fields, many of whom were taken by surprise and were -compelled to join them or to suffer death. They also attacked the -church and town of Tondo, which belongs to the religious of our father -St. Augustine. As the latter had provided against them by a Spanish -guard, they did no harm. After having defended the town all night, -Don Luis das Mariñas sent one of our religious to the governor before -daylight, asking for some troops to attack the Chinese rebels who had -fortified themselves near the town of Tondo, not far from Manila. He -was of the opinion that as these people had spent all the night, -disturbed themselves and disturbing others, they would be tired and -sleepy, so that it would be easy to inflict great losses on them. The -governor took the matter before a council of war; all approved, and -he sent his nephew, Don Thomas de Acuña, with more than a hundred men, -the best in the camp, together with some of the men of highest rank in -the city, who desired to accompany the nephews of the governor and the -archbishop, who went with this party. This small force was regarded -as sufficient to attack more than six thousand who were said to have -banded together and to be in fortifications--so little did they regard -the Chinese. The Spanish, marching in good order, met at least three -hundred Chinese enemies, and, attacking them, put them immediately to -flight. They were near some large plantations of sugar-cane, in which -the Chinese concealed themselves; and the Spaniards followed them, -being thus divided and brought into disorder. The rebels were posted -not far from there, and, when they saw the Spaniards in disorder, -they all sallied out against them, and, surrounding them, killed -them almost to a man, although with great loss on their own side. As -a result, they plucked up courage to advance against the city, and -to try to make an entry into it. For this purpose they made some -machines of wood, much higher than the wall. They came forward with -these, with no small spirit, but soon lost their courage because, -before the machines were brought into position, they were destroyed by -the artillery, which inflicted much damage upon the enemy. So, after -some slight encounters, they abandoned the siege and fled into the -country. Against them was despatched the sargento-mayor, Christobal de -Azcueta, with as many Spanish soldiers, Indians, and Japanese as could -be got together. As a result of the good order which he maintained, -the Chinese were killed off little by little, until there was not left -a man of them. This was accomplished without any harm to our troops, -for, no matter how much the Chinese strove to force them to give a -general battle, they constantly refused it; but they kept the Chinese -in sight while they were marching, and halted whenever they halted, -surrounding themselves with a palisade of stakes which they carried -for the purpose. These they arranged not in one line, but in two, -so that in case of attack--and many attacks were made--before the -Chinese could reach the palisades and pass them, the Spaniards with -their arquebuses and arrows killed the greater number of them. The -loss of life was especially great among the most courageous, who -led the van; while the rest turned back in terror, without effecting -anything. Hunger also fought with them powerfully, because, as our -soldiers kept them constantly under surveillance, they could not go -aside to forage. The little food which they had brought from Manila -was quickly exhausted; and, after that was gone, their lives followed -rapidly. Thus by the twentieth of October the war was at an end and -everything was quiet. But the city was greatly in need of all sorts -of things, for all the trades were in the hands of the Chinese, -and, now that they were dead, there was no shoemaker, or tailor, -or dealer in provisions, or any other necessary tradesman; and there -was no hope that they would come again to this country for trade and -commerce. On this account it was determined to send an embassy to -China, to give information as to the facts of the case. There were -appointed as ambassadors Captain Marcos de la Cueba and father Fray -Luis Gandullo, one of our religious--a man of great virtue, sanctity, -and prudence, who had gone to China on two other occasions. They -suffered much hardship on the voyage, but finally succeeded in -their negotiations with the viceroy of the province of Chincheo, -which is the place from which the Chinese come to Manila. After he -had given them license to get a supply of ammunition for the city, -he dismissed them, promising to continue the trade. This promise was -carried into effect, for in the following year there came thirteen -ships; and from that day forward everything has gone on as if nothing -of what has been narrated had ever taken place. - - - - - -CHAPTER LVIII - -The election as provincial of father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho and -the coming of religious - - -On May 9, 1604, father Fray Juan de Santo Thomas having completed -his term as provincial, there was elected in his place father Fray -Miguel de San Jacintho, a religious of much prudence, great virtue, -and a mind greatly inclined to goodness, and one who loved and honored -those who were good. He exhibited in the course of his office great -talent in governing, watching over the order with great care, and -filling his office with much affability and simplicity, which caused -the religious to love him, and to feel particular satisfaction in him -because they had shown so much wisdom in appointing him as superior of -the province, out of all the many candidates who had been put forward -at that election. His excellent and prudent manner of governing was not -displayed on this occasion for the first time; for he had previously -exhibited his high abilities in such offices when he was elected by -his associates as their superior on the journey from España, that -position having been vacated by the death in Mexico of father Fray -Alonso Delgado, who had come as their vicar. In spite of the youth of -father Fray Miguel, he filled this office so much to the satisfaction -of all that they regarded themselves as fortunate in having found -a superior who looked out so carefully for the advantage of every -one without ever forgetting the general good of the order--which, as -being more universal, takes precedence and commands higher esteem. In -the affairs of the voyage, which are many and full of difficulty, -he conducted himself so well and anticipated them with such accuracy -that it seemed as if all of his life had been spent in the office of -conducting religious. This is a function that calls for many diverse -qualities, difficult to find united in a single person unless he is a -man of so superior a nature as was father Fray Miguel. When he arrived -in the province, they sent him to the district of Nueva Segovia. Here -he was one of the first missionaries and founders of this conversion; -and was one of the best and most careful, most beloved by the Indians, -and most devoted to his duties as a religious, who had ever been in -that province. He suffered all the hardships and necessities, the -poverty and the lack of sustenance, which have been recounted. From -them, although he was a man of strong constitution and fitted to endure -much, the want and the lack of food resulted in causing severe pains -of the stomach. This evidently resulted from hunger, for as soon -as he had a moderate amount of food he was well; but this happened -seldom, and most of the time they had nothing to eat but some wild -herbs which they gathered in the fields, and which were more suited -to purge their stomachs than to sustain their lives. Hence in jest -father Fray Gaspar Zarfate, who was his associate, said to him that -he was greatly in doubt whether they were properly keeping the fasts -prescribed by the constitutions, because they ate the same thing for -supper in the evening as for dinner at noon; for, as they had nothing -else, they ate quilites at noon for dinner, and quilites at night for -supper. There were received at this chapter the church and house of -Nuestra Señora del Rosario [i.e., "Our Lady of the Rosary"] in the -kingdom of Satzuma in Japon; and, in the province of Nueva Segovia, -those of San Vicente in Tocolano, San Miguel in Nasiping, San Pedro -in Tuguegarao, San Raymundo in Lobo, Sancta Ynes de Monte Policiano -in Pia, Santa Cathalina de Sena in Nabunanga (which is now in the -village of Yguig), and Nuestra Señora de la Asuncion ["Our Lady of -the Assumption"] in Talama. These were all villages which had been -waiting for religious; and as the bishop of that region, Don Fray -Diego de Soria, a religious of the order and of this province, had -written that he was about to come back to it with a large following of -religious, the new provincial was encouraged to take the charge of so -many new churches and villages which were so much in need of teaching, -for they had never had any, and were nearly all heathen. The good -bishop did not fail of his promise. He had been one of the first and -most prominent founders of this province, had seen and passed through -the great sufferings which the establishment of it required, and had -likewise had his share in the great harvest which the religious had -reaped in these regions. He therefore loved it much, and strove with -all his might to increase it; and hence, when he was about to come -to his bishopric, he endeavored to bring with him a goodly number -of excellent religious. The vicar in charge of them was father Fray -Bernabe de Reliegos, a son of the distinguished convent of San Pablo -at Valladolid, where in the course of time he went after some years -to die, leaving the religious highly edified by his happy death, -which was to be expected from his very devoted life. The example -which they gave on the way from their convents to Sevilla was such -that it highly edified the people of the towns through which they -passed. The religious who set out from San Pablo at Valladolid -were four in number, and they made their way to the port on foot, -asking alms and sustaining themselves solely by what the Lord gave to -them as to His poor. Although on some occasions they suffered from -need because there was no one to give them sufficient alms, they -never made use of the money which the superior had sent them for the -journey--esteeming more highly that which was given them for the love -of God, and putting aside the shame which begging alms at the doors -brings with it. They came to a small hamlet in the Sierra Morena, and, -though they went two by two to search for lodgings, they found none, -and still less did they find any food. Hence in their need, which was -great because they had gone on foot, they went to find the alcalde, -to lay their necessities before him. After he had several times -refused to see them, he at last admitted them at night, and sent -them to a house with orders that they should receive the friars. A -gentleman from Baeca was there, who, seeing that they were poor, had -compassion upon them and sent a page to invite them to eat dinner, -although he had already dined before the religious could reach the -house. They thanked him for these alms, but declined them, saying that -the alcalde of the town had provided for their dinner and lodging; -and the gentleman sent them forty reals in charity, saying that he -did not send them more because he was journeying on business to the -court, where the expenses were so great that they left him no more -with which he could help the friars, as he wished to do. That the Lord -permits such needs is not due to His lack of power or of love, and He -ordinarily makes up for them with similar or greater recompenses. In -Baylen they went around the town two by two, and when they had all -come together, without obtaining more than two or three cuartos in -alms, night came upon them without any inn or lodging. A man was -following their path who had noticed what happened to them, and he -offered them his house. They thanked him, and accepted his charity; -but the house was nothing but a poor peddler's shed, three brazas long -and two wide, and, that he might take them in, he sent his wife that -night to sleep elsewhere. But a house of charity could not fail to -be large and spacious, and hence the religious rested in it with much -satisfaction and joy. In the morning the Lord paid the charitable host -for the lodging; for the conde, learning of what had happened, called -him to appear in presence of the religious, thanked him for what he -had done, and, promising him his favor for the future, forced a man who -had done our host some wrong, some days before, to recompense him for -it immediately. Thus he went away happier than if it had been a feast -day, though this is not the principal pay for such works, for they -earn glory in the sight of God. All the religious reached Sevilla, -and set sail on St. John's day in a small vessel to go to Cadiz and -take ship. At noon they were at a considerable distance from land, -and the master of the ship was very inattentive. The religious saw -three vessels with lateen sails following them, and were amused at -these because they had never seen that kind of sail before. This -called the attention of the master, and he went up and looked at -them. Seeing that they were Moorish vessels, he trimmed his sails, -and turning the helm, set out to run ashore. When he succeeded, he -said: "Some saint is sailing in this boat, on whose account our Lord -has delivered us today from falling into the hands of Moors; for it -is they who were chasing us with their light sails and swift boats, -from which it was impossible that this heavy bark with its heavy load -should have escaped, if some superior power had not been watching over -us by some saint who has been traveling with your Reverences." On the -following day it was learned that at that very same place some people -who had taken the same voyage had been captured, wherefore they saw -themselves obliged anew to render most humble thanks to the Lord -for His singular mercy and kindness. They went on board the ships; -and when the fleet was sailing in the gulf which on account of its -restlessness and the many waves which are always there, is called -Golfo de las Yeguas [i.e., "Gulf of the Mares"], two sailors fell -overboard from the flagship--an accident which often happens when they -are working in confusion at a critical moment. The flagship--not being -able to help them, since it was carried on and separated from them by -the wind--gave a signal, by discharging a piece, to the ships that -followed it that they should try to pick up the men. As none of the -other ships was able to go to their help, that one on which were the -bishop and the religious hove to; but, on account of the excitement of -the moment, they failed to do so with proper caution and prudence. The -rudder was brought over with all the sails up so that the head of the -ship was brought down dangerously, and the whole bow as far back as the -foremast went under water. That there might not be one accident only, -the violence of the wind and the burden of the sails and the force of -the waves jerked the tiller [pinçote] from those who were at the helm, -and swung it across fast under the biscuit hatchway, leaving the ship -without means to steer it when that was most needed. The hatchway was -closed, and no key was to be found. The ship was going to the bottom, -being submerged in the water, and the waves, which were like mountains, -were beating on its sides, so that the mariners in alarm were shouting, -"We are lost, we are going to the bottom and cannot help ourselves, -for want of a rudder and direction." "Let us turn," said the bishop, -"to our Mother and Lady, the mother of God, and let us promise to -fast in her honor for three days on bread and water if by her help -we may receive our lives." The religious did so, and, falling down -in prayer, they supplicated her for aid; and instantly--a proper work -for the divine pity and that of the Mother of Compassion--the tiller, -or stem of the rudder, came out, of itself, from the hole into which it -had gone. This was contrary to the common expectation in the ordinary -course of similar cases; for the hole was very small, and therefore -it was very difficult for anything which had once entered it to be -brought back again. Four men quickly caught it, and, bringing it -across with great strength, turned the ship back into its course. The -seamen were in amazement at this extraordinary event; and, as they -had had experience in like cases, they regarded it as the favor and -benefit of our Lady who had been invoked by her afflicted and unhappy -chaplains. Therefore to her the religions rendered devout and humble -thanks, and with great joy fulfilled the vow which they had made. - -On its voyage the fleet touched at the island of Guadalupe for wood -and water. This island was inhabited by a barbarous and inhuman race, -bare of any sort of clothing, and (what is worse) bare of any sort -of pity; for they had no pity upon those who, without doing them any -harm, came there to get water which would be wasted in the sea, and -wood for which they had no use whatsoever. There were in the fleet -the Marqués de Montes Claros, going to be viceroy of Nueva España, -and, as commander, Don Fulgencio de Meneses y Toledo; and on the eve -of our father St. Dominic, twenty-five soldiers having gone ashore as -a guard with an ensign in command, all those on board the fleet went -ashore and mass was said as the religious had desired. After that, -the religious and all the rest went to wash their clothes and to -bathe themselves, of which there was great need. The sailors went to -get wood and water. Being all more widely scattered than was proper, -they failed to keep a proper lookout, when they ought to have been more -on their guard against the peril which menaced them. The islanders, -taking advantage of the opportunity to carry out their evil purpose, -came down close to them, being hidden in the thick undergrowth of -the mountain. They began to shoot arrows at the Spaniards when the -Spaniards were not keeping a lookout, and when they themselves had -the advantage. This they did so rapidly and in such numbers that it -seemed as if it rained arrows. When the Indians were perceived many -were already wounded, and much blood had been shed. The surprise -and confusion threw the crew into a panic, and huddling together in -a frightened group they fled, each man striving to put himself in -safety--one leaping into the boat to go back to the ship; another -throwing himself into the sea, which was then regarded as more -pitiful than the land; still another hiding himself among the trees -and letting the savages pass as they shot their arrows at those -whom they found ahead of them, and letting them pick up as spoils -the clothes which he had been washing, or which were now being dried -after the washing. Those who could do least to resist the attack of -the islanders were the religious; and hence many of them fell wounded -and others dead, for it was easier to draw their souls from them than -to draw out the arrows. Three of them hid themselves in a thicket, -where the Lord delivered them from a shower of arrows which were shot -after them as they went to hide. Holding a little [image of] Christ -in their hands, they begged him earnestly that he would blind the -savages that they might not see them and might pass them by. The Lord -heard them, and thus, though the islanders saw them hide themselves -and shot many arrows after them, yet the arrows did not strike them; -and the Indians, who are keener than mastiffs in discovering people, -could not find them, though they passed the place where they were. - -The wounded were: father Fray Juan Luis de Guete, a son of the convent -of Preachers in Valencia, in whose spine an arrow was fastened, being -stopped by the bone; father Fray Juan Naya, a son of the convent of San -Pedro Martyr at Calatayud, who escaped with a wound in his arm where -an arrow had passed through it; and father Fray Jacintho Calvo, who -was struck twice. He was a son of the convent of La Peña de Francia, -where in course of time he hung up one of the arrows. The wounds were -not so penetrating as to take their lives; but they made the fathers -very happy because here, with this blessed beginning, they had begun -to shed their blood for the Lord who had redeemed them with His own, -and for the gospel which they were going to preach in His service. The -religious who died there were six. They were so picked and selected -among all the rest that, as they were the cream of all the others, -it was plain that that which the islanders had done en masse was, -so far as concerned the Lord, a most particular providence of His -who had directed the arrows against the best and the ripest of the -religious that they might be offered as early fruit on the table of -the supreme Father, as something in which one may safely assert that -He takes much pleasure. Three of these holy martyrs were children -of the most religious convent of Preachers in Valencia, which, -as it is so prolific in saints, naturally had here the greater -share. The first was father Fray Juan de Moratalla, a native of -Murcia, a religious of noble example, great mortification, silence, -modesty, and composure. [He was devoted to prayer and solitude, -and to the good of others. The second was father Fray Vicente Palao -Valenciano, a religious very precise in his observance of the rules, -and such as a priest ought to be. The third was Fray Juan Martinez, -a priest, an Aragonese, a religious of purest and holiest life. The -fourth was Fray Juan Cano, a native of Burgo de Osma, a son of San -Pablo de Valladolid, young in age, old in virtue. The fifth religious -was Fray Pedro Moreno, a deacon, a native of Villalba, a son of the -royal convent of Sancta Cruz at Segovia, and a member of the most -illustrious college of San Gregorio at Valladolid. He was devoted -to prayer and to silent meditation. At his death the Lord wrought a -miracle by enabling him to make his way to the seashore, where he died -in prayer, and was afterward found beneath the water in the attitude -of prayer. The sixth religious was Fray Jacintho de Cistenes, a son -of the convent at Valencia, and a native of that noble city. He was -young in age but venerable for his virtue. The Lord had revealed to -him that he should die on the day of St. Lawrence, as he actually did, -after suffering for some time from his mortal wound. [39]] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIX - -The erection of some churches, which took place at this time - - -The religious who were coming to the province, although they had -been diminished in number by the savages of Guadalupe, were of great -use. They were fourteen in number, and, that they might immediately -begin that which they had sought over so many seas and through so -many hardships, they were assigned to their duties. The newly-elected -provincial took with him four for the province of Nueva Segovia, -where at that time the conversions were going on rapidly, because the -country was large and nearly all the inhabitants were heathen. When -they reached the cape known as Cabo del Bojeador, a place which is -ordinarily a difficult one, the provincial saw that a small cloud which -covered the peaks of some mountains near there was moving toward the -sea, which began to be unquiet and rough. The pilot thought it best -that the sails should be lowered somewhat, in order better to resist -the attack of the wind and the waves which threatened them. While he -was striving to do this, the tempest anticipated him; and the wind came -with such force that wind and wave turned the vessel on its side, and -the water entered over the sides of the ship. It was necessary for the -religious to put their hands to the oars, while the rest went to work, -with great difficulty, to get in the sails--nothing being left but the -courses, in order to make it possible to steer. Although the amount of -sail was so small, the wind was so powerful that, lifting the vessel on -one side, it forced the other under the water. The religious repeated -the exorcisms against the tempest, upon which it subsided a little; -but when the exorcism was completed it came back with as much force as -at first, almost capsizing the vessel, and making it ship water. When -the exorcism was renewed, the tempest moderated itself anew; but when -the exorcism was completed, its fury returned as before. Thus they -perceived that this tempest was not merely a tempest of wind and of -waves, but was aided by the devil--who at the words of the exorcism -lost his strength, and as soon as that ceased received it again, -to hinder the ministers of the gospel. Four times they repeated the -exorcism, and four times the same thing happened, upon which the -father provincial, recognizing the author of this evil, said: "Since -I see that ministers are to be given to the villages of the heathen, -and that the devil, who unjustly keeps them under his tyranny, is -about to be banished from them, I promise to build a church under -the patronage of the guardian angels, that they may aid us against -this cursed enemy who is so clearly making war against us." As soon -as he had made this promise, it seemed that the guardian angels took -upon themselves the protection of the fragata; for the tornado began -to disappear, and they continued their voyage. On the following day -they rounded the cape, by rowing against a slight contrary wind which -had arisen; and when this wind had quieted down, the fragata came to -some billows where a number of opposing currents met. The waves were -so high that the little boat put its side under water. A religious -threw into the sea some relics of St. Raymond, repeating the glories -of the saint, and the sea was immediately calmed--just as when water -boils too violently in the kettle, and a little water is poured into -it; and by the kindness of the saint a fair wind was given to them, -with which they continued their voyage. - -When they reached Nueva Segovia, a minister was provided for the -village of Nasiping, which had been accepted ten years before, but -for which it had been impossible previously to provide a minister -because the supply of them was so scanty. Even now there was so much -requiring the attention of the religious, and they were so few, that -half a miracle was necessary for the missionary to be given. Father -Fray Francisco de la Cruz, or Jurado, [40] was taken dangerously -ill. He was a religious of much virtue, of whom they had great -hopes. The father provincial, fearing to lose him, promised to give a -minister to Nasiping if the sick man recovered. Father Fray Francisco -recovered, and the provincial fulfilled his vow and named the church -after St. Michael. This village is on the banks of the great river -[i.e., of Cagayán], five or six leguas higher up than the city of -the Spaniards. In the year 1625, twenty-one years after it received -ministers, there had been baptized in it more than three thousand -four hundred persons, as is certified by the baptismal records; and, -in addition to this, many were baptized in sickness who, because -of their immediate death, were not entered on the records. To this -village there came an Indian from Tuguegarao, which is distant two -days' journey by water. He very earnestly desired the religious to -confess him, and to give him the other holy sacraments. The religious -confessed him and gave him the communion, more that he might assist -his devotion than because he supposed he was in danger. He had come -on foot and seemed strong, so that it seemed that he was very far -from being in such a state of necessity; but after he had received the -sacrament he died. This was something at which the religious wondered, -and which aroused in him great devotion and joy when with his eyes he -saw so plainly the power of divine predestination, carried out in ways -so hidden and mysterious. Father Fray Pedro Muriel, [41] who is still -living, has testified as an eye-witness that when he was minister in -that village, in the year 1631, the locusts were more in number than -the natives had ever seen before. In the fields of that village they -were in such numbers that they spread over a space three leguas in -length and a quarter of a legua in breadth, covering the earth and the -trees so that the ground could not be seen, so thickly did they cover -it; and they ravaged the fields as if they had been burnt. [The Indians -did what they could to frighten away the locusts, but in vain; and the -Lord heard the prayers of one of the Indians that He would drive away -the locusts during the night. At dawn, when he expected to find all of -his fields desolated, he found that just half of them had been eaten, -and that all the rest had been left. The Lord showed a similar grace to -a poor woman who prayed for His aid in protecting her field of maize.] - -In this same year, 1604, the provincial sent three religious to the -estuary of Lobo and the country of Ytabes, [42] in the province of -Nueva Segovia. All those Indians are heathen; and though by nature they -are very tractable and easy to deal with, simple and free from malice, -and concerned with nothing but their agriculture, still the outrages -of those who took tribute from them were so great that they enraged -the natives and obliged them to take up arms, to the great loss of the -Spaniards. As they were few and the multitude of the Indians many, -the few, although they were very courageous, came to their death by -the hands of the many; or, rather, the unjust came to death by the -hands of divine justice, which in this way was pleased to chastise -and end their injustices. And as we very seldom reckon rightly, -the chastisement which God wrought by the hands of these Indians was -attributed by the Spaniards to the courage and valor of this tribe; -and thus they were very fearful of them until the holy gospel declared -by the Dominican religious changed them from bloodthirsty wolves to -gentle sheep--the Lord aiding by manifest miracles to give credit to -His faith and to His ministers, to the end that they might be able -to do that which without this or similar assistance from the Lord it -would have been impossible to achieve. One of the three religious who -entered these heathen villages to undertake their conversion said, -in giving an account of what happened: "Since the hand of the Lord -has been so plainly succoring these Indians by the hands of those -religious who dwelt among them, their reformation has been great and -marvelous. They have gone from one extreme to the other, almost without -any intermediate stage, since the religious took them under their -care. Before that they were so free, so completely without God or law, -without king or any person to respect, that they gave themselves up -freely to their desires and their passions. Evidence of this is found -in those wars which they were continually waging among themselves, -without plan or order; and in the drunkenness and the outrages of -which they were guilty, without regard to God or man. He who was most -esteemed among them was the greatest drunkard, because, as he was the -richest, he could obtain the most liquor. He who slew the greatest -number of men was regarded as superior to all the rest. They married -and unmarried daily, with one or many wives. In a word, they were a -barbarous race, given up to all sorts of shameless conduct. In spite -of all this, when the missionary came among them they were as docile -as if they had during all their lives been learning to obey, which -is something very difficult even in religious orders. This was true, -although the religious instantly laid a general interdict upon all -their ancient vices; obliged them to consort solely with their lawful -wives; even forced many to abandon their land and their old villages, -that they might come where teaching was given them; and, in a word, -compelled them to enter all at once, and in a body, into ordered ways -of living, in matters both divine and human. They had not a thought of -opposing a single command; and this has been achieved without stripes -or penalties, but simply by kindness and gentleness. The result has -been that those who did not understand anything except killing, and -drinking till they could not stand, and running without any restraint -after every sort of vice, now never think of doing these things--as I -have seen in these first three villages in this district of Ytabes. The -day we went among them we found all the men lying about the streets, -dead drunk; since that day there has not been one drunk enough to -lose his senses. The same reformation has been achieved in all other -matters, for they were not compelled to do all this by fear of the -Spaniards. Quite otherwise; the Spaniards regarded these Indians as -so indomitable and intrepid that, for fear of them, they did not dare -go up the river as far as their villages; but after the religious went -among them, they were gathered into large villages that they might be -more easily instructed in the faith, having been previously scattered -among many small ones, like so many farmsteads [in Spain]. There -were three villages thus formed: one of about five hundred tributes, -named Taban, the church of which was called San Raymundo; and the -other two of more than a thousand tributes each--one called Pia, its -church Santa Ynes de Monte Policiano, afterwards known as San Domingo; -and the last one, named Tuao, the church of which was dedicated to the -holy guardian angels because of the incident referred to above. Thus -all those people were brought together and united, to reduce them -to settlements, and to a civilized mode of life and government; and -to the church; but this result was obtained at no small cost to the -religious. Of three of them, two immediately fell very sick, and the -third still more so, for he died as a result of the illness. This was -father Fray Luis de Yllescas, a son of the convent of Sancto Domingo at -Mexico, a very humble religious, very obedient and beloved by all. He -received the holy sacraments for his departure with great devotion; -and went away to enjoy, as may be presumed, the reward of his labors, -which had been many in a short time. Yet neither this death nor the -failure of health in the rest caused them to withdraw their hands -from the work upon which they had begun. On the contrary, the great -good which they beheld, wrought by the Lord among these Indians, -served as medicines and remedies for the ills from which they suffered; -and for their convalescence, though they had no worldly luxuries, -that fruit was much better which, more and more every day, was borne by -this new plant of the church. From it they recovered health, strength, -and new courage to carry on the work which they had begun. To give -them still greater spirit, the Lord came to them working miracles. The -first mass which was celebrated in the village of Pia took place on -St. Bartholomew's day, the twenty-fourth of August. [Before the end -of the month, a sick person who wished to be baptised beheld some -fierce and abominable forms which dissuaded him from baptism, and -reminded him of the rights and customs of his ancestors, charging -him not to change the faith in which his fathers and grandfathers -had lived. These dreadful forms were driven away by three persons, -clad in black cloaks with white garments beneath. The sick man was -often asked if he knew these three persons who had delivered him, and -he said "no." When he was asked if they were religious of our order -he also said "no," because he had never seen any of the religious -wearing their cloaks. He always declared that he had been awake and -not asleep; and the narrative was accepted as certain. At one time, -a religious who was himself in poor health was left in charge of -thirteen newly-converted Christians, who were all confined to their -beds by sickness. Being unable to give them the care which he desired, -he placed upon the abdomen of each of them a little roasted rice-bran, -very hot, begging the Lord to make up by His pity for the lack of -medicine. When he came back the next day to visit them, all but two -were well, and had gone to work in the field; and the others soon -recovered. The same treatment given by another Indian or by the sick -man to himself had no effect; and thus it is plain that the healing was -due to the desire of the Lord to honor and to give authority to the -hand which applied the remedy. The Indians themselves observed that, -after they had religious, far fewer died than before they had them. In -their ancient days of superstition, when a man fell sick he generally -died, because he was treated only by the witchcraft of the aniteras, -whose sole purpose was to get gold from the sick persons by false -promises. The sorcerers did them no good and indeed rather harmed them, -since cures came from our worst enemy, the devil; while now the Lord -was giving them, by means of the religious, health that was health -indeed. One of the religious in this region, father Fray Juan Naya, -[43] fell ill, and grew worse so rapidly that he was given up as a -consumptive. By the advice of another religious, he made a vow to -our Lady to serve in that province among the heathen, if she should -be pleased to grant him sufficient health for him to carry on this -work. He made the vow for seven consecutive years from the day of the -Visitation, July 2, 1605. During all this time he had his health; -but at the end of the seven years he was attacked by a very severe -and dangerous illness, which left him when he renewed his vow for -four years more. Similar experiences have been frequent among the -religious. It has even happened to some who were not very devoted -to this work, and who desired to go to other provinces where the -Lord might be served with less severity and with somewhat greater -comfort, that they have been afflicted with diseases, which gave -place to miraculous health as soon as they made vows to remain and -minister to the Indians whom they wished to leave. In this region the -Lord manifested His goodness and gave authority to his ministers, -curing a sick woman who was at the point of death, by means of the -sacrament of holy baptism. In this same village it happened to father -Fray Juan Naya that a poisonous snake entered his shoe without any evil -effect. An Indian in this same village called upon God in his illness, -and, when it did not seem good to the divine Providence to heal him, -he called upon the devil whom he had previously served. The Lord -punished him with dreadful visions, from which he was delivered upon -praying to the Lord for His protection; and he was finally cured, -after making his confession. A child was miraculously healed in -the town of Pia at the time when father Fray Juan Sancta Ana was -vicar there. A woman who did not seem to be dangerously ill prayed -so earnestly to be baptized that the father granted her wish. She -died almost immediately after, the Lord having shown her a marvelous -kindness in causing the religious to baptize her immediately.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LX - -What our Lord wrought, by the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary, -who stands in a shrine between the two villages of Pia and Tuao. - - -[In the church of the village of Pia there was an image of our Lady -on one of the side altars. It had been made in Macan, and had been -first set up in the church of our order in the city of Nueva Segovia, -whence it was taken to the church of Pia. Here the image was greatly -beloved; and when father Fray Juan de Sancta Ana gave it away to -another village, after having received a second image of much greater -beauty, the people begged so earnestly to have it returned that the -vicar was obliged to have another painted on canvas and sent to the -village of Tuguegarao (to which he had given the one for which the -Indians begged), and to have the first image brought back. While the -father was considering where it would best be put, the idea occurred -to him that it would be well to establish a shrine on the road between -Pia and Tuao, at a distance of about a league and a half from each of -the towns. This shrine was set up on St. Stephen's day in 1623. On -the day on which the shrine was consecrated more than ten thousand -persons were gathered together from the neighboring villages. One of -the women of the highest rank in the village of Pia undertook the -care of the shrine, placing a lamp to burn constantly before the -holy image. This Indian was named Doña Ynes Maguilabun. The Virgin -was not slow to reward her for this devotion, for once when Doña Ynes -took with her to the shrine her little nephew, a child of five years, -who was suffering from a large swelling under his left arm--a disease -among the Indians which runs into an abscess, and, being so near the -heart, is very dangerous indeed, because of the lack of medicines and -of medical science among these Indians--the little one was left in -the shrine, and fell asleep on the steps of the altar. While there -he had a vision of the Virgin, and, when he awoke, the swelling was -entirely healed. Other miracles were wrought by the same image. One -particularly worthy of mention happened in the year 1624. There being -a severe drouth, the father who was at that time in the village of -Tuao, Fray Andres de Haro, [44] and father Fray Juan de Sancta Ana, -decided to make some processions and offer prayers to the Lord for His -mercy. They accordingly arranged to make processions on a certain day -from each of the villages to the shrine. The Indians of Pia confessed -their sins, that the burden of them might be removed from the land; -and on that same Sunday it rained so copiously in the region of this -village of Pia that it seemed as if the village would be drowned and -as if the floodgates of heaven were open. On the day appointed for -the processions, the father of the village of Pia told the Indians -that it was not necessary to make the procession, but that he would -say a solemn mass of thanks to our Lady, which could be done in the -church. They, however, insisted; and when they reached the shrine -they found there all the people of the village of Tuao, where not -a drop of rain had fallen, because the inhabitants of Tuao had not -thought of confessing. They immediately began to prepare themselves for -confession, and all that day the inhabitants of Tuao and Pia confessed -their sins, revealing some which, from lack of faith, or pusillanimity, -or shame, they had concealed. When they reached home in the evening it -began to rain in both villages and in all the fields around them; and -it rained so hard that it was impossible to bring back the ornaments -which had been taken to the shrine for the saying of mass. On several -other occasions our Lady showed mercy by granting rain in answer to -the prayers of those who besought it before this holy image.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXI - -The venerable father Fray Miguel de Venavides, one of the first -founders of this province and archbishop of Manila. - - -Among the great kindnesses and benefits which our province, and indeed -all these islands, have received from the Lord, one of the greatest -was His having given them father Fray Miguel de Venavides as one of -the first who came to establish this province of the Holy Rosary, -and as second archbishop of this city. At a time when its inhabitants -suffered great tribulations, and found themselves suddenly besieged by -a number of enemies much larger than their own--enemies from within -their houses and their homes--they found in him a true father for -their consolation, and a prelate acceptable to God, who could placate -His ire by interceding for his people. He was born in Carrion de Los -Condes, of noble parents, well known in that region because of their -descent and their virtue. When he was not more than fifteen years old -he assumed the habit of this religious order, and learned by experience -how true is the saying of the Holy Spirit that it is well for a man to -carry the easy yoke of the service of God from his youth. He received -the habit and professed in the distinguished convent of San Pablo at -Valladolid. He immediately began to display the subtilty of his mind, -which was very great; at the very beginning of his studies he seemed -like an eagle soaring above his fellow-pupils, distinguishing himself -by special marks or acuteness, so that most of the students and the -learned were astonished. He was, accordingly, soon made a member of the -college of San Gregorio in that city, a crucible in which is refined -the metal of the finest intellects which the order has in the provinces -of España and Andalucia. Here he had as master him who of right was -the master of the theology of España--the most learned father Fray -Domingo Bañez. The two were so completely suited to each other in -virtue and ability that father Fray Miguel could not fail to be the -beloved disciple of such a master. So much did the great teacher love -him that, when he saw him advance so far in both virtue and ability, -he was accustomed to say Hic est discipulus ille [i.e., "This is that -disciple"], giving him by antonomasia the name of his disciple, out of -the many, whom he regarded with so great praise. He taught the arts in -his convent, and theology in many houses of the province; and finally -returned to be lecturer in theology in his convent of San Pablo. It -was while he was engaged in this duty and exercise that he was taken -captive by the voice of father Fray Juan Chrisostomo, who was seeking -for religious for the foundation of the province of the Holy Rosary -in the Philippinas. The province was to be founded for the conversion -of the many heathen who were in those islands, and for the purpose of -entering upon the preaching of the gospel in the most populous kingdom -of China, if the Lord should open the door to it, as well as in that -of Japon and the other kingdoms neighboring to the said islands. Being -seized by a fervent desire and a holy zeal for the redemption of the -souls of the many heathen in these islands, he gave up his position -as lecturer, and the honors and degrees which were waiting for him; -and esteeming it a higher task to labor for Christ and for his fellow -men he made up his mind to go with those who were preparing for this -holy journey. The Lord thus ordained because of the serious problems -which were to be met, in which his character, ability, knowledge, -and talents would be very necessary to overcome the many obstacles -which confronted this holy foundation as soon as its founders reached -Nueva España, and also in the royal court and in the Roman court; -for in all these places there were many impediments. Against all -of them father Fray Miguel was the defender of truth; and by his -speeches and writings he came off always victor. Afterward, when -the difficulty which was met with in Mexico was overcome, he came, -with the rest of the fathers who founded the province, to the city -of Manila on the day of the apostle St. James; and on the day of our -father St. Dominic, which came immediately afterward, he presided in -the great church over some theological discussions. This he did to the -admiration of his listeners, who were not accustomed to have anything -so remarkable in these regions. The good bishop of these islands, Don -Fray Domingo de Salacar, was bathed with tears of joy when he heard, -to the great refreshing of his spirit, such superior preachers of the -gospel in his bishopric--men who were not only fit to be teachers -of these heathen races, but to teach others who might be the same, -and this more excellently than he had ever expected to see in those -regions. Among the many various heathen nations who come to this -country that which excels in intelligence, civilization, and courtesy -is that of the Chinese; and, much as they excel in these qualities, -they likewise excel in their multitude and number. For there are very -many who come every year to attend to their large and rich business, -and to serve the city in all the trades which can be expected in the -best regulated of cities; for they learn everything with the greatest -ability, and succeed in everything that they undertake. - -Some of the Chinese, though very few, were Christians; and it was -believed that many would be converted if there were someone to preach -in their language. But this is so difficult that, although many -desirous to undertake that conversion had endeavored to learn it, no -one as yet had succeeded; and thus no religious order had taken up this -ministry, being afraid of the difficulty of the language. When father -Fray Miguel arrived, he instantly undertook this enterprise--for the -Lord had created him for great things; and this ministry was given to -our order, the bishop asking each and everyone of the religious orders -who were there before to undertake it, and not one of them accepting it -because of the reason given. Father Fray Miguel immediately began with -all his energy to study this language, and succeeded with it. What -is more, he learned many of the letters of it, which are much more -difficult. Father Fray Juan Cobo joining him immediately, they began -to teach the Chinese, amazing those people that anyone should have -been able to succeed with their language and to preach to them in -it. Much greater was their amazement, however, at the extraordinary -virtue and charity which they beheld in these two religious. They did -not content themselves with the labor of teaching them--which was -not small, for soon many were converted and began to be baptized; -but they proposed to build a hospital where the sick poor could be -cared for. The number of these was great, because their sufferings -were great in this foreign land, where they were neglected by all, -and suffered the extremity of need, which is sickness and death. The -fathers began their hospitals; and, poor religious as they were, -they had no better house than that which they were able to make, -almost without money, out of beams and old planks--the habits and -cloaks of the religious often serving as beds, because they had no -other bedclothes. The religious sometimes brought in the sick whom -they found lying on the streets, without power to move themselves -and with no one to pity them. In this way the fame of the virtue -of father Fray Miguel and his companions was very widely spread, -and there were many of the Chinese heathen who were converted and -baptized. The fragrance of this great charity spread so far that it -reached Great China and proclaimed in trumpet tones what was done -for their sick in the Philippinas. There was one man who came from -China to look upon so rare a thing as caring for the sick--poor, and -cast out by their own nation and kinsmen; but admitted, sought for, -and cared for by persons who were not known to them, and who were not -only of another nation, but of a different law and faith, and who -labored without any expectation of temporal profit, but merely for -the salvation of souls. Hence the Lord was favorable to them, and -this work was constantly growing better in all things. It is today -one of the most glorious things in Christendom, not because of its -income and its building (though in these respects it is very good), -but because of the many who at the hour of death are baptized in it -with many indications of going hence to glory, as being newly cleansed -of their faults and their sins by baptism. - -The rich harvest which was reaped in the conversion of these Chinese, -as well by preaching to those in health as by the care and instruction -of the sick, was so sweet to father Fray Miguel that it caused in -him glowing desires to go to Great China. It seemed to him, and with -reason, that there, without abandoning their own country and the -company of their fathers, sons, wives, and kinsmen, which here are -great impediments to their conversion, the Christians converted would -be many more, and far better ones. Hence he was always making plans to -go to that great realm, where the devil is so strongly fortified that -he does not even permit the entrance of those who might, by preaching -the gospel, cast him from the throne which he unjustly holds among -that people. He was finally successful in making his entry into that -kingdom, and went there with father Fray Juan de Castro, who was -the first provincial of this province. They suffered the hardships -which have been described in chapter twenty-six, together with the -marvelous miracles which the divine pity wrought in their favor for -the preachers of the gospel. When they returned to Manila from China, -where they had suffered so much, the orders of their superior directed -them to undertake another longer and more painful voyage, which was -to España. They were to accompany and assist the bishop, Don Fray -Domingo de Salaçar, who was going to discuss very important business -with his Majesty; and were also to endeavor to bring back religious -from España, to aid in the great labor which rested upon the religious -of this province in the conversion of the heathen of these lands, -He did not take for this journey money or anything else, or even more -clothes than those which he wore, so that he did not have a change of -clothes in the whole voyage, which lasts for six months. A ship is so -much an enemy to cleanliness that, when he reached Mexico, his habit -was in such a condition that the father prior of the convent in that -city was obliged to give him clothes wholly out of charity. During -the voyage he fell into the sea and was miraculously brought back to -the ship by the Lord at the prayer of the good bishop--who afflicted -by the accident, prayed the Lord briefly but devotedly for the remedy -of it; and he gained what he desired, for the Lord is very quick to -listen to the prayers of His servants. The time between the end of -this voyage and that which follows afterward over the Mar del Norte -[i.e., Atlantic Ocean] was spent by father Fray Miguel in the convent -which offered him hospitality, but without the dispensations which -the reception of hospitality usually brings with it. He was the -first in the choir and the refectory, and in all the other labor -of the convent. In particular he helped in the infirmary, in caring -for the sick and serving them, whenever he had an opportunity. This -was a charge which he took upon himself when, at the coming of the -first founders to the Philippinas, they were guests in this same -convent. As at that time he had done well in this service, daily -exercising many acts of humility and charity, virtues which are -supremely pleasing to God, he would not cease this same conduct on -this second occasion; on the contrary, as one that had grown in virtue, -he did it better than before. What he did here for the sick religious -was not a heavy task [for him], for he had become accustomed to do -much more in his hospital at Manila for the Chinese heathen, who are -by nature filthy and disgusting. Father Fray Miguel reached España, -and was present before the royal Council of the Indias, endeavoring -to obtain religious for this province as its procurator-general. One -of the counselors, incorrectly informed by persons who resented the -sermons of our religious, said: "If the matter were in my hands, -the Dominican religious would not be in the Philippinas." The rest -desired him to restrain himself, and he went on with what he had to -say. Father Fray Miguel answered, showing his cloak, which was very -old and patched and full of holes: "So far as concerns ourselves, -we have no need to go to the Indias; what we endeavor to do by going -there, this cloak tells well enough." So well did the cloak of rough, -mended serge speak that all were highly edified, and he who had offered -opposition was abashed and corrected. In the convent of San Estevan -he gave to be washed his inner tunic, which served him in place of a -shirt. This was of serge so rough and hard that one of the religious -of the convent of novices, who put it on over his habit, was unable to -bend any more than if it was a bell; and they all gathered around to -look at it as if it were a bell that was sounded. That which began -as jest and ridicule so powerfully supplied the place of father -Fray Miguel in winning religious, that many determined to go to the -province where the religious treated themselves so rigorously and -observed such poverty. - -Father Fray Miguel found an evil doctrine spread abroad in the -court, which a member of a religious order [45] had taken pains -to introduce. He had come from the Philippinas with documentary -authorizations from the bishop and the two cabildos [i.e., -ecclesiastical and civil], before the province of the Holy Rosary -was established there, and before there were any Dominican friars -in the islands. After having carried on some negotiations at Roma he -had returned to the court, and endeavored to bring it about that the -preaching of the holy gospel in heathen countries should be begun by -soldiers, who by force of weapons and musketry should make the country -quiet and subject the Indians, in order that the preachers might do -their office immediately without resistance. This doctrine is very -well suited to human prudence but is contrary to divine Providence, -to that which the Lord has ordained in His gospel, and even to the -very nature of the faith, which demands a pious affection in those who -hear it. This is not to be acquired as the result of the violences, -murders, and conquests wrought by soldiers. On the contrary, as -far as in them lies, they make the faith to be hated and abhorred; -and hence the Lord commanded that the preachers should be as sheep -among wolves, conquering them with patience and humility, which are -the proper arms to overcome hearts. Hence not only the apostles, -but all the other apostolic preachers who had followed them, have by -these means converted all the nations of the earth. This father saw -all this very well; but it seemed to him, as indeed he said, that -these were old-fashioned arguments and that the world was now very -much changed; and that no conversion of importance could or would be -made unless soldiers went before to bring into subjection those who -were to listen to the gospel, before the preachers preached it. He -painted out this monster with such fair colors of rhetoric and with -arguments so well suited to our weakness, our little spirit, and our -less readiness to suffer for Christ and His gospel, that these lords -of the Council were firmly established in this his doctrine--a new -doctrine, as its author himself affirmed, and, as such, contrary to -the gospel and to the works of the saints who acted in conformity -therewith. To overcome this error, much was done by the bishop of -the Philippinas and by father Fray Miguel. The latter, being younger, -was able to exert himself more; and being so great a theologian and -so subtile of mind, he was able to adduce such superior arguments, -and so clearly to reveal the poison which was hidden in the arguments -of this religious, that the king our lord and his Council were firmly -persuaded of the truth. They came to regard it as a great inconsistency -to say that our Lord Jesus Christ had acted with so short a view as -a legislator that, when He made a law which was to last to the end of -the world, He had announced a method which was to be followed only at -the beginning by the preachers of it who were present before Him, and -not under the same conditions by those who should follow after--just -as if His providence were unable to apprehend that which was distant -and future. It will further be seen, if we consider it well, that -the gospel received much more opposition at the beginning than it -does at the present time; and if it was not necessary at that time -to subject kingdoms by war, in order to preach the gospel to them, -much less will it be so now. Hence grave scandal would arise in the -church if, when the Lord commands that gentle sheep shall be the ones -to introduce His gospel, the introduction of it should be entrusted -now to bloodthirsty wolves. Afterward, by the activity and diligence of -father Fray Miguel these black clouds which promised thunderstorms of -arquebuses and soldiery were dissipated; and there were left for the -promulgation of the gospel the gentle clouds of the preachers, which -with the soft rain of teaching, example, and patience have carried the -gospel to the most savage and hardened heathen. On this occasion father -Fray Miguel displayed such force, and such were his arguments, that the -Catholic king directed a most important council to be held, at which -were present the president of Castilla, the father-confessors of the -princes, the auditors of the Audiencia, the lords of the Indias, and -many distinguished theologians. In this conference it was determined -that there should be soldiers in the Spanish towns for the defense of -the country, but that these soldiers should not go as escorts to the -preachers, and that they should not go in advance of them subjugating -or killing Indians; for this would be changing into a gospel of -war that gospel which Christ our Lord delivered to us--a gospel of -peace, love, and grace. So great was the reputation for learning -and sanctity which father Fray Miguel gained in these matters that, -in the arduous and difficult undertakings which afterward came up, -his Majesty directed that he should be consulted and his judgment -should be followed, as that of a learned man despising all things -which were not of God, and zealous for the good of souls. There was -issued at this time a brief of his Holiness to the effect that the -bishops of the Indias should have authority to make visitations to -the religious who ministered to the Indians, in all matters connected -with this ministry, as if they were parish priests. Father Fray Miguel, -understanding the bad results which would follow such a plan, presented -a very learned memorial, signed by all the procurators of the Indias, -to the prince-cardinal Alberto, who gave audience and decided causes -for his Majesty. Nothing more was necessary to cause the brief to be -recalled, and not to be put into execution. Father Fray Miguel was -directed to give the Council of the Indias his advice with regard to -the repartimientos of Indians for mines, estates, and the like. He -gave it, and it was so sound that they esteemed it highly, the more -on account of the character of him who offered it. Hence, when the -time came to appoint bishops for these islands he was appointed -the first bishop of Nueva Segovia, although such an idea had never -crossed his mind, and it was necessary to force him to accept the -bishopric. The Council even went so far as to ask him to indicate to -them those who seemed to him suitable for the other bishoprics; and -those whom he thus indicated were appointed. He sent out religious -to the province three times. The first company he sent with father -Fray Alonso Delgado, the second with father Fray Pedro Ledesma, and -the third, whom he accompanied himself, went under the direction -of father Fray Francisco de Morales as vicar, who was afterwards -the first minister of our religions order in Japon, and a holy -martyr. That he might better prepare the religious for the journey, -he went twice from Madrid to Sevilla when he was already a bishop -traveling on foot with his staff and his hat like a poor friar; so -the people who came to find him and did not know him asked him if he -had seen the bishop of Nueva Segovia. He, to avoid vanity, answered -them that the bishop was on his way to Sevilla, concealing the fact -that it was himself. For the advantage of the inhabitants of Manila, -he brought it about that commerce with Nueva España was opened to -them and that the money which came from their trading was sent back -to Manila up to the amount of five hundred thousand pesos in money -or silver bullion. Up to that time, they had license only to receive -the principal back again; while the profits were retained in Mexico, -or were brought back without a license, at great expense. For the -Indians he obtained, by a memorial which he offered, that the natural -dominion and chieftaincy which they had over their villages should -be left to them, with all their lands, mountains and rivers, and the -other rights which they had from of old; since the fact that they had -become subjects of his Majesty ought not to cause them to lose the -natural right which they had inherited from their ancestors. Further, -since the conquest of these Philipinas Islands had not been carried -out conformably to the holy instructions which the conquerors carried -with them, and which they were bound to observe, but had been carried -out in exactly the opposite manner and with the most serious acts -of injustice, he gave information with regard to these things to -his Majesty and to his royal Council of the Indias. It was decreed -that the consent and voluntary obedience and allegiance of all the -Indians should be asked for anew. The new bishop, Don Fray Miguel, -very earnestly undertook to attempt to carry this decree to execution, -and accordingly it was made. When the bishop was desirous of embarking, -there were so many rumors of enemies, and the damage inflicted at Cadiz -was so great, that it was impossible to have any fleet that year; and -there was no other vessel for him to travel in except a small patache -with a single deck. The cabin in the poop which he occupied was so -low that it could not be entered exception on one's knees, while for -the twenty religious whom he was taking there was no accommodation -at all. He tried, by putting up an awning, to protect them from the -sun and the water; but the only one on the ship was full of patches, -and very small. The Lord made matters better for them by causing -the voyage which they were obliged to take to be very calm, for the -patache was not built to encounter storms. It did not rain more than -twice, so that they were at least able to lie on the deck at night, -though by day they were compelled to suffer the heat of the sun, -which was extreme and very oppressive in their little patache. For -this the religious gave thanks to the Lord; but the bishop was so -accustomed to hardships that this fair weather grieved him; and he -said that the Lord had forgotten them because He did not send them -hardships, which are the best things which in this life He gives to His -friends. "For my sins," he said, "the Lord deprives us of hardships, -and of the merit which they bring with them when they are borne with -patience for the love of the Lord who sent them. Not so did we sail -on our first journey when so devoted servants of God were going; -but we traveled in great and continual afflictions--tempests, fire, -and fears of enemies. That we should now lack all this, and travel -with such fair weather when we are not such as they, is not for our -good. In me is the fault; it is well that I should feel it and weep -over it." When he went ashore, he traveled on foot all the way to -Mexico, and from there to the port of Acapulco, a distance of more -than a hundred and fifty leguas. Thus he afforded the example of a -poor religious, even when his state as a bishop would have excused -him from such poverty and hardship. However, he did not seek for -excuses, but for opportunities for poverty and religious devotion, -though at the expense of so great an exertion, and in his advanced -age. He reached Manila at a time when there happened to be a procession -from our convent to the cathedral, because of an occasional need. He -disembarked there, at a gate which was near our convent on the shore, -and the procession began by receiving him. This caused much joy, on -account of the high esteem and regard in which he was held by both -religious and laymen. He accompanied the procession to the cathedral, -and when the time came he went into the pulpit, taking the sermon -from him to whom it had been committed. He preached most eloquently; -and, though he came down bathed in perspiration, he did not change -the heavy tunic of sackcloth which he wore. On the contrary, he went -direct to the sacristy and robed himself to say mass, though he said -it very slowly, and with so much feeling that it was a great effort -for him. These were acts, and this was an entry, which promised an -extremely good bishop and superior. The promise was not falsified, but -fell short of the truth, so much did he surpass it. He went straight -to his poor bishopric to care for his flock. In the principal part -of his diocese, the province of Nueva Segovia, they were nearly all -heathen. There were only about two hundred baptized adults, those who -were not so being innumerable; for it was only a very short time since -our religious had begun to preach the gospel to them. When the new -bishop was once among his sheep, he began to watch over their welfare, -and to defend them from the alcaldes-mayor and the encomenderos, who -abused them like wolves. The bishop's conduct forced him to hear rough -words and violent insults from those who had fattened themselves with -the blood of the Indians. They feared lest they should grow lean if the -shepherd, coming out to the defense of the flock, were to force them -to be satisfied with moderate returns, without flaying the sheep. The -bishop was not intimidated, and did not desist from this just and due -defense; nor did he cease to strive for the good of his Indians against -the outrages which he beheld. On the contrary, he strove to give his -remonstrances their due effect and if he was unable to succeed there -in securing the rights of the Indians, he was accustomed to write to -the governor and the Audiencia, without taking his hand from the work -until he had brought it to the perfection which he desired. Though he -aided the Indians, he did not neglect the Spaniards, who lived in the -principal towns of his bishopric less edifying and exemplary lives than -those whose Christianity is ancient ought to lead in towns of the newly -converted. They are under obligation to be shining lights, to give -light to those who are either blind because of their heathen belief, -or who know little of God because they have been newly baptized. He -stirred them up to live as they ought, and aided them in their -necessities like a loving father; if he could not make them such as -he wished, he improved them as much as possible. At the death of the -archbishop of Manila, he was obliged to go to that city, and saw in -it so many things contrary to the divine Majesty and to the human one -that he found himself under the necessity of writing to his Majesty -a letter very full of feeling, which begins: "I have twice visited -this city of Manila since I came to these islands as bishop. The -first time was last year, ninety-nine, because I received reliable -information that the governor and the auditors were in such bitter -opposition that there was fear of a serious rupture. Now, learning -that there was no archbishop in the city, it seemed desirable" (and -was so without doubt) "that I should be present and prepared for any -contingency." He gives an account of what had happened, and says: "I am -obliged to speak as my position and the condition of affairs require, -very clearly, without caring who may be affected by my words; for God, -your Majesty, and the common weal are of more importance than any -smaller things." The truth of what he stated, and the clearness with -which he spoke, are plain in the rest of the letter, which to avoid -prolixity is not inserted here. He strove to settle the state of the -church in these islands; and when he saw some bad customs introduced -without any foundation, and contrary to reason and theology, he was -greatly grieved. What he was not himself able to remedy, he wrote -of to the supreme pontiff. Since the competency of the bishop was -so well known in España, he was appointed archbishop as soon as the -vacancy was known, although he had no procurator there; for, being a -poor and peaceful bishop, he did not expect to carry on any suits, -and hence did not care for a procurator or agent at court. Since -his poverty was known, his Majesty caused the bulls to be drawn, and -directed the royal officials of Manila to collect from the bishop the -expense of drawing them when it should be convenient for him to pay -it. The bishop hesitated long, and asked the advice of many, before he -accepted this promotion, having seen and experienced the difficulties, -the opposition, and the dissensions which accompanied this dignity, -at such a distance from the eyes of his Majesty and of the supreme -pontiff, to whom in difficult cases (of which there were many) he -might have had recourse. Yet finally, since all thought that it was -desirable for him to accept the office, he was compelled to take it -for the public good, although he saw that for his private advantage -it would be very injurious. Becoming an archbishop did not change that -poor and humble manner of living which he had followed as bishop and as -religious. He continued to wear the same habit of serge and tunics of -wool. His food was always fish, unless he had a guest, which happened -seldom; or unless he was afflicted by some infirmity. Whenever he -had a journey to take on land--for traveling in these islands is -usually carried on by water--he was accustomed to go on foot; and, -that he might travel with more abstraction from the world, he used -to walk uttering prayers. He sent the others forward in hammocks -or on horseback and he followed after alone, commending to the Lord -himself and the undertakings in which he was engaged, in order that -they might turn out more satisfactorily. If, when he was indisposed, -he was forced by pleadings to go into a hammock--something which is -much used in this country, and which is carried by Indians--he used -to get out again as soon as he left the town, and sometimes earlier, -if he heard any of the carriers groan; for this groan so penetrated -his soul that it was not possible for him to travel any farther in -this manner. His bed was the same which he had when a poor friar, -a mat of rushes or palm-branches on a plank. The small income of his -archbishopric he spent in alms; and he used to delight in giving them -with his own hands, kissing the alms with great devotion as if he -were giving them to Christ, who has said that He receives them when -they are given in His name to the poor. That the principal door of his -house might not cause embarrassments to persons who had known better -days and who were under the necessity of asking alms, he had another -door for these persons which was always open, so that they might come -at any time to tell him their troubles, and that he might relieve -them as well as possible. In this way he spent all his income, and -therefore had very little expense or ostentation in his household. He -never had a mule or a chair to go about with, avoiding all this that -he might have means to give to the poor. He was most devoted to the -ministry and instruction of the Indians and the Chinese; and, whenever -he had an opportunity for doing so, he used to aid in it with great -pleasure. He envied much those who were occupied in so meritorious an -exercise, as he wrote in the last year of his life to those whom he -had left behind in Nueva Segovia, in a letter which reads as follows: -"To my fathers and brethren, the religious of the Order of St. Dominic -in Nueva Segovia. A poor brother of your Reverences, very weak in -health and very full of troubles and of his own wretchedness, has -written this to your Reverences, his truest brethren, who are walking -about in those places of rest and new fields of the true paradise, -feeding the flocks of the Great Shepherd and rejoicing your souls -with the sports and the gambols which the new-born lambs are making -upon the hill-sides at the dawn of the true sun. May your Reverences -refresh yourselves and feed upon that celestial milk which creates -manna covered with honey upon those mountains. May you rejoice in the -fair season that now is; for I once tasted the same pleasures--though -the fair weather lasted but for a short time for me, because of my -sins and my pride; and now I see myself wretched as no one else is -wretched. Happy the father provincial, who, having seen as from the -parapet of a bull-ring something of the wounds and the bulls here, -has returned so soon to the delights of that region, and is among -his sheep. I refer you to him; let him speak the love which I have -for every one of your Reverences and the esteem which I feel for you -all. Pay me with the money of love and pity. Valete in Domino, viscera -mea, felices valete in aeternum. [46] To all the Indians, a thousand -greetings; and I beg their prayers for this poor soul." His life was -continually burdened with scruples which sometimes are more cruel -enemies than those who are openly declared as such. They were not born -in him from ignorance, but from his great depreciation of himself and -from his looking upon the greatness of God, both of which caused him to -be always timid. This, as he said, was the counterweight with which the -Lord burdened him that he might not be puffed up by the great blessings -which the Lord had granted him. He preached continually, that he might -the better advise and direct his sheep. He grieved for the poor much; -and over sinners he was a Jeremiah, weeping for what they failed to -lament, that he might make them weep. He was deeply versed in sacred -scripture, and with it he filled his writings, and even the ordinary -letters which he wrote. In the opinions which he gave, everything was -founded upon and approved by the divine authority, which was his rule -and his arms, both offensive and defensive. He was accustomed to read -with great care the sacred councils and canons of the church. In them -he found stated with the greatest precision everything of which he had -need for the government of his church, as well as for the satisfactory -decision of the questions with regard to which they asked his opinion, -and of the disputes which arose among learned persons. When there -were different opinions among such persons, he was accustomed to say, -"Veritas liberabit nos [i.e., "the truth shall make us free"], and -this will make clear to us that for which we seek; let us follow -it and strive for it." This confidence was always justified; for on -many occasions when it seemed that the whole world was in a tumult, -and that justice was certain to be clouded over and obscured, he was -then accustomed to say, with the greatest confidence, "The truth shall -make us free," and finally it turned out so. Because of the love which -he had for truth, he could not endure to hear new opinions; and if -they were opposed to the doctrine of the ancient saints, he attacked -them like a lion set on fire, though he was in all other things as -gentle as a lamb. For the same cause, he was most devoted to the -teaching of St. Thomas--who, like a mystic bee, made the honeycomb -of his works from the flowers of holy scripture, sacred councils, -sacred canons, and the works of the saints whom the Lord gave to His -church as teachers and guides for its direction. In order that in the -Philippinas so sound and safe a doctrine should be read, he strove -greatly that in the province, although the numbers were so few, there -should always be some one to read St. Thomas. As soon as he entered -upon his archbishopric, he asked for a religious of our order to read -in the cathedral to those who had been ordained; and carefully took -pains to encourage and favor those who went to listen, so that the -rest should imitate them. This desire he retained up to his death; -and hence in his last sickness he gave the little which he had, asking -the order to build a college for this purpose. With this beginning, -which was of the value of a thousand pesos, was established the college -which we now have in Manila under the advocacy of St. Thomas, in order -that from their first letters the students may feel an affection to -this holy doctrine, and may follow him afterward when they are further -advanced. The devotion which Don Fray Miguel felt for our Lady was -so great that in everything which he did or said he commended it -to her, saying an Ave Maria before he began. So scrupulous was he -that he was unable to say the Ave Maria unless he understood all -the circumstances; and even if it occupied a considerable time for -him to repeat it, still, in spite of this, he always said it. One -day the dean of his church, Don Francisco de Arellano--a man whom, -on account of his virtue, the bishop loved and esteemed--asked what -was the beginning of this devotion, and whence it was derived. He -answered that our Lady herself, to whom at first he had said the Ave -Maria, was the beginning, and that she it was who had taught him this -devotion. The dean remained in wonder, and did not dare to ask him -more on this point; nor did the good archbishop ever make any further -declaration. Hence the mode in which this happened was never known; but -the great attention which he gave to it was seen. Whenever there was -anything to be done the Ave Maria always preceded. It was said before -he answered or put a question, or took any medicine, or gave alms, -or did anything else. Thus always all his acts were actually referred -to God our Lord, and to His most holy Mother. This was a custom of the -highest virtue; but when the business was of unusual weight, he was -not contented with an Ave Maria, but recited a rosary. Thus he did in -China, when the judges caused him to write a petition in their presence -in Chinese characters--something which far exceeded his powers, but -not those of the Virgin. Accordingly he wrote a miraculous petition, -to the satisfaction of the judges. They believed that which they saw -to be impossible, as it really was; for though father Fray Miguel knew -some of the commoner Chinese letters, he did not understand those -which were necessary for what was then required of him, since they -were extremely peculiar and were in the judicial style, with which -he was not acquainted. Hence this was doubtless a miraculous event, -worthy of the compassion with which this great Lady comes to the aid of -her afflicted devotees. The sufferings of the archbishop from storms -at sea, as well as from the opposition of clergymen and laymen with -disrespectful words and acts, were very great, but were the cause -of great happiness. As was affirmed by his confessor--a religious -of great virtue, a man who had known him for many years and who was -familiar with the secrets of his soul--when the sufferings were at -their greatest, and in his sorrow and affliction he went to God, our -Lord himself visibly consoled him and gave him strength, not once, -but often. To this was attributed his habit of looking sometimes with -his eyes fixed on heaven, with flames of fire, as it were, shining -upon his face. On such occasions he was heard to utter some words -which, without his striving or having power to say more, he spoke in -affectionate converse with God. This caused great devotion in those -who heard; and as it was so, it is no wonder that he so much desired -other sufferings in addition to the weighty cross of his scruples, -because their absence was much more painful to him than the necessity -of enduring them. Hence he showed much more sadness and melancholy -when he was exposed to no hardships than when they were heaped upon -him; for in the latter case he was sure of the consolation of heaven, -which was lacking when he had no sufferings. - -The end of his days finally approached; and as he lay on his bed -it was plain to him that this was his last sickness, and he began -to prepare for this important journey. At his departure he was much -afflicted to leave without a minister the Indians of Marivelez, which -is situated at no great distance from Manila. Since these Indians -were few and by themselves, he had found no one who was willing to -accept the charge of them. Taking advantage of the present occasion, -he sent for father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho, who at that time was -provincial of the province, and most energetically begged him to urge -on his religious to give instruction to these poor Indians. When the -provincial promised that he would do all he could for this purpose, -the bishop remained in great content, as if there were nothing now to -cause him sorrow. He divided his poor treasures, sending part of them -immediately to his church, and giving part to our Lady of the Rosary, -and part to the poor. In his illness he did not complain or ask for -anything; and when he was asked if he wished or longed for anything, -he answered, "I desire to be saved." His face was very full of joy, -and the words which he uttered came forth kindled so by the love of -God that they showed plainly what a fire of love was in the breast -where they were forged. He asked them to dress him in his habit; -and on the coming of the festival of the glorious St. Anne in the -year 1605 he asked them to get ready his pontifical robes, as if he -were preparing to go out on that festal day. This was as much as to -say that his departure was at hand. He was surrounded by his friars, -and though they saw him joyful they themselves were very sad to -perceive that they were to be deprived of such a superior and such -a religious. He consoled them with loving words, and, perceiving -that his departure was at hand he called fervently upon his special -patroness, the Virgin, his guardian angel, our father St. Dominic, -and the other saints of his devotion, with whom he spoke as if he were -already with them in heaven. His countenance appeared to be celestial -rather than to belong to earth; and amid loving converse with God, -with His most holy Mother, and with the saints, his soul departed -to his Lord, leaving his body, as many said, fragrant with the odor -of roses. By the voice of all, he was given the palm of a virgin, -as if all had heard him in confession and felt the certainty which -his confessor had and manifested in this respect, although this -declaration was made after that in which the palm had been given to -him as to a virgin. When the fathers of St. Francis came, father Fray -Vicente Valero, who lived and died with the reputation of sainthood, -went up to the dead man, saying, "This body is holy and should -be regarded as such," and kissed the feet. After this all of his -religious did the same thing, and they were followed by the others, -for in this way the Lord honors those who faithfully serve Him. His -interment was performed with all possible solemnity in the cathedral, -on the epistle side near the high altar. The archbishop left behind -him some writings of much erudition, and full of Christian teaching, -which are very helpful to the ministers of the holy gospel. - - - - - -CHAPTER LXII - -Of some religious who died at this time - - -[At this time there were taken away by death a number of the most -superior religious, the lack of whom was greatly felt. In the year -of our Lord 1604 one of the definitors in the provincial chapter was -father Fray Pedro de San Vicente. He was elected as a definitor in -the general chapter, and also as procurator of the province at the -courts of España and Roma. There was no one at either court at that -time, and a procurator was necessary, especially for the purpose of -bringing over religious from España, without whom this province could -not be maintained. He set out to undertake the duties entrusted to him, -in the ships which sailed that year for Nueva España, and died on the -way, the same ships in the following year bringing back the news of -his death. Father Fray Pedro was a native of Zalamea. He assumed the -habit in the convent of San Esteban at Salamanca, whence he came to -this province in the year 1594. Here he was engaged in the ministry -of Bataan, and afterward in the ministry to the Chinese of Binondoc, -being much beloved and esteemed in both these offices. He always -thought well of all, and never spoke ill of anyone. He was twice -superior of Binondoc, to the great spiritual and temporal augmentation -of that mission. He set sail on the voyage without taking a real or -a piece of silk, or any other thing, either for the journey or for -the business which fell to his charge, trusting solely in the divine -Providence. He even refused to take for his convent some articles -of little value here, but esteemed as rare and curious in España, -and such as it is customary for a religious to take as a mark of -affection to the convent where he assumed the habit. When he died -he made the following testament or declaration: "I, Fray Pedro de -San Vicente, declare that I die as a friar of St. Dominic, without -having in my possession gold or silver, or anything else, except one -old blanket with which I cover myself at night. I pray for the love -of God that this may be given to a boy who travels with me, named -Andresillo." Let it be remembered that father Fray Pedro was in the -Philippinas ten years, for the greater part of the time minister to -the Chinese and for four years their vicar, and that he was very much -beloved; that they are of their nature inclined to make presents; -that many in this town are very rich, and are ready to give much on -small occasions; and that when they saw him about to go to España -they were much more likely to show generosity, without his needing -to put forward any effort. Any one who will consider these things, -and who will observe that he went from among them so poor, without -money or anything else, will clearly recognize his great virtue, and -see how justly he is entitled to the great praise of the Holy Spirit, -who says, "Happy is he who does not follow after gold, and who does -not put his trust in the treasures of money; who is he? let us praise -him because he has wrought marvels in his life." - -In the province of Nueva Segovia there died at this time father Fray -Jacintho Pardo, a learned theologian and a virtuous religious. He was a -native of Cuellar and took the habit in San Pablo at Valladolid. He was -so much beloved in the convent that the elder fathers strove to retain -him; but it was shown in a vision to a devout woman that father Fray -Jacintho was to serve among the heathen.] He was sent to Nueva Segovia, -where there were very many heathen to be converted; for at that time -missionaries had just been sent there, and nearly the whole of the -province was without them. The natives were fierce, constantly causing -alarm from warlike disturbances, and were much given to idolatry and -to the vices which accompany it. The good fortune of going thither -fell to him; and he immediately learned the ordinary language of that -province so perfectly that he was the first to compose a grammar of -it. Since the village of Tuguegarao (where he lived) in La Yrraya had, -although the inhabitants understood this common and general language, -another particular language of their own, in which it pleased them -better to hear and answer, he undertook the labor of learning that -also, and succeeded very well. He acted thus as one desirous in all -ways of attracting them to Christ, without giving any consideration -to his own labor, and to the fact that this language could be of -no use outside of this village. They were a warlike, ferocious, and -wrathful tribe; and, being enraged against their Spanish encomendero, -they killed him, and threatened the religious that they would take his -life unless he left the village. Being enraged, and having declared -war against the Spaniards, they did not wish to see him among them. But -father Fray Jacintho, who loved them for the sake of God more than for -his own life, desired to bring them to a reconciliation and to peace; -and was unwilling to leave the village, in spite of their threats. To -him indeed they were not threats, but promises of something which he -greatly desired. Under these circumstances he fell sick, and in a few -days ended his life. The Spaniards, knowing what the Indians had said, -believed that they had given him poison so that he should not preach to -them or reconcile them with the Spaniards; and this opinion was shared -by the physician, because of his very speedy death. If this were true, -it was a happy death which he suffered in such a holy cause. He died on -the day of the eleven thousand virgins, to whom he showed a particular -devotion; and it might have been a reward to him to die on such a day, -since the church knows by experience the great protection which these -saints offer at that time to those who are devoted to them. - -[In the district of Bataan died Father Juan de la Cruz, a son of the -convent of San Pablo at Sevilla. He was one of the first founders of -this province, in which he lived for eighteen years. He was small of -body, and weak and delicate in constitution; but his zeal gave him -strength for the great labors which accompanied the beginning of this -conversion. He was one of the first workers in the field of Pangasinan, -where he suffered all the evils and miseries which have been described -in the account of that conversion. He very rapidly learned the -language of these Indians, which they call Tagala; and succeeded -so perfectly with it that father Fray Francisco San Joseph, who was -afterwards the best linguist there was, profited by the papers and -labors of father Fray Juan de la Cruz. Father Fray Juan even learned -afterward two other Indian languages, those of the Zambales and the -Pampangos. Father Fray Juan, being the only linguist among the fathers, -was called upon constantly to hear confessions; and therefore suffered -even more than the rest from the exposures of traveling from place to -place in this district. These hardships broke down the health even of -strong men like father Fray Christobal de Salvatierra, who suffered -from a terrible asthma. Father Fray Juan was afflicted by an asthma so -terrible that it seemed as if every night must be his last; and he felt -the dreadful anxiety which accompanies this disease. He also suffered -from two other diseases even more severe, colic and urinary ailments, -which afflicted him even more than the asthma. He was so patient and -so angelic in nature that all these diseases and afflictions could -not disturb him or make him irritable. His body he treated like a -wild beast that had to be tamed, weakening it with fasts, binding -it with chains, mortifying it with hair-shirts, and chastising it -with scourgings. He was chosen as confessor by the archbishop of -Manila, Don Fray Miguel de Venavides. Immediately after the death -of the archbishop he returned to his labors among the Indians, but -did not survive long. When a religious of the Order of St. Dominic -is about to breathe his last, the rest of the convent gather about -him to aid him to die well; and to call them together some boards -are struck or a rattle is sounded, he who strikes them repeating, -"Credo, credo." Father Fray Juan de la Cruz, desiring to follow the -usual custom of the order, taught an Indian to strike together these -boards, although the father was alone in the village; and this was the -last farewell of this noble religious. He had refused repeated requests -to return to Manila for care; and he was buried, as he desired, in the -church of those Indians for whose spiritual good he had spent his life. - -In this year 1605 the religious of our order had been three years -in Japon. They were not a little disturbed by a brief which at this -time reached Japon and which had been obtained by the fathers of -the Society of Jesus. This brief directed that all the religious and -secular clergy who desired to preach in Japon might go thither by the -way of Eastern India, but that no one should have authority to go by -way of the Western Indias. The brief directed that all who had come -in that way or by the Philippinas should depart, on penalty of major -excommunication, latæ sententiæ. The religious of the other orders, -when this brief was shown to them by the fathers of the Society, -replied that the brief had been presented in the previous year to the -archbishop of Manila; and that the fathers of the various orders had -laid before the archbishop reasons for supposing that his Holiness -had been misinformed, and had appealed to the supreme pontiff for a -reconsideration. They declared that it was unreasonable to expect -them to leave Japon until the reply of the supreme pontiff should -be received. The brief was annulled by his Holiness Paul V in 1608, -only three years after the petition; and this repeal was confirmed -afterwards by Urban VIII. In the interim the fathers of the Society -of Jesus did things which annoyed the other religious, but were not -sufficient to drive them from Japon. After the repeal the superior -sent fathers Fray Thomas del Spiritu Sancto, or Zumarraga, and Fray -Alonso de Mena to extend the mission from Satzuma to Vomura [i.e., -Omura]. It was a time of great disturbance and of much feeling against -the Christians. The fathers of the order did what they could for some -fathers of the Society of Jesus who were imprisoned in a church. They -went on to the kingdom of Firando--the lord of which [47] had in 1587 -begged for religious of St. Francis, but was now strongly opposed to -Christianity. Among his vassals they found some who were Christians -in secret, and encouraged them and gave them the sacraments of the -church.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXIII - -The conquest of Maluco by the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary; -the foundation of her religious confraternity in this province, -and the entry of religious into it. - - -On April 16, 1606, an intermediate chapter was held in Manila, -at which notice was given of the brief of Pope Clement VIII, De -largitione munerum. Directions were given to observe this brief -with rigorous exactness, in all things which it commands to all -religious orders and religious. It was ordered and directed that -all memorable things, worthy of being placed in history, which had -happened in this province should be diligently gathered together. In -accordance with this, the father provincial gave a formal precept -to all the religious of the province that they should write down, -each one of them, what he knew in regard to this matter with all -accuracy and truth. In this way something of that which has here -been recounted was brought together; but there continues to be much -which remains buried in oblivion. Some difficulties were resolved; -and it was decreed that devotions to some saints should be offered, -whose devotions had up to that time not been offered in the province. - -On the first of April in this year occurred the glorious victory which -Don Pedro de Acuña, knight of the Habit of St. John, knight-commander -of Salamanca, governor and captain-general of these islands, gained -in the Malucas, restoring them to the crown of España, as for many -years had been desired and intended but without effect. This memorable -victory was won by the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary, who was -the sole source of it. This important stronghold remains incorporated -in the government and province of the Philippinas, to the immortal -reputation and glory of the great soldier and devout cavalier who -gained them during his government. He deserves this glory not less -for his devout Christian zeal, love of God, and devotion to our Lady -of the Rosary--in which from his tenderest years he was bred by his -most devout and prudent mother--than for his great military skill and -prudence, which he and all his valorous brothers acquired from his -father, a distinguished and most fortunate captain, as also he saw all -his sons become. The great favor which our Lady of the Rosary showed to -our army in this conquest was very well known and celebrated. That the -evidence of it might be more clearly made known to those who were not -present [at the victory], a formal narrative of the matter was made -before the treasurer Don Luis de Herrera Sandoval, vicar-general of -this archiepiscopate in the year 1609. Many witnesses being examined, -all agreed that this fort was gained by the miraculous aid of the -Virgin, though the soldiers did not on that account fight the less -valiantly. It was plain, in many things that happened, that sovereign -assistance was given by this Lady, as may be seen by referring to -the statement of the first witness, the sargento-mayor of that army, -Christobal de Azcueta Menchaca, who was present throughout the whole -matter; and, who on account of his position, had better knowledge -of what occurred than anyone else in the army. His statement is as -follows: "In the month of February, 1606, the governor was at Oton, -four leguas from the town of Arebalo, in the bishopric of Zebu, on -his way to the conquest of Maluco--where the Dutch had built a fort, -and had made treaties of peace with the king of that country against -the Castilians and Portuguese. It was also said that they had invaded -the country of the king of Tidore, our ally. The governor mustered -his forces at Oton; and with those who had come from Mexico in June, -and those who had been added in these islands, the total number was -thirteen hundred Spanish infantry, and six hundred Indians from the -vicinity of Manila, who fought courageously under the protection of the -Spaniards. Religious of all orders accompanied the troops, and among -them was a certain father Fray Andres of the Order of St. Dominic, -with another lay religious. As if by legitimate inheritance from their -father, all the friars of this habit had in their charge the devotion -to the Holy Rosary; and hence father Fray Andres suggested to the -sargento-mayor that her holy confraternity should be established in -this army, that this our Lady might open the door to the difficult -entrance they were to make. The sargento-mayor spoke to the governor -in regard to the matter, and to the holy bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro -de Agurto. The sargento-mayor received permission to discuss it in the -army, and the captains and soldiers all agreed with great heartiness; -and they determined that the holy confraternity should be immediately -established, with all its ceremonies and ordinances, so that this -important enterprise might begin with some service done to our Lady the -Virgin. The governor ordered the image of our Lady of the Rosary to be -embroidered on the royal standard, that she might guide the army. He -was the first to pledge himself as a member of the confraternity, and -was followed by the master-of-camp, Juan de Esquivel, and the captains, -the soldiers and sailors, and the members of his household--all of -them promising alms when they should be provided with money on account -of their pay. It was then proposed to establish the confraternity in -the first city which should be gained from the enemy, and to call it -"the City of the Rosary." For this purpose a canvas was painted, -having upon it a representation of our Lady with her son Jesus in -her arms, distributing rosaries to the governor, the master-of-camp, -the captains, and the rest of the soldiers. They confessed and -received communion, and went in procession, as is customary when the -confraternity is established. The bishop celebrated pontifical mass, -giving dignity to this solemn act with his holy presence. According -to the ordinances, a Dominican friar is obliged to preach if any be -present. Since Fray Andres had little skill in this office, and spoke -with little grace, he tried to arrange that the bishop should preach; -but matters turned out so that the religious was obliged to preach -the great things of the Mother of God and of her rosary. As all this -had been guided by God, and the preacher chosen by His own will, God -controlled the preacher's tongue in such a manner that all should be -fulfilled which concerned His purpose. Thus the father amazed those -who were present--the bishop to such an extent that he said aloud to -the whole congregation: "Gentlemen this blessed father has preached -in such a manner that it seems the Holy Spirit has been dictating to -him that which he has said; and I do not know what account to give of -the same except to praise God, for it is He who caused it." The fleet -sailed to Tidore; and when it reached there the forces spent Holy Week -in confessing and receiving communion. While they were there an eclipse -of the moon occurred, which was taken by the augurs of the island -as a bad omen, and they uttered presages of evil, and cried aloud; -but the Spaniards took it as an omen of victory. They did not find in -Tidore the king, who was friendly. They discovered two Dutchmen who -had a factory there; and they and that which was in the factory were -held for the king of España. On Friday of Easter week, which was the -last day of March, the fleet cast anchor a cannon-shot from the fort -of Ternate; and on Saturday the artillery from the ships and galleys -was fired, to clear the field. The sargento-mayor made a landing with -the army, drawing them up along the creek between the fort and the -sea. The vanguard was held by the master-of-camp, Gallinato, lookouts -being posted in the trees. While he was planning to make gabions, the -tumult of the army, as if the voice of all, declared that they should -not doubt the victory; that on that very day they were going to capture -the fort and the country, for it was Saturday, a day dedicated to our -Lady. They began with great readiness. It was about midday, an hour -little suited for an attack in so hot a country, for the sun beat down -on them. In addition, on one side they were harassed by falcon-shots -fired from the fort of Cachitulco; it was a very effective weapon, -although at first they shot their balls too high. After lowering -their aim somewhat, they struck seven Spaniards. The companions -of the governor forced him to move to another place, as balls were -constantly striking where he was. At the very moment when he left the -spot, his shield-bearer, stepping into his place, was struck. On this -account the sargento-mayor endeavored to hold back the forces until -they could hear what the lookouts said, or receive an order from -the governor. From among the body of the troops he heard a voice, -calling upon him to attack without doubting of the victory; that the -mother of God purposed that on that day her holy confraternity should -be established in this country. The sargento-mayor turned his head -and asked in a loud voice: "What devout or holy person has said this -to us?" There was no answer, and it was not known from whom the voice -proceeded; but it seemed to him that it spoke to him from within, and -that it came from heaven. It inspired in him such spirit and courage -that he turned to the captains and said: "Gentlemen, the mother of -God wills us to gain this fort today." Captain Cubas reached the fort, -from which his troops were somewhat driven back by the Moros, and his -foot was wounded by a pointed stake [puia]. Some beginning to call -"Sanctiago!" and others "Victory!" they all began to run on boldly -and proudly without any order. So quickly was the fort taken that the -captain-general did not even know it when the soldiers had actually -surmounted the wall. They went on to where the king was fortified, -with many arquebuses and culverins; and with four pieces of ordnance -(pieças de batïr), and with a high wall, from which the enemy did -much execution with bucacaos [48] and fire-hardened reeds anointed -with poison. But none of these things availed him; and, seeing that -the day was lost he fled with some of his followers, in a caracoa -and four xuangas, to the island of the Moro, or Batachina [i.e., -Gilolo], to which they had sent their women and children and their -wealth. On account of this the sack did not bring very much gold or -money, but amounted to only two thousand ducats and some cloth and -cloves. The rest of the prize was artillery, culverins, arms, and -ammunition. After the victory, the sargento-mayor went to ask the -governor for the countersign, and found him on his knees before an -image of our Lady, saying: "I beg humility of you, our Lady, since -by you this victory has been gained." On the following day, Sunday, -the second of April (which was, accordingly, the first Sunday in the -month), the governor ordered an altar to be prepared, and directed -that the painting we carried of the mother of God of the Rosary, -with the governor, the captains and the men at her feet should be -placed thereon, so that mass might be said. They brought from the -mosque a pulpit, in which father Fray Andres preached. That which -had previously been a mosque was from that day forth the parish -church and mother church--the religious living in one part of it, and -administering the holy sacrament. The confraternity was established, -and it and the city and the principal fort received the name of El -Rosario [i.e., "The Rosary"] that this signal mercy might remain in -the memory of those who were to come. In these events there were many -things that appeared miraculous. The first of them was the voice which -the sargento-mayor heard, with regard to which he declared upon oath -that he could not find out who spoke it, that it appeared to speak -to him within, and that the words inspired in him great confidence, -as has been said. The second miraculous element is the speed with -which victory was attained; for when the governor went away to speak, -with the king of Tidore, who is friendly, the report that the fort -had been gained reached him so quickly that the governor was amazed, -and the king did not believe it. The third was the few deaths which -occurred on our side; for only fifteen died in the war, and twenty -were wounded. The fourth is that when a Dutchman--or, as others say, -a man of Terrenate--was trying to fire a large paterero to clear a -straight path where a great number of our soldiers were marching up -hill in close order, he tried three times to fire it with a linstock, -but was unable to do so. When the Moros told him to hasten and fire -it, he said that a lady with a blue mantle was preventing him with -a corner of the mantle, and sprinkling sand in the touch-hole. So, -throwing away the linstock, he began to run; and the Spaniards came -up with him and killed him. - -At the beginning of August in the same year, large reenforcements -of religious came from España; and so great was the need which there -was of them that they came at a very fortunate time, especially since -they were picked men in virtue and learning. The first who volunteered -for this province were five members of the college of Sancto Thomas -at Alcala, which event attracted so much attention in the convent of -San Estevan at Salamanca that, when the vicar of the religious reached -there, thirteen members of that convent volunteered. Among them was -the preacher of that distinguished convent, father Fray Diego del -Aguila. To these, others from other convents added themselves, and -a member of the college of San Gregorio, of whose great virtue an -account will immediately be given. When the time for beginning the -voyage arrived, the thirteen members of the order from the convent -of San Estevan at Salamanca prostrated themselves on the floor of -the church, after thanks had been returned for the meal which had -been completed, and asked for the blessing of the superior that they -might begin their journey. This act aroused great devotion among -those who were present. When they had received the blessing, they -went in procession to the convent of novices, where they took their -cloaks and bags; and intoning the devout hymn of the Holy Spirit, they -began with His divine support upon this journey, with their staves and -hempen sandals, after the manner of persons who go on foot. They were -led by father Fray Diego del Aguila, the preacher of that convent at -the time, and an example of virtue in that city where he had preached -with great reputation for the four years preceding. Hence to see him -walking on foot, and on his way to regions so remote, was a thing -which caused great tenderness and devotion in those who knew him, and -who saw so devout and so humble an act, so determined a resignation, -and such contempt for the world. He labored much in the ship, hearing -confessions, and preaching and teaching; for as in voyages there are -so many kinds of people, there is need of all of these things, while -many of the people need them all at once, because they do not know the -doctrine which it is their duty to know and believe, and do not take -that care of their souls which they ought to take. Some of them do -not even desire to have such things spoken of, that their ignorance -may not be known; and hence there is much labor in teaching them, -and it is a great service to God not to refuse this labor. - -[The member of the college of San Gregorio at Valladolid who came -with the rest of these religious was Fray Pedro Rodriguez, a native -of Montilla and a son of the convent of San Pablo at Cordoba. His -departure caused much grief. His parents loved him tenderly, for he -was, like Benjamin, the youngest and was very obedient and docile by -nature. The religious of his convent were grieved because they had -seen in him so notable a beginning in virtue and letters. In spite -of the efforts of fathers, kinsmen, and religious, father Fray Pedro -maintained his resolve. His virtues were very great, and he mortified -himself constantly. His last illness befell him when the vessel had -already come among these islands; and they were already at the port -of Ybalon, and were carrying him ashore that he might receive the -viaticum, when he lost consciousness. He had desired to be left in -the islands of the Ladrones, that he might serve as missionary; but -he was not permitted to do so, on account of the great difficulties -which he would have met with because of ignorance of the language. It -may be that father Fray Pedro would have overcome them; but such things -ought not to be left in the hands of a single person. The evil results -which follow are morally worse than the gain which may be expected, -as has been found out by experience since religious of the seraphic -father St. Francis have remained there. His body was taken to be buried -in the church of Casigura. He left behind him among his brethren the -name of saint.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXIV - -Other events which happened at this time in Japon and the Philippinas - - -[The circumstances in Japon were such that many of the converts -were obliged to spend six, or eight, or even fifteen years without -confessing, while some of them had not seen a confessor within -forty years. Hence the fathers Fray Thomas and Fray Alonso were -anxious to go up into the country to continue the good work which -they had begun. The vicar-provincial, Fray Francisco de Morales, -sent father Fray Alonso de Mena to the kingdom of Fixen, [49] where -there had been no church up to this year 1606. A certain captain, -Francisco Moreno Donoso, had taken some Franciscan fathers with him on -a journey, and on the voyage had been delivered from great danger by -the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary. He was therefore devoted to -this our Lady. Although the kingdom of Fixen is very near Nangasaqui, -the king had always been unwilling to admit preachers of Christianity; -but this king had a great regard for Captain Moreno Donoso, who went to -visit the king with father Fray Alonso; and the captain made the king -many gifts, refusing to accept anything in return except a chain. The -king showed him such favor that the captain took advantage of the -opportunity to ask permission that father Fray Alonso might establish -convents and churches in the kingdom. The king was pleased to grant -it, insisting only that the sanction of a great bonze, named Gaco, -should first be secured; he was a native of Fixen, and was the most -highly regarded man in Japan because of his learning. The king sent -his own secretary to go before the bonze, to tell him of the poverty, -the penitence, the contempt for the things of this world, the modesty, -the humility, and the courteous behavior of the father. The bonze, -seeing that it was the pleasure of the king, said that such a man might -very well receive this permission. In conformity with it three poor -churches and houses were built--one in Famamachi under the patronage -of our Lady of the Rosary; the second in the city of Caxima [i.e., -Kashima]. named for St. Vincent; and, after some time, another one -at the king's court [i.e., Saga], for which at that time permission -had been refused. Father Fray Alonso and his companion, when he had -one, got the little they needed for their support from Portuguese -and Castilians in Nangasaqui, that they might avoid asking for alms -from the Japanese, and might thus give no opportunity for the bonzes -to complain against them, and to find a pretext for sending them out -of the country. Father Fray Alonso remained in this kingdom; and the -order persevered until the persecution, when all the religious who -had been hiding there were ordered to depart from Japon. Father Fray -Alonso found in this kingdom some Japanese who had been baptized in -other kingdoms, but had not been well taught in the faith, or who -had forgotten the good teachings that they had received at their -baptism. They were guilty of much irregularity in their marriages; -and some of them had assumed to baptize others without knowing the -essence of the baptismal form, so that it was difficult to determine -which of them had received valid baptisms. These imperfectly prepared -converts had also done harm by endeavoring to sustain arguments against -the opponents of Christianity, and, being insufficiently grounded -in the faith, they had spread false impressions of the Christian -religion. Notable cases of conversion occurred, there being some -instances well worthy of remark in the court; and finally the sanctity -of the life of the missionaries caused them to be called xaxino padre, -"fathers who despise the world." The father Fray Juan de Los Angeles, -or Rueda, came to live at Fixen in the following year, 1607. - -In this year 1606 of which we have been speaking, there died at -sea father Fray Domingo de Nieva, who was on his way to act as -procurator of the province. He had labored much and well among the -Indians of Bataan and among the Chinese. Father Fray Domingo was a -native of Billoria in Campos, and a son of the convent of San Pablo -at Valladolid. He was a man of ability and of good will. When nearly -all the lecturers in theology from that convent, together with the -lecturers in arts, and many of their most able and learned disciples, -determined to go to the Philippinas, father Fray Domingo joined his -masters. He suffered his life long from headache. Being sent to Bataan -in company with three other fathers, he, as the youngest, had to carry -a very heavy burden of duties. He was fortunate enough not to suffer -from any further diseases, the Lord being pleased not to add any to -his constant headache. His mortification, fasting, and discipline were -very great. He wrote some devout tracts in the language of the Indians, -and some others in that of the Chinese. He had printed for the Chinese -in their language and characters an essay upon the Christian life, -with other brief tracts of prayer and meditation, in preparation for -the holy sacraments of confession and the sacred communion. He wrote -a practically new grammar of the Chinese language, a vocabulary, a -manual of confession, and many sermons, in order that those who had -to learn this language might find it less difficult. He was prior -of Manila; and in the third year of his priorate the news arrived -of the death of father Fray Pedro de San Vicente, who was going to -España as definitor in the chapter general and as procurator for -this province. Since it was necessary to send another in his place, -father Fray Domingo received the appointment to the duty. Like his -predecessor, he died on the voyage from the islands to Mexico.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXV - -The foundation of Manavag in Pangasinan and the deaths of some -religious - - -In the year 1605 the missionaries to Pangasinan, not contented with the -fruitful results of their labors in the level region of that province, -took under their charge the village of Manavag, situated among the -mountains at a considerable distance from the other villages. The -first entry into this village was made by the religious of our father -St. Augustine in the year 1600; they built there a church named after -St. Monica, and baptized some children. The village was so small, -however, that it was not possible for a religious to find enough to -do there to justify his continued residence; and accordingly it was -visited from Lingayen, the capital of that province, which was at -that time in their hands. It caused them a great deal of labor, since -they were obliged to travel three days if they went there by water, -and two if they went by land; and therefore it was seldom visited, and -little good resulted to the village. Inasmuch as the whole population -were heathen, they required much persuasion to lead them to baptism, -and a great deal of attention to their religious instruction. On this -account, those fathers placed a juridical renunciation of the said -village in the hands of the bishop, Don Fray Diego de Soria. The -bishop, being a religious of our order, asked his brethren to take -charge of this village, since there were in it many baptized children, -and no other body of religious could care for and guide them. The -bishop, in asking the religious to take this matter in charge, was -laying upon them no small burden; yet the need was almost extreme, -and the great labor brought with it great reward--for, as the -apostle says, each man shall be rewarded at the last judgment in -proportion to his labors. Hence they determined to assume the charge, -and the superior sent there father Fray Juan de San Jacintho, [50] -a devoted religious and an indefatigable laborer in the teaching -of the Indians. He went to Manavag in the year mentioned, and the -fact was spread abroad among the neighboring villages. On account -of the great love which they had for the order, and especially for -the religious who was there (for he was like an angel from heaven), -some other hamlets were added to that one, and the village of Manavag -was made of reasonable size. The Negrillos and Zambales who go about -through those mountains were continually harassing this village, partly -because of their evil desires to kill men, and partly for robbery. They -often came down upon it with bows and arrows, and with fire to burn -the houses and the church which was practically all of straw. They -committed murders, and robbed women and children. Those in the village -being thus terrorized, and the men being unable to prevent the evil, -since their enemies came when they had gone out into the fields, -it was determined to take as patroness the Virgin of the Rosary, -that she might aid them in this need. They accordingly dedicated a -new church to her, and solemnized the dedication with many baptisms of -adult persons. Within a few months, there was not a heathen within the -village--a clear proof that the presence of heathen in the country is -due solely to a lack of missionaries. Wherever the missionaries are, -all are immediately baptized; and not only those of that village which -has the missionaries, but some of their neighbors also, participate -in the teaching of the religious, and in the favors of our Lady of the -Rosary. This is plain from a miracle which occurred a few years after, -and was verified before the vicar-general of this country, who at that -time was father Fray Pedro de Madalena. It happened thus. Four leguas -from Manavag, in a village of Ygolote Indians who inhabit some high -mountain ridges, there lived an Indian chief, a heathen, by the name -of Dogarat, who used sometimes to go down to the village of Manavag, -and to listen out of curiosity to the preaching of the religious. Since -the matters of our faith are truly divine, the Indian began to incline -toward them, and even toward becoming a Christian. He therefore learned -the prayers, and knew them by heart; and the only thing which held -him back was the necessity of leaving his vassals and his kinsmen if -he was baptized, and going away from the washings in a river of his -village, where they used to gather grains of gold, which come down with -the water from those hills and ridges where they are formed. God our -Lord, to draw him to the precious waters of baptism, brought upon him -a severe illness. When he felt the misery of this disease, he sent to -call the religious who was at that time in Manavag, father Fray Thomas -Gutierrez, who came to his village, called Ambayaban, and visited the -sick Indian, giving him thorough instruction in the matters of our -holy faith. When he was thoroughly prepared he baptized him and named -him Domingo. By the aid of the Lord he recovered, and used to attend -church on feast days. He asked for a rosary, which the religious gave -him with a direction to say the prayers of the rosary every day, -that the Sovereign Lady might aid him. He went out hunting once; -and in order that the rosary, which he always wore about his neck, -might not interfere with him or be broken by catching in a branch, -he took it off and hung it on a tree, and with it a little purse in -which he was carrying a trifle of gold. It happened soon after that -some Indians set fire to the mountain to frighten out the game. The -fire kindled the tree where the rosary was hanging, and burnt it all -to ashes. Some time afterward Don Domingo came back for his rosary, -and discovered the destruction which the fire had wrought, and the tree -in ashes. As he was looking among them he found his rosary entire and -unhurt, while everything else was burnt up, and the purse and the gold -were consumed, though they were close to the rosary, which did not show -a sign of fire. The Indian, amazed, went and told his story to father -Fray Thomas, who for a memorial of this marvel kept the miraculous -rosary among the treasures of the church, giving the Indian another -in its place. There it remained, in token of the esteem and respect -which our Lady willed that the fire should pay to her holy rosary. - -[In the month of June, 1607, father Fray Juan Baptista Gacet ended his -labors happily in the convent of Sancto Domingo at Manila. He was a -son of the convent of Preachers at Valencia, and a beloved disciple of -St. Luis Beltran, whom he succeeded in the office of master of novices -at Valencia. When St. Luis returned from the Indias, the Lord moved -father Fray Juan to go to them, as he desired to reap a harvest of -souls, and feared that they might strive to make him superior in his -own province. He received the approval of St. Luis, and went to the -Indias at the time when master Fray Alonso Bayllo went out from his -convent of Murcia, by command of our lord the king and of the general -of the order, to divide the province of Vaxac from that of Sanctiago de -Mexico. Being threatened with a superiorship in the province of Vaxac, -father Fray Juan did what he could to avoid it. When a company of -religious under the leadership of father Fray Pedro de Ledesma passed -through Nueva España on their way to the Philippinas, father Fray Juan -decided to accompany them, though he was already of venerable age; -and he reached Manila in 1596. Here he was greatly honored, and, being -too old to learn the Indian languages, was retained in the convent of -Manila to act as confessor and spiritual guide to a number of devout -persons in the city. He was made definitor in the first provincial -chapter, and was later obliged to accept the office of prior--having -no other country to flee to, as he had fled from España to the Indias, -and thence to the Philippinas, to avoid this elevation. He was given -to devout exercises and to prayer, reading often from some devout book, -usually from St. John Climachus, and afterward discussing the passage, -and making it the basis of devout meditation. After leaving the office -of prior, he returned to his life of devotion and abstraction. - -On the twentieth of July in the same year, father Fray Miguel de Oro -ended his life in the province of Nueva Segovia. He was a native of -Carrion de Los Condes; and he took the habit and professed in San -Pablo at Valladolid. He afterward went to the religious province of -Guatemala, where he remained for some years, but afterward returned -to España. In 1599 the plague attacked all España and raged with -especial violence in Valladolid. Father Fray Miguel, with four other -religious of our order, devoted himself to the care of those who were -plague-stricken. After the plague he retired to the convent of La Peña -de Francia; but his memory was constantly stirred by the recollection -of his service among the Indians, and in 1601 he went with some other -religious to Manila. He was assigned to the province of Nueva Segovia, -where, although on account of his great age he was unable to learn the -language, his holy example was of great value. He was of great help and -comfort to the minister whom he accompanied, doing all that he could -to make it possible for the minister (who knew the language) to work -among the Indians, and to write in the Indian language compositions and -spiritual exercises, which were of service to the ministers that came -after them. He used to wear next his skin a thick chain, weighing ten -libras; and, that the other brethren might not perceive the marks of -it on his tunics, he used to take care to wash and dry them apart. He -died as a result of a fever caused by the heat of the sun. Father -Fray Miguel was of swarthy complexion, with black and very prominent -eyes which inspired fear. After his death he remained handsome, fair, -and rosy, which caused those present to wonder-all supposing that -these were signs of the glory which his soul already enjoyed.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXVI - -The establishment of two churches in Nueva Segovia - - -In the month of August, 1607, at the octave of the Assumption of -our Lady, a church was erected in the village of Nalfotan, the chief -village among those which are called the villages of Malagueg [i.e., -Malaúeg] in Nueva Segovia. This church had the name and was under the -patronage of St. Raymond. The Indians of these villages were and are -courageous and warlike. Hence before the coming of the faith they -were constantly at war among themselves and with their neighbors, -being men of fierce mind and lofty courage, and highly prizing their -valor, strength and spirit, an inheritance left to them by their -ancestors. Thus they and their neighbors of Gatarang and Talapa, with -whom they were very closely related, gave the Spaniards a great deal -of trouble, and were feared and still are feared by the other Indians -of that large province. In the village called Nalfotan the chief and -lord at this time was a young man named Pagulayan, to whom our Lord, -in addition to high rank, great wealth, and courage, had given a quiet -and peaceful disposition. He was a friend of peace and of the public -weal--[seeking not only] his own advantage, but that of his people, -and striving to secure what he recognized as good; and in him ran side -by side the love of peace, and military spirit and courage--in which he -was distinguished and eminent, and for which he was therefore feared by -his enemies. God our Lord, so far as we can judge, had predestinated -him for Himself; and this he showed by the great affection with which -he listened to matters dealing with the service of God, even when he -was a heathen and was living among barbarians, idolaters and demons, -such as were all his vassals. When he heard that the Ytabes Indians, -his neighbors, had religious of St. Dominic who taught them a sure and -certain road to salvation, and to the gaining of perpetual happiness -for the soul in heaven by serving God in peace and quietude, he strove -with all his heart to enjoy so great a good. He discussed the matter -with his Indians, and with their approval went down many times to the -city of the Spaniards to carry out his religious purpose, endeavoring -to have the father provincial, Fray Miguel de San Jacintho, give him -a religious for his village. The provincial would have rejoiced to -give him one; but those whom he had were so busy, and he had already -withdrawn so many in response to such requests, that he was unable -to satisfy this good desire, except with the hope that a missionary -would be provided there as soon as the religious had come whom he was -expecting from España. The good Pagulayan, although he was somewhat -consoled, did not cease to complain, with feeling, that he had been -unable to bring to his village the good which he desired for it. As he -was unable to obtain a religious, he took with him a Christian child -from among those who were being taught the Christian doctrine in the -church, that the boy might instruct him until a father should come who -could complete and perfect his teaching. Nay, more: he and his people, -having confidence in the promise which had been given them, erected -a church in their village that they might influence the religious -[to go there], and have that stronger reason for supplying a minister -to them rather than to other villages which had no church. All this -greatly affected the religious; and finally, in August of this year -[1607], father Fray Pedro de Sancto Thomas [51] went there and found -the church already built, and the whole village--men, women, and -children--gathered on purpose to receive him, as they did with great -joy and the exhibition of much content. This caused like content in the -soul of father Fray Pedro, who giving many thanks to the Lord, whose -work this was, firmly resolved to labor with all his strength in this -vineyard which seemed to bear fruit before it was cultivated. Father -Fray Pedro was very well suited to begin a conversion like this; -for he was so simple and affable that the most remote barbarians, -if they talked with him, were compelled to love him. He was of a very -gentle nature, and extremely open-hearted, being entirely free from -any duplicity or deceit, and acting in all things with the bowels of -charity. This is the greatest snare to catch love which may be set -for men. Hence they received him as if he came from heaven, and at -the beginning they listened to him and obeyed him with great zeal. The -devil at these things suffered from rage and the worst pains of hell, -as he saw himself losing, all at once, villages which had been his for -so many ages. Hence by the means of a sorceress, a priestess of his, -named Caquenga, he began to disturb the Indians, to whom this wicked -woman said such things that many determined to follow the rites of -their ancestors and not to receive the teaching of the divine law. So -devilish was this cursed anitera that she kept stirring up some of them -against the religious, while at the same time with those who wished -to keep him she pretended to be on their side; thus she deceived -them all, especially those who were influenced by their zeal for -ancient superstitions. Hence they themselves killed their fowls and -the swine which they had bred, tore down their houses, and cut down -their palm-groves, in which their principal wealth consisted; and, -crying out, "Liberty!" they fled to the mountains. Here they joined -those who had hitherto been their enemies, that they might be more -in number and might bring a greater multitude of weapons against a -solitary friar who went unarmed, and whom they had invited to their -village with such urgency, and received with such joy; and against -whom they had no complaint except simply that he preached to them -the law of God and the gospel of peace, at their own invitation, and -that a most earnest invitation. Pagulayan, with some of his vassals, -was constantly at the side of Fray Pedro--who, being secure in his -own conscience, was not intimidated, but strove to bring back those -who had revolted. Seeking for means of speaking to them, he determined -to send an Indian who should arrange in his behalf for a conference; -and who should promise the chief of the revolted ones, whose name was -Furaganan, that the Spaniards who were ¡n the city of Nueva Segovia -would not punish him for what he had done. That the Indian might feel -safe and might believe him, he gave the man a relic of St. Thomas to -carry; for among them there was no one who knew how to read or write, -because they had no letters of their own, so that he was unable to -give him a letter, or any other token better known as coming from -the father. This, however, sufficed to cause Furaganan to listen to -the messenger without ill-treating him; and he agreed to meet the -religious at a certain place and on an appointed day. As a token of -fidelity and peace, Furaganan sent his bararao--a dagger with which -they stab close at hand, and can easily cut off a head--that it might -be put in the hands of the religious. They met on the assigned day; -and the Indian, annoyed with Caquenga, who had caused the disturbance -among them, immediately joined the party of the religious against whom -she had caused them to rebel. Furaganan asked them to give him this -Indian anitera as a slave, alleging that she had been a slave of his -mother, and that in this way and no other could quiet be restored, -because he could not suffer that this intriguing slave-woman should, -merely through her crafty acts, be more esteemed by the Spaniards -than were the chiefs. She was, he said, full of duplicity, having -remained with Pagulayan that she might be able to say afterward to -the Spaniards that she was not at fault for the uprising--although, -in point of fact, she had been the cause of it. Fray Pedro promised -to look after this business with great diligence, and to do what -should be best. The Indian departed, apparently in peace; but the -others did not continue in that frame of mind. At midnight, while -the religious was reciting the matins, on the first Sunday of Advent, -and when he had come to the first response, the insurgents set fire -to the church, thus alarming those who had remained in the village, -and causing them to take flight. Pagulayan came to father Fray Pedro, -and, acting as his guide, put him on a safe road, carrying him at -times on his shoulders across creeks and rivers on the road which they -followed. At dawn they halted in a thicket, whence the father went -to a little village farther down, because the place where they were -was not safe. Here Pagulayan carried the robes from the sacristy, -and father Fray Pedro put them as well as he could into a chest, -being obliged to leave out a canvas of our Lady, which on account of -its size the chest would not hold. Leaving it there, he went on to -the village of Pia, where there was a religious with many Christians, -and where the people were peaceful. The insurgents went straight down -to the village where the chest and the picture were; and, opening the -chest, they took out the ornaments, the chalice, and all the rest, -and profaned everything. They cut the ornaments of the mass into -pieces, to make head-cloths and ribbons. They tore the leaves out of -the missal, and drank out of the chalice, like a godless race governed -by the devil. Taking the image painted on the canvas, they set it up -as a target for their lances. One of them blasphemously said: "This, -the fathers tell us, is the mother of God; if this were truth, our -lances would draw blood, and since she sheds none, it is all trickery -and deceit." The savage said this when he was throwing his lance at -the image, and his audacity did not remain without its punishment, for -he was soon after condemned to the galleys; and here, in addition to -the ordinary hardships suffered in them, he was maltreated by all the -other galley slaves when they learned that his crime had been committed -against our Lady. They struck him, buffeted him, kicked him, and abused -him with words as an enemy of the Virgin; and in this state he died, -passing from the wretched life of the galleys to eternal death in hell. - -In this same year the Indians of Zimbuey, in the level part of La -Yrraya in the same province, rose and murdered their encomendero -Luis Henriquez, angered because he had treated them during the -previous year with more rigor than was proper. There was no religious -here. The Indians, in fear of like severity during the present year, -had mutinied against the encomendero and thrust him through with a -lance. Out of his shin-bones they made steps to go up to the house -of their chief--a piece of savagery such as might be expected from -enraged Indians. Information of these two risings was sent to the -governor of Manila, who sent out the sargento-mayor Christobal de -Azcueta with a sufficient number of soldiers. He ascertained the -facts in both cases and brought out the truth clearly--namely, -that the excesses of the dead encomendero had caused the Indians -of his encomienda at Zimbuey to rise, and that the intrigues of -Caquenga had roused the Indians of Malagueg. The latter, conscious -of their fault, came to the city of Nueva Segovia to beg that the -religious might return to them; and father Fray Pedro de Sancto -Thomas returned with them. He had greater confidence in the many -hopes which he had, for many of them, that they would be good and -faithful Christians, than resentment for the wrongs which he had -received from others. All this disturbance came to an end, and he -built convents and churches and baptized many. In course of time all -those people were baptized. Pagulayan was named Luis, and one of his -sisters was named Luysa Balinan. They were always very brotherly and -sisterly in all things, especially in following virtue. They remained -very firm in the faith, and have aided much to bring their Indians -to embrace it. They lived according to the teachings of the faith, -giving a noble example in this respect, and obviously surpassing all -those of their land in everything that has to do with virtue and the -service of God. They were, during all their lives, the support of the -mission, the comfort of the religious, and generous honorers of their -church--upon the adornment of which they spent freely in proportion to -their means, giving silver lamps and other very rich ornaments for the -service and beautifying of the church. Nor did they forget the poor, -not only of their own village, but of the others, who very often come -to this one to find food, since this is generally the village where -food is most abundant. Don Luis Pagulayan died while young, in the -year 1620. His death was much regretted and deplored, as it still is -both by the religious and by his Indians, and much more by his sister, -Doña Luysa Balinan. She is yet living, and perseveres in holy customs -and in laudable acts of all the virtues; for she wears hair shirts -underneath her dress as a married chieftainess, is constantly in the -church, and is very frequent in her confessions and communions. She -is very careful that not only those of her household (who are many) -but all of the village--which is one of the largest in the province -of Nueva Segovia--should carefully observe the law of God and hear and -learn the Catholic doctrine. This she herself ordinarily teaches, and -teaches well, for she has had much practice in this office, so that -she greatly aids the ministers. A few years ago, there was in this -province a great famine; and Doña Luisa having very fertile land, -from which she might have made a great profit, preferred to offer -it to Christ through His poor. Hence she spent it all upon them, -directing all the poor to come every day to her for their food, as -was done. In any tumult or disturbance that may arise, she is one -from whom the religious learn with perfect certainty the truth of -what has happened; and by her assistance (for she is very prudent) -the remedy is obtained. The Lord watches over her and prospers her -in all things--not only spiritual, in which she surpasses, but also -temporal, for she is one of the richest persons that there are in this -province. When some superstitious performances were carried on here -by some of the chiefs, she immediately informed the religious. When -he asked her if she dared to declare the matter before the guilty -persons, that in this way the evil might be demonstrated and cured, -she replied that she would venture, even though they should give her -poison; for they were unable to avenge themselves in any other way, -and she had reason to expect them to do this. Such is the spirit -and courage with which she serves the Lord and strives for the good -of her fellow-men; and so little does she esteem life when there is -an opportunity for her to venture it for such a noble end. In the -year 1626, the names of those entered in the records of baptism in -this church of Nalfotan were counted. The total was found to be four -thousand six hundred and seventy, in addition to those baptized in -sickness, who were many; and all this rich harvest was reaped in a -village which eighteen years ago was composed wholly of heathen. - -At the end of this year, 1607, another church was built in December, -on Innocents' day, in a village of the same province named Yguig, -two days' journey up the river from the city of the Spaniards. The -encomendero had collected his tribute from these Indians with great -care; but he had given no attention to providing them with Christian -instruction, as God and the king commanded him. The Lord, who overlooks -many other grievous sins, was unwilling to let this pass without -chastisement; but the punishment which He gave the encomendero was -that of a kind father, and was inflicted outside of his clothes--that -is to say, it fell only upon his wealth, which, when it is guiltily -acquired, shall not profit. This encomendero lost all; and when these -misfortunes came upon him, one after the other, he perceived that they -did not come by chance, and saw what it was with which the Lord might -be angry. This was his supporting idolatry and the service of the devil -in this village, by his mere failure to provide Christian instruction -in it, as was his duty. He repented of what he had hitherto done, -and vowed to provide in this village the teaching of the true God, -and a religious to preach and teach it. In this year he asked for the -religious from the father provincial, Fray Miguel de San Jacintho, -and one was given him. Since there was a discussion as to what patron -this new church should be given, many slips with the names of saints -upon them were placed in a vessel. Three times the name of Sanctiago, -patron of the Españas, came out; and hence the church was given this -name, which has been retained in this village of Yguig. This has been -done in spite of the fact that, on account of great inundations and -floods of the river, it has been necessary to build the church on -four separate sites--the first three having been overflowed, although -it did not appear possible that the river should reach land situated -so high. This river, however, is very large; and its floods are so -extreme that they overflowed these eminences, until the church was -finally placed where it now is, which is upon a very high hill. Here it -enjoys without disturbance the fresh breezes, and is safe against any -flood. Among all these changes and difficulties, this tribe would have -been scattered and their village destroyed, if the religious had not -sustained them with alms and charities. They received much assistance -from the Indian chiefs, in particular from one who far surpassed the -others in Christian zeal and in fidelity to God, the church, and the -Spaniards. The Lord has wrought him great and apparent benefits for -this. One was as follows. He went for many days under a temptation -of the devil to kill another Indian chief, who had wrought him a -great wrong; and could not rest by day or by night for thinking how -he might obtain satisfaction against the guilty man. Now he thought -of these plans, now of those, and was in such disquiet that he could -not conceal the matter. The religious came to a knowledge of this, -called him aside, and rebuked him earnestly, for his guilt and the -great sin which he was designing, which was entirely contrary to the -laws which should govern a Christian, such as he was, who is bound -to love his enemies. It was even contrary to the principles of his -rank and his chieftainship for him to desire to commit a murder. Don -Ambrosio Luppo (as this Indian was named) responded, weeping freely: -"Would to God, father, that you might see my heart, in order that you -might understand well how much I suffer from the deed of this man, -and might also see plainly how great an impression your teachings have -made upon me. If I had not looked to God for some way of following -your teachings, would this man have had his head on his shoulders -so long? But I pardoned him because God pardoned me; and from that -time I have been calm, and more devout than before." He received -another benefit. He and his wife much desired to have children, but, -though they had lived for many years together, they had now passed -their youth, and had no children. They communicated their desire to -the father, and he advised them what they ought to do, saying: "When -good Spaniards feel these desires, they offer particular devotion to -the mother of God and to other great saints"--naming some who are of -most signal assistance in such cases--"and they go to the churches -and offer prayers before their images, that they may intercede with -God who can do all things. In this way they many times attain what -they desire." "All this will we do very willingly," answered husband -and wife; "but what shall we say in our prayer after we have recited -the Paternoster and the Ave Maria?" The religious taught them what -they ought to say and what prayers they ought to make to our Lady, -briefly indicating to her the desire which they had, and offering -to her service the fruit of the blessing which they might attain by -their prayers. This they did, going with their petition to the Lady -of the Rosary which was in their church. A year later they had a son, -to whom the religious, in memory of that which had been agreed upon, -gave the name of Juan de Sancta Maria. The parents recognized him as -a gift from our Lady. Afterward this same Lady, by means of this same -religious, restored the child to complete health in an instant, when it -was almost at the point of death. This she did for the comfort of the -parents, for it seemed as if they would follow it out of sorrow. On -many other occasions she has come to their help; and the Lord has -rewarded them with a generous hand for the faith and the good services -which, since they became Christians, they have done and are doing. - - - - - -CHAPTER LXVII - -The election as provincial of father Fray Baltasar Fort, the martyrdom -of the holy Leon, and events in the province. - - -In April, 1608, the electors, assembled in the convent of Sancto -Domingo at Manila, chose as provincial father Fray Baltasar Fort, -minister of the holy gospel in the province of Pangasinan. He was by -habit and profession a son of the convent of San Estevan at Salamanca, -and adopted into that of the Preachers in Valencia, his native land, -whence he came to this province in the year 1602. He was at this time -prior of the convent. He was of a character such that all necessary -qualities for so high an office were united in him; and hence his -election was very agreeable to all, both religious and lay, because he -was greatly loved and reverenced by all--not only of his own religious -order, but also of the others. In this chapter were accepted the -houses which had been newly formed in Japon, Pangasinan, and Nueva -Segovia, an account of which has been given in the two preceding -chapters. What had been at other times ordained and commanded was -recalled to mind--namely, that in our conversations we should speak -constantly of God, a subject which is never exhausted, is never -wearisome to a good man, is edifying to all, and keeps the religious -in the fulfilment of the obligations that belong to their estate. - -[At this time the fathers who were laboring for the good of the natives -of Japon had a joyful day in seeing the martyrdom of a person who had -been brought to the faith, instructed, and baptized by their ministry; -and in whom the faith had struck so deep roots that he yielded fruit -an hundred fold, according to the gospel, by suffering martyrdom -within four months after becoming a Christian. Having been baptized on -July 22, 1608, he was decapitated for his confession of faith on the -seventeenth of November in the same year, in the kingdom of Satzuma, -his native country. There were laws of the emperor, and also of the -actual king of that region, that no soldier or person of rank should -be baptized, since it was believed that the strength of these persons -would be weakened if they gave up their obligations to those deities -from whom victory was expected. In spite of this law, many soldiers and -persons of rank were baptized, among them Xichiyemon, a youth of high -rank. He received baptism from the hands of father Fray Joseph de San -Jacintho, who warned him of the tumult which his baptism would arouse, -and of the destruction of his soul which would follow if he were to -renounce his baptism. He was so determined and courageous that the -father baptized him by the name of Leon. His devotion was such that -his conversion could not long be hidden; and, when it was known, the -valiant Leon was obliged to resist the supplications of his superior -officers, his friends, and his relatives, who represented to him the -shame which he would bring upon his family if he should die by the -hands of the executioner. This is a thing above measure infamous in -Japon, because all malefactors of rank who are condemned to death cut -open their own abdomens, and wound their bowels with their own knives -[catanas], and thus kill themselves, that they may not die at the -hands of another." [52] His obligations to his wife and children, -and his duties of obedience as a soldier, were insisted upon; but he -remained resolved to die as a Christian, not taking his own life, but -offering it. He was not imprisoned, and visited his spiritual father, -Fray Juan Joseph de San Jacintho, in a little village a quarter of -a legua from Firaça. At the appointed time he dressed himself in new -white clothes, washed his head, and gird on two swords. He then went -to the cross-roads where he was to suffer, and died with a rosary in -his hand and a little picture of the descent from the cross on his -bosom. His holy body was exhumed by the Christians, and was kept by -the fathers of St. Dominic, who afterward, when they were driven from -the country, took it with them to Manila and placed it in the chapel -of the relics. The tyrant commanded that Leon's wife and eldest son -should suffer death, because they had been unable to persuade him to -recant. Pablo, Leon's friend, who was accused at the same time, was not -so happy as he, but was merely banished from the kingdom of Satzuma. - -On the eleventh of April in this year (i.e., 1609) there arrived at -Manila some religious from the number of those who were brought from -España to this province by father Fray Gabriel de Quiroga. He died -on the voyage before he reached Mexico, and most of the others were -scattered, and remained in Nueva España. Father Fray Gabriel was a son -of our convent at Ocaña. He was a great preacher, and had come to this -province in 1594. He was in the ministry to the Chinese; being unable -to learn the language on account of his advanced age, and being in -ill health, he returned to España. Here he felt scruples at having -left the province of the Philippinas, and asked permission of the -most reverend general to return to it with a company of religious. In -1607 he gathered a company in Sevilla, but was unable to come for -lack of a fleet. Later in the same year, learning that six pataches -were being prepared for the voyage, he arranged to reassemble the -religious and to take them in these vessels, though he had already been -appointed bishop of Caceres. He quickly got together thirty associates, -taking the risk of sailing in December. The storms were so furious, -and the asthma from which the bishop suffered was so severe, that he -departed this life on the way. Of all those who came with him only -eight completed the voyage which they had begun. - -The success of the religious in Satzuma during the six years which -they had spent in that kingdom aroused the tono, who was persuaded by -the devil and his servants the bonzes to expel the fathers from his -country. The case of the holy martyr Leon contributed to influence -the tono. It was said in that kingdom that no one ever failed to do -what his lords commanded him, and hence such disobedience as that of -Leon was regarded as dangerous to the state. The bonzes particularly -were bitter against the Christians, who despised the deity whom they -worshiped. [53] All the cases of misfortune and all the downfalls which -had happened to Christian princes within a few years were referred to -their belief, although the misfortunes of the heathen princes had been -much more numerous. As the king of Satzuma was at this time actually -preparing for a war of conquest against the islands of the Leuquios, -[54] he was greatly impressed by these reasonings. He was also -disgusted because no vessels had come from Manila to this country, -the desire for trade having been his chief object in sending for -religious. The king of Satzuma sought for some pretext for expelling -the father, without finding any. In the month of August, he sent word -to them that the emperor complained because the Spanish religious in -his country had never appeared before him. This was only a pretext -to get the religious out of the country. There were at that time -in all Japan, outside of Nangasaqui, not more than three churches -licensed by the emperor: one in Meyaco, of the fathers of the Society; -a second in Yendo, of the Franciscan fathers; and a third in Ozaca, -of the Society. All the rest were practically in concealment, and -had license only from the tonos or kings. The emperor, though he knew -this, paid little attention to the matter. The fathers, however, were -able to say that father Fray Alonso de Mena had visited the emperor, -and had received license from him for the stay in Japan of the rest -of the fathers. Still, thinking that they might do well to appear -before the emperor, they decided to follow the suggestion of the -tono, and father Fray Francisco de Morales went directly to visit -him and was kindly received. Before father Fray Francisco returned, -the tono gave commands that all the Christians should recant, and -exiled those who refused to obey, confiscating their goods. When this -happened, there were in Satzuma only the fathers Fray Joseph de San -Jacintho and Fray Jacintho Orfanel. Father Fray Joseph went directly -to appear before the old tono, and was received with much apparent -courtesy, which was a mere cloak for the evil which he was preparing -to execute. The father also desired to go to visit the young tono, -but was advised that he could do no good; and therefore he went from -village to village, strengthening and encouraging the converts. He and -father Fray Jacintho, happening to be both at once within the convent, -the governor forbade the religious to leave the church, and prohibited -the Christians from going to it, hoping thus to prevent the religious -from receiving any support. There was only one half-leprous boy, -named Juan, who succored them at this time. When he went to buy what -they needed, the people paid no attention to his coming and going, -because of his being afflicted in this way.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXVIII - -The religious, being exiled and expelled from the kingdom of Satzuma, -are admitted to other kingdoms. - - -[The kingdom of Japon is subject to constant changes and novelties, as -may be known by those who have lived in it, and by those who have read -what historians have to say of it. Although the plague of inconstancy -is very common among all heathen, the Japanese are particularly subject -to it. It is not to be wondered at that the king of Satzuma, after -all that he had done to bring religious from St. Dominic to Manila, -should have expelled them without any cause. The natural inconstancy -of this race is sufficient explanation for his conduct. St. Francis -Xavier was expelled from the same kingdom of Satzuma, as he was -afterwards from the country of Yamaguçu, [55] whence he fled to the -kingdom of Firando. As early as the year 1555, the heathen Japanese -believed that so soon as the faith should enter their country the -kingdom would be destroyed; and in the following year the city of -Amaguchi was destroyed, and there was a great persecution. In the -year 1564 there was another persecution, even more severe, in Meaco, -the imperial court. Father Cosme de Torres was obliged to leave there -and to go to the kingdom of Bungo. In Firando the churches were -overthrown, and the emperor Nabunanga imprisoned Father Argentino -[56] and his associate, refusing to release them until he received, -as a ransom, from the most noble and Catholic Don Justo the fortress -called Tayca Yama. [57] In 1599 the Taico [i.e., Iyeyasu] banished -by public edict all the religious there were in Japon (all of whom -were then Jesuits), declaring that all Christians were his enemies; -but soon after he granted to father Fray Juan Cobo--a religious of -St. Dominic, who had come from Manila as ambassador--that he, and -religious of the Society or of any other order, might preach and make -converts in Japon. The sons of the seraphic father St. Francis went, -under this permission, in 1593, and were kindly received; but very -soon afterward commands were given to crucify them, as preachers of the -gospel. Father Fray Francisco de Morales felt that conditions were such -that it was necessary to comply, and began by taking down the church -and looking for boats to carry it in; for it was fitted together with -grooves, without nails, and could be, used elsewhere. They removed -for a time to Meyaco, and soon afterwards to the city of Ozaca. In the -erection of both churches they were bitterly opposed by the members of -the other religious orders, although the others could not serve the -twentieth or the thirtieth part of the people of those cities. The -Japanese banished from Satzuma suffered greatly. Among this people -banishment is often worse than death, which is not greatly feared by -them. Banishment is generally accompanied with a loss of their goods, -so that those who are noble and rich are by it instantly reduced -to poverty and drudgery. The fathers carried away their vestments, -the timber of the church, and the body of the holy martyr Leon, -removing them to Nangasaqui. Father Fray Francisco also carried -with him the lepers of the hospital which he had before his house, -that they might not be left in the power of wolves. In the meantime, -the affairs of Christianity went on prosperously in the kingdom of -Fixen. In July, 1609, father Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas, who sent -the first religious to Japon when he was provincial, came to Japon -as vicar-provincial, bringing with him as his associate brother Fray -Antonio de San Vicente. He labored much and successfully in Fixen, -and the Lord showed the fathers grace by enabling them to baptize many -whom He had predestinated at the point of death. There were especially -many cases of baptism of new-born children, whom the parents intended -to kill, or left to drown in the river.] - -One day's journey up the river from Abulug, in the province of Nueva -Segovia, there is a village named Fotol in the midst of a number of -other smaller villages, as is customary among the mountains. When -these villages were visited for the purpose of collecting tribute, -the religious was accustomed to go along that he might be there -conveniently to give them some knowledge of the law of God, and strive -to bring them to a love of the faith by which they might be saved. This -diligence, although it was exercised so seldom--only once a year--was -yet not in vain; for the words of the gospel sown in the hearts of -these heathen took root and caused them to go down [the river], -voluntarily, for the purpose of seeking a preacher to live among -them, to teach, direct, and baptize them. Father Fray Miguel de San -Jacintho, vicar of Abulug, sent there father Fray Diego Carlos. [58] -The Spaniards did not dare to visit the village when they collected -the tribute, except in numbers and with arms. On this account, -and because they were surrounded by mountaineers who were heathen, -untamed, and ferocious, it seemed to the Christian Indians of Abulug -that the religious ought not to go without a guard to protect his life; -but since the order given by our Lord Jesus Christ is not such, but -directs that His preachers should go as sheep among wolves, father -Fray Diego would not receive the advice given him by these Indians, -though they were friendly; and departed alone with his associate, -as a preacher of peace and of the law of love. All the Indians, -great and small, came out to receive them with great joy; and the -religious immediately began to preach to them and to teach them. In -a short time they did a great work, and baptized not only those of -this village, but also those who dwelt near there. They left their -old sites and, gathering in this one, formed a new settlement. The -church was built under the patronage of our Lady of the Rosary, -and here the Christian faith went on flourishing until the devil, -hating so much good, disturbed them and caused them to fall away for a -time--to their great harm, spiritual and temporal; though afterward, -recognizing their error, they returned to their obedience to their -Creator, as will be told hereafter. Almost in the same manner, and -following the same course, another church was built at this time in -the high region at the head of the great river, six days' journey -from the city of the Spaniards, in a village named Batavag. Here -father Fray Luis Flores, who was afterward a holy martyr in Japon, -gathered together seven little hamlets, making one very peaceful -one. He preached to them, taught them, and baptized many, without -receiving any other assistance in all this than that which the Lord -promises those who, for love of Him and from zeal for souls, go alone, -disarmed, and in gentleness among heathen. To such no evil can happen, -since, if the heathen hear the teaching and are converted, all is -happiness and joy both in heaven and for the preachers, since the -sinners are converted; while if they refuse to admit them, or if, -when the preachers are admitted, the heathen do not become converts, -the preachers have a certain reward, as the Lord has promised. This -reward will be much greater if the heathen, in addition to refusing -to be converted, treat them ill, or take their lives from them, for -the sake of the Lord whom they preach. Therefore in this as in all the -other conversions the religious have always gone alone, unarmed, and -in poverty, but sure that they are to suffer no evil. The results in -Batavag were very good, although they did not last many years because, -desirous of a greater laxity of life than the divine law permits, -the natives went up into the neighboring mountain, apostatizing from -the faith which many of them had professed in baptism. - -In the mountains of Ytui, which are not far from Pangasinan, father -Fray Juan de San Jacintho went on a journey at this time, accompanied -by only two Indians. Here he taught, settled their disputes, and -brought them to the faith. These people were a race of mountaineers, -among whom other religious had not been safe even with an escort of -many soldiers; but the gentle manners of father Fray Juan caused them -to become calm, and many of them came sometimes to Pangasinan to ask -that religious might be given to them. Many years passed before it was -possible to provide them with religious; but the father provincial had, -as minister of Pangasinan, seen their pious desires and wished to give -them the religious. For this he requested the sanction of the ordinary, -and asked the governor for the royal patronage. When the fathers of -St. Francis learned this, they came and said that this conversion -belonged to them, because it was very near to the ministry and the -convent which they had in Baler. The order (which needed religious -in other regions) instantly yielded without any dispute, permitting -the fathers of St. Francis to take charge of these Indians. This they -did, but very soon abandoned them, since the region was not one to be -coveted, but was very unhealthy. As a result these Indians remained -for some time deprived of the ministry of the holy gospel; and, -what caused greater regret, they were morally certain to apostatize, -like many other Christians among heathens, since they were children -among idolatrous parents and kinsmen, without religious and without -instruction. - -[In this year, 1609, father Fray Juan de Anaya departed this life. He -was a native of San Pedro de las Dueñas, two leguas from Segovia, -and was a professed son of the convent at Valladolid, whence he came -to this province in 1598. He was sent immediately to Nueva Segovia, -the conversion of which had just begun. He learned the language very -quickly, and so wrought with them that he not only taught them the -gospel and the Christian life, but also civilization. He showed them -how to build their houses, and how to work their fields; and taught -them all other matters of human life, not only by instruction, but -by example. He sought out the Indians, and brought them down from the -mountains and the hiding-places where some, deluded by their sins, had -gone to hide from grace. Father Fray Juan was not content to ask where -they were and to send for them; but, trusting in his natural strength, -he went to look for them and brought them down from the mountains, -traveling through the rough and thorny places among the thickets -where they hid. He compelled them to enter upon the path of their -welfare, not by the violence of a tyrant, but by the force of love and -charity. When he was vicar of Pilitan, some of the poor Indians lost -all their harvest from an overflow of the river. Not daring to wait -for those who were to come and get the tribute, and indeed through -fear of starvation, they left the village, and many of them fled to -the mountains. Father Fray Juan was deeply afflicted because of the -danger which their souls ran. This grief and his many labors affected -his health, and finally brought on a flux, from which he died. Another -religious, a subordinate and companion of Father Juan, father Fray -Vicente Alfonso, died eight days later. He was a Valencian by birth, -and had been a sailor up to his twenty-fourth year. He assumed the -habit in the convent of Preachers in Valencia, and set a good and -humble example as a religious. He was very charitable, giving away even -his clothes to the poor. In the province of Pangasinan, in the month of -August, 1609, there departed from the miseries of this life father Fray -Francisco Martinez, a native of Zacatecas, and a son of the convent -of Mexico. He came to Manila in 1598, and was assigned to Pangasinan, -where he learned the language of the natives with great perfection. He -was constant in labor and in prayer. To defend the Indians, he did not -shrink from suffering or fear the perils of the sea. On one occasion, -when he had gone to Manila on this account, he fell into the hands -of Japanese pirates on his way back to Pangasinan, and was several -times in danger of death, with the pirate's knife at his throat, who -intended by such terrors to increase the ransom. Death called him from -his labors and sufferings. He rejoiced, and died a most holy death.] - -In this year the most reverend general of the order, seeing how many -great things were wrought by the medium of the divine grace through -the religious of this province, and condemning the silence with which -they hid and covered them, without giving any account of them even to -the general head and superior of the order, issued a mandate to the -provincials that they should every year, on pain of incurring mortal -sin, give him information of what took place in this province of the -Philippinas, Japon, and China in the conversions of the heathen and -the extension of the holy Church, the service of the divine Majesty, -and the edification of the people of Christ. In addition to this, they -were to give an account of the state of our order in each province, -declaring how many and what convents it included, how many religious it -possessed, and of what virtue, sanctity, learning, and good example -they were; telling if any of them, after having done illustrious -things, had died gloriously; and recounting all other matters which -might be an honor to God, a source of comfort to the religious, and -an adornment and decoration of our religious order. Together with -this mandate, he wrote with his own hand the following letter, from -which may be seen the high esteem in which he held this province. The -letter is in the archives of the convent of Manila. - - -"Very reverend Father Provincial: Father Fray Alonso Navarrete has -given me good news of the great devotion, spirit, and continual -preaching in this new province. In this I have felt very great -satisfaction; but it would be desirable that I should receive more -detailed reports with regard to matters there, and particularly with -regard to what has been done for the conversion of the heathen, by -the grace of our Lord, in those kingdoms of China and Japon. This -knowledge would be of great service to our Lord, great edification -to our fellow-men, and great honor to our holy religious order. On -this account and in order that you, very reverend Father, may have the -merit of obedience, it has seemed good to me to send you the enclosed -mandate. This is sent, however, still more that it may serve as a -memorandum for the fathers provincials who may succeed your Reverence -in that province, because I know that there may be some carelessness -in this respect. Orders have already been given that friars religious -shall go to that province to preach and assist your Paternities in the -conversion of the heathen. Would that it might please our Lord that I -might go with those for whom our Lord has prepared so great rewards -in heaven. Your prayers, very reverend Father, and the prayers of -all that province I beg for myself and for my associates. Palermo, -June 18, 1609. Your Reverence's fellow-servant in God, - - - Fray Agustin Galaminio, - - master of the Order of Preachers." - - - - - -CHAPTER LXIX - -The venerable father Fray Bartolome de Nieva, and brother Fray Pedro -Rodriguez - - -[Death fell heavily upon our fathers in this year, seizing the best on -every side. In Manila it cut short the thread of the life of father -Fray Bartolome de Nieva. Father Fray Bartolome was a native of Nieva -in Castilla la Vieja. While still a layman, he went to the Indias in -the search for wealth. He spent some years in Mexico; and in spite of -the great wealth of that country, the luxury of life there, and the -agreeable climate, he could not be satisfied or find peace. Hence he -determined to change his course of life, that he might find the calm -for which he sought. Though he was already a grown man, he became -a child in following the duties of a religious order. He assumed -the habit in the convent of Sancto Domingo in that illustrious -city, and began not only upon the elements of the religious life, -but upon those of grammar. He did well in the studies of arts and -theology, and by the aid of the Lord he came forth a religious of -great spiritual qualities--prayer, penitence, and prudence, both -spiritual and temporal. He joined a company of religious who passed -through Mexico in the year 1594, on their way to the Philippinas. He -was too old to learn the language of the Indians, but he accompanied -the brother who taught and baptized the Chinese in the hospital for -that people; and thus assisted the other minister, whose duty it was to -live in the hospital. When he determined to go to the Philippinas his -companions in Mexico strove to prevent him, because he suffered from -several infirmities, and the labors in the Philippinas were known to -be very severe. The Lord, however, gave signs that He desired him to -go. He showed especial devotion to the holy Virgin and was a useful -and devoted minister. The Lord gave father Fray Bartolome wonderful -powers of spiritual conversation, and of insight into character; and -even some powers of prophecy, of which a number of illustrations are -given. Through him the Lord healed not a few sick. A letter of his is -reported at length, in which he incites a sinner to give up his evil -way of life, and shows a knowledge of the man's heart which could only -have been given him by God. Other instances of the same sort are cited -and an account of the holy death of father Fray Bartolome is given. - -At the same time there died brother Fray Pedro Rodriguez, a companion -of the first founders of this province. He was most closely associated -with those who taught and baptized the Chinese. During his whole life -he had sole charge of the temporal affairs of the hospital. Father Fray -Pedro was not content with receiving those who came, but had persons -to inform him if there were any sick in the orchards or quarries, or -other places where the Chinese who live about Manila were gathered for -work; and immediately sent to have them brought to the hospital. He -often went in person to bring them, and, no matter how offensive or -disgusting their diseases, he cared for them with his own hands. He -waited upon them at all hours of the day and night, caring for -their bodies; and he strove to teach them the things necessary for -the salvation of their souls, as soon as their sickness gave him an -opportunity. He suffered greatly from asthma; but, in spite of this -affliction, he constantly employed the discipline of stripes--not -upon his flesh, for he had none, but upon his bones, which were -covered with nothing but skin; insomuch that some Spaniards came to -look at him, regarding it as a marvel that such a living image of -death should be able to stand. His head was like a skull with eyes -in it, but so sunken that it seemed almost as if he had none. The -truth is that he ate no more than sufficient to sustain him in this -condition; yet he was so attentive and careful to provide dainty food -for a sick man that the religious were sent there to him during their -convalescence. He had no greater pleasure than this and his unexpected -success in converting some heathen. The Lord provided him with these -pleasures, which served him as food and drink to sustain his life. To -the two hours of mental prayer observed in the whole province he added -two others daily, continuing them after that which follows matins, -and prolonging them till dawn. As soon as daylight appeared he left -the work of Mary to go to that of Martha in caring for his sick, -giving them breakfast after their own custom--which is followed in -all the care that is given them, and in everything done for them. In -spite of all these labors he thought so humbly of himself that one -day when a religious heard him uttering heavy groans and deep sighs, -and asked the cause, being unable to refrain from doing so, Fray Pedro -answered that it was because he was so evil that, though he had so many -times prayed to the Lord for a trifle of His love and charity, he had -not gained it. The superior desired to try him as to his obedience; -and seeing that he labored with such delight at the hospital, and -took such joy in serving the sick, he determined to find out if there -were some self-love hidden in all this. He therefore directed him to -leave the hospital, and to come to the city and take up the office of -sacristan in the convent. Fray Pedro immediately obeyed, and, going -into the sacristy which was entrusted to him, he fulfilled his duty -with cleanliness, neatness, and good grace in all things, just as if -he had exercised it all his life, and had never been occupied with -the other. He was accordingly directed to return to the hospital, -where he was more needed. The governor, Don Juan de Silva, went to -visit the hospital; and when he saw this brother with nothing but -bones and skin, and when he heard the things which they said of him, -he felt such reverence for him that he kissed his hand, and offered him -his favor for all things of which his hospital had need, and arranged -to grant him all that he wished, for the governor looked upon him -and venerated him as a saint. At the time of his death, about three -thousand who had died in the hospital had received baptism. In the -intermediate chapter which took place in the following year honorable -mention was made of this religious.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXX - -Father Fray Luis Gandullo, his entrance upon the religious life, -and his coming to this province - - -[The events which happened in the case of this father are such as God -rarely manifests, even in the case of those who are nearest to Him; -and I should not dare to bring them to the light if they were not -attested by three notable circumstances. The first is that he never -formed his own judgment about what happened, but submitted the matter -to a learned and spiritual man. The second is, that father Fray Luis -kept such silence about these things that he only revealed them under -the solemn mandate of his superior. The third is the innocence of his -life, and his marvelous virtue. A formal certificate as to these three -circumstances is given at length; it is by Fray Juan de Sancto Thomas, -and is dated at Manila, August 10, 1615. Father Fray Luis Gandullo -was a native of the town of Aracena in the archbishopric of Sevilla, -and was born of a rich and noble family. At the age of fourteen he -made a vow to assume the habit of the Dominican order. This vow he -was unable to carry out for eight years, because of his duties to -his widowed mother and his two sisters. While still a youth, he was -favored with a vision of the Virgin, which was followed soon after -by a vision in which the devil appeared to him. After his two sisters -were settled in life a certain trouble befell him in his own country, -which obliged him to leave it and to go to the Indias. He dwelt for -some time in Nueva España, where he lived with some freedom, the Lord -preparing to drive him, by the very thorns which he should find in this -road, to the religious life. His ancient desires to become a friar of -St. Dominic returned to his mind, and he began to arrange with the -prior of the convent of the city of Puebla to assume the habit. The -prior and the friars of the convent, being asked by him if a secret -business pledge which he had made had any validity, declared that it -had no force in conscience, and would not hold him in a court of law -if the party concerned would tell the truth of the case. He assumed -the habit and waited for fourteen months to be professed. While he -was looking for his profession to take place his creditor entered the -convent, declaring that they were taking away his money by permitting -the novice to enter the profession, since he could earn what he owed -in the secular life. Upon this, the superior commanded Luis to lay -aside the habit; but the Lord punished the creditor by burning a -great deal more of his property than the debt amounted to. Luis, -who knew that the obligation was merely a confidential agreement, -refused to pay it because he did not owe it. He was ordained as priest, -having determined to become a secular clergyman. Under this condition -he prayed God to help him fulfil his vow; and afterward had visions, -among them a dreadful one of the devil in the form of a snake. Being -constantly attended by visions, he determined to carry out his vow, -and one night heard a voice calling to him, "Luis!" He answered, -"Lord!" and the voice went on to say, "Rise, and go to Mexico to -assume the habit." It seemed to him that it was the voice of his dead -brother. His conduct when he came to the convent was such that the -brethren there decided to grant him the habit and the profession -together, since he had already completed his novitiate. When the -founders of this province went through Puebla, father Fray Luis -desired to accompany them, but was unable to carry out his wish at -that time. He received intimations from a holy woman, a penitent -of his, that the Lord favored his desire to come to this province; -and to this intimation were added other supernatural signs. A great -scandal having arisen because of violence shown by the viceroy -to a superior of a certain religious order, [59] father Fray Luis -felt called upon to preach against the viceroy; he was condemned -to exile in the Philippinas, and received the sentence with joy. He -accompanied father Fray Juan Cobo, who was exiled for the same cause, -as is narrated in chapter twenty-four of this history.] - - - - (To be concluded.) - - - - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA - - -The present volume contains the second instalment of Aduarte's -Historia, begun in Vol. XXX (q.v.); it includes chapters xxxviii to -lxx (pp. 167-384), inclusive, of book i. The concluding installment -will be presented in Vol. XXXII. - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] i.e., "The holy synod commands parish priests and other preachers -to the Indians to instruct them often and earnestly in the doctrine -of this mystery;" and, "To those whom the parish priest shall regard -as sufficiently instructed, and made fit by the correctness of their -lives, he shall not fail to administer the holy eucharist, on the -first Easter following." - -[2] Francisco Blancas de San José was a native of Tarazona, and -entered the Dominican order at Alcalá de Henares. He came to Manila -with the mission of 1595, and was sent to Bataán; afterward he -spent several years in the Manila convent, preaching to Indians and -Chinese, as well as Spaniards. He also gave especial attention to -the instruction of the negroes and slaves there, of whom there were -many thousands. He also labored in Cagayán and (1609) in Mindoro -and Balayan. In 1614 he sailed for Spain, but died on the voyage, -before reaching Mexico. (Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 172-177.) - -[3] Jacinto de San Jerónimo came to the islands with the mission of -1604. The rest of his life was spent mainly in the missions of Cagayán; -near its end, he went to the new mission of Ituy (now Nueva Vizcaya), -where he died in 1637. (Reseña biográfica, i, p. 327.) - -[4] Probably referring to the expedition sent from Mexico early in -1559, to conquer Florida, under command of Tristan de Luna y Arellano; -it included 500 Spanish soldiers and a considerable number of Indian -allies. This attempt proved unsuccessful, and most of the Spaniards -were slain by the warlike Florida Indians. - -[5] The sketch of Salazar's life given in Reseña biográfica (i, -pp. 35-49) states that he obtained permission to carry twenty religious -with him to the Philippines, all of whom he procured from the convent -at Salamanca. But twelve of them died (apparently from ship-fever) -before reaching Mexico; and the others were so prostrated by sickness -that they could go no farther. - -[6] i.e., "Reprove, entreat, rebuke, in all patience and doctrine." - -[7] Cantaro (from Latin, cantharus): the name of a large earthen or -metal receptacle for liquids, hence for the amount contained in it; -also, a measure for wine, varying in different parts of Spain. The -cantaro (or alquiére) of Portugal is equivalent to nearly 2 1/5 or -3 1/3 U. S. gallons in Lisbon and Oporto respectively. - -[8] Referring to the cultivation of their rice, usually in fields -more or less under water. - -[9] i.e., the fifth Sunday in Lent. - -[10] These were Dominicans and Franciscans (Vol. IX, pp. 161, -172). One of the latter was named Gregorio da Cruz; a letter from him -to Dasmariñas may be found in Vol. IX, p. 197. Huerta, however, says -(Estado, pp. 672, 673) that the early Franciscan missions lasted only -from 1583 to 1586, and were not resumed until the year 1700. - -[11] See Morga's account of this expedition and its results, in -Vol. XV, pp. 78-89, 130-160, 187-190. Cf. letters sent from Manila -to Camboja, and papers connected with the embassy sent to Dasmariñas, -in Vol. IX, pp. 76-78, 86, 87, 161-180. - -[12] The island (and group) of Lubang, southwest of Manila; a -dependency formerly of the province of Cavite, but now of Marinduque. - -[13] Pulo Obi--that is, Obi Island; it lies near Cape Camâo (sometimes -called Cambodia), the southernmost point of Cochinchina. - -[14] It is difficult to identify this town with exactness, but it is -probably the same as the modern Pnom-penh (Panomping) on the great -river Me-khong (also called Cambodia). The usurper of Langara's throne -was Anacaparan (see Morga's account, in Vol. XV). - -[15] That is, the usurper Anacaparan. According to Morga, he resided -at Sistor, which probably was the modern Udong. - -[16] Tiuman (Timoan, Timun) Island is off the eastern coast of the -Malay peninsula; it is about ten miles long and five broad, and is -a mass of rock, rising into heights of 2,000 to 3,000 feet. - -[17] Pedro de Ledesma, although an old man when he came to the -islands, lived until 1625, after having filled several offices in his -order--mainly at Manila, where he died. He brought seven missionaries -with him (1596). - -[18] For meaning of this title, see Vol. XV, p. 88. - -[19] See Morga's account of this expedition (Vol. XV, -pp. 160-168). Another relation (unsigned) is presented in a -MS. document conserved in the Archivo general de Indias, with the -pressmark: "Simancas-Secular; Cartas y expedientes del gobernador de -Filipinas; años 1600 á 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." - -[20] According to the MS. mentioned in preceding note, this officer -was Pedro de Beaztegui (probably for Verastegui). - -[21] Spanish, Avia yo andado todas estas estaçiones: an allusion -to the "stations" which represent, in a Roman Catholic church, the -stages in Christ's sufferings; and to the devotion which consists in -making the circuit of these stations. - -[22] See Vol. XV, p. 206. - -[23] Apparently meaning here, "the country of the Irrayas," rather -than the name of any distinct district. The Irrayas are in modern -times a heathen tribe, of mixed Malay and Negrito blood, dwelling in -the southern part of Isabela province, Luzón, on the western slopes -of the Palanan range, and on tributary streams far up the Rio Grande -de Cagayán. - -[24] The Angatatan River, on which is situated the hamlet of Magaldan; -it falls into Lingayén Gulf. - -[25] Thus in Aduarte's text, but misprinted for Guadaira. Alcala de -Guadaira is a small town in the diocese of Sevilla. - -[26] Prauncar, the son of Langara; he had been replaced on his throne -by the Spanish adventurers. See Morga's account of Joan de Mendoza's -expedition to Camboja, and the death of these two Dominicans, in -Vol. XV, pp. 183-190, 244-247. - -[27] According to Morga's account, this friar was a Dominican. - -[28] The Dominicans made their first establishment at the City of -Mexico in 1526; nine years later, their houses were organized into -the province of Santiago de Mexico. In 1550, Chiapas and Guatemala -were separated therefrom, and formed into a new province; and in -1592 permission was given to cut out still another, the province of -Oajaca. Alonso de Vayllo was its second provincial (1594-97). See -account of the Dominican order in Nueva España in the sixteenth -century, in Bancroft's Hist. Mexico, ii, pp. 724-733. - -[29] i.e., "Christ became, for our sake, obedient even unto death." - -[30] Tomás Hernández was sent, soon after his arrival at Manila (1602), -to the Japan mission; but at the end of four years he returned with -broken health, which compelled him to cease his labors. He lingered, -however, until 1642, when he died at Manila. - -[31] See list of these missionaries in Reseña biográfica, i, -pp. 307-319. Thirty-one arrived at Manila, besides the two who died -on the way. - -[32] One of the year-periods used in Japanese chronology (see -Vol. VIII, p. 263). The Keicho period is 1596-1615. - -[33] All these priests became martyrs, except Hernandez; the fate of -the lay brother is unknown. - -[34] One of the Koshiki Islands, lying west of Satsuma, and belonging -to that district. - -[35] Konishi Yukinaga Tsu-no-Kami, a noted general, was converted in -1584, and took the name of Augustin. In 1592 he commanded the main -army (composed mainly of Christian Japanese) sent by Taikô-sama -for the conquest of Korea. Konishi won renown in that enterprise, -in which he was engaged until Taikô-sama's death (1598) caused the -recall of the Japanese troops from Korea. Opposing Iyeyasu, Konishi -was among the prisoners taken at the battle of Sekigahara (1600), -and was beheaded at Kioto. See Rein's Japan, pp. 284-288, 290, 299. - -[36] Owotomo Bungo-no-Kami (called Franciscus by the Jesuits), the -most powerful feudal lord in Kiushiu, was one of the first daimiôs -in Japan to accept Christianity, and was the main support of the -missions in their early years. He died in 1587. The family of this -prince were deprived, under Iyeyasu, of their possessions, which were -divided among the latter's adherents. See Rein's Japan, pp. 273, 519. - -[37] This was a soldier named Joan Diaz (Vol. XV, pp. 189, -279). Cf. Morga's account of this Dominican mission (Vol. XV, -pp. 279, 280). - -[38] Jerónimo de Belén, a Portuguese by birth, came in the mission -of 1595, from Puebla de los Angeles, Mexico. He ministered at Bataán, -Manila, and Cavite respectively; in 1603 went on the Camboja mission, -and on its failure returned to Manila. He died in 1642, in Pampanga. - -[39] Sketches of the lives of all these friars are given in Reseña -biográfica, i, pp. 320-327. - -[40] This friar came in 1604; he died at Nasiping, July 16, 1611. - -[41] Pedro Muriel came to the islands in 1615, and was sent to the -Cagayán missions, where he seems to have spent most of his remaining -years. He died at Manila, about 1642. - -[42] Itaves is a district south of central Cagayán, on the waters -of the Rio Chico de Cagayan (or Bangag River). It has over 15,000 -inhabitants, contained in more than a hundred villages; these people -are mainly Calauas, and are heathen Malays. See U. S. Gazetteer of -Philippine Islands, p. 561; also Smithsonian Report, 1899, p. 535. - -[43] Juan de Naya spent most of his missionary life in Cagayán. Finally -being ordered to Mexico, he died on the voyage thither, January -27, 1620. - -[44] Andres de Haro, a native of Toledo, made his profession at -Cuenca in 1613. He came to the Philippines in 1615, and spent more -than forty years in the Cagayán missions. At various times he filled -important offices in Manila, among them, that of commissary of the -Inquisition. He died in that city, September 19, 1670, at the age of -seventy-six years. - -[45] Apparently a reference to the Jesuit Alonso Sanchéz, who had gone -in 1586 to Spain (see Vol. VI) as envoy from the various estates of -the Philippine colony. - -[46] i.e., "Farewell in the Lord, beloved of my heart; may you fare -well and happily forever." - -[47] This was Matsura Shigenobu Hô in, the daimiô of Hirado (Firando) -and Iki. He succeeded his father in 1584, and died in 1614, at the -age of sixty-five. He was an officer in the Korean campaigns under -Konishi, and served during 1592-98. See Satow's note regarding him, -in Voyage of Saris (Hakluyt Society's publications, London, 1900), -p. 79; also his portrait, p. 80. - -[48] The same as bagacay or bacacae; see Vol. XVI, p. 55. - -[49] Hizen is one of the most notable provinces of Japan, commercially -and historically. Its chief city is Nagasaki, which about 1586 was -wrested from the daimiô of Omura by Taikô-sama, and declared the -property of the central government. The Dutch maintained a factory -there, although under humiliating conditions and restrictions, -from 1639 to 1859. Another notable town in Hizen is Arima, where the -Christians were so cruelly persecuted in 1637. The daimiô of Hizen, -mentioned by Aduarte, was probably Nabeshima, prince of Saga, who -was a favorite with Iyeyasu. - -See Rein's Japan, pp. 300, 520-523. - -[50] Juan de San Jacinto made his profession in the Dominican convent -at Salamanca, in 1594. He came to Manila in the mission of 1602, and -ministered to the natives in Pangasinan and afterward in Ituy. He -was finally compelled by ill-health to retire to Manila, where he -died in 1626. See Reseña biográfica, i, p. 316. - -[51] Pedro de Santo Tomás came to the islands in the mission of 1602, -and labored twenty years in the Cagayán missions--especially among the -Irrayas, whom he pacified after their revolt against the Spaniards. He -died at Lal-ló, June 29, 1622. - -[52] The Japanese custom of hara-kiri, or seppuku; see description -Rein's Japan, pp. 328, 329; cf. Griffis's Mikado's Empire, p. 221. - -[53] The bonzes are the priests of the Buddhist temples; but they -belong to various sects under the general appellation of Buddhism. - -[54] This daimiô was Shimadzu Yoshihisa; he was commissioned to -subjugate the Riu-Kiu Islands, which were then added to the province -of Satsuma. - -[55] i.e., Yamaguchi, in Nagato; the latter is the province at the -southwest extremity of Hondo (or Nippon) Island, and lies opposite -Kiushiu Island (in which are Satsuma and Hizen). - -[56] Father Organtinus (Sommervogel can find no distinctive Christian -name) was born at Brescia in 1530, and entered the order in 1556. He -set out from Lisbon for India in 1567; and soon went to Japan, where -he spent the rest of his life, dying at Nagasaki in May, 1609. - -Murdoch and Yamagata's History of Japan, 1542-1651 (Kobe, 1903), gives -this Jesuit's name as Organtino Gnecchi (or Soldi), and the date of -his arrival in Japan as 1572; and furnishes considerable information -(partly derived from Charlevoix) regarding Gnecchi's labors in Japan. - -[57] Takayama (called Justo Ukondono by the Jesuits) the governor of -Akashi, in Harima; at Adzuchi-yama, on Lake Birva, he built a house -and church for the Jesuits, and otherwise favored them. About 1615, -he was, with other Christians, banished to Manila. - -Nobunaga became, about the middle of the sixteenth century, the most -powerful feudal lord in Japan. He strove to govern the country in -the name of the Mikado, but aroused the enmity of the other feudal -lords and of the Buddhist priesthood, and was treacherously slain in -1582. See Rein's Japan, pp. 267-273, 306. - -[58] Diego Carlos was a native of Guatemala, and made his profession -at Puebla de los Angeles in 1592. Six years later, he came to the -Philippines, and spent the rest of his life in the Cagayan missions, -where he died in 1626. - -[59] Probably referring to the act of Villamanrique in sending to -Spain ignominiously (1588) the Franciscan commissary Alonzo Ponce -(Bancroft's Hist. Mexico, ii, pp. 717, 718). - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: -Volume XXXI, 1640, by Diego Aduarte - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 42399-8.txt or 42399-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/3/9/42399/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg. - - -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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