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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/15184-8.txt b/15184-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..86c184e --- /dev/null +++ b/15184-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8605 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +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 XIII., 1604-1605 + +Author: Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +Release Date: February 26, 2005 [EBook #15184] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898, *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and + their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, + as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the + political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those + islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the + close of the nineteenth century, + + Volume XIII, 1604-1605 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XIII + + + Preface 9 + Relación de las Islas Filipinas (concluded) Pedro Chirino, S.J.; + Roma, 1604 2 + Documents of 1604 + + Letters to Felipe III. Pedro de Acuña; Manila, July 15 + and 19 221 + Decrees regarding religious orders. Felipe III, and others; + Valladolid, February-July 246 + Grant to the Jesuit seminary at Cebú. Pedro Chirino; + [undated; 1604?] 251 + Decree regulating commerce with Nueva España. Felipe III; + Valladolid, December 31 256 + + Documents of 1605 + + Complaints against the Chinese. Miguel de Benavides, + and others; Manila, February 3-9 271 + Letter from a Chinese official to Acuña. Chincheo, + March 287 + Letters from Augustinian friars to Felipe III. Estevan + Carillo, and others; Manila, May 4-June 20 292 + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Ribera Maldonado; Manila, + June 28 307 + + Bibliographical Data 317 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Autograph signature of Pedro Chirino, S.J.; photographic facsimile + from MS. in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 215 + Autograph signatures of Pedro de Acuña and members of the + Audiencia; photographic facsimile from MS. in Archivo general de + Indias, Sevilla 243 + + + + +PREFACE + + +The larger part of the present volume is occupied with the _Relacion_ +of the Jesuit Chirino, begun in _Vol_. XII, and here concluded. In +this work is recorded the progress of the Jesuit missions up to +the year 1602, by which time they have been established not only +in Luzón and Cebú, but in Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Samar, and northern +Mindanao. The arrival of the visitor García in 1599 results in new +vigor and more thorough organization in the missions, and the numbers +of those baptized in each rapidly increase. The missionaries are able +to uproot idolatry in many places, and greatly check its practice +in others. Everywhere they introduce, with great acceptance and +edification among the natives, the practice of flagellation--"the +procession of blood." Religious confraternities are formed among the +converts, greatly aiding the labors of the fathers; and the latter +open schools for boys, among both the Spaniards and the Indians. In +time of pestilence they minister to the sick and the dying; and they +gain great influence among all classes. They secure the good-will of +hostile natives, quell a threatened revolt among those of Leyte, and +reclaim certain outlaws and bandits. The Spaniards also receive their +ministrations, especially in Manila; the fathers adjust dissensions +and family quarrels, and reform several dissolute persons. The college +at Manila prospers, and enlarges its curriculum. The labors of the +Jesuits effect certain important changes in social conditions among the +natives. Usury, unjust enslavement, and polygamy are greatly lessened, +and sometimes entirely abolished, among the Indians in the mission +districts; and most notable of these results, the fathers have much +success in gathering not only their own converts, but even many of +the wild and savage mountaineers, into villages under their personal +care and supervision. + +A new monastic order, the Augustinian Recollects, is permitted to +send missionaries to the islands. Little of importance occurs there +in 1604; but among the Spaniards there is much fear of an invasion by +the Chinese, in revenge for the late slaughter of their countrymen in +Luzón. Yet the cupidity or laxity of the officials has permitted the +number of Chinese resident in the islands to increase beyond proper +limits; and the archbishop of Manila endeavors to secure strict +enforcement of the laws against this dangerous immigration. The +leading officials of the Augustinian order complain (1605) of their +provincial as unscrupulous and overbearing, and ask for relief and +the suitable adjustment of the affairs of their province. + +Chirino's narrative of the Jesuit missions (here concluded) narrates +events from 1598 onward. In June of that year Father Vera goes to +obtain more missionaries from Europe. In Mexico he meets orders from +the general of the Jesuit order that Diego García shall go with a +reënforcement of laborers to the Philippines. In Manila, during that +year, the Jesuits meet much success in their ministries--especially +in the confessional, in public preaching, and in various benevolent +works. They also accomplish much in private affairs, reconciling +enemies, preventing lawsuits, and checking licentious conduct. The +annals continue with the progress of the Antipolo mission during +1598. The mountain-dwellers continue to come to the mission, of whom +many are baptized--among these some of the heathen priests. Among +the converts are formed confraternities which most efficiently aid +the labors of the missionaries. The people have given up their pagan +practices, and display great piety and devotion as Christians. + +At Cebú the bishop has greatly favored the Jesuits, who have opened +a school for his clergy and the sons of some citizens. Their labors +are chiefly among the Visayan natives and the Chinese, and meet +much success. The writer relates some instances of especial virtue +and piety among these converts; there, as in missions elsewhere, +the women are distinguished in those respects. No less important +are the labors of the Jesuits among the Spaniards of Cebú, among +whom they exercise great influence, even the bishop depending upon +their advice; and they often preach in the cathedral. The bishop, +"in imitation of Manila," introduces the practice of flagellation at +Lent, and himself leads the "procession of blood." + +In the island of Bohol the infant church continues to grow. The +converts have entirely abandoned idolatry; and certain miraculous +cures have kindled in them a most fervent piety. In Butúan (in +northern Mindanao) "Christianity is in a flourishing condition," +according to Father Ledesma, whose letters are cited. Conversions +are steadily increasing: and several chiefs are to be baptized +soon, although the most noted leader, Silongan, is not yet cured +of his polygamous inclinations. He is, however, most friendly to +the fathers, and protects them in certain dangers. In Alangalang, +Tomás de Montoya (an American Indian who has gone to the islands) +has resumed the work dropped at the death of Cosme de Flores; he +relates some instances of piety among his converts, and of punishment +visited on the impenitent. At Ogmuc much caution had been exercised in +conferring baptism, and those who have received it show most edifying +piety. In Holy Week occurs a procession in which "the most pleasing and +touching sight was to see all the children disciplining themselves with +scourges which they themselves had made for that day." The missionaries +adjust various family quarrels, and put an end in the islands to the +practices of usury and unjust enslavement. Chirino here gives some +account of these evils, but adds that they are abolished among all +the christianized tribes in the islands. + +Good reports come from Carigara and Paloc; the latter village is +unusually prosperous because one of the Jesuits has aided the people +to construct better dwellings. They have abandoned their idols, +and take pleasure in scourging themselves on Fridays. At Dulac many +baptisms have occurred, and various diseases, among them leprosy, +have been cured by this sacrament. A letter from Father Otaço, who +is in charge at Tinagon, shows that idolatry has been abandoned, +and immoral customs are almost uprooted. He gives an interesting +description of the methods pursued by the missionaries in their +preaching, and by one of their native helpers in teaching his fellows. + +In June, 1599, Diego García is sent to the islands as official +visitor of the Jesuit missions there, and he at once reorganizes and +systematizes their plan and conduct. Soon after his arrival there is a +violent earthquake at Manila, which injures two of the churches. The +Jesuits receive much aid for restoring their building--contributions +from the Spaniards, and services from the Indians. In an epidemic of +disease among them much good is done by the confraternity established +among the converts, and the sick depend upon the fathers for spiritual +comfort. When the people harvest their rice, their first care is +to carry an offering of the first-fruits to the church. As usual, +the Jesuits here do much to better the lives of their penitents, +both Indian and Spanish, reconciling those who were at enmity, and +breaking up licentious alliances. The pestilence extends to Antipolo +and other villages near Manila, and both the missionaries and their +converts aid the sick and the dying in every possible way. + +The uprooting of idolatry in the Taytay mission has been effectual; +various instances of this are related by Chirino, as also the cure +of a lunatic by wearing an _Agnus Dei_. Garcia, the official visitor, +arrives at Cebú in 1600, and makes arrangements by which the Chinese +there are cared for by other priests, the Jesuits being thus free to +labor among the Indians. But the harvest of souls is far greater than +the few laborers there can reap and more are urgently needed. Chirino +relates some instances of conversion and pious deaths in that mission. + +He then relates the progress of the mission in Bohol, citing for this +purpose the letters of the two missionaries there. The new converts +display much devotion, and even the pagans receive the fathers +kindly. Many are converted, and some of their children are trained +to instruct the people in the Christian faith. Sánchez procures the +destruction of many instruments of witchcraft in a certain village; +and relates some marvelous cures made by administering the sacraments, +and some instances of feminine virtue. + +In Butúan (Mindanao) a rich harvest of souls is being gathered by +Ledesma and Martínez; and even the infidels are very friendly to the +new religion. The converts are very devout, and will not countenance +any pagan practices. Certain miraculous cures are recorded. The +practice of flagellation is maintained in the Jesuit church there, +as in other places. + +The Filipinos had formerly lived in perpetual warfare between the +petty chiefs and their adherents; those who could remove migrated to +new homes inland, and thus the mountain regions became settled. In +order to reach the natives, the Jesuits at Alangalang bend all +their efforts, which are soon successful, to gathering these +scattered settlements into large villages--mission "reductions" +like those which they had already made so noted in Paraguay and +other lands. Their labors are thus more advantageously conducted, +and many conversions result. At Carigara their church services are +greatly aided by a native choir, who sing in both their own and the +European modes. A letter from Father Enzinas praises the purity of +the converted Indian women. Father Sánchez relates a notable case +in his missionary labors at Barugo. The progress of the church at +Ogmuc is related, with ardent praise for the piety and fervor of the +converts. The infidels are steadily growing more inclined to receive +the faith; and polygamy is being suppressed. A brief mission at Paloc +by Father Rodriguez results in fifty baptisms; and other subsequent +missions there reap a rich harvest of souls. Flagellation is a usual +practice in Lent; nearly all the people have received baptism; and +the converted chiefs offer atonement to all whom they may have wronged. + +The record of the Dulac mission shows seven hundred baptisms in one +year; and the details of some conversions are related, especially +that of two deaf-mutes, whose piety is most edifying. During Holy +Week the converts practice flagellation; and on one occasion one of +the fathers gives his flock a practical lesson in Christian charity. + +In Tinagon the Jesuits baptize, during the year ending in April, +1600, nearly a thousand persons. The number of missionaries for this +field is so inadequate that they send to some villages the Indian +boys who have been instructed, in order that they may teach the +people the catechism and doctrine. Accounts of missionary labors +and of certain conversions are given in extracts from some letters +written by the fathers. All the people are friendly to the new faith, +and the prospect is most encouraging. + +Chirino mentions the shipwreck of the vessels bound for Mexico, and the +conflict with Oliver van Noordt, in connection with which he describes +the deaths and the pious lives of some Jesuits who perished therein. In +1601 Father Gregorio López brings to the islands a reënforcement of +nine missionaries; and their long and dangerous voyage across the +Pacific, safely accomplished through the intercession of St. Ignatius, +is fully described. In the same year and the next arrive also many +missionaries of the other orders: Chirino praises their devotion and +zeal, the fraternal spirit among the various orders, the excellent +influence exerted by their members among the Spaniards in Manila, and +the religious spirit exhibited by the latter; and describes various +exercises of piety practiced there--the institution of a religious +congregation among the students in the Jesuit college, and, later, +one among the townspeople; the practice of flagellation every week +during the year, as well as in Lent; attendance at Sunday afternoon +sermons; the choice of patron saints by lot; etc. The particulars of +certain conversions and virtuous acts are also related--especially +the conversion of the Dutch prisoners captured from van Noordt. + +The Indians in Manila, who are largely in care of the Jesuits, are +devout by nature, and much inclined to confession and other pious +exercises. A confraternity among them accomplishes many pious and +benevolent works, and exerts a great influence on those outside it. In +the Taytay mission there is cheering progress, and many of the mountain +Indians, hitherto infidels, are converted and baptized. The visitor +Garcia has founded at Antipolo a hospital, and a seminary for boys, +both of great assistance to the missionaries' labors. + +Toward the end of 1600 the bishop of Cebú holds a council of secular +clergy and missionaries, wherein their work is better planned +and regulated, and various salutary enactments are made for the +diocese. The Jesuit fathers pay especial attention to the Indians and +the soldiers, giving up the charge of the Chinese in Cebú; an Indian +hamlet near that city yields them many converts. Letters from Valerio +Ledesma give encouraging reports of progress and gain in the Bohol +mission. He is successful in gathering the scattered settlements into +mission villages--in Loboc, "more than a thousand souls, gathered +from the mountains and rivers, most of them people reared in war, +robbery, and murder;" and on the Viga River two wild hill-tribes, +who had never before seen a priest. + +Ledesma visits many villages in that island, finding the people eager +to receive baptism, and hospitable toward the missionaries; and many +conversions occur among the savage and fierce mountain tribes. On one +occasion Ledesma goes, alone and unarmed, to meet a hostile band (who +had never before seen a Spaniard); and by his gentle and kind demeanor, +and some small gifts, induces them to depart in peace, after winning +their friendship for himself and his converts. The harvest is great, +and more laborers are greatly needed in that field. This is largely due +to the policy of the missionaries in forming the mission reductions +of converts. The savage mountaineers still continue to migrate to +these mission villages; and heathen priestesses are converted to the +faith. In the Bohol mission there are now more than three thousand +Christians. The island is again menaced by the Moro pirates of +Mindanao; in 1600 they ravaged other islands, but did little damage +in Bohol. Various citations from missionary reports show the docility +and eagerness of the natives in embracing the Christian faith. + +At the request of the secular priest in charge there, the district +of Tanai (in Negros Island) is placed in the mission-field of the +Jesuits, and Gabriel Sánchez is transferred thither from Bohol; he +is welcomed by the people. His report contains accounts of numerous +conversions and miraculous cures, as well as of a heavenly vision +beheld by some converts. Returning to Tanai later, Sánchez finds his +converts steadfast, and most exemplary in their lives. + +In Ibabao (Samar), are conducted flying missions, from the central +residence at Tinagon, the indefatigable missionaries coasting along +the shores of that and other adjacent islands "casting their nets +for souls." During the year they have baptized nearly four thousand +persons, most of them adults. Six missions are formed, reports from +which present many interesting accounts of the labors, methods, +and achievements of the fathers. + +In the Dulac mission (in Leyte), the fathers are also gaining many +souls; at the Christmas feast alone, six hundred former infidels were +baptized at Paloc. Various incidents are related of pious deaths, +and of deliverance of those in danger. + +Good progress is being made in the missions of Leyte--Alangalang, +Carigara and others; nearly three thousand persons were baptized +therein during the years 1600-1602. At Alangalang there are in +the Jesuit church three choirs of Indians, who "surpass many +Spaniards." The Christians at Ogmuc are exceedingly fervent; and +the children instructed in the Jesuit school become, in their turn, +teachers of their parents. The Indians of the Alangalang mission +practice flagellation during Holy Week, "shedding their blood with such +fervor that it became necessary to restrain them. Nor was there less +fervor among the children;" and these, when too young to be allowed +to scourge themselves, invent another penance of their own. In Leyte +a notable disturbance among the natives, arising from the murder +of a prominent chief, is quelled by the influence of the Jesuits, +who reconcile the different factions and restore harmony, besides +reclaiming certain outlaws. + +While a ship is being built at Panámao (now Biliran), one of the +fathers ministers (1602) to the workmen gathered there--Spaniards, +Indians, and others. A Spanish youth is slain by a negro; this sad +event disposes the minds of all to religion, and the missionary gathers +a rich harvest of souls. He is almost overwhelmed with his labors, +but is consoled by the deep contrition and devotion displayed by his +penitents, and twice defers his departure at their entreaties and +for the sake of their souls' welfare. + +At the end of 1601, Father Francisco de Almerique dies at Manila, +worn out with long and incessant toil in his ministry to the +Indians. Chirino relates his virtues, labors, and pious death; he +has rendered especial service by attracting the wild Indians of the +mountains to settle in the mission villages, thus bringing them under +the influence of the gospel. The Jesuit college at Manila prospers; +a course in philosophy is begun, and the two religious congregations +stimulate religious devotion among their members. The spells used by +certain witches in that city are neutralized by the influence of an +_Agnus Dei_. + +In 1602 the Taytay and Antipolo mission grows rapidly, and more +laborers are needed in that field. The devotions of Lent are, as +usual, emphasized by "processions of blood," wherein the devotees +scourge themselves through the streets. The mantle of Father Almerique +falls upon Father Angelo Armano. The devotion of these converts is +praised. The seminary for Indian boys, and the hospital, are efficient +aids to the labors of the missionaries. + +The mission of Silan has been recently assigned to the Jesuits; they +find the people well-disposed and tractable, and soon have many, +both children and adults, under instruction. In caring for these, +they are greatly aided by a blind native helper, formerly a heathen +priest. Letters from the fathers in charge of this mission describe +their arduous labors, the faith and piety of their neophytes, and +certain miracles wrought by an image of St. Ignatius. Here, too, the +missionaries pursue their favorite policy of gathering the natives +into reductions. + +A chapter is devoted to the customs of the Filipinos in bestowing +personal names. Surnames are conferred only at the time of marriage; +but various appellations of relationship and endearment are given +besides that chosen at a child's birth. Chirino praises the fertility, +elegance, and politeness of the Tagál language. He says that formerly +the natives did not adorn themselves with titles; but now "the wretched +'Don' has filled both men and women with such vanity that every one +of them who has a tolerably good opinion of himself must place this +title before his name; accordingly, there are even more Dons among +them than among our Spaniards." + +The bishop of Cebú visits the island of Bohol, accompanied by a +Jesuit missionary who briefly relates something of their experiences +in this journey. The bishop confirms, in the Jesuit missions, about +three thousand Christians, and wins their hearts by his paternal +love and benevolence. The fervor of these converts is very great, +and even the little children are full of zeal to learn the Christian +doctrine. The people are all well disposed toward the faith, and +"the whole island would now be converted" if they had missionaries to +give them instruction. There are islets adjacent to Bohol, where the +people are going to hell for lack of religious aid; but the Jesuits +cannot take care of them for lack of ministers. This difficulty is +especially encountered in the island of Samar; a journey of Father +Juan de Torres to a needy mission station is described at some +length. At Catubig a flourishing mission is established (1601); +the headman of that village is converted, and shows his faith by +many pious works. Various instances of encounters with crocodiles, +and some miraculous deliverances from danger or death, are related +as occurring at Catubig. Chirino closes his narrative with an appeal +for more laborers to be sent to the Philippines, as a field where so +great a harvest of souls awaits them. + +Permission is given (February 23, 1604) for the Augustinian Recollects +to establish themselves in the Philippines. On June 3 the king sends +orders to Acuña to repress the high-handed proceedings of some of the +religious orders there; and on July 30 he directs the archbishop to +punish those of the teaching friars who abandon their mission fields +and sell or exchange church furniture. + +Acuña writes to the king (July 15) about various business matters. He +asks for money with which to make restitution to certain Chinese, +and for royal favor to Christoval de Azqueta. Much fear of a +Chinese invasion is felt in Manila. Trade with the Japanese is in +good condition; but Acuña refuses to let them bring money to Manila +for investment. Acuña makes various recommendations as to officials, +their appointment, and the official inspection of their conduct; and +asks that the royal treasury of the islands be properly inspected and +regulated. In other letters of the same date, the governor urges at +some length that the Audiencia at Manila should be abolished. The +Spanish population is so small that the Audiencia has but little +occupation; the auditors bring to the islands numerous relatives or +friends, for whom they secure the offices and benefits which rightfully +belong to the inhabitants; they appropriate the best of the Chinese +trade and of its profits, compelling the citizens to stand aside; and +they tyrannize over the latter in many ways. The auditors interfere +with the affairs of the military service, and hinder the governor from +performing his duties. The expense of their salaries is a heavy burden +on an impoverished country, and the treasury has not enough means to +meet the demands constantly made upon it. The people are discontented +and clamorous, and they ought to be freed from this encumbrance. A +postscript dated July 19 refers to the king a dispute between the +Audiencia and archbishop regarding the seminary of Santa Potenciana. + +Letters from Pedro Chirino (undated; 1604?) to the king ask for +royal grants to aid the Jesuit seminary for boys at Cebú. In support +of this request he cites the benefits derived from this school by +natives as well as Spaniards, and the ministrations to all classes +by the Jesuits in charge of it; and adduces the testimony of various +witnesses, secular and ecclesiastical, to the same effect. His request +is granted by the royal council. By a decree of December 31, 1604, +the Spanish government regulates the trade of the American colonies +with the Philippines. The substance of previous decrees is rehearsed, +and Felipe orders that the trade of the islands with Nueva España +be continued, although under some restrictions. The commander and +other officials are to be appointed by the governor and archbishop +at Manila, and chosen from citizens of the islands. The officials of +the ships may not engage in trade, and the salaries of the two highest +are fixed. Provision is made for more rigid inspection of vessels and +their cargoes, for equitable allotment of space, and for the safety +of the crews. Freight charges are to be moderated and regulated; +additional duties on goods are levied, and provision is made for +the care and expenditure of these, also for inspection of cargoes +and money shipped at Acapulco. No person may go to the Philippines +unless he shall give security for his permanent residence there. + +In February, 1605, a formal complaint against the Chinese is made +before the authorities at Manila by Archbishop Benavides, supported +by the depositions of several witnesses. The Parián in that city, +destroyed in the insurrection of 1603, has been rebuilt, and is +again peopled by "infidel Sangleys." These Chinese are idolatrous, +and exceedingly licentious and vicious; and in both these respects +are demoralizing the Indian natives, and drawing them away from +the Catholic faith. The Chinese, moreover, are inclined to revenge +themselves on the Spaniards for the slaughter of their countrymen in +the insurrection of 1603, and thus are a constant source of danger. He +recommends that they be driven out of the city, except that they be +allowed a place where they can live during the months while the ships +for the Mexican trade are being unloaded and freighted; and that they +be not allowed to hold intercourse with the Indians. The archbishop +also denounces the Japanese (who reside not far from the Chinese +quarter in Manila) as being equally vicious and dangerous. For all +these reasons, he causes a secret investigation to be made of the +whole matter, which he has not been able to induce the governor +to do. Further testimony to the same effect is given by several +witnesses. Talavera, a cura of the natives in Manila, states that he +has been told that the Mindanao pirates were incited to hostilities +by the Chinese; also that the archbishop had repeatedly striven, +but in vain, to correct the evils arising from the proximity of the +natives to these vicious foreigners. A sworn statement by Francisco de +Avila (June 15) is appended, showing that Chinese were then residing +in the houses of prominent citizens of Manila. A letter is written +(March, 1605) by the officials of the Chinese province of Chincheo, +to Governor Acuña, demanding investigation of the late Sangley revolt +at Manila and redress for the killing of so many Chinese. + +The leading Augustinians at Manila send to the king (May 4) a formal +complaint against Fray Lorenso de León, whom they charge with arbitrary +and illegal acts, and with scheming to gain power in the order, +and with forcing his own election as provincial. They ask the king to +induce the papal nuncio to revoke Fray de León's authority, and to send +a visitor to regulate the affairs of the order in the islands. This +request is supported by a brief letter from the commissary of the +Inquisition (a Dominican), One of the Augustinian officials signing +the above document, Joan de Tapia, writes another and personal letter +to the king, giving further accounts of Fray de León's illegal acts +and general unfitness for his office. Tapia also accuses him and +one Fray Amorin of having appropriated to themselves various funds +entrusted to their care; and says that León is investing in mercantile +speculations money which must have come from the convents. + +One of the auditors, Antonio de Ribera Maldonado, writes to the king +(June 28); he complains of the conduct of Governor Acuña toward himself +and others, and of his appointments to government positions. Maldonado +also asserts that Acuña evades the laws regulating the Mexican trade, +securing for himself and his friends privileges which rightfully +belong to the citizens at large. He asks that he may be permitted to +remain longer at Manila, instead of going to Mexico. + +_The Editors_ + +March, 1904. + + + + + +RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS (_concluded_) + +By Father Pedro Chirino, S.J. Roma: printed by Estevan Paulino, +in the year MDCIV. + +_Source_: This is translated from the original printed work, for which +purpose have been used the copies belonging to Harvard University +and to Edward E. Ayer of Chicago. + +_Translation_: This is made by Frederic W. Morrison, of Harvard +University, and Emma Helen Blair. + + + + +RELATION OF THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS + +And of What Has There Been Accomplished by the Fathers of the Society +of Jesus + + + +How Father Francisco de Vera returned to España for more +fathers. Chapter XXXVII. + + +The men of the Society remained in the rest of those Pintados Islands, +occupied as we have already seen. In various places, during those +two years, there had been newly erected to the glory of Jesus Christ +thirty churches; but in all this the least important thing was the +material gain, for the real success was in the continual increase of +the body of Christians in all those churches. In places where Ours +did not reside, each church had its own representative [_fiscal_], +who took care of it and assembled the people, at least on feast-days, +to recite the prayers and chant the Christian doctrine. They did this, +not only in the church, but in their houses; and even when journeying +by water, or cultivating the soil, their usual recreation is to sing +these exercises. In proportion at the fruit grew more abundantly, so +did the need of laborers increase--until Ours, exhausted by their lack +of strength to reap such copious harvests, unanimously called for the +succor of new companions. But as this aid must be sent from Europe, +which is so far away, and as they could not depend upon letters, +it was agreed to despatch Father Francisco de Vera, as a person +who had been most successful in conveying the last reënforcement, +so useful and so large--which, however, was now too small for so +greatly increased a harvest, and more reapers were needed. The +father set out from Manila on this journey, in the month of June +of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, in the ship +"Santa Margarita," which, after a prosperous voyage of four months, +reached Nueva España. Soon afterward, orders arrived there from +our very reverend father-general, Claudio Aquaviva, that Father +Diego Garcia, who had completed his term as rector of the college of +Mexico, should repair at once to the Filipinas, to visit and console, +on behalf of his Paternity, Ours who were there; and should take with +him a reënforcement of earnest laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, +which was the same object for which Father Francisco de Vera had +gone. It seemed best to the superiors that the good father should +remain there and obtain his much needed rest, and not undergo at +once the fresh hardships of a second voyage to the Filipinas. Besides +this, they desired to retain him in Mexico, because his presence in +that province was important, as it had been in the Filipinas, and, +still earlier, in Madrid, and in Alcala de Henares where he had been +superior. So the father-visitor departed, as we shall later see, +with some companions for the Filipinas. + + + +Further transactions in Manila up to the year one thousand five +hundred and ninety-eight. Chapter XXXVIII. + + +Although in Manila we had received novices from the very beginning, +and although a goodly number of acceptable men of various ranks had +entered our Society there, and had proved to be zealous servants of +God and very useful in our ministries, at the time of which we are +speaking their number was greater. For there were seven novices--all +very religious, humble, and devout--also three brethren of long +standing, and six priests; all were busy, each according to his degree +and vocation. The number of those who attended Lenten services and the +regular sermons continued to grow with the increase of the Spaniards +in Manila, and our Lord was pleased to give our fathers the immediate +reward for their labors, so that they might be thus encouraged to +toil with even greater ardor. Besides the large number of ordinary +confessions, many general confessions were made of great importance, +and by persons who for many years had not confessed--at least, +not as they should. In a single year one father heard forty general +confessions; another, fifty; and another, two hundred. There were also +many persons who desired, some to amend their lives, others to attain +a higher degree of virtue, and who made retreat at home, in order to +perform the exercises--especially persons serious and of high standing, +such as the schoolmaster of Manila, the commander of the fleet, and +other captains and men of reputation. During Lent and Advent sermons +were preached on Sunday afternoons to the soldiers in the guard-room; +and these were attended by many people of the city, as well as by +the governor and some of the auditors of the royal Audiencia. Before +commencing the sermon the children were, as usual, instructed in +the Christian doctrine, with questions and their answers. After +the sermon was concluded, the soldiers were invited to make their +confessions, which they did with alacrity. After that a kind of usury +was abolished, which the soldiers, without considering it as such, were +inadvertently practicing in their eagerness for gain. This was to sell +certain things for a higher price, on condition that the purchaser +should make his payments from what he might gain at play. This +they called "putting into one's hands" [_dar a las manos_]. During +Lent, the discipline was practiced three days in each week, with so +extraordinary a concourse of people that besides the Indians, who +came in large numbers, there were more than five hundred Spaniards +of all ranks and conditions--ecclesiastics and laymen, merchants, +captains, soldiers, and men of other callings. Various friendships +were made in this way, especially between ecclesiastics and laymen, +which were of great service to our Lord. + +Many needs of poor people were remedied, especially of those in the +prison; and efforts were made to alleviate the hunger and thirst that +they were suffering, and compassionately to settle their difficulties, +so far as we had means and opportunity. + +Efforts were also made to shelter in the seminary for girls some +women who, on account of the absence of their husbands, were in +danger. Arrangements were also made with the governor, Don Francisco +Tello, to secure the marriage of certain other women, in which +matter he lent assistance not only with his authority but with his +money. Upon one occasion he charitably bestowed a dowry of six hundred +pesos upon a woman of noble parentage who, for various reasons, had +gone from Madrid to sojourn in that country. The brethren of La Santa +Misericordia of Manila also lend assistance in these matters with +great solicitude and charity, conformably to their profession and the +aims of the Confraternity. The members are among the most noble and +distinguished people in that community, and are most useful therein, +to the great glory and service of God our Lord. + +Our fathers devote themselves at all hours to consoling and confessing +the sick and afflicted, for these always have us summoned, even though +far away. In this connection I shall relate a special instance. A +sick man, having abandoned hope of life (for the physician had +declared him past recovery), seeing that human remedies were of +no avail, had recourse to the divine; and he sought aid from the +mother of God, to whom he made a vow to betake himself for nine +days to her chapel called Ermita de Guia, which, as I have said, +lies without the city walls. Having made the vow, he arose at once, +just as he was, to fulfil it. A marvel of God! as the days went by, +his health continually improved; and at the end of the nine days, +he was entirely well. This meant health of body, but the two days +following his recovery brought him life for both body and soul. + +An honorable woman lived in great suffering through the cruel +treatment to which her husband subjected her; and she determined to +free herself from this pain and anguish by putting an end to her life, +which was passing in such bitterness. For this purpose, she placed a +noose around her neck, the demon aiding her, and hanged herself. The +noise which she made while in the pains of death was heard by one of +her neighbors, who hastened to her, and, encountering this horrible +sight, promptly cut the rope. The woman, when she came to herself, +repented of her wicked act, and had recourse to one of Ours for +counsel; and, through the mercy of the Lord, she now lives in peace +and contentment. Another married woman, likewise disheartened by the +abuse and bad temper of her husband, resolved to leap into the sea +and drown herself. Collecting some of her goods, with tears and great +sorrow she bade her daughter farewell, and set out to accomplish at +once her desperate purpose. When she was on the point of throwing +herself into the water, the Lord, having compassion on her wretched +lot, sent to her a voice which caused her to hesitate, and to realize +what she was doing. "What art thou doing, woman? Trust in God, for thy +husband shall treat thee well." With this she was affrighted; but, +as a proof that this deliverance had come from Heaven, her husband +came soon afterward, and began to caress her and to show her much +kindness. Then she grew calm, recognizing the great mercy which the +Lord had showed her. + +In this same year our students gave evidence of their intelligence +and application, on the occasion of the safe arrival at Manila of +the most reverend archbishop and suffragans, whom they entertained +in their schools with two ingenious dialogues, and other proofs of +erudition. In that season arrived also some of the gentlemen of the +royal Audiencia who were visiting our schools for the purpose of +showing them favor and honor. They greatly enjoyed a third literary +exercise which had been prepared for them and were thus encouraged +to carry out their intention of placing their sons in these schools, +as they did. In time, these studies began to bear fruit, and some of +our students even entered the religious life. + + + +The leading events at this time among the Indians in Manila. Chapter +XXXIX. + + +The ministries to the Indians are those which are exercised with the +greatest satisfaction in our college, for which occupation we had in +that year three fathers who had gained a mastery of their language. If +there had been many more, each one would have had something to occupy +him, on account of the great number of the Indians, not only within +the city, but beyond the walls, in many villages which are in the +vicinity of Manila, and whose inhabitants attend our church. In that +year our Lord was pleased to favor this ministry with new tokens of +His favor; for although in former years the conditions were such as +are described above, in this year [1598] the attendance in our church +for sermons and confessions was extraordinary--indeed, there was one +father who heard more than three hundred general confessions. This +was due partly to the increase in the number of fathers who knew +the language; and partly to the cessation of the sermons which were +formerly preached by other religious orders, through the press of +other labors with which they ever busy themselves most zealously in +the service of God. By these holy means we set aright many important +affairs which concerned enmities and sinful lives. As an instance of +this, certain legal proceedings were instituted for the separation +of a married pair; these had made considerable progress, but were +abandoned, and the husband and wife were reconciled, and again +lived together in peace. Efforts were also made to break up illicit +relations, and separate those who lived therein; and the result was +that, through the mercy of God, those persons have not relapsed into +evil ways. Although among these were some cases of special interest, +I will confine myself to other matters which occur to me, which are +cleaner and more agreeable. The first concerns an infidel Indian woman +whose conversion was a difficult matter, on account of her marriage +with a Chinese or Sangley who was also an infidel; for her husband +kept her, as is the custom among the Chinese, under close confinement +and guard. One of our fathers was desirous to gain this woman for +Christ; and, finding no other means, placed some Christian Indians +where she could hear them talk about the things of God and the life +eternal. The woman was so impressed by what she heard that, fleeing +from her husband and abandoning her home and child, she came to our +house and asked to be instructed for baptism; her request was granted, +and by this means the husband was also converted. His conversion is +a valuable one, since it is very difficult to incline the people of +his nation toward the truths of our holy faith. + +Some Indian women, during a pest of locusts, erected in their sowed +field a cross containing some relics; and our Lord was pleased to +honor the emblem of His death, as well as the faith of these, His +new faithful ones, for the locusts passed on without causing them +any loss. The owner of the land gave, in gratitude, all its harvest +as alms--which he was able to do, as he possessed some wealth. + +Although these incidents, and many others which are not here related, +show that our Lord is desirous of drawing these peoples to Himself +by the bonds of Adam, namely, by love and mercy, He also chooses +to show them that He is a God of justice. This He made evident in +the dreadful fate of a man and wife who swore to be faithful to each +other during his absence, and, supplemented their oaths with terrible +curses which are in use among them. Yet the woman, overcome by the +devil, was false to her compact and promise of fidelity; and while +the unhappy adulterers were thus sinfully engaged, both were struck +dead, and were found thus by persons who told it to the father. By +his orders the matter was suppressed, as much as was possible in so +frightful an event. + + + +Of the villages of Antipolo and San Juan del Monte. Chapter XXXX. + + +So great was the increase of that mission throughout those two years +[1597-98], by the continual arrival of people who came to us, as we +have already stated, from those mountains and deserts, that besides two +entire villages which were established near Antipolo, at a distance +convenient for the instruction of the people, more than a hundred +persons came down from the mountains with some children, who were +at once baptized. Among these were three ministers of their idols, +who, upon arriving at Antipolo, went to Father Almerique, and, making +avowal of the evil employment which they had up to that time practiced, +renounced it before him and many others who were then present. They +promised never again to resume it, and asked that this declaration +be given them in writing, as a proof of their conversion, and that +no one in times to come might attribute to them guilt for what they +had done in the mountains when they had no knowledge of the true God. + +In each of these two villages there was formed a confraternity, +which, besides other works of piety and devotion, practices two +that act as a preservative against the two great evils of idolatry +and intoxication--which, as we have already stated, were customary +in cases of sickness or death--since in this confraternity are the +people who are most prominent, most Christian, and most trustworthy +in those villages. Moreover, they take the utmost care to ascertain +who in the village may be sick or dying; and they aid the families +of both the sick and the dead by frequent visits--in such cases +not only exercising perfect piety and charity, but preventing the +abuses, superstitions, idolatries, intoxications, dirges, music, +and wailing which had been their own custom when they were pagans, +as now among these others. These confraternities have rendered +Christianity in those regions most glorious, and for their good deeds +are so highly esteemed that he is not considered a person of worth +who is not received into one of them. On two special occasions they +made processions, in excellent order, and with great solemnity and +concourse of the people, and attended mass and preaching; and very +many frequented the communion. One of these was at the foundation +of a confraternity; the other was occasioned by a plague of locusts +which had been devastating all those islands for two years. In order +to obtain from God a remedy for this evil, they chose the most holy +Virgin Mary as their intercessor, and made a vow to celebrate the feast +of her most pure conception, and to give on that occasion liberal alms +as aid for the marriages of the poor and the orphans. They fulfilled +their promises, and our Lord received their humble tokens of service +and showed them that He was well pleased, by turning aside the locusts +from their crops, and giving them that year very abundant harvests. All +the people of the village have now directed to the church that recourse +and dependence which they formerly exercised toward the ministers of +the devil; and, consequently, when they experience any ill, however +trifling it maybe, they summon the father to hear their confessions, +or to have the gospel recited to them. Hardly a day passes, while their +sickness lasts, when they do not cause themselves to be conveyed to +the church, at the time of mass; and when that is ended they approach +the priest, to have him recite the gospel and sprinkle them with holy +water. Sometimes there are so many of them that, when the priest has +done this for them, he is compelled to wait until they go away before +he can leave the altar. They also carry first to the church whatever +grain or seeds they are about to sow, to have these blessed, in return +for which they offer the priest the first-fruits of their harvests. + + + +The leading events in the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. Chapter +XXXXI. + + +As a result of the favors bestowed upon the six resident members of the +Society by the right reverend bishop of Sebu, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto, +a religious of the Order of St. Augustine (who entered this year +into his church and erected it into a cathedral), the fruits of our +ministries were at this time most abundant and prosperous. As I have +already stated, these were exercised among the various nationalities +who inhabit that city, or who resort thither from various regions for +their business and traffic. Likewise, at the instance of his lordship, +a school of Latin was opened in our college for his servants and +clergy, who were joined by the sons of some of the citizens. This +school was not only a common and general benefit, but also very useful +as a retreat and aid for those who in the school for children were +already advanced in reading, writing, and reckoning. Although many +of the boys remained in the lower school as pupils, a considerable +number of students began the study of grammar with the new master, +Father Francisco Vicente Puche, who as an initiation to the studies, +and as a welcome to the bishop, gave with his students a two-hours' +dramatic representation in the cathedral, in honor of his Lordship, +which proved most agreeable, learned, dignified, and devout, and gave +extraordinary pleasure to all the citizens, who had never before seen +such a thing in their city. + +There were two Indian peoples among whom we were especially laboring +at that time: one the Bissayans, who are the natives of that country, +to whom we preached, on Sundays and feast-days, throughout the year, +in their own language; the other the Chinese--many of whom, coming from +their own land into this (and many do come in the merchant-vessels), +remain here. They have established in this city, near our house, a +quarter of their own, which at that time was in charge of the Society; +and our fathers administered the sacraments to them and their families, +including their women and servants--Chinese, Japanese, Malucos, +and Bissayans. They repaired with great frequency to confession +and communion, especially on days in jubilees and in Lent; and we +always had catechumens among the infidel Chinese, whom we baptized +only at the notable feasts, and with great solemnity--excepting on +occasions when that sacrament was bestowed on persons at the point +of death. The first confirmations which the lord bishop celebrated +outside of his cathedral were in our church, where he most devoutly +bestowed this holy sacrament upon our Chinese and their families. On +Easter of this last year, he celebrated in the same church, as an +encouragement and a favor, the solemn baptism of the catechumens, +of whom there were a large number; and he was greatly delighted and +edified to behold one of our fathers, his assistant on that occasion, +conversing in the Chinese language. + +The fruitful results of these ministries were displayed in many +instances, more especially in regard to purity and constancy. I +shall mention one case only, wherein it seemed to us extraordinary +constancy which could inspire with courage for such resistance an +Indian woman whose former occupation, while she was a heathen, was +so contrary to such conduct, as we have related. It happened in this +way. One of those women was solicited by a wicked man whom she bravely +repulsed. But he finally began cautiously to offer her money, urging +her to receive it, and assuring her that he made no claim upon her +thus. Not less valorously than before did she reject his offering, +saying that she desired no money which, when she must appear before +God; would cry out against her, and be an accuser and witness against +her; and she reminded him that this money, with which he was striving +to wage such war against her, could serve only for her condemnation +and chastisement. In proportion to her resistance, so did the furious +passion of this wicked man increase, who gave himself no repose in +devising projects for her downfall. Attempting to accomplish this, +on a certain occasion when she was alone, she uttered loud cries, at +which someone came to her aid and delivered her from his violence. With +that his love turned to hatred, and his cajolery to threats, which he +carried out by accusing her to her masters, with false testimony. She +went from their house, in great affliction and distress, but ever +repeating, with much patience: "God sees it all." Still further to +exercise her virtue, God permitted that even her master, who was +a person of high rank, instigated by the devil, should solicit her +with great importunity. She answered him by saying that she would, +under no persuasion, commit such a sin, and that he should consider +that he would greatly disgrace himself, as a man of so high position, +by seeking relations with her, a woman of lowly state. She added +that, besides this, she kept before her the thought of God, in whose +presence she dared not commit any vile act, or consent to it in +her heart, knowing that God sees all things; and, moreover, she had +consideration for her mistress, who treated her as her own daughter, +and against whom she could in no wise commit such treachery. The man, +irritated by this resistance, threatened her with harsh treatment; but +she replied that even if he were to kill her, it was enough for her +that God saw all that she was suffering to avoid sin. The evil man, +notwithstanding, carried out his threat, annoying her and treating +her with great harshness; yet this only increased the strength and +virtue of this innocent and chaste woman. Another Indian woman, left +a widow, was so devoted to the preservation of her chastity that, +without the advice of anyone, she made to God a vow of chastity, and +most strictly kept it. There are many other women who, though they make +no vow, preserve intact their chastity and virginity. Nor are the men +behind the women in the fervor and contrition wherewith they make their +confessions, and the rigor with which they scourge themselves and do +penance. One of those Indian women made her confession with so abundant +tears and signs of true contrition, that the father who confessed her +was greatly aroused and moved thereat, and afterward related that +the feelings of devotion caused by those so fervent tears and true +contrition remained with him for many days; and that when he wished to +humiliate himself or enliven his piety he had only to remember what +he had beheld in that Indian woman. For it is vastly different to +but talk of contrition for sins, and to contemplate its vivid image +and reality in a soul. Another woman came to the confessional and, +without noticing the multitude of people in the church, began her +confession, and continued it with so many tears and such grief for her +sins that she could with difficulty speak. She was thereupon seized +with a great longing to do penance, and desired to go at once through +the streets of the city, publicly scourging herself, as many do here +[in Europe] throughout Lent, in the early part of the night. A young +man in the confessional experienced such horror at his sins that, +incensed against himself, and without informing the father, he scourged +himself through the streets with such severity that he fell down as +one dead, and was considered as such. He came later to our house to +confess his offenses, and was as disfigured as if he were recovering +from a severe illness; but, not content with the former scourging, +he desired to inflict on himself another--for, as he said, his heart +was transfixed, as by a nail, with grief for his sins. The father, +however, commanded him to cease for the present, and he obeyed. There +were many other special instances which, for the sake of brevity, +I here omit. Not the least affecting among them were those where +there was manifested the eternal predestination which has mercifully +provided for many at the hour of death the resource of baptism. + +Our ministries in behalf of the Spaniards were no less fervent at this +time. They repaired in great numbers to our fathers, especially during +Lent and on days of jubilee, when the results of their instruction +were most apparent. There were, very commonly, consultations in cases +of conscience, not only with laymen, but with ecclesiastics, and +religious, and even with the bishop--who hardly took any step without +the advice of our fathers, although he was a most learned and discreet +prelate. It must have been from seeing that persons of so high standing +held our Society in so great esteem that the people conceived the idea, +and made the resolve, of coming to our house for their confessions; +and for that very reason they felt under obligation to lead better +lives. With regard to this, one man said that during our absence he +had endured many inward struggles on account of not having made his +confession to Ours; but that, after he had done so, he had, through +the mercy of God, overcome them all. In short, no matter of weight or +importance arose where the advice of the Society was not sought with +confidence and truth, especially when it was seen that the bishop had +such confidence in us--which his Lordship manifested on many public +occasions and before many people, by words and deeds which could not +then be heard or now repeated, without confusion and embarrassment. + +Our sermons in the cathedral and in our own church were regular +and frequent, and were all attended by the right reverend bishop, +who also honored our church with a pontifical mass for our feast +of New Year's day, which was celebrated with much solemnity, many +persons, from all classes of people, repairing to confession and +communion. His Lordship also preached at the titular feast of the same +church (that of the glorious St. Ildefonso), which was celebrated with +the like attendance and devotion, in the presence of a concourse of +people, and with many communions. His Lordship was also desirous of +introducing, in imitation of Manila, the practice of scourging in the +church during Lent; and he actually visited it, on the first Friday, +with a considerable following. He began by preaching a very devout +sermon, at the conclusion of which, seeing that, although night had +set in, the church was still light with the rays of a full moon, he +determined to leave it for the time, and accordingly returned after +his choir had sung the _Miserere_. + +On account of the heat in this region, the churches are so constructed +as to be open and airy, and for this reason are poorly adapted +for taking the discipline. Accordingly he changed his plan and, +inviting the children of the school, and the students, with these and +many others of the town, he arranged for every Friday of that Lent a +procession of blood, in which the bishop himself marched barefoot. This +procession left the cathedral in the evening, and proceeded to +the other church (of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady), some +distance away. In the meantime the rest were flagellating themselves, +even to the extent of drawing blood; and while the choir was singing +the _Miserere_, the holy bishop scourged himself alone in the sacristy. + + + +How the Christian religion extended in the island of Bohol. Chapter +XXXXII. + + +Through the solicitude and fervor of the two fathers who were in +Bohol, who soon received the help of a brother, that new Christian +church was notably increased, especially among the old people, +from sixty to eighty years of age. These--the world no longer for +them, or they for the world, but for Him who died for them--He did +not disdain to receive into His church when their sun was setting, +although they had not begun so early to follow and obey Him as He had +to seek and invite them; many of them died shortly after they were +baptized, having left many tokens and proofs of their salvation and +the sincerity of their faith. All of them--little children and grown +men, youths and aged people, the well and the sick--all convinced and +persuaded by the truths of Catholicism, are certain that no other road +leads to heaven; and so, without resistance or objection, they prepared +themselves for holy baptism--although the fathers with praiseworthy +prudence, restrained them by conferring the sacrament on those only +who were well prepared, or really in need of it. Many who received +the holy sacraments were cured of their maladies, and, consequently, +the earnestness and devotion with which they sought and received them +were intense. Even when they are in health, it is indeed marvelous to +see the satisfaction and willingness with which they repair to all +virtuous exercises, especially to confessions and masses. There was +no scent or trace of vice or idolatry, or witchcraft, or of other +evil customs practiced by them while they were pagans; and if, in +confession or elsewhere, mention were made to them of these things, +they became deeply offended, saying: "Since we are now Christians, +how could we do such things again?" Especially notable is the fidelity +maintained by married people, which they observe not only in outward +act, but in their hearts. + +I cannot mention without sorrow the many souls, in this and neighboring +islands, who clamor for deliverance and have no one to give it to +them. During this same year some chiefs came from one of the adjacent +islands who asked, almost in tears, that one of the two fathers +who were there would, for the love of God visit them at least once +a week. In another island, called Siquihor, or the island of fire, +distant from Bohol some four leguas, there are many so well inclined +to the faith that, upon receiving the Christian doctrine of one who +went from that region to their island, they learned it very carefully, +and the chiefs even came with the others to ask for baptism. They were +all, however, appeased with the good prospects that were held out to +them, although these did not suffice to console them in their sorrow +at returning still hungry for the bread of heaven; or Ours at seeing +them with such righteous hunger for it, yet unable to procure it, +and with no one who might give them a share of it with the many who +in other regions have more than enough. + + + +The increase of Christianity in Botuan. Chapter XXXXIII. + + +What the other two fathers accomplished in Botuan I shall relate in +their own words; for, if I am not mistaken, he who has the task in +his own hands can well declare it. Father Valerio de Ledesma in one +of his letters writes thus: "Christianity here is in a flourishing +condition, as is seen in the large attendance at divine services and +in the silence and reverence displayed in the church (for even when +it is crowded with many people it seems as if not one were there), +and in the affection of the people for the sacrament of confession. In +even their petty troubles, many repair to the confessional; and some +have already begun to receive communion, concerning which sermons +have been repeatedly preached. I trust in our Lord that many will +be ready by Corpus Christi; although in the beginning it is best to +proceed very gradually that they may reverence the sacrament and know +how to distinguish this divine food. The people attend the services +more than ever, and on Sundays a very large audience listens to the +word of God. The doctrine is sung at night, and the heavens themselves +seem to rejoice at music so sweet. In all the families there are many +persons well-disposed to the Christian faith; and soon a large number +of adults will be baptized; among them some chiefs of high standing, +although the largest fish of all is not yet caught. If it were not for +the difficulty of learning the doctrine, it seems to me now that almost +the whole village would come to us." Thus writes the father. This +"largest fish" whom he mentions is that great Silongan of whom we +spoke. Although he divorced five of his wives, one of them holds him +so in captivity that finally he is keeping both of them [_i.e._, +this one and his lawful wife]. Although every possible means of a +gentle sort has been used to free him from this impediment, nothing +could be done; and yet he showed a great desire to become a Christian, +and the utmost esteem for the things of God, as well as extraordinary +affection toward our fathers--which he manifested by giving his +son to their care, and on two occasions of special importance. One +of these was when the inhabitants, in fear of their enemies, the +Ternatans, who were scouring their coasts, received the news that +there were some ships at the mouth of the river, which, although they +belonged to friends, were not recognized as such; the inhabitants, +fearing that these might be enemies, accordingly armed themselves at +once. It was then that this chief, with all the men of his district, +all armed with lances and shields, crossed to the other side of the +river, where our house stood; and there, upon learning the deception +and recognizing the friends, Silongan in front of our house performed +some feats of activity to show his valor and strength, and said that it +was he, Silongan, who protected and defended the fathers and who, in +trying circumstances, showed what should be done in their behalf. The +other occasion was when one of our fathers, while going up the river, +happened to encounter another chief who, on account of a murder, was +plundering that district with many others who defended and guarded +him. The father, dreading this man, sought the protection of Silongan, +who happened to be in the same locality. The latter, with his numerous +slaves, surrounded the church where the father was, guarding it with +great vigilance; and, when he returned, took, in his own boat the +box of church ornaments and brought them all back in safety. + + + +The departure of Father Tomas de Montoya for the doctrina of +Alangalang. Chapter XXXXIV. + + +To take charge of this Christian community (which, as we have said, +was bereft by the death of Father Cosme de Flores), Father Tomas de +Montoya left Manila, abandoning the instruction which, to their great +profit, he was imparting to the students. He himself tells what he +accomplished there, and I shall state it in his own words: "As a result +of the good music that we have in the church, the divine services are +celebrated with much solemnity, and to the great satisfaction of the +natives. Many solemn baptisms and marriages have been celebrated which +were attended with great fervor, especially by the inhabitants of one +village, who in this respect have had the advantage of the others. One +of the women of this village received the sacrament with such devotion +and joy that a few days after her baptism she made her confession, and +persuaded her husband to become a Christian; and she was one of those +who practiced the exercises of the Christians with most pleasure. An +old man, already so exhausted by age that he could hardly stand upon +his feet, came one day with the others to the church, and upon being +enjoined to become a Christian, that he might give to God the little +of life that remained to him, told them to leave him in peace, for he +was no longer fit for anything except death. Seeing that for the time +being nothing impressed him, I left him; and afterward caused him to +come to my house, where I represented to him the benefits which he +would gain in heaven by becoming a Christian. This had such an effect +that our Lord moved his heart; and, unable to repress his satisfaction, +with much gladness he urgently sought immediate baptism. I told him +to go away and to reflect upon the matter for a time, for an affair +of such moment could not be hastily settled. He again answered that +it should not be delayed, as he desired baptism immediately; but, +at last, the ceremony was deferred. While being instructed he made +the most joyful answers, and afterwards received holy baptism with +the same tokens of pleasure. During the remaining short period of +his life his happiness was such that he imparted it to everyone +who spoke to him. The great goodness and mercy of God were seen in +the case of a new born babe whose pagan mother--an inhabitant of +another village, far distant--gave birth to it in a village of this +mission. To escape the burden and labor which she must sustain in +rearing it, she took it in her arms and, descending to the bank of +a river, was about to bury it alive. A Christian chanced to see her +and hastened to inform us. Upon reaching the spot I found the child, +so small that it was a cause for astonishment. I baptized it, and it +soon passed away to the eternal rest of which the imprudent mother +(worse than a step-mother) had recklessly tried to deprive it. But +as God our Lord showed to these the gentleness of His great mercy, +so on others did He execute the rigor of His justice, chastising +them for their obstinacy and hardness; and others He terrified, so +that some day they might enjoy His mercy. One of Ours had asked a +certain man to receive baptism, following the advice of his father, +who was an Indian of high standing and governor of the village. He +made excuses, saying that he did not wish to receive the sacrament +until he had been married. But God our Lord did not allow him to +fulfil this desire, on account of which he deferred holy baptism +until he paid for the delay by an untimely death. Besides dying as +he did, in his heathenism, and very hastily, the character of his +death was violent and horrible; for he was carried away by a poison +which caused the flesh to fall from his body in pieces. Another +man was continually ill, and, fearing that any day he might die, he +asked me to baptize him. Upon summoning him one day for instruction, +he failed to appear, having abandoned his purpose. Soon afterward he +embarked for a neighboring island, where he died in his paganism. One +day, the children of a village came together to be baptized, but one +of the pagans refused to allow her child to receive the sacrament; +neither entreaties nor arguments availing to soften her. Accordingly, +we had to give her up--our Lord taking charge of this obdurate one, +as He did, suddenly deprived her one night of life." + +But the event which caused among these Indians the greatest surprise +and terror, was the death of two of their most esteemed and respected +chiefs. The first was an Indian who in former days had married six +wives. He was so arrogant and cruel that whenever he made a journey +he sent Indians ahead of him to cut the branches of the trees, in +order that he might pass without bending his body; and if any of his +followers neglected to clear away a branch he paid for his carelessness +with his life. This chief became sick, and a father entreated him +with much earnestness to receive baptism. This he refused, and, +having no fear of death, said: "Father, as yet I have sufficient +strength in my eyes to see, in my hands to work, and in my feet to +walk. Leave me for the present, for, since thou art near by, I will +send one of my slaves for thee if I find that I am in distress." The +father left him, seeing that he would do nothing for us; and within +two days was told that this man was dead, having gone where he must +expiate his obstinacy as well as his pride and cruelty. + +For the better understanding of the second case, we must assume that +one of the ways in which God has been best served in that mission +is in persuading the Indians who have two or three wives to abandon +them and to content themselves with one. The means used to accomplish +this end was to condemn polygamy, to the assembled natives, as a +state unworthy of the nobility of man, saying that they ought not to +make themselves beasts and brutes by having so many wives. Our Lord +granted a fortunate outcome to this effort, for the men were thus +persuaded to give up their wives. The Indians were so impressed by this +teaching that once when a swarm of locusts lit in the grain-fields +of a certain village, they accounted for it by saying that God had +sent this pest on the people of that village, because the men were +wont to keep two wives. There was an Indian chief of high rank in the +island of Leite, by the name of Umbas, one of the most prominent among +the chiefs on account of his riches and the good government which he +maintained in the villages under his rule, and the thoroughness with +which he fulfilled all his responsibilities; he was esteemed by not +only the Indians but the Spaniards. All eyes were turned to him, and +consequently, had he but become a Christian, large numbers of people +would have followed his example, for he was regarded by the rest, +even in distant parts, as a pattern to follow. This Indian had two +wives, and being frequently urged, with many entreaties and arguments, +to abandon one of them, so great was his love for his sons that he +could not make up his mind to divorce one of the women, preferring +not to be separated from their children. He was urged in the church, +before all the people of the village, to divorce one of his wives; +but he only answered that he had already been told this. Many of +our fathers, as well as his encomendero, therefore besought him +with great earnestness to be baptized, but all in vain. But finally, +seeing that all the rest (and especially one of his sons, also much +esteemed and beloved) were abandoning their wives, he said that +he would do the same after he had harvested his rice, for which +the time had arrived--alleging as a reason that since he and they +had toiled together in the sowing, they should together enjoy the +harvest; and when that had been done, he would remain with but one +wife. But the Lord, who already had just cause against him, by His +lofty judgments prevented him from carrying out this intention; for, +very soon afterward, when he suspected no misfortune, he was stabbed +by an Indian whom he tried to seize. No second blow was needed, for +he fell to the ground dead, thus ending his disobedience and obduracy. + + + +Of the fervor of the Christians of Ogmuc. Chapter XXXXV. + + +Our fathers in the residence at Ogmuc, having proceeded with due +prudence and caution, had up to this time baptized only eighty-eight +adults. There was, however, a goodly number of catechumens, who were +very earnest in seeking baptism. Those who are baptized seem to have +known for many years the things of our holy faith, to judge by their +knowledge of its mysteries, especially those concerning Christ our Lord +and His most holy mother. They highly esteem the confessional, and when +they become sick they clamor at once for the father, and find relief +in making their confession. A sick man said that day and night he +thought of the father, who was absent, and desired him for confession, +adding that what most aggravated his sickness was to know that he +did not have the father at hand for that purpose. His relatives, +desirous of taking him to another place, had no success, nor could +they persuade him to go; for he maintained that they were about to +take him where he must die without confession, and where there was no +church in which he could be buried after death. As soon as he learned +that the father had arrived, he went, although very ill, to make his +confession, weeping for gladness, and never ceasing to render thanks +to the Lord that he had permitted the father to arrive at such a time; +and he declared that he could die consoled, now that he had made his +confession. During Holy Week there was a great concourse of people +who devoutly attended the divine services, keeping the receptacle +of the most holy sacrament handsomely adorned. On Holy Thursday, in +the afternoon, after the sermon a very devout procession was formed, +by which the people were more thoroughly instructed in the faith, +and taught what Christ our Lord had done for our salvation. The most +pleasing and touching sight was to see all the children disciplining +themselves with scourges which they themselves had made for that +day. At Easter some Spaniards chanced to be here, who augmented the +solemnity of the occasion with salvos from their arquebuses. Peace was +restored between many married people who had been living in discord; +and some abuses were corrected, especially two very baneful practices +anciently common among them, namely, usury in loans, and enslavement +through tyranny. In order that my readers may better understand and +recognize the power of God, who has unrooted these evils, it has +seemed to me best to describe them in greater detail. + + + +Of usury and slavery among the Filipinos. Chapter XXXXVI. + + +Among other vicious practices common to these nations and proceeding +from that fountain and abyss of evil, idolatry, one was that insatiable +cupidity mentioned by the evangelist St. John as one of the three +which tyrannize over the world. [1] This caused them, forgetful of that +natural compassion which we owe to one another, never to lend succor +in cases of need without assurance of profit. Consequently, whenever +they made loans (not of money, which they did not use or possess, +but of other things, most commonly rice, bells, and gold--this last +more than all else, for when weighed it took the place of money, for +which purpose every one carried in his pouch a balance), they must +always agree upon the profit which should be paid them in addition +to the sum that they were to lend. But the evil did not stop here, +for the profit or gain itself went on increasing with the delay in +making payment--until finally, in the course of time, it exceeded all +the possessions of the debtor. The debt was then charged to his person, +which the poor wretch gave, thus becoming a slave; and from that time +forth all his descendants were also slaves. There was another form +of this usury and slavery, by which the debtor or his son must remain +from that time a slave, until the debt, with all the usury and interest +which were customary among them, was repaid. As a result of this, all +the descendants of him who was ether a debtor or security for the debt, +remained slaves. Slaves were also made through tyranny and cruelty, +by way of revenge and punishment for offenses of small account, which +were made to appear matters of injury. Examples of these are: failure +to preserve silence for the dead (which we have already mentioned), +or happening to pass in front of a chief who was bathing (alluded +to in the fable of Actæon), and other similar oppressions. They +also captured slaves in war by means of ambuscades and attacks, +keeping as such all those whom they did not wish to kill. Since these +cruelties were so usual among them, and, on the other hand, the poor +are commonly oppressed by the powerful, it was easy to increase the +number of slaves. Consequently they used to have, and still do have, +a very large number of slaves, which among them is the greatest of +riches. This has been no small hindrance to their conversion, and has +fettered the hands of many ministers of the gospel, and subjected +them to great doubts and perplexities. But since, on the one hand, +pious individuals have, although with difficulty, paid ransoms; +and, on the other, the royal magistrates have ascertained the facts +and provided redress for those thus tyrannically treated who seek +their liberty; and, moreover, since God our Lord has influenced many +in their baptisms and confessions, an enormous number of ransoms +have been given. Usury also quickly diminished, the creditors being +satisfied with the original interest, without expecting a continual +increase. But now, through the grace of our Lord, all that custom has +been abolished, and the natives now proceed with mercy and Christian +charity, not only in Ogmuc and throughout the island of Leite, but +in all the other islands where there is knowledge of Jesus Christ. + + + +What the Christians accomplished in Carigara. Chapter XXXXVII. + + +From the very beginning, the people of this mission showed their +fervor; consequently, the Christians continued to increase in numbers, +although, as I have said, our fathers were very cautious in granting +holy baptism. All those Christians have frequent recourse to the +confessional, prizing it highly and greatly benefiting their own +souls. Those who are not Christians are all catechumens; and there is +not one of them who does not desire holy baptism. There was formed in +this church, and completed this year, a very delightful musical choir, +composed of the children themselves, who are very clever in this +exercise; and thus the divine services are celebrated with solemnity. + + + +Of the remarkable increase in the mission of Paloc. Chapter XXXXVIII. + + +This village is one of the finest and best regulated in all the +island, thanks to the labors of one of our fathers, who helped the +natives to construct good houses. The Christian doctrine is taught +every day to the children in all the villages; and so many of them +attend this exercise that it is necessary to appoint four chanters +in order that they may be heard. Every day the people attend mass, +after they have had their lessons in the doctrine. One day of the +week is set apart when all the Christians come together to learn the +doctrine and catechism; and, even without the presence of the father, +they all assemble in every village. Great benefit has been derived +from this practice, for thus those who know the doctrine do not forget +it, and those who do not know it may learn it. Every night an Indian +goes forth with a little bell, warning all to prepare for death and +to repent for their sins, and enjoining the Christians to pray to +God in behalf of those who are not, that they may know God. While +he is uttering this message, perfect silence reigns, for they call +this "the warning of God;" and, in truth, it has been so effective +that there is not an Indian who does not reflect on death and desire +baptism. Before Lent some sermons were preached to them on confession, +and they were taught that they must not conceal their sins; to enforce +this, a very appropriate instance was cited, which had such an effect +upon them that many persons, though they had left the church very +late that night, returned the next morning to make another confession. + +Although idolatry was formerly very common among these pagans, who +practiced it on every trivial occasion, our Lord has been pleased so +to diminish it that hardly anything is now known of it. Two children, +whose mother was sick, took three fowls for the purpose of making a +sacrifice to the demon. While on the way to the house of the priestess +(who in that country is usually old, and belongs to a mean class), one +of the children said to the other: "Whither are we going, and what are +we doing--we who are Christians and know that God sees us? Let us give +up this purpose." With this they abandoned their projected sacrifice, +and returning to their home, set the fowls at liberty. The practice +of disciplining on Fridays was begun, and was taken up by all the +children and the adults of the village. On the first night when they +assembled for this purpose, the father made known to them the spirit +in which it should be done, and so profoundly impressed them that +they soon named Friday (which is the usual day for the discipline) +"the day of atonement for sins." + + + +Some notable incidents in Dulac. Chapter XXXXIX. + + +In this residence, from the month of June in the year ninety-eight to +January in the year ninety-nine, there were solemnly baptized more +than one hundred catechumens who greatly desired the sacrament and +prepared themselves very carefully for holy baptism. This did not +include the sick, who through the mercy of God had been but few that +year; but among these sick persons, both children and adults, was +experienced the virtue of this holy sacrament for bodily health. Some +persons who were covered with leprosy and their recovery despaired of, +were restored by baptism to so good health that, although borne down +by years, they were able to till the soil and sow their fields. I wish +to relate the faith of a pagan woman whose husband, also a pagan, lay +sick. Believing his condition to be dangerous, she persuaded him to +accept baptism. For this purpose she sent for the father, and, when +the latter asked the sick man if he desired baptism or instruction, +she helped him to make his answers. The father, observing her to be +so capable and so desirous of the welfare of her husband, inquired +if she also wished to become a Christian. She answered affirmatively, +saying that she had heard in the church that only the good Christians +went to heaven, and that those who were not Christians must burn in +hell; and that for the sake of retaining her husband's affection she +was not willing to die an infidel, and come to so bad an end. Finally, +when it seemed that the sick man was well prepared, and his sickness +was becoming dangerous, he was baptized, and then our Lord was +pleased to give him health--whereat the good woman was more than +ever anxious to receive baptism for herself. After they were both +baptized, they received the nuptial benediction, as do all the other +married people who are baptized, renewing their marriage according +to Christian usage. I will also mention the death of a child, which +was no less remarkable than the recovery of the other. The father +was passing through a village late in the day, on his way to another +settlement. He was hastening his steps, for the sun was setting and +there still remained a considerable strip of road before he could reach +his destination. But at the very entrance of the village a Christian +came out and called to him, entreating him to go and baptize a child, +the son of infidel parents, who was very sick. The father went to the +house and baptized the child; and, having offered a prayer for it, +went away. No sooner had he gone, than our Lord called the child to +Himself; and it seemed as if the little one was only waiting baptism +in order to enter heaven immediately. + + + + +The method of preaching which our Fathers employed in Tinagon, and +the results thereby obtained. Chapter L. + + +What was accomplished at that time in Tinagon is well related by +Father Francisco de Otaço in the following special account which he +gave of his labors there: "It is wonderful to see how these people +have all at once and generally abandoned their sins. For the greater +glory of the Lord, there has not been known, nor have I heard of, +throughout this year, a single act of idolatry, and these formerly +were so common. Concubinage has been rare, and their drinking feasts +so moderate that they do not deserve such a name. The knowledge of +the things of our Lord is ever increasing, as well as the pleasure of +the people in them; and our fathers are steadily gaining their love +and gratitude. A father once told them that for a certain feast it +was their share to adorn the church; immediately they set themselves +to the task, and the one who began it was a pagan, who did his share +of the work. Our method of preaching to these people is not so much +by means of arguments and consecutive discourses, which make but +little impression on them, as by a sort of spiritual conference, +in which the father briefly presents to them one or two points, +repeating these and asking questions concerning them. Thus his hearers +become proficient, and the result is plainly seen; more than seven +hundred have been baptized this year--most of them in two villages, +where the faith has penetrated with notable results, the people being +well inclined to if. This has been especially evident in one village, +where the fiscal is a chief acknowledged by all its people, whom our +Lord has been pleased to use as the instrument for much good to those +souls. What he has accomplished and is still accomplishing in that +doctrina causes me unusual edification and consolation; for in truth, +if I may judge by what I myself see when I go there, and by the common +account of all, both Spaniards and Indians, even one of our fathers +who might have been stationed in that village could not have wrought +such results as he has done. And this I say without exaggeration; +God provides it all, and blessed be He! This village of Paranas [2] +is on the coast, and contains a few Indian fishermen, but there are +many Indians in the mountains, divided, scattered, and far away; +some of these have established their abodes on the coast, but they +frequent it but rarely, and are (or rather were) a very churlish and +fugitive people. Yet Don Gonçalo (that is the name of the fiscal) has +taken hold of them in such a way that he does what he will with them, +and that, too, by so quiet, gentle, and efficacious means as to cause +one to wonder. Although it is exceedingly difficult to attract their +young children from home (especially among those who dwell in the +mountains) Don Gonçalo draws them to himself by the same means that +I have already mentioned, and to such an extent that he usually has +in his house nearly a hundred young boys; such was their number the +other day, when I was there, and now he tells me that some twenty +or thirty more have just come. He now has them so tamed, gentle, +intelligent, and contented that, considering their former savage +and terrible character, I know not how I can certify it. Those who +formerly knew little or nothing of the doctrine, at present are, by +common consent, those who in this mission are most proficient. The +fiscal maintains with them a regular plan and order: morning and +evening, their prayers and procession; and at night before retiring, +and in the morning before dawn, they also offer their prayers--so +that the Spaniards, their encomendero said, and the collectors are +notably edified thereby. Nor does this occupation depend upon the +presence there of the father or of the Spaniards, for it is always +maintained. The older boys he sends to their villages for food and +shell-fish, and the little ones remain to learn, as if they were in a +school. What I especially value is, that it is all done through love; +for both the children and their parents have so much affection for +this man that, as I noticed the other day, the boys hardly give heed +to the father, but are captivated by their Don Gonçalo, and it is he +whose permission they seek. This man has received a special blessing +from the Lord, and what he does comes entirely from his heart. He +not only looks after the knowledge and recitation of the doctrine, +but even trains them in good habits, and punishes them gently when +they are at fault. He brings together the adult Indians in the church +to pray on feast-days, and if it becomes necessary to do or undo +anything in the mission, it is always entrusted to him. Without doubt, +if there were many men of this sort the lack of ministers here would +be well supplied in many respects." + + + +The arrival in the Philippines of the father-visitor, Diego Garcia, +and how he began his visitation. Chapter LI. + + +When affairs were in the condition which we have described, the +father-visitor, Diego Garcia, very opportunely arrived in the islands, +with some companions, [3] on the seventeenth of June in the year one +thousand five hundred and ninety-nine. His arrival was a source of much +consolation and joy, on account of the reënforcement which he brought +us, and was of much importance and advantage to the internal government +of the Society in those parts, on account of the good order to which +he reduced all our affairs, particularly in our ministries and in the +methods of aiding those souls. Upon careful investigation he learned +that, during those four years while our fathers had given instruction +in the islands of Pintados, twelve thousand persons had been baptized, +and that there were about forty thousand catechumens--not to mention +many others who, although they were not on the list of catechumens, +had also an inclination (or at least no repugnance) to receive +the faith and the gospel. In accordance with this information, the +father-visitor set about organizing the affairs [of the missions], +and providing needed assistance, as we shall later see. Before entering +upon this, however, I will relate, in order to show the mercies of God +toward our fathers, a special instance of this which His Divine Majesty +displayed toward them and the vessel which brought them from the port +of Acapulco to the Filipinas. The pilots were confidently sailing over +their accustomed course, heedless that in it there were shoals. One +evening at the hour when the _Salve_ is wont to be repeated, and while +all were devoutly reciting it, a young man fortunately (or rather +through the singular providence and mercy of God) descried shoals +from the maintop and immediately began to shout a warning. With that +the crew--although everyone was agitated and fearful lest, with the +freshening of the wind, they would be driven upon the shoals--hastened, +some to the sails, ropes, and rigging, others to the helm, and the +pilot to direct the ship's course. Our fathers, meanwhile, repaired +to their quarters and berths to invoke the most blessed Virgin, to +call upon God, and to pray for the intercession of the saints--all +of them especially invoking that of blessed Father Ignacio, [4] a +relic of whom the father-visitor carried with him. Showing this to +his companions while the rest were busied in the other occupations, +he augmented the fervor with which they cried to heaven, and at +the same time their confidence that by means of that holy relic our +Lord would deliver them from their danger. And so He did; for, upon +steering so as to direct the vessel to one side, to avoid the shoals, +the vessel, in spite of their efforts, would not obey, but, turning +in the other direction, doubled the shoals. If their attempt to steer +had been successful, not only could they not have passed the shoals, +but they would have drifted hopelessly upon them; but, as it was, the +flagship was saved. Moreover, her lighted lantern (for evening had +already arrived) guided the other ships, which followed behind her, +through the channel, and in this manner all of them were saved. + + + + +Occurrences in Manila at this time. Chapter LII. + + +In the latter part of June in the year one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the father-visitor and his companions were resting +from the hardships of their voyage, and preparing to begin anew their +labors--the father on his tour of inspection, and the others in the +fishery for souls--for which purpose they had gone into retreat to +perform the exercises, [5] and to allow themselves more leisure for +solitary prayer. At this time there occurred in Manila, as a result +of the unusually dry season, a very violent earthquake, which injured +many buildings. Among these it rent and laid open the vault of our +church; and in the church of Santo Domingo it loosened and tore apart +the woodwork (which was very beautiful, and handsomely wrought), and +crushed in all the walls in such a manner that it was necessary to tear +down the building. We also were obliged to demolish the vault of our +church; for whereas that of Santo Domingo could be left standing for +a few days, we were compelled to begin at once to tear down the vault +of our church, which was the part most injured. The Spaniards came to +our aid, with contributions amounting to more than a thousand pesos, +to pay the workmen who were tearing down the church, and to aid in the +expense of repairing it. The Indians assisted us with their labor, +helping us to remove the obstructions, and to clear the building +from the ruins and from the earth and stones which remained from +them. More than a thousand Indians, without exaggeration, came to +offer their services; men, women, and children; young men and girls, +and old men; chiefs and common people--all busied themselves to such +an extent that the place appeared like an anthill or a beehive. These +were assisted by the inhabitants of all the neighboring villages, who, +animated and encouraged by the religious of St. Dominic, St. Francis, +and St. Augustine, and by the clergy who had them in their charge, +aided us to roof the church temporarily with canes and palm-leaves +(which is the usage there). Thus in four days was accomplished the work +of twenty or thirty days; thus the church was made fit for service, +and is being used thus until it can be properly roofed. The industry +and good-will with which the Indians assisted us on our church were +soon repaid to them by our fathers, when a general malady prevailed +among them, causing the death of many persons. Then our fathers aided +them, especially by hearing their confessions, and administering to +them the communion and extreme unction, in the church itself; hardly +ever during the day was it free from sick persons who had been carried +thither on the shoulders of men that they might receive those holy +sacraments. The devil, who slumbers not, seized the opportunity of +this malady to sow the seeds of error among some wretched old women, +his ministers--saying that at first the God of Castile had vanquished +their anitos, but that the latter were now the conquerors, and were +chastising the people for having abandoned them. To counteract this +evil, among others, a solemn procession and mass were ordered, wherein +our Lord was supplicated for the health of the people. Inasmuch +as a sermon was necessary, its preparation was assigned to Father +Diego Sanchez, at the instance of the canon, Pablo Ruiz de Talavera, +who is the priest of the Indians in Manila; he chose this father on +account of his devotion to the Society, and of the great affection of +the Indians for him, caused by his eloquence and the many and signal +services that he has rendered them. The father, discussing in his +sermon the above-mentioned error, refuted it, and expelled it from +their minds and hearts with that admirable force of expression and +persuasion with which our Lord had equipped him; while He gave to the +hearers grace and sensibility to perceive and be influenced by the +truth, as since then has been evident on many, and notable occasions. + +In that very time of the malady, admirable evidence appeared of the +importance of the confraternity which, as we said above, that people +had instituted for the purpose of exercising themselves in similar +pious acts. Its members aided the sick with the utmost solicitude, +striving to provide them with comforts and medicines; and when deaths +occurred they kept watch over the corpses, and accompanied them to +burial, to the great edification of all who saw them. As a natural +result, the confraternity came to be much esteemed and valued, and +many sought the intercession of influential persons in order to be +admitted to its membership. It is proverbial among the Spaniards that +its members can be recognized by their quiet and modest address, +for which they are much respected. Not to mention other details, +the devotion which they showed that year in the harvesting of their +rice was certainly a source of great consolation; for they would not +taste it until, after they had brought part of it as an offering to +our Lord in His temple, that part had been blessed which they must +immediately use. Their offering was a sort of grateful acknowledgment +that God had delivered their grain-fields from the plague of locusts, +and themselves from the sickness. + +Care was taken to check offenses against our Lord, and to break up +vile illicit relations--some secretly, and others by other gentle +means--by which many Indian women were kept in bondage. These women, +in their eagerness for worldly gain and kind treatment, were gratified +by certain men, who maintained them in that mode of life without fear +of God. Indeed, there were two women who had killed their husbands +that they might gain greater freedom in this respect. Some, too, +had lived during many years in this wretched state--one ten years, +another twelve, another thirteen; and still another, twenty long +years. Yet God, in His infinite patience, had been waiting for them +all this time, and at the end received them into His most gentle mercy. + +As in past years, our ordinary ministries were also exercised among +the Spaniards; in particular, many general confessions were made, +and friendly relations were established between certain prominent +persons. Among these latter was one notable case concerning +a prebendary of the cathedral of Manila--whom, for certain good +reasons, I do not name; but his noble conduct on this occasion gives +him sufficient fame. Knowing that another prebendary of the same +church, an aged and venerable man, was offended at him, he secured +an opportunity to meet him in the house of an auditor of Manila, +and in the presence of several dignified persons; there, after having +expressed himself in such gentle and conciliatory terms as to appease +all angry feelings, he knelt at the feet of his elder, and, taking +his hand, kissed it. Then they embraced each other; and thus began +a very stable friendship between them, which I saw with my own eyes +for many days--confirmed, months later, by their very intimate and +fraternal intercourse. + + + +The progress in eradicating idolatry from Taitai, and the piety and +constancy of its Christians. Chapter LIII. + + +The pest, with its mortality, spread among all the Indians of that +region, even to the villages of San Juan del Monte, Antipolo, and +others. This kept our fathers busy night and day, caring not only for +the welfare of souls, administering to them the holy sacraments with +much fervor and concern, but for that of their bodies, aiding them with +medicines and the necessary comforts--an important consideration with +those people, in view of the value that they attach to kind treatment +during illness and the pleasure that it gives them; indeed they often +recover their health from very contentment at seeing that they are +cherished and cared for. The confraternities of that village and of +Manila gave no less useful aid, on this occasion, to the sick and the +dead, their members taking turns in caring for the sick and attending +funerals, which were usually accompanied by more than two hundred +persons bearing lighted candles; these attentions were especially +bestowed on the dead who had belonged to the confraternity, who were +also honored by special funeral rites. + +Superstition and idolatry have been so thoroughly uprooted that there +is hardly a trace or evidence of them left; if any had remained +from former years, it was due to carelessness rather than to evil +intent, and an end was put to them this year, through the favor of +our Lord. Even the little plates and other insignificant articles +which they were wont to use in making sacrifices they brought to the +fathers, to be broken and burned. An Indian owned, growing on his land, +a very luxuriant clump of the great reeds which they call _cauayan_ +[_i.e._, bamboo], which we have already described. This man came to +notify us that this clump had formerly been offered to an idol, for +whose service its canes had been cut; and he himself condemned it to +be burned to the very roots, in order that it might not sprout again, +and himself be thus reminded of an object which had been used for +so evil purposes; accordingly, yielding to his feeling of devotion, +orders were given that it be burned. Others showed a little house that +was dedicated to another idol, and requested that it should be burned +to the ground, which was done. The first to show their abhorrence +of idolatry (in Which they surpassed the others) were the people of +San Juan del Monte, where formerly this practice had reigned, and +where there were so many priestesses of the idols, that there was +hardly a street which did not contain three, four, or even more. But +they have now turned their false superstitions into true religion and +Christian piety, repairing to the church so regularly that on certain +week-days, while the bell is rung for mass, the church is entirely +filled with those who come to hear. They are wont to complain that, +as there are so few fathers, they are unable to attend, as often and +as regularly as they desire, confession and communion--which they seek +with loving eagerness, not once, but many times during the year, to +their own edification and profit. As a result, the sweet odor of this +Christianity and esteem for the labors of Ours, have, to the glory +of our Lord, reached other villages, so affecting and edifying them +that the vicar-general of the archbishop, as well as other priests and +religious, and even secular magistrates, have sent to that village for +a few months, to be restrained, reformed, and kept in safety, certain +persons who were sorely tempted. It has pleased our Lord that by good +example and suitable instruction these persons should be delivered from +danger and their lives reformed; they have made general confessions, +and given other satisfactory proofs of the change in their lives. + +Among the mountains of this mission district, where the people are less +experienced in the faith, there had remained a notorious catalonan, +or priest, of a celebrated idol which had been hidden away, no one of +those who knew about it daring to disclose the idol. This root was +capable of producing many cursed shoots. But our Lord was pleased +that it should be discovered through the praiseworthy diligence of +Father Francisco Almerique, who obtained possession of the things +pertaining to the adoration of the idol, and had them all burned. He +was successful in converting the priest, and for greater security, made +him live in a village where Ours usually reside. The devil, the father +of lies, now that credence is no longer placed in him or importance +attached to his superstitions and follies, transforms himself into an +angel of light, striving to deceive the simple-minded. In this way he +deluded a woman of rank with many visions and revelations which seemed +to her real and true, and in which, according to her statement, he +appeared in the form of our Lord Jesus Christ, taught her many things, +and bade her instruct the people therein. The same father, as soon +as he became aware of this, sought to undeceive her, enjoining her +not to repeat those things to any one. But she paid no heed to this, +and assembled secretly, at night, a number of persons; and, in order +that they might go more willingly, she said that the father had told +her to proceed. In this way she persevered in making known her fancies +and illusions. Those who were present, noticing that her method of +instruction and speech was similar to that employed by the priestesses +of the idols when they are possessed by the demon--making a thousand +gestures and movements like those of a madman or deranged person +(which was the method formerly employed by the devil in making answers +through the mouths of the catalonans)--hastened to give information +of this proceeding. The father, learning for the second time of this, +which was again taking place, assembled in the church the people who +had heard this woman speak; and, showing them what it really was, +undeceived them, pointing out the falsity of all those things, and +the wiles of the devil. By these means an evil was corrected which +doubtless would have been very great if so timely and appropriate a +remedy had not been applied. In another instance a poor fellow was +relieved by an Agnus Dei [6] which one of our brethren gave him. The +latter had sent some Indians to cut grass, and one of them fled inland, +among the mountains, as if terrified and beside himself; and wandered +from hill to hill during an entire day, until he was found in that +condition by some other Indians, who conveyed him to his house. When +the brother visited him, the Indian said that he wished to confess, +for the demons were harassing him in such a manner that he could not +rest; and that, without any intention, and unable to control himself, +he had wandered alone and in terror through the wilderness. The brother +brought him to a father, who heard his confession; but afterward he +again suffered in the same way. Again he repaired to the brother, and +told him of his trouble; and the latter advised him to have faith in +our Lord and confidence in the virtue of the holy Agnus Dei--making +known to him the favors which our Lord has granted to men, and the +miracles which He has wrought through the efficacy of this holy relic; +he then placed an Agnus Dei on the Indian's neck. From that very moment +the latter felt relieved, and our Lord, in order to show that He had +granted that favor by means of the holy relic, caused him, whenever +the emblem was removed from his neck, even for a short time, to lose +at once his reason, and go astray. The Indian himself stated that, as +soon as it was removed, he lost his wits and had no control of himself, +but that when wearing it his mind was quite calm; so he gave many +thanks to our Lord, and related the efficacy of the holy Agnus Dei. + + + +Some notable incidents that happened in the city of Santissimo Nombre +de Jesus. Chapter LIV. + + +The fortunate arrival at this city of the father-visitor occurred in +Lent of the year one thousand six hundred. Although he increased the +number of our fathers in that city, he realized that their labors +among the Chinese were a hindrance to their work among the Indians; +he therefore entreated the right reverend bishop of that city to +place the Chinese in the care of some other order, which his Lordship +did. By this measure our fathers had less responsibility, but were +not less occupied; for, not to mention the other peoples who, as I +have said, resort to this port, the Bissayans alone kept six fathers +so busy during Lent that the people hardly left them alone by day +or by night. Nevertheless, so great is the need, and at the same +time the scarcity, of the bread of divine truth, for lack of those +who may distribute it, that many people dwelling very near the city +die in this hunger and cannot be assisted; for although the right +reverend bishop of Sebu and the few priests who are under him do much, +and the fathers of St. Augustine much more, neither the former nor +the latter suffice for the care of so many children. After Lent and +Easter, one of the fathers visited, by way of recreation (for such +are the vacations which they enjoy there), some pagan villages which +are about six leguas from the city. He remained there eight days, +which gave him opportunity for the usual occupations. Although the +time was very short, our Lord was served by some good results; for +the father found many Christians who, through lack of teaching and +their constant association with infidels, had returned with these to +their former idolatrous practices. By means of sermons and discourses +he touched the consciences of these people, and, recognizing their +wretched condition, they made a general confession; they received +his instructions for their future conduct, and were very grateful for +the good that had been done them. The infidels were so attracted and +inclined to the things of our holy faith that they urgently besought +the father to remain with them a few days more; but, as this was not +possible, they contented themselves with the hope that he might soon +be able to revisit them. After four months had elapsed, seeing that +he did not return, they sent their messengers earnestly to entreat +him to return for a short time to teach them the things of our holy +faith, which they all desired to accept; but this could not be done, +and so they were left in their hunger. + +In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus there was a Malucan Indian, +the slave of a Spaniard, who, although he had been a Christian for many +years, lived negligent of his salvation, and his masters had never been +able to induce him to make confession and fulfil the obligations of a +Christian; he always displayed much unwillingness and obstinacy. This +man became ill with a malady, apparently not very serious, accompanied +by a slow fever; but within three or four days he suddenly lost the +power of speech and seemed to be surely dying. A little food and some +drink were offered to him but he could not be induced to take any; +and finally became so low, that he lost all consciousness. Some holy +water was brought him from our house and a few drops were sprinkled +over his face; some of these ran down into his mouth, and he began to +lick them, so that he tasted the water. One of those present placed +some of it near his mouth, and, opening his lips, he received the +water. At once regaining consciousness, he said that it seemed as if +someone had seized him and clutched his throat, and for that reason +he was unable to speak; but drinking the holy water had, as it were, +released him, and set him at liberty, and he gladly listened to what +they said to him concerning his salvation. After he had received +instruction, he made a general confession of his entire life; and +our Lord was pleased to restore him to complete health of body, +as He had already deigned to give him health of soul. + +Another Indian, while very ill, was afflicted with horrible +apparitions; when he was left alone, hideous and fierce black men +appeared to him, threatening him with death. He asked his friends to +summon our fathers; finally, after he had endured many sufferings, +either he or the people of his house sent for a priest to hear his +confession. The priest repaired at once to the sick man, and found +him in great suffering. He gave him consolation, and after thorough +instruction, the Indian made a general confession, to his own great +relief--from that time experiencing entire rest, and seeing no more +of the visions that had tormented him. + +There was an infidel Indian woman who lived near this city among +Christians. A serious illness attacked her, and she was carried to the +house of another Indian woman, who attended our church and led a most +pure and edifying life, who persuaded her to become a Christian. She +sent for a priest of our order, who catechized her and so prepared +her that she soon received holy baptism. During the remaining days +of her life she gave tokens of the grace that she had received; for, +although she suffered the utmost pain, hardly a word was heard from +her lips, save "Jesus, Mary," or, "My God, have mercy on me." + +One day two of Ours, chancing to pass through the Chinese quarter, were +informed that in one of the houses an infidel woman lay dying. They +at once ascended into the house, and found her very near death, but +very far from knowing the truth of our holy faith. But our Lord, +who had provided teachers, aided her in His great mercy, and with +sovereign help; accordingly, she listened very willingly to what they +said to her, and prepared herself in so short a time that they gave +her baptism that very night, fearing her critical condition. She was +greatly consoled by the sacrament, and grateful to our Lord for the +mercy that she had received, edifying those who were present by her +words, which were all invocations for help to Jesus and Mary. With +such good proofs of her salvation, she passed away on the following +day. Among the persons who, to the edification of the people and the +service of our Lord, have profited by the teaching of our fathers, was +a woman advanced in years, and a native of China; her case is one of +great importance, as her nation are so hard to reach, and so unwilling +to receive the gospel; and so it does not seem beyond the scope of my +plan to give some account of her conversion. This woman had married an +honorable Portuguese, who left her a widow some six years ago. Most +of her support is what she gains by the labor of her own hands, with +the help of three slaves, in whose company she lives in a wretched +house, apart from the crowd of the Chinese, dwelling therein in great +seclusion. Her confessions and communions are frequent, with excellent +results. She practices penance so severely that it has been necessary +to moderate the rigors she inflicts upon herself, in long scourgings +every night, and in fasts throughout the year, four days in every +week; and even on the other two days she seldom eats meat. Prayer is +her one consolation, for which she has much natural aptitude in her +excellent judgment, and supernatural aid in the gifts which the Lord +communicates to her. She is present every day in the church during +the masses, hearing them always upon her knees. Nothing so afflicts +her as to know that God has been offended, especially if by those of +her nation. In short, she has offered herself entirely to our Lord, +and He has plucked her with His own hand as a rose from among so many +thistles and thorns. + + + +Other interesting events, which occurred in Bohol. Chapter LV. + + +In order to give a more detailed account of what took place at that +time in the island of Bohol, I shall avail myself of two letters from +Fathers Alonso de Umanes and Gabriel Sanchez, who were in that region; +for in my opinion their account is given minutely and with pleasing +and enjoyable simplicity. Both of them, writing to the father-visitor, +give him a detailed account of their labors, as is the custom in our +Society. The superior, Father Alonso de Umanes, writes as follows: +"As soon as we had returned from Sebu in last year, ninety-nine, as +it was the season of Lent we busied ourselves in hearing confessions; +and with remarkable devotion and promptness all this new band of +Christians, without any reward, repaired to the sacraments--even +those coming to us who lived very distant from the village where +we ordinarily reside. The Christians throughout the island came +together for the exercises of Holy Week, and many of those who were +not yet baptized attended the divine services during all that week, +with great devotion, also the feast of Easter, when a goodly number +of them received communion. Having fulfilled our obligations as to +confession, we set out to visit some of the pagan villages, in all +of which we found the people well disposed. Those who most attended +our preaching were the inhabitants of Panglao, a small island almost +adjoining this; all the people came very willingly to hear about +the things of our holy faith, and soon began of their own accord to +build a church. As the first-fruits of Christianity there, we first +baptized the sons of the chiefs, in order that they might open the +door for the others. Their parents were greatly pleased at this, +in token of which they held a feast that same day, with dancing and +other festivities. This little island we visited again, at which +time a considerable number of adults as well as a hundred children +received baptism. The chiefs besought us to leave there someone who +might instruct them, that they might thus learn more speedily all +that was necessary. For this purpose we took from the island their +brightest boys, so that they, after receiving instruction, might +teach their people. Thus we shall be able to supply, to some extent, +the great need of men from our Society, until our Lord shall multiply +our number. During a visit that was made to the village of Lobo, an +important event occurred which served to overthrow their errors and +remove some great fears with which the devil had inspired them. An +alguazil learned that in a little village near by there was a chief +who kept in his house many small horns and little jars full of charms, +and other instruments, which served for casting lots, for determining +if in sickness sacrifice should be made to the devil, and for deciding +other matters. Father Gabriel Sanchez resolved to go in person to +take away those cursed instruments. In fact, no other means would +have been successful, because, upon arriving at the house, he was +obliged with his own hands to unhang and heap together the bottles +and horns; for the Indians who had accompanied him did not dare even +to touch them--fearing that, if they did, they would die; and that, +if they threw them into the river, the caimans would be enraged against +them--such was their belief in these delusions. But the father, having +quieted their fear and removed their mistaken apprehension by himself +touching those objects and yet remaining alive, induced them to seize +the horns and bottles and expose them publicly. Then he summoned the +young boys who spat and trod upon them--actions which among those +people, as among other nations, are a token of contempt, detestation, +and infamy. He finally caused the charms to be burned, and thrown into +the river. By these means they were all freed from error, and became +more devoted than ever to our true and well-grounded Catholic religion. + +"I cannot refrain from relating an incident that has just befallen us, +as it was a source of great consolation to me. As soon as our people +learned that your Reverence had ordered us to go to Sebu, fearful +lest we might not speedily return, they all repaired to us to make +their confessions, with such fervor that it seemed like the season +of Lent. Those who had not received baptism came also, with like +earnestness seeking that holy sacrament. Thus, by way of farewell, +we made a goodly number of Christians." The account of Father Alonso +de Umanes ends here. + +Father Gabriel Sanchez, in another letter to the father-visitor, writes +thus: "Glory be to our Lord, Christianity in this island is receiving +much increase. They all frequent the most holy sacraments with great +fervor at Christmas, Epiphany, and other leading feasts. So many were +the confessions and the communions that it seemed to me like Holy +Week. They possess great confidence and faith, and through the most +holy sacraments and the sacramental offices they are sure to receive +(and his Majesty does bestow upon them even in temporal affairs) +most signal favors. An old woman, a good Christian, was so reduced by +sickness, and brought so near to death, that she no longer possessed +her senses, or power of speech; in short, there was no hope that she +would live. The sacrament of extreme unction was administered to her, +and at once she began to improve, and at last regained entire health. A +few days ago they brought to us a sick man, so tormented and harassed +by a severe malady that he could not even raise his head; he therefore +made his confession while reclining, and with great difficulty. But, +as soon as he had ended it, he began to feel better, with the result +that in two days he came to the church to render thanks to our Lord +for the mercy that he had received, which he attributed to the holy +sacrament of penance. A few days ago a child of four years--not +realizing, as he was so little, what he was doing--waded into the +sea, and, despite the haste with which he was taken from the water, +was almost drowned. They brought him in haste to our house, that we +might repeat the gospel over him, for they had no hope of preserving +his life by natural means. When they brought him to us he showed +almost no sign of respiration, his face was black, and his stomach +much swollen with the water which he had swallowed. The gospel was +read for him, and he was sprinkled with holy water; and then, in +the presence of the many people who had assembled, he straightway +recovered consciousness and became entirely well, in return for +which they all gave many thanks to our Lord. Another incident, which +occurred quite recently, I cannot refrain from relating. Our Lord has +this day exercised His accustomed mercy in the case of two old men, +very venerable and more than a hundred years old. The greater part +of their long lives they had spent in diabolical acts of outrage, +murder, cruelty, and lawlessness; and yet our Lord had waited for +them until now--when, illumining them with His divine light, they +were marvelously converted. I was astonished at beholding the fervor, +sincerity and grief with which they expressed abhorrence for their +past life and sought baptism, which they received today after careful +instruction. To see the perseverance and constancy of this people +has given great consolation to me. I shall relate in brief a few +things which certainly give strong evidence of that constancy. An +unmarried Indian woman was persecuted by a soldier with innumerable +plots, yet she always resisted him valiantly. Once in particular, he +sent her by a servant some twenty escudos; but she drove the servant +away, and threatened that if he should come again she would fling +him and his money through her window. The soldier, rendered bold +by the fury of his passion, as he had a headstrong disposition, and +realizing that he could not gain his damnable purpose by bribes, had +recourse to threats. As these did not suffice, he laid violent hands +on her, seriously hurting her; but our Lord came to her assistance, +and she emerged victorious from the struggle, leaving the wretch in +confusion and shame. Another woman was no less persecuted, a man +offering her, among other gifts, a gold chain that was worth more +than thirty escudos; but she rejected all his gifts with Christian +courage. Then, fearing the fury of her persecutor and her own great +danger, she persuaded her mother to accompany her, and they fled to +some grain-fields, where she remained in hiding until he who was +molesting her had left the village. Another, a young girl hardly +eighteen years of age, and so poor that she could procure only a +little rice for her support, was persecuted by many men, who offered +her large sums of money to relieve her poverty; one of them offered +her more than forty eight-real pieces. But she made answer that our +Lord, in whom she trusted, would relieve her need; that she did not +care to live by any means that would offend Him, but in serving Him +was well content in her poverty; and that she was confident that +our Lord would not abandon her. Another poor woman resisted with +equal courage no less vexatious importunities, refusing a quantity +of gold worth more than eighty escudos, thus leaving her persecutor +in amazement. Another woman, fearing that she would have to defend +her body by force from so many and violent importunities, removed +it from danger, and herself from any occasion of offending God, by +fleeing to the mountains, where she wandered about for almost four +months, suffering, although with much satisfaction, many hardships +and privations; nor did she return to the village until she learned +that he who had brought her to such a plight had departed thence." + + + + +The good conduct of the Christians of Botuan. Chapter LVI. + + +I shall, continuing as I began, relate the prosperous condition +of Christianity in Botuan in the same words which Father Valerio de +Ledesma and his companion, Father Manuel Martinez, used in writing this +year to the father-visitor. The letter of Father Valerio gives the +following account: "Glory to our Lord, the inhabitants of this town +are well instructed. There are nearly eight hundred Christians, and +nearly all the rest of the people are catechumens, engaged in learning +the necessary truths. We hold back these persons that they may prize +more highly the mercy which God is showing them, and understand more +thoroughly the Christian doctrine and acquire good habits. All the +rest of the people have the best possible inclination to receive our +holy faith and come on every Sunday and feast-day to hear the sermons +and discourses; a large audience always assembles, and all of them, +even the infidels, entertain a great affection for holy things. Of +their own accord they bring their children to be baptized, and their +sick people, to hear the gospel read. They erect crosses in their +grain-fields, and sing the Christian doctrine with the Christians, +of whom there are usually some in every house. In times of sickness +they come at once to be baptized; and as they are universally well +instructed, and have sufficient knowledge of the things of our faith, +it is easy to succor them upon such occasions, so that hardly any one +dies without having first received holy baptism. An Indian, seeing +himself afflicted by a violent disease, asked to be baptized. They went +to call the father for that purpose, but in the meantime the malady +had gained such headway, that when he arrived he found the house +in confusion and everyone bewailing the sick man as one dead. The +father, seeing that he could not speak and seemed unable to hear, +assured himself that he had asked for baptism; and, knowing that he +was one of those who frequented the church, he asked for water to +baptize him. Then, speaking in a loud voice, he persuaded him to +try to say 'Jesus.' It seems that at the sound of that most sweet +name the sick man recovered somewhat, and, making a great effort, +pronounced the word. He soon regained breath, and made answer to +the questions of the catechism, to the great wonder of all who were +present. He received holy baptism, and soon afterward our Lord granted +him complete health. His parents, who were pagans, astonished at his +recovery, attributed it to the virtue of the holy name of Jesus, and +to holy baptism. Through the mercy of God, there is constancy among +the faithful. In all the time I have resided here I do not know of +any Christian who has been present at a pagan sacrifice, although +living among so many of them. The corregidor of this town related +to me, with surprise, that although he had investigated many cases +pertaining to this matter, he had never found any Christian guilty +therein. This same man related that he had [on official journeys] +taken in his company, among other Indians, some Christians of this +town; that in some places which were unsafe, on account of enemies, +he placed sentinels; and, when it was the turn of the Christians to +go on guard, they were found praying, and singing the doctrine. He +noticed, besides this, that they never let a day pass without reciting +the rosary; and he greatly valued and praised such solicitude among +persons so new in the faith." + +To this account Father Manuel Martinez adds the following: "The +esteem in which they hold holy baptism is universal. Consequently, +those who have not received it, and some who in health refused it, +when they become sick ask at once for the sacrament, confident that +by this means they will acquire health, not only for their souls but +for their bodies, inasmuch as our Lord has many times granted this +to them. A little boy, the son of a chief of this town, was brought +so low by sickness that he was thought to be dead; and as such they +were weeping for him when an Agnus Dei and some holy water were +sent to him from our house. Our Lord was pleased to restore him very +soon to health, and his parents related it to every one, ascribing +this result to the efficacy of the Agnus Dei and the holy water. A +Spaniard was exhausted by a violent pain that had been afflicting him +for some time. Seeing himself in such distress, he sent for one of our +fathers, who read the gospel to him. Immediately he began to improve, +and in less than a quarter of an hour felt entirely well. He then gave +thanks to God, and made it publicly known that he had recovered his +health by means of the holy gospel. In Advent and Lent the practice +of discipline has been maintained in the church, in which participate +the Spaniards who are wont to come to this town. Sometimes public +and bloody flagellations took place; and on Holy Thursday and Friday +there were two admirably arranged processions, in which many people +accompanied the flagellants with torches. I will conclude this letter +with two incidents, omitting many others, to avoid prolixity. The +first concerns a pagan, who was grievously wounded by a wild boar while +hunting. Thinking that the hour of death was at hand, and remembering +to have heard in the church that in our necessities we should invoke +the most holy name of Jesus, he fell upon his knees, and, folding his +hands, repeated, 'Jesus, have mercy on me.' Our Lord heard his prayer; +and, soon healed of his wounds, he came to recount this experience, +and asked to be at once baptized. With great devotion he relates to +others this act of God's mercy, and says that he received it through +having heartily invoked the most holy name of Jesus. Another pagan, +affrighted by some terrible thunder, and fearful that some flash of +lightning might strike him, invoked many times with confidence the +sweet name of Jesus, accompanied by all the people of his household; +and all were protected and encompassed by one cross. A brilliant +flash of lightning burst forth, accompanied by a frightful peal +of thunder. The pagan, in his fright, fell to the ground, and all +believed that their hour had come, and that they would be consumed +by fire on the spot. But they noticed only a bad odor of something +burning, and in the morning found that a palm-tree which grew close +to the house was completely burned by the lightning. This incident +filled them all with wonder, and they rendered thanks to our Lord, +who by means of His own sweet name and holy cross had delivered them." + + + +The number of people who were gathered into villages in the district +of Alangalang, and the result of our labors therein. Chapter LVII. + + +At no time did the Filipinos have any form of towns with civic order +and political government, such that at least one island, or a number of +villages, recognizing one person as their lord, might live under his +protection and rule; but he who was most powerful conquered others, +and ruled over them. As there was not only one such, but almost +all the chiefs asserted their authority, and conquered and ruled, +the general result was that each chief remained apart from the rest, +having his own followers, and fortified himself, keeping up an attitude +of defense. Consequently, they were usually at war with one another, +neighbors against neighbors--perpetually engaged in petty warfare, +with ambuscades, violence, robbery, murders, and captures. + +Very seldom, if ever, did any of these bands become friendly and live +in the same neighborhood or village, and aid each other and combine +against enemies. Even rarer were the lords who ruled large towns, +such as Sebu, Manila, Cainta, and a very few others. To this must be +added the fact that those who were able to remove from the vicinity +and danger of such turmoils, and flee to the mountains to spend their +lives, would there build their houses and, close by, cultivate their +groves and fields. As a result, in places and at times favorable to +the enjoyment of this tranquillity, many persons migrated; and soon +the country districts abounded with homes--so that in some districts, +and even in many today, one may journey many leguas, all the way +through dwellings and plantations (which are cultivated and divided +into fields), in the same manner as, here in Europe, the farm-houses +and cottages are wont to stand. This was the condition of all those +islands, and, in particular, of this island of Leite; the greater +part of the people everywhere divided and scattered in rural hamlets, +in rugged, inaccessible, and mountainous localities. Besides these, +there were houses at considerable distances from one another, without +any order, or any trace of streets or village, placed along the banks +of the rivers, and surrounded by their grain-fields and groves. On +account of these conditions, the first concern of Father Cosme de +Flores, upon entering the district of Alangalang, was to gather all +these settlements into one village, which he did; and this policy +has been followed by those who have succeeded him in the charge of +that mission field. This measure has been of no small advantage to +those people; for in the year one thousand six hundred alone, two +villages were established, containing each three hundred houses, and +a third one with five hundred--all amounting to about four thousand +five hundred souls, of whom more than a hundred were baptized in +that year. During Lent all the Christians attended the services with +eagerness, especially in Holy Week, when the people of the other +villages joined them. They attended the divine services which were +celebrated in as fitting a manner as possible. On the morning of Holy +Thursday a sermon was preached to them concerning the holy sacrament; +and in the afternoon the superior of that house washed the feet of a +dozen poor persons (explaining in a brief sermon the signification of +that holy ceremony), by which they were all greatly edified. Toward +evening a well-ordered procession was formed containing a large number +of flagellants, with other persons who carried some large crosses. This +procession was repeated the next day, after the sermon on the passion. + +On Easter the people from other villages assembled, and, after the mass +and sermon, celebrated the occasion with all the tokens of rejoicing +that they could display. A very graceful dance was performed, and +all the people made merry in the court of the church with dancing +according to their custom. What especially pleased us was, that in +so great a concourse of people, who amused themselves and feasted +after their own fashion, there was not one person who was known to +have taken wine, although formerly this was a very ordinary vice +among those people in their feasts and merry-making. + + + +The condition of Christianity in Carigara. Chapter LVIII. + + +Our church here, although no older than five years, was both served and +attended as if it were a church in Europe. Its services were rendered +more magnificent by the choir of music, especially on feast-days; +the musicians not only celebrated divine worship in consonance with +the organ, but accompanied it with motets and other compositions +in their own Bissayan language. These latter were sung, some to the +leading of the organ, others in the musical mode and the manner of +the country. Both methods greatly attracted the people, moved them +to devotion, and caused them to learn willingly and with pleasure +our sacred mysteries, thus couched in their own meter and style +of music. In short, these were affected in the same way which the +glorious doctor St. Augustine mentions concerning himself; and we all +experienced the same emotions. By these means those Christians became +fervent, and frequented with profit the holy sacraments. The fruit +of their devotion was apparent in their lives, as Father Francisco de +Enzinas relates in one of his letters; therein he continually praises, +as one who keeps this matter in his mind, and is personally concerned +in it, the good disposition of those people, their readiness to accept +the teachings of virtue, and their service to God, concerning which +he relates the following: + +"It is a source of great consolation to see the purity that shines +in many of these poor women. I know concerning some of them that, +after being annoyed and even persecuted with liberal offers of money, +neither by gifts nor threats were they in any way overcome. I also +know of other women who, when, they have learned that lawless men have +entered the village, have absented themselves from home and retired +to their grain-fields, to avoid the danger of offending God. One of +those soulless men promised a young boy, one of those who aid us at +our house, that he would give him I know not what gift, if he would +search after a certain woman for him. The lad answered that he could +not, since he belonged to the house of the father, assist in such a +matter. When he was told that the father would not know it, he replied: +'But will God fail to see it, even if the father does not know it?' At +this reply the man became abashed and ashamed, and ceased to importune +him. From Easter-time until the date of this writing, which is about +a month and a half, more than eighty adults have been baptized--the +greater part of them very old, but well prepared--and with these about +ninety who are younger. While journeying during Lent, to the village of +Leite, we were overtaken by a storm so violent that it drove our boat +upon the shore and compelled us to continue our course by land. This +change, however, was not without the special providence of God; for, +as we were passing by some grain-fields, an old woman lay very sick in +her wretched hut. Learning that I was going by, she had me summoned; +and after I had given her instruction, I baptized her, with great +consolation to both, and on the following day she died." + + + +The remarkable case of three old men, of whom two were converted, +and the third, who was blind, refused. Chapter LIX. + + +The village of Leite, which the father here mentions, lies on the +banks of a very beautiful stream of the same name; which gives its +name to the whole island. The village lies at the very entrance of the +island, as one goes eastward from Manila, from which it is distant +about one hundred and thirty leguas. The distance between Carigara +and Leite is five leguas by land and ten by sea. The fathers usually +make the journey by sea, to avoid the fatigue of crossing on foot the +great mountain-ranges in that route. On the other side of Carigara, +proceeding along the coast of this island--which, as we have said, +runs east and west--there is another river, called Barugo, two leguas +distant; on its shore are many dwellings, which, being united in a +village, numbered three hundred houses (besides which there were many +others). Father Mattheo Sanchez repaired to the village of Barugo, +where at one haul he caught two of three fishes; the third remained +in spiritual and bodily darkness. As the incident is a notable one, +I shall relate it in the words of a letter from the same father, who +writes thus: "In the village of Barugo an event occurred by which +our Lord displayed to me the effects of His divine predestination, +and how _cujus vult miseretur, et quem vult indurat_. I was summoned +to baptize an old man who was very ill. Upon entering his house, +I found him in company with two other men, also very aged--one, +indeed, so old that he did not go from the house, nor could he even +walk. This last, hearing me instruct the sick man, began to exert +himself, and approached us by creeping across the floor. Then, with +remarkable attention, he began to listen; and, very opportunely, he +heard the catechism. Seeing the satisfaction which the old man and +his companion received from hearing the things of our holy faith, +I remained a long time, explaining it to them. When I had baptized +the sick man, the other began with eagerness and devotion to ask for +the sacrament, saying that he had faith in all that I had said, and +was desirous of salvation. He said that in no case ought I to leave +him without baptism, since his old age gave him not many more days +of life and those he wished to spend as a Christian; accordingly, I +baptized him. The third old man was blind; and all the time while I was +catechizing his companions he spent in twisting some threads, and while +the others were receiving so much pleasure and their hearts becoming +softened, he was jesting and becoming more and more hardened. Taking +pity on him, I tried to incline him to conversion; but I could do +nothing with him, and his soul remained as forsaken as was his body." + + + +How the Christian church continued to increase in Ogmuc. Chapter LX. + + +Every one of these mission-fields [_doctrinas_] is truly a school +of celestial theology; for just as, in the schools, are seen the +students assembled at the lectures, and their eagerness in studying +and reciting their lessons, and afterward their reception of degrees, +so in these missions it is a cause for praise to God to see old men +become again children, and the chiefs made humble--all learning, +with eagerness, delight, and perseverance, the Christian doctrine, +and writing, repeating, studying, reciting, and singing it. As a +final reward, they receive the degree of holy baptism, a blessing +which those people as anxiously seek and desire, and receive with +as much joy, as do students the degree of doctor or master. In some +places they are assigned on one Sunday the lesson they are to learn +for the next; in others, without being assigned a lesson, they are +questioned as to what they know. In some districts, as here in Ogmuc, +are formed as many classes as there are divisions of the Christian +doctrine, from making the sign of the cross to the act of confession, +and each student, whether child or old man, continues to advance as +he learns, until he takes his degree, and is graduated--that is, +until he knows the doctrine--which, as we said, was done with the +old men of Antipolo. Not only do they, as good students, write +their lessons--mainly in their own characters, and using a piece +of a reed [7] as a book of memorandum, and an iron point as a pen; +but they always carry with them these materials, and whenever one +ceases his labors, whether at home or in the field, by way of rest +he takes his book, and spends some time in study. Such is the fervor +and zeal of these eager students in learning their supernatural and +divine theology; and their ardor in learning is also evident in their +demeanor and actions, for their lively faith enkindles and inflames +their deeds, and after the ardent heart follows the eager and ardent +hand. All this (omitting many other details, which might be related) +is seen in their often frequenting the holy sacraments, with notable +results in the amendment of their lives; and yet these are people +newly born in the church, and but yesterday begotten in Christ. They +devoutly and confidently ask that the gospel may be read to their +sick, and that holy water be given them; and our Lord responds to +their faith by frequently granting them complete health. Accordingly, +they acknowledge these favors from His hand, being thus confirmed in +the faith, and abhorring the sacrifices which in their maladies they +were wont to make to the devil. Even the infidels are so undeceived +concerning these vain illusions that scarcely a case is known of those +accursed sacrifices which formerly were so frequent. Many infidels +have brought their sick children to be baptized, saying that by this +means our Lord would give them health. Indeed it has often happened so, +and their cure has been the cause of converting their parents. They are +greatly devoted to the holy cross, and have upon occasions experienced +its protection. One night, while some Christians were reciting, as +usual, the doctrine in their house, someone outside began to throw +stones at the building, and made a great noise, and injured whatever +was near the house. Several times they sallied forth to discover who +was doing them harm, but saw no one; yet, again entering the house, +the same disturbance was made outside. Thinking that it was an artifice +of the devil, they persevered in prayer, and under this persecution +confirmed themselves in the faith; and, as a defense, they erected a +cross in front of the house. From that time, they were not in any way +disturbed. The infidels are steadily growing more inclined to receive +our holy faith; moreover, we are gradually uprooting that hindrance to +conversion, so common among those people, and so difficult to remove, +the practice of having several wives. They are easily persuaded that +it is impossible and unseemly for them to have more than one wife, +accordingly they have forsaken the others, although in doing so the +husbands lose their property; for in marrying the women the men give +them dowries, and if they leave their wives they must lose the dowries +that they gave. To do this is no slight merit, for people who are +not even Christians. + + + +Of some baptisms conferred in Paloc. Chapter LXI. + + +In the absence of Father Christoval Ximenez, this village was left +alone; and while in this plight it was visited by Father Alonso +Rodriguez, who went there to hold a mission. What he accomplished in +the few days that he could spend among them he himself relates in a +letter, a section of which is as follows: "We held a mission at Paloc; +and the method of teaching the doctrine by decurias [8] so aroused the +enthusiasm of all that within ten days many learned the prayers and +gained all the knowledge necessary for baptism. Such was the emulation +among them that their prayers never ceased--at night, in their homes; +and by day, in the church. As a result, on the feast of the glorious +St. Joseph I baptized fifty adults, among them the most prominent +persons of this village. To see their leaders already Christians is +a strong incentive for the others to follow these. From many others I +withheld baptism, as it was necessary to investigate their marriages, +and this could not be done on account of the absence of the persons +concerned. Of these latter there is a considerable number, but I trust +in our Lord that within a few days not a man will remain unbaptized +in this village; for already they are all catechumens and attend +the church. At the same time I baptized also fifty children." The +father proceeds to relate other devout exercises of those Christians, +which I do not repeat here, as they are similar to those which I have +recounted of others. Afterward, Father Juan de Torres held another +mission in the same town, and our Lord made him joyful by granting +him another rich haul, when he cast from the pulpit the net of the +word of God, in order to fish for souls. This was a chief, one of the +most powerful in that district; in imitation of the chiefs of Botuan +(although ignorant of what they had done), he arose like them in the +congregation, and after earnestly asking for baptism, began then and +there his preparation--by publicly asking pardon of all those whom he +might have wronged, and offering full satisfaction, whatever might be +the amount of his obligation; and (an act of much greater importance), +by putting away one of his two wives. Through this the Spirit of truth, +[9] which is uniform, swayed the hearts of the others to be like +this man's, and brought them, most efficaciously and harmoniously, +under the gentle yoke of Christ, although he and they were so far +away. But inasmuch as this divine Spirit is present in all places, +in all alike it operates as if they were but one, its strength and +power being subtly and efficaciously active. + +A third mission was held in this village during Lent of the year one +thousand six hundred, by Father Melchior Hurtado, who had gone to +these islands in the previous year with the father-visitor. Devoting +himself to the study of the language, he used it effectively as we may +judge from a letter written by him from Paloc to the same father, as +follows: "In the village of San Salvador (which is the same as Paloc) +the number of those who had recourse to the discipline was greatly +increased, especially on Fridays, when it was necessary to exclude +the children [from the church], to make room for the adults. Many +went out for the bloody discipline, and it was cause for edification +to behold the fervor with which at the conclusion of a short sermon +which was preached to them before the procession began, all the people +fell upon their knees, asking in a loud voice pardon for their sins, +with such emotion and weeping that we who were present were also +brought to tears. They were all deeply impressed by the sermons on +the various stages of the passion; and also when we pictured to them +the life of Christ our Lord, from His childhood until He was fastened +to the cross. They shed many tears thereat, and their minds were so +impressed by those sacred events that for many days they talked of +nothing else. On Easter Sunday a most joyful procession was formed, in +which was borne the cross triumphant, handsomely adorned; all were clad +in white tunics, and bore garlands of flowers. Those who have received +communion have set a notable example. They have a sort of brotherhood +the members of which are the most assiduous in their attendance at +church. There are two women, among the most exemplary and capable, +who take care of the rest; and when any woman asks to receive communion +for the first time, they instruct her how to approach it. The example +of these few women has induced the rest of the people to ask eagerly +for the most blessed sacrament. During this time some seventy adults +have been baptized, among them six datos, or headmen of districts, with +their wives. Matters are in such condition that in a short time all the +people of this village will be baptized. The baptisms are conferred +by families, in order that the Christians may not live intermingled +with infidels, but may daily augment their virtue in the uniformity +of the Christian religion. It was a source of great edification to +see with what sincerity the chiefs, before receiving holy baptism, +asked from all the people pardon for any wrongs that they had done +them in the matter of slavery--a common practice in their heathenism, +for very trifling causes. They also besought those who had grievances +against them to betake themselves to the father, for they were willing +and prepared to give full satisfaction therefor." All of this is told +by Father Melchior Hurtado. + + + +Of two mutes who were baptized in Dulac; and other matters of special +interest in that mission. Chapter LXII. + + +This year the baptisms in Dulac reached the number of seven hundred, +of which the most notable was that of a chief, whose conversion had (as +is usual) much influence in bringing about that of an entire village, +named Bincai, inasmuch as he was its head man and governor. This +chief came one day to the church and eagerly sought holy baptism, +saying that his people were negligent and dilatory, and were waiting +for him to be first baptized; and that it seemed to him that if he +should become a Christian many would follow his example. Accordingly +he urged that this blessing might not be withheld from him and from so +many others. To test him, however, he was put off for several days, +upon various pretexts; but each day he displayed greater constancy, +and each day his desire grew stronger. + +But even more wonderful was the baptism of two mutes, who, besides +their natural barbarism, were still further hindered in receiving +human instruction by their lack of the usual qualification therefor, +which, as the apostle St. Paul declares, [10] is the hearing--which +they, being mutes, lacked entirely. But God our Lord, in order to +show His great mercy, and to demonstrate that His law, as the royal +prophet says, is "unspotted, converting souls," and that His divine +word (as the apostle also says) is sharp-edged and piercing--so that, +unhindered by the absence of the senses, it reaches "unto the division +of the soul and the spirit," [11] and with hidden force instructs, +illumines, and sanctifies the soul--wrought a supernatural marvel in +these mutes, whom He made such (as in that other case of the blind +man) [12] for the manifestation of His glory, not because of their +own sins or those of their parents. + +There were then in Dulac two mutes, who caused our fathers much regret, +as they supposed it would be so difficult to baptize these persons on +account of their lack of capacity for instruction. Father Ramon de +Prado, who was still our vice-provincial, determined, upon learning +this, to instruct them by means of signs, believing that Divine +Mercy desires that we should all be saved, and denies His grace to +no one. [13] He undertook the task, persisted, and won success, our +Lord so operating therein that the father, and the father-visitor, +and all who knew them, regarded these men as fit for baptism. Nor +were they deceived in this opinion; for the two mutes received the +sacrament, and since then the divine grace which is communicated +therein has been resplendent in them, with such tokens and effects +as Fathers Francisco de Otaco and Melchior Hurtado attest in some +of their letters concerning this matter. In that written by Father +Francisco de Otaco to Father Ramon, he says: "I will not fail to +inform your Reverence in a special letter, of the two mutes whom +your Reverence catechized, and whom I baptized on the day following +your Reverence's departure. Your Reverence was deprived of much +consolation in not being present on that occasion: for in all this +land I have not seen another person receive holy baptism with greater +demonstrations of devotion and joy, while thus setting an example for +the others who received the sacrament in their company. They could +not restrain their joy--especially the elder one, who seemed as if +his heart were bursting with gladness. But it was not only during +the baptism that these admirable tokens and results were evident, +for they were continued in the church, these new Christians attending +mass upon their bended knees, with folded hands, and their eyes fixed +upon the altar with extraordinary attention and reverence." Here +Father Francisco de Otaco ends his account. Father Melchior Hurtado, +in another letter to the father-visitor, thus writes: "The baptism of +the mutes whom the father vice-provincial catechized was performed +with all possible solemnity, and with the utmost satisfaction that +our Lord had made good in these poor men their lack of hearing and +speech. Their expressions of devotion--and especially those of the +elder, who was christened Raimundo--were extraordinary, not only +during the ceremonies at holy baptism, but when they were sprinkled +with the water. So devoted has Raimundo become that he seldom goes +from home. He diligently attends to all the requirements of devotion, +never failing to attend mass, carrying his rosary, beating his breast; +and he lacks nothing save speech. We are convinced that God supplies +much more than we can understand. During this Holy Week Raimundo +scourged himself in the procession, and it seemed to me that even +had he possessed the power of speech and hearing, he could not have +given more satisfactory tokens of his Christian faith." + +The same Father Melchior Hurtado solemnized another baptism, also +of considerable importance, as occurring at the point of death. This +baptism took place in a village near to Dulac, called Tambo, whither +he had gone to visit and console its people. This incident and its +attendant circumstances are depicted to the life by that father in +another letter, in which he says: "We reached Tambo thoroughly soaked, +but with much consolation that we had so opportunely arrived; for +at once we were hastily summoned to visit an old man who was dying, +who desired holy baptism. Immediately we set out for his house, where +he lived in his grain-field, a little more than a quarter of a legua +from the village. Struggling through mud almost knee-deep, we reached +his wretched abode, where we found the poor man in such extremity +that speech had failed him. Knowing that he was a catechumen, and +considering the statements of all those present that he had sent for +me in order to be baptized, and fearing that he might die on my hands, +I at once baptized him, although wishing that I could have prepared +him better for the sacrament. But the Lord, who had inspired him with +the desire to ask for baptism, I trust gave him what more he needed +for his salvation; for he died soon afterward, on that same night." + +As we have stated, the other Christians continued to increase together +in numbers, as well as in virtue and edification, as may be seen from +some special instances. At the beginning of Advent, we preached to +them about fasting and abstinence, which are practiced throughout the +world by good Christians in their piety and devotion. So earnestly did +they set about this that one of them fasted four days in the week, +in all that time eating only roots. Throughout Lent they repaired +to the church, three days in the week, to take the discipline, +the singers meanwhile chanting the _Miserere_ to the accompaniment +of the organ; and with the same devotion they attended the sermons +which were preached to them two days in the week. During Holy Week +there was a great concourse of people from the neighboring villages; +and on Holy Thursday and Friday they had well-ordered processions +with many flagellants, in which some bore on their shoulders large +crosses. The most blessed sacrament was kept in a receptacle adorned +with many ornaments and jewels of gold; all the time while it was +enclosed therein, the chiefs were present in behalf of their districts +armed according to their custom. + +On this day a poor Indian failed to appear with the others at the +church for the divine services, having gone to the river to bathe; +there, by divine permission, a cayman seized him, and well nigh caused +his death. He was brought to the church covered with gashes, and in +such agony that he could neither understand, nor hear, nor utter a +word. On account of his precarious condition, and as he was one of +the catechumens, he was at once baptized. Being urged to invoke the +most holy name of Jesus, this man, who had not been able to speak +one word, was granted such strength that twice he uttered distinctly, +"Jesus, Jesus," and died with that honey on his lips. + +I will relate another and similar incident, equally interesting, +although it occurred at a different time and in a different place. A +poor Indian one night, in his grain-field, suspecting no harm, +received several knife thrusts, so grievous that it is considered +almost a miracle that they did not instantly kill him; for all his +abdomen was cut open, and his entrails lay on the ground. In this +condition he remained until morning, when he sent another Indian, +who by chance left his route to pass that way, to summon the fiscal +of the church, since the fathers did not reside in that village. The +fiscal went, and found the poor man in such misery that some dogs were +actually beginning to devour him alive. Asking with great earnestness +for the sacrament, he was accordingly baptized, whereupon he at once +expired. It seemed that our Lord would wait no longer to receive him +to Himself. + +But to return to Lent at Dulac: The good example set by a Spaniard +who happened to be there during this holy time, was most valuable. It +was he who adorned, as we have mentioned, the receptacle of the most +blessed sacrament, and who sent much wax to furnish its illumination; +and he remained under arms, guarding the sepulchre, and marched +in the procession with the Indians, bleeding severely under the +scourge. Not content with this, he went a second time along the +streets through which the procession had passed (a long distance), +scourging himself. The Indians were greatly edified at this, and, +as I have said, hastened to imitate him. + +Not less readily did they imitate a virtuous action by one of our +fathers, who performed it in order to preach to them by deeds as +well as words, that he might at once constrain them and render good +deeds easier for them; and, by the grace of our Lord, he succeeded +in his purpose. Those people are fastidious to such an extreme that +they are annoyed and disgusted by any object offensive to the senses, +especially to sight and smell. They are passionately fond, on the other +hand, of fine colors and flavors, and eager to see or hear agreeable +things. Accordingly, they cannot endure foul odors, and have great +aversion for persons who are wounded or bruised; among them such +persons suffer, in consequence, great privation and neglect, bodily +as well as spiritual. On this point, several sermons were preached to +them; but, as the achievement of victory in such a cause is, in truth, +arduous and heroic, the preacher, seeing that words were of no avail, +determined to preach a sermon of deeds. They had one day in the week +set apart when all the old, the sick, and the wounded assembled to +receive instruction; and the father knew that some were not present +because they had no one to carry them, or help them to come--among +these, especially, there was a female slave who belonged to one of the +chiefs; her masters had never been willing to carry her to the church, +on account of their great loathing for her. At a time when many of +these poor creatures were assembled, and the most notable of the +people were present, the father took in his hands the feet of a poor +slave who was covered with sores, kissed them, and placed his lips on +the wound itself. There was another unfortunate whom they all held in +great contempt, who himself did not dare to expose his countenance, +on account of an ulcer which had eaten away his mouth, nose, and the +greater part of his face; but the father drew this man to himself, +spoke to him, and caressed him, even touching his face. This example +made so great an impression upon them that, from that time forth, +they have displayed great compassion for such unfortunates--aiding +them in their necessities, and, when they cannot walk, carrying +them on their shoulders to the church. One of the chiefs did this +several times for his slave woman, although, before that occurrence, +he had not been accustomed even to approach her. The governor of that +same village, an Indian of very high rank and much esteemed by his +people, seeing that all refused to help a poor woman, who was in a +very loathsome condition, to go to the church, placed her on his own +shoulders and carried her thither, heedless of the stench and sores, +and careless of staining a very elegant gown which he had put on that +same day. When some persons attempted to restrain him, he responded +that such was the obligation of a Christian. + + + +The increase and fervor of Christianity in Tinagon. Chapter LXIII. + + +When the first fruits had been paid with a thousand Christians, who, as +we have said, died newly-baptized, in Tinagon and its district, there +were left, upon the arrival there of the fathers of the Society, about +eight thousand five hundred souls. Of this number we baptized from the +month of April of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +to the same month of the year one thousand six hundred, more than +nine hundred and seventy persons, almost amounting to a thousand. For +the rest of the catechumens, and for some Christians besides who are +scattered through various villages, the services of three fathers +and three brethren did not suffice, although they were constantly +occupied in instructing them. But our Lord provided us with some boys, +so well disposed and so intelligent in the things of our holy faith, +that they have, upon various occasions, supplied the lack of priests +and the need for catechizing and instruction in those villages. It was +in this way that a native chief in one of those neighboring villages, +having heard one of Ours preach, became so enamored of the things of +our holy faith, and so desirous that he and his villagers might know +them, that he went straightway to his encomendero and entreated him +to find for them some Indian well instructed in our doctrine, who +might impart to them the prayers and catechism. An Indian was sent, +as he had desired; they received him very hospitably, and all promptly +learned the doctrine. They manifested their gratitude for such benefits +by entertaining their teacher liberally during his stay and presenting +some gifts to him at his departure. Two or three times afterward, this +same chief came to ask our fathers to send someone to his district +to baptize his people, saying that they all desired to receive holy +baptism. The earnest affection wherewith they asked for it was manifest +in another Indian whose baptism our fathers delayed until he should be +better prepared for it: but each day his desire and fervor increased, +and each day he became more fixed in his good resolution. One day a +father asked him why he did not cut off his hair, since he desired +to become a Christian. At once he made answer with much affection: +"The hair, Father, and nothing more? Do but grant me what I ask, +and I will cut off, not only my hair, but even my arm, in return for +baptism." This man was almost on the point of tearing out his eyes, +or cutting off his hand or foot, to his own shame. + +But who can exaggerate the satisfaction and devotion wherewith they +receive in their villages these servants of the Lord, when the latter +go to visit them? This will be seen in an account of such a journey, +made by Father Juan de San Lucar, who himself thus describes it: +"I cannot express the satisfaction which was caused by our visits to +all these villages. We reached the first one, called Ibatan, in the +middle of the night. The people had already learned that we were +to go to their village, and, in spite of the late hour, they did +not weary of waiting; indeed, they were all waiting on the shore, +where they had lighted fires. As soon as we arrived, the leading +chiefs cast themselves into the water in order to take hold of our +boat; and we could not prevent them from carrying us ashore on their +shoulders. In the two weeks that we spent there, great was the fervor +of their attendance at our church, as well as the concourse of men +and boys on certain nights for the purpose of scourging themselves; +at the same hour the women throughout the village performed the same +exercises at their homes. Ten children and thirty adults were baptized, +and to some holy communion was granted after they had been prepared +by a sermon on that subject. All those who received the most blessed +sacrament manifested great unworldliness and exemplary virtue. In this +village there was an old woman, more than eighty years of age, blind, +deaf, and so sick and crippled that she could not leave her bed. Upon +several occasions we had passed much time with this poor woman trying +to persuade her to receive holy baptism; but she had never shown any +desire for it, and even stubbornly resisted. But the Lord took pity +on her and enlightened her, at a time when I was most forgotten or +distrusted. Her husband came to me as many as eight or ten times to +ask me to go to baptize her telling me that he loved her very much, +and it would cause him much grief if she should incur damnation; he +was therefore anxious that she should be baptized, so that she might +enjoy God; and he added that such was already her wish. But I did +not believe him, for my visits to her house had so many times proved +useless. I told him that I would baptize her on the condition that +she would come to the church, thinking that what I required from him +was impossible. On his returning with this answer, the poor woman, +in her desire to receive holy baptism, was so aroused that she, +although formerly she could not even move her limbs, recovered +strength, with the help of our Lord, and came to the church. She +listened to the instruction with pleasure and attention; and finally, +as she was prepared for the sacrament, I granted her baptism. During +all the time while I was administering this sacrament to her, she +remained standing, to the wonderment of all the people. Great was +their edification at seeing how heartily she had sought baptism, +and how our Lord accomplishes more in one moment than we in many +days. In the village of Paet our Lord moved the hearts of two women who +were a cause of offense and stumbling on account of their dissolute +lives. Protected by certain profligate men, these women, although +they were slaves, had become so arrogant that they despised the other +women; and all the village felt ashamed to have among them so evil a +company. These women came with deep grief to make their confession, +and remained thoroughly reformed, to the great satisfaction of all +the people. There dwelt in this village a young girl, the daughter of +a chief, whom we had urged to attend the catechisms and the sermons, +hoping that if she were baptized others would follow; but the devil +hindered our efforts, for she either hid herself or was concealed +by her parents. This time I made more diligent endeavors; she came +to the church and, having heard a few sermons, earnestly asked for +baptism. I gave her a teacher for the doctrine, promising that I would +baptize her when I returned to that place--although so great was her +desire for the sacrament that the least delay seemed to her very long; +accordingly, she applied herself so closely to study that within the +space of two days she knew the prayers and the catechism. On examining +her, great was my surprise that she should have learned so much in +so short a time; accordingly, with great satisfaction on my part, +I baptized her and two other adults. + +In the village of Cauayan there lives an Indian woman of rank, already +advanced in years, whom our Lord has inspired with zeal for winning +souls and for the conversion of her people. She devotes herself to +persuading, preparing, and catechizing the Indians for holy baptism; +and whenever we visit that doctrina, she has a troop collected, +and well instructed, for us to baptize. In this place I baptized +twelve adults, and four or five younger persons. In all the other +villages the people are very well disposed, and a great harvest will +be continually gathered, with the help of our Lord." + +In the measure of this fervor does our Lord correspondingly bestow +upon them visits and spiritual consolations, most liberally accorded +by His Divine Majesty to these His new faithful. Of these we have +already given some general account, and now I will relate in detail +one case, only, in the words of Father Francisco de Otaco, who wrote +from Tinagon, before he departed thence to be superior in Dulac: +"There came today from Catubig a Christian Indian, a youth of +about sixteen years, to hear mass and make his confession; it was +a long and toilsome journey. He showed much candor and goodness, +and special affection for the things of Christianity, speaking of +them with intelligence and appreciation. He related to me an incident +that had befallen him, which had been the cause of that interest and +intelligence. He was sick, and, fearing that the hour of death was +already at hand, he charged a companion of his to place at the head +of his bed, at the last hour, a cross and some lighted candles. His +end approached, so near that all regarded him as one already dead, +and his companion fulfilled the charge that had been given him. Then, +he said, he became as one who dreams, although it seemed to him to +be more than dreaming, and even quite different. There appeared at +his right side a father of the Society, holding in his hand a rosary +of our Lady: upon his head he bore a diadem of golden brightness and +a halo of the same splendor encompassed his breast. The apparition, +calling him by name in affectionate terms, said to him: 'Turn this +way, my son, to the right side, which is that of the elect, and count +these beads. Thou wert to die of this sickness; but, because thou art a +Christian, our Lord has been pleased to give thee life and health; but +it is only that thou mayest be a good Christian, always remembering +our Lord, living in prayer and carefully guarding thyself from +every sin--that is, from all that offends the sight of God.' Having +in a long discourse given him other profitable counsels, the figure +disappeared; and the sick man regained his consciousness, as if he had +been resuscitated (for all thought him really dead), and with sudden +energy began to speak. He asked for food, and soon felt much better, +to the astonishment of all who were present. These, terrified at such +a change, inquired from him its cause, and he related to them the above +occurrence--attributing his recovery to the singular mercy of our Lord, +and to the fact that he was a Christian; and he often related the +affair with no little benefit to his hearers. Having heard him speak, +for some time, so well and so affectionately concerning our Lord and +the observance of His holy commandments, I praised his discourse and +meritorious sentiments. He answered that it was no cause for surprise, +since all those things had been taught him in the aforesaid vision, +and had remained deeply impressed upon his mind." + + + +The loss of some vessels, and in them of two of the fathers of the +Society. Chapter LXIV. + + +Among other calamities and troubles which our Lord has been pleased +to send upon these islands in the form of loss of life, property, +and ships, one was the destruction of two large ships (a flagship and +an almiranta) which, in the previous year, six hundred, set out for +Nueva España with cargoes of very rich merchandise. These vessels, +after having sailed the seas for eight months, with violent storms, +and encountered great dangers, and after having lost many men through +hunger, pest, accidents, and the billows of the sea (which washed +them from the vessel itself), were driven back and stranded--or rather +dashed to pieces--on the shores of the Ladrones and the Catanduanes, +where they were destroyed. But few persons were able to escape, +who only served, like the servants of Job, to carry the news of the +disaster--which, following upon many other losses and misfortunes +of war, was keenly felt and bitterly lamented. In one of these +vessels, named "San Geronimo," went Father Pero Lopez de la Parra, +a professed member of our Society, who after this long voyage and +another, even longer, of thirty-seven years in the religious life, +finally came to port, as we believe, in the Fortunate Land, toward +which he was making his main voyage with good works. In Nueva España +he taught the arts and theology, and was one of the first founders +[of missions] who went thither from the Society; and both there and +here he exercised our ministries with good results. Although we know +no details concerning his death, it is believed, from his having been +one of the last to die, and from his great devotion to confession and +the care of souls, that in that hour of peril he must have been of +service to all with much charity, as he always acted thus during his +life. By another disaster and misfortune in these islands, we lost +another father and a brother, if we may call those lost who, to win +souls and aid their brethren, die with them in a righteous war. Some +heretic corsairs from the islands of Olanda and Gelanda went to those +of Filipinas, bent on plunder, in the month of October of the year one +thousand six hundred; they had robbed a Portuguese vessel in the North +Sea, and in the South Sea, having passed the Strait of Magallanes, +some fragatas from Piru. These corsairs entered among these islands, +committing depredations and threatening even greater excesses. For +this purpose their almiranta and their flagship (in which sailed, +as commander, a corsair named Oliverio del Nort) were stationed at +a place six leguas from Manila, where the ships from España, China, +and Japon were obliged to enter, and where all the ships and vessels +which leave that city must be inspected. Against the two Dutch ships +went forth two others from Manila, carrying more than three hundred +men, the flower of the militia of those islands, with much artillery +and military supplies. In the flagship went Father Diego de Santiago +and Brother Bartolome Calvo, at the request of General Antonio de +Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia, and other officers, who were +wont to confess to the father, because he had a very affable manner, +and could adapt himself to all persons. At the outset he heard the +confessions of most of the men, and encouraged them, as well as he +could, to make the attack and to fight valiantly. Finally, on the +fourteenth day of December, they sighted the enemy; and crowding on +sail, in their eagerness to overtake him, both flagships grappled +together, so closely that one could cross unimpeded from one vessel +to the other. They finally succeeded in seizing the enemy's colors +and hoisting them on our flagship, our men confident of success, +and already shouting "Victory!" But the ship, whether unsteady (for, +carrying so many people on one side, it took in water through the +port-holes of the lower tier of cannon), or laid open at the keel by +the very weight of our guns (which were very large), or by the will +of God, went to the bottom with all its crew--except a few men who +seized the enemy's shallop and escaped in it, and some others who +reached the shore by swimming. Among the latter was the commander, +who with the enemy's two flags gained the shore. Our almiranta (which +was a new galizabra), in charge of Admiral Juan de Arcega, grappled +with the enemy's almiranta, captured it, and brought it to Manila, +where justice was executed upon the corsairs who were in it. Among +the dead and drowned--who numbered one hundred and nine Spaniards, +the pick of the captains and soldiers of those islands; and one +hundred and fifty negroes and Indians--perished Father Diego de +Santiago. He died bravely, encouraging the men, and having heard the +confessions of nearly all. Seeing, a short time beforehand, that the +ship was about to go down, he intended to save himself by swimming; +but he heard the voice of a captain, who said to him: "Father, hear +me but a word, for it concerns my salvation." With much charity, +he remained until the last moment, to hear the soldier's confession; +and afterward neither the father nor his companion was seen. The father +was twenty-nine years old, a member of the Society for fifteen years, +and a shepherd of the Indians and Spaniards. Brother Bartolome Calvo +was of the same age, attached to the Society in these parts for +seven years. He possessed much virtue and died through obedience, +a quality for which he ever professed much esteem. + + + +Nine new members of the Society reach Manila, having been saved from +a ship-wreck--through the intercession, as is devoutly believed, +of our Blessed Father Ignatius. Chapter LXV. + + +In the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and one, +there arrived in the Filipinas Father Gregorio Lopez with a welcome +reënforcement, of nine fathers of the Society. [14] Their arrival +was most opportune for filling the places of the dead, and aiding +the living who are ever clamoring for new companions to help them +draw in the net of this spiritual fishery. It was an extraordinary +consolation to hear of the mercies vouchsafed to them by our Lord +through the intercession of our propitious Father Ignatius--especially +when they reached the opposite coast of that island of Manila, +near Catanduanes--as I shall here briefly relate, referring to the +judicial investigation of this disaster, which was made with many +and competent witnesses, and was brought to Rome for the honor and +glory of God our Lord, and of his saints. In the latter part of +April in that year, 1601, when the galleon from Nueva España [15] +(in which came the ten fathers of our Society) reached the region of +those islands, bad weather shut them in with heavy fogs and rains, +so that, although in front and on both sides the land was not far +away, it could hardly be descried or recognized as such. As soon +as the weather cleared somewhat, they found themselves in a bay +hemmed in by shoals and rocks, with a rugged shore, upon which the +wind was driving them. In spite of their efforts they were unable to +gain the open sea, for the force of the wind was driving them out of +their course and upon the shoals. They then resolved to cast anchor, +hoping in this way to gain some safety for the vessel, and thus they +remained during an entire night in twenty-six brazas of water, exposed +to great danger, and in fear of being lost. On the next morning, +the auditor Don Antonio de Ribera (who went as commander and chief +of the vessel), seeing the great danger to which they were exposed, +and considering all human means weak and useless, hastened to entreat +the Divine favor; and, recalling those which our Lord had recently +bestowed upon certain persons through the mediation of our blessed +Father Ignatius, resolved upon this occasion to implore his favor and +assistance, and to beseech our Lord, through the merits of His servant, +to give them at ten o'clock that day a propitious wind whereby the +vessel might reach a place of safety. He added that he did not set +that time as a limitation to the divine Majesty, but because such +answer to their prayer would show that the mercy bestowed upon them +had come through the intercession of the blessed Father Ignatius, +to whom they made an offering of the vessel and its deliverance. This +petition and its conditions he called those to witness who were then +present in the stern-cabin. + +The shallop was launched, to seek some refuge within the shelter of +the shore where the ship might be anchored, and the men were ordered +to give signals when they should find it. But while the shallop was +reconnoitering the shore, the galleon began to drift from its moorings +toward the shoals and the rocky coast, whither the force of the wind +was bearing it. Accordingly a cannon was fired, to call back the crew +of the shallop, so that it might accompany the vessel and lend to its +crew what assistance it could. The shot was heard a long distance +on land, but those in the shallop could not hear it, although they +listened attentively and observed the fire and smoke; they continued, +therefore, their search for a more suitable landing. Thereupon the +men on the ship cut the anchor, and hoisted sail, aiming to get as +far out into the sea as possible. At that moment a miracle occurred; +the wind suddenly became favorable, shifting three or four points, +so that they were able to steer the vessel to the only place which +was secure and sheltered, where the shallop's crew had already found +bottom and a place for anchorage. At the same time Captain Francisco +Cadena--a Venetian, and an expert in nautical affairs--without knowing +of the commander's petition, said with great surprise: "This is a +great miracle; for just when we hoisted sail the wind shifted four +points, so that we who thought ourselves lost may now hope to be +saved." This unexpected shift in the wind was also observed by the +chief pilot and other seamen. + +The commander, Don Antonio de Ribera, beholding this change and good +fortune, and recognizing God's mercy toward them at the very hour +of ten which he had appointed, twice repeated with extraordinary +tenderness and devotion what he had that morning sought from our +Lord--through the intercession, as they piously believed, of our +blessed Father Ignatius. Soon afterward he related the same incident, +in his stern-cabin, to some Augustinian and Franciscan fathers, with +many tears and great devotion; and those religious fathers, full of +admiration, rendered thanks to the Lord that He had chosen thus to +honor His servant Ignatius, by displaying in that hour of peril his +great holiness and merits. On reaching shelter and casting anchor, +the commander announced to all, publicly, what he had requested from +our Lord through the mediation of our blessed Father Ignatius; at which +those who had been about to cast themselves into the sea, to escape, +if they could, by swimming, and had seen themselves at the point of +death, realizing that they had been saved by such means, offered many +thanks to the Lord and praises to His saint. Both religious and laymen +asked that the image of our blessed Father Ignatius be brought, and +thereupon they all, of every rank and age, began to adore it--falling +on their knees, and kissing it with great devotion, while all the +religious chanted the _Te Deum laudamus_. In memory of this event, +all, with one voice, desired that this place be called the Puerto de +San Ignacio, which name it now bears. Afterward, that our Lord might +reveal more clearly the merits of His servant--while the ship was at +anchor in the very place where they had so marvelously been aided, +and while they were about to leap joyfully ashore--a violent hurricane +suddenly arose, on Tuesday, the first of May, which toward midnight +caused the galleon's single anchor to drag, so that it was carried +toward the shoals and the perilous coast. At this, all feared the +utmost danger, for peril seemed most certain amid the darkness of +the night, and with so angry a tempest; but when they began to cry +out and entreat the favor of our blessed Father Ignatius, then the +vessel ceased to drift. Thus invoking him in every danger--as they +frequently did, both religious and laymen--the Lord again bestowed +upon them a special favor; for when the mainmast fell, which they +were obliged to cut, its fall was not, as they feared, such as +to sink the vessel, inasmuch as the yard and the topsail, falling +upon the rocks, served as a support, and on that side held back the +ship so that it could not drift to destruction. At the same time, +as they were held by only one anchor, with so great risk of further +dragging, or of the cable's being cut by the many submerged rocks, +they urgently requested an image of the blessed Father Ignatius, +and with great devotion and confidence, made it fast to the cable. It +was wonderful to see how the cable was held in place during the rest +of that night and a great part of the following day; and how, when +they tried to improve the position of the ship by casting another +anchor, they were able to raise the first one, which was very heavy, +by working the capstan, although they found that the three cords of +the cable were fretted, and only one remained entire--whereat they +all were greatly astonished and proclaimed it a miracle. + + + +Other devout practices which were augmented in Manila, and edifying +events which occurred therein. Chapter LXV. [i.e., LXVI] + + +In these vessels which arrived in the year one thousand six hundred +and one, there were also many religious of the sacred Orders of +St. Francis and St. Augustine, and in the following year, of the Order +of St. Dominic; they were men selected and well qualified for the +succor of those souls. Immediately they were assigned posts, each in +His own province, that they might devote themselves with fervor to the +conversion of the Indians. I do not here describe their occupations, +and the large harvest which they gathered and still are reaping; +for that is not within my present scope, although there is much, +and of great interest, to say about them. I will only say this, that +the excellent example set by the religious orders in the Filipinas +is a most efficacious means for the conversion of those souls; and +likewise serves to stimulate and maintain the Christian spirit of +former times among our Spaniards. Among these there are men and women +who may serve as examples of virtue and piety from whatever point this +may be considered, and who both profess and exercise piety with the +utmost sincerity, and in perfection. I observed and noted in those +people, without distinction of good and bad, three habitual virtues: +they do not blaspheme, they hear mass every day, and they are present +at every sermon. As for confession and communion, I may affirm that +there is not a feast-day appointed during the year when they do not, +almost every one, confess and receive communion; indeed, we hardly +have leisure to administer those sacraments to them, for no sooner is +one communion concluded than we must prepare for the next one. And this +piety is displayed not only by select Christians, of recognized virtue, +but by almost all the people of the city; and they are constrained +thereto by the saintly labors, example, and teaching of these holy +religious orders. These, not to mention other virtues which make them +conspicuous in that country, possess two which are especially notable: +first, the strictness of religious observance and the purity of life +which they all teach, and which, in truth, they exercise with great +consistency; second, the peaceable and fraternal relations which they +maintain among themselves--a virtue which is born from the first. For +the likeness between them in this respect awakens and kindles, in the +minds of their members, a readiness to esteem and value one another, +and, in consequence, to take pleasure in the society and welfare of +their brethren; and thus are born peace and harmony. Of this and many +other excellent things, much could be said. + +But to return to our ministries: with the reënforcement of that +year, and the pious inclinations of the people of Manila (which had +been aroused and cultivated in them by the hand of the Lord, through +tribulations), we had excellent facilities for increasing the practice +of pious exercises--not only maintaining those of former days, but +adding others which were new--in return for which, some notable and +edifying events occurred. First, the students founded the congregation +of La Anunciata in imitation of other colleges of our Society, where it +flourishes with so much distinction and piety. Although those who began +it were but six, it grew apace, inasmuch as it was a work of God and +of His most glorious mother. As the rays of this light spread through +the city, it ravished the eyes and hearts of many laymen of various +conditions, filling them with desire to enter this congregation; +and in less than eight months its membership grew so large that it +was necessary to form two congregations from the one, separating +the laymen from the students, and assigning to each congregation +its officials. At public feasts, however, they assemble together, +and celebrate their services in the chapel. These pious and devout +exercises, with the example and sweet odor [of piety] displayed in +their conduct, and the benefits resulting from it to their own souls, +would require a separate narrative. + +The discipline, which formerly was practiced during Lent, was now +extended to every Friday in the year; and on every day thus appointed, +without missing one, many people of distinction, and those from all +classes, repair [to the church] to scourge themselves. Every Sunday +afternoon many people, whether or not members of the congregation, +assemble in the church to hear a short sermon, in which are explained +the divine mandates, accompanied by some pleasing example, an +interesting story or edifying narrative. The father-visitor began +these sermons with good results, which were soon realized in the +changed lives of many persons--especially one, who, coming by chance to +hear the sermons, was--although bent on leading a shameless life and +giving loose rein to his appetites--brought to himself by one sermon +and began to lead a new life. There was also begun, that same year, +the devotion practiced by certain cities; namely, that of accepting +saints by lot. This was done on All Saints' day, with a great concourse +of the citizens. There was a certain person who, falling into the +sea, with many others who were drowned, in the expedition against +the Englishman, and being already overcome by the waves, remembered +St. Nicanor, who had fallen to him by lot; and calling out to that +saint in a loud voice, from that moment, he affirmed, his courage +and strength returned, and he felt a confidence that he would not be +drowned. As a result, he swam nearly a legua, and reached the shore, +to his own great surprise and with much devotion to that saint. + +Several interesting cases occurred of fervor in these devotions of +which I shall mention only two or three. A certain woman, to whom God +our Lord had communicated lofty purposes and sentiments of chastity +and purity, was for a long time beset with gifts and importunities +from wicked men. Her refuge was to confess and devoutly to receive +communion, arming herself with these holy sacraments. One day, +after she had received communion in our house, one of these men +lay in wait to seize her when alone; and, with a bare dagger at her +breast, was about to slay her if she would not consent to his evil +purpose. But she, fortified with the bread of the strong, and with +the wine springing forth virgins, [16] told him that she was ready to +die on the spot, rather than offend God. He abused her with words, +and even handled her roughly, but left her, astonished and overcome +by her chastity. + +Another man lived for many years in great impiety, and, forgetful +of his God, in mortal sins--especially a base passion so fixed and +rooted in his heart that when one of our fathers talked with him, +striving to convert him, he seemed mad and beside himself. In truth, +he was beside himself, for he still remained with that evil companion +with whom he had lived, nor did he seem to have feeling or thought for +any other thing. It pleased our Lord that by serious conversations +and arguments he was induced not to visit his wicked companion; and +after a reluctant "yes" had been drawn from him, almost by force, +he did afterward abandon her, so entirely that it seemed as if he had +never known her. He made a general confession, and began a new life, +to the wonder of those who knew him. + +The corsairs from Gelanda [Zeeland] who had been brought as prisoners +to the city of Manila were condemned to death. The governor of those +islands deemed it advisable that they should be distributed among +the religious orders, to see if they would be converted to our holy +Catholic faith; our Lord was pleased that twelve of the thirteen +should be converted. The exception was the admiral, who died a +heretic, while obstinately uttering a thousand blasphemies against +our holy faith; he was executed by the garrote, [17] and thrown into +the sea. The other twelve reflected, and, in great anguish for their +sins, were converted to our Lord. They professed our holy Catholic +faith and rendered obedience to the holy Roman church. This was done +with such sincerity that they entreated the religious orders of that +city to give them the most blessed sacrament at the altar, which +they devoutly received; as for the five who fell to the care of our +Society, and whom we saw die, I may affirm that they left us notably +edified. With the utmost grief for their sins, they made a general +confession and received communion with many tears. Before receiving +the latter sacrament, they made public declaration of their belief +in the holy Roman Catholic faith, maintaining that they died within +the church, and abominating the heresies of Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, +and other heretics. Two days from that time, having asked pardon of +all, they died with rosaries about their necks, and with the bulls +of the holy crusade (by means of which they obtained absolution) +sewed upon their breasts, each one holding his crucifix in his hands, +devoutly adoring it. They embraced us all, and in great joy at seeing +that, by such a death, they were expiating their sins, they suffered +death, to the great edification of all. On the following morning +they were buried with great solemnity by the Confraternity of La +Santa Misericordia, which was founded by the most prominent people +of the city. But enough for the present concerning the Spaniards; +it will be desirable to make some mention of the Indians. + + + +Other edifying matters, among the Indians of Manila. Chapter +LXVI. [i.e., LXVII] + + +That part of our employment and occupation which lies among the +Indians is no less important, since they retort to that city in numbers +exceeding those of the Spaniards, and their love and affection for us +is more recent. Usually they are a people inclined to make confession; +and this would give, throughout the year, work for six fathers who know +the language. The Indians seek communion most eagerly, and thereby +are their souls much profited, and they are aided in cultivating the +virtues, especially that of chastity. All that concerns devotion and +the ceremonies of the church makes a marvelous impression upon them, +and they set an example to Christians of long standing. They practice +the discipline every Friday in the year; and many more would come +to these exercises, if the gates of the city (which separate their +villages from the Spaniards) were not closed at night. + +The Confraternity which has been established among those natives +arouses the rest to fervor; for its members are the leaven, with their +good example leavening the mass of dough. At the Christmas feasts +they give food to all the poor whom they can assemble, and in such +abundance that there is even a surplus for the prisoners (Spaniards +as well as Indians), and also for another very needy class of people, +those who work in the powder-house. After this repast they wash and +kiss the feet of all the poor, who fall upon their knees and offer +up prayers for those who have performed for them this charitable +act. In company with those of our Society, they betake themselves +to the hospital of the natives, especially during Advent and Lent, +to serve and entertain its inmates. They make the beds, sweep out +the house and clean it thoroughly--which for them is a great deal, +since the Indians are a fastidious people, who are wont to remain in +their homes to die, in order not to see the hospital; but with their +fervor and devotion the members of the Confraternity overcome this +and other obstacles. + +They are greatly addicted to prayer and fasting; some, indeed, +have passed whole weeks subsisting on bread and water alone. They +have made retreat in our house, to make their general confessions, +and perform similar exercises, greatly to their own profit and to +the edification of the people. + +There was a Christian woman who, in former days, had been made a +captive by infidels who had taken her to the islands of Mindanao and +Burnei, where the doctrine of Mahoma is taught; and they carried her +through many peoples of that infidel land, but never did she relapse +from the Christian faith. + +A certain Indian had, with others, made his confession for the +purpose of receiving communion; but he remained silent in regard to +some circumstances of his sins. He says that in a dream he beheld a +very beautiful child who seemed to desire to give him the communion; +the Indian excused himself from receiving it, as being so great a +sinner. The child said to him: "It is true, thou dost not deserve +communion, because in thy confession thou didst conceal this and that +circumstance." On awakening, the Indian betook himself to our house; +and, communicating to one of Ours what had befallen him, he said that +he wished to make his confession anew, which he did. + +Another Indian, who was wont to take the discipline in our house, +became through that excellent practice so accustomed to his prayers +and scourgings that, while marching on an expedition with a company +of soldiers, he left the camp at night in order to practice his +discipline. One night, while the captain of infantry was going the +rounds, he saw this man leave the camp, and followed him, believing him +to be some soldier who was going out with some evil purpose. He saw +the man go to a church cemetery, where, after offering his prayers, +he began to scourge himself severely. When his penance was ended, +the captain approached him, and recognizing him as an Indian, was +even more edified than before. Asked whence he came, the Indian +replied that he belonged to one of the suburbs of Manila, and that +he made his confessions to the fathers of the Society. The captain, +impressed by this new converts solicitude for his soul, gave him +some money and sent him home, saying: "Take this and do not corrupt +thyself among soldiers." + + + +The number of Christians in the mission of Taitai, and their +exercises. Chapter LXVIII. + + +Of those who were Christians in the year 1600--who might number six +or seven thousand--in San Juan del Monte and other villages of that +mission, one thousand five hundred were newly baptized in that same +year, among the many infidels who were continually coming down to us +from the mountains and thinly settled districts. Our observation and +experience among those people show, of late, greater devotion and more +frequent attendance at the holy sacraments of confession and communion, +and in processions, discipline, and works of charity; and every day +may be observed constant progress and reformation in their lives. + +The father-visitor founded a hospital in Antipolo, which has been +most important to the welfare of their souls and bodies. On the day +when it was opened, after a solemn mass and sermon (which was drawn +from the story of the paralytic), the father-visitor rendered service +to the poor, washing and kissing their hands while he knelt before +them. In this he was assisted by the chiefs, whose wives performed, in +a separate place, the same act of humility toward some sick women. A +rule was made that the poor should be fed each day by four brethren +of the Confraternity, who aid them with much charity and pleasure. + +The father-visitor also began a seminary for boys, where they are +reared in virtue and good habits, obeying the rules imposed upon them, +according to their capacity, of Christian and civilized living. This +school is of great importance to the whole mission, for from these +children must come the good rulers of the people; and it is an easy +and gentle means for all reformation. Some of the children (those who +have some means) are fed with the rice which their parents give them, +and others through alms. They are taught to pray, to assist at mass, +to read, to write, and (most important of all) to be good Christians. + +In San Juan del Monte it is customary to sing the _Salve_ to our Lady +throughout the year. During Fridays in Lent, after some spiritual +instruction, they perform the discipline in the church. It once +happened that some Indians, who were bathing, as is their custom, +heard while in the river the bells calling to the _Salve_ and the +discipline; most of them at once made preparations to go thither. One +alone played the obstinate, and, in ridicule of the others, said in +his own language: _A coi ovian niño_ "Bring back something for me," +which in their mode of speech is a sort of mockery. + +The rest went to the _Salve_, and this man remained alone; a caiman, +or crocodile, seized and killed him, before he could be assisted or +confessed. What most surprised me was that, although this animal +is very voracious and always devours a man after killing him, or +at least carries away a hand or foot, this man it left untouched, +although dead; and thus he was found by the Indians, to their great +horror, and causing them to hold in great esteem the disciplines, +and the _Salves_ to our Lady. + + + +The council held by the bishop in the city of Santissimo Nombre de +Jesus; and other events which occurred there. Chapter LXIX. + + +The right reverend bishop of Sebu, having through a residence of +two years acquainted himself with the affairs of his bishopric, +determined to hold a council [_sinodo_], composed of the clergy and +religious who were busied in the conversion of the tribes, in order to +regulate many things, and to agree upon the method to be used by them +in giving instruction. Their advice was especially desired in regard +to the translation of the Christian doctrine, in order to select, +from the various versions of it which were current in the Bissayan +tongue, one which might serve as a Vulgate and be generally used +in the province of Pintados. [18] Before assembling this council, +that great prelate chose to visit some of his flocks, which he did, +traveling in person throughout a good part of his bishopric. In +this tour our fathers were honored by his being their guest in the +island of Leyte--over which he journeyed on foot, although seventy +years of age. He took up his lodging in our houses and residences, +in as simple and familiar a manner as if he were one of ourselves; and +confirmed our Christians with the most holy sacrament of confirmation, +and strengthened them by his example, and by the kindnesses that he +showed them, with much charity and good-will. He was highly pleased +with them, and with the excellent evidences of Christianity which +he beheld in them, especially with the chastity of the Bissayan +women--concerning whom he said that they had been unjustly slandered; +for, although he had spent so long a time in Nueva España, he had +not seen there so much reserve and modesty. He told Ours that they +might feel well content with their ministries, since that region was +one of the most favored spots on earth, and, in his opinion, it was +most pleasing and precious in the sight of God. He finally held his +council, convening therein all the superiors of those residences; and +after many very salutary regulations had been made for all classes of +people in his bishopric, the council was concluded with great harmony, +and to the consolation of all. + +During Lent of that year the disciplines were commenced in our house, +with a goodly number of persons and with the devotion of all the +people. Sermons and instruction were also begun in the barracks, on +account of the soldiers who had been stationed there for the protection +of the city; these were highly profitable to them, as well as to the +people of the city. The Indians have received more attention in our +house this year than have any other class of people, because there +was no priest in the city who could understand their language, save +only three members of our Society, any one of whom would have been +sufficient to care for them. + +The following occurrence was considered by some as wonderful: A father +went to visit a sick Indian, to assist him when dying; the sick man +was unable to speak, and had not yet made his confession. The father +urged him to utter the name of Jesus; he made a great effort, and +tried to pronounce it as best he could, uttering the word, but in so +broken a voice that it could hardly be understood. The father asked +him to try to say it a second time, and as soon as he pronounced +it he gained the power of speech; then he made a full confession, +and on the following day was sound and well. + +Part of the employment of our fathers in that city was with the +Sangleys from the kingdom of China; this was exchanged (and for +the better) for labors among the natives of that land; and we took +charge of a little settlement called Mandavi, half a legua distant +from our house; they are a simple people, docile and inoffensive by +nature. Father Miguel Gomez recently sent us, in a letter, this account +of a visit which he made there: "I made inquiries, to learn who had not +yet been baptized, and seventy were brought to me, besides some others +whom the Bissayans call _Daotáñgatao_, which signifies, 'People who +are good for nothing;' these people are wont to reply, when we preach +to them the law of God: 'I am good for nothing at being a Christian +or learning the prayers.' I began to preach to all these people +the truths of our holy faith, and the foolishness of their divatas, +or idols. Our Lord was pleased that they should learn the doctrine +in a very short time, although they were old men and obstinate, and +ask for holy baptism with a devotion which caused my admiration. The +day had scarcely dawned when old men and women, septuagenarians, +were at the door, in order to become Christians. I baptized sixty +of these persons--among them the most influential chief of that +district, a man seventy years old, Andug by name--and six others, +infant boys. All this has been a source of great consolation to me, +and I hope in our Lord that He will vouchsafe much to those people." + + + +Many conversions are made in Bohol. Chapter LXX. + + +From the end of the year one thousand six hundred to the spring of the +year one thousand six hundred and one, that fire which the Son of God, +Jesus Christ our Lord, came to earth to light, so earnestly desiring +to set the world aflame, seemed to burn with great heat in the island +of Bohol--as may be seen by the letters of our fathers who at that +time had gone thither. The most interesting letter, as giving the most +detailed account, is, if I am not mistaken, one from Father Valerio +de Ledesma, rector of Sebu, to the father-visitor; he writes thus: + +"In this letter I shall give an account of what our Lord was pleased +to accomplish in the island of Bohol after I departed from Sebu with +Father Ximenez and Brother Dionisio, on the twenty-ninth of May +in the year one thousand six hundred. When the council adjourned, +I set forth to visit the island of Bohol, as your Reverence had +instructed me. There I immediately undertook to unite and bring +together the people, a very difficult task, but quite necessary for +their instruction. I began with the people of Loboc, who were dispersed +and disunited; and, after many peaceful methods and forcible arguments, +God was pleased to bring together more than a thousand souls, gathered +from the mountains and rivers--most of them people reared in war, +robbery and murder; until then, it had been impossible to bring them +down from the hilly regions and inaccessible mountains where they +dwelt. But _non est impossibile apud Deum omne verbum_. Encouraged +by our good fortune in Loboc, we sought to unite the Tinguianes +(or mountaineers) of Dita and Marabago, a wild people who had never +before seen a father. We brought them together by blandishments and +mild threats, and by other methods suited to their capacity, and it +pleased our Lord that we were able to persuade them to settle along +the river which they call Viga. There they have erected a church, +and Father Gabriel writes me that on Sundays it does not contain them +all. He says that he began by baptizing more than one hundred and +twenty children; and that the adults are not only tamed, but even +ask for baptism with much fervor. At night they pray, and sing the +doctrine; and in the day-time they chant praises to our Lord. Those +who have dwelt in Bohol, and know the unruly nature of that people, +will appreciate the change which our Lord has wrought in them. When we +first begin to address them, your Reverence might behold them on the +bank of the river, armed, and so fierce as to arouse one's fear; yet, +at the same time, desirous that I should address them. This I did, +showing them so much affection that they and I became friends; and +as hostages they gave me their children for baptism, preparing them +to learn the doctrine and to receive holy baptism. Having brought +together the people of Dita, when it seemed to me that they would +have no difficulties in the small villages round about, it happened +that, when least I expected, I saw as many as forty men coming, +armed with lances and shields, whose design it was to break up the +union by violence, especially if they should be ordered to assemble +in any place not to their liking. Realizing from their determination +the danger to which the others would be exposed, I dissimulated as +best I could, so that the others might not perceive their uncivil +conduct, and feigned that my desire was the same as theirs--but with +such conditions that I know that they will not fulfil them; and it +is obvious, from this very incident, that he who has the authority +and force to intimidate them can subdue them. I think, with Father +Francisco Xavier, of blessed memory, that a little gained in peace is +worth more than much secured by war. Thus was ended that disturbance; +I did what I could, but not what I desired. They can, it is true, +be instructed where they now are; but the task will be a hard one. + +"Thence I returned toward Sebu, passing through some villages where +Father Miguel Gomez had given instruction; and I can assure your +Reverence that while I tarried there I found more consolation, and +gathered a greater harvest of souls, than I have ever before known. For +theirs was so great a longing and hunger to hear of the things of God, +and so ardent a desire to learn the doctrine that throughout the night +could be heard in their houses, now here and now there, ceaseless +songs and praises to God; and morning and night, in the field and in +the church, nothing could be heard but praises of our Lord. A chief +said to me: 'Would you believe, Father, that all night long I did +not close my eyes, I was so anxious and eager to pray?' Accordingly, +it appeared in eight or nine days that all the people had learned +the prayers and other things needful for baptism. Your Reverence +will doubtless ask: 'Who inspired them with such warmth and fire, +since they are a people so heedless by nature?' I know not what +answer to give your Reverence save, _Digitus Dei est hic_. What I +can say is, that he whose heart is set on an end, also holds dear the +means to that end. They were inspired by God to desire holy baptism, +and for that reason they so heartily availed themselves of the means +which we offered them to gain it, and heeded no difficulty in their +way. Upon the feast-day of Saint Anne, when the church was called +together, our Lord was pleased to make for us a goodly beginning in +the conversion of an aged chief regarded by all as their father. While +in the church, he fell upon his knees and said: 'Father, baptize me, +for God is calling me.' I said to him in a loud voice, while all +the rest preserved silence: 'Dost thou say this heartily?' 'Yes, +Father, with all my heart do I say it.' 'Does love for God and for +thy salvation move thee?' 'Yes, Father; that and nothing else.' 'Hast +thou determined to abandon all the maganitos and to exchange them for +the true God?' 'Yes, Father.' 'Art thou resolved to serve the true +God and to be a good Christian, or dost thou ask this with thy mouth +only?' 'There is nothing else in my heart.' 'That is well, then,' +said I; 'I admit thee as a catechumen.' With this example those +who were already prepared were so convinced, and others so deeply +moved, that more than a hundred came, one after another, and knelt +in the same way and asked for baptism. I, on my part, began to ask +them questions, to confirm even more their faith; for this virtue, +as well as other habits, grows and is increased by acts. Brother +Dionisius and I returned home, astonished at such fervor and devotion +among Bissayans. At one time I baptized more than eighty-nine adults; +a few days later, ninety-four, children and adults together; and, at +still another baptism, the other people in that village. A few whom +I did not baptize fell upon their knees and asked for the sacrament; +but I deferred it until the next time when I should, God willing, +return to them. + +"While we were passing, on the way from that village, over some +mountains, the Lord offered us, as a spiritual gain, twenty-nine +children, who were like so many little angels [19] (which is +a safe money); these we baptized, together with three adults +whom I took on this journey with me that they might hear some +masses, and be instructed, by word and example, in the things +of Christianity. Although those people were mountaineers, they +entertained us with the best that they had; and he was not held in +honor by them who did not bring a banana, some papaya [20] fruit, rice, +or a fowl. Here I have learned by experience how important it is that +we should not rear these Indians in such [spiritual] aridity that +they know not how to perform any act of charity. For admitting that +they are poor, yet even in their poverty there is room for merciful +and charitable deeds with the little possessions which are theirs; +and by performing these they are made humane, and they find pleasure +therein. On the other hand, they can be recompensed by us with other +gifts, by which they are greatly pleased, and their hearts are more +easily won for God. + +"From that place we set out for another little village which is +called Tobigu, where, in anticipation of our arrival, they had +quickly erected a very convenient church. We cast our nets--or, to +speak correctly, those of Jesus Christ--and the Lord pressed into +them all the fish there were. Indeed, even if there were no other +return than this, I would consider myself well repaid for having come +from España; for all--the headmen and chiefs, the children, old men, +and women--prostrated themselves at the feet of Jesus Christ, making +public confession and asking for the waters of baptism. The first +time, we baptized a hundred souls; the second time, the rest of +the people in the village, so that we did not know of any perverse +one remaining--although, at the beginning, there were a few who +resisted. When I arrived at the village, I heard someone say in +a loud voice: 'I do not have to become a Christian;' but he was +afterward converted, being unable to resist the Holy Spirit. Another +savage, fierce and intractable in disposition, after having heard +the sermon on salvation and hell, said that he would go to hell; +and he maintained this so obstinately that he seemed to be possessed +by the devil. He was arousing the same spirit in others, as he was +an influential man, respected by those of the village. I told him of +the terrible punishments of hell, and in return he asked what he was +to do if his ancestors and parents were there, and he wished to be +with them. I told him that he ought first to try the fire, to see if +he could endure it, and I ordered some red-hot coals to be brought, +that he might make this test; but his hands were as hard as his heart, +and the fire had little effect on them. After a few days had passed, +however, he turned over a new leaf, so completely that he went through +the plains and grain-fields, calling together his people so that they +might become Christians and be baptized with him. He is now one of +our good Christians, and the most earnest one whom I have known among +the Bissayans. + +"The devil, envious of such success, sought to disturb our new +Christian community with rumors of war, which compelled us to return +to the village of Tobigo. There, while the people were wrought up +to the most ardent fervor of prayers and conversions, forty-eight +armed men descended upon the village, to plunder it and to burn +the church. That night our people posted a sentinel, and kindled +large fires, and so the enemy did not dare to enter openly; but +they remained in the neighborhood to rob anyone who might enter +or leave the village. On the morning of the next day, armed with +better weapons than theirs--namely, with confidence in the Lord, +whose work we are doing--I set out to go where they were, taking +with me Brother Dionisio (who has been, in all these experiences, +my very faithful companion); and there I said to them: 'Fear not, +my children, for I am your father, not the alcalde-mayor; I come to +do you good, not harm. What do you fear from a man unarmed and alone, +who puts himself in your power? You behold me here. If you desire me +for a slave, I will live with you in your village of Tibor, and will +serve you as a slave if you will in turn let me teach you how you +may obtain salvation. I have compassion on you when I see you acting +thus, for if the Spaniards seize you they will do you much harm. Let +us be friends, and in token of our friendship, take this garment:' +and I handed to the chiefs an elegant striped mantilla, asking them to +give me also some pledge. They presented to me a necklace, and then we +embraced each other and drank from the same cup. In short, we became +so good friends that they promised me that whenever I might summon +them to Loboc, they would come, provided that they would bring but few +people. They gave me a little fruit and some eggs, and I gave them a +basket of rice. After expressions of friendship had been exchanged, +I asked them to make peace also with my friends of Tobigon; this they +did, and departed abashed without having done any harm. May God bring +them to a place where they can receive instruction; for some of them, +when questioned, replied that I was the first Spaniard whom they had +ever seen in their lives. This took place near Sebu; what must be +the condition of affairs elsewhere?" + +Another letter from Father Valerio to the father-visitor, dated +October 4, gives the following account: "Father Gabriel writes me +that he has baptized in Loboc and Dita more than four hundred souls, +most of them children under the age of reason. In these three months +I find, upon examination, that more than a thousand souls have been +baptized, and that the ardor of numberless others is aroused. The +fathers write me that the hour has come in which God is present in this +island. May your Reverence send us laborers, or at least one father, +until those from España arrive. Fortunate is he who may come hither, +for he will delight in the fervor of this primitive church." + +Father Gabriel Sanchez writes thus, in a letter of October 5: +"Our Lord has favored the plans and labors of the father rector and +other fathers; for in uniting the villages, their people have been so +thoroughly converted to the Lord that I know not what to say, except +that the Lord, who created and redeemed them, has been pleased to call +them with so special a vocation. Of the people in those reductions +there have been newly baptized in the last four months more than +two thousand souls, and it seems to me that, if we had fathers, +the whole island would be converted in one month. I am filled with +devotion when I see people who are practically savages come from the +mountains, and on their knees ask for baptism, and children as well, +like angels, who have already learned the prayers, although I know not +who are their teachers. Today, for instance, one of them came down, +a child about ten years old, whom I had never before seen; and yet +he knew the catechism and the questions, and was most eager to be +baptized. Catolonas, or priestesses, also come to us, and have given +so many proofs of their holy desire that we have not been able to +deny them baptism. Truly, my father, I am living in great consolation +and joy; for here in these regions there is nothing more to be desired +than that we may faithfully serve our Lord, and that all the people may +be brought into the presence of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday we had +in the church of Loboc six or seven hundred souls, which is the usual +attendance. If your Reverence could see in the early mornings nearly +a hundred children from the mountains, boys and girls but recently +baptized, march with praises to God in a procession along the bank +of this river, singing the doctrine with angelic voices that seem +to come from heaven, I verily believe that your Reverence would be +moved to devout tears, at seeing how God has brought them down from +these mountains and dragons' caves that they may praise and glorify +Him. During the last few days there were baptized in Dita five hundred +more souls, so that in this mission of Bohol there are now more than +three thousand Christians. At the beginning, we had eight hundred, and +now, with the blessing of God and the mercy that He has shown them, +two thousand three hundred have been baptised. Since God decrees it, +may St Peter bless it. Amen." + +In another letter he writes: "For days I have been toiling alone; +and when I depart from a village, a considerable time passes before I +return to it. But it is evident that the spiritual benefit of those +poor people acquits me for this delay, in order that your Reverence +may take pity on them. For this reason, my father, let fathers be +brought from España; and will your Reverence send hither even twenty, +for there will be a harvest for all of them. In Loboc and Dita in the +last few days nearly four hundred little ones have been baptized; +this has given me much consolation in the Lord, for I find great +satisfaction in these little creatures. The adults are learning the +doctrine with such fervor that even until midnight the sound of their +voices is incessant. We have received information that enemies are +coming to attack this island, and the people are therefore greatly +disturbed. Would to God that we might be made captives for His love, +and might die for pure love of Him!" All this is from Father Gabriel +Sanchez. + +The enemies whom the father here mentions are Indians from the island +of Mindanao which lies near the islands of Terrenate and Maluco, where +the doctrine of Mahoma is professed. In the year one thousand six +hundred that people collected an armed fleet of sixty small vessels, +which descended upon these islands subject to the government of Manila, +and wrought much damage. They laid waste the island of Bantayan and +the river of Panai, and burned the churches. Then they coasted along +other islands, robbing and murdering, and finally carried away as +captives one thousand two hundred souls. But it pleased our Lord that +when they came to this island of Bohol, where our fathers reside, they +should inflict no considerable losses, nor did they burn our church +and house--which they could have done with impunity, for all the +people fled to the mountains. Yet they passed on without stopping, +as Father Gabriel relates in part of his letter of November 16, +which runs as follows: + +"In order that your Reverence may aid us in rendering thanks to our +Lord for a great act of mercy which He has shown us, your Reverence, +as father-visitor, should know that on the twenty-sixth of October in +this year, 1600, the enemy attacked Baclayun just after our fathers +had gone thence to Sebu, summoned thither by holy obedience; for the +father rector had sent in haste for the three of us who were in the +island, and lo! the enemy were there. As evidence of the value of holy +obedience, and to show how it exempts from dangers, as well as another +token of mercy--the enemy committed scarcely any ravages in Bohol, +considering what was in their power to do. Their approach was made +known three or four hours in advance, and all, as I have been informed, +fled to the mountains--except three old women and an old man, whom they +killed; and three women and a man, whom they carried away captive. One +of the old women whom they killed had been a notorious witch; but God +our Lord, who loved her soul, inspired her with so fervent a desire to +become a Christian and receive baptism that for three months she did +not cease asking me for it. Finally, on account of her importunity, +I baptized her, after she had several times given evidence of her +sincerity by expressing in public her abhorrence of her idolatrous +belief. But she was fortunate indeed, for soon after she had been +baptized they killed her, which is certainly a singular blessing from +our Lord. The other old woman who was about seventy years of age had +also been baptized a little while before. They did no damage in our +church, although I am told that they disinterred some bodies--why, +I know not. Here is another instance of God's mercy: although they +passed very near the river of Lobo, Dita, and other little villages +belonging to our newly converted Christians, they neither visited +nor attacked them; this seems miraculous, considering that they had, +as your Reverence well knows, committed so deplorable ravages in +other places." + +Another of our fathers held a mission in that island, during the +vacation in the Latin studies in the College of Sebu; and, among +other things, he writes thus about his short stay there: "So great is +the heavenly influence which God sends upon this village of Tobigon, +and the abundance of gifts which He bestows upon it, that I have not +dared to go hence, and cut the thread of a progress so auspicious, +thinking it best to remain and behold the marvels of God. The church +is full night and day, and there is no leisure to leave the building, +and hardly to eat when I must; and it is necessary to have my food +brought to me from a distance. All are eager to become Christians and +be baptized. During the two weeks that I have spent here, among those +to whom we have been able to give instruction, one hundred and fifty +adults have been baptized, and today we are to baptize about forty +catechumens; the rest will be left until our return. Their affection +for us is great; they bring their children and sick that we may bless +them, and in the street they fall upon their knees to receive the +benediction. They make frequent use of holy water for their houses, +at their meals, in their grain-fields, and for their sick; indeed, +to drink a swallow of it they consider an efficacious remedy. In +short, all that I see in them is piety and devotion--which is all +the more precious since they are Christians so recently converted. An +old man asked on his knees for baptism, and, as it was necessary to +defer the sacrament, he said with his hands crossed upon his breast: +'Father, teach me how to invoke God, since I do not know how to +pray and thou wilt not baptize me; for I truly reverence Him in +my soul, and desire to serve Him:' Another old man--a chief, whom +all respect--who hitherto had been obdurate, has just asked me for +baptism; he is very hoary, and so old that it seems as if he could +not, from very age, utter a word. I go to his house to instruct him, +for he is too feeble to come to the church. I shall soon baptize him, +and another old man of his age; and it seems to me a certain proof +of their predestination that God should have kept them so long, and +now have inspired in them so ardent a desire to be saved. The Lord be +blessed, amen! for His marvels, who from the stones can raise sons of +God and heirs of heaven, at the time and hour that pleases Him, and by +instruments most inadequate, so that all may know that it is the work +of His power. Up to this time we have in this island three thousand +three hundred Christians, and I am confident in the Divine goodness +that by next year there will not be one man who is not baptized." + + + +The mission held in Tanai. Chapter LXXI. + + +Tanai is a beautiful and thickly-settled river in the great island +called Negros, on the side which forms a strait with the island of +Sebu. This part of the island is under the parochial care of Don +Diego Ferreira, the bishop's vicar there, and first archdeacon of +the cathedral of Sebu. This priest, in his great affection for our +humble Society, and influenced by seeing the results of our fathers' +labors in those islands--aided by the demand of the natives of +Tanai themselves, who had at various times asked for us--so urgently +requested our presence there that at last the authorities were obliged +to consent. Overjoyed that they had assigned this field to Father +Gabriel Sanchez, whom he held in great esteem, the said Don Diego went +in person to Bohol with a ship, expressly to convey Father Sanchez, +and carried him to their Tanai. What this faithful minister of Jesus +Christ accomplished there the Indians themselves made known, and the +archdeacon lauded it in various letters, being most grateful to God +and to the Society for this service that we had rendered him. We +gave him therein no little aid in carrying his burden of the many +souls which are under his care, alone as he is, without any other +assistance or instruction than ours. But Father Gabriel Sanchez, with +his accustomed plainness, has written a more detailed account of some +particular cases, while making a report of his labors to the superiors, +as is the custom among us. In a letter to the father-visitor, dated +in November of the year one thousand six hundred, he writes thus: + +"The archdeacon of Sebu, who holds the benefice of Tanai--a venerable +and meritorious man, as your Reverence well knows--went in person to +the island of Bohol, twelve leguas away, to beseech Father Alonso de +Umanes, our superior, to send, for God's love, a father to teach his +people the law of God, since he himself did not know their language. I +was chosen, and it pleased our Lord to give us a good foothold in +the island; on the very first day we found all the people gathered +on the beach, awaiting us with music and other tokens of joy. We went +to the church, and there I began to address them and discuss our holy +faith. At the first or second sermon, your Reverence might have seen +almost all the people suddenly changed. Indeed, as they had not before +had any minister who could address them in their own language, they had +not, as I learned, been able to form any conception of the things of +God. When the light penetrated their souls, they were astonished; and, +full of joy, they began to ask one another, 'What is this?' They gazed +on me (poor wretch that I am), as on one descended from heaven. As the +greater number of those who assembled there were Christians, but had +not made their confession nor did they even know _si Spiritus Sanctus +est_, I discussed with them the remedy of confession, explaining its +purpose, and arousing their affection for it. Within one month about +four hundred persons made their confessions, with the utmost sorrow +for their sins; and many received communion, with such devotion that +to behold them inspired a like emotion. I baptized about eighty, +most of them infants, although there were a few adults. We instituted +the procession of children which, in our doctrinas, is wont to march +through the streets. We began, too, in the church to give instruction +and ask questions, which so pleased them that the chiefs answered them, +and were offended if we did not question them. + +"During our stay several incidents occurred which I shall relate. An +Indian woman, wife of the governor of the village, and of high rank, +lay sick. One night her malady grew so violent that it left her without +power of speech. Believing her to be dead, they hastened to summon us +late in the night. When we arrived she was speechless and unconscious, +and they were bewailing her as one dead. It grieved me that the woman +should die in that state; for she had been a Christian for some years, +and yet had not attended confession (although she led a blameless life) +because there was no priest who knew her language. I was anxious that +she should, if only by a sign, ask for confession, but she could not +do even this. We repeated the gospel to her, sprinkling her with +holy water; and God, the Father of mercy, gave such efficacy to +these means that we had not finished reciting the holy gospel when +the woman regained consciousness and asked for confession, saying: +'Jesus, have mercy on me.' Many people were present on this occasion, +and we gave thanks to our Lord. Within ten minutes the sick woman was +as well as before her illness; accordingly, I would not confess her +in her own house, but left her, directing her people to bring her to +the church the next day. This was done, and on the following day she +confessed, to her great consolation. Another woman, also of rank, +was attacked by an illness so violent that she could not be held, +and even dashed herself against the walls. Finally, she was dying, +and they hastily summoned us; we read to her the gospel, as usual, +and gave her holy water. Then with much difficulty, on account of +the many persons who were in the house, I began to confess her before +she should die. But it was God's pleasure that, just as she began to +confess, her malady and the pains of death should be mitigated--so +fully that before her confession was concluded she was as well as +before. The next day she went to the church, and there, before many +persons, she made known the mercy which our Lord had shown to her the +night before. Another woman was reduced by sickness to the point of +death, so that she was speechless; her people hurriedly summoned us, +saying that she was already dead, and we found her unconscious, and +already lamented as dead. We recited the holy gospel, and gave her +holy water; and we had not yet finished the reading when the woman +regained her senses and said 'Jesus.' She then made her confession, +and even before we departed she had recovered health, and was offering +thanks to our Lord. + +"They also called us in to see two children who were dying. We went +to them in haste, putting aside the confessions which we had on hand; +and found both of them speechless and unconscious--one of them with +no sign of respiration--and already bewailed as dead. We recited the +holy gospel to them, and gave them holy water; and soon we left them +so well that one of them, who was four or five years old, came down +that same day to play with the other children, and the other one soon +became well. We went to hear the confession of a man who lived a legua +and a half away from the village; he was so sick that they could not +bring him to the church, for his body was in such a state of corruption +that no one would touch him. We went to hear his confession and found +him in the condition which we have described; he could not even move +from one side to another. We sought to induce him to confess, and +repeated to him the holy gospel. This was on Friday or Saturday; on +the following Sunday, when I asked for him, they told me that he was +sound and well, and had gone to another island in quest of food. We +were informed that another, a pagan woman, was at the point of death; +at her request, we went to baptize her. I gave her this sacrament +in some haste, lest she should die on my hands; but after baptism +she regained her health. All these things aroused in their hearts a +deep affection for our Lord, and they recognized that what had been +preached to them was the truth, and that their idols are but demons. + +"I also desire to relate to your Reverence how one night, about ten +o'clock, while I was commending myself to our Lord, round about the +church I heard many persons weeping most piteously, yet in gentle +tones, as if grieving for something which had been lost. Fearing lest +it might be some case of death, I sent out two boys to inquire what +it was. Some women of rank, the daughters of the master of the house, +replied that they and the other women were weeping because on that +night, having finished chanting the Christian doctrine, while in a +passage-way or corridor of the house and gazing toward the sky, they +saw as it were one fastened on a cross with a crown on his disfigured +but beautiful head. His body and breast were brighter than the sun, +white, and lovelier than words can depict. This [vision of the] Lord +gradually receded from them, rising toward heaven, until it reached +the moon, when it disappeared from their sight. This lovely vision +aroused in them deep love, and, when it departed from them, sadness +and sorrow. I sent to bid them calm their grief. On the following day, +in the church, those same young women, with their servants and those +of their household, arose before all the people; and when I asked them +what that meant, they recounted what had occurred to them the night +before. Yet they are simple and artless people, who were quite bashful +and timid when I questioned them. The next day we learned that this +vision, or cross, had been seen at the same time in another village, +one or two leguas distant from this one. What most impressed me in this +incident was that those persons, although virtuous before it occurred, +were afterward much more so, and in their exemplary and modest behavior +are the example and pattern for the other women; for they pass many +hours on their knees in prayer, they hear mass every day, and, while +we remained there, they made their confession every Saturday. The +incumbent of that benefice wrote me, several months later, that they +were persevering, and setting a rare example in virtue. + +"The time for my departure and my return from Tanai arrived, in +accordance with the orders of holy obedience. Such was the sorrow, +and so many were the tears of those poor people that I was constrained +thereby to weep for compassion. They cast themselves at my feet, +and upon their knees besought me not to depart, saying: 'If we again +fall into sin, to whom shall we have recourse?' I consoled them as +best I could; and they accompanied me as far as the river, where +I embarked. Then they plunged into the water, and surrounded the +boat--men, women, and children--dripping with water, and shedding +tears. They brought me for the journey their offerings of rice, +chickens and other presents, which I did not accept, as it seemed +to me more becoming not to take them. I left them with much regret +at seeing so many souls exposed to danger and without a shepherd or +minister who knew their language. May God our Lord provide aid for +them, according to His mercy." + +Seeing the excellent disposition of those people, and the harvest +which our Lord was gaining from the missions, the same Father Gabriel +Sanchez held another one among those people which he briefly mentions +in one of his letters. He says: "I found the people steadfast in their +good intentions, and in the doctrine which I had taught them. When +I asked them, on certain occasions, if they had committed such and +such a sin, they would answer: 'Jesus. Father, would I be false to +God? When we were taught last year that we must not sin against the +Divine Majesty, would we dare to do so?' And their works confirmed +their deeds, for their lives were like those of the primitive +church. There were women who, although they were offered chains of +gold and presents of great value, could not be influenced thereby to +consent to sinful acts. Others suffered insults, and harsh treatment +until their blood was shed from the blows and wounds they received, +because they would not consent to offend our Lord. Many instances of +this could be related." + + + +The fruits of other missions in the island of Ibabao. Chapter LXXII. + + +As the inhabitants of the island of Ibabao are scattered along +the coast and shores of the sea, it has been necessary to despatch +thither, on missions, three fathers and three brethren, during most +of the year, who instruct the people with the excellent results that +are wont to accrue from such missions. In these the harvest has been +very large, the divine grace corresponding to the earnest desires of +those fathers, and with their labors and perils. Nearly all the time +they are journeying by sea, sailing along the coast of this and other +adjacent islands, and crossing from one to another, never without +danger. They have become fishermen of souls, casting their nets for +the heavenly catch--from these journeys returning to Tinagon, where, +as we have said, is the house of their residence. This residence +cares for fourteen villages, large and small. During the year, there +have been baptized therein three thousand six hundred and eighty +persons, most of them adults. Father Alonso de Umanes, superior of +the residence, Father Manuel Martinez, and Father Juan de San Lucar +formed six principal missions, each father with his companion being +assigned to certain villages. Father Alonso de Umanes writes that in +the first mission two hundred and sixty-nine persons were converted +to Christianity, eighty of whom were children, and the rest adults. + +In this mission two small and isolated islands were visited, concerning +which Father Juan de San Lucar writes to the father-visitor, as +follows: "Knowing the satisfaction which your Reverence receives when +we render to you an account of our missions, I will now tell you of +the last one which I made in the two little islets of Maripipi and +Limancauayan, which for more than two years had not been visited by +any priest. The people were most eager to have some father to instruct +them; and when they knew that Brother Francisco Martin and I were +going to them, they made a great feast, and adorned with branches +of trees the streets of the village, and the shore as far as the +church. The boys and girls came forth, singing the doctrine and bearing +a cross, which was to me a most gratifying reception. Afterward, in +the church, I thanked them with tears for the affection which they +showed us. From the time of our arrival until we departed from those +islands, they were continually bringing us gifts from the products of +the land, such as wax, rice, and bananas, and other articles of more +value. When I undertook to make a list of those who sought baptism, +they asked me not to do so, since all those who were not converted +(who were very few) desired to become Christians; so I did as they +wished. The old men, who elsewhere are usually obdurate and stubborn, +and answer that they are now too old to learn the doctrine and begin +a new manner of life, here used this very same argument to induce me +to baptize them, saying: 'Father, consider that we are already old, +and soon shall end our lives; do not let us die without baptism, +since we are so anxious to be Christians.' With this good disposition +on their part, I began to preach to them, and our Lord was pleased +that they should all become Christians. They not orly learned the +doctrine, but discussed together the sermons and instructions in the +church and in their houses; indeed, so concerned were they about this +matter that they seemed to pay no attention to anything else. + +"We were greatly aided in facilitating their instruction by the method +of [learning by] decuries which your Reverence imparted to us. Dividing +them by tens, as if in classes, some learned the _Pater-noster_, others +the _Ave Maria_; and thus they came to acquire with much facility +and ease all the prayers of the primer. I baptized one hundred and +forty persons, some of whom were old men of rank. One of them was very +anxious that his mother should become a Christian, and on the day when +our Lord accorded him this mercy he was greatly rejoiced; he made a +great feast, inviting the people to eat at his house, and furnished +to them a bountiful repast. We celebrated the octave of Corpus Christi +with a solemn procession, in which we bore the most blessed sacrament +through the streets, which were decorated and adorned for the occasion +with as much splendor as was possible. They laid all their riches and +gold chains on the platform; and although it was all insignificant +enough, greater was the good will and love with which they offered it. + +"With the report that those two islands had been converted to the +faith, the island of Cauayan and others of Samar were led to ask +for fathers to instruct them. I repaired to Cauayan, and in fifteen +days I baptized, after some instructions and sermons, one hundred +and seventy adults, with four or five little children. I inquired +if any one yet remained to be made a Christian; they replied that +only one was left, an old woman, outside the village, but that I +need not concern myself about her, for, on account of her great +age (she must have been more than a hundred and thirty years old), +she had not sufficient understanding or judgment to penetrate into +the things of God. I had her conveyed to the village with great +care, and they brought me a clod of clay, which had only a little +perception, and hardly any understanding; sight had forsaken her, +and her hearing was very dull. She had no more power of motion than +a stone, for wherever they placed her, there she remained without +stirring. She had great-great-grandsons living, and I believe that +the descendants extended even further. I began to catechize her, or +rather to test her, to see if she had the use of reason; but for the +time I could not convince myself whether she had it or not. I had her +conveyed to the house of a worthy Christian, an Indian woman of much +judgment, by whom the old woman could make herself understood; and I +asked her to talk with the old woman very carefully about the things +of God, and to draw from her all that she could. Relying upon what +this good woman told me (she acted as my interpreter in the church, +and as catechist in her own house), I was finally persuaded that the +old woman had the use of reason; but when I began to instruct her in +the things that were absolutely necessary, the Christian woman told me +that, as for the other truths, it was morally impossible, on acount of +the old woman's limited capacity, to give her further instruction. I +then baptized her, with much consolation, being persuaded that God +had preserved her for that hour. I am convinced that she has a very +short time to live, but I trust, in the mercy of God, that in the +other life she will obtain eternal blessedness through the merits +of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gained it for her with His precious +blood. From Cauayan I went to a little hamlet called Cotai, where I +baptized eighty-three persons. From that place I went to Paet, where +I baptized one hundred and twenty, all adults; thence to Canauan, +where I baptized one hundred and forty. According to my reckoning, +then, more than five hundred persons have been baptized, all of age, +besides twelve children. What I especially value in this is the +sight of the fervor and devotion with which they received baptism, +their horror of sin, and their zealous desire that other neighboring +peoples should become Christians. They often take the initiative with +those people, and preach to their friends with a fervor and power +that astonish me. I am also much gratified at having brought about +more than eighty marriages within the church, for I suspect that +the alliances formed by those people are not marriages, but rather +the taking of concubines, considering the readiness with which they +divorce and marry again, according to the custom of the country. + +"It seems to me that the road to the conversion of those natives is +now smooth and open, with the conversion of the chiefs and of the +majority of the people; for the excuse which they formerly gave, +saying, 'I will become a Christian as soon as the rest do,' has now +become their incentive toward conversion, and they now say: 'We desire +to become Christians because all the rest are Christians.' While I +was passing through Canauan, one of the chiefs was enraged because a +slave woman of his had become a Christian, and rebuked her angrily for +it; but recently he brought her to me with all his slaves, and he, +with his wife and all his family, have become Christians. Another +chief prevented his wife from hearing the divine word and becoming +a Christian, which she desired most heartily to be. Being unable to +go to the church, as she was kept at home, she sent a message to the +father informing him that her husband was using this violence toward +her. Orders were given to arrest him, and, this done, the woman was +baptized. But she obtained from God, as I believe, the conversion of +her husband; for within a few days he returned to the church, subdued, +and was baptized. This occurred during the first mission. + +"Another mission was held at Catubig; this village is farthest from +the residence, for it is at the extremity of the island of Ibabao, +which is very large. The Indians are very well disposed, and among +them are some Christians, who lack instruction; and all are desirous +of having a father to teach them. There are more than four thousand +souls who only await the coming of ministers of the holy gospel +to distribute among them the bread of heaven. If we had chosen to +open the door for baptism many might have received that sacrament; +but during that mission only one hundred and fifty-four children were +baptized, the others being reserved for a better opportunity, when our +Lord might be pleased to send them those who would preserve them with +the food of instruction in the new life which, with the divine grace, +they would receive. + +"In the third mission, there were baptized in three months eight +hundred and thirty-seven persons; seven hundred and five of these +were adults, and ninety-two children. At first, the men encountered +great difficulty in putting away their many wives; but finally the +divine Majesty made the outcome propitious, softening the hearts of +those pagans, and they brought their undertaking to a glorious end. + +"In the fourth sortie or foray, six hundred and thirteen were baptized; +in the next, two hundred and seventy; and in the last, two hundred and +fifty-four. With these and other baptisms in this residence alone, +three thousand six hundred and eighty persons were therefore made +Christians, as I stated above; and many more might be converted if +the earnestness with which they ask for baptism were appreciated. But +our fathers proceed by inspiring them first to desire baptism, and +to give proofs of their desires, and constraining them to learn the +doctrine, to attend the church, and to abandon all their heathen rites, +their paganism, and their polygamy; thus they become more thoroughly +acquainted with and rooted in the faith." + + + +Instances occurring in the mission of Dulac. Chapter LXXVIII. + + +The year one thousand six hundred and one also gave evidence of +great increase and perfecting in the Christian community of Dulac, +effected through the ordinary labors and occupations of four fathers +and three brethren. These laborers, making their retreat at the +appointed times, to practice the spiritual exercises (as is the +custom in all those residences), repair thereafter with greater +courage to their ministry to souls; and the results of their work +thus correspond to their fervor. But, of all the means that they +have employed, we must attribute their good fortune in winning souls +to their exposing the most blessed sacrament in our churches, thus +stimulating the devotion and respect with which it should be regarded; +celebrating with solemn processions the feast of Corpus [Christi]; +and inviting the faithful to the table and feast of heaven. As a +result of these measures, the people were so fond of holy communion, +and so greatly enjoyed receiving it, that on some feast-days the +crowd was as great as in cities of Europe; and with so thorough +preparation, by fasting, discipline, prayer, fervor, and confession, +that it seemed to be a primitive church. Thus their esteem for our +holy faith is so increased that few are those who do not ask for or +desire baptism. Indeed, there are so many who seek it that during +the two weeks of advent and Easter in 1601 more than seven hundred +persons were baptized; and from the Easter of the previous year, 1600, +there were counted in this mission-field more than two thousand and +twenty persons baptized--and all this with great fervor, eagerness, +and esteem for the new law which they profess with holy baptism. + +The residence of Dulac has in its care, among many others, the two +large villages called Dagami and San Salvador (which is Paloc), both +populous; their people are well instructed and submissive, and our +fathers have labored among them with great success. Father Melchior +Hurtado writes that in San Salvador, during the celebration of the +Christmas feast, almost eight hundred infidels were baptized, and +that the confessions and communions were such as might be expected in +España--so many, that the fathers could not attend to them all. This +is occasion for much glory to our Lord, especially in a land so new, +which the Society had entered but six years before to instruct its +people, and had found them so obdurate, as I have already stated. From +the letters of this father, and from others of Father Juan de Torres +and Father Francisco Vicente, some special incidents have been drawn, +which I shall here relate. + +A father, passing through a little village belonging to that residence +and inquiring who were Christians, was told of an old man who lived +out in the country, alone in his little hut, and remained there +unable to walk. The father gave orders that this man be brought to +his presence, and asked him concerning his life, not expecting him to +recall much of the doctrine; but he gave so good an account of himself +as to leave the father astounded. Among other things the old man said: +"Although I remain in this life with my body, my desires are in heaven; +and so much so that at night I dream only of the things of the other +life. There I see all the dwellers of heaven covered with splendor, +and especially one, who excels all the others in brightness. O, father, +would that I might be there, freed from this decaying and burdensome +body!" The father showed him a print of the judgment, in which heaven +was depicted with splendor and beauty, and then asked him if it looked +like what he had seen. He answered, _Abà_, which is one of their words +of surprise, and, as it were, of disdain. "That and nothing more, +Father? Much more, much more!" Then the father wondered as he beheld +the riches which God our Lord had deposited in that clod of earth; and +he felt sure that, as the old man said, his only occupation thereafter +would be to repeat "Jesus" and "Mary"--which would never leave his +memory or his lips, until he should end this life and begin that +which is eternal. Two of Ours, passing a wretched hut, found a man, +who must have been more than eighty years old, stretched upon some +reeds, unconscious and dying. So thin was his body that it was hardly +more than skin adhering to bones; and so wasted that he seemed the +living picture of death. In their pity for him they prayed our Lord +to have compassion on that poor soul. In a short time he recovered +consciousness, and gladly asked for the waters of holy baptism, which +he greatly desired; this was plainly evident in the ardor with which +he declared his belief in our holy faith. After being baptized, his +senses were entranced, and he very sweetly invoked the most blessed +name of Jesus, and that of Mary; and then he died. + +One of our fathers desired to visit another sick man (who had, when in +danger of death, been baptized by the schoolmaster of the village), +but, with his many confessions and other duties, he had forgotten +to do so. Afterward, while resting, he had heard loud wailing and +outcries, such as they are wont to utter for their dead; and they came +to tell him that the man had died. The father could not refrain from +going to see him (although he left all the people in the church), +deeply grieved that he had not seen the sick man before. But with +great confidence (although everyone said that he was already dead), +he approached the unconscious sick man, and said: "Clement" (such was +his name), "dost thou hear us, my son?" He opened his eyes and said: +"Yes, Father." Then the father bade him invoke the most blessed name +of Jesus, and the most sweet name of Mary, and aided him with some +nourishment; the sick man regained consciousness, and some strength, +and at the end of a few days made his confession, and died in the Lord. + +Ours had been asked to visit a sick man, and, when the visit to him +was ended, the father, while descending from the house, was seized +with the desire to ascertain if there were any other sick person in +the vicinity. In the next house he found an old woman, an infidel, +ninety years old, although not very sick; he approached her, gave +her instruction, and baptized her. On the following day, when he was +setting out from the village at the same hour, his heart would not +allow him to depart without first visiting his sick people. He gained +the little hut, and found therein a dead person, shrouded. He inquired +who it was and they told him that it was Ana (the name of the woman +whom he had baptized the day before). He continued his way, praising +the divine Providence and judgments of God, who had thus predestined +the lot of that soul. We were informed that a sick man lay at the +point of death, far out from the village. The road thither was hard +to descry in the darkness of the night, and abounded with serpents, +which were continually encountered, stretched out in the road. In +addition to this, a very broad river must be passed, with rapid +current and full of crocodiles--which, when they become ravenous, +rush upon anything. Yet all these obstacles were of less importance +than one soul redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; so the father +went to visit his sick man, and, with a certain medicine, in the name +of Jesus Christ our Lord, cured and comforted him. But the marvel was +that on the way he found another sick person, a woman, apparently in +less danger; he baptized her, and she died immediately, while the sick +man, for whom the father had undertaken all that hardship, was healed. + +An Indian, finding himself in the clutches and jaws of a crocodile, +covered with wounds, and almost dead, began to invoke the most holy +name of Jesus, which a little before he had heard in the sermon +of a father; and our Lord was pleased that the savage beast should +release him. + +This befell a father and a brother while journeying along a sandy +tract, greatly fatigued by the heat of the noonday sun, without any +restorative or food, and parched with thirst--in short, deprived of +everything that might serve them as a relief or comfort; yet enduring +their suffering and with devout meditation offering to God that +hardship, even desiring that it might be increased if his Majesty +might thus be served. Unexpectedly and suddenly they descried a man +seated in the midst of the sand, with a collation of fresh cocoanuts +and other fruits; and so gracious and serene was his appearance that +he inspired admiration and pleasure. When the fathers and those who +accompanied them accepted from him those delicacies, refreshing their +heated bodies and appeasing their hunger, this man displayed unusual +satisfaction and joy, inviting them to partake of more, since what he +possessed was theirs, and he was a servant of the Spaniards. With this +they continued their journey (which otherwise would have been very +wearisome), giving thanks to Him who had thus succored them in their +dire necessity. Although at the time the father took little notice of +this incident, afterward recalling the circumstances, as well as the +gracious manner of the man, he became convinced that he must have been +some angel. Nor was he far out of the way, considering the occasion on +which he succored them, when they could not go any farther on account +of the oppressive heat of the season, and the lack of food; the spot +where they had encountered him, a place where it had never occurred +that they found an Indian so solitary and, moreover, unknown; and +then his gracious manner and serene countenance, and his generosity +and liberality in sharing with them what he had, saying that it all +belonged to the fathers, and that he was a servant of the Spaniards +(at a time when there was not one Spaniard in the island): all this +induces the belief that the incident was something more than ordinary, +or, at least, a token of our Lord's especial providence. There can be +no doubt that the incident was most pleasing to Him, on account of the +unusual and extraordinary harvest which He permitted to be gathered +in the village from which the father had that day set out. I shall +not relate this in detail, in order not to repeat the same events, +and to pass on to what yet remains to be narrated, which is much. + + + +The many conversions to the Christian faith in Carigara and its +district. Chapter LXXIV. + + +We deem it a special providence of our Lord that while the native +language of the Indians of our various residences is the same, and it +is easy for our workers to remove from one place to another, since +they are not, in doing so, obliged to learn several tongues--there +is, at the same time, such variety in the stations and missions. Some +of them may be visited entirely by sea, such as those of Tinagon or +Samar; others wholly by land, as the mission of Alangalang. Again, +others may be reached partly by sea, partly by land, such as Dulac, +Carigara, and Bohol. This is a great convenience, in assigning the +missionaries according to the abilities and temperament of each, +allotting to those who cannot journey by land, stations on the coast, +and inland posts to those who can endure the hardships of the roads. + +There is enough of such hardship in the residence of Alangalang, +where four fathers and three brethren are employed, toiling in the +vineyard of the Lord--journeying on foot (as is our custom there) +under sun and shower, through swamps and rivers, with the water often +waist-deep; yet with much consolation and joy in the Lord, for whose +love are undertaken these and like hardships. + +Our brethren live in those villages well content at seeing that our +Lord is continually gaining souls to Himself, and inclining to His holy +law the hearts of those who but a few years ago were living without God +and without law. From the year 1600 to the year 1602, when I departed +from those regions, two thousand six hundred and ninety-four persons +had been baptized in that mission. They attend with great punctuality +the sermons, masses, and other divine services, which in that mission +are celebrated with greater splendor and more punctiliousness than in +others, through the advantage which it has in three choirs of Indians, +who [in this service] surpass many Spaniards. They are wont to sing +the _Salve_ to our Lady; on some days, the litany; and on the Fridays +of Lent the _Miserere_ to accompany the discipline--all of which +indicates the faith which burns and glows in their souls. + +To that residence of Alangalang are annexed those of Ogmuc and +Carigara, with seven or eight other villages; through these our fathers +have dispersed (having made their retreat, in the course of the year +for the [spiritual] exercises), being assigned [to certain villages] to +instruct their people. The superior, Father Mateo Sanchez, took charge +of the newer villages, in order to build there churches and establish +stations convenient for the affairs of those Christian churches--as +he did in the village of Lingayon, and in others. On the way, he +baptized in Barugo twenty-five adults, and in Carigara sixty-three. + +At the residence of Ogmuc we had completed a church, one of the +finest in that island, through the diligence and labors of Father +Alonso Rodriguez, who spent a long time there. Father Francisco de +Enzinas went to that residence, and baptized one hundred and two +persons; of these eighty-one were adults, and among them some old +men. These last asked for baptism, as it seemed, with reason, saying +that they were already at the gates of death, and they ought to be +most favored since they were most needy. They asked questions about +the life eternal; and while the father was explaining to them the +resurrection of the body he was aided, by a man recently baptized, +with the simile of the serpent, which sheds and then renews its skin, +and with other comparisons of that sort. On his road the same father +visited a little village, called Baibai, and baptized there ninety +persons, of whom eighty-seven were adults. + +Father Alonso Rodriguez held another mission in a little village called +Ugyao, where he baptized twenty-eight persons, among whom was the wife +of the chief of the village; she was afterward an instrument for the +conversion of many. He also sojourned in a village called Leite, whence +he writes a letter to the father-visitor, which runs as follows: "The +lord bishop was greatly consoled at the aspect of this village. The +Indians seemed to him very tractable, and submissive to the things +of our holy faith. They are continually in the church, morning and +evening, frequenting the services to such an extent that the time I +spent there seemed like a jubilee. I noticed among the chiefs much zeal +in bringing me pagans that I might baptize them. During this visit and +the next that I made there, I baptized one hundred and thirty-seven +persons, who were children and old people. I was in Alangalang and was +much pleased with the people there; indeed, everything in that island +seemed to me to be from heaven. I cannot sufficiently thank our Lord +for the signal favor that He has granted me in bringing me to this +land, and employing me in this Catholic ministry--of which I feel +myself most unworthy, often acknowledging this before our Lord, with +tears and humiliation. I regard it as most lavish pay for many faithful +services that our Lord should consent to employ one in these missions, +and that one may behold His mercy toward these new Christians. I have +just visited the people of Ugyao, and to live among them, enjoying +the mercies which God conters upon them, seems to me like Paradise." + +Such is the father's general account; I will illustrate the details +by only two instances. While a father was sojourning in one of those +seacoast villages, there arrived in a little boat a solitary Indian, +to the astonishment of all, as he had neither feet nor hands. But +God and his good angel aided him to steer the boat, and so he +reached that place where the father was, and urgently asked him +for baptism. The reason for this was, that he had heard a Spaniard +say that those who were not Christians went to hell. The father +baptized him with great satisfaction, and gave praises to our Lord +that He had preserved this man on the sea, and had guided that little +vessel and a man who was alone, and bereft of hands and feet. There +were some persons--especially a Spaniard in whose charge he was--who +earnestly desired that a certain Indian should become a Christian. This +Spaniard sought to convert him by arguments and inducements, and by +other efforts; but apparently he became steadily more hardened. At +that time one of our brethren chanced (although it was not without +divine Providence) to speak to him of the things of heaven; and all +at once that soul turned in earnest toward our Lord. At his baptism +the Spaniard acted as his godfather, and was much gratified at seeing +his pious desire fulfilled. + +Great benefits have resulted from the schools and the education of +the children; for these pupils are, in their homes, teachers to their +own parents, and in the villages through which they are scattered +they arouse the people to devotion. A young boy, one of the singers +in the church, thus replied to a Spaniard who communicated to him his +evil desires, in order that the youth might help him to attain them: +"Sir, I know of an excellent remedy for this temptation which thou +art suffering. Do thou repeat a rosary to the Virgin Mary, and I +will say another in thy behalf; thus thou wilt drive away these evil +thoughts." Thus he who should by right have been the teacher was +himself instructed by this new Christian. + + + +Other events in the same residence of Alangalang and in +Carigara. Chapter LXXV. + + +When a certain father was setting out from one of the villages that +he had been visiting, in order to return to the chief town [of the +mission], an incident befell him which the father himself relates, +in a letter which is in part as follows: "In this village there was +a sick man, an infidel, whom the father had visited, and provided +with someone to instruct and catechize him for holy baptism. As the +father thought that the malady was making but slow progress, he left +the sick man thus. But God, who chose to comfort that soul so desirous +for its salvation, caused such a change in the weather that, although +the sky was serene and clear when they went to visit the sick man, +a rainstorm suddenly arose, so violent that it seemed as if our Lord +were constraining the father (as he did the glorious St. Benedict) +to halt and abandon his journey in order that that soul might enter +by the true way into heaven. With this he began to instruct the sick +man very slowly; and, having taught him what was sufficient, gave +him holy baptism, to the great consolation and joy of both. At once +the rainstorm ceased, and the sky became so clear that the father, +leaving that poor man much consoled--or, more correctly, rich in +celestial gifts--made his journey very comfortably. A few days having +passed without his making any inquiry about the sick man, an Indian +came to the father, and said to him: 'Father, that Indian whom thou +didst baptize, coming hither, our Lord has taken.' + +"During Lent and Holy Week they performed their penances with +great devotion, shedding their blood with such fervor that it became +necessary to restrain them. So strong and ardent was their desire to do +penance that those who could not procure woolen shirts would not go in +the procession, waiting for those garments already stained with blood, +in order that they might bathe these anew with their own. Nor was +there less fervor among the children, who sought permission [to take +the discipline], even at a very tender age, and became disconsolate +indeed if it were denied them. These new Christians practiced another +sort of penance during the last two weeks of Lent, which caused great +edification. In the early evening they went out, clad in their woolen +shirts; their hands extended in the form of a cross, were bound to a +piece of wood; and from each hand hung a very heavy stone. In this +manner they went about the village, halting finally at the church +whence they had set out. There they remained a long time on their +knees, offering their penance to God our Lord. The children had +practiced this penance before; for during the Shrovetide festival +(at which time there are so many disorders among our Christians of +long standing) they formed themselves in pairs, and went forth with +great devotion, having their hands extended, in the form of a cross, +on a piece of wood, with heavy stones hanging at each side. For this +purpose one child bound the other, accompanying him until he returned +to the door of the church; there, unfastening the other's bonds, he +himself took the stick and stones, and thus they again went forth, +and he who had first borne the stones now accompanied the other. Thus +did each one acquit his obligation to the other, with more devotion +and understanding than the Shrovetide season demands from persons +of greater age, judgment, and obligations. In this way does our Lord +bestow upon them His mercy--as happened to a young boy, whose story, +as it is very attractive, I am unwilling to omit. There was a child, +about five or six years old, who was suffering from a disease of +the eyes; the little one in his pain went to a father, to whom he +tenderly made his plaint. The father, inasmuch as a few days before +he had taught the child the _Ave Maria_, bade him enter the church, +and on his knees to say that prayer and offer it to the most blessed +Virgin, our Lady. The child did thus, and when his prayer was concluded +went out from the church, and began to play contentedly with the other +children of his age. The father, perceiving him so merry with the rest, +called to him and asked him if he were well. He answered that as soon +as he had said the _Ave Maria_ to our Lady, the pain left him and he +became well." + +Among the occasions when Ours have gone to make excursions into +the country, and to despoil the enemy of his former possessions, +there is one which Father Mateo Sanchez describes in a letter to the +father vice-provincial, as follows: "The voyage of the fathers who +were sailing for Ogmuc and Sebu proved to be unfortunate; for they +suffered many hardships through contrary winds, being finally driven +into a small bay, where they remained as long as their provisions +lasted. When these were consumed, they determined, as the weather +remained unfavorable, to return to Carigara. The two of us who remained +had made, in the meantime, some important visits, especially in Tunga, +where the village was in great excitement on account of some murders +among the Indian chiefs. It pleased our Lord that our fathers should +begin to calm and soothe the respective factions, and reconcile their +differences, and establish friendly relations between them. Although +this was not accomplished at once, the affair made gradual progress +toward settlement; and even the murderers came to our fathers for +protection, so that through our agency, peace might be restored and +established. This affair was one of the greatest importance, for the +island [of Leyte] was well-nigh in a state of insurrection, and overrun +by bandits. Our Lord was pleased that by means of the gentleness +and love with which we approached them, this condition of affairs +should pass away like smoke, and the bandits be dispersed. There were +twelve criminals, who, on account of the various murders that they had +committed, were roaming in bands through the mountains and highways, +sheltering the slaves and fugitives who joined them, as well as base +women and notorious witches--who accompanied them either through love +for evil, or in fear of punishment for their own heinous crimes. All +these people have been reclaimed, and have come to our fathers--not +only the men, but the women--asking for protection, pardon, and +penance. Only one has failed to come, and he was the beginning and, +as it were, the source of all this disturbance; but I hope that God, +in His great mercy, will bring in this man. In truth, it will be +very difficult for him to effect a reconciliation with the parties +concerned and obtain a pardon, on account of their rank and wealth; +for the murdered man (whose name was Humbas) was one of the most +noted and valiant Indians in the island, and always had been, and +was at the time, governor of the village of Ogyao [_sic_]. But since +his sons were all Christians, and the eldest, Don Philipe Tipon, +is an excellent man, greatly attached to us, and well instructed, +and informed in the Christian religion, I promise myself that it will +not be very difficult to obtain from him a pardon for this man, and +reconcile them, and settle this affair as we have desired and sought +for the greater glory of God." Thus writes Father Mateo Sanchez. [21] + + + + +The mission in Panamao. Chapter LXXVI. + + +Panamao [22] is one of the islands which lie adjacent to Leite, +on its northern side, and is almost a continuation of the latter, +since they are separated only by a strait so narrow that a ship can +scarcely pass through it. As it contains a great abundance of trees, +it is well adapted for shipbuilding, as are many others of these +islands. On this account workmen were building there, in December +of the year one thousand six hundred and one, the ship in which I +departed from those islands, early in July of the year one thousand +six hundred and two. As many Spaniards, Indians, and other peoples had +gathered there for this work of construction, they furnished sufficient +occupation to Father Francisco Vicente of our Society, who came from +Carigara, or Alangalang, to visit them and provide for them spiritual +consolation. The father arrived there at a juncture when our Lord had +undertaken to prepare the hearts of all those people. They were indeed +prepared, as by the Divine hand, by an occurrence which affrighted +and horrified them. There was a Spanish speaking negro who entered +the service of the captain there, and was accompanied by his wife. It +became necessary for him to go away, to procure some articles necessary +to the progress of the work. Returning one night, he found his wife +with another man, and, maddened by jealousy, he killed the adulterer +with a lance and wounded the woman, leaving her for dead. This was +a deplorable occurrence, for the murdered man was a youth of comely +parts and beloved by all; and to see him thus slain--a reputable +man, without confession, and in such circumstances, by the hand of a +negro--was sufficient to lead all to do penance. For assistance in +this, it was necessary for Father Francisco Vicente to proceed to +Panamao; and he, finding the harvest ready, was soon reaping, with +his sermons, discourses, and confessions, the now ripened grain--as +that father reports in one of his letters, which runs as follows: +"I reached Panamao, on Saturday before the last Sunday of Advent, and +we were welcomed by the captain with much affection and kindness. It +is a large population which has been gathered there, of both Indians +and Spaniards, and among them God our Lord gave us a goodly harvest +of souls. On arriving there I sought to speak to them and show them +my affection. At the outset, I undertook to have a church built; +and this was done so that we said mass on the following day. I also +preached to them on matters relating to sin, explaining to them its +hideous and injurious nature--especially by recalling to their minds +that recent example or sermon which our Lord had preached to them a +short time before. They were all deeply moved, and resolved to ask me +for confession and the cure for their souls. In order that so rich a +prize should not be lost, I labored assiduously, preaching now to the +Spaniards, now to the Indians. On that Sunday I preached three sermons, +and tried, moreover, by special discourses to attract the headmen and +chiefs, explaining to them how they ought to make confession. When +they understood that I must go immediately after the first day of +Easter, they entreated me to remain, if only until the third day, +in order that they might make their confessions as they should. I +consented to this; and from that hour, all the people, Spaniards as +well as Indians, began to consecrate themselves with such devotion as +to make me ashamed. I did not lose this opportunity--now encouraging +and consoling them, now removing their difficulties, now instructing +them; and striving most heartily to assist them. The confessions began +before dawn, about four o'clock in the morning; and the people came +with general confessions for a whole life or for many years, uttering +them with tears and sobs. Indeed, it was necessary to loosen the reins +and encourage them, for it was not necessary to seek, as is usually +done, incentives to contrition and grief. During this mission some of +the Spaniards were obliged to go away to another islet; some of them, +in order not to lose this opportunity, hastened to confess, making up +for the shortness of the time allowed them by their great devotion; +others, who were deprived of even this satisfaction, deferred their +confessions until my return, to their own great sorrow and with holy +envy for those who remained. In truth, God knows best what went on in +those souls: what I can say is, that I have never seen such tears, or +conversions so sincere. There were persons who spent entire nights in +weeping, with the crucifix in their hands. During the Easter season +they were so withdrawn from worldly concerns that it seemed to be +Holy Friday; and they did not leave their houses except to go to +mass or to confer with me about the welfare of their souls. In their +silence and downcast looks, and the grief which they felt within, +they gave evidence of the mercies which our Lord had showed them, and +the light which He was bestowing upon them, as they went from and to +their houses. I experienced a thousand scruples in regard to calming +and satisfying their consciences; but I gave a thousand thanks to God +our Lord for having brought me to that place for the great good of so +many souls. Certain persons assured me that they had never before seen +the like. We continued to hear the confessions, so that they might be +better prepared for Easter. Certainly, had I to purchase by dint of +toil those moments of consolation, when I was administering to each +one the sacrament of communion and seemed to read his very heart, +a thousand journeys from España were little to give for that. I was +to go on the fourth day of Easter, but that was impossible, for with +earnest solicitations they entreated me to remain--and some, moreover, +had not finished their confessions; it was therefore necessary to +wait until Sunday. On that day we effected a reconciliation between +the murderer and the adulteress, who embraced and pardoned each other +and made their confession with much devotion. On Monday morning I was +obliged, on account of my departure, to say mass shortly after two +o'clock; and yet the service was not so secret as to prevent them from +attending it, all being present, and manifesting great devotion. With +tears and words they expressed their great regret at my departure, +and made me promise that I would soon return to console them; and +with this I came away, glorifying the Lord. I left, in process of +erection, a little hospital for the sick and poor, which all aided +with charitable offerings and personal attendance. Glory be to our +Lord Jesus Christ, from whom proceed all things." + + + +The death of Father Francisco Almerique, and other events in +Manila. Chapter LXXVII. + + +At the end of that year, one thousand six hundred and one, Father +Francisco Almerique ceased his labors, death claiming him while he +was busily occupied, and full of joy and consolation therein. He +had no illness save that occasioned by his very excessive labors, +which for a period of almost twenty years had been so wasting and +reducing his energies that the coming of hot weather carried him off, +without strength to resist, in five days. At the time of his death +he was engaged in forming villages, some of Indians and others of +blacks. These latter are in Manila called Itas; he had lured them from +a rugged mountain region, and persuaded them to settle in a lovely, +peaceful spot, fertile and pleasant, about two or three leguas from +Antipolo, giving to the new settlement the name of Santiago. First +in Manila, and afterward in the mission of Taitai, he busied himself +with the study of languages and the care of souls, to the very great +satisfaction (as we have already said) of all those who had relations +with him; for, on account of his great humility and gentleness, he +was loved and sought for, followed and obeyed, honored and respected, +and regarded as a saint. He never spared toil when the aid of souls +was concerned, nor did he heed times and seasons; by day and by night, +in rain or the sun's heat, and both far and near, forgetful of himself +and his health, he indefatigably rendered his services to whomsoever +called him. His most important occupation was to bring the people down +from the mountains and thinly settled districts, drawing them by cords +of love and gentleness. Such was his grace in this that as we have +said, on more than one occasion entire villages would come to him; +and, leaving to the care of others those whom he had already won, +he devoted himself to winning and inviting other and new souls. Not +a feast day or Sunday passed when he did not preach a sermon; and +often he said mass twice and delivered two sermons, in two different +villages. Inasmuch as those people usually had recourse to the father +with all their affairs, it always happened at the end of mass that he +remained to answer and console his Indians, with untiring patience, +without touching food until past midday, or even two or three hours +later. His soul went out toward some one of those poor creatures, +and the meaner the Indian, the greater was his love. In this exercise +and occupation, God our Lord communicated with him most familiarly +and affectionately, the father holding Him ever before his mind by +frequent and fervent prayer. This power he acquired in so high a +degree that those who were in close intercourse with him affirm, in +the words of the glorious St. Dionysus, that, _erat divina patiens_; +and it called forth our admiration to behold in him the gift of prayer +so lofty and sublime, united to a power of action so incessant and +effective. In harmony with these characteristics was his peaceful +and easy death, joyful and full of heavenly consolation. He died on +the first Sunday of Advent at the college of Manila (whither I had +taken him for medical treatment), after having received the most +blessed sacraments with great devotion. His death occurred just as +all the churches were ringing for the _Ave Marias_, on the second +of December, 1601, the day of the glorious departure of the blessed +father Francisco Xavier, whose true follower he ever was. His death +was deeply felt and lamented, and his obsequies were celebrated with +tears and solemn ceremonies; his body was deposited in the main chapel +of our church at Manila, before the steps of the great altar. + +At that time we were still pursuing our occupations in Manila among our +neighbors, where our Lord was continually forwarding the progress of +all our ministries, not only in those that pertained to divine worship +and the salvation of souls, but in those which concerned learning and +letters. To the Latin studies was added a course in philosophy, which +was begun in that year by Father Miguel Gomez, who had previously +taught it in Gandia. At the first lecture, which served to open +the studies of that year and which was itself grave and learned, +there assembled a goodly number of students, clergy, religious, and +persons of other ranks; and dignity was lent to the occasion by the +presence of the governor, president, and magistrates. The course was +continued, with a membership of many students, and with the theses, +conferences and other exercises which are customary to that branch of +learning, wherein the students gave excellent proof of their talent and +ability. The two congregations of La Anunciata (composed respectively +of students and laymen), who continually emulated each other in their +devotion and service to the most blessed Virgin, celebrated together +the feast of the Annunciation with great splendor and dignity, and +much devotion on their part and that of the people. The youth of +this city were in the utmost need of a seminary where they could +be withdrawn from the world and reared in virtue. Although this +had been desired for years, it had been impossible to carry out +the plan until the preceding year [_i.e._, 1600], when, with the +divine favor, a seminary was begun, which chose as its patron the +glorious St. Joseph. The institution was placed in charge of two +members of the Society, a father and a brother. On the day of its +foundation were assembled the royal Audiencia, [those who direct] +the vacant Bishopric, the religious orders, and many other people +of rank in this city. The collegians were clad in mantles of husi, +which is a thin fabric like picote, [23] inclining toward violet, +with insignia of red braid extending to the feet. They went out at +the gate of the college to receive the royal Audiencia, and soon +afterward in the chapel the archdeacon of Manila said the first mass, +the acolytes being two of the above-mentioned collegians, Don Pedro +Tello de Guzman, nephew of the president, and Don Antonio de Morga, +son of Don Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia. At +the conclusion of mass, two other collegians made harangues, giving +an account of what was intended in the foundation of this college; +wherewith they were well satisfied, and pleased with the work which +the Society had undertaken. The collegians at the foundation of the +institution were thirteen. That number has continued to increase until +it has reached twenty, as at present, which is not an insignificant +beginning in so new a land. Many people came to visit the college and +its apartments, admiring its good order and plan, and praising this +work, so serviceable to God our Lord, and to this commonwealth. They +attend with punctuality the devotional exercises and the divisions +of time according to the arrangements of the college, and thus derive +profit in letters and in virtue. The Indians, too, repair to Ours, as +they would to parents; and with the confidence of faithful children +they make known their doubts and give account of their affairs. For +instance: An Indian, on the day of the birth of Christ our Lord, +was in his house contentedly repairing his boat and preparing to +make a voyage the next day for matters concerning his occupation, +when a certain person chanced to pass his house, who said to him: +"How now? dost thou dare to work on Christmas day?" The other answered +him, in jest: "Oh, yes! I have permission from Jesus Christ to do +this." But his chastisement was not long delayed, for just when he +was making ready for his voyage on that very day a violent and mortal +illness attacked his family, sparing neither wife nor children, and +laying him at the door of death, so that for three months he could +not leave his house. He came to us in remorse, and acknowledging his +guilt; and after telling us these things asked for advice, made his +confession, and prepared for communion, through the efficacy of which +he recovered his health, and was able to accomplish those things which, +on account of his sins, our Lord had prevented him from doing. + +While one of our brethren was sojourning in an Indian village far from +that city [of Manila], two incidents occurred whereby was seen and +manifested the supernatural virtue of the holy _Agnus Dei_, so famed +for many other great miracles. Two women were quarreling, as is usual +among barbarians and vulgar people. One of them was a famous witch, +and in anger and passion she threatened the other woman with summary +vengeance through her charms. She went home; and the poor Indian +woman, entering her own house without fear of evil, was seized with +a violent trembling throughout her body. In this paroxysm she arose +from her husband's side while they were eating their food and fought +desperately to throw herself down from the window. The husband ran, +in his consternation, to save her, and called loudly to his neighbors +for help. Three persons ran to her, and were hardly able to hold +her. Our brother sent to ascertain what this disturbance meant, and +when he learned what had happened he called the husband and gave him +a little piece of the _Agnus_ in a reliquary, exhorting him at the +same time to have faith, and promising that his wife would soon be +healed. Then, upon his knees, the brother prayed our Lord to deign +to grant his request, for the greater strengthening of the faith +of those new Christians. The husband went home with the _Agnus_, +and no sooner had he applied it to his wife, than she was freed of +the trembling and terror and remained quite calm. This occurrence +soon became public, and another Indian, who had been bewitched by +the same Indian woman, on seeing this marvel was convinced that God +granted health to those who invoked Him; accordingly, he asked for +the same relic, and the result was conformable to his faith. Thus the +people were confirmed in their faith, and grateful for the benefits +received from the bounteous hand of the Lord. + + + +The number of villages in the mission of Taitai, and the events +therein of the year MDCII. Chapter LXXVIII. + + +The villages of San Iuan del Monte, Antipolo, and others, were +instructed by Father Francisco Almerique and Father Tomas de Montoya, +with the help of another priest who desired to enter our Society, and +who busied himself in assisting us in this work to the great profit of +the Indians, of whose language he had an excellent knowledge. These +fathers were joined by Father Angelo Armano, who had gone hence two +years before and had been detained in Manila compiling the history of +the saints, whose relics, as we have said, had been deposited in our +Church--a work which this father made very learned and eloquent. Having +completed this task, he went to Antipolo, where he began the study +and practice of the native language, with admirable results in all of +those villages. On the death of Father Almerique (who was stronger +than the rest), the burden of work so exhausted the others that, +falling sick one by one, the entire load fell upon Father Angelo, who +bravely sustained it for several months. This mission contains three +principal villages, all of which are capitals of their respective +districts, other villages being annexed and subordinate to each of +these three. Each one of these villages requires and needs at least two +priests with their usual assistants, in order to give adequate care to +so many souls. San Iuan del Monte, which is a village of about four +hundred inhabitants, has near it Dalig and Angono. Antipolo contains +seven hundred houses, and has the two villages of Santa Cruz and +Maihai. Santiago was then being settled, with more than four hundred +inhabitants, and had in its vicinity other villages, especially two +inhabited by blacks, or Itas. All those people were in charge of +Father Angelo Armano, who, during Lent of the year one thousand six +hundred and two, maintained them in great devotion and fervor without +their losing sight, on that account, of their devotional exercises +throughout that season, especially in Holy Week. During the latter +period, the divine services were celebrated with great solemnity, and +there were processions of blood in the two churches of San Juan and +Antipolo, with a goodly number of confessions and communions. Another +father--a middle-aged man, who knew the language--came from Manila to +help in this work, with orders not to remain more than one week, on +account of the need of priests in Manila. However, on the second day +of Easter, the rector of Manila came with two other fathers who knew +the language, on their vacation, very opportunely for concluding the +confessions and communions in those villages. During the month that +we spent there, there was a notable concourse of people who came to +confess, and great was the number of communions. At that time there +occurred to Father Pedro de Segura, who was one of those who had gone +thither from Manila, an extraordinary incident in connection with +the image of our blessed Father Ignatius. One morning, at daybreak, +he was summoned in behalf of a woman who lay in a critical condition +from childbirth, and wished to confess with Father Segura. While +the father was dressing himself to go, he sent for an image of our +father, to whom he professed great devotion--which had been increased +by the outcome of the shipwrecks which we have described, in which he +himself had been present. There was some delay in bringing the image, +so that the father reached the sick woman first; and after he had +confessed her the image arrived. The poor woman was much exhausted, +and, according to the midwife, in extreme danger. The infant was dead, +and as it lay obliquely in the womb, the mother could not obtain +relief by expelling it. The father exhorted her to have confidence in +our Lord, and placing the image before her, left her calling loudly +to heaven in her anguish. A second time they called him to hear +her confession; and the father, having done so and encouraged her +as before, went away. As he was descending from the house the woman +expelled the infant, to the wonder of all at seeing the dead child, +and the mother living and free from so great a peril. + +The people of Antipolo celebrated with great solemnity the feast of +the most blessed sacrament, which was attended by the people of our +mission as well as of many others. A dialogue in the Tagal language +was spoken by the children of the seminary with much cleverness and +indication of ability, and to the satisfaction and pleasure of the +hearers. This seminary is making great progress in both spiritual and +temporal affairs. It is aided by the Indians, with generous alms for +its maintenance; and (what is of even greater value) they act with +such harmony and edification that they may well serve as an example +to the Spanish youth. Some of these pupils are of signal virtue, +and our Lord shows them many favors. Every day they go to hear mass, +or, in case there is no one to say it, to commend themselves to our +Lord in the church. They regularly go from their houses reciting +aloud the Christian doctrine; and, upon reaching the church, they +conclude it upon their knees. They celebrate the feasts with much +solemn pomp and music (for the seminary can furnish good music); +and they practice there reading and writing, and other honorable +and virtuous exercises. The hospital is making excellent progress, +and the Confraternities assign each week those of their members who +are to care for the service of the sick, doing this, as I have said, +with great alacrity and devotion. + + + +The new residence of Silan and its Christians. Chapter LXXIX. + + +This new field of Silan was assigned to the Society of Jesus from +the year 1599, as the people of those villages, among whom were some +Christians, were without a priest to minister to them, although they +were but a day's journey from Manila. [24] There are five villages, +which contain about one thousand five hundred inhabitants, besides the +many other people who, as is their custom, are separated and dispersed +through the country districts, in their cultivated lands. These +villages are in the tingues, as they call them, of Cavite, among some +mountains; the climate there is very moderate, and in no season of +the year is there excessive heat--rather, the mountains render it +cooler. The people are simple, tractable, and well inclined toward +all good things. The first members of the Society who went expressly +to instruct them and to settle there were Father Gregorio Lopez +and Father Pedro de Segura, who went in the year 1601. In previous +months and years some of us had gone there for a short time, as we +had visited other places, on a mission or by way of recreation; and +by the friendly reception that they gave us and the results which, +by Divine grace, were accomplished among them, we were encouraged +to establish among them in that year a regular mission, stationing +there the two fathers whom I have mentioned. Through the teaching +and good example of those fathers they abandoned some of their evil +practices, and applied themselves to the Christian customs with good +will and pleasure; and many (for there were no Christians among them) +received holy baptism. + +Not only do they attend their own mass and sermon on Sundays +(never missing one of these services), but on Saturdays they go +to hear that in honor of our Lady, which is said for them with as +much solemnity as that on Sundays. They were greatly encouraged in +the observance of these masses and feasts by the following incident +which occurred at that time: A woman, who was very eager to finish +the weaving of a piece of cloth, sat down at her loom one Sunday to +work thereon; afterward, upon returning to her task, she found the +cloth all eaten away by moths. She herself made this known, with +the full knowledge that it had been a chastisement and penalty for +that offense of hers. To assist us in instructing the large number +of catechumens in those villages, and in teaching the doctrine to +the innumerable children who assemble at the mission from all the +settlements, our Lord provided for that work an Indian blind in body +but truly enlightened of soul, who, with great faith, charity, and +love for the things of God, instructs those who wish to be baptized, +catechizing them morning and night in the church. He is so expert in +the catechism that none of us could excel him therein. Consequently, +they come from his charge marvelously well instructed; and, although +he is blind, he is so watchful over the large number of catechumens in +his charge, that he notes if even one person is absent, and reports +it to the father. The first time when he received communion, which +was on the feast of our Lady, he displayed such profound respect and +reverence that his body trembled while receiving the holy sacrament, +and so great devotion that the sight of it inspired that emotion in +others. This man deserves all the greater credit for what he is doing, +for having gone from one extreme to another; formerly he was one of +the heathen priests, whom they here call catalones, and now he has +become a preacher of our holy faith. This he relates, while uttering +fervent thanks and exalting the great favors and benefits which God +has bestowed upon him. + +The increase of this mission has been very great, although it requires +arduous labors on the part of the fathers, who have been obliged to +go forth among mountains and rugged cliffs seemingly inaccessible; +for they go to seek the people in their huts and grain-fields, where +it seems as if the devil, in order to deprive them of instruction and +gospel truth, had persuaded them to seek wild and rugged places which +can be reached only with the greatest difficulty. In this work the +fathers have spent the greater part of their time, and have gathered +into settlements (to the consolation of their own souls) a great +number of people, of all classes. Old persons who seemed the living +and fearful images of death, men, women, and tender little children, +of all ages, have in this way become acquainted with gospel truth; +and as they see that we act disinterestedly in all things, even aiding +them in our poverty, they are attracted to us, and soon are ranked +in the number of the faithful. + +The fathers have succored them in their sickness; and during a +pestilence which was prevalent in one of the places visited from this +mission, they went there twice to confess the people, although the +distance was great, and the roads so difficult that in the going to +that one place one must go through nine or ten precipitous ravines, +to pass which, as it was then the rainy season, they must walk +barefoot, the mud in many places being knee-deep. The fathers heard +the confessions of all the sick, some of whom our Lord soon took to +Himself. While returning from this village the father passed through +a little hamlet of Christians not dependent on this mission, which +lay within some very rugged ravines; and among all its people there +was not one who had in all his life made confession. They welcomed +the father with great joy, going more than a quarter of a legua out +of the village to meet him; and when he departed from the village +they accompanied him to a like distance. He heard the confessions +of some, and all were desirous of removing to our mission-village; +they put this desire into execution, at the end of four months, by +breaking up the entire village, and proceeding with their families +to Silan. This and other beneficial results from that residence of +Silan are well described by Father Gregorio Lopez in a letter written +by him for the father-visitor, thus: + +"Early in my stay there, the people told me that in Caibabayan was a +catalona, or priestess; and in order to cut the thread of evil, and to +gain a knowledge of those distant fields and peoples, I went thither, +desiring to act toward them as a father rather than as a judge; and +the Lord, who is the true Father of all, fulfilled my desire. Finding +no present evil, but only the report of past things, I sought to +reëstablish the reputation of the person whom they defamed. I found in +one of the most distant fields, an old man about seventy years of age, +who was crippled and had been sick for days. I baptized him, giving +him the name of Ignacio, and invited many others who had not even +been baptized--encouraging in them the desire for so great a good, +helping them to learn what was necessary, to which they commonly give +attention. Word was sent from one to another among those mountains +and plantations, and those people followed me about with tokens of +love and offered to entertain me. Afterward were baptized there many +persons of all ages--children, youths, and old men. A few days ago I +was informed that in the villages of Malabag, Balete, and Dinglas there +were many sick persons who needed help. I set out in the morning after +saying mass, thinking to return in the evening; but when I arrived +there and saw the needy condition of the people, I changed my plan, +for I found in Malabag many sick persons. After I had cared for them +I heard the confessions of many who were infirm and old, and those +who wished to guard against the malady which was attacking many of +them--and perhaps not a few that they might profit, at little cost, +by the presence of the new confessor in their village. I passed on to +Balete and found that it had become a hospital. I went through all the +houses to hear confessions, but could not finish them on that day; so +I continued this task on the following day, and then went to Dinglas, +where I found the same needs. All, both the sick and those in health, +were greatly consoled by my visit; and finally I returned to Silang +in the night, with the fiscal and others, who accompanied me. I had +occasion to make other and shorter trips among the plantations in +the vicinity of Silang, as they contained sick persons who were in +need; I also desired to ascertain what houses and persons were in +those country districts. Moreover, I thus did something to further my +plan of removing them to the village and to have them carry thither +their rice and their little possessions, desiring to accomplish what +your Reverence so desires, and which is so expedient for the proper +instruction of those people. The great activity and solicitude of +the father, who is my companion, was of great value to me in this as +in all other matters; and the coming of the father rector and Father +Diego Sanchez, who assisted us here until Lent, was most valuable, +adding more energy and ability to our forces, and consoling and +encouraging those people with suitable instruction. + +"After Christmas I was summoned back to Manila, but in Lent was sent +again to the village of Silang. At that time I found the mission +greatly increased by the many natives whom the fathers had recently +brought together; they were coming to us each day from other villages +(the entire village of Indan had joined us), all of them very needy, +and almost half of them unbaptized. On the feast of St. Gregory I +baptized twenty-five persons, only one of whom, a sick woman, was of +adult age, and on the feast of the Annunciation twenty-one, of whom +nineteen were adults; at present another goodly number of them are +being prepared. The number of those baptized this year is about two +hundred, and the confessions very numerous; and the number of those +admitted to communion is about fifty, the choicest of whom are members +of the confraternity. We erected our altar of the sepulchre [25] as +skilfully as we were able, and celebrated the offices [appropriate to +the occasion], by the help of which this new people gained new light +upon the services of Holy Week. Those who took the discipline, going +forth in a formal procession, were on Holy Monday, the singers, who did +this by way of preparation; others desired to march on Holy Tuesday, +but, as the day was stormy and the winds violent, I forbade them to +do so. They had their procession on Holy Wednesday; and others, in +greater number, marched on Holy Thursday. Our most important procession +was on Holy Friday, in the evening; two images were carried--one, +a small crucifix (for we had no larger one); the other, an image of +our Lady--while the choir sang the litanies. When this procession +ended, people gathered in sufficient number to form another; this +was caused by the lack of [woolen] tunics, which were removed by +their wearers and lent [to those in the second procession]. In all +the processions except the principal one, the music consisted of the +Christian doctrine, sung by the children as they walked. + +"I must continue the account which in other letters I have written to +your Reverence of the favors which the Lord communicates by means of a +print of our blessed Father Ignatius; for He is continually bestowing +these favors upon those new Christians, on account of their strong +faith in Him. A woman was brought in to us, sick and unable to speak, +and was dying before us without our being able to obtain from her +a word or sign so that we could give her absolution; the statement +of her friends, moreover, that she had asked for confession, was +doubtful. I was therefore anxious and grieved, until I brought her +an image of our blessed father, and I said mass for the sick woman, +and when I returned she was able to speak, and made a good confession; +but utterance again failed her, and she died in peace. + +"When I returned the second time, I was called in haste to visit a +sick woman, great with child, who was suffering violent pains and +torment. We went to see her, and it aroused our compassion to behold +her in convulsions of pain, both she and the infant (which was entering +the ninth month) being in danger of death. I sent for the image of +our blessed father, and then left the sick woman with Diego, our good +blind man, and his wife, who performs the duties of a midwife. So +good service did they render, in conjunction with the intercession +of our blessed Father Ignatius (to whom they were greatly devoted), +that very soon they sent for me to baptize the child, which was born +alive. I baptized it, but it died; and the mother regained her health. + +"On Holy Saturday a young man came to me in alarm, saying that +a demon was trying to choke his sister. I went to her house and +found her suffering from an oppression in her breast and throat, and +distressed by fear. I asked for the image, and when it was brought, +I heard the sick woman's confession; she was at once relieved from +the oppression and anxiety. For her greater consolation I left the +image in order that she might have good company. + +"On the following day, the Lord accorded us a most joyful Easter +Sunday. In the morning there came to me a man, but recently arrived +from Indan, who said that his wife was in a very exhausted condition +from the pains of childbirth. I sent him with a boy to take the +image of our blessed father and carry it to his home. He departed at +once, and when the image was carried into the house his wife brought +forth her child. It seems that the Lord has chosen to confirm this +newly-converted people in their recent coming to Him, and in their +faith. A few days ago, a Bilango came to us in haste to ask for the +image in behalf of a woman who was in childbirth; and as soon as +it was brought to her, she gave birth to a child. In Santiago also +the fiscal, remembering what he had heard about our blessed father, +entreated his aid, as his wife was in a like critical condition, and +her life in great danger. Immediately her infant was born alive, and, +while receiving the water of holy baptism, passed on to the bliss of +eternal light." Thus far I have cited the letter of Father Gregorio +Lopez; he could easily have related therein many other unusual events +and marvelous incidents which occurred among those new believers. He +omitted them probably for the sake of brevity, and because many of +them are quite similar--for which reason I too omit them. But I must +not fail to mention one incident which occurred during the absence of +Father Gregorio Lopez, at which time his companion, Father Pedro de +Segura, remained in Silan. Two Indians came to this father one night, +seeking relief for a woman who was the wife of one and a relative +of the other. She was suffering violent pangs in childbirth, and +was in a most critical state, being unable to expel the child. The +two Indians earnestly entreated the father, in their simplicity, +for some blessed beads. He gave them his own reliquary, and as they +were carrying it away he bethought himself of the image of our blessed +Father Ignatius. Immediately he summoned the fiscal (who is always a +man of mature years and trustworthy character), and gave him the image +to be carried to the sick woman. The Indian woman, when she beheld the +image, took it in her hands with devotion and love, and at the same +moment gave birth to a child as beautiful as an angel, to her own great +joy and the wonder of those who were present. Soon afterward she named +the child, on this account, Maliuag, which signifies "difficult;" and +again, at the baptism, Ignacio, in memory of so signal a favor. The +name which this woman gave her child at its birth gives me occasion +to describe the custom of these people in giving names. + + + +The manner in which names are conferred among the Filipinos. Chapter +LXXX. + + +When a child is born, it is the mother's duty to give it a name; and +whatever appellation she gives it must remain its name. The names +are most often conferred on account of certain circumstances--as, +for example, Maliuag, which means "difficult," because the child's +birth was such; Malacas, which signifies "a man of strength," because +the mother thinks that the child will be strong, or desires that it +be so. At other times they name it, without any symbolism or special +reason, by the first word which occurs to them--as, for example, +Daan, which signifies "road;" Babui, which means "pig;" or Manug, +which signifies "fowl." All persons are called by these names from +birth, without using surnames until they are married. The first-born +son or daughter then gives his or her name to the parents; for until +they die they call the father Ama ni Coan, "father of So-and-so," +and the mother Ina ni Coan, "mother of So-and-so." The names of the +women are distinguished from those of the men by adding "in." Thus, +while the name of a man and of a woman may be practically the same, +that of the man is left intact, and to the woman's is added the +[termination] "in;" for example, Hog (which means "river") being +the name of two persons of different sex, the man is called Hog, +the woman Hoguin. In naming children they use diminutives, just as +we do; but in order not to exceed the limits of my narrative, or +to enter those of grammar, I shall not enumerate these, or the other +appellations more personal, more intimate, or more elegant, which those +people use for nearly all the degrees of relationship. For instance, +_ama_ means "father;" thus the son, in speaking of him to a third +person calls him _ang amaco_, that is, "my father." But the son in +addressing his father directly does not call him _ama_, but _bapa_, +which is a more intimate and affectionate term; nor does he address +his mother as _ina_, but _bai_. On the other hand, the father and +mother in familiar intercourse call their sons, brothers, uncles, +and other near relatives, not by the common appellations of such +relationship, but by others more intimate and personal, which signify +a like connection. This is but another illustration of the fertility, +elegance and courtesy of the Tagal language, which we described in +chapter 16. The children of those natives were reared in such respect +and reverence for the names belonging to their parents that they +never called them by these, whether the parents were living or dead; +they believed, moreover, that if they uttered these names they would +fall dead, or become leprous. + +At first, I was much often annoyed at these superstitions, because, +as I did not know the secret, I would upon occasions of affability +or flattery, or necessity or obligation, inquire of the son for +his father; and, as he gave me no answer, I remained confused and +abashed. But, with the aid of Divine grace, this and other bad +customs and errors were banished and forgotten; and we played a +game--our fathers, and the little children, and even the adults--in +which each one told the name of his father, I also telling them the +name of mine. Not only this, but anyone would name the parents of +another--a thing which they consider a great incivility and insult. + +It is a general custom among all these nations not to have any special +family names, titles, or surnames; using, as I have before said, but +one appellation. Now, besides the Christian name, Juan or Pedro, they +use as a surname that which the mother gives them at birth--although +there are mothers so Christian and civilized that they will not use +this latter name, but prefer that both Christian name and surname be +conferred in baptism; this we often do. The wretched "Don" has filled +both men and women with such vanity that every one of them who has a +tolerably good opinion of himself must place this title before his +name; accordingly, there are even more Dons among them than among +our Spaniards. + + + +The visit which the right reverend bishop of Sebu made to Bohol, +and the fervor and growth of those Christians. Chapter LXXXI. + + +The right reverend bishop of Sebu, in the course of his visits +among his flocks, determined to go for this purpose to the island of +Bohol--which, as we have said, is about eight leguas to the south +of the island of Sebu--taking as his companion Father Francisco +Gonzalez of our Society. We learned of the outcome of this visit +through that father's account of it in one of his letters, as follows: +"I think that your Reverence knows of the visit which his Lordship +made to the island of Bohol; but, as it was my lot to accompany him, +I shall relate to your Reverence, if only in outline, something of +what befell us there. He visited in the island of Bohol eight villages +which are instructed by the fathers of the Society, and confirmed +therein three thousand Christians, spending about twenty days in the +visit. Most remarkable was the fervor which resulted from it, for the +Christians made excellent preparation for receiving the sacrament, +many of them, in all the villages, making their confessions. Besides +this, he had previously trained and examined them, all being assembled +in the church, in the catechism, causing them to repeat aloud the +principal mysteries of our faith. A sermon was preached them wherein +they were exhorted to feel much grief at having offended our Lord. At +the conclusion of the sermon, they all fell upon their knees, and +offered audible acts of contrition and of love to God. They were +next asked if they desired to receive the sacrament of confirmation; +and they answered aloud that they desired it, in order that our Lord +might pardon their sins and strengthen them in the faith. Then, his +Lordship confirmed them, with a short exhortation at the end of the +ceremony, by which they were all greatly consoled and fortified in +the truth of our holy faith. This result was greatly aided by the love +and so paternal affection which the lord bishop manifested to them not +only in the church but in their houses--going to visit the sick, and +confirming them in their very cabins; giving alms, ransoming slaves, +and clothing the poor; and performing many other deeds of mercy. His +Lordship was especially delighted at beholding those new flocks of +his so well instructed, when they were answering the questions on +catechism, which was done in the presence of his Lordship." Such is +the brief account given by the father. + +All these are but flames of that celestial fire which we said had +taken hold of this island, and with which even the little children +are ablaze. Thus in each of those villages nearly two hundred +children assemble every day, uttering praises to the Divine Majesty, +acknowledging His greatness, learning the Christian doctrine, and +imparting it to their parents and elders. The confessions cannot be +enumerated, for they are as many as there are Christians. No one fails +to make his confession during Lent, even though he may have confessed +many times during the year; and with like ardor the other exercises +of piety and devotion are performed. This was especially evident on +Holy Friday of that year, one thousand six hundred and two, during +the adoration of the cross, in which they displayed deep emotion; +they even removed the rings from their fingers and the jewels from +their ears, to make offerings of these. As Father Gabriel Sanchez +has been the usual laborer in that island, I shall here set down +a part of one of his letters in which, with his usual simplicity, +he gives some account of the island and of Christianity therein: +"Our Lord has been well served this year in the island of Bohol, with +the fruits gathered from the conversion of those pagans, for in this +barren waste we have set out a beautiful garden of new plants which our +Lord has planted. Many people have been brought together and induced +to settle in villages, wherein they are instructed. At the time when +I am writing this, we are in a village on the coast, whither there +came down to us yesterday two other villages of the Tinguianes, or +mountaineers, asking us, of their own accord, to allow them to live +here. As an earnest of their desire, they brought as many as forty +children that we might baptize them, which we have done. We value this +all the more because these two villages have up to this time been the +most obstinate and stubborn in all the island: but God has now been +pleased to soften their hearts. May He be blessed and praised that, +if there had been fathers for all of them, the whole island would +now be converted; for, although there are actually in this mission no +more than four thousand Christians, its people are so well disposed +that on the day when they shall have someone to teach and baptize +them they will all be converted. The very villages that we are unable +to teach come frequently to ask that we will go to instruct them and +unite them into one, and give them baptism. But, as so few fathers +have been in this island, we have not been able to succor them; and so +they remain until God shall send them a reënforcement of fathers--of +whom they themselves are so desirous that they have already built +us houses and churches, before a priest has been brought to them, +or even mentioned, to my knowledge. May God, whose plantation this +is, send workmen hither, since there is harvest enough in all this +island; and when they shall undertake to extend their labors further, +there are, near by, some little islands in extreme spiritual want, and +entirely deprived of any human succor for their conversion. Therein +might be held some missions most acceptable to God, all the more so +because those people are so forsaken; for, as those are insignificant +little islands, no one cares for them. Those people are on the road +to hell, if we do not succor them; and we do not aid them for lack of +ministers. One of these islands is called Isla de Fuegos ["Island of +Fires"], and is a half day's sail distant from here. Several times +its chiefs have come to ask that we would go thither. The people +already know how to recite the Christian doctrine, and yet not one has +been baptized there (although they are calling for that sacrament), +for there is no one who may distribute the bread, and thus they are +perishing of spiritual hunger. + +"But, to return to our island, there is great cause to glorify our +Lord in seeing the esteem with which its people regard the Christian +religion, and the fervor with which they one and all fulfil their +obligations as Christians, in confession and communion, and in their +pious and general affection toward the things of God. A week ago, +there was in our house a young man, an infidel, who had come from +another village to see us. He was laughing and enjoying himself with +the others, although quite modestly; yet another lad who was there, a +Christian, said to him: 'How is it that thou, who art not a Christian, +dost laugh and sport?'" Thus writes the father; he adds that the new +baptisms during this past year amounted to four hundred. The number +was no larger, because they did not dare to baptize converts in other +villages until those people could have fathers to maintain them in +the faith and in Christian customs. + + + +The growth of Christianity in Catubig. Chapter LXXXII. + + +The same want of gospel ministers is felt by other residences (as +is plainly evident from what I have thus far said), but especially +in the island of Samar, where for that very reason the exercises of +Holy Week and Easter were celebrated this year in one village; and +there were many confessions and communions together with the feast and +procession of the institution of the most blessed sacrament--both of +which were conducted with devotion and grandeur, although with some +inconvenience, as they were not celebrated at their proper time. + +Nevertheless, on account of the extraordinary and crying needs +of Catubig--which, as we have said, is in the eastern part of the +island of Ibabao, bathed by the South Sea--Father Juan de Torres, +accompanied by a brother, was constrained to go thither from Tinagon +at the end of the year one thousand six hundred and one. For a year +and a half no one had visited Catubig, because there was no one who +could go there; and now, although this caused a lack of service at +other stations, the greater needs of Catubig compelled us to leave them +[for the present]. Well did our Lord exercise them in their journey, +so that upon arriving they might enjoy the pleasant fruit which +they afterward gathered; for besides the rivers and swamps--through +which they journeyed with the water, in some places, and the mud in +others, to their knees--the slopes and mountains were so rugged that +it was impossible to advance except by using their hands as feet. But +consolation was not long delayed; even before they reached Catubig, on +their very way, our Lord aided them, as the father himself describes +in the following words: "One night three villages met together, +rejoicing at our arrival, and, thinking that it would be appropriate, +I told them about the things of the other life, the immortality of the +soul, and the existence of God; and of the reward for Christians, and +the torment for those who are not. I am sure, my father, that among +the many people who were there you would not think that there was +one who had not faith, to judge by what they said and the questions +they asked, and the way in which they encouraged one another to +receive baptism. They soon made arrangements to build a large church, +and gave me a list of all the inhabitants, including the children, +of whom there are an infinite number. God knows what my grief was +at seeing them in the arms of their mothers; for they appeared to +me like unto the ripe fruit hanging from the bough, which, if the +gardener neglects it, is either stolen or decays, and thus is lost." + +Refreshed by such consolation, the father continued on his +way, crossing the entire island of Ibabao, as far as the river +of Catubig, where he found the whole people busied in their +grain-fields. Accordingly, he went farther to some small islands lying +adjacent in the broad sea, where the people had already gathered in +their rice crops. In one of them, called Batac, he made a short stay, +and the people from all the neighboring islands assembled there to +celebrate the Christmas festivals, and attend to the things pertaining +to their salvation. When they were about to return home, advice was +given to the women in other matters relating to civilized ways and to +modesty--especially in regard to their mode of dress, which, on account +of their being a rough and barbarous people, was not quite decent; +but after they were taught, they adorned and covered themselves more +modestly. They had built, in anticipation of the father's coming, a +church and house and even a confessional for the women. After a goodly +number had been made Christians, the father returned to the principal +station, which is Catubig; and at his departure these poor creatures +besought him earnestly not to leave them so forsaken, now that he +was going away, but to teach some Christian the form and ceremony, +so that he could baptize them in cases of necessity. The father did +so, and left them with much grief in his heart. But these pains, +which in truth are more intense than those of childbirth, we often +suffer there, since the harvest is so great and the laborers are so +few. So many were the baptisms in Catubig that the father, fearing +lest the blessed oil and chrism would give out, carried the water of +baptism from place to place, in order not to prepare it so often. [26] + +Among the notable conversions in this mission, which amounted to seven +hundred, the most distinguished and remarkable of all was that of a +chief some sixty years of age, and highly esteemed in that region. In +this case much time was needful to extricate his conscience from the +former robberies and tyrannies which we have already described. He +gave their freedom to many slaves, and, in order to settle other +obligations which were not defined by the church, presented to us a +handsome house, so large that, together with the church (a building +about fifteen brazas long), it serves us a commodious habitation for +our fathers who are there; and finally, after a thorough preparation, +baptism was conferred upon him. He was governor of the village, +and yet as a catechumen he attended each morning the sermons for the +children. There he encouraged all, both children and adults, exhorted +them to adopt Christian customs, and rebuked in them anything that +seemed to be opposed to these. When the father reminded him that all +his household should be baptized, he attended to that matter with +surprising energy. He himself conducted them to the church, and with +efficacious arguments persuaded them to be baptized. In this way the +greater number of his household were baptized, the rest being deferred. + +Another conversion no less notable also occurred, which I shall +relate. An Indian chief from another island happened to pass through +a village where the father was sojourning. He went with the press of +people to hear the father speak, and our holy faith so convinced him +that he did not for a moment leave our fathers, asking them questions +about his salvation. So pleased was he with the instruction that they +gave him, that without saying a word, keeping to himself this new +secret of his vocation, he went back to his island, where he became +a new preacher. He persuaded his wife, children, and relatives, +actually carrying away all his kindred; and went to the place where +the father was, in order to enjoy the light of the gospel, which had +not shone on that country of his. He went in quest of the father, +and carried him as a gift a turtle, the shell of which required two +men to lift it--so monstrous in size are the turtles in those seas; +some of them I have seen and eaten. This chief often made known to +the father the state of his soul, and sought spiritual aid in very +exact and clear terms; and if he forgot anything therein, he told +of it in the same maner on the next day. His preparation continued +thus until, having given full evidences of his faith, he entered with +all his household--wife, children, sons-in-law, and servants, in all, +twelve persons--through the gate of holy baptism, into the flock of the +great shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ our Lord. He was a man of great +valor, as will be seen from an incident which we learned concerning +him. A large crocodile often came to the neighborhood of his house; +and the Indian, angered thereat, determined to punish the hardihood of +the beast. For this purpose, abandoning the usual means of catching +those animals (that is, with a large hook), blinded by rage and +trusting to his own valor, he assembled as many as twenty persons; +and while they stood watching him, he leaped alone into the water, +and swam toward the beast with a knife in his hand. Then, diving +beneath the crocodile, like another valiant Eleazar, [27] he gave it +several knife-thrusts in the belly and killed the beast. And, as a +greater trophy, he was not, as was Eleazar, buried in his triumph, +[28] but remained alive and sound--without a wound, or any lesion +beyond two insignificant scratches, one on his forehead, and one +on his leg. At this instant his followers hastened toward him, and +dragging the beast to the shore, were hardly able, with the strength +of all, to land it, although it was floating on the water. They saw +(and told me of it) a monster of incredible size, the largest that +I have ever seen there, or heard of. The animal measured, from its +shoulders to the tip of its tail, five brazas, [29] and from the +shoulders to the mouth one braza--making its total length six brazas; +and across the breast alone measured a full braza. + +There was another crocodile, smaller than this one, which inflicted +loss on the household of a reputable Spaniard of Manila; and this +man came therefore to our house to entreat that Ours would provide +him with a father who would make his Indians Christians. The affair +occurred thus: This Spaniard was in his encomienda, where his house +stood on the shore of a river much infested by these beasts. While he +was dining one day, a youth, one of those who waited on the table, +went to the river to wash some plates; but he did not finish his +task, for a crocodile suddenly sprang upon him and swallowed him. The +people [in the house] saw this tragic event, and the good man left +the table, grieved that the youth should perish without baptism, +and desirous to see if there might be some means of giving him the +sacrament before he should die in the belly of the crocodile. He soon +decoyed the animal by means of a little dog, a food of which these +beasts are very fond; and, having captured the crocodile and landed +it on the shore, he cut it open and found the boy within, whole but +dead. This man, who measured the beast (which was not a large one) +told us that it was fifteen [Spanish] feet in length, but that the +capacity of its stomach was extraordinary: for within it were found, +besides the corpse of the boy, a great number of eggs of various +animals, and fifteen human heads. Grieved by this sad event, he had +come to entreat that instruction might be supplied in his villages; +but this could not be done, as there was no one to give it. + +But to return to Catubig: I shall conclude my account of this mission +with the miraculous experiences of two children, which gave us more +consolation than did the incident which we have just related. While +some Indians were on their way to visit the father, one of those fierce +beasts attacked their boat, and seized a boy by the arm, carrying him +away before anyone could rescue him. The boy, following the pious +custom that those people have of invoking Jesus and Mary, when he +found himself in the water in the power of the crocodile, cried aloud: +"Jesus and Mary, help me!" and the marvelous thing was that the beast +at once let him go practically unharmed, for the few scratches that he +had received from the nails hurt him but little. Rejoicing at this, +and strengthened in the faith, they drew the child from the water +into the boat, praising God for His mercies toward them. One night +the same father was summoned in behalf of another child, who was +very sick. His parents were very sorrowful, for, although but ten +days old, he had not sucked his mother's breast for three days. They +were anxious for his recovery, but desired, even more, that he should +not die without baptism. The father went, and baptized the child; +and the next morning, when he inquired about it, they replied that +the infant was already well, for holy baptism had immediately cured it. + +Let this suffice concerning that mission, and at the same time conclude +my narrative, since I have now related the most notable events, and +those which seemed most important and edifying, up to my departure from +those islands--which, as I said in the beginning, was in the month of +July of the year one thousand six hundred and two. [30] I trust that +the progress of events from that time until the present, a period +of almost two years, may give no less satisfaction and consolation, +and that of the future even more; and I hope that it will have a more +able chronicler; indeed, any one in the Society can do it better than +I. It is enough for me that I have tried to render some service to the +Society by this humble work, which although a small one, has cost me +much effort. This, and that other and greater task of undertaking so +many and so long voyages (made not for my own pleasure, but in response +to the claims of obedience), I think deserve the reward which I desire +and claim for them, which is nothing else than the object to which +those labors were dedicated--the increase and extension of the holy +Catholic faith in those so remote islands, by the conversion of so +many souls who are so ready to receive it. May your Paternity and all +those who are able to come to their aid take pity upon them, so that +ministers of the gospel may distribute to them the bread of heaven, +for the hunger from which they are dying. It is a sorrowful thing, +more sorrowful than can be told, to see them die without relief. At +Roma, March 5, 1604. + +_Father Chirino_, of the Society of Jesus. + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1604 + + + Letters to Felipe III. Pedro de Acuña; July 15 and 19. + Decrees regarding religious orders. Felipe III, and others; + February-July. + Grant to the Jesuit seminary at Cebú. Pedro Chirino; [undated; + 1604?]. + Decree regulating commerce with Nueva España. Felipe III; + December 31. + + +_Source_: All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: These are made by Robert W. Haight--excepting the +third, which is by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin. + + + + +LETTERS TO FELIPE III FROM PEDRO DE ACUNA + + +On the Sangleys + +Sire: + +The two ships which came this year from Nueva Hespaña arrived in sight +of these islands on the tenth of last month, and the captain made the +port of Cavite on St. John's day. The Almiranta, not being so good a +ship, could not follow him, and remained on the shoal of Mindoro until +the fifth of the present month, which caused great loss. The viceroy of +Nueva Hespaña writes me that the cause of these ships leaving Acapulco +so late was because they had met this despatch and that of the Conde +de Monterey for Peru, and that for the coming year he will see to +it that it is earlier. This is necessary, for it has likewise been +unavoidable, on this account, that those who were going back to Nueva +Hespaña should be late in leaving here; for the Sangley merchants, +taking warning from the many losses which they have suffered, and the +neglect of the Spaniards to pay them during years past, will not give +up their cloth without first seeing the silver at hand. Accordingly +they waited until the money came before buying the goods and making +up the packages and cases, all of which used to run on credit. + +I wrote your Majesty by way of Yndia, in November and December past, +of the uprising by the Sangleys, and the outcome of it, with what up +to that time had occurred to me, which your Majesty will have ordered +examined when this arrives. In case my sheets may have been lost, +duplicates of them will go with this. + +In that despatch I informed your Majesty that I was considering +sending a ship to China with information of the event, so that if +any ship belonging to the rebels should arrive there and try to place +on us the blame for their loss and ours, they might be made aware of +the truth. This was done, although with some opposition, and was of +so much use that when certain captains learned that this ship was in +Macan they determined to come, although with little merchandise--for +they came with some hesitation, as they afterward said, as they do +not wish vengeance to be executed upon them for the loss which the +others had caused by the said uprising. I had the property which +was deposited returned to them (which I think amounted to more than +[_MS. defective_] pesos), which was to them a strong proof of our +innocence; this was done that they might not credit in China what +those rebels who arrived there had published, for they said that, +in order to seize the property for ourselves, we had taken the lives +of those Sangleys. These goods deposited belonged to quiet Chinese +merchants, reputable persons, who were not in the uprising--and even +for the most part had hanged or suffocated themselves, at seeing +what a plight those of their own nation had put them in, and that +their own countrymen were robbing and maltreating them, as is told +in the relation of this affair. From the said deposited property +had been appropriated, by my order and that of the Audiencia and the +council on finances, a sum amounting to more than thirty-six thousand +pesos, to aid the troops; and when the affair was over I was quite +unprovided and embarrassed, as there were likewise other expenses for +fortification and for the exigencies of the service of your Majesty, +and there was no other place whence it could be supplied. We cannot +satisfy the Chinese at present, as we have not the means to do so; +this troubles me much, as I should wish to be able to fulfil the +offer I made to the viceroys of China by my letters, which was the +restitution of this property, which would remain on deposit until it +was surrendered to the owners. As the necessities have been so great +since then, we could not avoid deferring this; it appeared best to +carry out our agreement with these people by giving them the money, +since they had the cloth to sell, but it has not been possible. I +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to order that the viceroy of Nueva +Hespaña send us this amount for this purpose, as I doubt much if the +obligation can be satisfied here for many years. This commonwealth +has been greatly consoled at seeing that the Chinese have chosen to +continue the commerce, of which we were much in doubt; but they have +actually done so. This was made easier by sending the information, +and the entire failure of one year; in many ways this loss cannot be +repaired. Nevertheless, the lack of money is felt in the treasury; +for the duties on the entry and clearance of the goods from China, +the royal officials tell me, amount to forty thousand pesos less this +year than the year past. I believe that in the coming year we will have +many goods here; for the little which they brought this year has sold +very well, and they are content and quite satisfied at the freedom +allowed them in their traffic, and that nothing is taken from them +without their consent, as they were not before favored in this manner. + +I have responded to almost all the points of a paper which your +Majesty ordered me to write on the sixteenth of February of the past +year 1602--as your Majesty will command to be examined in my answer, +to which I refer you, merely saying that there I explain everything +which might be said in this. + +Christoval de Azqueta, captain and sargento-mayor of this camp, +has passed more than twenty-eight years in these islands. During all +this time he has been occupied in the service of your Majesty in the +affairs of war, and a very good account of him has been given. He +is one of the most serviceable men I have for this employment; for, +besides being a very good soldier, he has wide experience in all the +islands and their ports. Likewise I was very well satisfied with +his person on account of his having so well and so industriously +attended to his duty as sargento-mayor at the time when the Sangleys +had invested this city. It being understood that a great body of +them had fortified themselves at San Pablo and another at Batangas, +and that they were in a region where much food could be obtained on +short notice, as it was near the harvest time in those provinces, +it was resolved that some person of tried valor should go to punish +them, being provided with a number of Indian arquebusiers, archers, +and other soldiers, and a few Japanese, with one hundred and fifty +Spaniards, and the necessary munitions for that purpose. I chose for +this the said sargento-mayor, Christoval de Azqueta, and he left with +his troops. He went about it so skilfully that the undertaking was +successful, and all the Sangleys were left dead except a few whom +he brought for the galleys. Therefore, considering the condition in +which this colony was, and the risk which he ran in this service, it +was one of the most important which have ever been performed in these +islands for your Majesty. I have desired to give the sargento-mayor +some testimonial for his honor and gratification, but I have not done +so because I had not the means to do so. I have therefore offered +him this, to give him a good encomienda; and accordingly it will be +given and allotted to him in the name of your Majesty, at the first +opportunity. He has, moreover, earned it by the services which he +performed long ago. It is fitting that it should be known that your +Majesty favors and honors those who serve him, so that others may +be encouraged to do the same. It has seemed best to me to give an +account of this to your Majesty and to beseech you, as I do, that +you should be pleased to command that the affairs and claims of the +sargento-mayor always be favored, and that honor and grace be done +him; for in this affair I can assure you, the service which he has +done here was greater than appears by this writing. + +The punishment of the Sangleys being accomplished, there remains +to us another care no less great, which is the suspicion we have +that within a short time a great fleet is to come from China to take +possession of this country, as I wrote your Majesty last year. This +arises from the coming of the mandarins, and from information that +some of those Chinese who were punished for their guilt in their +uprising were trying to circulate. Accordingly all the people were +persuaded that this rebellion depended upon that; and at one time a +rumor was current to the effect that seven hundred Chinese ships had +been seen not far from here--on which occasion it seemed best to me to +put things in order as thoroughly as if I had certain advice that the +said fleet was on this coast. Among other precautions which I took, +I appointed for the company left vacant by Don Tomas Brabo (my nephew, +whom the Sangleys killed in the uprising), Captain Juan de Villaçon, +as he is a soldier who has spent many years in Flandes, and during +that time had been the alferez of Don Luis Brabo de Acuña, my brother; +and because he has had experience in the conduct of war in besieged +cities--as it was expected this one must be so in a short time, and +as we had very few or none to whom we could have recourse in such a +case. It was necessary for me to urge and coax him, and he accepted +it because it was on such an occasion, and to please me. Although the +auditors were in the midst of so many cares, and I was hard at work +fortifying the weak places, erecting bulwarks and opening trenches, +they issued an act in which they commanded me to make appointments +according to the royal ordinances, and that in the meantime there +should be no changes--as if that were the time for such offices to be +filled by whomsoever the auditors wish and ask to do it, or in which +to be considering ordinances, instead of what was most fitting for your +Majesty's service and the good of the cause. It was necessary in order +to make them understand this, or make them willing to understand it, +to use much time and energy; and they finally approved of it as if +they were doing me some great honor. By this event your Majesty may +see to what tune the affairs of war were going, with demands and +responses. God was pleased to bring it about that the information +which I sent from Macan caused the Chinese not to collect any +fleet in China for the present, and that the merchant ships came; +I accordingly dismissed Captain Villaçon, giving him his discharge, +seeing that the reason for his accepting the said company had ceased; +I have thought best to give an acount of this to your Majesty, that +you may be informed thereof, and may have given such order as may be +expedient in similar cases which may arise in the future. + +The decree which your Majesty ordered to be sent to me with the +declaration of the places which must be taken in the processions and +public acts by the president, auditors, and prelates when they take +part therein together, arrived at a very opportune time, and has been +necessary to avoid the troubles which have arisen with the archbishop +in this regard, as he would not be persuaded that this was the will +of your Majesty; but he is satisfied with the decree. + +We are on good terms with the emperor of Japon, and likewise with +his vassals who come here to trade and to make money on flour, hams, +tunny-fish, nails, iron, weapons, and other things which they bring to +sell. They go back with loads of deerskins and Chinese merchandise, as +they have always done. This year, owing to the loss of the ship from +Macan, they brought some money and spent it. I have overlooked this +for the present, and allowed it to be done in order not to displease +them. But I have warned them not to bring any more, or I shall not +give them any chance to employ it. + +The accountant Juan de Bustamante, who acts in that capacity for +the royal exchequer of your Majesty in these islands, is very old, +infirm, and crippled, for which reason the affairs of his office are +not so well expedited as they should be. I last year besought your +Majesty to order him retired and pensioned, and to appoint a person +in his place. At present I shall again make the same suggestion, +as it appears to me important for the service of your Majesty. + +The Marques of Montes Claros, [31] viceroy of Nueva Hespaña, last year +made the allotment of the money which your Majesty has graciously +permitted to be assigned to the citizens of these islands. As this +cannot be done punctually in Mexico, and there are in that country +interested persons--perchance the very ones who are apportioning +the money, or giving their advice therein--there have been many +complaints. This could not be otherwise, as Mexico is so far away +and they cannot know there what each of the citizens here has and +deserves, and what ought to be given them. The viceroy writes that +he did the best he could, and could do no better, and accordingly +I believe him. He likewise wrote me to send him some information in +regard to this matter. What I have done is to appoint eight persons +from the most honored of this colony, and disinterested in the matter +of partnership, to make the allotment among the citizens, as is done +with the cargo, considering what is most expedient and most just +and satisfactory for the people; and it has been so done. I have +allotted to the distributers themselves their own part because I was +not willing that they should allot it. I have sent the memorandum +to the viceroy. Your Majesty will be pleased to order that the said +allotment be made in accordance therewith, as well as the licenses; and +that, this be continued from year to year; for it is most expedient, +and with it there will be less uncertainty and fraud. + +The royal treasury of these islands is in great need of inspection +and reform. It should be put in good order and well regulated; for, +according to the officials, there are no ordinances, nor is there +proper government and administration for the property. Although +I do what I can to maintain it, some measure must be taken in this +regard which will be more radical and put it on an entirely different +footing from the present one. The original inspection made in past +years was by the factor, Francisco de las Missas, alone. I have this +in my possession, and a copy of it was sent to the Council by Doctor +Morga, who took it. As the commission for the inspection of the other +officers--delivered to me in order that the late licentiate Cambrano, +might make it--covers only the time of four months (which is not +even a long enough period to look over the papers), I instructed +them to take a further adjournment, so that this vacancy in the +inspector's office should not cause the neglect of necessary work; +and accordingly I am doing so at present. Your Majesty will command +according to your pleasure. + +It has likewise seemed best to give your Majesty an account of the +inexpediency of appointing as inspector of the auditors any of their +companions, especially those who have exercised that office at the +same time with them, and given judgment in the same affairs; for if +one of them has acted unjustly, the other one may have done so as +well, and might not perform his duty in reprimanding or inspecting +those whom he should. Your Majesty will order as is most expedient. + +In the despatches which I have sent from here since I arrived via Nueva +Hespaña, I have advised your Majesty of the great difficulty which +lies in the appointment by the viceroy of Mexico of persons there, +as the commanders, admirals, and other officials who come and go on +the ships; and how important it was that they should be appointed +here from those who have here served your Majesty, for the reasons +which I there gave, as your Majesty will command to be examined. The +same matter confronts me now, and every day I am coming more to see +the great injury which this commonwealth suffers, without finding any +means for its redress. I promise your Majesty that I am not moved to +this step by the greater importance which this office will then have, +but only for the service of your Majesty, and by seeing that this +is as I have said in my other letter; and that there is great need +of reform, in order to ward off disaster at all points, for it is +very near. May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your Majesty, +in the prosperity which is necessary for Christendom. Manila, + +July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuña_ + + + +It is not expedient that there should be an Audiencia in the +Philipinas. + +Sire: + +For a long time I have been reflecting upon the matter which I shall +here mention, and many times I have resolved to give your Majesty +an account of it, and of others as important. I have been kept back +and restrained, by fear that it might or could be suspected that +I was moved by some personal interest or passion; but owing to the +difficulties which have confronted me in one way and another, having +consulted and conferred with serious religious and other persons, +both ecclesiastical and lay, who look at the matter dispassionately +[_MS. defective_] resolved not to delay any longer, for it appeared +to me that otherwise I did not act in accordance with the obligations +of my office, or the favor which your Majesty has done me by putting +me in this position. + +Your Majesty has a royal Audiencia in these island with four auditors, +one fiscal, and other officers, whereby your Majesty spends each +year sixteen thousand five hundred pesos. It seems that this might +be dispensed with for the reasons set forth in the paper which goes +with this, and to which I refer, only adding (what I may say in all +truth) that, although this commonwealth is in the greatest trouble, +through the many causes of death, wars, conflagrations, afflictions, +shipwrecks, and the destruction of so much property, as your Majesty +has learned, there is nothing which it feels more keenly today, or +which afflicts it more, than to have the Audiencia here judging, and +with it to lack all freedom of person or property. The name of auditor +is so odious here that it alone offends; and we have come to such a +state of affairs that because I, in conformity to what your Majesty +has ordered, have attempted to maintain and have maintained amicable +relations with the auditors; and have shown, on various occasions, +more patience and endurance than the people considered right; and +more than seemed fitting to my situation, in order not to give rise +to scandal: some have conceived hatred for me, publicly saying that, +to comply with the expenditures and opinions of the said auditors, +I was neglecting to look after them, and that I could correct the +evil which the Audiencia was doing. But as I cannot do that, it has +seemed to me the best means to let the public see that there was good +feeling between me and the Audiencia, and to give an account to your +Majesty now of the reasons which lead me to this conclusion, in a +letter separate from other matters, as I am now doing, and to which +I refer you. I shall end by saying that I remind your Majesty that no +private interest moves me to take this step, but merely the obligation +and zeal which I have always had and now have for the service of your +Majesty. This is vouched for by the fact that, a year ago, I sent my +brothers the order and authority to beseech your Majesty to be pleased +to grant me the favor of commanding an appointment for this charge, +and giving me permission to go to España, where I might continue +my service more nearly in the sight of your Majesty; and although I +hold it certain that this was not neglected, I would again on this +occasion lay on them the same obligation, and beg your Majesty to be +pleased to command that my request be favorably regarded. May our Lord +protect the Catholic person of your Majesty through many long years, +with the prosperity necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuña_ + +[_In the margin_: "Let it be answered that his letter is received, +and have him thanked for his zealous interest and care in all that +he mentions. Respecting what he says of abolishing the Audiencia, +suitable measures have been taken, and for the present nothing will +be done in regard to it. As to the general statements made in his +report, in regard to the trade and traffic which he speaks of and the +proceedings of the Audiencia, let him give particular information +of what auditor or officer is trading in this way, and whatever is +worthy of correction--so that, having considered it in the Council, +fitting measures may be taken."] + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila, to his Majesty; 1604. Don Pedro de Acuña, on the +fifteenth of July, concerning the inexpediency of having an Audiencia +in the Philipinas. July 20, 1606, examined and decreed within."] + + + +Reasons why there should be no Audiencia in the Filipinas Islands, +and why the one there should be abolished. + + +In all the islands there are not more than twelve hundred Spaniards; +and the suits are so few that for the greater part of the year the +Audiencia has nothing to do, and there is no business to be despatched +therein, and the auditors are dismissed after having passed judgment on +a few petitions from Indians--and sometimes not even these, because +none are presented. The administrative session is just the same, +and most of the time only exists in name. + +There are no cases here of importance which cannot be adjudged by the +alcaldes-in-ordinary; and if we had a lawyer for a lieutenant-governor, +as we used to have before the said Audiencia was established, that +is sufficient for business--which would be despatched with less +difficulty, and without the Audiencia being missed; for when there +is any suit of importance, which seldom happens, appeal can be made +to the Audiencia of Mexico, as was formerly done. + +It must be taken into consideration that each auditor or fiscal +brings with him, his household, wife, children, and relatives, who +are drawn by the idea of coming to the Yndias, and has other creatures +and connections; and for one and all of them he must procure aid and +favor so that they may become rich; for this is the aim and intention +with which they come here. Accordingly, although your Majesty has +commanded that the livings and offices of these islands be given to the +old citizens and those deserving of these rewards, the auditors and +their wives bring it about that the said relatives, dependents, and +other persons whom they bring with them are the first to be provided +for. If the governors do not consent to this, the auditors dislike +them, and seek means and expedients whereby the worthy persons to +whom the said offices and livings are given shall not be received +therein. Accordingly the governors, in order not to displease the +auditors, give up their claims and dare not insist upon them. + +The said creatures and connections of the said auditors trade and +traffic a great deal in merchandise from China; and the citizens +complain that it is with the auditors' money (their own, or borrowed), +and that with the favor they receive they cause great injury to the +commonwealth, for they take up the whole cargo. They desire to be +preferred therein, and in buying the cloth, and in every other way, +try to take advantage. If the president wishes to remedy this they do +not cease to offer him little annoyances; for the auditors know how to +magnify themselves, in such a manner that they give one to understand +that any one of them is greater than he; and they attain this by +saying that what the president and governor does they can cancel, +and that what the auditors decree has no appeal, recourse, or redress. + +This country is not at peace but at war; and it is therefore more +fitting for the time being to attend particularly to military affairs +and to the government, for our defense, than to keep courts of high +justice. For in countries so new the rigor of the law should not +be applied in all cases; and, when some punishment must be applied, +they say that it shall not be done, and are of no use except to undo +what the governor and captain-general orders (as well in matters of +war as of government), although these things may be quite just. + +All the resources of this land are scanty, but if there is anything +good the auditors also say that they want it for themselves; and when +there is a Chinese embroiderer, tailor, carver, or other workman, +they proceed to take him into their houses and have him do much +work--in such a way that the Sangley himself has no freedom. Such +benefits do not extend to the citizens; but rather, if any of these +things are available, the said auditors demand them and by entreaty +or intimidation get possession of them. It is the same thing in +regard to jewels, slave men and women, articles of dress, and other +things--in such manner that, as experience has proved to me since +I have considered it very well, when there were very few officers +in this colony affairs went more smoothly, and the affairs of the +service of God and your Majesty in a more orderly manner. Aid could +be given to the one or the other, and to the defense of this land, +with fewer hindrances and less difficulty; for in my opinion there +is no one who in one way or another is not seeking his own gain and +private interest, and the more there are of them the greater injury +is wrought. We are compelled to overlook these things, and others of +more importance, that we may not experience worse trouble; for we are +unable to do more, as your Majesty is five thousand leguas from here, +and redress comes so slowly. + +The same trouble arises in the matter of provisions, each one looking +after the care of his own house without considering the needs of others +or of the poor, who should be looked after; consequently nothing can +be heard but complaints and clamors from the people--poor and rich, +and of all conditions--loudly asserting that the auditors are seeking +everything for themselves. + +Since in what regards the payment of their salaries they consider +and assert that these must be preferred and the first paid even +if it be from the stated fund for the religious orders, bishops, +ministers of instruction, and for the military forces, who are before +them in order--they have difficulties and misunderstandings with the +royal officials; and as the said auditors do not care for the great +importance of paying the soldiers, and look only to their private +interests, I have had many complaints from the said royal officers, +as they must have written you. + +The soldiers, captains, master-of-camp, and military officials are +greatly discontented and grieved at the ill-treatment which the said +auditors accord them; and at seeing that they are hindered by them, +an auditor commanding at his will the arrest of a captain, official or +soldier, without cause or reason, and interfering in all the details of +service--even going so far as to inspect their quarters, and send them +to the public prison, for very trivial affairs, against all military +precedents. If affairs are going in an orderly and concerted way, it +is when the auditors do not meddle with them; for all this concerns +primarily the chief commander and officers provided therefor. Judging +by the state in which things are in the Filipinas today, and in the +opinion of right-thinking men, soldiers are of more use and benefit +in the commonwealth than are judges, for the former do more than +their share, and the others are deficient. Considering the evil which +results to the soldiers from seeing themselves punished and checked by +so many magistrates; the hardships which they so commonly endure, and +the occasions which are every day arising where these are necessary; +and in view of the scant and poor pay which is given them, and as +they are the defenders of the land, and are so far distant and little +favored; and seeing the great hindrance which the Audiencia is for +military affairs--for they will give no opportunity for the execution +of edicts, nor do they attend to what is necessary, as it appears +to them that they are sufficient for everything; and that they can +manage this matter like those which they have studied--we may fear +some irreparable injury. We should immediately prepare for this, +especially as the enemies which we have here are not like those in +other parts of the Yndias, but much greater in number and more skilful +in war, and accordingly more adroitness and prudence are necessary +to maintain us; and the soldiers must be content and well paid, +and ordered by their leaders, of whom they should not have so many. + +The property which your Majesty has here is very little for the +ordinary expenses which every day arise; and if it is not brought +here from Mexico with more care and punctuality than hitherto, +affairs cannot be maintained here in any way. Even with that which +is sent we suffer much hardship; and accordingly it is necessary to +avoid expense, so far as is possible. That which is incurred for the +auditors and Audiencia is not so insignificant, as it is not less than +sixteen thousand five hundred pesos, not counting other expenses; and +then the fines from condemnations, which they apply to suit their own +convenience. These amounts, taken altogether, would be enough for an +armed fleet, with which to help in the defense of this land--which is +needed badly enough, but which for lack of money we cannot equip--and +many other things could be remedied. In the future there will be +still more difficulty in this matter, because of the extraordinary +expenses which have resulted from the uprising of the Sangleys, and the +deficiency which on this acount has this year resulted in the royal +duties on merchandise from China, which goes as high as thirty-five +to forty thousand pesos; and there is a further loss of five or six +thousand pesos each year, which is the amount of the tributes from +the Sangleys--an income that we formerly received, which is now at +an end. Consequently, I do not believe that the Audiencia will be of +any use at all, but rather it will cause great injury to the service +of your Majesty and the welfare of this commonwealth. Even if the +two were not rivals, I doubt very much if the Audiencia could be +maintained without there being great deficiency in everything else, +if their salaries are to be paid here. I consider it more advantageous +and safe to spend what the said Audiencia draws in salaries, to aid +in paying the soldiers and maintaining the fleet of galleys which +[_MS. defective_] we defend, and not the presence of the said auditors +and Audiencia, as they themselves assert who were of the opinion that +the Audiencia should again be established; for this country is not even +in a state to be able to bear such a burden, as it is so ill provided, +as I have said, and so borne down with troubles and even with war. + +Likewise another difficulty is presented, as the treasury is always +straitened; and, on account of the great care which the auditors take +to collect their salaries, as it cannot be so prompt as they would +wish, they seek borrowed money from the citizens--who give it to +them, willingly or unwillingly, each one according to his means or +designs. From this follow difficulties, to which they pay no heed; +as some of them demand these loans from persons who are parties to +suits at the time, who grant these to the auditors in order to place +them under obligations, and profit by them. + +The difficulty which presents itself to me in this matter is that, +if the Audiencia is abolished and everything left in charge of the +governor, there will be but slow and poor remedy for the grievances and +disorders which may occur. For they must be taken to the Audiencia of +Mexico, which is so far away that the aggrieved ones would consume +both life and property before the business was settled. Several +difficulties occur to me, which are connected with this; but having +informed myself fully on this point as to what has happened in the +past, all say that they consider government by one person the best, +when he governs justly. These men know what the governor can do +without the Audiencia, and with it; and they believe that it is +better when there are not so many to command them, for they have +never seen the audiencias redress illegal acts by the governors. I +therefore consider it better, before God and my conscience, that your +Majesty should choose for this charge some gentleman and soldier who +has proved trustworthy, and whose mode of governing and procedure has +been learned and tried in other offices. He should be a good Christian, +and, above all, not greedy; for if he is affected with this last the +country is ready and eager for an alteration of its condition, whereby +the same losses which we have seen in other cases might be caused here. + +I am likewise confronted with another difficulty, which is redress +for violations of the law by the ecclesiastical judges; but these +are cases which seldom happen, and it does not seem just, in order +to settle an affair of this sort, that others of a different nature +should be deranged, and that an opportunity should be given for so many +troubles as result from the contrary--especially as we might attend +to such a case by some suitable means, referring it to trustworthy +persons here, who would take it in charge. + +Although there is no doubt that much of what this paper recounts occurs +in other regions where there are audiencias, it must be remembered +that in this country, which is the newest of all and more engaged in +war than any of the others; and where the hardships of conquest and +maintenance are so omnipresent; and your Majesty has little profit or +advantage, except the cargo of cloth which goes to Nueva Hespaña, and +which is divided among all; and as the resources of the country are +so scant that there it no place to go in order to seek a livelihood +outside of Manila: there is much criticism in this matter, and the +people are much grieved at seeing themselves in the utmost part of the +world, harassed and troubled by so many magistrates and officers and +their dependents, and at having so many to satisfy; and that matters +are in such a state that he who has an auditor for a protector may, +it appears, go wherever he wishes and with as much as he wishes, +and he who has not must be ruined. Dated at Manila, July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuña_ + +Sire: + +There is in this city a seminary named Sancta Potençiana, of which your +Majesty is the patron, where the daughters of the citizens of these +islands are sheltered, and carefully taught and instructed. It has been +visited by the archbishop of the islands, Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, +and when he observed the custom that obtained of allowing the wives +of citizens to enter within the seminary, he issued a decree with +censures, ordering that no person, without any exception, should have +entrance there. The fiscal of your Majesty considered this a matter +for complaint, saying that it was not in the said archbishop's power +to do this, as the matter did not concern him. The case came before +this Audiencia as one of fuerza. When the proceedings were examined, +he was charged to raise the said excommunication, and leave the matter +as before, as it was purely a case for the [secular] government, and +concerned the governor of these islands, who represents the royal +person of your Majesty by virtue of the royal patronage. Various +controversies regarding this having arisen, and answers on the part +of the archbishop, this Audiencia continually overlooked his actions +that they might avoid a rupture with him, as your Majesty will see by +the documents that accompany this. Since it is most expedient that in +the future he should be restrained from issuing such decrees, and that +scandals should not become necessary, we beseech your Majesty that, +after having examined this matter, you will take such action as is +expedient for your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Santa Potençiana. Take this clause in the process +cited to the reporter." "Elsewhere provided for."] + + + +On two voyages from Nueva España Don Diego de Çamudio Manrique has come +to these islands as admiral and commander. He has enjoyed our entire +confidence, and has discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction +of all in these islands; nor has anyone ever said anything about him +other than that he is a good servant of your Majesty. All this, and +the great ability displayed by him in so few years, constrain us to +make this representation to your Majesty, as we have no authority +to reward him. May the Lord protect the Catholic person of your +Majesty. July 19, 1604. In session. + +[_In the margin_: "Recommendation of Don Diego Çamudio Manrique, +telling how meritorious he is, and how worthy to receive reward."] + +_Don Pedro de Acuña_ +The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almaçan_ +The licentiate _Andres de Alcaraz_ +The licentiate _Manuel de Madrid y Luna_ + + + +DECREES REGARDING RELIGIOUS ORDERS + +Sire: + +The order of the Recollects of St. Augustine [32] desire to be +established in the Indias, and have entreated your Majesty to order +that permission be given therefor, and that several religious may +go for that purpose, and to preach the gospel, to Nueva España, the +Philippinas Islands, and China. This request having been examined +in the Council, it has appeared desirable that--as this concerns the +mendicant orders, so highly esteemed, pious and strict in religious +observance, and as they can accomplish much good in those regions +by their teaching, preaching, and example--your Majesty, if such be +your will, might give them permission to go to establish themselves +in the Philippinas Islands, where there is most need of ministers of +the gospel; and these religious are fitted for so new a country by the +poverty and strictness which they profess. Valladolid, February 23, +1604. [There are nine signatures, apparently those of councilors.] + +[_Endorsed_: "Council of the Indias, February 23, 1604. That +permission may be given to the Augustinian Recollects to go to +establish themselves in the Philippinas." _In a different hand_: +"Since this order wishes to send religious to the Indians, notify +the superiors to take care that those who go be learned men, and of +mature age."] + + + + + +The King: Don Pedro de Acuña, governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there: In +my Council of the Indias has been examined the clause of a letter +from the ecclesiastical cabildo of the church there, a copy of +which accompanies this, wherein was recounted the transactions in +relation to the taking posession by the religious of the Order of +St. Augustine of a certain chapel of Nuestra Señora de Guia, which +had been erected into a parish; and how the friars of the Order of +St. Francis, on their own authority, and without any permission, +had established another church in the village of Dilao; and the +freedom with which the said fathers of St. Augustine acted, and +the arrogance shown by them in not receiving a visitor of their +order. As these are matters that should be carefully looked after, +I charge and command you neither to allow nor give opportunity for +such irregularities, and to take measures to check and correct them, +with the utmost discretion, and by the most expedient means possible, +advising me of all that may occur. Valladolid, on the third of June +of the year one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "To the governor of the Philipinas, +directing him to take effective measures to check and correct in future +the high-handed proceedings of the Augustinian religious. Corrected."] + + + + + +The King: Most reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of Manila, +and member of my Council: A letter from you has been received and +examined in my Council of the Yndias, from which has been learned your +advice to the effect that when it is necessary to summon councils +to discuss reforms in certain matters, the religious of the orders +do not attend them as they should, availing themselves as they do +of the privileges which they hold; and that some of them abandon the +missions of Indians which they have already instructed and baptized, +and dispose of and exchange the appurtenances and furniture of the +churches where they administer the sacraments. I thank you for the care +and zeal for the service of our Lord with which you ascertained this, +and have given me an account of it. However, in so far as concerns the +councils, measures will be taken to have his Holiness order a brief +to be issued directing the said religious to attend the said councils +when the prelates summon them. As for the exchanges and sales of the +properties of the churches which you say the teaching religious make, +you will check these by the remedies of the law, excommunicating and +punishing those who oppose you. Accordingly I charge you to do this; +and to be watchful for the preservation and instruction of the natives, +so that what they need may be furnished to them everywhere, for this +is the principal thing that should be looked to by all the ministers +of the gospel. Valladolid, on the thirtieth day of July in the year +one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "Reply to the archbishop of Manila in +regard to stopping the bartering and sale of church furniture by the +religious who give instruction."] + + + + +GRANT TO THE JESUIT SEMINARY AT CEBU + + +Sire: + +I Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus, and procurator thereof +for the Philipinas, affirm that the said Society, as a result of its +desire that there may be in these islands persons who during their +youth may engage in exercises of virtue, to the end that letters +may flourish there, founded a residence [_colegio_] in the city of +El Santissimo Nombre de Jesus eight years ago; [33] and that in it +there are such religious as are needed for the purpose not only of +teaching religion to the natives, but also of giving instruction in +reading and writing to their children and to the Spanish children; +and that also Latin is studied there--from all of which great good +has resulted to the natives, as well as to the Spaniards. Since the +country is very poor, and since the said residence has no income, +it suffers from great need; and in order that the said residence +may advance and may be able to carry on these laudable exercises in +learning still further, and may include the study of other subjects +of knowledge, I offer my petition to your Majesty that you will be +pleased to bestow a gift of one thousand pesos of annual income for +the support of the said religious who regularly reside therein for +the said purpose, charged against the royal treasury of Mexico or +against the proceeds of the saleable offices which are received there. + + +_Father Pedro Chirino_ + + +I offer my petition to your Majesty that you will make a grant against +the following sources of income: In the first place, against the royal +treasury of Mexico, and especially against the saleable offices; +against the royal treasury of Manila; against the dues collected +on the merchandise brought to Manila by the Chinese and Japonese; +against the tributes collected from the Chinese in the island of +Manila; against the dues and tributes collected from the Chinese in +Cebu and Oton; against the Indians who are assigned to the royal crown, +so long as funds remain in the treasury of the fourth. [34] + +The Camara [_i.e._, Council]; let this be now examined. At Valladolid, +January 14, 1605. + +The licentiate _Alonzo Fernandez de Castro_ + +I, Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus and procurator thereof +for the Philipinas, affirm, in the name of the residence of the said +Society in the city of Santo Nombre de Jesus, that when your Majesty +had examined the official reports conveyed in letters from the royal +Audiencia of Manila and from the bishop of the said city of Santo +Nombre de Jesus, and the _ex parte_ statement made at the request +of the said residence, your Majesty decreed that the matter should +be considered at the present time. Since the present necessity of +the residence is so urgent, as appears from the documents presented, +and since the service which it will perform to our Lord God and to +your Majesty is so great, provided that the grant desired for the +said residence shall be given, I supplicate your Majesty anew to be +pleased to consider again the documents which in virtue of a royal +decree of your Majesty were made and have been presented. From the +four Statements of testimony officially presented, will plainly +appear the care and attention with which the religious of the said +Society have attended and do attend to the administration of the +holy sacraments, and to preaching and hearing confessions, not only +from the Spaniards of the said city of El Santo Nombre de Jesus but +from the natives and Sangleys. They give their assistance in all the +necessities of the people, both spiritual and temporal, with special +care; and the said residence has schools in which their children are +not only taught to read and write, but also receive instruction in +good morals and habits, and, for all those who desire it, in Latin +also. There are many students, from whose education and instruction +results much good and advantage to all that country. At the same time, +the aforesaid residence is very poor, since it has no fixed income +to sustain it. The result is that it suffers great need; and if it +receives no assistance there is no doubt that the necessity in which +it at present is will be increased, since the country is very poor, +and the gifts which are made to it are extremely small. At the same +time the expenses are heavy; and it is now housed in a very small, +old, wooden building, which at the present time is decaying and is +in great need of repairs. The members of the said Society receive +for the masses, administration of the sacraments, preaching, reading +and all their other ministries to their fellow-men nothing whatever, +but do all these things gratis. It should further be observed that +the citizens of the said city of Santo Nombre de Jesus are few +and very poor, and are unable to aid the said religious with any +gifts or alms. In addition to the aforesaid affirmations, which are +contained in the official evidence, there are other statements in +the _ex parte_ testimony in which the same things are said by twelve +witnesses, one of whom is Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Agurto. Besides +the above, he has written a letter, which is enclosed herewith, +in which he declares as an eye-witness the great service done to +our Lord God in those regions by religious of the aforesaid Society; +and the great value of their residence there, from which great profit +results to the said city and all that province of Cebu, distant from +Manila one hundred and fifty leguas by sea. This said residence is, +as it were, a nursery and asylum for all the missions and centers of +teaching that are under the charge of the aforesaid Society in that +province. There are two letters from the royal Audiencia in which they +state that which they consider necessary to relieve the wants of the +aforesaid residence, and the excellent use to which such a grant would +be put. I pray your Majesty that, in view of these considerations, +this favor may be granted, by giving commands that a regular income +of two thousand ducados of eight reals may be allowed, as has been +requested, for the support of the religious who reside therein. The +aforesaid sum is to be charged against the royal treasury of Mexico, +from the proceeds of offices which are sold, deposited therein; +and therewith the Society will receive a great grace from your Majesty. + + +_Father Pedro Chirino_ + +Granted by the Camara, May 26, 1607: +The licentiate _Alonzo Fernandez de Castro_ + + + + +DECREE REGULATING COMMERCE WITH NUEVA ESPAÑA + + +The King: The king my lord and father (may he rest in peace!) by +various decrees prohibited trade and commerce of the Western Indias +with the Philipinas Islands and China generally, to obviate the +loss that resulted therefrom to these kingdoms and to their trade +and commerce; and he ordered and commanded that no vessel whatsoever +should go from the provinces of Peru, Tierra Firme, Guatimala, or any +other part of the Western Indias, to the said kingdoms of China and +the Philipinas Islands, under the penalties which were for that purpose +imposed. But further, considering the importance of the preservation of +the parts of those lands that are reduced to our obedience and to the +Christian faith (which had been established there), and likewise for +the greater extension of the gospel and of our holy Catholic faith, +he allowed and gave permission for two ships to go each year from +Nueva España to the said Philipinas Islands, each of three hundred +toneladas, in which were to be conveyed reënforcements of troops and +other things necessary, and the goods for trade which were to come +thence to Nueva España, and which were shipped on account of the royal +exchequer; the cost of sending these ships was to be taken from the +freight-moneys for the goods, and the quantity and value of the goods +freighted each year was not to exceed two hundred and fifty thousand +pesos of eight reals, nor the return in money five hundred thousand +for principal and profit, this trade being restricted to the citizens +of the said Philipinas Islands. All the said goods must be consumed +in the said Nueva España, or brought to these kingdoms; and in no +case might they be taken to Peru nor to any other part of the Indias, +[35] under the penalties imposed for such violation, as more fully +explained in the decrees cited, to which we refer. Although it has +been ordered by other decrees at various times that these should +be observed and complied with, I have been informed that this has +nut been done, and that the quantity allowed has been and is being +greatly exceeded in the amount taken each year, with the knowledge +and permission of my viceroys, audiencias, and governors--goods to +the extent of more than two millions of ducats being registered and +openly sent, besides what is secretly shipped. All this money finally +makes it way into infidel kingdoms, whereby their power is increased; +and from this have resulted great losses to our exchequer and to the +commerce of these kingdoms with the Western Indias. Those chiefly +interested in this trade are the citizens of Nueva España, Peru, +and other provinces; they have taken the said merchandise there +against the provisions and commands of the said decrees, and the +warnings sent to the said viceroys, audiencias, and governors, and +the measures that have been and are now being taken are not sufficient +to prevent these violations. As the correction of these lawless acts +and a remedy for the greater injuries that may be expected, are of +so great importance and moment (all these difficulties having been +represented to me), and as I have been petitioned by the prior and +consuls of the mercantile corporation of Sevilla, and other persons +who are zealous in behalf of my service that, in order to stop this, +I should command the entire prohibition also of the trade of the said +Nueva España with the said Philipinas Islands: Having discussed and +considered this in my royal Council of the Indias, and consultations +being held on all that should be considered in this matter, as it +appears that they desire to prevent and avert future losses, and +likewise aim to secure the preservation and growth of the Christian +religion in the said islands, and the neighboring kingdoms, wherein +the service of our Lord is so greatly concerned, I have decided that +for the present the trade and commerce of the said Philipinas Islands +with Nueva España should be maintained according to the ordinances; +that the quantity of merchandise which may be carried each year from +the Philipinas Islands to Nueva España is by no means to exceed two +hundred and fifty thousand pesos of eight reals, as is provided; +and the return of principal and profit in money is not to exceed +five hundred thousand pesos, which I have permitted. For no pretext, +cause, or reason to be alleged therefore is this to be exceeded, and +the traders in every case must be citizens of the said Philipinas +Islands, and none others whatsoever, as is likewise ordered by the +royal decrees of the king my lord, and under the penalties therein +provided. These I command to be executed without fail against the +trangressors, without there being any exemption or excuse. + +Further, in order that this may be better accomplished, and to +remove the opportunities for shipping a great deal of merchandise, +and likewise that the crews may go and come in safety, it is my will +and I permit that there be four ships in this trade, each of two +hundred toneladas burden, and no more; and they shall be my vessels, +and shall sail on my account, two each year; and the others shall +remain in port making ready for the voyage of the succeeding year, +as is ordered--for in this way they will sail at the proper time, +without waiting for one another; nor shall they exceed this number +and capacity. These ships shall be built expressly for that route, +of the said size and of the required strength, on account of the +inconveniences that have heretofore resulted from the ships being +large and having been navigated on the account of private persons, +in whose charge they were placed--which last must without fail cease. + +Furthermore, in order to avoid such large expenses as have hitherto +been incurred on that route, owing to the large number of agents and +officials who have gone in the ships thereon, it is my will and command +that from now on there shall be only one commander of the two ships, +and one lieutenant, who shall be admiral. Each vessel shall take not +more than one captain of war, besides the ship-master, and there may +be as many as fifty effective soldiers in each ship, drawing pay; and +the sailors who shall be necessary to go and return. These shall be +kept under discipline, that they may be effective and practiced. There +shall be two examined pilots and one assistant pilot for each vessel, +of the necessary qualifications. For the present, and until further +orders, I desire, and it is my will, that since the property to be +traded will be that of the citizens of those Philipinas Islands, +all these officials--commander, lieutenant, captains, masters, and +pilots--shall be appointed by my governor and captain-general of the +said Philipinas Islands and the archbishop of Manila, the present +or the future incumbents of those offices, notwithstanding that +they have heretofore been appointed and furnished by my viceroy of +Nueva España; and him I command to cease doing this from now on. If +the said governor and archbishop do not agree in this selection, +I command that they shall join with them the senior auditor of the +Audiencia, and the decision of the majority of these shall be carried +into effect. The persons appointed for these offices shall be chosen +among the principal and honored citizens of the said islands, and +the fittest to be found for the duties that they must perform. They +shall give securities in the form and amount that may seem best to +the said governor and archbishop, for the greater security of what may +be in their charge. Their residencias shall be taken for each voyage +by the auditors of my said Audiencia of Manila; and I command that +they shall not be allowed to make a second voyage until they shall +have given the said residencia, and account satisfactorily for what +was in their charge. + +As I have been informed that there have been many infractions and +irregularities during past years on the part of the commanders, +admirals, and officers of the said ships, in the matter of carrying +money and bringing back great quantities of merchandise on their own +behalf; and that they have caused serious grievances to the traders, +especially to the citizens of the said islands: for the present +I forbid and prohibit them in any case to trade or traffic, or to +occupy or lade the said ships during the voyage made in their charge, +in small or great quantity, under their own or any other name, in any +article whatsoever; nor shall a single tonelada be assigned to them, +as to the other citizens; nor can they buy or take from others any +space for freight--under penalty of a perpetual deprivation of the +said offices on the trade-route, and confiscation of the goods which +they may have laded, carried, or taken, which on investigation may +be found to be theirs. + +I consider it well, and so decree, that, in order that the said +officials may be maintained according to their station and the +obligations of their offices, there shall be give to the said +commander a salary of four thousand ducats, and to the admiral three +thousand, for each voyage out and back. And I permit and allow the +said governor and archbishop to give to the captains, soldiers, +sailors, and artillerymen who shall go in the said ships for each +voyage, the wages that they may assign as their earnings, and as just, +for the said voyage; for to these no more [than to their superiors] +shall permission be given to lade, or cause to be laded, merchandise +in quantities small or great, under the said penalties. + +And as it has been understood that in the past more commanders than +necessary have been appointed for the ships on the said route, and +they have carried in the posts of artillerymen and sailors many who +were not such, it is my will that this should cease and be corrected +henceforth; and that for each piece of artillery that the ships carry, +there shall go one artilleryman, and no more, nor shall wages be paid +to superfluous men. + +And in order that there may be the fitting account and regularity +in all things, all proceedings shall be conducted equitably and with +great precision in the matters ordered. It is my will and command that +there shall be in the said vessels, and sail with them, an inspector +and an accountant, to keep account and system in everything. And they +shall inspect the articles laded as merchandise, and carried back on +return in the said ships, and account for them in their books. The +said inspector and accountant shall be appointed by the governor and +archbishop in the same maner as they select the commander, admiral and +other officers, and with the same intervention of the senior auditor +of the Audiencia in case they do not agree. They shall take care +that these be persons of approved qualifications, satisfactory, and +worthy of confidence; and shall assign them such salary as may appear +sufficient and just, provided that it does not exceed two thousand +ducats a year to each man for each voyage, for they must not ship goods +[for themselves] either little or much, under the penalties provided +for the commander and admiral. And the said inspector and accountant +must sail, one in the commander's ship and the other in the admiral's +ship, alternating each voyage. The said governor and archbishop +shall give them the instructions and plan which they must follow on +the voyage, and they must give residencia like the other officers of +the said fleet, before they embark again for another voyage; and the +consciences of the said governor and archbishop are charged with the +selection and appointment of all the said ministers and officials. + +And since, on account of the overloading of the vessels which thus +far have plied on the said Philipinas route, we have seen that many +have been wrecked, with the men and goods which they contained, and as +it is fitting that this be remedied and prevented, we command that in +future care be taken that the tonnage to be carried in the said ships +shall be conformable to their capacity, leaving the space necessary for +the men who sail in them, and the supplies they take--which must be +sufficient so that in case of the lengthening of the voyage, for any +cause which may arise, the men may not perish for lack of them. Great +care should be taken that they be not overloaded or encumbered, so as +to put them in danger of wreck or some misfortune; on the contrary, +they should be lightly laden, and in such manner as will secure their +safety against storms or enemies that may be encountered. The tonnage +which, as aforesaid, is to be laden in them shall be allotted by my +governor, the archbishop of Manila, the senior auditor and the fiscal +of my said Audiencia, and two regidora of the cabildo of the said city +of Manila, among the citizens of the said islands who may have property +to invest. This allotment shall be made in the most equitable manner, +and without aggrieving anyone (as we are confident they will do), for +it is just that all should enjoy this benefit and convenience for their +maintenance and benefit; and their object should likewise be that the +country be peopled with useful colonists, such as will remain there. + +I also command that my viceroy of Nueva España and the governor +of the said Philipinas Islands, each so far as this concerns him, +shall moderate and regulate the freight charges to be paid on what +is laded in the said ships on their voyages to and fro, according +to the expenses thereof--conformably to the reduction that is made +in the tonnage of the said ships and the number of men who are to +sail in them, and the other expenses incurred--in such manner that +no superfluous or unnecessary expenses shall be incurred (but not +so that necessaries or conveniences shall be lacking), and that +it shall not be necessary to supply anything from my exchequer for +the expenditures for the said fleet. For this reason the duties now +levied and collected on the merchandise shall be raised two per cent, +and that on silver another two per cent, by way of avería [36] as +is done on that carried from the Indias via the Northern Sea in the +fleets and armed vessels; for this is conformable to the profits of +those that trade in the said Philipinas route. The proceeds of this +shall be a special fund, with a separate account carefully kept, in +the said city of Manila, to be used for the expenses contracted for +the said ships and their crews; with this shall be placed the freight +charges which may be collected conformably to the order which will be +given, as has hitherto been done; and in all things the necessary order +and system must be maintained by the said accountant and inspector, +and by my royal officials of the said Philipinas Islands. + +I charge and command my viceroys of Nueva España, both present and +future, to take especial care in the accomplishment and execution of +all the foregoing; and to station in the port of Acapulco, besides +the royal officials who are now there, a person of great integrity, +trustworthiness, and competence, with a commission as alcalde-mayor, +so that this decree may be suitably enforced in all respects; and no +more money may be carried [in the ships] than the amount permitted, +whether with or without license. In the said port the registers of +all that is brought from the said Philipinas Islands shall be opened +by the person to whom that duty is entrusted by my viceroy and by the +officials of my royal exchequer at the said port of Acapulco. They +shall also together inspect and check off the bales and chests, with +the scrutiny and care necessary to ascertain what has come without +registry and contrary to permission. The said registers are to be +sent to Mexico, as usual, with the results of the investigations made +in the said port of Acapulco, by a person of integrity or by one of +my said officials. In Mexico everything shall be again checked off, +and appraised; and the duties that belong to me shall be collected +and proper measures shall be taken to ascertain and learn what has +come registered, and whatever shall be found to have come without +registry, and whatever is carried contrary to the said prohibition, +shall be confiscated: but no permission or opportunity shall be given +for committing, in this procedure, or under pretext or occasion thus +afforded, any injury or act of injustice against the owners of the +said property. + +And I command that the same care be taken at the port of Acapulco in +examining the royal silver and other articles which may be embarked +and carried to the said Philipinas Islands. The royal officials of +the said port shall take account of them, and shall inform my governor +thereof and the royal officials of the said islands, sending them the +registers, and giving them all necessary information. As the majority +of the persons who go every year from Nueva España to the said islands +do not remain there, but return immediately, investing what money +they possess, I command my viceroy of Nueva España to give permission +to no one to go to the Philipinas Islands, unless such person shall +give securities that he will become a citizen and resident there for +more than eight years, or unless he shall go as a soldier, sent to +the governor; and against those who violate this decree, and their +bondsmen, he shall execute the necessary penalties without fail. + +And as it is my will that all the aforesaid should be complied with, +observed and executed inviolably, as also the decrees which were +ordered to be despatched by the king my lord, which are hereinbefore +mentioned, concerning the said trade, in so far as they are not +contrary to what is decreed and ordered, I command my viceroy of +the said Nueva Spaña and my governor and captain-general of the said +Philipinas Islands, and my audiencias there, and my other judges and +magistrates, and all private persons whomsoever--each in so far as +concerns him--to observe and comply with, and cause to be observed +and complied with this decree, with exactness, and to execute the +said penalties without any exemption or remission. And in all cases +of remissness or carelessness which these my ministers shall display +in the fulfilment and execution of the said orders, I command that +the penalties be executed against them, and the example which the +affair demands shall be made; for this reason I command that, when +the residencias of their offices shall be taken, they shall be made +responsible for such matters. And that these commands may come to +the notice of all, and none may pretend ignorance of them, I command +that this my decree be publicly proclaimed. Issued at Valladolid, +on the last of December of the year one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by _Pedro de Ledesma_; signed by the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "Your Majesty's decision and +mandates concerning the trade of the Philipinas Islands with Nueva +España. Corrected."] + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1605 + + + Complaints against the Chinese. Miguel de Benavides, and others; + February 3-9. + Letter from a Chinese official to Acuña. March. + Letters from Augustinian friars to Felipe III. Estevan Carrillo, + and others; May 4-June 20. + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Ribera Maldonado; June 28. + + +_Source_: All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth are translated by Robert +W. Haight; the second and third, by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University +of Wisconsin. + + + + +COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CHINESE + + +In the city of Manila, on the third day of the month of February in +the year one thousand six hundred and five, the most reverend Señor +Don Fray Miguel de Benavides, archbishop of these islands, member +of the council of the king our lord, etc., declared that, since the +uprising of the Chinese Sangleys who were formerly settled in this +city, in a market [_alcayçeria_], or large town (which they call +Parian) that was situated there, the said Parian and town has been +commanded to be built, and has now been built anew, and is at this time +again peopled with the said infidel Sangleys. The said Sangleys are +infidels and idolaters, and a most pernicious and injurious people +to be settled among the Christian natives, newly converted to our +holy Catholic faith; for the said infidel Sangleys are most vicious, +both with women and in an unnatural manner, and are extremely liberal +in spending money for their purposes and desires, and artful and +crafty for every form of evil. Moreover, these Indian men and women +of these islands, especially those of the neighborhod of Manila, +are very easily persuaded to carnal sins, in short, as natives of +so hot and humid a climate; although it is a crime against nature, +this they do not know, and in some regions did not even have a word +for it in their language, until these infidel Chinese made this sin +known to them. These native Indian men and women are very greedy, +and as they are but lately made Christians, and are not thoroughly +instructed, a great many of them find it very easy to leave not only +Christian morals, but even the Catholic faith as well, and embrace the +superstitions and rites which the idolatrous infidels desire to teach +them. Likewise--and this is very important, considering the state of +the faith here, and upon what depends the peace and preservation of +these islands (namely, the faith in God and obedience to the king +our lord), and the extreme danger and peril in which these infidel +Sangleys placed us in the previous year of one thousand six hundred +and three, in the month of October, from which we were delivered only +by the mercy and infinite power of God, by which alone we could be +freed--their desire to slaughter all of us Spaniards, and to make +themselves masters of this kingdom, is much inflamed now at seeing +so many thousands as were here of their fathers, sons, brothers, +and kinsmen, and of their friends and countrymen, slain; and how so +great an amount of their property here was destroyed. With this so +open enmity, hatred, and thirst for vengeance so aroused, they will +seek, great in cunning and craft as they are, to sow discord between +us Spaniards and the Indian natives of these islands, and separate us, +mind and heart. For this purpose they promise and give them articles +of value; for of all known people they best understand how to bribe, +and they will contrive to know all secrets. And all this they can +easily accomplish, if they succeed in maintaining dishonorable carnal +intercourse with the Indian men and women. To stop all this, there +is no other means out to send all the said infidel Sangleys out of +this city, and give them only a place to live and dwell in during +the two or three months of April, May, and June, while the trading +and lading for Nueva España is being carried on; or, if it seems +best to his Majesty, to give license to a few of them, even though +they be such cruel and open enemies of him and of God; and to give +an order that no Indians, men or women, shall settle near them, but +shall remain at a considerable distance from the settlement or market +where these infidel Sangleys may dwell. His most reverend Lordship, +considering these things from the point of view of a person who has +known the Sangleys so many years, is acquainted with their language +and customs, has been in that country of China for a long time, +and has noticed that since the said rebellion and war which the said +Sangleys set on foot and waged against us, some of the natives have +made a settlement on a part of the site where the market and Parian +formerly stood, in which dwelt these infidel Sangleys; and that the +new settlement of the said natives adjoins the new market and Parian +which has been erected for the said infidel Sangleys, in which they +now are, and at present dwell. The said natives are so near to the +said infidel Sangleys, that it is not more than a rivulet, no wider +than a narrow street, that separates them; and it has a foot-bridge of +timbers, which affords passage from one side to the other. And even +this is not the only evil and danger, but as the said Parian of the +said infidels is midway between Manila and the said new settlement of +the natives, every time when those Indian men or women have to come to +this city, they must do so by passing through the street of the said +Parian of the said infidel Sangleys; and at morning, noon, and night +the latter can securely plan and execute all their misdeeds. What is +perhaps the worst is, that from birth the Indians of this country, +men and women, grow up in the water, bathing and swimming. The said +Sangleys see them naked in the said creek, or at best in the river +which is there, close to both districts. What with this unavoidable +chance for caressing them, and particularly for attracting the boys +with fruits and other little presents, they must draw them into their +own vices. This is particularly so as these boys actually go upon +the bank in the district of the infidel Sangleys, and there disport, +and enjoy themselves; and they are usually naked, or, if dressed, +they are almost the same as naked. It is very noticeable with these +Sangley people that they intermix with any other people who are here, +in a very singular fashion; for at once they intermarry with the women +of these nations, adopt their customs, and live like Indians. These +are not the only evils connected with the said settlement of the +said natives remaining there, but there are even other injuries, +perhaps greater, at any rate as great. One is that the said settlement +and district of these said Indian natives is very close to another +district and market, that of the Japonese, so near that they are only +about a stone's throw from each other; and the Japonese are fully as +bad as the Sangley infidels, both on the score of the infamous sin, +and as concerns the need of protecting ourselves from them as from +enemies. For on the banner that the infidel Sangleys raised when +they rebelled and made the late war against us, so endangering us, +there were written Chinese letters, which declared the Sangleys to be +friends of the Japonese; and in the rebellion about sixteen years ago, +when the former royal Audiencia of these islands commanded and caused +to be executed Don Agustin and Don Martin Panga, Indian chiefs from +Tondo, they found a Japonese implicated in the plots and the rebellion, +and hanged him in the plaza here at Manila. There is no one that +does not know the well-founded rumors and suspicions that have been +afloat to the effect that the king of Japon wished to come against +this city. It is likewise a matter of importance that these natives +of this new village and district before mentioned, neither sow grain +nor have lands for that purpose, but can only act as peddlers and +wanderers; and as such, must be ready for any ill deed, especially +if there be profit in it--as there will be, and that a great one, +as has been pointed out. His most reverend Lordship, considering that +he stood alone, has done his utmost to persuade the lord governor of +these islands, Don Pedro de Acuña, to provide a remedy for an evil +so greatly developed (or rather for so many evils), by removing the +said natives from the vicinity of the said infidel Sangleys; but the +said lord governor would not do it. When his most reverend Lordship +commenced to point out the great evils attendant on having the said +natives so near the said infidel Sangleys, the remedy was easy and +without difficulty; for the said district and settlement of natives +had but just begun, and they had not even commenced to build the new +Parian of the infidel Sangleys. Thus, each day the said settlement +grows larger, and its destruction grows every day more difficult; and +later it will be a greater damage to the said natives to remove them. + +Therefore his most reverend Lordship, desiring to check so enormous +sins, and to avert the so evident dangers from them, and the +destruction and end of this kingdom--both in faith and morals, and in +loyalty to the king our lord--commanded and commands that there be +drawn and received an investigation of the said matter, to seek and +apply the remedy, if in justice and right that be fitting; and that +the witnesses received shall declare the truth in all matters, under +oath, and under penalty of major excommunication, _late sententia, ipso +facto_, incurring [_word illegible in MS._] canonical admonition and +[_word illegible_]--as only this said penalty and oath will secure +secrecy so that they will not tell that they were cited for this +purpose, or what they declared, or any part thereof, or that this +investigation is being made, or anything concerning or touching the +matter. Accordingly I so provide, command, and sign; and they shall +declare, under the said oath and penalty, not only whether there have +not been infidel Sangleys here, since his Lordship has taken up this +matter of separating these natives from the said infidel Sangleys +in the district of the said Parian; but likewise whether they were +not living there in the said quarter of the said natives, until his +most reverend Lordship was constrained to make known the truth, and +cause them to be removed from the place--for it had already become +an intolerable thing, in the sight of any man whatsoever. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +By command of his most reverend Lordship: +_Francisco de Carranca_ + + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of February in the year +one thousand six hundred and five, his most reverend Lordship, +Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, archbishop of this said city, caused +to appear before him the canon Pablo Ruiz de Talavera, cura for the +natives of this city, from whom he took and received oath _in verbis +sacerdotis_, placing his hand upon his breast. Having done this, he +swore to tell the truth; and being questioned after the tenor of the +caption of this document, declared that this is what he knows, and +what is occurring. After the uprising and rebellion of the Sangleys +which occurred on the fourth of October in the previous year of six +hundred and three, as the settlement and Parian built by the said +Sangleys was burned--which stood outside the walls of this city, at +about an arquebus-shot from them, where the first houses began--all +the site on which the said Sangleys had thus settled was abandoned. As +it was thus depopulated, several Indian natives of this country, with +some servants of Captain and Sargento-mayor Christoval de Asqueta, +settled in several houses close by and adjoining the said site of the +Parian, so that there is nothing but a creek between (so small that at +low tide it is almost dry), with a wooden bridge; and on the further +side, a stone's throw more or less, is the site of the Parian of the +Sangley merchants (or _auhaes_), where the Xaponese are at present +settled. This witness, as a person who has been in this country +more than thirty years, and who is an interpreter of the natives, +knows that the said Sangleys are a very pernicious people, and are +cunning in all evil. They are especially so in the unnatural sin, +which they practice commonly among themselves, and likewise with women, +with whom they commit the same sin. For this they are very generous, +and readily give bribes for the fulfilment of their desires. Likewise +he knows that the natives, especially those of this district, are +very vicious, and the Indian women very facile and unchaste in regard +to offending God. Moreover, among themselves they never knew of the +unnatural sin, and they had no word or name for it, nor would they +know of it, until these Chinese came to this country; and from them +they have learned it. Further, this witness knows that indeed these +said natives are but lately converted to our holy Catholic faith, and +therefore are easily approachable; for they easily give up not only the +good morals that have been taught them by the ministers of the gospel, +but likewise our holy Catholic faith, that has been taught them with +so much pains, and is being taught them from day to day. And if they +communicate and have dealings with the Chinese, it will be an easy +matter to persuade them to abandon their obedience to his Majesty, +as they did when the said Sangleys rebelled in the previous year of +six hundred and three, when the Chinese gardeners of the village of +Huiapo, where this witness holds a benefice, persuaded many Indians +to rise in rebellion with them, saying that they were good people and +the Spaniards bad. And the said Indians, not wishing to fall with them, +gave information to this witness, as their cura, which he communicated +at length to his most reverend Lordship, bringing the Indians to him so +that they might tell him. And shortly after this the Sangleys rebelled, +and placed this city in so great straits that if God our Lord had not +miraculously delivered us, they would have killed all the Spaniards, +and remained in possession of the country; and the Catholic faith would +have perished here, which has cost so much to the king our lord for +its establishment and support. Owing to the loss of life inflicted on +them so justly at that time, they have become irritated, both those +who remained alive, who now maintain the new Parian--which has been +built on a part of the site of the old one, close to the village of +Indians above referred to--and likewise those that live in Great China, +where their brothers and kinsmen are. These also had a part of their +property burned. And this witness knows that the said Chinese are +a people full of craft in all they undertake, and that they can in +one way or another turn the mind to any rebellion or uprising. This +witness heard Ensign Christoval Gomez--who was sent as ambassador to +the province of Myndanao by the governor of these islands, Don Pedro de +Acuña, and who came back to this city--say concerning a ship of infidel +Chinese, which was in Myndanao and came armed to the port of this city, +where it at present is, that the infidel Chinese of this ship while +they were in Mindanao persuaded the said people of Mindanao to come +to these islands in an armed fleet, encouraged them to do this, and +gave them many supplies of war, catans, and metal to make artillery, +powder, and battle-axes; and the said ensign added, to this witness, +that these Chinese were great rascals, and that they ought all to +be in the galleys. Further, he told this witness that they did not +come to the port of this city of their own will, but were forced to +it by winds; and that another vessel had gone to the island of Xolo +for the same reason. And, both, for this and on account of the hatred +they bear for us, this witness knows that they will do all in their +power to stir up the Indians against us--which will be easy for them, +with the bribes that they give the Indians; and easier still if they +have committed the crime against nature with them, and with their +women. And it appears to this witness that there is no other remedy +than to drive the Chinese out of the country, and allow them here +only during the three months of the year while their trade lasts, and +then let them go back to their own country. And if it should appear +best to his Majesty to give permission to some few of them to remain +in this land, he should order that no Indian men or women be settled +near them, or near the market where dwell the infidel Sangleys. And +this witness knows that his most reverend Lordship is considered to +know the language and customs of the Chinese, having been acquainted +with them for many years past, and that he has spent a considerable +time there in China. He also knows that the Indians of the village +above mentioned are so close to the new Parian of the Chinese that +they must pass through it in going and coming, when they are obliged +to come to this city; and there they have opportunity to talk with the +said Sangleys, to concoct their misdeeds and sins. This witness knows +that the said houses and village of the natives, as has been said, +are also near the Parian of the Japonese, a pernicious people, who, +like the Sangleys, do great harm through practice of the infamous +sin; and they are a more restless and warlike people than the said +Sangleys. They have always been threatening this country with war, +and they have molested it and its coasts by their ships, with which +they come to plunder; and they bring Sangleys as pilots and sailors. In +a native rebellion organized sixteen years ago by certain Indians, at +which time several chiefs who were implicated were executed, they were +in communication with the Japonese, and one Japonese was hanged. This +witness likewise knows that at the time when the Sangleys rebelled, +in the said past year of six hundred and three, there was taken from +them a banner, with an inscription in the characters which they use, +which was examined and read by one who understood it; and he said that +in the said inscription the said Chinese declared themselves friends +of the Xaponese. Besides, it is easy to see the loss that would +result from the intercourse of these natives with the said Xaponese +and Chinese. And this witness knows (for he was present and saw it) +that at the time when they were commencing to rebuild the Parian of +the said Sangleys there were present his most reverend Lordship, +with the president and all the auditors of this royal Audiencia, +the regidors, and many other persons, on the site of the Parian--at +which time they were considering its rebuilding, it being on the first +anniversary of the burning of the said Parian, which was on the sixth +of October of the said year six hundred and three. This witness saw +that the lord archbishop opposed it, saying that it was inexpedient +to build it for many reasons, until an account of them had been given +to his Majesty. And finally he called to this witness, and said to +him that those houses of the Indians--pointing out to him the said +village above mentioned--would better be moved back and taken from +that place; for it was not good that they should remain there, and +particularly when they were considering putting Sangleys so near. This +was heard by the lord governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, and other persons +who were there. And this witness knows that on that same day the lord +governor and both the cabildos, the secular and ecclesiastical, were +in the church of San Andres, where mass was being chanted in honor +of the patron saints of this city, in thanksgiving for their aid, +which, on such a day as this, had given us victory over the Chinese; +and the said lord archbishop preached, and in the sermon discoursed +at length concerning the inadvisability of a second Parian, owing to +the many offenses against God there committed, and the great danger in +which it would again place this city. Notwithstanding this and other +measures which the said lord archbishop took in the matter--such as +sending to tell the lord governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, with Captain +Pedro de Ortega, alcalde-in-ordinary of this city, that this village +of the natives should be removed, as it was so near to the Parian, +in order to avoid the offenses that would there be committed against +God our Lord--so far as he has learned, they have not up to the +present day removed the said village. And this witness knows that in +the said village of the said natives, there was a house of Sangleys, +in which this witness saw three Sangleys; for this witness, as cura of +the natives of this city, was commanded by his most reverend Lordship +to investigate their way of life, and see whether there were any +infidel Sangleys among them. In compliance with what his most reverend +Lordship commanded, he went to the said village, with Señor Geronimo +de Alcaraz, and both together saw the said three infidel Sangleys, +who were living there; and, when asked how long they had been living +there, they answered "three months." Likewise this witness asked the +Indians of the said village and another Indian--a chief from Mindoro, +who frequently went to the said village--whether there had been more +Sangleys. They answered that as many as six other Sangleys had lived +there, in this said Indian village, for more than two months. This +witness knows further that, by a strenuous effort made by the said +archbishop, the said Chinese were removed from the said village. This +procedure was public, as was also the fact that the said archbishop had +informed Señor Don Pedro de Acuña, governor of these islands, that the +Chinese were among these Indians, and that the said lord governor sent +to investigate this an ensign of the guard, who returned and told the +said lord governor that the said Sangleys were not there; or at any +rate the said governor so understood the said ensign. But as the lord +archbishop was certain of the truth, he told the said lord governor, +in the presence of all the people, that they were deceiving him, and +that the said infidel Sangleys were among the said natives of the said +village. As the lord governor was not yet satisfied, he himself went +in person to the said Parian, and, from the bank of the stream, called +for the Sangleys who were living in the said village with the natives; +immediately the said three infidel Sangleys came into the presence +of the said lord governor. This witness asked them how long they had +been there, and they answered that they had been there three months, +and had come from Çebu. This was heard by the lord governor, who was +present, and by other persons who were accompanying him. Then the +said lord governor ordered the said Sangleys to leave the said village +straightway. And the said village of the said natives is, at this very +day, as has been said, in the danger explained in the document heading +these proceedings, and in this statement and declaration. And this +is the truth, by the oath he has taken, which he affirmed, ratified, +and signed; and he says that he is about thirty-five years of age. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +_Pablo Ruiz de Talavera_ +Before me: _Francisco de Carranca_, notary. + +[On the ninth of February of the year one thousand six hundred +and five, the archbishop caused to appear before him for the said +investigation, the canon Diego de Leon, who, having been sworn in +the manner before described, made a declaration in every way similar +to that of the preceding witness. He mentioned as an instance of +the bad faith of the Chinese, the death of Gomez Perez Das Mariñas, +and the many good soldiers that they then killed. Below the formal +closing of the declaration, but before the signature, he adds the +following to his testimony:] This witness further says that in his +opinion, if the infidel Sangleys were to come only for purposes +of trade to these islands, and none of them were to remain here, +the kingdom of China would be altogether friendly toward us for the +sake of our trade; and if none of them remained here, the Spaniards +would have no occasion to injure them, and they would not have time +to acquire influence over these natives, who are quick at learning a +new language, and are excellent soldiers, shooting even better than +do the Spaniards with arquebuses, and possessing very good weapons. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +_Diego de Leon_ +Before me: _Francisco de Carranca_, notary. + +I, Francisco de Carranca, canon of this holy church of Manila, +appointed notary by his Lordship, by his command caused this copy +of this information to be made from the original, which was drawn +before me, and remains in the archives of the notary-public of +this archbishopric. It is a certain and true copy, to the best of +my knowledge, and I refer to the original. Witness its copying, +correcting, and comparison, Thomas de Cardenas and Juan Camacho de +el Hello, residents of this city of Manila, where it is dated, on to +the seventh of July of the year one thousand six hundred and five. + +_Francisco de Carrança_, notary. + +[We append to this document the following affidavit:] + + + +Sworn statement to the effect that there are Sangleys in Manila in +the present year 1605. + + +In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth day of the month of June in +the year one thousand six hundred and five, the schoolmaster Don Luis +de Salinas, whom I affirm that I know, declared that it was necessary +for expediency's sake that I, Francisco Davila, notary of the king +our lord, should testify on oath that today, on the said day here +given, there live, exist, and reside infidel Sangleys in the houses +of the citizens of Manila, or in some of them. It should be known +that they are in the house of the master-of-camp Pedro de Chaves, +and in the house of the master-of-camp Augustin de Arceo, who is at +present exercising the said office and military rank in this camp--and +the said houses form one side of the palace, and front on the Plaza +de Armas--and in the houses of the dean Don Juan de Bivero and those +of Antonio de Spinosa, which are on the plaza of this said city; and +in a number of others belonging to the most prominent citizens--that +is, those of the highest life and rank in the city. The said notary +requested me to give the said testimony, and by these presents I ask +that there be witnesses, that I the said Francisco de Avila, give my +word and truthful testimony that I have seen today, on the said date, +the said Sangleys in the said houses, selling their merchandise and +being present therein as if in their own homes. And in accordance +with the said request I have given these presents in the said city of +Manila on the said day, month, and year, being witnesses thereto the +prebendary Tomas de Cardenas, Antonio Baçan, and Alonso Cano, residents +in Manila. And therefore I have set my seal in witness of the truth. + +_Francisco Davila_ + +We, the notaries who have here signed our names, certify and give +faith that Francisco de Avila, by whom the statement above is signed +and sealed, is a royal notary, and to the acts and instruments which +have been or are drawn before him full faith and credit are given, in +and out of court; and that this may be apparent we have given these +presents, in Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month, of June in +the year one thousand six hundred and five. + +_Bartolome de Quesada_, royal notary. +_Alonzo Gomez_, his Majesty's notary. +_Francisco de Alanis_, notary-public. + + + + +LETTER FROM A CHINESE OFFICIAL TO ACUNA + + +(Translation of a letter from the inspector-general of Chincheo in +the kingdom of China, which was received in this year 1605, addressed +to Don Pedro de Acuña, governor and captain-general of the Filipinas +Islands. The address is to the great captain-general of Luzon. The +same letter was sent by the viceroy of Chincheo and the eunuch of +the same province; and since they are all three identical, without +any discrepancy except in the signatures, this copy stands for all +of them.) + +Learning that the Chinese who went for purposes of trade to the +kingdom of Luzon have been put to death by the Spaniards, I have +inquired into the cause of these deaths and have prayed the king +that he will do justice upon the person who has been the cause of +this great evil, that redress for it may be undertaken and that the +merchants may enjoy peace and quietness. Some years before I came +here as inspector, a Sangley, by name Tionez, [_sic; sc._ Tiognen] +[37] went by permission of the king of China with three mandarins +to Luzon, searching at Cabite for gold and silver. The whole thing +was a lie, for they found neither gold nor silver; accordingly the +king directed this deceiver Tionez to be punished, that the strict +justice done in China might be known. + +During the time of the preceding viceroy and eunuch, Tiognen and his +companion, named Yanlion, told this lie; and I, after I came hither, +begged the king to have a copy made of all the documents in the case +of Tiognen, and to command the said Tiognen to be brought before him +with the record in the case. I myself saw the aforesaid papers and +caused him to see that the whole thing had been a deceit uttered by +the said Tiognen. I wrote to the king declaring that on account of +the deceits of the said Tiognen the Castilians had suspected us of +intending to make war upon them; and that on this account they had +put to death more than thirty thousand Chinese in Luzon! The king did +as I asked him and therefore punished the said Yanglion by ordering +him to be killed, and the said Tiognen, by commanding his head to be +cut off and suspended in a cage. The Chinese who were put to death +in Luzon were innocent, and I with others discussed this matter +with the king, that we might learn what was his will in this grave +affair. There was also another matter of importance to be considered, +which was that two English ships had come to this coast of Chincheo, +a very dangerous thing for China. This we did that the king might learn +what was to be done in these two matters of such importance. We also +wrote to the king that his Majesty should command the two Sangleys +who pointed out this port to the English to be punished. After we +had written the aforesaid letter to the king he answered us that +since English vessels had come to China, they should be commanded +to go away immediately to Luzon, for fear that they had come for +piratical purposes; and that they should carry word to the inhabitants +of Luzon not to give credit to a deceitful and lying set of Chinese, +He also commanded the two Sangleys who had piloted the English to be +immediately executed. As for the other things that we had written to +him he declared that our will should be done. Immediately, after having +received this document, we--the viceroy, the eunuch, and I--sent these +documents to the governor of Luzon, that his Lordship might know the +greatness of the king of China and of his realm (for they are so great +that he governs everything upon which the moon and the sun shine), +and likewise that the governor of Luzon may know the great justice +with which this vast realm is governed. It is long since anyone has +dared to give offense to this kingdom; and although the Japonese have +endeavored to disturb Corea, which is under the government of China, +they have been unable to succeed therewith, and have been driven from +the said kingdom, and Corea has remained in great peace and quiet, +as the peoale of Luzon know well from what has been told them. [_At +the beginning of this paragraph, and on the margin_: "They knew that +the English are our friends."] + +Last year, after we learned that, as a result of the deceit of +Tiognen, so many Chinese had been put to death in Luzon, many mandarins +assembled to agree upon urging the king to take vengeance for all these +deaths. We said that the land of Luzon was a wretched land of little +importance, of old inhabited only by devils and snakes; and that, as a +result of the immigration there a few years ago of so many Sangleys to +trade with the Castilians, the country has been enriched to the extent +to which the said Sangleys have labored therein. They have built the +walls, and made houses and gardens, and other things of great advantage +to the Castilians. Nevertheless, the Castilians had no consideration +for these things, and have felt no gratitude for these good works, +but have 60 cruelly slain all those people. Although we wrote this +statement two or three times to the king, he replied to us that, +although he was grieved by what had happened, there were three reasons +why we should not avenge ourselves or make war upon Luzon. The first +was that the Castilians had long been friends of the Chinese in this +region; the second is that it was uncertain who would be victorious, +Chinese or Castilians; and the third and last reason, that the people +slain by the Castilians were a base people, ungrateful to China, +their native country, to their parents, and to their relatives, +since so many years had passed during which they had not returned +to China. The king said that he did not consider these people of any +value, for the aforesaid reasons; and he merely commanded the viceroy, +the eunuch, and me to write this letter sent by this ambassador, that +the people of Luzon may know that the king of China has great kindness, +great patience, and great pity, since he has not commanded them to +make war against the people of Luzon. His justice is plainly to be +seen, since he has punished the deceit of Tiognen. As the Spaniards +are a wise and prudent race it must be that they would be grieved +for having put so many people to death, and will repent thereof and +will show justice to the Chinese who have survived. If the Castilians +show justice to the Chinese, send back the Sangleys who have survived +the war, and pay the money due for the goods taken from the Sangleys, +there will be amity between this kingdom and that, and merchant vessels +will sail there every year. If not, the king will not permit merchant +vessels to make the voyage, but will command a thousand vessels of +war to be built with a force of soldiers--relatives of the deceased, +and inhabitants of the other nations and kingdoms that pay tribute +to China; and, without having mercy upon anyone, they will make war, +and afterward the kingdom of Luzon will be given to that people which +will pay tribute to China. [_On the margin_: "Those who pay tribute +are Siang, Cochinchina, and Corea."] + +(The letter of the inspector-general was written on the twelfth of +the second month, which, according to our reckoning, is March of the +[_blank in MS._] year of the reign of Bandel. [38] The letter of the +eunuch was written on the sixteenth of the same month and year; and +that of the viceroy on the twenty-second of the same month and year.) + + + + +LETTERS FROM AUGUSTINIAN FRIARS TO FELIPE III + + +Sire: + +This province of our father St. Augustine in the Philipinas enjoyed +a fortunate and prosperous season as a result of the care, zeal, +and strictness in religion of the provincial, who (to my great +sorrow) has just completed his term, and was chiefly inspired by +the advice, directions, and commands which your Majesty has sent +us in your letters, all of which have been scrupulously obeyed and +respected. During this happy time there returned to this province Fray +Lorenso de Leon, [39] a man who after having been provincial here +went on business of the province to España and Roma for six years, +as your Majesty has been fully notified. This father Fray Lorenso de +Leon came, then, to disturb all this good, having sought and pursued +nothing but his own personal interest and desires, with his notorious +vanity and ambition, and having wholly neglected the general advantage +of this forgotten province. + +He arrived last year, one thousand six hundred and four; and up to +the present time (our provincial chapter having been held in the +interim) his only occupation and efforts have been to bring it about +by unfair contrivances that he should attain his own pretensions +and advancement, as is evident by the result. In the face of the +requisitions and notifications made by our assembly of definitors, +he, although he was under solemn oath, concealed the papers and +documents which he brought with him, and brought them forward only in +this present chapter. These documents, although they were nothing but +simple letters from our father-general, were accepted there, in order +to avoid contentions and scandals; and accordingly, as they directed, +he presided in the chapter as vicar-general, the same authority being +valid for all chapters and congregations [of the order] at which he +might be present. Thus he has taken this ancient and rightful name from +our provincials of Castilla, to whom it was granted by his Holiness; +and this without command from your Majesty and your royal Council, +to whom all this is subject. We pray will all humility that such +assumption of authority may be permitted to go no further, in order +that the evils thus begun in such a decay of this province (of which +your Majesty will be informed in this letter) may no longer continue. + +After the majority of the chapter, including those most worthy of +confidence, had agreed and determined, for the greater peace and quiet +of the chapter, to elect as provincial a deserving religious of the +qualifications required by our rules, we proceeded peacefully with +the election, until the said father Fray Lorenso de Leon took control +of it. Although he had no right to be present in spite of his being +president, he eagerly seated himself so near the clerk who gave out +the blank ballots that, whether by fear or affection, he certainly +by this, and with his gestures and signs, being himself a candidate, +affected and changed the wills and intentions of some of the electors, +contrary to the freedom of the election. Moreover, he was present at +the counting of the votes and ballots with the three tellers. When +he discovered that he had some votes, at which time he ought to have +departed, and that another (whom he feared) was receiving more than +he was then, so as to be sure of the election--and that candidate is +said certainly to have had it--exceeding his authority, he barred the +votes and commanded the counting to cease, declaring the election to be +void. He showed--as a pretext, as will later appear from all this--a +ballot or vote somewhat torn, in order to force a new election. Hence +followed much ill-will, which he manifested on his side. In order to +compel a new decision, as a result of the fear and change of purpose +which he intended to cause in their minds, he delivered deceitful and +satirical speeches (with which he is provided), in which he let them +know that there was no one else in the chapter who could be elected +except himself. He declared that he was not obliged to confirm him whom +they might elect, making this declaration for the benefit of him who +presumed to be most fit to be chosen. Although he was challenged and +called upon to declare the impediment or incapacity of that man or +of any other, he was not willing to do so, since in truth there was +no such disability. As a result of this and other acts of tyranny, +he forced a new election and new vote, to the great disgust and +astonishment of the chapter. This sufficed to elect him (as he was +in fact elected) provincial. He caused himself to be confirmed by +one of the definitors; and, as the chapter had begun by siding with +him, so it was continued. He now saw himself provincial, president, +and vicar-general; and all this encouraged and enabled him to take +our courage and spirit away from us in all elections, both small and +great. Thus they all resulted in accordance with his will, and with +the promises which he had made to those of his party, and to those +from whom he had asked votes. This he had done through some laymen, +a thing which makes the matter worse. + +The result is manifest in the holders of all the better offices and +convents. They are chosen from the friars of his province of Mexico, +and from those who have assumed the habit here--unlearned, dissipated, +and worthless boys. At the same time he has put out of office those +whom he has oppressed, solely because they have come, being sent out +by your Majesty from the provinces of España. The hatred and division +among ourselves arising from his party cannot be remedied unless you +Majesty take prompt measures to cure it from there, so completely +have these fathers who are not from España obtained possession of +the province, which is not very lucrative under their control. All +the rest of us remain in discouragement and unhappiness to see such +things, so opposite to good government and the Christian religion, +and so full of peril to consciences. The result has been that some +religious have not been willing to accept priorships in this chapter, +for fear that they cannot hold them securely, inasmuch as the said +father has not in their view been elected as a lawful superior, +considering the coercion in the proceedings. Taking warning from +past experience, fearing to cause public scandal and the rumors that +result from disputes and investigations in such matters, and timid +because of the little redress that can be had here, we have endured +this affliction, and will suffer the harm within our own gates. For +the whole series of proceedings is in violation of law; yet we have +not, although your Majesty has many just counselors in this his royal +council, entered our plea for justice and liberty before the council; +for we desire to avoid scandals, and the governor of these islands +has shown himself to be greatly biased in favor of the provincial +elected. This is due to the activity and unlawful proceedings of the +sargento-mayor Christoval de Asqueta, long since an agent for father +Fray Lorenso de Leon. Such a relation is completely contrary to the +rule of our order and our withdrawal from the world. Our only redress +is in recourse to your Majesty, prostrate before whose feet we send +our petition from this remotest province to our patron, defender, +and gracious king, praying for justice, relief, and liberty in this +case and in all other cases in which oppression is brought upon our +good purpose and holy zeal, which were taught us in the convents in +the provinces of España. We assure your Majesty that we who make +this earnest and truthful report are the most prominent and sound +part of the chapter; and that we are moved solely by the purpose of +serving our Lord God and of promoting the advance of our holy order in +credit and reputation, to the benefit of the royal crown and to the +spiritual desert of your Majesty in these regions. We feel certain +that your Majesty will soon send the remedy for all these evils, +as we entreat, by interposing the authority of the nuncio of his +Holiness, that he may by his official censure revoke all documents, +rights of preëminence, or letters of our father-general which the +said father Fray Lorenso de Leon may have, since it is entirely +improper that he should take advantage of them. By this means and +by the decrees which your Majesty will issue, this province can be +assembled anew for an election--that is, those of it who have the +right to vote--free from domination, under the presidency of a bishop +of these Philipinas Islands. That which is supremely necessary is, +as we have often prayed your Majesty, that there may come here from +that province of Castilla a religious to inspect this province and set +its affairs in order. If need be, he should have plenary authority to +govern it, without allowing other elections; and he whom your Majesty +shall send should come accompanied by religious fit to restore and +preserve this province. Like a young vine, it is in need of such +laborers, and not of such as dry up its moisture and pluck its fruit, +like the friars who come here from Mexico. They have no other care, +imitating in this their head; for it is evident that the said father +Fray Lorenso de Leon has always acted in this way, since for his +own private claims he has taken almost ten thousand pesos in past +years and at present he has begun to collect the same a second time, +in order to satisfy these claims entirely. We are eye-witnesses that +in his behavior, desires, possessions, and unlawful wealth [40] he +lays claim to great things. According to rumor and his beginnings, +he aims at a bishopric; and this is made certain by the saying that +he brought back here, when he complained that he would have received +the bishopric of Manila if some persons had not written against him, +and declared that he brought letters with him which would cause him to +be feared, and that he would be provincial, by fair means or foul. May +your Majesty be pleased to abate this evil by causing him to leave this +province, and by granting us this boon and redress for which we pray, +and which will conduce so greatly to the restoring of this province. Be +assured that we make this truthful representation without any sort +of malice or evil purpose, but only with wholesome and well-founded +zeal. Your Majesty will have satisfactory proof of this in the letters +and advices which will be sent from the government, the community, +and the religious orders here, all of which will furnish information +in the case. The cause is that of God and of your Majesty, and this +will give us calmness and courage, in certain hope of receiving this +great grace and protection. We remain your Majesty's humble chaplains +and faithful servants, praying our God to grant your Majesty many +years of happy life with all spiritual gifts, to the increase of your +royal estates and Christian seigniories. Dated after the session of +our chapter in our convent of San Augustin in Manila, on the fourth +day of the month of May, one thousand six hundred and five. + + +_Fray Estevan Carrillo_, definitor. +_Fray Bernabe de Villalovos_, definitor of Guadalupe. +_Fray Miguel Garcia_, visitor. +_Fray Jhoan de Tapia_, associate of the late provincial and secretary +of the province [?]. +_Fray Francisco Serrano_, sometime visitor. +_Fray Miguel de Siguenza_, sometime visitor. +_Fray Mathedo Daças_, prior. +_Fray Jhoan de Pineda_, prior, and lecturer in theology. +_Fray Diego Pardo_, procurator-general. +_Fray Jheronimo de Salas_, prior. +_Fray Jhoan de Rojas_, sub-prior of Manila. +_Fray Miguel de San Marco_ +_Fray Bartolome de Aguirre_ +_Fray Ambrosio de Leon_, procurator. + + +[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1606. Considered; the decree on a separate +paper."] + + +Sire: + +The Order of St. Augustine in these islands has for years been in +need of reform, and many letters have been written to your Majesty on +this subject. During the provincialate which has just come to an end, +that of Fray Pedro Arce, some reforms were accomplished as a result +of his good example, for he is a friar who follows the rules of his +order very scrupulously; but as he had no one to carry this beginning +to perfection, for lack of friars such as himself, he did not achieve +what he desired. His successor is named Fray Lorenzo de Leon; and he +has begun to overthrow everything which his predecessor established, +by oppressing the Castilian friars and encouraging the creoles, +[41] who are utterly shiftless and a set of fools. From this will +necessarily follow the entire ruin of the province. The only means of +remedy is that your Majesty should send religious from Castilla and +those provinces of España in order that this province may lift its head +and be reformed. The religious of the said order will write to your +Majesty. There are very zealous ones among them, especially Fray Pedro +de Arce, [42] the late provincial, to whom entire credit may be given. + +May our Lord keep your Majesty for the good of your many +kingdoms. Manila, June 1, 1605. + +_Fray Bernardo de Santa Catherina_, commissary of the Holy Office, +of the Order of St. Dominic. [43] + +Sire: + +In spite of the fact that I am one of those who joined in signing +a common letter which was sent to your Majesty by the majority +of the chapter of this province of our father St. Augustine in +the Philippinas, I cannot satisfy my conscience or manifest the +zeal which I ought to possess, without giving personal notice to +your Majesty of certain things with which as associate of the late +provincial and as secretary of the province I became acquainted, and +which still continue to exist, to the great harm and diminution of +the province. I am encouraged to do this, although it is the first +time that I address you, by reasons which demand a remedy; and by +considering, with the certain proofs which I have, that your Majesty +as a king and father most benevolent and most Christian will not be +indignant that a chaplain, servant, and vassal such as I should give +information, by means of these and other just suggestions, in order +that reform may result from them. Ever since father Fray Lorenso de +Leon returned to this province, it has steadily degenerated from the +harmony and influence which it had previously gained, as a result of +the great improvement shown in all things under the control of the +virtuous superior of the previous term. It now grows worse and worse +the more it has of him who is at present the superior, the father +already mentioned. The plan and the tricks with which he was elected I +do not write to your Majesty, since they have already been recounted +in a common letter, to which I refer. As a result of his election +the religious from Mexico who are here, and have assumed the habit +in this country have recovered their strength. They are nearly all +of little ability, ignoramuses, uncontrolled, and of most perverse +inclinations. Out of the respect and reverence due your Majesty I +do not enter into details; I only state particularly that the games +of cards have been revived among them. The one who has especially +distinguished himself is a certain Fray Jhoan de Amorin, who with +the said father Fray Lorenço de Leon went from this province to the +province of Mexico, returning again with a very bad reputation and the +name of having a restless disposition, ambitious and injurious to all, +and personally vicious and dissolute, unrestrained in all respects. + +The said father being in Mexico took under his charge the conduct of +some religious intended for this province, and recruited from that +one. He was in charge of the clothing and other possessions of these +religious, and even of the fund granted from your Majesty's treasury +of that kingdom for such conveyance of friars. He deceitfully affirmed +that it has been spent, but rendered no account for it; and tells +different stories about it, such as to condemn him. He has always +been under the protection of the said father Leon, who has received +his pay from the great amount which the other has obtained for him, +during this last chapter, by means of secular and religious persons +belonging to his party. As the climax of all this, he has appointed +the said father Amorin prior of the convent of Tondo, in the sight of +all this community. The common people have objected and murmured much, +since in that village they have previously had special proofs of our +disinterestedness and purity of motive. + +Of the many things which were taken in charge by Father Lorenço de +Leon to be attended to in the kingdoms of España and Roma, for the +benefit of this distant province, not one of the least importance +or necessity has been concluded; yet he has spent, just as if he +had carried everything through, the assessments and additional +contributions which were given him in common by the province. He +has cared only for his private interests and his private claims, +as is manifestly shown by the titles that have been lavished upon +him ... master, though he has not sufficient learning; and president +and vicar-general for all chapters and assemblages, to the manifest +injury of the members of this province. He was received as such, +although in violation of law, only in order to avoid contention and +scandal. But he has assumed still more authority, as a result of +the liberty which he has, and in the documents which he issues adds +the title of provincial and vicar-general. All this is without the +command of your Majesty and of your royal Council of the Indias, +and is contrary to the grants made to our provincial fathers of +Castilla who have so long exercised a similar office. This is right, +since this province was established and is maintained by them and the +honored friars who have come out hither from España. We have greatly +suffered from the lack of such Spanish friars, since it is now six +years since religious were sent out to us here. The cause has been +the fact that the said father Fray Lorenzo de Leon went thither, and +although he might have brought back a noble shipload of them, he did +not undertake the work with sufficient diligence--expecting to obtain +friars from Mexico, and to convert to his own use the grants made for +such conveyance in Sevilla from your Majesty's treasury. The fact is, +that although he received a decree and allowance to bring eighteen +religious from those provinces, he actually brought only seven to +whom the habit of our father St. Augustine belonged. The other eleven +he supplied with laymen who were traveling secretly to the Indias, +and he received from them special bribes, putting upon them habits +of the order, that they might in this way get as far as the registry +in Vera Cruz and afterward return to their own condition. The said +father thus retained in his hands all the allowance which he had +received. I would not dare to make this statement to your Majesty +if I did not know it from the relation of those very seven religious +whom he brought hither from España. Additional evidence is a letter +(which I saw) from Dr. Antonio de Morga, written soon after his +arrival in Mexico, in which he gave this information to persons from +there. Nothing has been done in this matter because of the fear and +subjection in which the said father Leon has placed those of us who +might speak and demand justice for this and other most unjust acts +of which he has been guilty. I testify to your Majesty that his cell +and manner of dress are like those of a trading merchant, and not of +a poor and abstinent friar; and, through the trade conducted by the +Chinese here, I know that he has invested a great amount of money in +sending merchandise to Mexico. Now this he could not do except at the +expense of the convents; for in the larger and richer houses he has +granted offices to those of his party and those under his control, +while he dislikes and ill-treats the virtuous and grave religious from +España. All this causes us sorrow and affliction, especially because +of the offense committed against our Lord God, and the loss to our +order and the disservice of your Majesty and of your Majesty's holy +zeal, and because your Majesty's directions are not fulfilled. May +your Majesty be pleased to put an end to all this by exercising your +authority and sending as promptly as possible an inspector from the +province of Castilla, accompanied by religious like himself. Such a +one may amend this and take these two religious from here, depriving +them of the titles of which they have made so bad a use. I beseech your +Majesty to pardon my boldness in having dwelt so long on this matter. I +may have failed, in my manner of writing, to observe the respect and +form due to my king and lord, but I believe that I have not been at +fault in purpose or zeal. I am now occupied in the service of your +Majesty as chief chaplain and vicar of the galleys and fleets of your +Majesty in these kingdoms, upon the important expedition which is now +being made. [44] In this and in all things I am the meanest servant +and vassal of your Majesty. I kiss your royal hand and pray that God +may keep your Majesty in a long and happy life with the increase of +every good. + +Manila, June 20, 1605. +_Fray Jhoan de Tapia_ + +[_Endorsed_: "June 22, 1606; to the Count of Lemos." "September 12, +1606; examined; no answer."] + + + + +LETTER FROM MALDONADO TO FELIPE III + + +Sire: + +On every occasion which has arisen I have regularly advised you of +whatever seemed desirable for the proper service of your Majesty, +which is my only desire. Accordingly, last year I sent a letter by the +two ships which were despatched, a duplicate of which I send in this, +with other matters that have come to my notice. Your Majesty will +be pleased to have this examined, as it treats of some affairs which +demand remedy; and in regions so remote many difficulties arise when +due provision is not made--as will be seen in some papers which are +sent with this, concerning the little respect which the soldiers and +troops of war show toward the auditors, as the governor claims that +we are not their judges; and regarding the galleys which the governor +has built, and their excessive cost, which is the ruin of this country; +likewise will be seen therein the many offices and positions of profit +which the governor has given to his creatures, against the decrees of +your Majesty and the instructions for his office, so that all those +who have served here feel very indignant over it. These things, +and the obligation of my office, have constrained me to give this +report, and to try to secure the remedy which the vassals of your +Majesty hope for, when your Majesty shall cast your gaze upon this +land which was so cared for and favored by his Catholic Majesty +(whom may God keep!) which your Majesty is still caring for, with +the great favors which your Majesty grants it for the spiritual and +temporal good which is your object. + +The royal [estate] in these islands is in debt for a large sum of +money in gold, as your Majesty has been informed; on this account +all those who draw salaries and stipends therefrom are in the utmost +need--so much so that we have not been able to pay this year the +president, auditors, archbishop, bishops, prebendaries, or ministers +of instruction and justice, not having the means to pay them. Most +pitiable of all has been the plight of the soldiers, who are suffering +the utmost extremity, without there being any resources with which +to aid them. All this has been caused by the excessive cost of the +galleys, and the great expenses incurred by some expeditions made +with them without anything being thus gained. In the interim, until +your Majesty be pleased to order some provision, we shall take great +pains to do what is most expedient so that these expenses may cease +and the country be defended without them. [_In the margin of this +paragraph is written_: "No answer to be given."] + +This year it will be very necessary to appropriate a considerable +loan of money from what comes from Nueva Spaña--because the viceroy of +Mexico has not sent the usual aid, and it is impossible to get along +without obtaining it from private persons--that the land may not go +to ruin; for I can assure you that it has come to this extremity. + +Last year I advised you of the many offices which the governor had +granted, and in this he has continued--going so far that, observing +the general complaint of all the meritorious persons, I have tried to +restrain him. At this he showed little inclination to favor my efforts, +and offered me some affronts--which I shall not mention, as they were +of such a nature as to affect only me personally and not my office +or its authority. But, because it appears to me expedient to inform +you concerning one such case, I shall do so, as it is a matter which +touches the preëminence of the officers whom your Majesty maintains +here, so that your Majesty, if you please, may order it to be set +right. [_On the margin of this paragraph_: "Concerning the offices +which the governor has filled; join this relation which Don Antonio de +Ribera sends to that which the governor writes concerning the offices, +and have it all brought."] + +By the ordinance of this royal Audiencia it is directed that an +Audiencia building be erected in which the president and auditors +shall live; and by a later decree it is ordered that there shall be +a royal building, very imposing, so that these infidels may see the +authority with which your Majesty is served and which the officers +who serve in these offices must possess. I, as the senior auditor, +lived in the royal building, whence, on the occasion when your Majesty +directed the treasury of the royal exchequer to be established in the +royal building, the governor ordered me to move, in order to make room +for the treasury. As this wrong was done to me, I laid it before the +Audiencia, saying that he was exceeding the commission given by the +royal decree; and that, in accordance therewith, it was not the will +of your Majesty that my place of abode should be taken from me, as it +had been occupied from the time when it was built by the president +and auditors. This was shown to the governor by the [Audiencia's] +record of proceedings; and it was decreed in the Audiencia that in the +royal building where I was two main apartments should be cleared out, +in which the treasury and the books of the royal exchequer should +be accommodated. The governor, in spite of this action, took all my +apartments from me and lodged therein a royal official; whereupon, +as there is a great lack of houses in this city, I was obliged to +move into a house of wood and thatch, which was unsuitable to the last +degree, and attended by much danger because of the frequent fires which +occur in this city. Accordingly, in the two fires which have occurred +this year I have been obliged to go with my effects and books from +one place to another, until at last I rented for them and my papers +an apartment outside of my house in a building of stone belonging +to a citizen, where I keep them. Besides experiencing so great +inconvenience, this country is so warm that I assure your Majesty, +with all due regard for truth, that my health is failing; and I fear +that I shall lose my life, through the poor appointments of the house +and on account of the intemperate heat from which I suffer in going +to the Audiencia. But so great is the dislike which the governor +has taken toward me, that neither the injustice and wrong, nor the +danger of fire, nor the failure of my health has moved him to give +me a lodging; nor is one to be found at any cost. I beg your Majesty +that, even if it may not be necessary for me, you may command what is +to be done in regard to the other auditors, for he has depreciated my +authority and maltreated me in such manner that I would consider it a +great neglect of duty to your Majesty if I did not advise you of it, +and this has led me to give so detailed an account. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given."] + +In the letter of last year which will accompany this, I communicated +an expedient which has occurred to me whereby this land might be +maintained in abundance, with only the property which the royal +treasury has in these islands, without there being any need of aiding +it from the royal exchequer of Mexico; and the paid soldiers could +be increased, and other good results might be achieved. I beseech +your Majesty to have it examined, as it appears desirable to both the +archbishop and the bishop of Nueva Segovia, to whom I have communicated +it, and who thought it very good. [_In the margin of this paragraph +is an order which says_: "Let the governor and the Audiencia inform us +concerning this plan, sending them a copy thereof without issuing any +decree; and let them send an account of the advantages and difficulties +which may have occurred to them, with their opinion."] + +It is more than eight years since your Majesty was pleased to do me +the favor of giving me a post as auditor of Mexico, with an order to +establish the Audiencia in these islands. I sat therein four years, +and I am now advised by way of Nueva España that the place in that +Audiencia which was occupied by the licentiate Francisco Alonso de +Villagra, who passed on to the royal Council of the Yndias, has been +given to me. Although the time for which I was to serve here is already +past, I have not dared to leave these islands this year, as I have +no order expressing the wish of your Majesty; and likewise because +the governor, Don Pedro de Acuña, is obliged to go on the expedition +to Maluco, and, if I go to Nueva España, only three auditors will +remain. The eldest of these, who, according to the ordinance, must take +up the duties of the captain-general, is so burdened and his health +so poor that he cannot attend to the affairs of war. On this account, +and because I understand that your Majesty would be better pleased +to have me in this country, I have not gone to enjoy the favor which +has been extended to me in Mexico--which is very great, and a notable +promotion--although the greatest favor that I can receive is to let me +serve in this Audiencia at a time when important affairs may occur, +whereby I may show my desire. I beseech your Majesty that what I am +doing in staying here to further serve your Majesty be permitted and +approved. [_In the margin is this order_: "Let him go immediately, +in accordance with the decree which was sent him." [45]] + +During the whole time since I have been favored with this post in +Mexico, I have been occupied in your Majesty's service, and with +sitting in this royal Audiencia. I beseech your Majesty that, since +in similar offices of justice all the privileges are enjoyed from +the day of the nomination, as if the office were being exercised, +the favor may be done me that I may not lose my seniority, from the +day when your Majesty was pleased to appoint me auditor in Mexico +(especially as I have been occupied in what I was commanded to do), +as was done with Doctor Francisco Alonso de Villagra when he went to +fill the same post at Mexico; he was detained by an official visit +at Santo Domingo, and did not lose his seniority, [_In the margin_: +"What he asks is unreasonable."] + +Last year two ships were despatched somewhat late, and the flagship +arrived in a dismantled condition at the end of four or five months of +sailing, with little damage; but the other was lost on the opposite +coast of these islands, without any person or any part of her cargo +being saved. This was a great pity, and especially so after so many +wrecks as we have had in years past. God was pleased to bring hither +in safety two other ships, which go out this year, which has been some +relief to the citizens and merchants of this city. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given."] + +The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal of this royal +Audiencia, is dead. He leaves his wife in very poor circumstances +and a daughter who is without any resources, which is a great pity. + +In a letter of last year I told your Majesty how the sargento-mayor +went to La Laguna, which is about fifteen leguas from this city, +in pursuit of the Sangley rebels. As they were in two bodies of +at least two thousand each, unarmed, wounded, and fatigued, and +without any means of defense; and the sargento-mayor had two hundred +Spanish arquebusiers, and three hundred others from Pampanga who are +natives of these islands, armed with arquebuses and muskets, and eight +hundred well-armed Japonese, besides five or six thousand natives with +lances, pikes, halberds, partizans, javelins, and bows and arrows, +their strength was so great that, without the Sangleys facing them, +the natives killed them--attacking first one troop and then the other, +with perfect safety and not the slightest danger. In this affair twelve +or fifteen days were spent in the going, the work, and the return, and +for this he claims more remuneration than if he had pacified the states +of Flandes; and he is not even contented with the governor having given +him an excellent encomienda in the vicinity of this city, besides +another good one which he possesses in Pangasinan. At present he is +enjoying both of them contrary to the instructions of your Majesty, +and they are among the best in the islands. I advise you of this so +that the service which he has rendered, the time spent, the danger of +the expedition, and the risk that he personally ran, may be known, +so that the reward may be conformable to that and not to the favor +which the governor extends to him and the claim which he makes. For +he dares not ask to have investigations made in the Audiencia, nor +should an opinion be given in it as your Majesty orders by the royal +decrees; for it is not known in the royal Council how little he did, +that it was not a service of such importance as to demand more reward +than what he held in the first encomienda. + +All the welfare of this land, for its maintenance and the prosperity +of those who reside in it, lies in the cargoes of the ships which +are despatched to Nueva España, with which your Majesty favors the +citizens of this city and the settlers. I assure your Majesty with +the truth that I desire to employ, that much wrong is done them, +and that the ships are laded for the dependents and connections of +the governor, by which they are benefited with great riches; and +the same thing is done by the commanders and admirals who come from +Mexico, who, as they are persons from the household of the viceroy, +are the ones who get the benefit. The governor will not allow the +Audiencia to interfere in this; and thus the persons to whom this +favor was extended suffer, and those enjoy it who were prohibited +from doing so, and counted undeserving. I communicate this, that +your Majesty may be pleased to order it corrected; for it is a matter +which affects all with much grief and resentment. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given, for suitable provision has already been made."] + +The plan which appears suitable for this (which I humbly beseech may be +looked into, according to my desire) is what your Majesty has commanded +by his royal decree--that there should be sent each year to the Council +a report of what is laded in the ships, and to what person it belongs; +and this is not done. In order that this should be carried out, it is +expedient that an auditor should be sent by the royal Audiencia--and +not by the governor, as that is not fitting--who should take, on the +oath of a notary, account of everything which enters in the ship, +nothing being laded without his presence and supervision. In this +manner the freighting will be justly done without the freighters +who are appointed having a chance to sell the tonnage, as they do +today. Thus they leave the citizens without the share which belongs to +them, defrauding the royal customs, as would appear if this plan were +observed--at which I know your Majesty would be very glad, and all the +citizens would enjoy fully the favor which has been granted them. God +protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, June 28, 605. + +The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_ + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +_Relacion de las Islas Filipinas_, by Pedro Chirino (concluded).--See +Bibliographical Data at end of _Vol_. XII. Full details regarding +this work will be given in the bibliographical volume at the end of +this series. + +All the rest of the matter contained in this volume is obtained +from original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; their +pressmarks are as follows: + +1. _Letters from Acuña._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del Gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +años de 1600 á 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." The postscript regarding +Santa Potenciana--"Simancas--Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del +presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de +1600 á [1612?]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." + +2. _Decrees regarding religious orders._--(A) The first: +"Simancas--Audiencia de Filipinas; consultas originales +correspondientes á dha Audiencia desde el año de 1586 á 1636; est. 67, +caj. 6, leg. 1." (b) The second and third: "Audiencia de Filipinas; +registros de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidas a las autoridades del +distrito de la Audiencia; años de 1597 á 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, +leg. 1." + +3. _Grant to Jesuit seminary._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de religiosos y misioneros en Filipinas +vistos en el Consejo; años de 1569 á 1616; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 37." + +4. _Decree regulating commerce._--The same as No. 2, (b). + +5. _Complaints against the Chinese._--"Audiencia de Filipinas; +Simancas--Eclesiastico; cartas y espedientes del arzobispo de Manila +vistos en el Consejo; años de 1579 á 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +6. _Letter from Chinese official._-The same as No. 1. + +7. _Letters from Augustinians._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; cartas y +expedientes de personas eclesiasticas vistos en el Consejo; años 1570 +á 1608; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." The letter from Santa Catherina--the +same as No. 5. + +8. _Letter from Maldonado._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha +Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; años de 1600 á 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 19." + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Marginal reference: "I John, 2." + +[2] A town on the western coast of Samar, ten miles east of Catbalogan. + +[3] These were Father Melchor Hurtado and Francisco González, and +the brother coadjutor Diego Rodriguez. They were sent from Mexico +in March by Francisco Váez, the provincial of Nueva España.--_Pablo +Pastells, S.J._ + +[4] Referring to Ignatius de Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the +Jesuit order, and afterward a saint; he is here mentioned as "blessed," +as he was not canonized until 1622. + +[5] The religious exercises recommended by Loyola, and composed by +him while in retirement near Manresa, Spain, in 1522; they from a +book entitled _Exercitia spiritualia_ ("Spiritual exercises") which +has ever since been a text-book of the Jesuit order. + +[6] "The figure of a lamb stamped on the wax which remains from the +paschal candles, and solemnly blessed by the pope on the Thursday after +Easter, in the first and seventh years of his pontificate." (Addis +and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, pp. 17, 18.) + +[7] Apparently meaning the interior pellicle of bamboo (_Bambus +arundo_; _Vol_. XII, pp. 189, 190, note 44), used in Eastern lands +as a substitute for paper. + +[8] _Decurias_: alluding to a custom in Spanish schools of placing the +pupils, by tens (or sometimes in smaller numbers), under the charge +of the most competent of the older students, under the supervision +of the master of the school. + +[9] Marginal reference: "Wisdom, 7." + +[10] Marginal reference: "Romans, 10"--evidently to the seventeenth +verse of that chapter, "Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by +the word of Christ." All citations from the Holy Bible, and references +thereto, made in the translations for this work, are taken from the +standard editions of the English Douay Bible. + +[11] Marginal references: "Psalms, 18," and "Hebrews, 4." + +[12] Marginal reference: "John, 9." + +[13] Marginal reference: "I Timothy, 2." + +[14] These were Fathers Gregorio Baroncini, Fabricio Cersali, Tomás +de Villanueva, Diego Laurencio, Pedro de Segura, and Angel Armano; +and the brother coadjutors Francisco Simon, Martin Sánchez, and Diego +Zarzuela.--_Pablo Pastells, S.J._ + +[15] This was the "Santo Thomas;" a full account of its voyage, and +of its wreck at the Catanduanes Islands, is given by La Concepción +(_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 428-435). He says that at the Ladrones +Ribera found the survivors of the ship "Santa Margarita," which had +been wrecked there only a month before; of these he ransomed four, +promising to send from Manila for the others, later. He mentions, +as a part of the cargo, "horses, sheep, goats, and cats." At the end +of this account, he states the pressing need of better ships for the +long and stormy voyage to Nueva España. + +[16] Marginal reference: "Psalms, 77; Zacharias, 9." + +[17] A punishment by which the culprit was strangled with an iron +collar. + +[18] La Concepción gives (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 409-411) a +summary of the proceedings of this council. They appointed a committee +to provide a vernacular translation of the catechism (of which the +Christian doctrine had already been rendered into the Visayan tongue), +in harmony with the Tagal translation of that book. They also appointed +a representative to go to Manila and confer with the Audiencia +on various matters concerning the royal jurisdiction--especially +regarding the proposal to enact statutes suppressing polygamy among +the natives. In the council complaints were made by the ecclesiastics +against the encomenderos, that they treated the Indians with injustice; +in return, the encomenderos attacked the priests, and the bishop was +obliged to interfere between them to quell the dissensions, reproving +the encomenderos. + +[19] Spanish, _angelitos_; a play upon words, apparently alluding to +the gold coin known as _angelot_ (from the figure of an angel thereon), +used in the Low Countries in the sixteenth century. A similar name +(_angelet_) was given to one of the coins struck by English rulers +of France in the period 1150-1460. + +[20] A delicate and refreshing fruit, the _Carica papaya_; sometimes +called "papaw," but is not the same as the papaw of North America +(_Asimina_). Crawfurd regards it, however (_Dict. Ind. Islands_, +p. 327) as having been introduced in the Philippines by the Spaniards, +from tropical America. See descriptions of the papaya in Delgado's +_Historia_, pp. 520, 521; Blanco's _Flora_, pp. 553, 554; and +U.S. Philippine Commission's _Report_, 1900, iii, p. 280. + +[21] La Concepción gives a similar account of this episode in _Hist. de +Philipinas_, iv, pp. 67-69. + +[22] Panámao is the ancient name of the island of Biliran, off the +northwestern extremity of Leyte, and is still applied to a mountain +in the northern part of Biliran. + +[23] _Picote_: a sort of silken fabric, very lustrous, used for +garments. _Jusi_ (_husi_) is thus described in the U.S. Philippine +Commission's _Report_, 1900, iv, pp. 55, 56: "The especial product +of Philippine looms, especially those from the towns of Caloocan +and Iloilo, is jusi. These Philippine jusis, celebrated for their +lightness, beauty, and delicate patterns, are made from silk alone, +or more commonly with the warp of cotton or pineapple fiber and the +woof of silk. Pieces are made to suit the buyer. These pieces are +usually 30 or more yards in length, and from three-quarters of a +yard to a yard in width, and beautifully bordered in colors. This +beautiful cloth, which varies in price from 50 cents to $1 a yard, +compares favorably with fabrics of European manufacture." + +[24] The present Silang is nineteen miles south of Cavite. + +[25] Spanish, _monumento_; an altar erected in churches on Holy +Thursday which resembles a sepulchre. + +[26] Water blessed in the font on Holy Saturday and the vigil of +Pentecost, which must be used at least in solemn baptism.... The priest +then pours oil of catechumens and chrism into the water." These are +two of the three kinds of "holy oils;" chrism is composed of olive +oil mixed with balm. See Addis and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, +pp. 64, 152, 616. + +[27] Marginal reference: "I Maccabees, 6." + +[28] Marginal reference: "St. Ambrose, _De officiis clericorum_, i, +chap. 40." + +[29] Equivalent to about twenty-eight feet, U.S. measure. + +[30] He left Cavite on the seventh day of July, in the vessel "San +Antonio," which was built in the island of Panámao. This vessel +was lost in 1604, while making its second voyage from Cavite to +Acapulco.--_Pablo Pastells, S.J._ + +[31] Juan Manuel Hurtado de Mendoza y Luna, Marques de Montesclaros, +who held an important office in Sevilla, was made viceroy of Nueva +España, arriving at Mexico in September, 1603. This office he held +until 1606, when he was made viceroy of Peru. He died in 1628. + +[32] Spanish, _Recoletos_: the barefooted branch of the Augustinians, +known also as _Descalzos_ in Spain and its former colonial +possessions. The origin of this brotherhood is due to a reform movement +in Spain in the sixteenth century, started by the Venerable Thomas de +Jesús, who was for many years a captive among the Moors in Africa. He, +with other lovers of primitive observance of the Augustinian rule, +essayed to reintroduce divers customs no longer common among the +brotherhood, as frequent fasts, midnight prayers, wearing beards, and +going with uncovered heads. In 1588. at a chapter of these brethren +held at Toledo (the general of the order presiding), Luis de Leon, +the famed scholar and poet, was commissioned to draw up constitutions +for the observants, and these were approved by Rome. In 1614, the new +branch known now (as then) as "discalced" were freed from dependence +on the general of the order; and in 1622 Pope Gregory XV approved +their constitutions. In 1589, the reform movement (as above) spread +to some of our nunneries; these sisters were, like their brethren, +established as _Descalzas_, with their first house at Madrid under +Madre Maria de Jesus (or Covarubias) as Superioress--the first house +of the Recoletos being at Tatavera de la Reyna. In 1606, the Recoletos +entered the Philippines, where their first house was at Bagungbayan, +with the title of S. Juan. In 1602, by decree of November 16, the +general of the Augustinians, Fulvius of Ascoli, sanctioned the division +of the Philippine fathers of the order into two provinces--those who +held with the old rule to be known as Augustinians of the province of +Santísimo Nombre de Jesús; the Discalced, or Recoletos, as those of +the province of San Nicolas de Tolentino; so when the Recoletos went +to the Philippines they bore the name of their home province with +them to Malaysia. In Manila the famous Puente de España ("Bridge of +Spain") was projected and built under the superintendence of a Recoleto +father. (Thus Zamora, in _Las Corporaciones en Filipinas_, p, 358.) In +1726, the Discalced were dispensed from wearing beards; in 1746, from +going barefooted. Their earliest form of dress resembled the Capuchin +habit, except that its color was black. In 1736, the _beaterio_ of +S. Sebastián at Calumpang, in Luzón--which seventeen years previous had +been established by four Indian maidens, who were devout to Nuestra +Señora de Carmel--was handed over to the care of Recoleta sisters; +it is not known when these first came to the islands. The province +of the Recoletos in the Philippines bears the title of San Nicolas +de Tolentino. In Spain the Recoleto study-houses of their Philippine +missionaries are (or were in 1897), at Alfaro, Monteagudo, Marcilla, +and San Millan de la Cogolla.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A._ + +[33] Cf. the document in _Vol_. XI, "Grant to Jesuit school in Cebú," +dated December 11, 1601. See note thereon regarding translation +of _colegio_. + +[34] Referring to the fund arising from the fourth part of the +tributes in encomiendas where no religious instruction was given; this +fourth was reserved for the benefit of the Indians. See _Vol_. VIII, +pp. 29, 160. + +[35] In legajo 2637, sec_a_, de est_o_. of the Simancas archivo is a +document recording the proceedings at a session of the Council of State +on July 20, 1604; among the questions discussed was this one of trade +between the American and the Oriental colonies. The councilors gave +their opinions separately. Their conclusion was that the prohibition +of trade in Chinese goods then in force between Peru and Nueva España +be made general; and that a period of only six or eight months be +allowed for the consumption of such goods already on hand, instead +of the two years recommended by the Council of the Indias. "It is +desirable to do this promptly and rigorously; but merchandise brought +for use in the churches and in Divine worship should be excepted from +this prohibition--save that in the future neither this nor any other +exception should be considered, but the door to this trade should +be closed by all means. The Marques of Montesclaros was recommended +as the proper person to carry out these instructions, as he had not +been concerned in that trade. One of the councilors advised that the +appointments of the commanders on ships in the Philippine trade be +retained by the viceroy of Spain, rather than given to the governor +and archbishop at Manila. + +[36] Literally, "average;" a certain duty levied on merchandise in +the India trade. + +[37] See account of this affair in _Vol_. XII, in the first document +1603; this name is there given as Tio Heng. + +[38] Apparently a corrupt phonetic rendering of the name of Wan-Leh, +then emperor of China (_Vol_. III, p. 228). As he succeeded his father +in 1572, the blank date here must refer to the thirty-third year of +his reign (1605). + +[39] Lorenzo de Leon was a native of Granada, and entered the +Augustinian order in Mexico where he made profession in 1578. Four +years later, he entered the Philippine mission, and spent twelve +years as minister in Indian villages in Luzón. He was then advanced +to various high offices in his order, among them that of provincial +(1596). He was a religious of exceptional abilities, and the general +of the order, as a recognition of his great endowments in virtue +and knowledge, appointed him master and president of provincial +chapters. After his second election as provincial (1605) he was at the +intermediate congregation deposed from this dignity by the fathers +definitors. Accepting this rude blow with humility and Christian +resignation, he withdrew to the convent of San Pablo de los Montes, +where he spent the following year in prayer and pious works. Returning +to Mexico in 1606, he died in that city in 1623. This account is +condensed from Pérez's _Catálogo_, p. 29. + +[40] Spanish, _propiedad_: property enjoyed contrary to their vows +by members of religious orders. + +[41] As the word "creole" is often used in a vague or inexact manner, +it seems best to state that, as used in our text, it means a person +of pure Spanish blood, born in any of the Spanish colonies. + +[42] Pedro de Arce was born in the province of Vitoria, in Spain, +and made his profession in the convent at Salamanca, in 1576. He came +to the Philippine Islands in 1583, and ministered in various Indian +villages, then filled several high offices, finally becoming bishop +of Nueva Cáceres (1609) and bishop of Cebú (1613). After a long and +laborious career, he died at Cebú, on October 16, 1645, at the age +of eighty-five. + +[43] Bernardo Navarro de Santa Catalina was one of the first Dominican +missionaries, arriving at Manila in July, 1587. His labors were +principally among the Indians of Pangasinan (in whose language he +composed many short devotional works), until he became provincial of +his order in the islands, June 15, 1596. When the term of this office +expired, he was appointed commissary of the Inquisition; and in 1616 +was again elected provincial. Undertaking soon afterward a journey to +Cagayan in the rainy season, he was made ill by fatigue and exposure, +and died at Nueva Segovia (the modern Lal-ló or Lallo-c), on November +8, 1616. See sketch of his life in _Reseña biog. Sant. Rosario_, +pp. 80-86. + +[44] The enterprise here mentioned was an attempt to regain possession +of the Maluco Islands, which had just been seized by the Dutch. In +June, 1605, arrived at Manila the commandant of the Portuguese fort at +Tidore, with some of his soldiers, accompanied by three Jesuits and +many native Christians--all of whom had been expelled from Amboyna +and Tidore by the Dutch. At the same time came a reinforcement of +a thousand troops from Spain; and Acuña resolved, with this aid, +to prepare an expedition for the recovery of the Spice Islands. In +February, 1606, a powerful fleet set out for this purpose, carrying +more than one thousand three hundred Spaniards, who were aided by +six hundred Indian auxiliaries; they were successful, under Acuña's +personal command, in recapturing Amboyna, Tidore, and Terrenate, +and carried to Manila as a prisoner the petty king of the last-named +island. See La Concepción's account of this expedition, in _Hist. de +Philipinas_, iv, pp. 20-93. + +[45] In July, 1606, Rivera sailed for Mexico to fill his post in +the Audiencia there; but an epidemic (probably ship-fever) on the +ship caused the death of eighty persons, among them Rivera. See La +Concepción, _Hist. de Philipinas_, iv, p. 108. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898, *** + +***** This file should be named 15184-8.txt or 15184-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/8/15184/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/15184-8.zip b/15184-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f642af5 --- /dev/null +++ b/15184-8.zip diff --git a/15184.txt b/15184.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a34722f --- /dev/null +++ b/15184.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8605 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +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 XIII., 1604-1605 + +Author: Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +Release Date: February 26, 2005 [EBook #15184] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898, *** + + + + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + + + + + + The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 + + Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and + their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, + as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the + political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those + islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the + close of the nineteenth century, + + Volume XIII, 1604-1605 + + + + Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson + with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord + Bourne. + + + + + + + + + +CONTENTS OF VOLUME XIII + + + Preface 9 + Relacion de las Islas Filipinas (concluded) Pedro Chirino, S.J.; + Roma, 1604 2 + Documents of 1604 + + Letters to Felipe III. Pedro de Acuna; Manila, July 15 + and 19 221 + Decrees regarding religious orders. Felipe III, and others; + Valladolid, February-July 246 + Grant to the Jesuit seminary at Cebu. Pedro Chirino; + [undated; 1604?] 251 + Decree regulating commerce with Nueva Espana. Felipe III; + Valladolid, December 31 256 + + Documents of 1605 + + Complaints against the Chinese. Miguel de Benavides, + and others; Manila, February 3-9 271 + Letter from a Chinese official to Acuna. Chincheo, + March 287 + Letters from Augustinian friars to Felipe III. Estevan + Carillo, and others; Manila, May 4-June 20 292 + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Ribera Maldonado; Manila, + June 28 307 + + Bibliographical Data 317 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + Autograph signature of Pedro Chirino, S.J.; photographic facsimile + from MS. in Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla 215 + Autograph signatures of Pedro de Acuna and members of the + Audiencia; photographic facsimile from MS. in Archivo general de + Indias, Sevilla 243 + + + + +PREFACE + + +The larger part of the present volume is occupied with the _Relacion_ +of the Jesuit Chirino, begun in _Vol_. XII, and here concluded. In +this work is recorded the progress of the Jesuit missions up to +the year 1602, by which time they have been established not only +in Luzon and Cebu, but in Bohol, Leyte, Negros, Samar, and northern +Mindanao. The arrival of the visitor Garcia in 1599 results in new +vigor and more thorough organization in the missions, and the numbers +of those baptized in each rapidly increase. The missionaries are able +to uproot idolatry in many places, and greatly check its practice +in others. Everywhere they introduce, with great acceptance and +edification among the natives, the practice of flagellation--"the +procession of blood." Religious confraternities are formed among the +converts, greatly aiding the labors of the fathers; and the latter +open schools for boys, among both the Spaniards and the Indians. In +time of pestilence they minister to the sick and the dying; and they +gain great influence among all classes. They secure the good-will of +hostile natives, quell a threatened revolt among those of Leyte, and +reclaim certain outlaws and bandits. The Spaniards also receive their +ministrations, especially in Manila; the fathers adjust dissensions +and family quarrels, and reform several dissolute persons. The college +at Manila prospers, and enlarges its curriculum. The labors of the +Jesuits effect certain important changes in social conditions among the +natives. Usury, unjust enslavement, and polygamy are greatly lessened, +and sometimes entirely abolished, among the Indians in the mission +districts; and most notable of these results, the fathers have much +success in gathering not only their own converts, but even many of +the wild and savage mountaineers, into villages under their personal +care and supervision. + +A new monastic order, the Augustinian Recollects, is permitted to +send missionaries to the islands. Little of importance occurs there +in 1604; but among the Spaniards there is much fear of an invasion by +the Chinese, in revenge for the late slaughter of their countrymen in +Luzon. Yet the cupidity or laxity of the officials has permitted the +number of Chinese resident in the islands to increase beyond proper +limits; and the archbishop of Manila endeavors to secure strict +enforcement of the laws against this dangerous immigration. The +leading officials of the Augustinian order complain (1605) of their +provincial as unscrupulous and overbearing, and ask for relief and +the suitable adjustment of the affairs of their province. + +Chirino's narrative of the Jesuit missions (here concluded) narrates +events from 1598 onward. In June of that year Father Vera goes to +obtain more missionaries from Europe. In Mexico he meets orders from +the general of the Jesuit order that Diego Garcia shall go with a +reenforcement of laborers to the Philippines. In Manila, during that +year, the Jesuits meet much success in their ministries--especially +in the confessional, in public preaching, and in various benevolent +works. They also accomplish much in private affairs, reconciling +enemies, preventing lawsuits, and checking licentious conduct. The +annals continue with the progress of the Antipolo mission during +1598. The mountain-dwellers continue to come to the mission, of whom +many are baptized--among these some of the heathen priests. Among +the converts are formed confraternities which most efficiently aid +the labors of the missionaries. The people have given up their pagan +practices, and display great piety and devotion as Christians. + +At Cebu the bishop has greatly favored the Jesuits, who have opened +a school for his clergy and the sons of some citizens. Their labors +are chiefly among the Visayan natives and the Chinese, and meet +much success. The writer relates some instances of especial virtue +and piety among these converts; there, as in missions elsewhere, +the women are distinguished in those respects. No less important +are the labors of the Jesuits among the Spaniards of Cebu, among +whom they exercise great influence, even the bishop depending upon +their advice; and they often preach in the cathedral. The bishop, +"in imitation of Manila," introduces the practice of flagellation at +Lent, and himself leads the "procession of blood." + +In the island of Bohol the infant church continues to grow. The +converts have entirely abandoned idolatry; and certain miraculous +cures have kindled in them a most fervent piety. In Butuan (in +northern Mindanao) "Christianity is in a flourishing condition," +according to Father Ledesma, whose letters are cited. Conversions +are steadily increasing: and several chiefs are to be baptized +soon, although the most noted leader, Silongan, is not yet cured +of his polygamous inclinations. He is, however, most friendly to +the fathers, and protects them in certain dangers. In Alangalang, +Tomas de Montoya (an American Indian who has gone to the islands) +has resumed the work dropped at the death of Cosme de Flores; he +relates some instances of piety among his converts, and of punishment +visited on the impenitent. At Ogmuc much caution had been exercised in +conferring baptism, and those who have received it show most edifying +piety. In Holy Week occurs a procession in which "the most pleasing and +touching sight was to see all the children disciplining themselves with +scourges which they themselves had made for that day." The missionaries +adjust various family quarrels, and put an end in the islands to the +practices of usury and unjust enslavement. Chirino here gives some +account of these evils, but adds that they are abolished among all +the christianized tribes in the islands. + +Good reports come from Carigara and Paloc; the latter village is +unusually prosperous because one of the Jesuits has aided the people +to construct better dwellings. They have abandoned their idols, +and take pleasure in scourging themselves on Fridays. At Dulac many +baptisms have occurred, and various diseases, among them leprosy, +have been cured by this sacrament. A letter from Father Otaco, who +is in charge at Tinagon, shows that idolatry has been abandoned, +and immoral customs are almost uprooted. He gives an interesting +description of the methods pursued by the missionaries in their +preaching, and by one of their native helpers in teaching his fellows. + +In June, 1599, Diego Garcia is sent to the islands as official +visitor of the Jesuit missions there, and he at once reorganizes and +systematizes their plan and conduct. Soon after his arrival there is a +violent earthquake at Manila, which injures two of the churches. The +Jesuits receive much aid for restoring their building--contributions +from the Spaniards, and services from the Indians. In an epidemic of +disease among them much good is done by the confraternity established +among the converts, and the sick depend upon the fathers for spiritual +comfort. When the people harvest their rice, their first care is +to carry an offering of the first-fruits to the church. As usual, +the Jesuits here do much to better the lives of their penitents, +both Indian and Spanish, reconciling those who were at enmity, and +breaking up licentious alliances. The pestilence extends to Antipolo +and other villages near Manila, and both the missionaries and their +converts aid the sick and the dying in every possible way. + +The uprooting of idolatry in the Taytay mission has been effectual; +various instances of this are related by Chirino, as also the cure +of a lunatic by wearing an _Agnus Dei_. Garcia, the official visitor, +arrives at Cebu in 1600, and makes arrangements by which the Chinese +there are cared for by other priests, the Jesuits being thus free to +labor among the Indians. But the harvest of souls is far greater than +the few laborers there can reap and more are urgently needed. Chirino +relates some instances of conversion and pious deaths in that mission. + +He then relates the progress of the mission in Bohol, citing for this +purpose the letters of the two missionaries there. The new converts +display much devotion, and even the pagans receive the fathers +kindly. Many are converted, and some of their children are trained +to instruct the people in the Christian faith. Sanchez procures the +destruction of many instruments of witchcraft in a certain village; +and relates some marvelous cures made by administering the sacraments, +and some instances of feminine virtue. + +In Butuan (Mindanao) a rich harvest of souls is being gathered by +Ledesma and Martinez; and even the infidels are very friendly to the +new religion. The converts are very devout, and will not countenance +any pagan practices. Certain miraculous cures are recorded. The +practice of flagellation is maintained in the Jesuit church there, +as in other places. + +The Filipinos had formerly lived in perpetual warfare between the +petty chiefs and their adherents; those who could remove migrated to +new homes inland, and thus the mountain regions became settled. In +order to reach the natives, the Jesuits at Alangalang bend all +their efforts, which are soon successful, to gathering these +scattered settlements into large villages--mission "reductions" +like those which they had already made so noted in Paraguay and +other lands. Their labors are thus more advantageously conducted, +and many conversions result. At Carigara their church services are +greatly aided by a native choir, who sing in both their own and the +European modes. A letter from Father Enzinas praises the purity of +the converted Indian women. Father Sanchez relates a notable case +in his missionary labors at Barugo. The progress of the church at +Ogmuc is related, with ardent praise for the piety and fervor of the +converts. The infidels are steadily growing more inclined to receive +the faith; and polygamy is being suppressed. A brief mission at Paloc +by Father Rodriguez results in fifty baptisms; and other subsequent +missions there reap a rich harvest of souls. Flagellation is a usual +practice in Lent; nearly all the people have received baptism; and +the converted chiefs offer atonement to all whom they may have wronged. + +The record of the Dulac mission shows seven hundred baptisms in one +year; and the details of some conversions are related, especially +that of two deaf-mutes, whose piety is most edifying. During Holy +Week the converts practice flagellation; and on one occasion one of +the fathers gives his flock a practical lesson in Christian charity. + +In Tinagon the Jesuits baptize, during the year ending in April, +1600, nearly a thousand persons. The number of missionaries for this +field is so inadequate that they send to some villages the Indian +boys who have been instructed, in order that they may teach the +people the catechism and doctrine. Accounts of missionary labors +and of certain conversions are given in extracts from some letters +written by the fathers. All the people are friendly to the new faith, +and the prospect is most encouraging. + +Chirino mentions the shipwreck of the vessels bound for Mexico, and the +conflict with Oliver van Noordt, in connection with which he describes +the deaths and the pious lives of some Jesuits who perished therein. In +1601 Father Gregorio Lopez brings to the islands a reenforcement of +nine missionaries; and their long and dangerous voyage across the +Pacific, safely accomplished through the intercession of St. Ignatius, +is fully described. In the same year and the next arrive also many +missionaries of the other orders: Chirino praises their devotion and +zeal, the fraternal spirit among the various orders, the excellent +influence exerted by their members among the Spaniards in Manila, and +the religious spirit exhibited by the latter; and describes various +exercises of piety practiced there--the institution of a religious +congregation among the students in the Jesuit college, and, later, +one among the townspeople; the practice of flagellation every week +during the year, as well as in Lent; attendance at Sunday afternoon +sermons; the choice of patron saints by lot; etc. The particulars of +certain conversions and virtuous acts are also related--especially +the conversion of the Dutch prisoners captured from van Noordt. + +The Indians in Manila, who are largely in care of the Jesuits, are +devout by nature, and much inclined to confession and other pious +exercises. A confraternity among them accomplishes many pious and +benevolent works, and exerts a great influence on those outside it. In +the Taytay mission there is cheering progress, and many of the mountain +Indians, hitherto infidels, are converted and baptized. The visitor +Garcia has founded at Antipolo a hospital, and a seminary for boys, +both of great assistance to the missionaries' labors. + +Toward the end of 1600 the bishop of Cebu holds a council of secular +clergy and missionaries, wherein their work is better planned +and regulated, and various salutary enactments are made for the +diocese. The Jesuit fathers pay especial attention to the Indians and +the soldiers, giving up the charge of the Chinese in Cebu; an Indian +hamlet near that city yields them many converts. Letters from Valerio +Ledesma give encouraging reports of progress and gain in the Bohol +mission. He is successful in gathering the scattered settlements into +mission villages--in Loboc, "more than a thousand souls, gathered +from the mountains and rivers, most of them people reared in war, +robbery, and murder;" and on the Viga River two wild hill-tribes, +who had never before seen a priest. + +Ledesma visits many villages in that island, finding the people eager +to receive baptism, and hospitable toward the missionaries; and many +conversions occur among the savage and fierce mountain tribes. On one +occasion Ledesma goes, alone and unarmed, to meet a hostile band (who +had never before seen a Spaniard); and by his gentle and kind demeanor, +and some small gifts, induces them to depart in peace, after winning +their friendship for himself and his converts. The harvest is great, +and more laborers are greatly needed in that field. This is largely due +to the policy of the missionaries in forming the mission reductions +of converts. The savage mountaineers still continue to migrate to +these mission villages; and heathen priestesses are converted to the +faith. In the Bohol mission there are now more than three thousand +Christians. The island is again menaced by the Moro pirates of +Mindanao; in 1600 they ravaged other islands, but did little damage +in Bohol. Various citations from missionary reports show the docility +and eagerness of the natives in embracing the Christian faith. + +At the request of the secular priest in charge there, the district +of Tanai (in Negros Island) is placed in the mission-field of the +Jesuits, and Gabriel Sanchez is transferred thither from Bohol; he +is welcomed by the people. His report contains accounts of numerous +conversions and miraculous cures, as well as of a heavenly vision +beheld by some converts. Returning to Tanai later, Sanchez finds his +converts steadfast, and most exemplary in their lives. + +In Ibabao (Samar), are conducted flying missions, from the central +residence at Tinagon, the indefatigable missionaries coasting along +the shores of that and other adjacent islands "casting their nets +for souls." During the year they have baptized nearly four thousand +persons, most of them adults. Six missions are formed, reports from +which present many interesting accounts of the labors, methods, +and achievements of the fathers. + +In the Dulac mission (in Leyte), the fathers are also gaining many +souls; at the Christmas feast alone, six hundred former infidels were +baptized at Paloc. Various incidents are related of pious deaths, +and of deliverance of those in danger. + +Good progress is being made in the missions of Leyte--Alangalang, +Carigara and others; nearly three thousand persons were baptized +therein during the years 1600-1602. At Alangalang there are in +the Jesuit church three choirs of Indians, who "surpass many +Spaniards." The Christians at Ogmuc are exceedingly fervent; and +the children instructed in the Jesuit school become, in their turn, +teachers of their parents. The Indians of the Alangalang mission +practice flagellation during Holy Week, "shedding their blood with such +fervor that it became necessary to restrain them. Nor was there less +fervor among the children;" and these, when too young to be allowed +to scourge themselves, invent another penance of their own. In Leyte +a notable disturbance among the natives, arising from the murder +of a prominent chief, is quelled by the influence of the Jesuits, +who reconcile the different factions and restore harmony, besides +reclaiming certain outlaws. + +While a ship is being built at Panamao (now Biliran), one of the +fathers ministers (1602) to the workmen gathered there--Spaniards, +Indians, and others. A Spanish youth is slain by a negro; this sad +event disposes the minds of all to religion, and the missionary gathers +a rich harvest of souls. He is almost overwhelmed with his labors, +but is consoled by the deep contrition and devotion displayed by his +penitents, and twice defers his departure at their entreaties and +for the sake of their souls' welfare. + +At the end of 1601, Father Francisco de Almerique dies at Manila, +worn out with long and incessant toil in his ministry to the +Indians. Chirino relates his virtues, labors, and pious death; he +has rendered especial service by attracting the wild Indians of the +mountains to settle in the mission villages, thus bringing them under +the influence of the gospel. The Jesuit college at Manila prospers; +a course in philosophy is begun, and the two religious congregations +stimulate religious devotion among their members. The spells used by +certain witches in that city are neutralized by the influence of an +_Agnus Dei_. + +In 1602 the Taytay and Antipolo mission grows rapidly, and more +laborers are needed in that field. The devotions of Lent are, as +usual, emphasized by "processions of blood," wherein the devotees +scourge themselves through the streets. The mantle of Father Almerique +falls upon Father Angelo Armano. The devotion of these converts is +praised. The seminary for Indian boys, and the hospital, are efficient +aids to the labors of the missionaries. + +The mission of Silan has been recently assigned to the Jesuits; they +find the people well-disposed and tractable, and soon have many, +both children and adults, under instruction. In caring for these, +they are greatly aided by a blind native helper, formerly a heathen +priest. Letters from the fathers in charge of this mission describe +their arduous labors, the faith and piety of their neophytes, and +certain miracles wrought by an image of St. Ignatius. Here, too, the +missionaries pursue their favorite policy of gathering the natives +into reductions. + +A chapter is devoted to the customs of the Filipinos in bestowing +personal names. Surnames are conferred only at the time of marriage; +but various appellations of relationship and endearment are given +besides that chosen at a child's birth. Chirino praises the fertility, +elegance, and politeness of the Tagal language. He says that formerly +the natives did not adorn themselves with titles; but now "the wretched +'Don' has filled both men and women with such vanity that every one +of them who has a tolerably good opinion of himself must place this +title before his name; accordingly, there are even more Dons among +them than among our Spaniards." + +The bishop of Cebu visits the island of Bohol, accompanied by a +Jesuit missionary who briefly relates something of their experiences +in this journey. The bishop confirms, in the Jesuit missions, about +three thousand Christians, and wins their hearts by his paternal +love and benevolence. The fervor of these converts is very great, +and even the little children are full of zeal to learn the Christian +doctrine. The people are all well disposed toward the faith, and +"the whole island would now be converted" if they had missionaries to +give them instruction. There are islets adjacent to Bohol, where the +people are going to hell for lack of religious aid; but the Jesuits +cannot take care of them for lack of ministers. This difficulty is +especially encountered in the island of Samar; a journey of Father +Juan de Torres to a needy mission station is described at some +length. At Catubig a flourishing mission is established (1601); +the headman of that village is converted, and shows his faith by +many pious works. Various instances of encounters with crocodiles, +and some miraculous deliverances from danger or death, are related +as occurring at Catubig. Chirino closes his narrative with an appeal +for more laborers to be sent to the Philippines, as a field where so +great a harvest of souls awaits them. + +Permission is given (February 23, 1604) for the Augustinian Recollects +to establish themselves in the Philippines. On June 3 the king sends +orders to Acuna to repress the high-handed proceedings of some of the +religious orders there; and on July 30 he directs the archbishop to +punish those of the teaching friars who abandon their mission fields +and sell or exchange church furniture. + +Acuna writes to the king (July 15) about various business matters. He +asks for money with which to make restitution to certain Chinese, +and for royal favor to Christoval de Azqueta. Much fear of a +Chinese invasion is felt in Manila. Trade with the Japanese is in +good condition; but Acuna refuses to let them bring money to Manila +for investment. Acuna makes various recommendations as to officials, +their appointment, and the official inspection of their conduct; and +asks that the royal treasury of the islands be properly inspected and +regulated. In other letters of the same date, the governor urges at +some length that the Audiencia at Manila should be abolished. The +Spanish population is so small that the Audiencia has but little +occupation; the auditors bring to the islands numerous relatives or +friends, for whom they secure the offices and benefits which rightfully +belong to the inhabitants; they appropriate the best of the Chinese +trade and of its profits, compelling the citizens to stand aside; and +they tyrannize over the latter in many ways. The auditors interfere +with the affairs of the military service, and hinder the governor from +performing his duties. The expense of their salaries is a heavy burden +on an impoverished country, and the treasury has not enough means to +meet the demands constantly made upon it. The people are discontented +and clamorous, and they ought to be freed from this encumbrance. A +postscript dated July 19 refers to the king a dispute between the +Audiencia and archbishop regarding the seminary of Santa Potenciana. + +Letters from Pedro Chirino (undated; 1604?) to the king ask for +royal grants to aid the Jesuit seminary for boys at Cebu. In support +of this request he cites the benefits derived from this school by +natives as well as Spaniards, and the ministrations to all classes +by the Jesuits in charge of it; and adduces the testimony of various +witnesses, secular and ecclesiastical, to the same effect. His request +is granted by the royal council. By a decree of December 31, 1604, +the Spanish government regulates the trade of the American colonies +with the Philippines. The substance of previous decrees is rehearsed, +and Felipe orders that the trade of the islands with Nueva Espana +be continued, although under some restrictions. The commander and +other officials are to be appointed by the governor and archbishop +at Manila, and chosen from citizens of the islands. The officials of +the ships may not engage in trade, and the salaries of the two highest +are fixed. Provision is made for more rigid inspection of vessels and +their cargoes, for equitable allotment of space, and for the safety +of the crews. Freight charges are to be moderated and regulated; +additional duties on goods are levied, and provision is made for +the care and expenditure of these, also for inspection of cargoes +and money shipped at Acapulco. No person may go to the Philippines +unless he shall give security for his permanent residence there. + +In February, 1605, a formal complaint against the Chinese is made +before the authorities at Manila by Archbishop Benavides, supported +by the depositions of several witnesses. The Parian in that city, +destroyed in the insurrection of 1603, has been rebuilt, and is +again peopled by "infidel Sangleys." These Chinese are idolatrous, +and exceedingly licentious and vicious; and in both these respects +are demoralizing the Indian natives, and drawing them away from +the Catholic faith. The Chinese, moreover, are inclined to revenge +themselves on the Spaniards for the slaughter of their countrymen in +the insurrection of 1603, and thus are a constant source of danger. He +recommends that they be driven out of the city, except that they be +allowed a place where they can live during the months while the ships +for the Mexican trade are being unloaded and freighted; and that they +be not allowed to hold intercourse with the Indians. The archbishop +also denounces the Japanese (who reside not far from the Chinese +quarter in Manila) as being equally vicious and dangerous. For all +these reasons, he causes a secret investigation to be made of the +whole matter, which he has not been able to induce the governor +to do. Further testimony to the same effect is given by several +witnesses. Talavera, a cura of the natives in Manila, states that he +has been told that the Mindanao pirates were incited to hostilities +by the Chinese; also that the archbishop had repeatedly striven, +but in vain, to correct the evils arising from the proximity of the +natives to these vicious foreigners. A sworn statement by Francisco de +Avila (June 15) is appended, showing that Chinese were then residing +in the houses of prominent citizens of Manila. A letter is written +(March, 1605) by the officials of the Chinese province of Chincheo, +to Governor Acuna, demanding investigation of the late Sangley revolt +at Manila and redress for the killing of so many Chinese. + +The leading Augustinians at Manila send to the king (May 4) a formal +complaint against Fray Lorenso de Leon, whom they charge with arbitrary +and illegal acts, and with scheming to gain power in the order, +and with forcing his own election as provincial. They ask the king to +induce the papal nuncio to revoke Fray de Leon's authority, and to send +a visitor to regulate the affairs of the order in the islands. This +request is supported by a brief letter from the commissary of the +Inquisition (a Dominican), One of the Augustinian officials signing +the above document, Joan de Tapia, writes another and personal letter +to the king, giving further accounts of Fray de Leon's illegal acts +and general unfitness for his office. Tapia also accuses him and +one Fray Amorin of having appropriated to themselves various funds +entrusted to their care; and says that Leon is investing in mercantile +speculations money which must have come from the convents. + +One of the auditors, Antonio de Ribera Maldonado, writes to the king +(June 28); he complains of the conduct of Governor Acuna toward himself +and others, and of his appointments to government positions. Maldonado +also asserts that Acuna evades the laws regulating the Mexican trade, +securing for himself and his friends privileges which rightfully +belong to the citizens at large. He asks that he may be permitted to +remain longer at Manila, instead of going to Mexico. + +_The Editors_ + +March, 1904. + + + + + +RELACION DE LAS ISLAS FILIPINAS (_concluded_) + +By Father Pedro Chirino, S.J. Roma: printed by Estevan Paulino, +in the year MDCIV. + +_Source_: This is translated from the original printed work, for which +purpose have been used the copies belonging to Harvard University +and to Edward E. Ayer of Chicago. + +_Translation_: This is made by Frederic W. Morrison, of Harvard +University, and Emma Helen Blair. + + + + +RELATION OF THE FILIPINAS ISLANDS + +And of What Has There Been Accomplished by the Fathers of the Society +of Jesus + + + +How Father Francisco de Vera returned to Espana for more +fathers. Chapter XXXVII. + + +The men of the Society remained in the rest of those Pintados Islands, +occupied as we have already seen. In various places, during those +two years, there had been newly erected to the glory of Jesus Christ +thirty churches; but in all this the least important thing was the +material gain, for the real success was in the continual increase of +the body of Christians in all those churches. In places where Ours +did not reside, each church had its own representative [_fiscal_], +who took care of it and assembled the people, at least on feast-days, +to recite the prayers and chant the Christian doctrine. They did this, +not only in the church, but in their houses; and even when journeying +by water, or cultivating the soil, their usual recreation is to sing +these exercises. In proportion at the fruit grew more abundantly, so +did the need of laborers increase--until Ours, exhausted by their lack +of strength to reap such copious harvests, unanimously called for the +succor of new companions. But as this aid must be sent from Europe, +which is so far away, and as they could not depend upon letters, +it was agreed to despatch Father Francisco de Vera, as a person +who had been most successful in conveying the last reenforcement, +so useful and so large--which, however, was now too small for so +greatly increased a harvest, and more reapers were needed. The +father set out from Manila on this journey, in the month of June +of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, in the ship +"Santa Margarita," which, after a prosperous voyage of four months, +reached Nueva Espana. Soon afterward, orders arrived there from +our very reverend father-general, Claudio Aquaviva, that Father +Diego Garcia, who had completed his term as rector of the college of +Mexico, should repair at once to the Filipinas, to visit and console, +on behalf of his Paternity, Ours who were there; and should take with +him a reenforcement of earnest laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, +which was the same object for which Father Francisco de Vera had +gone. It seemed best to the superiors that the good father should +remain there and obtain his much needed rest, and not undergo at +once the fresh hardships of a second voyage to the Filipinas. Besides +this, they desired to retain him in Mexico, because his presence in +that province was important, as it had been in the Filipinas, and, +still earlier, in Madrid, and in Alcala de Henares where he had been +superior. So the father-visitor departed, as we shall later see, +with some companions for the Filipinas. + + + +Further transactions in Manila up to the year one thousand five +hundred and ninety-eight. Chapter XXXVIII. + + +Although in Manila we had received novices from the very beginning, +and although a goodly number of acceptable men of various ranks had +entered our Society there, and had proved to be zealous servants of +God and very useful in our ministries, at the time of which we are +speaking their number was greater. For there were seven novices--all +very religious, humble, and devout--also three brethren of long +standing, and six priests; all were busy, each according to his degree +and vocation. The number of those who attended Lenten services and the +regular sermons continued to grow with the increase of the Spaniards +in Manila, and our Lord was pleased to give our fathers the immediate +reward for their labors, so that they might be thus encouraged to +toil with even greater ardor. Besides the large number of ordinary +confessions, many general confessions were made of great importance, +and by persons who for many years had not confessed--at least, +not as they should. In a single year one father heard forty general +confessions; another, fifty; and another, two hundred. There were also +many persons who desired, some to amend their lives, others to attain +a higher degree of virtue, and who made retreat at home, in order to +perform the exercises--especially persons serious and of high standing, +such as the schoolmaster of Manila, the commander of the fleet, and +other captains and men of reputation. During Lent and Advent sermons +were preached on Sunday afternoons to the soldiers in the guard-room; +and these were attended by many people of the city, as well as by +the governor and some of the auditors of the royal Audiencia. Before +commencing the sermon the children were, as usual, instructed in +the Christian doctrine, with questions and their answers. After +the sermon was concluded, the soldiers were invited to make their +confessions, which they did with alacrity. After that a kind of usury +was abolished, which the soldiers, without considering it as such, were +inadvertently practicing in their eagerness for gain. This was to sell +certain things for a higher price, on condition that the purchaser +should make his payments from what he might gain at play. This +they called "putting into one's hands" [_dar a las manos_]. During +Lent, the discipline was practiced three days in each week, with so +extraordinary a concourse of people that besides the Indians, who +came in large numbers, there were more than five hundred Spaniards +of all ranks and conditions--ecclesiastics and laymen, merchants, +captains, soldiers, and men of other callings. Various friendships +were made in this way, especially between ecclesiastics and laymen, +which were of great service to our Lord. + +Many needs of poor people were remedied, especially of those in the +prison; and efforts were made to alleviate the hunger and thirst that +they were suffering, and compassionately to settle their difficulties, +so far as we had means and opportunity. + +Efforts were also made to shelter in the seminary for girls some +women who, on account of the absence of their husbands, were in +danger. Arrangements were also made with the governor, Don Francisco +Tello, to secure the marriage of certain other women, in which +matter he lent assistance not only with his authority but with his +money. Upon one occasion he charitably bestowed a dowry of six hundred +pesos upon a woman of noble parentage who, for various reasons, had +gone from Madrid to sojourn in that country. The brethren of La Santa +Misericordia of Manila also lend assistance in these matters with +great solicitude and charity, conformably to their profession and the +aims of the Confraternity. The members are among the most noble and +distinguished people in that community, and are most useful therein, +to the great glory and service of God our Lord. + +Our fathers devote themselves at all hours to consoling and confessing +the sick and afflicted, for these always have us summoned, even though +far away. In this connection I shall relate a special instance. A +sick man, having abandoned hope of life (for the physician had +declared him past recovery), seeing that human remedies were of +no avail, had recourse to the divine; and he sought aid from the +mother of God, to whom he made a vow to betake himself for nine +days to her chapel called Ermita de Guia, which, as I have said, +lies without the city walls. Having made the vow, he arose at once, +just as he was, to fulfil it. A marvel of God! as the days went by, +his health continually improved; and at the end of the nine days, +he was entirely well. This meant health of body, but the two days +following his recovery brought him life for both body and soul. + +An honorable woman lived in great suffering through the cruel +treatment to which her husband subjected her; and she determined to +free herself from this pain and anguish by putting an end to her life, +which was passing in such bitterness. For this purpose, she placed a +noose around her neck, the demon aiding her, and hanged herself. The +noise which she made while in the pains of death was heard by one of +her neighbors, who hastened to her, and, encountering this horrible +sight, promptly cut the rope. The woman, when she came to herself, +repented of her wicked act, and had recourse to one of Ours for +counsel; and, through the mercy of the Lord, she now lives in peace +and contentment. Another married woman, likewise disheartened by the +abuse and bad temper of her husband, resolved to leap into the sea +and drown herself. Collecting some of her goods, with tears and great +sorrow she bade her daughter farewell, and set out to accomplish at +once her desperate purpose. When she was on the point of throwing +herself into the water, the Lord, having compassion on her wretched +lot, sent to her a voice which caused her to hesitate, and to realize +what she was doing. "What art thou doing, woman? Trust in God, for thy +husband shall treat thee well." With this she was affrighted; but, +as a proof that this deliverance had come from Heaven, her husband +came soon afterward, and began to caress her and to show her much +kindness. Then she grew calm, recognizing the great mercy which the +Lord had showed her. + +In this same year our students gave evidence of their intelligence +and application, on the occasion of the safe arrival at Manila of +the most reverend archbishop and suffragans, whom they entertained +in their schools with two ingenious dialogues, and other proofs of +erudition. In that season arrived also some of the gentlemen of the +royal Audiencia who were visiting our schools for the purpose of +showing them favor and honor. They greatly enjoyed a third literary +exercise which had been prepared for them and were thus encouraged +to carry out their intention of placing their sons in these schools, +as they did. In time, these studies began to bear fruit, and some of +our students even entered the religious life. + + + +The leading events at this time among the Indians in Manila. Chapter +XXXIX. + + +The ministries to the Indians are those which are exercised with the +greatest satisfaction in our college, for which occupation we had in +that year three fathers who had gained a mastery of their language. If +there had been many more, each one would have had something to occupy +him, on account of the great number of the Indians, not only within +the city, but beyond the walls, in many villages which are in the +vicinity of Manila, and whose inhabitants attend our church. In that +year our Lord was pleased to favor this ministry with new tokens of +His favor; for although in former years the conditions were such as +are described above, in this year [1598] the attendance in our church +for sermons and confessions was extraordinary--indeed, there was one +father who heard more than three hundred general confessions. This +was due partly to the increase in the number of fathers who knew +the language; and partly to the cessation of the sermons which were +formerly preached by other religious orders, through the press of +other labors with which they ever busy themselves most zealously in +the service of God. By these holy means we set aright many important +affairs which concerned enmities and sinful lives. As an instance of +this, certain legal proceedings were instituted for the separation +of a married pair; these had made considerable progress, but were +abandoned, and the husband and wife were reconciled, and again +lived together in peace. Efforts were also made to break up illicit +relations, and separate those who lived therein; and the result was +that, through the mercy of God, those persons have not relapsed into +evil ways. Although among these were some cases of special interest, +I will confine myself to other matters which occur to me, which are +cleaner and more agreeable. The first concerns an infidel Indian woman +whose conversion was a difficult matter, on account of her marriage +with a Chinese or Sangley who was also an infidel; for her husband +kept her, as is the custom among the Chinese, under close confinement +and guard. One of our fathers was desirous to gain this woman for +Christ; and, finding no other means, placed some Christian Indians +where she could hear them talk about the things of God and the life +eternal. The woman was so impressed by what she heard that, fleeing +from her husband and abandoning her home and child, she came to our +house and asked to be instructed for baptism; her request was granted, +and by this means the husband was also converted. His conversion is +a valuable one, since it is very difficult to incline the people of +his nation toward the truths of our holy faith. + +Some Indian women, during a pest of locusts, erected in their sowed +field a cross containing some relics; and our Lord was pleased to +honor the emblem of His death, as well as the faith of these, His +new faithful ones, for the locusts passed on without causing them +any loss. The owner of the land gave, in gratitude, all its harvest +as alms--which he was able to do, as he possessed some wealth. + +Although these incidents, and many others which are not here related, +show that our Lord is desirous of drawing these peoples to Himself +by the bonds of Adam, namely, by love and mercy, He also chooses +to show them that He is a God of justice. This He made evident in +the dreadful fate of a man and wife who swore to be faithful to each +other during his absence, and, supplemented their oaths with terrible +curses which are in use among them. Yet the woman, overcome by the +devil, was false to her compact and promise of fidelity; and while +the unhappy adulterers were thus sinfully engaged, both were struck +dead, and were found thus by persons who told it to the father. By +his orders the matter was suppressed, as much as was possible in so +frightful an event. + + + +Of the villages of Antipolo and San Juan del Monte. Chapter XXXX. + + +So great was the increase of that mission throughout those two years +[1597-98], by the continual arrival of people who came to us, as we +have already stated, from those mountains and deserts, that besides two +entire villages which were established near Antipolo, at a distance +convenient for the instruction of the people, more than a hundred +persons came down from the mountains with some children, who were +at once baptized. Among these were three ministers of their idols, +who, upon arriving at Antipolo, went to Father Almerique, and, making +avowal of the evil employment which they had up to that time practiced, +renounced it before him and many others who were then present. They +promised never again to resume it, and asked that this declaration +be given them in writing, as a proof of their conversion, and that +no one in times to come might attribute to them guilt for what they +had done in the mountains when they had no knowledge of the true God. + +In each of these two villages there was formed a confraternity, +which, besides other works of piety and devotion, practices two +that act as a preservative against the two great evils of idolatry +and intoxication--which, as we have already stated, were customary +in cases of sickness or death--since in this confraternity are the +people who are most prominent, most Christian, and most trustworthy +in those villages. Moreover, they take the utmost care to ascertain +who in the village may be sick or dying; and they aid the families +of both the sick and the dead by frequent visits--in such cases +not only exercising perfect piety and charity, but preventing the +abuses, superstitions, idolatries, intoxications, dirges, music, +and wailing which had been their own custom when they were pagans, +as now among these others. These confraternities have rendered +Christianity in those regions most glorious, and for their good deeds +are so highly esteemed that he is not considered a person of worth +who is not received into one of them. On two special occasions they +made processions, in excellent order, and with great solemnity and +concourse of the people, and attended mass and preaching; and very +many frequented the communion. One of these was at the foundation +of a confraternity; the other was occasioned by a plague of locusts +which had been devastating all those islands for two years. In order +to obtain from God a remedy for this evil, they chose the most holy +Virgin Mary as their intercessor, and made a vow to celebrate the feast +of her most pure conception, and to give on that occasion liberal alms +as aid for the marriages of the poor and the orphans. They fulfilled +their promises, and our Lord received their humble tokens of service +and showed them that He was well pleased, by turning aside the locusts +from their crops, and giving them that year very abundant harvests. All +the people of the village have now directed to the church that recourse +and dependence which they formerly exercised toward the ministers of +the devil; and, consequently, when they experience any ill, however +trifling it maybe, they summon the father to hear their confessions, +or to have the gospel recited to them. Hardly a day passes, while their +sickness lasts, when they do not cause themselves to be conveyed to +the church, at the time of mass; and when that is ended they approach +the priest, to have him recite the gospel and sprinkle them with holy +water. Sometimes there are so many of them that, when the priest has +done this for them, he is compelled to wait until they go away before +he can leave the altar. They also carry first to the church whatever +grain or seeds they are about to sow, to have these blessed, in return +for which they offer the priest the first-fruits of their harvests. + + + +The leading events in the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. Chapter +XXXXI. + + +As a result of the favors bestowed upon the six resident members of the +Society by the right reverend bishop of Sebu, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto, +a religious of the Order of St. Augustine (who entered this year +into his church and erected it into a cathedral), the fruits of our +ministries were at this time most abundant and prosperous. As I have +already stated, these were exercised among the various nationalities +who inhabit that city, or who resort thither from various regions for +their business and traffic. Likewise, at the instance of his lordship, +a school of Latin was opened in our college for his servants and +clergy, who were joined by the sons of some of the citizens. This +school was not only a common and general benefit, but also very useful +as a retreat and aid for those who in the school for children were +already advanced in reading, writing, and reckoning. Although many +of the boys remained in the lower school as pupils, a considerable +number of students began the study of grammar with the new master, +Father Francisco Vicente Puche, who as an initiation to the studies, +and as a welcome to the bishop, gave with his students a two-hours' +dramatic representation in the cathedral, in honor of his Lordship, +which proved most agreeable, learned, dignified, and devout, and gave +extraordinary pleasure to all the citizens, who had never before seen +such a thing in their city. + +There were two Indian peoples among whom we were especially laboring +at that time: one the Bissayans, who are the natives of that country, +to whom we preached, on Sundays and feast-days, throughout the year, +in their own language; the other the Chinese--many of whom, coming from +their own land into this (and many do come in the merchant-vessels), +remain here. They have established in this city, near our house, a +quarter of their own, which at that time was in charge of the Society; +and our fathers administered the sacraments to them and their families, +including their women and servants--Chinese, Japanese, Malucos, +and Bissayans. They repaired with great frequency to confession +and communion, especially on days in jubilees and in Lent; and we +always had catechumens among the infidel Chinese, whom we baptized +only at the notable feasts, and with great solemnity--excepting on +occasions when that sacrament was bestowed on persons at the point +of death. The first confirmations which the lord bishop celebrated +outside of his cathedral were in our church, where he most devoutly +bestowed this holy sacrament upon our Chinese and their families. On +Easter of this last year, he celebrated in the same church, as an +encouragement and a favor, the solemn baptism of the catechumens, +of whom there were a large number; and he was greatly delighted and +edified to behold one of our fathers, his assistant on that occasion, +conversing in the Chinese language. + +The fruitful results of these ministries were displayed in many +instances, more especially in regard to purity and constancy. I +shall mention one case only, wherein it seemed to us extraordinary +constancy which could inspire with courage for such resistance an +Indian woman whose former occupation, while she was a heathen, was +so contrary to such conduct, as we have related. It happened in this +way. One of those women was solicited by a wicked man whom she bravely +repulsed. But he finally began cautiously to offer her money, urging +her to receive it, and assuring her that he made no claim upon her +thus. Not less valorously than before did she reject his offering, +saying that she desired no money which, when she must appear before +God; would cry out against her, and be an accuser and witness against +her; and she reminded him that this money, with which he was striving +to wage such war against her, could serve only for her condemnation +and chastisement. In proportion to her resistance, so did the furious +passion of this wicked man increase, who gave himself no repose in +devising projects for her downfall. Attempting to accomplish this, +on a certain occasion when she was alone, she uttered loud cries, at +which someone came to her aid and delivered her from his violence. With +that his love turned to hatred, and his cajolery to threats, which he +carried out by accusing her to her masters, with false testimony. She +went from their house, in great affliction and distress, but ever +repeating, with much patience: "God sees it all." Still further to +exercise her virtue, God permitted that even her master, who was +a person of high rank, instigated by the devil, should solicit her +with great importunity. She answered him by saying that she would, +under no persuasion, commit such a sin, and that he should consider +that he would greatly disgrace himself, as a man of so high position, +by seeking relations with her, a woman of lowly state. She added +that, besides this, she kept before her the thought of God, in whose +presence she dared not commit any vile act, or consent to it in +her heart, knowing that God sees all things; and, moreover, she had +consideration for her mistress, who treated her as her own daughter, +and against whom she could in no wise commit such treachery. The man, +irritated by this resistance, threatened her with harsh treatment; but +she replied that even if he were to kill her, it was enough for her +that God saw all that she was suffering to avoid sin. The evil man, +notwithstanding, carried out his threat, annoying her and treating +her with great harshness; yet this only increased the strength and +virtue of this innocent and chaste woman. Another Indian woman, left +a widow, was so devoted to the preservation of her chastity that, +without the advice of anyone, she made to God a vow of chastity, and +most strictly kept it. There are many other women who, though they make +no vow, preserve intact their chastity and virginity. Nor are the men +behind the women in the fervor and contrition wherewith they make their +confessions, and the rigor with which they scourge themselves and do +penance. One of those Indian women made her confession with so abundant +tears and signs of true contrition, that the father who confessed her +was greatly aroused and moved thereat, and afterward related that +the feelings of devotion caused by those so fervent tears and true +contrition remained with him for many days; and that when he wished to +humiliate himself or enliven his piety he had only to remember what +he had beheld in that Indian woman. For it is vastly different to +but talk of contrition for sins, and to contemplate its vivid image +and reality in a soul. Another woman came to the confessional and, +without noticing the multitude of people in the church, began her +confession, and continued it with so many tears and such grief for her +sins that she could with difficulty speak. She was thereupon seized +with a great longing to do penance, and desired to go at once through +the streets of the city, publicly scourging herself, as many do here +[in Europe] throughout Lent, in the early part of the night. A young +man in the confessional experienced such horror at his sins that, +incensed against himself, and without informing the father, he scourged +himself through the streets with such severity that he fell down as +one dead, and was considered as such. He came later to our house to +confess his offenses, and was as disfigured as if he were recovering +from a severe illness; but, not content with the former scourging, +he desired to inflict on himself another--for, as he said, his heart +was transfixed, as by a nail, with grief for his sins. The father, +however, commanded him to cease for the present, and he obeyed. There +were many other special instances which, for the sake of brevity, +I here omit. Not the least affecting among them were those where +there was manifested the eternal predestination which has mercifully +provided for many at the hour of death the resource of baptism. + +Our ministries in behalf of the Spaniards were no less fervent at this +time. They repaired in great numbers to our fathers, especially during +Lent and on days of jubilee, when the results of their instruction +were most apparent. There were, very commonly, consultations in cases +of conscience, not only with laymen, but with ecclesiastics, and +religious, and even with the bishop--who hardly took any step without +the advice of our fathers, although he was a most learned and discreet +prelate. It must have been from seeing that persons of so high standing +held our Society in so great esteem that the people conceived the idea, +and made the resolve, of coming to our house for their confessions; +and for that very reason they felt under obligation to lead better +lives. With regard to this, one man said that during our absence he +had endured many inward struggles on account of not having made his +confession to Ours; but that, after he had done so, he had, through +the mercy of God, overcome them all. In short, no matter of weight or +importance arose where the advice of the Society was not sought with +confidence and truth, especially when it was seen that the bishop had +such confidence in us--which his Lordship manifested on many public +occasions and before many people, by words and deeds which could not +then be heard or now repeated, without confusion and embarrassment. + +Our sermons in the cathedral and in our own church were regular +and frequent, and were all attended by the right reverend bishop, +who also honored our church with a pontifical mass for our feast +of New Year's day, which was celebrated with much solemnity, many +persons, from all classes of people, repairing to confession and +communion. His Lordship also preached at the titular feast of the same +church (that of the glorious St. Ildefonso), which was celebrated with +the like attendance and devotion, in the presence of a concourse of +people, and with many communions. His Lordship was also desirous of +introducing, in imitation of Manila, the practice of scourging in the +church during Lent; and he actually visited it, on the first Friday, +with a considerable following. He began by preaching a very devout +sermon, at the conclusion of which, seeing that, although night had +set in, the church was still light with the rays of a full moon, he +determined to leave it for the time, and accordingly returned after +his choir had sung the _Miserere_. + +On account of the heat in this region, the churches are so constructed +as to be open and airy, and for this reason are poorly adapted +for taking the discipline. Accordingly he changed his plan and, +inviting the children of the school, and the students, with these and +many others of the town, he arranged for every Friday of that Lent a +procession of blood, in which the bishop himself marched barefoot. This +procession left the cathedral in the evening, and proceeded to +the other church (of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady), some +distance away. In the meantime the rest were flagellating themselves, +even to the extent of drawing blood; and while the choir was singing +the _Miserere_, the holy bishop scourged himself alone in the sacristy. + + + +How the Christian religion extended in the island of Bohol. Chapter +XXXXII. + + +Through the solicitude and fervor of the two fathers who were in +Bohol, who soon received the help of a brother, that new Christian +church was notably increased, especially among the old people, +from sixty to eighty years of age. These--the world no longer for +them, or they for the world, but for Him who died for them--He did +not disdain to receive into His church when their sun was setting, +although they had not begun so early to follow and obey Him as He had +to seek and invite them; many of them died shortly after they were +baptized, having left many tokens and proofs of their salvation and +the sincerity of their faith. All of them--little children and grown +men, youths and aged people, the well and the sick--all convinced and +persuaded by the truths of Catholicism, are certain that no other road +leads to heaven; and so, without resistance or objection, they prepared +themselves for holy baptism--although the fathers with praiseworthy +prudence, restrained them by conferring the sacrament on those only +who were well prepared, or really in need of it. Many who received +the holy sacraments were cured of their maladies, and, consequently, +the earnestness and devotion with which they sought and received them +were intense. Even when they are in health, it is indeed marvelous to +see the satisfaction and willingness with which they repair to all +virtuous exercises, especially to confessions and masses. There was +no scent or trace of vice or idolatry, or witchcraft, or of other +evil customs practiced by them while they were pagans; and if, in +confession or elsewhere, mention were made to them of these things, +they became deeply offended, saying: "Since we are now Christians, +how could we do such things again?" Especially notable is the fidelity +maintained by married people, which they observe not only in outward +act, but in their hearts. + +I cannot mention without sorrow the many souls, in this and neighboring +islands, who clamor for deliverance and have no one to give it to +them. During this same year some chiefs came from one of the adjacent +islands who asked, almost in tears, that one of the two fathers +who were there would, for the love of God visit them at least once +a week. In another island, called Siquihor, or the island of fire, +distant from Bohol some four leguas, there are many so well inclined +to the faith that, upon receiving the Christian doctrine of one who +went from that region to their island, they learned it very carefully, +and the chiefs even came with the others to ask for baptism. They were +all, however, appeased with the good prospects that were held out to +them, although these did not suffice to console them in their sorrow +at returning still hungry for the bread of heaven; or Ours at seeing +them with such righteous hunger for it, yet unable to procure it, +and with no one who might give them a share of it with the many who +in other regions have more than enough. + + + +The increase of Christianity in Botuan. Chapter XXXXIII. + + +What the other two fathers accomplished in Botuan I shall relate in +their own words; for, if I am not mistaken, he who has the task in +his own hands can well declare it. Father Valerio de Ledesma in one +of his letters writes thus: "Christianity here is in a flourishing +condition, as is seen in the large attendance at divine services and +in the silence and reverence displayed in the church (for even when +it is crowded with many people it seems as if not one were there), +and in the affection of the people for the sacrament of confession. In +even their petty troubles, many repair to the confessional; and some +have already begun to receive communion, concerning which sermons +have been repeatedly preached. I trust in our Lord that many will +be ready by Corpus Christi; although in the beginning it is best to +proceed very gradually that they may reverence the sacrament and know +how to distinguish this divine food. The people attend the services +more than ever, and on Sundays a very large audience listens to the +word of God. The doctrine is sung at night, and the heavens themselves +seem to rejoice at music so sweet. In all the families there are many +persons well-disposed to the Christian faith; and soon a large number +of adults will be baptized; among them some chiefs of high standing, +although the largest fish of all is not yet caught. If it were not for +the difficulty of learning the doctrine, it seems to me now that almost +the whole village would come to us." Thus writes the father. This +"largest fish" whom he mentions is that great Silongan of whom we +spoke. Although he divorced five of his wives, one of them holds him +so in captivity that finally he is keeping both of them [_i.e._, +this one and his lawful wife]. Although every possible means of a +gentle sort has been used to free him from this impediment, nothing +could be done; and yet he showed a great desire to become a Christian, +and the utmost esteem for the things of God, as well as extraordinary +affection toward our fathers--which he manifested by giving his +son to their care, and on two occasions of special importance. One +of these was when the inhabitants, in fear of their enemies, the +Ternatans, who were scouring their coasts, received the news that +there were some ships at the mouth of the river, which, although they +belonged to friends, were not recognized as such; the inhabitants, +fearing that these might be enemies, accordingly armed themselves at +once. It was then that this chief, with all the men of his district, +all armed with lances and shields, crossed to the other side of the +river, where our house stood; and there, upon learning the deception +and recognizing the friends, Silongan in front of our house performed +some feats of activity to show his valor and strength, and said that it +was he, Silongan, who protected and defended the fathers and who, in +trying circumstances, showed what should be done in their behalf. The +other occasion was when one of our fathers, while going up the river, +happened to encounter another chief who, on account of a murder, was +plundering that district with many others who defended and guarded +him. The father, dreading this man, sought the protection of Silongan, +who happened to be in the same locality. The latter, with his numerous +slaves, surrounded the church where the father was, guarding it with +great vigilance; and, when he returned, took, in his own boat the +box of church ornaments and brought them all back in safety. + + + +The departure of Father Tomas de Montoya for the doctrina of +Alangalang. Chapter XXXXIV. + + +To take charge of this Christian community (which, as we have said, +was bereft by the death of Father Cosme de Flores), Father Tomas de +Montoya left Manila, abandoning the instruction which, to their great +profit, he was imparting to the students. He himself tells what he +accomplished there, and I shall state it in his own words: "As a result +of the good music that we have in the church, the divine services are +celebrated with much solemnity, and to the great satisfaction of the +natives. Many solemn baptisms and marriages have been celebrated which +were attended with great fervor, especially by the inhabitants of one +village, who in this respect have had the advantage of the others. One +of the women of this village received the sacrament with such devotion +and joy that a few days after her baptism she made her confession, and +persuaded her husband to become a Christian; and she was one of those +who practiced the exercises of the Christians with most pleasure. An +old man, already so exhausted by age that he could hardly stand upon +his feet, came one day with the others to the church, and upon being +enjoined to become a Christian, that he might give to God the little +of life that remained to him, told them to leave him in peace, for he +was no longer fit for anything except death. Seeing that for the time +being nothing impressed him, I left him; and afterward caused him to +come to my house, where I represented to him the benefits which he +would gain in heaven by becoming a Christian. This had such an effect +that our Lord moved his heart; and, unable to repress his satisfaction, +with much gladness he urgently sought immediate baptism. I told him +to go away and to reflect upon the matter for a time, for an affair +of such moment could not be hastily settled. He again answered that +it should not be delayed, as he desired baptism immediately; but, +at last, the ceremony was deferred. While being instructed he made +the most joyful answers, and afterwards received holy baptism with +the same tokens of pleasure. During the remaining short period of +his life his happiness was such that he imparted it to everyone +who spoke to him. The great goodness and mercy of God were seen in +the case of a new born babe whose pagan mother--an inhabitant of +another village, far distant--gave birth to it in a village of this +mission. To escape the burden and labor which she must sustain in +rearing it, she took it in her arms and, descending to the bank of +a river, was about to bury it alive. A Christian chanced to see her +and hastened to inform us. Upon reaching the spot I found the child, +so small that it was a cause for astonishment. I baptized it, and it +soon passed away to the eternal rest of which the imprudent mother +(worse than a step-mother) had recklessly tried to deprive it. But +as God our Lord showed to these the gentleness of His great mercy, +so on others did He execute the rigor of His justice, chastising +them for their obstinacy and hardness; and others He terrified, so +that some day they might enjoy His mercy. One of Ours had asked a +certain man to receive baptism, following the advice of his father, +who was an Indian of high standing and governor of the village. He +made excuses, saying that he did not wish to receive the sacrament +until he had been married. But God our Lord did not allow him to +fulfil this desire, on account of which he deferred holy baptism +until he paid for the delay by an untimely death. Besides dying as +he did, in his heathenism, and very hastily, the character of his +death was violent and horrible; for he was carried away by a poison +which caused the flesh to fall from his body in pieces. Another +man was continually ill, and, fearing that any day he might die, he +asked me to baptize him. Upon summoning him one day for instruction, +he failed to appear, having abandoned his purpose. Soon afterward he +embarked for a neighboring island, where he died in his paganism. One +day, the children of a village came together to be baptized, but one +of the pagans refused to allow her child to receive the sacrament; +neither entreaties nor arguments availing to soften her. Accordingly, +we had to give her up--our Lord taking charge of this obdurate one, +as He did, suddenly deprived her one night of life." + +But the event which caused among these Indians the greatest surprise +and terror, was the death of two of their most esteemed and respected +chiefs. The first was an Indian who in former days had married six +wives. He was so arrogant and cruel that whenever he made a journey +he sent Indians ahead of him to cut the branches of the trees, in +order that he might pass without bending his body; and if any of his +followers neglected to clear away a branch he paid for his carelessness +with his life. This chief became sick, and a father entreated him +with much earnestness to receive baptism. This he refused, and, +having no fear of death, said: "Father, as yet I have sufficient +strength in my eyes to see, in my hands to work, and in my feet to +walk. Leave me for the present, for, since thou art near by, I will +send one of my slaves for thee if I find that I am in distress." The +father left him, seeing that he would do nothing for us; and within +two days was told that this man was dead, having gone where he must +expiate his obstinacy as well as his pride and cruelty. + +For the better understanding of the second case, we must assume that +one of the ways in which God has been best served in that mission +is in persuading the Indians who have two or three wives to abandon +them and to content themselves with one. The means used to accomplish +this end was to condemn polygamy, to the assembled natives, as a +state unworthy of the nobility of man, saying that they ought not to +make themselves beasts and brutes by having so many wives. Our Lord +granted a fortunate outcome to this effort, for the men were thus +persuaded to give up their wives. The Indians were so impressed by this +teaching that once when a swarm of locusts lit in the grain-fields +of a certain village, they accounted for it by saying that God had +sent this pest on the people of that village, because the men were +wont to keep two wives. There was an Indian chief of high rank in the +island of Leite, by the name of Umbas, one of the most prominent among +the chiefs on account of his riches and the good government which he +maintained in the villages under his rule, and the thoroughness with +which he fulfilled all his responsibilities; he was esteemed by not +only the Indians but the Spaniards. All eyes were turned to him, and +consequently, had he but become a Christian, large numbers of people +would have followed his example, for he was regarded by the rest, +even in distant parts, as a pattern to follow. This Indian had two +wives, and being frequently urged, with many entreaties and arguments, +to abandon one of them, so great was his love for his sons that he +could not make up his mind to divorce one of the women, preferring +not to be separated from their children. He was urged in the church, +before all the people of the village, to divorce one of his wives; +but he only answered that he had already been told this. Many of +our fathers, as well as his encomendero, therefore besought him +with great earnestness to be baptized, but all in vain. But finally, +seeing that all the rest (and especially one of his sons, also much +esteemed and beloved) were abandoning their wives, he said that +he would do the same after he had harvested his rice, for which +the time had arrived--alleging as a reason that since he and they +had toiled together in the sowing, they should together enjoy the +harvest; and when that had been done, he would remain with but one +wife. But the Lord, who already had just cause against him, by His +lofty judgments prevented him from carrying out this intention; for, +very soon afterward, when he suspected no misfortune, he was stabbed +by an Indian whom he tried to seize. No second blow was needed, for +he fell to the ground dead, thus ending his disobedience and obduracy. + + + +Of the fervor of the Christians of Ogmuc. Chapter XXXXV. + + +Our fathers in the residence at Ogmuc, having proceeded with due +prudence and caution, had up to this time baptized only eighty-eight +adults. There was, however, a goodly number of catechumens, who were +very earnest in seeking baptism. Those who are baptized seem to have +known for many years the things of our holy faith, to judge by their +knowledge of its mysteries, especially those concerning Christ our Lord +and His most holy mother. They highly esteem the confessional, and when +they become sick they clamor at once for the father, and find relief +in making their confession. A sick man said that day and night he +thought of the father, who was absent, and desired him for confession, +adding that what most aggravated his sickness was to know that he +did not have the father at hand for that purpose. His relatives, +desirous of taking him to another place, had no success, nor could +they persuade him to go; for he maintained that they were about to +take him where he must die without confession, and where there was no +church in which he could be buried after death. As soon as he learned +that the father had arrived, he went, although very ill, to make his +confession, weeping for gladness, and never ceasing to render thanks +to the Lord that he had permitted the father to arrive at such a time; +and he declared that he could die consoled, now that he had made his +confession. During Holy Week there was a great concourse of people +who devoutly attended the divine services, keeping the receptacle +of the most holy sacrament handsomely adorned. On Holy Thursday, in +the afternoon, after the sermon a very devout procession was formed, +by which the people were more thoroughly instructed in the faith, +and taught what Christ our Lord had done for our salvation. The most +pleasing and touching sight was to see all the children disciplining +themselves with scourges which they themselves had made for that +day. At Easter some Spaniards chanced to be here, who augmented the +solemnity of the occasion with salvos from their arquebuses. Peace was +restored between many married people who had been living in discord; +and some abuses were corrected, especially two very baneful practices +anciently common among them, namely, usury in loans, and enslavement +through tyranny. In order that my readers may better understand and +recognize the power of God, who has unrooted these evils, it has +seemed to me best to describe them in greater detail. + + + +Of usury and slavery among the Filipinos. Chapter XXXXVI. + + +Among other vicious practices common to these nations and proceeding +from that fountain and abyss of evil, idolatry, one was that insatiable +cupidity mentioned by the evangelist St. John as one of the three +which tyrannize over the world. [1] This caused them, forgetful of that +natural compassion which we owe to one another, never to lend succor +in cases of need without assurance of profit. Consequently, whenever +they made loans (not of money, which they did not use or possess, +but of other things, most commonly rice, bells, and gold--this last +more than all else, for when weighed it took the place of money, for +which purpose every one carried in his pouch a balance), they must +always agree upon the profit which should be paid them in addition +to the sum that they were to lend. But the evil did not stop here, +for the profit or gain itself went on increasing with the delay in +making payment--until finally, in the course of time, it exceeded all +the possessions of the debtor. The debt was then charged to his person, +which the poor wretch gave, thus becoming a slave; and from that time +forth all his descendants were also slaves. There was another form +of this usury and slavery, by which the debtor or his son must remain +from that time a slave, until the debt, with all the usury and interest +which were customary among them, was repaid. As a result of this, all +the descendants of him who was ether a debtor or security for the debt, +remained slaves. Slaves were also made through tyranny and cruelty, +by way of revenge and punishment for offenses of small account, which +were made to appear matters of injury. Examples of these are: failure +to preserve silence for the dead (which we have already mentioned), +or happening to pass in front of a chief who was bathing (alluded +to in the fable of Actaeon), and other similar oppressions. They +also captured slaves in war by means of ambuscades and attacks, +keeping as such all those whom they did not wish to kill. Since these +cruelties were so usual among them, and, on the other hand, the poor +are commonly oppressed by the powerful, it was easy to increase the +number of slaves. Consequently they used to have, and still do have, +a very large number of slaves, which among them is the greatest of +riches. This has been no small hindrance to their conversion, and has +fettered the hands of many ministers of the gospel, and subjected +them to great doubts and perplexities. But since, on the one hand, +pious individuals have, although with difficulty, paid ransoms; +and, on the other, the royal magistrates have ascertained the facts +and provided redress for those thus tyrannically treated who seek +their liberty; and, moreover, since God our Lord has influenced many +in their baptisms and confessions, an enormous number of ransoms +have been given. Usury also quickly diminished, the creditors being +satisfied with the original interest, without expecting a continual +increase. But now, through the grace of our Lord, all that custom has +been abolished, and the natives now proceed with mercy and Christian +charity, not only in Ogmuc and throughout the island of Leite, but +in all the other islands where there is knowledge of Jesus Christ. + + + +What the Christians accomplished in Carigara. Chapter XXXXVII. + + +From the very beginning, the people of this mission showed their +fervor; consequently, the Christians continued to increase in numbers, +although, as I have said, our fathers were very cautious in granting +holy baptism. All those Christians have frequent recourse to the +confessional, prizing it highly and greatly benefiting their own +souls. Those who are not Christians are all catechumens; and there is +not one of them who does not desire holy baptism. There was formed in +this church, and completed this year, a very delightful musical choir, +composed of the children themselves, who are very clever in this +exercise; and thus the divine services are celebrated with solemnity. + + + +Of the remarkable increase in the mission of Paloc. Chapter XXXXVIII. + + +This village is one of the finest and best regulated in all the +island, thanks to the labors of one of our fathers, who helped the +natives to construct good houses. The Christian doctrine is taught +every day to the children in all the villages; and so many of them +attend this exercise that it is necessary to appoint four chanters +in order that they may be heard. Every day the people attend mass, +after they have had their lessons in the doctrine. One day of the +week is set apart when all the Christians come together to learn the +doctrine and catechism; and, even without the presence of the father, +they all assemble in every village. Great benefit has been derived +from this practice, for thus those who know the doctrine do not forget +it, and those who do not know it may learn it. Every night an Indian +goes forth with a little bell, warning all to prepare for death and +to repent for their sins, and enjoining the Christians to pray to +God in behalf of those who are not, that they may know God. While +he is uttering this message, perfect silence reigns, for they call +this "the warning of God;" and, in truth, it has been so effective +that there is not an Indian who does not reflect on death and desire +baptism. Before Lent some sermons were preached to them on confession, +and they were taught that they must not conceal their sins; to enforce +this, a very appropriate instance was cited, which had such an effect +upon them that many persons, though they had left the church very +late that night, returned the next morning to make another confession. + +Although idolatry was formerly very common among these pagans, who +practiced it on every trivial occasion, our Lord has been pleased so +to diminish it that hardly anything is now known of it. Two children, +whose mother was sick, took three fowls for the purpose of making a +sacrifice to the demon. While on the way to the house of the priestess +(who in that country is usually old, and belongs to a mean class), one +of the children said to the other: "Whither are we going, and what are +we doing--we who are Christians and know that God sees us? Let us give +up this purpose." With this they abandoned their projected sacrifice, +and returning to their home, set the fowls at liberty. The practice +of disciplining on Fridays was begun, and was taken up by all the +children and the adults of the village. On the first night when they +assembled for this purpose, the father made known to them the spirit +in which it should be done, and so profoundly impressed them that +they soon named Friday (which is the usual day for the discipline) +"the day of atonement for sins." + + + +Some notable incidents in Dulac. Chapter XXXXIX. + + +In this residence, from the month of June in the year ninety-eight to +January in the year ninety-nine, there were solemnly baptized more +than one hundred catechumens who greatly desired the sacrament and +prepared themselves very carefully for holy baptism. This did not +include the sick, who through the mercy of God had been but few that +year; but among these sick persons, both children and adults, was +experienced the virtue of this holy sacrament for bodily health. Some +persons who were covered with leprosy and their recovery despaired of, +were restored by baptism to so good health that, although borne down +by years, they were able to till the soil and sow their fields. I wish +to relate the faith of a pagan woman whose husband, also a pagan, lay +sick. Believing his condition to be dangerous, she persuaded him to +accept baptism. For this purpose she sent for the father, and, when +the latter asked the sick man if he desired baptism or instruction, +she helped him to make his answers. The father, observing her to be +so capable and so desirous of the welfare of her husband, inquired +if she also wished to become a Christian. She answered affirmatively, +saying that she had heard in the church that only the good Christians +went to heaven, and that those who were not Christians must burn in +hell; and that for the sake of retaining her husband's affection she +was not willing to die an infidel, and come to so bad an end. Finally, +when it seemed that the sick man was well prepared, and his sickness +was becoming dangerous, he was baptized, and then our Lord was +pleased to give him health--whereat the good woman was more than +ever anxious to receive baptism for herself. After they were both +baptized, they received the nuptial benediction, as do all the other +married people who are baptized, renewing their marriage according +to Christian usage. I will also mention the death of a child, which +was no less remarkable than the recovery of the other. The father +was passing through a village late in the day, on his way to another +settlement. He was hastening his steps, for the sun was setting and +there still remained a considerable strip of road before he could reach +his destination. But at the very entrance of the village a Christian +came out and called to him, entreating him to go and baptize a child, +the son of infidel parents, who was very sick. The father went to the +house and baptized the child; and, having offered a prayer for it, +went away. No sooner had he gone, than our Lord called the child to +Himself; and it seemed as if the little one was only waiting baptism +in order to enter heaven immediately. + + + + +The method of preaching which our Fathers employed in Tinagon, and +the results thereby obtained. Chapter L. + + +What was accomplished at that time in Tinagon is well related by +Father Francisco de Otaco in the following special account which he +gave of his labors there: "It is wonderful to see how these people +have all at once and generally abandoned their sins. For the greater +glory of the Lord, there has not been known, nor have I heard of, +throughout this year, a single act of idolatry, and these formerly +were so common. Concubinage has been rare, and their drinking feasts +so moderate that they do not deserve such a name. The knowledge of +the things of our Lord is ever increasing, as well as the pleasure of +the people in them; and our fathers are steadily gaining their love +and gratitude. A father once told them that for a certain feast it +was their share to adorn the church; immediately they set themselves +to the task, and the one who began it was a pagan, who did his share +of the work. Our method of preaching to these people is not so much +by means of arguments and consecutive discourses, which make but +little impression on them, as by a sort of spiritual conference, +in which the father briefly presents to them one or two points, +repeating these and asking questions concerning them. Thus his hearers +become proficient, and the result is plainly seen; more than seven +hundred have been baptized this year--most of them in two villages, +where the faith has penetrated with notable results, the people being +well inclined to if. This has been especially evident in one village, +where the fiscal is a chief acknowledged by all its people, whom our +Lord has been pleased to use as the instrument for much good to those +souls. What he has accomplished and is still accomplishing in that +doctrina causes me unusual edification and consolation; for in truth, +if I may judge by what I myself see when I go there, and by the common +account of all, both Spaniards and Indians, even one of our fathers +who might have been stationed in that village could not have wrought +such results as he has done. And this I say without exaggeration; +God provides it all, and blessed be He! This village of Paranas [2] +is on the coast, and contains a few Indian fishermen, but there are +many Indians in the mountains, divided, scattered, and far away; +some of these have established their abodes on the coast, but they +frequent it but rarely, and are (or rather were) a very churlish and +fugitive people. Yet Don Goncalo (that is the name of the fiscal) has +taken hold of them in such a way that he does what he will with them, +and that, too, by so quiet, gentle, and efficacious means as to cause +one to wonder. Although it is exceedingly difficult to attract their +young children from home (especially among those who dwell in the +mountains) Don Goncalo draws them to himself by the same means that +I have already mentioned, and to such an extent that he usually has +in his house nearly a hundred young boys; such was their number the +other day, when I was there, and now he tells me that some twenty +or thirty more have just come. He now has them so tamed, gentle, +intelligent, and contented that, considering their former savage +and terrible character, I know not how I can certify it. Those who +formerly knew little or nothing of the doctrine, at present are, by +common consent, those who in this mission are most proficient. The +fiscal maintains with them a regular plan and order: morning and +evening, their prayers and procession; and at night before retiring, +and in the morning before dawn, they also offer their prayers--so +that the Spaniards, their encomendero said, and the collectors are +notably edified thereby. Nor does this occupation depend upon the +presence there of the father or of the Spaniards, for it is always +maintained. The older boys he sends to their villages for food and +shell-fish, and the little ones remain to learn, as if they were in a +school. What I especially value is, that it is all done through love; +for both the children and their parents have so much affection for +this man that, as I noticed the other day, the boys hardly give heed +to the father, but are captivated by their Don Goncalo, and it is he +whose permission they seek. This man has received a special blessing +from the Lord, and what he does comes entirely from his heart. He +not only looks after the knowledge and recitation of the doctrine, +but even trains them in good habits, and punishes them gently when +they are at fault. He brings together the adult Indians in the church +to pray on feast-days, and if it becomes necessary to do or undo +anything in the mission, it is always entrusted to him. Without doubt, +if there were many men of this sort the lack of ministers here would +be well supplied in many respects." + + + +The arrival in the Philippines of the father-visitor, Diego Garcia, +and how he began his visitation. Chapter LI. + + +When affairs were in the condition which we have described, the +father-visitor, Diego Garcia, very opportunely arrived in the islands, +with some companions, [3] on the seventeenth of June in the year one +thousand five hundred and ninety-nine. His arrival was a source of much +consolation and joy, on account of the reenforcement which he brought +us, and was of much importance and advantage to the internal government +of the Society in those parts, on account of the good order to which +he reduced all our affairs, particularly in our ministries and in the +methods of aiding those souls. Upon careful investigation he learned +that, during those four years while our fathers had given instruction +in the islands of Pintados, twelve thousand persons had been baptized, +and that there were about forty thousand catechumens--not to mention +many others who, although they were not on the list of catechumens, +had also an inclination (or at least no repugnance) to receive +the faith and the gospel. In accordance with this information, the +father-visitor set about organizing the affairs [of the missions], +and providing needed assistance, as we shall later see. Before entering +upon this, however, I will relate, in order to show the mercies of God +toward our fathers, a special instance of this which His Divine Majesty +displayed toward them and the vessel which brought them from the port +of Acapulco to the Filipinas. The pilots were confidently sailing over +their accustomed course, heedless that in it there were shoals. One +evening at the hour when the _Salve_ is wont to be repeated, and while +all were devoutly reciting it, a young man fortunately (or rather +through the singular providence and mercy of God) descried shoals +from the maintop and immediately began to shout a warning. With that +the crew--although everyone was agitated and fearful lest, with the +freshening of the wind, they would be driven upon the shoals--hastened, +some to the sails, ropes, and rigging, others to the helm, and the +pilot to direct the ship's course. Our fathers, meanwhile, repaired +to their quarters and berths to invoke the most blessed Virgin, to +call upon God, and to pray for the intercession of the saints--all +of them especially invoking that of blessed Father Ignacio, [4] a +relic of whom the father-visitor carried with him. Showing this to +his companions while the rest were busied in the other occupations, +he augmented the fervor with which they cried to heaven, and at +the same time their confidence that by means of that holy relic our +Lord would deliver them from their danger. And so He did; for, upon +steering so as to direct the vessel to one side, to avoid the shoals, +the vessel, in spite of their efforts, would not obey, but, turning +in the other direction, doubled the shoals. If their attempt to steer +had been successful, not only could they not have passed the shoals, +but they would have drifted hopelessly upon them; but, as it was, the +flagship was saved. Moreover, her lighted lantern (for evening had +already arrived) guided the other ships, which followed behind her, +through the channel, and in this manner all of them were saved. + + + + +Occurrences in Manila at this time. Chapter LII. + + +In the latter part of June in the year one thousand five hundred +and ninety-nine, the father-visitor and his companions were resting +from the hardships of their voyage, and preparing to begin anew their +labors--the father on his tour of inspection, and the others in the +fishery for souls--for which purpose they had gone into retreat to +perform the exercises, [5] and to allow themselves more leisure for +solitary prayer. At this time there occurred in Manila, as a result +of the unusually dry season, a very violent earthquake, which injured +many buildings. Among these it rent and laid open the vault of our +church; and in the church of Santo Domingo it loosened and tore apart +the woodwork (which was very beautiful, and handsomely wrought), and +crushed in all the walls in such a manner that it was necessary to tear +down the building. We also were obliged to demolish the vault of our +church; for whereas that of Santo Domingo could be left standing for +a few days, we were compelled to begin at once to tear down the vault +of our church, which was the part most injured. The Spaniards came to +our aid, with contributions amounting to more than a thousand pesos, +to pay the workmen who were tearing down the church, and to aid in the +expense of repairing it. The Indians assisted us with their labor, +helping us to remove the obstructions, and to clear the building +from the ruins and from the earth and stones which remained from +them. More than a thousand Indians, without exaggeration, came to +offer their services; men, women, and children; young men and girls, +and old men; chiefs and common people--all busied themselves to such +an extent that the place appeared like an anthill or a beehive. These +were assisted by the inhabitants of all the neighboring villages, who, +animated and encouraged by the religious of St. Dominic, St. Francis, +and St. Augustine, and by the clergy who had them in their charge, +aided us to roof the church temporarily with canes and palm-leaves +(which is the usage there). Thus in four days was accomplished the work +of twenty or thirty days; thus the church was made fit for service, +and is being used thus until it can be properly roofed. The industry +and good-will with which the Indians assisted us on our church were +soon repaid to them by our fathers, when a general malady prevailed +among them, causing the death of many persons. Then our fathers aided +them, especially by hearing their confessions, and administering to +them the communion and extreme unction, in the church itself; hardly +ever during the day was it free from sick persons who had been carried +thither on the shoulders of men that they might receive those holy +sacraments. The devil, who slumbers not, seized the opportunity of +this malady to sow the seeds of error among some wretched old women, +his ministers--saying that at first the God of Castile had vanquished +their anitos, but that the latter were now the conquerors, and were +chastising the people for having abandoned them. To counteract this +evil, among others, a solemn procession and mass were ordered, wherein +our Lord was supplicated for the health of the people. Inasmuch +as a sermon was necessary, its preparation was assigned to Father +Diego Sanchez, at the instance of the canon, Pablo Ruiz de Talavera, +who is the priest of the Indians in Manila; he chose this father on +account of his devotion to the Society, and of the great affection of +the Indians for him, caused by his eloquence and the many and signal +services that he has rendered them. The father, discussing in his +sermon the above-mentioned error, refuted it, and expelled it from +their minds and hearts with that admirable force of expression and +persuasion with which our Lord had equipped him; while He gave to the +hearers grace and sensibility to perceive and be influenced by the +truth, as since then has been evident on many, and notable occasions. + +In that very time of the malady, admirable evidence appeared of the +importance of the confraternity which, as we said above, that people +had instituted for the purpose of exercising themselves in similar +pious acts. Its members aided the sick with the utmost solicitude, +striving to provide them with comforts and medicines; and when deaths +occurred they kept watch over the corpses, and accompanied them to +burial, to the great edification of all who saw them. As a natural +result, the confraternity came to be much esteemed and valued, and +many sought the intercession of influential persons in order to be +admitted to its membership. It is proverbial among the Spaniards that +its members can be recognized by their quiet and modest address, +for which they are much respected. Not to mention other details, +the devotion which they showed that year in the harvesting of their +rice was certainly a source of great consolation; for they would not +taste it until, after they had brought part of it as an offering to +our Lord in His temple, that part had been blessed which they must +immediately use. Their offering was a sort of grateful acknowledgment +that God had delivered their grain-fields from the plague of locusts, +and themselves from the sickness. + +Care was taken to check offenses against our Lord, and to break up +vile illicit relations--some secretly, and others by other gentle +means--by which many Indian women were kept in bondage. These women, +in their eagerness for worldly gain and kind treatment, were gratified +by certain men, who maintained them in that mode of life without fear +of God. Indeed, there were two women who had killed their husbands +that they might gain greater freedom in this respect. Some, too, +had lived during many years in this wretched state--one ten years, +another twelve, another thirteen; and still another, twenty long +years. Yet God, in His infinite patience, had been waiting for them +all this time, and at the end received them into His most gentle mercy. + +As in past years, our ordinary ministries were also exercised among +the Spaniards; in particular, many general confessions were made, +and friendly relations were established between certain prominent +persons. Among these latter was one notable case concerning +a prebendary of the cathedral of Manila--whom, for certain good +reasons, I do not name; but his noble conduct on this occasion gives +him sufficient fame. Knowing that another prebendary of the same +church, an aged and venerable man, was offended at him, he secured +an opportunity to meet him in the house of an auditor of Manila, +and in the presence of several dignified persons; there, after having +expressed himself in such gentle and conciliatory terms as to appease +all angry feelings, he knelt at the feet of his elder, and, taking +his hand, kissed it. Then they embraced each other; and thus began +a very stable friendship between them, which I saw with my own eyes +for many days--confirmed, months later, by their very intimate and +fraternal intercourse. + + + +The progress in eradicating idolatry from Taitai, and the piety and +constancy of its Christians. Chapter LIII. + + +The pest, with its mortality, spread among all the Indians of that +region, even to the villages of San Juan del Monte, Antipolo, and +others. This kept our fathers busy night and day, caring not only for +the welfare of souls, administering to them the holy sacraments with +much fervor and concern, but for that of their bodies, aiding them with +medicines and the necessary comforts--an important consideration with +those people, in view of the value that they attach to kind treatment +during illness and the pleasure that it gives them; indeed they often +recover their health from very contentment at seeing that they are +cherished and cared for. The confraternities of that village and of +Manila gave no less useful aid, on this occasion, to the sick and the +dead, their members taking turns in caring for the sick and attending +funerals, which were usually accompanied by more than two hundred +persons bearing lighted candles; these attentions were especially +bestowed on the dead who had belonged to the confraternity, who were +also honored by special funeral rites. + +Superstition and idolatry have been so thoroughly uprooted that there +is hardly a trace or evidence of them left; if any had remained +from former years, it was due to carelessness rather than to evil +intent, and an end was put to them this year, through the favor of +our Lord. Even the little plates and other insignificant articles +which they were wont to use in making sacrifices they brought to the +fathers, to be broken and burned. An Indian owned, growing on his land, +a very luxuriant clump of the great reeds which they call _cauayan_ +[_i.e._, bamboo], which we have already described. This man came to +notify us that this clump had formerly been offered to an idol, for +whose service its canes had been cut; and he himself condemned it to +be burned to the very roots, in order that it might not sprout again, +and himself be thus reminded of an object which had been used for +so evil purposes; accordingly, yielding to his feeling of devotion, +orders were given that it be burned. Others showed a little house that +was dedicated to another idol, and requested that it should be burned +to the ground, which was done. The first to show their abhorrence +of idolatry (in Which they surpassed the others) were the people of +San Juan del Monte, where formerly this practice had reigned, and +where there were so many priestesses of the idols, that there was +hardly a street which did not contain three, four, or even more. But +they have now turned their false superstitions into true religion and +Christian piety, repairing to the church so regularly that on certain +week-days, while the bell is rung for mass, the church is entirely +filled with those who come to hear. They are wont to complain that, +as there are so few fathers, they are unable to attend, as often and +as regularly as they desire, confession and communion--which they seek +with loving eagerness, not once, but many times during the year, to +their own edification and profit. As a result, the sweet odor of this +Christianity and esteem for the labors of Ours, have, to the glory +of our Lord, reached other villages, so affecting and edifying them +that the vicar-general of the archbishop, as well as other priests and +religious, and even secular magistrates, have sent to that village for +a few months, to be restrained, reformed, and kept in safety, certain +persons who were sorely tempted. It has pleased our Lord that by good +example and suitable instruction these persons should be delivered from +danger and their lives reformed; they have made general confessions, +and given other satisfactory proofs of the change in their lives. + +Among the mountains of this mission district, where the people are less +experienced in the faith, there had remained a notorious catalonan, +or priest, of a celebrated idol which had been hidden away, no one of +those who knew about it daring to disclose the idol. This root was +capable of producing many cursed shoots. But our Lord was pleased +that it should be discovered through the praiseworthy diligence of +Father Francisco Almerique, who obtained possession of the things +pertaining to the adoration of the idol, and had them all burned. He +was successful in converting the priest, and for greater security, made +him live in a village where Ours usually reside. The devil, the father +of lies, now that credence is no longer placed in him or importance +attached to his superstitions and follies, transforms himself into an +angel of light, striving to deceive the simple-minded. In this way he +deluded a woman of rank with many visions and revelations which seemed +to her real and true, and in which, according to her statement, he +appeared in the form of our Lord Jesus Christ, taught her many things, +and bade her instruct the people therein. The same father, as soon +as he became aware of this, sought to undeceive her, enjoining her +not to repeat those things to any one. But she paid no heed to this, +and assembled secretly, at night, a number of persons; and, in order +that they might go more willingly, she said that the father had told +her to proceed. In this way she persevered in making known her fancies +and illusions. Those who were present, noticing that her method of +instruction and speech was similar to that employed by the priestesses +of the idols when they are possessed by the demon--making a thousand +gestures and movements like those of a madman or deranged person +(which was the method formerly employed by the devil in making answers +through the mouths of the catalonans)--hastened to give information +of this proceeding. The father, learning for the second time of this, +which was again taking place, assembled in the church the people who +had heard this woman speak; and, showing them what it really was, +undeceived them, pointing out the falsity of all those things, and +the wiles of the devil. By these means an evil was corrected which +doubtless would have been very great if so timely and appropriate a +remedy had not been applied. In another instance a poor fellow was +relieved by an Agnus Dei [6] which one of our brethren gave him. The +latter had sent some Indians to cut grass, and one of them fled inland, +among the mountains, as if terrified and beside himself; and wandered +from hill to hill during an entire day, until he was found in that +condition by some other Indians, who conveyed him to his house. When +the brother visited him, the Indian said that he wished to confess, +for the demons were harassing him in such a manner that he could not +rest; and that, without any intention, and unable to control himself, +he had wandered alone and in terror through the wilderness. The brother +brought him to a father, who heard his confession; but afterward he +again suffered in the same way. Again he repaired to the brother, and +told him of his trouble; and the latter advised him to have faith in +our Lord and confidence in the virtue of the holy Agnus Dei--making +known to him the favors which our Lord has granted to men, and the +miracles which He has wrought through the efficacy of this holy relic; +he then placed an Agnus Dei on the Indian's neck. From that very moment +the latter felt relieved, and our Lord, in order to show that He had +granted that favor by means of the holy relic, caused him, whenever +the emblem was removed from his neck, even for a short time, to lose +at once his reason, and go astray. The Indian himself stated that, as +soon as it was removed, he lost his wits and had no control of himself, +but that when wearing it his mind was quite calm; so he gave many +thanks to our Lord, and related the efficacy of the holy Agnus Dei. + + + +Some notable incidents that happened in the city of Santissimo Nombre +de Jesus. Chapter LIV. + + +The fortunate arrival at this city of the father-visitor occurred in +Lent of the year one thousand six hundred. Although he increased the +number of our fathers in that city, he realized that their labors +among the Chinese were a hindrance to their work among the Indians; +he therefore entreated the right reverend bishop of that city to +place the Chinese in the care of some other order, which his Lordship +did. By this measure our fathers had less responsibility, but were +not less occupied; for, not to mention the other peoples who, as I +have said, resort to this port, the Bissayans alone kept six fathers +so busy during Lent that the people hardly left them alone by day +or by night. Nevertheless, so great is the need, and at the same +time the scarcity, of the bread of divine truth, for lack of those +who may distribute it, that many people dwelling very near the city +die in this hunger and cannot be assisted; for although the right +reverend bishop of Sebu and the few priests who are under him do much, +and the fathers of St. Augustine much more, neither the former nor +the latter suffice for the care of so many children. After Lent and +Easter, one of the fathers visited, by way of recreation (for such +are the vacations which they enjoy there), some pagan villages which +are about six leguas from the city. He remained there eight days, +which gave him opportunity for the usual occupations. Although the +time was very short, our Lord was served by some good results; for +the father found many Christians who, through lack of teaching and +their constant association with infidels, had returned with these to +their former idolatrous practices. By means of sermons and discourses +he touched the consciences of these people, and, recognizing their +wretched condition, they made a general confession; they received +his instructions for their future conduct, and were very grateful for +the good that had been done them. The infidels were so attracted and +inclined to the things of our holy faith that they urgently besought +the father to remain with them a few days more; but, as this was not +possible, they contented themselves with the hope that he might soon +be able to revisit them. After four months had elapsed, seeing that +he did not return, they sent their messengers earnestly to entreat +him to return for a short time to teach them the things of our holy +faith, which they all desired to accept; but this could not be done, +and so they were left in their hunger. + +In the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus there was a Malucan Indian, +the slave of a Spaniard, who, although he had been a Christian for many +years, lived negligent of his salvation, and his masters had never been +able to induce him to make confession and fulfil the obligations of a +Christian; he always displayed much unwillingness and obstinacy. This +man became ill with a malady, apparently not very serious, accompanied +by a slow fever; but within three or four days he suddenly lost the +power of speech and seemed to be surely dying. A little food and some +drink were offered to him but he could not be induced to take any; +and finally became so low, that he lost all consciousness. Some holy +water was brought him from our house and a few drops were sprinkled +over his face; some of these ran down into his mouth, and he began to +lick them, so that he tasted the water. One of those present placed +some of it near his mouth, and, opening his lips, he received the +water. At once regaining consciousness, he said that it seemed as if +someone had seized him and clutched his throat, and for that reason +he was unable to speak; but drinking the holy water had, as it were, +released him, and set him at liberty, and he gladly listened to what +they said to him concerning his salvation. After he had received +instruction, he made a general confession of his entire life; and +our Lord was pleased to restore him to complete health of body, +as He had already deigned to give him health of soul. + +Another Indian, while very ill, was afflicted with horrible +apparitions; when he was left alone, hideous and fierce black men +appeared to him, threatening him with death. He asked his friends to +summon our fathers; finally, after he had endured many sufferings, +either he or the people of his house sent for a priest to hear his +confession. The priest repaired at once to the sick man, and found +him in great suffering. He gave him consolation, and after thorough +instruction, the Indian made a general confession, to his own great +relief--from that time experiencing entire rest, and seeing no more +of the visions that had tormented him. + +There was an infidel Indian woman who lived near this city among +Christians. A serious illness attacked her, and she was carried to the +house of another Indian woman, who attended our church and led a most +pure and edifying life, who persuaded her to become a Christian. She +sent for a priest of our order, who catechized her and so prepared +her that she soon received holy baptism. During the remaining days +of her life she gave tokens of the grace that she had received; for, +although she suffered the utmost pain, hardly a word was heard from +her lips, save "Jesus, Mary," or, "My God, have mercy on me." + +One day two of Ours, chancing to pass through the Chinese quarter, were +informed that in one of the houses an infidel woman lay dying. They +at once ascended into the house, and found her very near death, but +very far from knowing the truth of our holy faith. But our Lord, +who had provided teachers, aided her in His great mercy, and with +sovereign help; accordingly, she listened very willingly to what they +said to her, and prepared herself in so short a time that they gave +her baptism that very night, fearing her critical condition. She was +greatly consoled by the sacrament, and grateful to our Lord for the +mercy that she had received, edifying those who were present by her +words, which were all invocations for help to Jesus and Mary. With +such good proofs of her salvation, she passed away on the following +day. Among the persons who, to the edification of the people and the +service of our Lord, have profited by the teaching of our fathers, was +a woman advanced in years, and a native of China; her case is one of +great importance, as her nation are so hard to reach, and so unwilling +to receive the gospel; and so it does not seem beyond the scope of my +plan to give some account of her conversion. This woman had married an +honorable Portuguese, who left her a widow some six years ago. Most +of her support is what she gains by the labor of her own hands, with +the help of three slaves, in whose company she lives in a wretched +house, apart from the crowd of the Chinese, dwelling therein in great +seclusion. Her confessions and communions are frequent, with excellent +results. She practices penance so severely that it has been necessary +to moderate the rigors she inflicts upon herself, in long scourgings +every night, and in fasts throughout the year, four days in every +week; and even on the other two days she seldom eats meat. Prayer is +her one consolation, for which she has much natural aptitude in her +excellent judgment, and supernatural aid in the gifts which the Lord +communicates to her. She is present every day in the church during +the masses, hearing them always upon her knees. Nothing so afflicts +her as to know that God has been offended, especially if by those of +her nation. In short, she has offered herself entirely to our Lord, +and He has plucked her with His own hand as a rose from among so many +thistles and thorns. + + + +Other interesting events, which occurred in Bohol. Chapter LV. + + +In order to give a more detailed account of what took place at that +time in the island of Bohol, I shall avail myself of two letters from +Fathers Alonso de Umanes and Gabriel Sanchez, who were in that region; +for in my opinion their account is given minutely and with pleasing +and enjoyable simplicity. Both of them, writing to the father-visitor, +give him a detailed account of their labors, as is the custom in our +Society. The superior, Father Alonso de Umanes, writes as follows: +"As soon as we had returned from Sebu in last year, ninety-nine, as +it was the season of Lent we busied ourselves in hearing confessions; +and with remarkable devotion and promptness all this new band of +Christians, without any reward, repaired to the sacraments--even +those coming to us who lived very distant from the village where +we ordinarily reside. The Christians throughout the island came +together for the exercises of Holy Week, and many of those who were +not yet baptized attended the divine services during all that week, +with great devotion, also the feast of Easter, when a goodly number +of them received communion. Having fulfilled our obligations as to +confession, we set out to visit some of the pagan villages, in all +of which we found the people well disposed. Those who most attended +our preaching were the inhabitants of Panglao, a small island almost +adjoining this; all the people came very willingly to hear about +the things of our holy faith, and soon began of their own accord to +build a church. As the first-fruits of Christianity there, we first +baptized the sons of the chiefs, in order that they might open the +door for the others. Their parents were greatly pleased at this, +in token of which they held a feast that same day, with dancing and +other festivities. This little island we visited again, at which +time a considerable number of adults as well as a hundred children +received baptism. The chiefs besought us to leave there someone who +might instruct them, that they might thus learn more speedily all +that was necessary. For this purpose we took from the island their +brightest boys, so that they, after receiving instruction, might +teach their people. Thus we shall be able to supply, to some extent, +the great need of men from our Society, until our Lord shall multiply +our number. During a visit that was made to the village of Lobo, an +important event occurred which served to overthrow their errors and +remove some great fears with which the devil had inspired them. An +alguazil learned that in a little village near by there was a chief +who kept in his house many small horns and little jars full of charms, +and other instruments, which served for casting lots, for determining +if in sickness sacrifice should be made to the devil, and for deciding +other matters. Father Gabriel Sanchez resolved to go in person to +take away those cursed instruments. In fact, no other means would +have been successful, because, upon arriving at the house, he was +obliged with his own hands to unhang and heap together the bottles +and horns; for the Indians who had accompanied him did not dare even +to touch them--fearing that, if they did, they would die; and that, +if they threw them into the river, the caimans would be enraged against +them--such was their belief in these delusions. But the father, having +quieted their fear and removed their mistaken apprehension by himself +touching those objects and yet remaining alive, induced them to seize +the horns and bottles and expose them publicly. Then he summoned the +young boys who spat and trod upon them--actions which among those +people, as among other nations, are a token of contempt, detestation, +and infamy. He finally caused the charms to be burned, and thrown into +the river. By these means they were all freed from error, and became +more devoted than ever to our true and well-grounded Catholic religion. + +"I cannot refrain from relating an incident that has just befallen us, +as it was a source of great consolation to me. As soon as our people +learned that your Reverence had ordered us to go to Sebu, fearful +lest we might not speedily return, they all repaired to us to make +their confessions, with such fervor that it seemed like the season +of Lent. Those who had not received baptism came also, with like +earnestness seeking that holy sacrament. Thus, by way of farewell, +we made a goodly number of Christians." The account of Father Alonso +de Umanes ends here. + +Father Gabriel Sanchez, in another letter to the father-visitor, writes +thus: "Glory be to our Lord, Christianity in this island is receiving +much increase. They all frequent the most holy sacraments with great +fervor at Christmas, Epiphany, and other leading feasts. So many were +the confessions and the communions that it seemed to me like Holy +Week. They possess great confidence and faith, and through the most +holy sacraments and the sacramental offices they are sure to receive +(and his Majesty does bestow upon them even in temporal affairs) +most signal favors. An old woman, a good Christian, was so reduced by +sickness, and brought so near to death, that she no longer possessed +her senses, or power of speech; in short, there was no hope that she +would live. The sacrament of extreme unction was administered to her, +and at once she began to improve, and at last regained entire health. A +few days ago they brought to us a sick man, so tormented and harassed +by a severe malady that he could not even raise his head; he therefore +made his confession while reclining, and with great difficulty. But, +as soon as he had ended it, he began to feel better, with the result +that in two days he came to the church to render thanks to our Lord +for the mercy that he had received, which he attributed to the holy +sacrament of penance. A few days ago a child of four years--not +realizing, as he was so little, what he was doing--waded into the +sea, and, despite the haste with which he was taken from the water, +was almost drowned. They brought him in haste to our house, that we +might repeat the gospel over him, for they had no hope of preserving +his life by natural means. When they brought him to us he showed +almost no sign of respiration, his face was black, and his stomach +much swollen with the water which he had swallowed. The gospel was +read for him, and he was sprinkled with holy water; and then, in +the presence of the many people who had assembled, he straightway +recovered consciousness and became entirely well, in return for +which they all gave many thanks to our Lord. Another incident, which +occurred quite recently, I cannot refrain from relating. Our Lord has +this day exercised His accustomed mercy in the case of two old men, +very venerable and more than a hundred years old. The greater part +of their long lives they had spent in diabolical acts of outrage, +murder, cruelty, and lawlessness; and yet our Lord had waited for +them until now--when, illumining them with His divine light, they +were marvelously converted. I was astonished at beholding the fervor, +sincerity and grief with which they expressed abhorrence for their +past life and sought baptism, which they received today after careful +instruction. To see the perseverance and constancy of this people +has given great consolation to me. I shall relate in brief a few +things which certainly give strong evidence of that constancy. An +unmarried Indian woman was persecuted by a soldier with innumerable +plots, yet she always resisted him valiantly. Once in particular, he +sent her by a servant some twenty escudos; but she drove the servant +away, and threatened that if he should come again she would fling +him and his money through her window. The soldier, rendered bold +by the fury of his passion, as he had a headstrong disposition, and +realizing that he could not gain his damnable purpose by bribes, had +recourse to threats. As these did not suffice, he laid violent hands +on her, seriously hurting her; but our Lord came to her assistance, +and she emerged victorious from the struggle, leaving the wretch in +confusion and shame. Another woman was no less persecuted, a man +offering her, among other gifts, a gold chain that was worth more +than thirty escudos; but she rejected all his gifts with Christian +courage. Then, fearing the fury of her persecutor and her own great +danger, she persuaded her mother to accompany her, and they fled to +some grain-fields, where she remained in hiding until he who was +molesting her had left the village. Another, a young girl hardly +eighteen years of age, and so poor that she could procure only a +little rice for her support, was persecuted by many men, who offered +her large sums of money to relieve her poverty; one of them offered +her more than forty eight-real pieces. But she made answer that our +Lord, in whom she trusted, would relieve her need; that she did not +care to live by any means that would offend Him, but in serving Him +was well content in her poverty; and that she was confident that +our Lord would not abandon her. Another poor woman resisted with +equal courage no less vexatious importunities, refusing a quantity +of gold worth more than eighty escudos, thus leaving her persecutor +in amazement. Another woman, fearing that she would have to defend +her body by force from so many and violent importunities, removed +it from danger, and herself from any occasion of offending God, by +fleeing to the mountains, where she wandered about for almost four +months, suffering, although with much satisfaction, many hardships +and privations; nor did she return to the village until she learned +that he who had brought her to such a plight had departed thence." + + + + +The good conduct of the Christians of Botuan. Chapter LVI. + + +I shall, continuing as I began, relate the prosperous condition +of Christianity in Botuan in the same words which Father Valerio de +Ledesma and his companion, Father Manuel Martinez, used in writing this +year to the father-visitor. The letter of Father Valerio gives the +following account: "Glory to our Lord, the inhabitants of this town +are well instructed. There are nearly eight hundred Christians, and +nearly all the rest of the people are catechumens, engaged in learning +the necessary truths. We hold back these persons that they may prize +more highly the mercy which God is showing them, and understand more +thoroughly the Christian doctrine and acquire good habits. All the +rest of the people have the best possible inclination to receive our +holy faith and come on every Sunday and feast-day to hear the sermons +and discourses; a large audience always assembles, and all of them, +even the infidels, entertain a great affection for holy things. Of +their own accord they bring their children to be baptized, and their +sick people, to hear the gospel read. They erect crosses in their +grain-fields, and sing the Christian doctrine with the Christians, +of whom there are usually some in every house. In times of sickness +they come at once to be baptized; and as they are universally well +instructed, and have sufficient knowledge of the things of our faith, +it is easy to succor them upon such occasions, so that hardly any one +dies without having first received holy baptism. An Indian, seeing +himself afflicted by a violent disease, asked to be baptized. They went +to call the father for that purpose, but in the meantime the malady +had gained such headway, that when he arrived he found the house +in confusion and everyone bewailing the sick man as one dead. The +father, seeing that he could not speak and seemed unable to hear, +assured himself that he had asked for baptism; and, knowing that he +was one of those who frequented the church, he asked for water to +baptize him. Then, speaking in a loud voice, he persuaded him to +try to say 'Jesus.' It seems that at the sound of that most sweet +name the sick man recovered somewhat, and, making a great effort, +pronounced the word. He soon regained breath, and made answer to +the questions of the catechism, to the great wonder of all who were +present. He received holy baptism, and soon afterward our Lord granted +him complete health. His parents, who were pagans, astonished at his +recovery, attributed it to the virtue of the holy name of Jesus, and +to holy baptism. Through the mercy of God, there is constancy among +the faithful. In all the time I have resided here I do not know of +any Christian who has been present at a pagan sacrifice, although +living among so many of them. The corregidor of this town related +to me, with surprise, that although he had investigated many cases +pertaining to this matter, he had never found any Christian guilty +therein. This same man related that he had [on official journeys] +taken in his company, among other Indians, some Christians of this +town; that in some places which were unsafe, on account of enemies, +he placed sentinels; and, when it was the turn of the Christians to +go on guard, they were found praying, and singing the doctrine. He +noticed, besides this, that they never let a day pass without reciting +the rosary; and he greatly valued and praised such solicitude among +persons so new in the faith." + +To this account Father Manuel Martinez adds the following: "The +esteem in which they hold holy baptism is universal. Consequently, +those who have not received it, and some who in health refused it, +when they become sick ask at once for the sacrament, confident that +by this means they will acquire health, not only for their souls but +for their bodies, inasmuch as our Lord has many times granted this +to them. A little boy, the son of a chief of this town, was brought +so low by sickness that he was thought to be dead; and as such they +were weeping for him when an Agnus Dei and some holy water were +sent to him from our house. Our Lord was pleased to restore him very +soon to health, and his parents related it to every one, ascribing +this result to the efficacy of the Agnus Dei and the holy water. A +Spaniard was exhausted by a violent pain that had been afflicting him +for some time. Seeing himself in such distress, he sent for one of our +fathers, who read the gospel to him. Immediately he began to improve, +and in less than a quarter of an hour felt entirely well. He then gave +thanks to God, and made it publicly known that he had recovered his +health by means of the holy gospel. In Advent and Lent the practice +of discipline has been maintained in the church, in which participate +the Spaniards who are wont to come to this town. Sometimes public +and bloody flagellations took place; and on Holy Thursday and Friday +there were two admirably arranged processions, in which many people +accompanied the flagellants with torches. I will conclude this letter +with two incidents, omitting many others, to avoid prolixity. The +first concerns a pagan, who was grievously wounded by a wild boar while +hunting. Thinking that the hour of death was at hand, and remembering +to have heard in the church that in our necessities we should invoke +the most holy name of Jesus, he fell upon his knees, and, folding his +hands, repeated, 'Jesus, have mercy on me.' Our Lord heard his prayer; +and, soon healed of his wounds, he came to recount this experience, +and asked to be at once baptized. With great devotion he relates to +others this act of God's mercy, and says that he received it through +having heartily invoked the most holy name of Jesus. Another pagan, +affrighted by some terrible thunder, and fearful that some flash of +lightning might strike him, invoked many times with confidence the +sweet name of Jesus, accompanied by all the people of his household; +and all were protected and encompassed by one cross. A brilliant +flash of lightning burst forth, accompanied by a frightful peal +of thunder. The pagan, in his fright, fell to the ground, and all +believed that their hour had come, and that they would be consumed +by fire on the spot. But they noticed only a bad odor of something +burning, and in the morning found that a palm-tree which grew close +to the house was completely burned by the lightning. This incident +filled them all with wonder, and they rendered thanks to our Lord, +who by means of His own sweet name and holy cross had delivered them." + + + +The number of people who were gathered into villages in the district +of Alangalang, and the result of our labors therein. Chapter LVII. + + +At no time did the Filipinos have any form of towns with civic order +and political government, such that at least one island, or a number of +villages, recognizing one person as their lord, might live under his +protection and rule; but he who was most powerful conquered others, +and ruled over them. As there was not only one such, but almost +all the chiefs asserted their authority, and conquered and ruled, +the general result was that each chief remained apart from the rest, +having his own followers, and fortified himself, keeping up an attitude +of defense. Consequently, they were usually at war with one another, +neighbors against neighbors--perpetually engaged in petty warfare, +with ambuscades, violence, robbery, murders, and captures. + +Very seldom, if ever, did any of these bands become friendly and live +in the same neighborhood or village, and aid each other and combine +against enemies. Even rarer were the lords who ruled large towns, +such as Sebu, Manila, Cainta, and a very few others. To this must be +added the fact that those who were able to remove from the vicinity +and danger of such turmoils, and flee to the mountains to spend their +lives, would there build their houses and, close by, cultivate their +groves and fields. As a result, in places and at times favorable to +the enjoyment of this tranquillity, many persons migrated; and soon +the country districts abounded with homes--so that in some districts, +and even in many today, one may journey many leguas, all the way +through dwellings and plantations (which are cultivated and divided +into fields), in the same manner as, here in Europe, the farm-houses +and cottages are wont to stand. This was the condition of all those +islands, and, in particular, of this island of Leite; the greater +part of the people everywhere divided and scattered in rural hamlets, +in rugged, inaccessible, and mountainous localities. Besides these, +there were houses at considerable distances from one another, without +any order, or any trace of streets or village, placed along the banks +of the rivers, and surrounded by their grain-fields and groves. On +account of these conditions, the first concern of Father Cosme de +Flores, upon entering the district of Alangalang, was to gather all +these settlements into one village, which he did; and this policy +has been followed by those who have succeeded him in the charge of +that mission field. This measure has been of no small advantage to +those people; for in the year one thousand six hundred alone, two +villages were established, containing each three hundred houses, and +a third one with five hundred--all amounting to about four thousand +five hundred souls, of whom more than a hundred were baptized in +that year. During Lent all the Christians attended the services with +eagerness, especially in Holy Week, when the people of the other +villages joined them. They attended the divine services which were +celebrated in as fitting a manner as possible. On the morning of Holy +Thursday a sermon was preached to them concerning the holy sacrament; +and in the afternoon the superior of that house washed the feet of a +dozen poor persons (explaining in a brief sermon the signification of +that holy ceremony), by which they were all greatly edified. Toward +evening a well-ordered procession was formed containing a large number +of flagellants, with other persons who carried some large crosses. This +procession was repeated the next day, after the sermon on the passion. + +On Easter the people from other villages assembled, and, after the mass +and sermon, celebrated the occasion with all the tokens of rejoicing +that they could display. A very graceful dance was performed, and +all the people made merry in the court of the church with dancing +according to their custom. What especially pleased us was, that in +so great a concourse of people, who amused themselves and feasted +after their own fashion, there was not one person who was known to +have taken wine, although formerly this was a very ordinary vice +among those people in their feasts and merry-making. + + + +The condition of Christianity in Carigara. Chapter LVIII. + + +Our church here, although no older than five years, was both served and +attended as if it were a church in Europe. Its services were rendered +more magnificent by the choir of music, especially on feast-days; +the musicians not only celebrated divine worship in consonance with +the organ, but accompanied it with motets and other compositions +in their own Bissayan language. These latter were sung, some to the +leading of the organ, others in the musical mode and the manner of +the country. Both methods greatly attracted the people, moved them +to devotion, and caused them to learn willingly and with pleasure +our sacred mysteries, thus couched in their own meter and style +of music. In short, these were affected in the same way which the +glorious doctor St. Augustine mentions concerning himself; and we all +experienced the same emotions. By these means those Christians became +fervent, and frequented with profit the holy sacraments. The fruit +of their devotion was apparent in their lives, as Father Francisco de +Enzinas relates in one of his letters; therein he continually praises, +as one who keeps this matter in his mind, and is personally concerned +in it, the good disposition of those people, their readiness to accept +the teachings of virtue, and their service to God, concerning which +he relates the following: + +"It is a source of great consolation to see the purity that shines +in many of these poor women. I know concerning some of them that, +after being annoyed and even persecuted with liberal offers of money, +neither by gifts nor threats were they in any way overcome. I also +know of other women who, when, they have learned that lawless men have +entered the village, have absented themselves from home and retired +to their grain-fields, to avoid the danger of offending God. One of +those soulless men promised a young boy, one of those who aid us at +our house, that he would give him I know not what gift, if he would +search after a certain woman for him. The lad answered that he could +not, since he belonged to the house of the father, assist in such a +matter. When he was told that the father would not know it, he replied: +'But will God fail to see it, even if the father does not know it?' At +this reply the man became abashed and ashamed, and ceased to importune +him. From Easter-time until the date of this writing, which is about +a month and a half, more than eighty adults have been baptized--the +greater part of them very old, but well prepared--and with these about +ninety who are younger. While journeying during Lent, to the village of +Leite, we were overtaken by a storm so violent that it drove our boat +upon the shore and compelled us to continue our course by land. This +change, however, was not without the special providence of God; for, +as we were passing by some grain-fields, an old woman lay very sick in +her wretched hut. Learning that I was going by, she had me summoned; +and after I had given her instruction, I baptized her, with great +consolation to both, and on the following day she died." + + + +The remarkable case of three old men, of whom two were converted, +and the third, who was blind, refused. Chapter LIX. + + +The village of Leite, which the father here mentions, lies on the +banks of a very beautiful stream of the same name; which gives its +name to the whole island. The village lies at the very entrance of the +island, as one goes eastward from Manila, from which it is distant +about one hundred and thirty leguas. The distance between Carigara +and Leite is five leguas by land and ten by sea. The fathers usually +make the journey by sea, to avoid the fatigue of crossing on foot the +great mountain-ranges in that route. On the other side of Carigara, +proceeding along the coast of this island--which, as we have said, +runs east and west--there is another river, called Barugo, two leguas +distant; on its shore are many dwellings, which, being united in a +village, numbered three hundred houses (besides which there were many +others). Father Mattheo Sanchez repaired to the village of Barugo, +where at one haul he caught two of three fishes; the third remained +in spiritual and bodily darkness. As the incident is a notable one, +I shall relate it in the words of a letter from the same father, who +writes thus: "In the village of Barugo an event occurred by which +our Lord displayed to me the effects of His divine predestination, +and how _cujus vult miseretur, et quem vult indurat_. I was summoned +to baptize an old man who was very ill. Upon entering his house, +I found him in company with two other men, also very aged--one, +indeed, so old that he did not go from the house, nor could he even +walk. This last, hearing me instruct the sick man, began to exert +himself, and approached us by creeping across the floor. Then, with +remarkable attention, he began to listen; and, very opportunely, he +heard the catechism. Seeing the satisfaction which the old man and +his companion received from hearing the things of our holy faith, +I remained a long time, explaining it to them. When I had baptized +the sick man, the other began with eagerness and devotion to ask for +the sacrament, saying that he had faith in all that I had said, and +was desirous of salvation. He said that in no case ought I to leave +him without baptism, since his old age gave him not many more days +of life and those he wished to spend as a Christian; accordingly, I +baptized him. The third old man was blind; and all the time while I was +catechizing his companions he spent in twisting some threads, and while +the others were receiving so much pleasure and their hearts becoming +softened, he was jesting and becoming more and more hardened. Taking +pity on him, I tried to incline him to conversion; but I could do +nothing with him, and his soul remained as forsaken as was his body." + + + +How the Christian church continued to increase in Ogmuc. Chapter LX. + + +Every one of these mission-fields [_doctrinas_] is truly a school +of celestial theology; for just as, in the schools, are seen the +students assembled at the lectures, and their eagerness in studying +and reciting their lessons, and afterward their reception of degrees, +so in these missions it is a cause for praise to God to see old men +become again children, and the chiefs made humble--all learning, +with eagerness, delight, and perseverance, the Christian doctrine, +and writing, repeating, studying, reciting, and singing it. As a +final reward, they receive the degree of holy baptism, a blessing +which those people as anxiously seek and desire, and receive with +as much joy, as do students the degree of doctor or master. In some +places they are assigned on one Sunday the lesson they are to learn +for the next; in others, without being assigned a lesson, they are +questioned as to what they know. In some districts, as here in Ogmuc, +are formed as many classes as there are divisions of the Christian +doctrine, from making the sign of the cross to the act of confession, +and each student, whether child or old man, continues to advance as +he learns, until he takes his degree, and is graduated--that is, +until he knows the doctrine--which, as we said, was done with the +old men of Antipolo. Not only do they, as good students, write +their lessons--mainly in their own characters, and using a piece +of a reed [7] as a book of memorandum, and an iron point as a pen; +but they always carry with them these materials, and whenever one +ceases his labors, whether at home or in the field, by way of rest +he takes his book, and spends some time in study. Such is the fervor +and zeal of these eager students in learning their supernatural and +divine theology; and their ardor in learning is also evident in their +demeanor and actions, for their lively faith enkindles and inflames +their deeds, and after the ardent heart follows the eager and ardent +hand. All this (omitting many other details, which might be related) +is seen in their often frequenting the holy sacraments, with notable +results in the amendment of their lives; and yet these are people +newly born in the church, and but yesterday begotten in Christ. They +devoutly and confidently ask that the gospel may be read to their +sick, and that holy water be given them; and our Lord responds to +their faith by frequently granting them complete health. Accordingly, +they acknowledge these favors from His hand, being thus confirmed in +the faith, and abhorring the sacrifices which in their maladies they +were wont to make to the devil. Even the infidels are so undeceived +concerning these vain illusions that scarcely a case is known of those +accursed sacrifices which formerly were so frequent. Many infidels +have brought their sick children to be baptized, saying that by this +means our Lord would give them health. Indeed it has often happened so, +and their cure has been the cause of converting their parents. They are +greatly devoted to the holy cross, and have upon occasions experienced +its protection. One night, while some Christians were reciting, as +usual, the doctrine in their house, someone outside began to throw +stones at the building, and made a great noise, and injured whatever +was near the house. Several times they sallied forth to discover who +was doing them harm, but saw no one; yet, again entering the house, +the same disturbance was made outside. Thinking that it was an artifice +of the devil, they persevered in prayer, and under this persecution +confirmed themselves in the faith; and, as a defense, they erected a +cross in front of the house. From that time, they were not in any way +disturbed. The infidels are steadily growing more inclined to receive +our holy faith; moreover, we are gradually uprooting that hindrance to +conversion, so common among those people, and so difficult to remove, +the practice of having several wives. They are easily persuaded that +it is impossible and unseemly for them to have more than one wife, +accordingly they have forsaken the others, although in doing so the +husbands lose their property; for in marrying the women the men give +them dowries, and if they leave their wives they must lose the dowries +that they gave. To do this is no slight merit, for people who are +not even Christians. + + + +Of some baptisms conferred in Paloc. Chapter LXI. + + +In the absence of Father Christoval Ximenez, this village was left +alone; and while in this plight it was visited by Father Alonso +Rodriguez, who went there to hold a mission. What he accomplished in +the few days that he could spend among them he himself relates in a +letter, a section of which is as follows: "We held a mission at Paloc; +and the method of teaching the doctrine by decurias [8] so aroused the +enthusiasm of all that within ten days many learned the prayers and +gained all the knowledge necessary for baptism. Such was the emulation +among them that their prayers never ceased--at night, in their homes; +and by day, in the church. As a result, on the feast of the glorious +St. Joseph I baptized fifty adults, among them the most prominent +persons of this village. To see their leaders already Christians is +a strong incentive for the others to follow these. From many others I +withheld baptism, as it was necessary to investigate their marriages, +and this could not be done on account of the absence of the persons +concerned. Of these latter there is a considerable number, but I trust +in our Lord that within a few days not a man will remain unbaptized +in this village; for already they are all catechumens and attend +the church. At the same time I baptized also fifty children." The +father proceeds to relate other devout exercises of those Christians, +which I do not repeat here, as they are similar to those which I have +recounted of others. Afterward, Father Juan de Torres held another +mission in the same town, and our Lord made him joyful by granting +him another rich haul, when he cast from the pulpit the net of the +word of God, in order to fish for souls. This was a chief, one of the +most powerful in that district; in imitation of the chiefs of Botuan +(although ignorant of what they had done), he arose like them in the +congregation, and after earnestly asking for baptism, began then and +there his preparation--by publicly asking pardon of all those whom he +might have wronged, and offering full satisfaction, whatever might be +the amount of his obligation; and (an act of much greater importance), +by putting away one of his two wives. Through this the Spirit of truth, +[9] which is uniform, swayed the hearts of the others to be like +this man's, and brought them, most efficaciously and harmoniously, +under the gentle yoke of Christ, although he and they were so far +away. But inasmuch as this divine Spirit is present in all places, +in all alike it operates as if they were but one, its strength and +power being subtly and efficaciously active. + +A third mission was held in this village during Lent of the year one +thousand six hundred, by Father Melchior Hurtado, who had gone to +these islands in the previous year with the father-visitor. Devoting +himself to the study of the language, he used it effectively as we may +judge from a letter written by him from Paloc to the same father, as +follows: "In the village of San Salvador (which is the same as Paloc) +the number of those who had recourse to the discipline was greatly +increased, especially on Fridays, when it was necessary to exclude +the children [from the church], to make room for the adults. Many +went out for the bloody discipline, and it was cause for edification +to behold the fervor with which at the conclusion of a short sermon +which was preached to them before the procession began, all the people +fell upon their knees, asking in a loud voice pardon for their sins, +with such emotion and weeping that we who were present were also +brought to tears. They were all deeply impressed by the sermons on +the various stages of the passion; and also when we pictured to them +the life of Christ our Lord, from His childhood until He was fastened +to the cross. They shed many tears thereat, and their minds were so +impressed by those sacred events that for many days they talked of +nothing else. On Easter Sunday a most joyful procession was formed, in +which was borne the cross triumphant, handsomely adorned; all were clad +in white tunics, and bore garlands of flowers. Those who have received +communion have set a notable example. They have a sort of brotherhood +the members of which are the most assiduous in their attendance at +church. There are two women, among the most exemplary and capable, +who take care of the rest; and when any woman asks to receive communion +for the first time, they instruct her how to approach it. The example +of these few women has induced the rest of the people to ask eagerly +for the most blessed sacrament. During this time some seventy adults +have been baptized, among them six datos, or headmen of districts, with +their wives. Matters are in such condition that in a short time all the +people of this village will be baptized. The baptisms are conferred +by families, in order that the Christians may not live intermingled +with infidels, but may daily augment their virtue in the uniformity +of the Christian religion. It was a source of great edification to +see with what sincerity the chiefs, before receiving holy baptism, +asked from all the people pardon for any wrongs that they had done +them in the matter of slavery--a common practice in their heathenism, +for very trifling causes. They also besought those who had grievances +against them to betake themselves to the father, for they were willing +and prepared to give full satisfaction therefor." All of this is told +by Father Melchior Hurtado. + + + +Of two mutes who were baptized in Dulac; and other matters of special +interest in that mission. Chapter LXII. + + +This year the baptisms in Dulac reached the number of seven hundred, +of which the most notable was that of a chief, whose conversion had (as +is usual) much influence in bringing about that of an entire village, +named Bincai, inasmuch as he was its head man and governor. This +chief came one day to the church and eagerly sought holy baptism, +saying that his people were negligent and dilatory, and were waiting +for him to be first baptized; and that it seemed to him that if he +should become a Christian many would follow his example. Accordingly +he urged that this blessing might not be withheld from him and from so +many others. To test him, however, he was put off for several days, +upon various pretexts; but each day he displayed greater constancy, +and each day his desire grew stronger. + +But even more wonderful was the baptism of two mutes, who, besides +their natural barbarism, were still further hindered in receiving +human instruction by their lack of the usual qualification therefor, +which, as the apostle St. Paul declares, [10] is the hearing--which +they, being mutes, lacked entirely. But God our Lord, in order to +show His great mercy, and to demonstrate that His law, as the royal +prophet says, is "unspotted, converting souls," and that His divine +word (as the apostle also says) is sharp-edged and piercing--so that, +unhindered by the absence of the senses, it reaches "unto the division +of the soul and the spirit," [11] and with hidden force instructs, +illumines, and sanctifies the soul--wrought a supernatural marvel in +these mutes, whom He made such (as in that other case of the blind +man) [12] for the manifestation of His glory, not because of their +own sins or those of their parents. + +There were then in Dulac two mutes, who caused our fathers much regret, +as they supposed it would be so difficult to baptize these persons on +account of their lack of capacity for instruction. Father Ramon de +Prado, who was still our vice-provincial, determined, upon learning +this, to instruct them by means of signs, believing that Divine +Mercy desires that we should all be saved, and denies His grace to +no one. [13] He undertook the task, persisted, and won success, our +Lord so operating therein that the father, and the father-visitor, +and all who knew them, regarded these men as fit for baptism. Nor +were they deceived in this opinion; for the two mutes received the +sacrament, and since then the divine grace which is communicated +therein has been resplendent in them, with such tokens and effects +as Fathers Francisco de Otaco and Melchior Hurtado attest in some +of their letters concerning this matter. In that written by Father +Francisco de Otaco to Father Ramon, he says: "I will not fail to +inform your Reverence in a special letter, of the two mutes whom +your Reverence catechized, and whom I baptized on the day following +your Reverence's departure. Your Reverence was deprived of much +consolation in not being present on that occasion: for in all this +land I have not seen another person receive holy baptism with greater +demonstrations of devotion and joy, while thus setting an example for +the others who received the sacrament in their company. They could +not restrain their joy--especially the elder one, who seemed as if +his heart were bursting with gladness. But it was not only during +the baptism that these admirable tokens and results were evident, +for they were continued in the church, these new Christians attending +mass upon their bended knees, with folded hands, and their eyes fixed +upon the altar with extraordinary attention and reverence." Here +Father Francisco de Otaco ends his account. Father Melchior Hurtado, +in another letter to the father-visitor, thus writes: "The baptism of +the mutes whom the father vice-provincial catechized was performed +with all possible solemnity, and with the utmost satisfaction that +our Lord had made good in these poor men their lack of hearing and +speech. Their expressions of devotion--and especially those of the +elder, who was christened Raimundo--were extraordinary, not only +during the ceremonies at holy baptism, but when they were sprinkled +with the water. So devoted has Raimundo become that he seldom goes +from home. He diligently attends to all the requirements of devotion, +never failing to attend mass, carrying his rosary, beating his breast; +and he lacks nothing save speech. We are convinced that God supplies +much more than we can understand. During this Holy Week Raimundo +scourged himself in the procession, and it seemed to me that even +had he possessed the power of speech and hearing, he could not have +given more satisfactory tokens of his Christian faith." + +The same Father Melchior Hurtado solemnized another baptism, also +of considerable importance, as occurring at the point of death. This +baptism took place in a village near to Dulac, called Tambo, whither +he had gone to visit and console its people. This incident and its +attendant circumstances are depicted to the life by that father in +another letter, in which he says: "We reached Tambo thoroughly soaked, +but with much consolation that we had so opportunely arrived; for +at once we were hastily summoned to visit an old man who was dying, +who desired holy baptism. Immediately we set out for his house, where +he lived in his grain-field, a little more than a quarter of a legua +from the village. Struggling through mud almost knee-deep, we reached +his wretched abode, where we found the poor man in such extremity +that speech had failed him. Knowing that he was a catechumen, and +considering the statements of all those present that he had sent for +me in order to be baptized, and fearing that he might die on my hands, +I at once baptized him, although wishing that I could have prepared +him better for the sacrament. But the Lord, who had inspired him with +the desire to ask for baptism, I trust gave him what more he needed +for his salvation; for he died soon afterward, on that same night." + +As we have stated, the other Christians continued to increase together +in numbers, as well as in virtue and edification, as may be seen from +some special instances. At the beginning of Advent, we preached to +them about fasting and abstinence, which are practiced throughout the +world by good Christians in their piety and devotion. So earnestly did +they set about this that one of them fasted four days in the week, +in all that time eating only roots. Throughout Lent they repaired +to the church, three days in the week, to take the discipline, +the singers meanwhile chanting the _Miserere_ to the accompaniment +of the organ; and with the same devotion they attended the sermons +which were preached to them two days in the week. During Holy Week +there was a great concourse of people from the neighboring villages; +and on Holy Thursday and Friday they had well-ordered processions +with many flagellants, in which some bore on their shoulders large +crosses. The most blessed sacrament was kept in a receptacle adorned +with many ornaments and jewels of gold; all the time while it was +enclosed therein, the chiefs were present in behalf of their districts +armed according to their custom. + +On this day a poor Indian failed to appear with the others at the +church for the divine services, having gone to the river to bathe; +there, by divine permission, a cayman seized him, and well nigh caused +his death. He was brought to the church covered with gashes, and in +such agony that he could neither understand, nor hear, nor utter a +word. On account of his precarious condition, and as he was one of +the catechumens, he was at once baptized. Being urged to invoke the +most holy name of Jesus, this man, who had not been able to speak +one word, was granted such strength that twice he uttered distinctly, +"Jesus, Jesus," and died with that honey on his lips. + +I will relate another and similar incident, equally interesting, +although it occurred at a different time and in a different place. A +poor Indian one night, in his grain-field, suspecting no harm, +received several knife thrusts, so grievous that it is considered +almost a miracle that they did not instantly kill him; for all his +abdomen was cut open, and his entrails lay on the ground. In this +condition he remained until morning, when he sent another Indian, +who by chance left his route to pass that way, to summon the fiscal +of the church, since the fathers did not reside in that village. The +fiscal went, and found the poor man in such misery that some dogs were +actually beginning to devour him alive. Asking with great earnestness +for the sacrament, he was accordingly baptized, whereupon he at once +expired. It seemed that our Lord would wait no longer to receive him +to Himself. + +But to return to Lent at Dulac: The good example set by a Spaniard +who happened to be there during this holy time, was most valuable. It +was he who adorned, as we have mentioned, the receptacle of the most +blessed sacrament, and who sent much wax to furnish its illumination; +and he remained under arms, guarding the sepulchre, and marched +in the procession with the Indians, bleeding severely under the +scourge. Not content with this, he went a second time along the +streets through which the procession had passed (a long distance), +scourging himself. The Indians were greatly edified at this, and, +as I have said, hastened to imitate him. + +Not less readily did they imitate a virtuous action by one of our +fathers, who performed it in order to preach to them by deeds as +well as words, that he might at once constrain them and render good +deeds easier for them; and, by the grace of our Lord, he succeeded +in his purpose. Those people are fastidious to such an extreme that +they are annoyed and disgusted by any object offensive to the senses, +especially to sight and smell. They are passionately fond, on the other +hand, of fine colors and flavors, and eager to see or hear agreeable +things. Accordingly, they cannot endure foul odors, and have great +aversion for persons who are wounded or bruised; among them such +persons suffer, in consequence, great privation and neglect, bodily +as well as spiritual. On this point, several sermons were preached to +them; but, as the achievement of victory in such a cause is, in truth, +arduous and heroic, the preacher, seeing that words were of no avail, +determined to preach a sermon of deeds. They had one day in the week +set apart when all the old, the sick, and the wounded assembled to +receive instruction; and the father knew that some were not present +because they had no one to carry them, or help them to come--among +these, especially, there was a female slave who belonged to one of the +chiefs; her masters had never been willing to carry her to the church, +on account of their great loathing for her. At a time when many of +these poor creatures were assembled, and the most notable of the +people were present, the father took in his hands the feet of a poor +slave who was covered with sores, kissed them, and placed his lips on +the wound itself. There was another unfortunate whom they all held in +great contempt, who himself did not dare to expose his countenance, +on account of an ulcer which had eaten away his mouth, nose, and the +greater part of his face; but the father drew this man to himself, +spoke to him, and caressed him, even touching his face. This example +made so great an impression upon them that, from that time forth, +they have displayed great compassion for such unfortunates--aiding +them in their necessities, and, when they cannot walk, carrying +them on their shoulders to the church. One of the chiefs did this +several times for his slave woman, although, before that occurrence, +he had not been accustomed even to approach her. The governor of that +same village, an Indian of very high rank and much esteemed by his +people, seeing that all refused to help a poor woman, who was in a +very loathsome condition, to go to the church, placed her on his own +shoulders and carried her thither, heedless of the stench and sores, +and careless of staining a very elegant gown which he had put on that +same day. When some persons attempted to restrain him, he responded +that such was the obligation of a Christian. + + + +The increase and fervor of Christianity in Tinagon. Chapter LXIII. + + +When the first fruits had been paid with a thousand Christians, who, as +we have said, died newly-baptized, in Tinagon and its district, there +were left, upon the arrival there of the fathers of the Society, about +eight thousand five hundred souls. Of this number we baptized from the +month of April of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine, +to the same month of the year one thousand six hundred, more than +nine hundred and seventy persons, almost amounting to a thousand. For +the rest of the catechumens, and for some Christians besides who are +scattered through various villages, the services of three fathers +and three brethren did not suffice, although they were constantly +occupied in instructing them. But our Lord provided us with some boys, +so well disposed and so intelligent in the things of our holy faith, +that they have, upon various occasions, supplied the lack of priests +and the need for catechizing and instruction in those villages. It was +in this way that a native chief in one of those neighboring villages, +having heard one of Ours preach, became so enamored of the things of +our holy faith, and so desirous that he and his villagers might know +them, that he went straightway to his encomendero and entreated him +to find for them some Indian well instructed in our doctrine, who +might impart to them the prayers and catechism. An Indian was sent, +as he had desired; they received him very hospitably, and all promptly +learned the doctrine. They manifested their gratitude for such benefits +by entertaining their teacher liberally during his stay and presenting +some gifts to him at his departure. Two or three times afterward, this +same chief came to ask our fathers to send someone to his district +to baptize his people, saying that they all desired to receive holy +baptism. The earnest affection wherewith they asked for it was manifest +in another Indian whose baptism our fathers delayed until he should be +better prepared for it: but each day his desire and fervor increased, +and each day he became more fixed in his good resolution. One day a +father asked him why he did not cut off his hair, since he desired +to become a Christian. At once he made answer with much affection: +"The hair, Father, and nothing more? Do but grant me what I ask, +and I will cut off, not only my hair, but even my arm, in return for +baptism." This man was almost on the point of tearing out his eyes, +or cutting off his hand or foot, to his own shame. + +But who can exaggerate the satisfaction and devotion wherewith they +receive in their villages these servants of the Lord, when the latter +go to visit them? This will be seen in an account of such a journey, +made by Father Juan de San Lucar, who himself thus describes it: +"I cannot express the satisfaction which was caused by our visits to +all these villages. We reached the first one, called Ibatan, in the +middle of the night. The people had already learned that we were +to go to their village, and, in spite of the late hour, they did +not weary of waiting; indeed, they were all waiting on the shore, +where they had lighted fires. As soon as we arrived, the leading +chiefs cast themselves into the water in order to take hold of our +boat; and we could not prevent them from carrying us ashore on their +shoulders. In the two weeks that we spent there, great was the fervor +of their attendance at our church, as well as the concourse of men +and boys on certain nights for the purpose of scourging themselves; +at the same hour the women throughout the village performed the same +exercises at their homes. Ten children and thirty adults were baptized, +and to some holy communion was granted after they had been prepared +by a sermon on that subject. All those who received the most blessed +sacrament manifested great unworldliness and exemplary virtue. In this +village there was an old woman, more than eighty years of age, blind, +deaf, and so sick and crippled that she could not leave her bed. Upon +several occasions we had passed much time with this poor woman trying +to persuade her to receive holy baptism; but she had never shown any +desire for it, and even stubbornly resisted. But the Lord took pity +on her and enlightened her, at a time when I was most forgotten or +distrusted. Her husband came to me as many as eight or ten times to +ask me to go to baptize her telling me that he loved her very much, +and it would cause him much grief if she should incur damnation; he +was therefore anxious that she should be baptized, so that she might +enjoy God; and he added that such was already her wish. But I did +not believe him, for my visits to her house had so many times proved +useless. I told him that I would baptize her on the condition that +she would come to the church, thinking that what I required from him +was impossible. On his returning with this answer, the poor woman, +in her desire to receive holy baptism, was so aroused that she, +although formerly she could not even move her limbs, recovered +strength, with the help of our Lord, and came to the church. She +listened to the instruction with pleasure and attention; and finally, +as she was prepared for the sacrament, I granted her baptism. During +all the time while I was administering this sacrament to her, she +remained standing, to the wonderment of all the people. Great was +their edification at seeing how heartily she had sought baptism, +and how our Lord accomplishes more in one moment than we in many +days. In the village of Paet our Lord moved the hearts of two women who +were a cause of offense and stumbling on account of their dissolute +lives. Protected by certain profligate men, these women, although +they were slaves, had become so arrogant that they despised the other +women; and all the village felt ashamed to have among them so evil a +company. These women came with deep grief to make their confession, +and remained thoroughly reformed, to the great satisfaction of all +the people. There dwelt in this village a young girl, the daughter of +a chief, whom we had urged to attend the catechisms and the sermons, +hoping that if she were baptized others would follow; but the devil +hindered our efforts, for she either hid herself or was concealed +by her parents. This time I made more diligent endeavors; she came +to the church and, having heard a few sermons, earnestly asked for +baptism. I gave her a teacher for the doctrine, promising that I would +baptize her when I returned to that place--although so great was her +desire for the sacrament that the least delay seemed to her very long; +accordingly, she applied herself so closely to study that within the +space of two days she knew the prayers and the catechism. On examining +her, great was my surprise that she should have learned so much in +so short a time; accordingly, with great satisfaction on my part, +I baptized her and two other adults. + +In the village of Cauayan there lives an Indian woman of rank, already +advanced in years, whom our Lord has inspired with zeal for winning +souls and for the conversion of her people. She devotes herself to +persuading, preparing, and catechizing the Indians for holy baptism; +and whenever we visit that doctrina, she has a troop collected, +and well instructed, for us to baptize. In this place I baptized +twelve adults, and four or five younger persons. In all the other +villages the people are very well disposed, and a great harvest will +be continually gathered, with the help of our Lord." + +In the measure of this fervor does our Lord correspondingly bestow +upon them visits and spiritual consolations, most liberally accorded +by His Divine Majesty to these His new faithful. Of these we have +already given some general account, and now I will relate in detail +one case, only, in the words of Father Francisco de Otaco, who wrote +from Tinagon, before he departed thence to be superior in Dulac: +"There came today from Catubig a Christian Indian, a youth of +about sixteen years, to hear mass and make his confession; it was +a long and toilsome journey. He showed much candor and goodness, +and special affection for the things of Christianity, speaking of +them with intelligence and appreciation. He related to me an incident +that had befallen him, which had been the cause of that interest and +intelligence. He was sick, and, fearing that the hour of death was +already at hand, he charged a companion of his to place at the head +of his bed, at the last hour, a cross and some lighted candles. His +end approached, so near that all regarded him as one already dead, +and his companion fulfilled the charge that had been given him. Then, +he said, he became as one who dreams, although it seemed to him to +be more than dreaming, and even quite different. There appeared at +his right side a father of the Society, holding in his hand a rosary +of our Lady: upon his head he bore a diadem of golden brightness and +a halo of the same splendor encompassed his breast. The apparition, +calling him by name in affectionate terms, said to him: 'Turn this +way, my son, to the right side, which is that of the elect, and count +these beads. Thou wert to die of this sickness; but, because thou art a +Christian, our Lord has been pleased to give thee life and health; but +it is only that thou mayest be a good Christian, always remembering +our Lord, living in prayer and carefully guarding thyself from +every sin--that is, from all that offends the sight of God.' Having +in a long discourse given him other profitable counsels, the figure +disappeared; and the sick man regained his consciousness, as if he had +been resuscitated (for all thought him really dead), and with sudden +energy began to speak. He asked for food, and soon felt much better, +to the astonishment of all who were present. These, terrified at such +a change, inquired from him its cause, and he related to them the above +occurrence--attributing his recovery to the singular mercy of our Lord, +and to the fact that he was a Christian; and he often related the +affair with no little benefit to his hearers. Having heard him speak, +for some time, so well and so affectionately concerning our Lord and +the observance of His holy commandments, I praised his discourse and +meritorious sentiments. He answered that it was no cause for surprise, +since all those things had been taught him in the aforesaid vision, +and had remained deeply impressed upon his mind." + + + +The loss of some vessels, and in them of two of the fathers of the +Society. Chapter LXIV. + + +Among other calamities and troubles which our Lord has been pleased +to send upon these islands in the form of loss of life, property, +and ships, one was the destruction of two large ships (a flagship and +an almiranta) which, in the previous year, six hundred, set out for +Nueva Espana with cargoes of very rich merchandise. These vessels, +after having sailed the seas for eight months, with violent storms, +and encountered great dangers, and after having lost many men through +hunger, pest, accidents, and the billows of the sea (which washed +them from the vessel itself), were driven back and stranded--or rather +dashed to pieces--on the shores of the Ladrones and the Catanduanes, +where they were destroyed. But few persons were able to escape, +who only served, like the servants of Job, to carry the news of the +disaster--which, following upon many other losses and misfortunes +of war, was keenly felt and bitterly lamented. In one of these +vessels, named "San Geronimo," went Father Pero Lopez de la Parra, +a professed member of our Society, who after this long voyage and +another, even longer, of thirty-seven years in the religious life, +finally came to port, as we believe, in the Fortunate Land, toward +which he was making his main voyage with good works. In Nueva Espana +he taught the arts and theology, and was one of the first founders +[of missions] who went thither from the Society; and both there and +here he exercised our ministries with good results. Although we know +no details concerning his death, it is believed, from his having been +one of the last to die, and from his great devotion to confession and +the care of souls, that in that hour of peril he must have been of +service to all with much charity, as he always acted thus during his +life. By another disaster and misfortune in these islands, we lost +another father and a brother, if we may call those lost who, to win +souls and aid their brethren, die with them in a righteous war. Some +heretic corsairs from the islands of Olanda and Gelanda went to those +of Filipinas, bent on plunder, in the month of October of the year one +thousand six hundred; they had robbed a Portuguese vessel in the North +Sea, and in the South Sea, having passed the Strait of Magallanes, +some fragatas from Piru. These corsairs entered among these islands, +committing depredations and threatening even greater excesses. For +this purpose their almiranta and their flagship (in which sailed, +as commander, a corsair named Oliverio del Nort) were stationed at +a place six leguas from Manila, where the ships from Espana, China, +and Japon were obliged to enter, and where all the ships and vessels +which leave that city must be inspected. Against the two Dutch ships +went forth two others from Manila, carrying more than three hundred +men, the flower of the militia of those islands, with much artillery +and military supplies. In the flagship went Father Diego de Santiago +and Brother Bartolome Calvo, at the request of General Antonio de +Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia, and other officers, who were +wont to confess to the father, because he had a very affable manner, +and could adapt himself to all persons. At the outset he heard the +confessions of most of the men, and encouraged them, as well as he +could, to make the attack and to fight valiantly. Finally, on the +fourteenth day of December, they sighted the enemy; and crowding on +sail, in their eagerness to overtake him, both flagships grappled +together, so closely that one could cross unimpeded from one vessel +to the other. They finally succeeded in seizing the enemy's colors +and hoisting them on our flagship, our men confident of success, +and already shouting "Victory!" But the ship, whether unsteady (for, +carrying so many people on one side, it took in water through the +port-holes of the lower tier of cannon), or laid open at the keel by +the very weight of our guns (which were very large), or by the will +of God, went to the bottom with all its crew--except a few men who +seized the enemy's shallop and escaped in it, and some others who +reached the shore by swimming. Among the latter was the commander, +who with the enemy's two flags gained the shore. Our almiranta (which +was a new galizabra), in charge of Admiral Juan de Arcega, grappled +with the enemy's almiranta, captured it, and brought it to Manila, +where justice was executed upon the corsairs who were in it. Among +the dead and drowned--who numbered one hundred and nine Spaniards, +the pick of the captains and soldiers of those islands; and one +hundred and fifty negroes and Indians--perished Father Diego de +Santiago. He died bravely, encouraging the men, and having heard the +confessions of nearly all. Seeing, a short time beforehand, that the +ship was about to go down, he intended to save himself by swimming; +but he heard the voice of a captain, who said to him: "Father, hear +me but a word, for it concerns my salvation." With much charity, +he remained until the last moment, to hear the soldier's confession; +and afterward neither the father nor his companion was seen. The father +was twenty-nine years old, a member of the Society for fifteen years, +and a shepherd of the Indians and Spaniards. Brother Bartolome Calvo +was of the same age, attached to the Society in these parts for +seven years. He possessed much virtue and died through obedience, +a quality for which he ever professed much esteem. + + + +Nine new members of the Society reach Manila, having been saved from +a ship-wreck--through the intercession, as is devoutly believed, +of our Blessed Father Ignatius. Chapter LXV. + + +In the month of May in the year one thousand six hundred and one, +there arrived in the Filipinas Father Gregorio Lopez with a welcome +reenforcement, of nine fathers of the Society. [14] Their arrival +was most opportune for filling the places of the dead, and aiding +the living who are ever clamoring for new companions to help them +draw in the net of this spiritual fishery. It was an extraordinary +consolation to hear of the mercies vouchsafed to them by our Lord +through the intercession of our propitious Father Ignatius--especially +when they reached the opposite coast of that island of Manila, +near Catanduanes--as I shall here briefly relate, referring to the +judicial investigation of this disaster, which was made with many +and competent witnesses, and was brought to Rome for the honor and +glory of God our Lord, and of his saints. In the latter part of +April in that year, 1601, when the galleon from Nueva Espana [15] +(in which came the ten fathers of our Society) reached the region of +those islands, bad weather shut them in with heavy fogs and rains, +so that, although in front and on both sides the land was not far +away, it could hardly be descried or recognized as such. As soon +as the weather cleared somewhat, they found themselves in a bay +hemmed in by shoals and rocks, with a rugged shore, upon which the +wind was driving them. In spite of their efforts they were unable to +gain the open sea, for the force of the wind was driving them out of +their course and upon the shoals. They then resolved to cast anchor, +hoping in this way to gain some safety for the vessel, and thus they +remained during an entire night in twenty-six brazas of water, exposed +to great danger, and in fear of being lost. On the next morning, +the auditor Don Antonio de Ribera (who went as commander and chief +of the vessel), seeing the great danger to which they were exposed, +and considering all human means weak and useless, hastened to entreat +the Divine favor; and, recalling those which our Lord had recently +bestowed upon certain persons through the mediation of our blessed +Father Ignatius, resolved upon this occasion to implore his favor and +assistance, and to beseech our Lord, through the merits of His servant, +to give them at ten o'clock that day a propitious wind whereby the +vessel might reach a place of safety. He added that he did not set +that time as a limitation to the divine Majesty, but because such +answer to their prayer would show that the mercy bestowed upon them +had come through the intercession of the blessed Father Ignatius, +to whom they made an offering of the vessel and its deliverance. This +petition and its conditions he called those to witness who were then +present in the stern-cabin. + +The shallop was launched, to seek some refuge within the shelter of +the shore where the ship might be anchored, and the men were ordered +to give signals when they should find it. But while the shallop was +reconnoitering the shore, the galleon began to drift from its moorings +toward the shoals and the rocky coast, whither the force of the wind +was bearing it. Accordingly a cannon was fired, to call back the crew +of the shallop, so that it might accompany the vessel and lend to its +crew what assistance it could. The shot was heard a long distance +on land, but those in the shallop could not hear it, although they +listened attentively and observed the fire and smoke; they continued, +therefore, their search for a more suitable landing. Thereupon the +men on the ship cut the anchor, and hoisted sail, aiming to get as +far out into the sea as possible. At that moment a miracle occurred; +the wind suddenly became favorable, shifting three or four points, +so that they were able to steer the vessel to the only place which +was secure and sheltered, where the shallop's crew had already found +bottom and a place for anchorage. At the same time Captain Francisco +Cadena--a Venetian, and an expert in nautical affairs--without knowing +of the commander's petition, said with great surprise: "This is a +great miracle; for just when we hoisted sail the wind shifted four +points, so that we who thought ourselves lost may now hope to be +saved." This unexpected shift in the wind was also observed by the +chief pilot and other seamen. + +The commander, Don Antonio de Ribera, beholding this change and good +fortune, and recognizing God's mercy toward them at the very hour +of ten which he had appointed, twice repeated with extraordinary +tenderness and devotion what he had that morning sought from our +Lord--through the intercession, as they piously believed, of our +blessed Father Ignatius. Soon afterward he related the same incident, +in his stern-cabin, to some Augustinian and Franciscan fathers, with +many tears and great devotion; and those religious fathers, full of +admiration, rendered thanks to the Lord that He had chosen thus to +honor His servant Ignatius, by displaying in that hour of peril his +great holiness and merits. On reaching shelter and casting anchor, +the commander announced to all, publicly, what he had requested from +our Lord through the mediation of our blessed Father Ignatius; at which +those who had been about to cast themselves into the sea, to escape, +if they could, by swimming, and had seen themselves at the point of +death, realizing that they had been saved by such means, offered many +thanks to the Lord and praises to His saint. Both religious and laymen +asked that the image of our blessed Father Ignatius be brought, and +thereupon they all, of every rank and age, began to adore it--falling +on their knees, and kissing it with great devotion, while all the +religious chanted the _Te Deum laudamus_. In memory of this event, +all, with one voice, desired that this place be called the Puerto de +San Ignacio, which name it now bears. Afterward, that our Lord might +reveal more clearly the merits of His servant--while the ship was at +anchor in the very place where they had so marvelously been aided, +and while they were about to leap joyfully ashore--a violent hurricane +suddenly arose, on Tuesday, the first of May, which toward midnight +caused the galleon's single anchor to drag, so that it was carried +toward the shoals and the perilous coast. At this, all feared the +utmost danger, for peril seemed most certain amid the darkness of +the night, and with so angry a tempest; but when they began to cry +out and entreat the favor of our blessed Father Ignatius, then the +vessel ceased to drift. Thus invoking him in every danger--as they +frequently did, both religious and laymen--the Lord again bestowed +upon them a special favor; for when the mainmast fell, which they +were obliged to cut, its fall was not, as they feared, such as +to sink the vessel, inasmuch as the yard and the topsail, falling +upon the rocks, served as a support, and on that side held back the +ship so that it could not drift to destruction. At the same time, +as they were held by only one anchor, with so great risk of further +dragging, or of the cable's being cut by the many submerged rocks, +they urgently requested an image of the blessed Father Ignatius, +and with great devotion and confidence, made it fast to the cable. It +was wonderful to see how the cable was held in place during the rest +of that night and a great part of the following day; and how, when +they tried to improve the position of the ship by casting another +anchor, they were able to raise the first one, which was very heavy, +by working the capstan, although they found that the three cords of +the cable were fretted, and only one remained entire--whereat they +all were greatly astonished and proclaimed it a miracle. + + + +Other devout practices which were augmented in Manila, and edifying +events which occurred therein. Chapter LXV. [i.e., LXVI] + + +In these vessels which arrived in the year one thousand six hundred +and one, there were also many religious of the sacred Orders of +St. Francis and St. Augustine, and in the following year, of the Order +of St. Dominic; they were men selected and well qualified for the +succor of those souls. Immediately they were assigned posts, each in +His own province, that they might devote themselves with fervor to the +conversion of the Indians. I do not here describe their occupations, +and the large harvest which they gathered and still are reaping; +for that is not within my present scope, although there is much, +and of great interest, to say about them. I will only say this, that +the excellent example set by the religious orders in the Filipinas +is a most efficacious means for the conversion of those souls; and +likewise serves to stimulate and maintain the Christian spirit of +former times among our Spaniards. Among these there are men and women +who may serve as examples of virtue and piety from whatever point this +may be considered, and who both profess and exercise piety with the +utmost sincerity, and in perfection. I observed and noted in those +people, without distinction of good and bad, three habitual virtues: +they do not blaspheme, they hear mass every day, and they are present +at every sermon. As for confession and communion, I may affirm that +there is not a feast-day appointed during the year when they do not, +almost every one, confess and receive communion; indeed, we hardly +have leisure to administer those sacraments to them, for no sooner is +one communion concluded than we must prepare for the next one. And this +piety is displayed not only by select Christians, of recognized virtue, +but by almost all the people of the city; and they are constrained +thereto by the saintly labors, example, and teaching of these holy +religious orders. These, not to mention other virtues which make them +conspicuous in that country, possess two which are especially notable: +first, the strictness of religious observance and the purity of life +which they all teach, and which, in truth, they exercise with great +consistency; second, the peaceable and fraternal relations which they +maintain among themselves--a virtue which is born from the first. For +the likeness between them in this respect awakens and kindles, in the +minds of their members, a readiness to esteem and value one another, +and, in consequence, to take pleasure in the society and welfare of +their brethren; and thus are born peace and harmony. Of this and many +other excellent things, much could be said. + +But to return to our ministries: with the reenforcement of that +year, and the pious inclinations of the people of Manila (which had +been aroused and cultivated in them by the hand of the Lord, through +tribulations), we had excellent facilities for increasing the practice +of pious exercises--not only maintaining those of former days, but +adding others which were new--in return for which, some notable and +edifying events occurred. First, the students founded the congregation +of La Anunciata in imitation of other colleges of our Society, where it +flourishes with so much distinction and piety. Although those who began +it were but six, it grew apace, inasmuch as it was a work of God and +of His most glorious mother. As the rays of this light spread through +the city, it ravished the eyes and hearts of many laymen of various +conditions, filling them with desire to enter this congregation; +and in less than eight months its membership grew so large that it +was necessary to form two congregations from the one, separating +the laymen from the students, and assigning to each congregation +its officials. At public feasts, however, they assemble together, +and celebrate their services in the chapel. These pious and devout +exercises, with the example and sweet odor [of piety] displayed in +their conduct, and the benefits resulting from it to their own souls, +would require a separate narrative. + +The discipline, which formerly was practiced during Lent, was now +extended to every Friday in the year; and on every day thus appointed, +without missing one, many people of distinction, and those from all +classes, repair [to the church] to scourge themselves. Every Sunday +afternoon many people, whether or not members of the congregation, +assemble in the church to hear a short sermon, in which are explained +the divine mandates, accompanied by some pleasing example, an +interesting story or edifying narrative. The father-visitor began +these sermons with good results, which were soon realized in the +changed lives of many persons--especially one, who, coming by chance to +hear the sermons, was--although bent on leading a shameless life and +giving loose rein to his appetites--brought to himself by one sermon +and began to lead a new life. There was also begun, that same year, +the devotion practiced by certain cities; namely, that of accepting +saints by lot. This was done on All Saints' day, with a great concourse +of the citizens. There was a certain person who, falling into the +sea, with many others who were drowned, in the expedition against +the Englishman, and being already overcome by the waves, remembered +St. Nicanor, who had fallen to him by lot; and calling out to that +saint in a loud voice, from that moment, he affirmed, his courage +and strength returned, and he felt a confidence that he would not be +drowned. As a result, he swam nearly a legua, and reached the shore, +to his own great surprise and with much devotion to that saint. + +Several interesting cases occurred of fervor in these devotions of +which I shall mention only two or three. A certain woman, to whom God +our Lord had communicated lofty purposes and sentiments of chastity +and purity, was for a long time beset with gifts and importunities +from wicked men. Her refuge was to confess and devoutly to receive +communion, arming herself with these holy sacraments. One day, +after she had received communion in our house, one of these men +lay in wait to seize her when alone; and, with a bare dagger at her +breast, was about to slay her if she would not consent to his evil +purpose. But she, fortified with the bread of the strong, and with +the wine springing forth virgins, [16] told him that she was ready to +die on the spot, rather than offend God. He abused her with words, +and even handled her roughly, but left her, astonished and overcome +by her chastity. + +Another man lived for many years in great impiety, and, forgetful +of his God, in mortal sins--especially a base passion so fixed and +rooted in his heart that when one of our fathers talked with him, +striving to convert him, he seemed mad and beside himself. In truth, +he was beside himself, for he still remained with that evil companion +with whom he had lived, nor did he seem to have feeling or thought for +any other thing. It pleased our Lord that by serious conversations +and arguments he was induced not to visit his wicked companion; and +after a reluctant "yes" had been drawn from him, almost by force, +he did afterward abandon her, so entirely that it seemed as if he had +never known her. He made a general confession, and began a new life, +to the wonder of those who knew him. + +The corsairs from Gelanda [Zeeland] who had been brought as prisoners +to the city of Manila were condemned to death. The governor of those +islands deemed it advisable that they should be distributed among +the religious orders, to see if they would be converted to our holy +Catholic faith; our Lord was pleased that twelve of the thirteen +should be converted. The exception was the admiral, who died a +heretic, while obstinately uttering a thousand blasphemies against +our holy faith; he was executed by the garrote, [17] and thrown into +the sea. The other twelve reflected, and, in great anguish for their +sins, were converted to our Lord. They professed our holy Catholic +faith and rendered obedience to the holy Roman church. This was done +with such sincerity that they entreated the religious orders of that +city to give them the most blessed sacrament at the altar, which +they devoutly received; as for the five who fell to the care of our +Society, and whom we saw die, I may affirm that they left us notably +edified. With the utmost grief for their sins, they made a general +confession and received communion with many tears. Before receiving +the latter sacrament, they made public declaration of their belief +in the holy Roman Catholic faith, maintaining that they died within +the church, and abominating the heresies of Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, +and other heretics. Two days from that time, having asked pardon of +all, they died with rosaries about their necks, and with the bulls +of the holy crusade (by means of which they obtained absolution) +sewed upon their breasts, each one holding his crucifix in his hands, +devoutly adoring it. They embraced us all, and in great joy at seeing +that, by such a death, they were expiating their sins, they suffered +death, to the great edification of all. On the following morning +they were buried with great solemnity by the Confraternity of La +Santa Misericordia, which was founded by the most prominent people +of the city. But enough for the present concerning the Spaniards; +it will be desirable to make some mention of the Indians. + + + +Other edifying matters, among the Indians of Manila. Chapter +LXVI. [i.e., LXVII] + + +That part of our employment and occupation which lies among the +Indians is no less important, since they retort to that city in numbers +exceeding those of the Spaniards, and their love and affection for us +is more recent. Usually they are a people inclined to make confession; +and this would give, throughout the year, work for six fathers who know +the language. The Indians seek communion most eagerly, and thereby +are their souls much profited, and they are aided in cultivating the +virtues, especially that of chastity. All that concerns devotion and +the ceremonies of the church makes a marvelous impression upon them, +and they set an example to Christians of long standing. They practice +the discipline every Friday in the year; and many more would come +to these exercises, if the gates of the city (which separate their +villages from the Spaniards) were not closed at night. + +The Confraternity which has been established among those natives +arouses the rest to fervor; for its members are the leaven, with their +good example leavening the mass of dough. At the Christmas feasts +they give food to all the poor whom they can assemble, and in such +abundance that there is even a surplus for the prisoners (Spaniards +as well as Indians), and also for another very needy class of people, +those who work in the powder-house. After this repast they wash and +kiss the feet of all the poor, who fall upon their knees and offer +up prayers for those who have performed for them this charitable +act. In company with those of our Society, they betake themselves +to the hospital of the natives, especially during Advent and Lent, +to serve and entertain its inmates. They make the beds, sweep out +the house and clean it thoroughly--which for them is a great deal, +since the Indians are a fastidious people, who are wont to remain in +their homes to die, in order not to see the hospital; but with their +fervor and devotion the members of the Confraternity overcome this +and other obstacles. + +They are greatly addicted to prayer and fasting; some, indeed, +have passed whole weeks subsisting on bread and water alone. They +have made retreat in our house, to make their general confessions, +and perform similar exercises, greatly to their own profit and to +the edification of the people. + +There was a Christian woman who, in former days, had been made a +captive by infidels who had taken her to the islands of Mindanao and +Burnei, where the doctrine of Mahoma is taught; and they carried her +through many peoples of that infidel land, but never did she relapse +from the Christian faith. + +A certain Indian had, with others, made his confession for the +purpose of receiving communion; but he remained silent in regard to +some circumstances of his sins. He says that in a dream he beheld a +very beautiful child who seemed to desire to give him the communion; +the Indian excused himself from receiving it, as being so great a +sinner. The child said to him: "It is true, thou dost not deserve +communion, because in thy confession thou didst conceal this and that +circumstance." On awakening, the Indian betook himself to our house; +and, communicating to one of Ours what had befallen him, he said that +he wished to make his confession anew, which he did. + +Another Indian, who was wont to take the discipline in our house, +became through that excellent practice so accustomed to his prayers +and scourgings that, while marching on an expedition with a company +of soldiers, he left the camp at night in order to practice his +discipline. One night, while the captain of infantry was going the +rounds, he saw this man leave the camp, and followed him, believing him +to be some soldier who was going out with some evil purpose. He saw +the man go to a church cemetery, where, after offering his prayers, +he began to scourge himself severely. When his penance was ended, +the captain approached him, and recognizing him as an Indian, was +even more edified than before. Asked whence he came, the Indian +replied that he belonged to one of the suburbs of Manila, and that +he made his confessions to the fathers of the Society. The captain, +impressed by this new converts solicitude for his soul, gave him +some money and sent him home, saying: "Take this and do not corrupt +thyself among soldiers." + + + +The number of Christians in the mission of Taitai, and their +exercises. Chapter LXVIII. + + +Of those who were Christians in the year 1600--who might number six +or seven thousand--in San Juan del Monte and other villages of that +mission, one thousand five hundred were newly baptized in that same +year, among the many infidels who were continually coming down to us +from the mountains and thinly settled districts. Our observation and +experience among those people show, of late, greater devotion and more +frequent attendance at the holy sacraments of confession and communion, +and in processions, discipline, and works of charity; and every day +may be observed constant progress and reformation in their lives. + +The father-visitor founded a hospital in Antipolo, which has been +most important to the welfare of their souls and bodies. On the day +when it was opened, after a solemn mass and sermon (which was drawn +from the story of the paralytic), the father-visitor rendered service +to the poor, washing and kissing their hands while he knelt before +them. In this he was assisted by the chiefs, whose wives performed, in +a separate place, the same act of humility toward some sick women. A +rule was made that the poor should be fed each day by four brethren +of the Confraternity, who aid them with much charity and pleasure. + +The father-visitor also began a seminary for boys, where they are +reared in virtue and good habits, obeying the rules imposed upon them, +according to their capacity, of Christian and civilized living. This +school is of great importance to the whole mission, for from these +children must come the good rulers of the people; and it is an easy +and gentle means for all reformation. Some of the children (those who +have some means) are fed with the rice which their parents give them, +and others through alms. They are taught to pray, to assist at mass, +to read, to write, and (most important of all) to be good Christians. + +In San Juan del Monte it is customary to sing the _Salve_ to our Lady +throughout the year. During Fridays in Lent, after some spiritual +instruction, they perform the discipline in the church. It once +happened that some Indians, who were bathing, as is their custom, +heard while in the river the bells calling to the _Salve_ and the +discipline; most of them at once made preparations to go thither. One +alone played the obstinate, and, in ridicule of the others, said in +his own language: _A coi ovian nino_ "Bring back something for me," +which in their mode of speech is a sort of mockery. + +The rest went to the _Salve_, and this man remained alone; a caiman, +or crocodile, seized and killed him, before he could be assisted or +confessed. What most surprised me was that, although this animal +is very voracious and always devours a man after killing him, or +at least carries away a hand or foot, this man it left untouched, +although dead; and thus he was found by the Indians, to their great +horror, and causing them to hold in great esteem the disciplines, +and the _Salves_ to our Lady. + + + +The council held by the bishop in the city of Santissimo Nombre de +Jesus; and other events which occurred there. Chapter LXIX. + + +The right reverend bishop of Sebu, having through a residence of +two years acquainted himself with the affairs of his bishopric, +determined to hold a council [_sinodo_], composed of the clergy and +religious who were busied in the conversion of the tribes, in order to +regulate many things, and to agree upon the method to be used by them +in giving instruction. Their advice was especially desired in regard +to the translation of the Christian doctrine, in order to select, +from the various versions of it which were current in the Bissayan +tongue, one which might serve as a Vulgate and be generally used +in the province of Pintados. [18] Before assembling this council, +that great prelate chose to visit some of his flocks, which he did, +traveling in person throughout a good part of his bishopric. In +this tour our fathers were honored by his being their guest in the +island of Leyte--over which he journeyed on foot, although seventy +years of age. He took up his lodging in our houses and residences, +in as simple and familiar a manner as if he were one of ourselves; and +confirmed our Christians with the most holy sacrament of confirmation, +and strengthened them by his example, and by the kindnesses that he +showed them, with much charity and good-will. He was highly pleased +with them, and with the excellent evidences of Christianity which +he beheld in them, especially with the chastity of the Bissayan +women--concerning whom he said that they had been unjustly slandered; +for, although he had spent so long a time in Nueva Espana, he had +not seen there so much reserve and modesty. He told Ours that they +might feel well content with their ministries, since that region was +one of the most favored spots on earth, and, in his opinion, it was +most pleasing and precious in the sight of God. He finally held his +council, convening therein all the superiors of those residences; and +after many very salutary regulations had been made for all classes of +people in his bishopric, the council was concluded with great harmony, +and to the consolation of all. + +During Lent of that year the disciplines were commenced in our house, +with a goodly number of persons and with the devotion of all the +people. Sermons and instruction were also begun in the barracks, on +account of the soldiers who had been stationed there for the protection +of the city; these were highly profitable to them, as well as to the +people of the city. The Indians have received more attention in our +house this year than have any other class of people, because there +was no priest in the city who could understand their language, save +only three members of our Society, any one of whom would have been +sufficient to care for them. + +The following occurrence was considered by some as wonderful: A father +went to visit a sick Indian, to assist him when dying; the sick man +was unable to speak, and had not yet made his confession. The father +urged him to utter the name of Jesus; he made a great effort, and +tried to pronounce it as best he could, uttering the word, but in so +broken a voice that it could hardly be understood. The father asked +him to try to say it a second time, and as soon as he pronounced +it he gained the power of speech; then he made a full confession, +and on the following day was sound and well. + +Part of the employment of our fathers in that city was with the +Sangleys from the kingdom of China; this was exchanged (and for +the better) for labors among the natives of that land; and we took +charge of a little settlement called Mandavi, half a legua distant +from our house; they are a simple people, docile and inoffensive by +nature. Father Miguel Gomez recently sent us, in a letter, this account +of a visit which he made there: "I made inquiries, to learn who had not +yet been baptized, and seventy were brought to me, besides some others +whom the Bissayans call _Daotangatao_, which signifies, 'People who +are good for nothing;' these people are wont to reply, when we preach +to them the law of God: 'I am good for nothing at being a Christian +or learning the prayers.' I began to preach to all these people +the truths of our holy faith, and the foolishness of their divatas, +or idols. Our Lord was pleased that they should learn the doctrine +in a very short time, although they were old men and obstinate, and +ask for holy baptism with a devotion which caused my admiration. The +day had scarcely dawned when old men and women, septuagenarians, +were at the door, in order to become Christians. I baptized sixty +of these persons--among them the most influential chief of that +district, a man seventy years old, Andug by name--and six others, +infant boys. All this has been a source of great consolation to me, +and I hope in our Lord that He will vouchsafe much to those people." + + + +Many conversions are made in Bohol. Chapter LXX. + + +From the end of the year one thousand six hundred to the spring of the +year one thousand six hundred and one, that fire which the Son of God, +Jesus Christ our Lord, came to earth to light, so earnestly desiring +to set the world aflame, seemed to burn with great heat in the island +of Bohol--as may be seen by the letters of our fathers who at that +time had gone thither. The most interesting letter, as giving the most +detailed account, is, if I am not mistaken, one from Father Valerio +de Ledesma, rector of Sebu, to the father-visitor; he writes thus: + +"In this letter I shall give an account of what our Lord was pleased +to accomplish in the island of Bohol after I departed from Sebu with +Father Ximenez and Brother Dionisio, on the twenty-ninth of May +in the year one thousand six hundred. When the council adjourned, +I set forth to visit the island of Bohol, as your Reverence had +instructed me. There I immediately undertook to unite and bring +together the people, a very difficult task, but quite necessary for +their instruction. I began with the people of Loboc, who were dispersed +and disunited; and, after many peaceful methods and forcible arguments, +God was pleased to bring together more than a thousand souls, gathered +from the mountains and rivers--most of them people reared in war, +robbery and murder; until then, it had been impossible to bring them +down from the hilly regions and inaccessible mountains where they +dwelt. But _non est impossibile apud Deum omne verbum_. Encouraged +by our good fortune in Loboc, we sought to unite the Tinguianes +(or mountaineers) of Dita and Marabago, a wild people who had never +before seen a father. We brought them together by blandishments and +mild threats, and by other methods suited to their capacity, and it +pleased our Lord that we were able to persuade them to settle along +the river which they call Viga. There they have erected a church, +and Father Gabriel writes me that on Sundays it does not contain them +all. He says that he began by baptizing more than one hundred and +twenty children; and that the adults are not only tamed, but even +ask for baptism with much fervor. At night they pray, and sing the +doctrine; and in the day-time they chant praises to our Lord. Those +who have dwelt in Bohol, and know the unruly nature of that people, +will appreciate the change which our Lord has wrought in them. When we +first begin to address them, your Reverence might behold them on the +bank of the river, armed, and so fierce as to arouse one's fear; yet, +at the same time, desirous that I should address them. This I did, +showing them so much affection that they and I became friends; and +as hostages they gave me their children for baptism, preparing them +to learn the doctrine and to receive holy baptism. Having brought +together the people of Dita, when it seemed to me that they would +have no difficulties in the small villages round about, it happened +that, when least I expected, I saw as many as forty men coming, +armed with lances and shields, whose design it was to break up the +union by violence, especially if they should be ordered to assemble +in any place not to their liking. Realizing from their determination +the danger to which the others would be exposed, I dissimulated as +best I could, so that the others might not perceive their uncivil +conduct, and feigned that my desire was the same as theirs--but with +such conditions that I know that they will not fulfil them; and it +is obvious, from this very incident, that he who has the authority +and force to intimidate them can subdue them. I think, with Father +Francisco Xavier, of blessed memory, that a little gained in peace is +worth more than much secured by war. Thus was ended that disturbance; +I did what I could, but not what I desired. They can, it is true, +be instructed where they now are; but the task will be a hard one. + +"Thence I returned toward Sebu, passing through some villages where +Father Miguel Gomez had given instruction; and I can assure your +Reverence that while I tarried there I found more consolation, and +gathered a greater harvest of souls, than I have ever before known. For +theirs was so great a longing and hunger to hear of the things of God, +and so ardent a desire to learn the doctrine that throughout the night +could be heard in their houses, now here and now there, ceaseless +songs and praises to God; and morning and night, in the field and in +the church, nothing could be heard but praises of our Lord. A chief +said to me: 'Would you believe, Father, that all night long I did +not close my eyes, I was so anxious and eager to pray?' Accordingly, +it appeared in eight or nine days that all the people had learned +the prayers and other things needful for baptism. Your Reverence +will doubtless ask: 'Who inspired them with such warmth and fire, +since they are a people so heedless by nature?' I know not what +answer to give your Reverence save, _Digitus Dei est hic_. What I +can say is, that he whose heart is set on an end, also holds dear the +means to that end. They were inspired by God to desire holy baptism, +and for that reason they so heartily availed themselves of the means +which we offered them to gain it, and heeded no difficulty in their +way. Upon the feast-day of Saint Anne, when the church was called +together, our Lord was pleased to make for us a goodly beginning in +the conversion of an aged chief regarded by all as their father. While +in the church, he fell upon his knees and said: 'Father, baptize me, +for God is calling me.' I said to him in a loud voice, while all +the rest preserved silence: 'Dost thou say this heartily?' 'Yes, +Father, with all my heart do I say it.' 'Does love for God and for +thy salvation move thee?' 'Yes, Father; that and nothing else.' 'Hast +thou determined to abandon all the maganitos and to exchange them for +the true God?' 'Yes, Father.' 'Art thou resolved to serve the true +God and to be a good Christian, or dost thou ask this with thy mouth +only?' 'There is nothing else in my heart.' 'That is well, then,' +said I; 'I admit thee as a catechumen.' With this example those +who were already prepared were so convinced, and others so deeply +moved, that more than a hundred came, one after another, and knelt +in the same way and asked for baptism. I, on my part, began to ask +them questions, to confirm even more their faith; for this virtue, +as well as other habits, grows and is increased by acts. Brother +Dionisius and I returned home, astonished at such fervor and devotion +among Bissayans. At one time I baptized more than eighty-nine adults; +a few days later, ninety-four, children and adults together; and, at +still another baptism, the other people in that village. A few whom +I did not baptize fell upon their knees and asked for the sacrament; +but I deferred it until the next time when I should, God willing, +return to them. + +"While we were passing, on the way from that village, over some +mountains, the Lord offered us, as a spiritual gain, twenty-nine +children, who were like so many little angels [19] (which is +a safe money); these we baptized, together with three adults +whom I took on this journey with me that they might hear some +masses, and be instructed, by word and example, in the things +of Christianity. Although those people were mountaineers, they +entertained us with the best that they had; and he was not held in +honor by them who did not bring a banana, some papaya [20] fruit, rice, +or a fowl. Here I have learned by experience how important it is that +we should not rear these Indians in such [spiritual] aridity that +they know not how to perform any act of charity. For admitting that +they are poor, yet even in their poverty there is room for merciful +and charitable deeds with the little possessions which are theirs; +and by performing these they are made humane, and they find pleasure +therein. On the other hand, they can be recompensed by us with other +gifts, by which they are greatly pleased, and their hearts are more +easily won for God. + +"From that place we set out for another little village which is +called Tobigu, where, in anticipation of our arrival, they had +quickly erected a very convenient church. We cast our nets--or, to +speak correctly, those of Jesus Christ--and the Lord pressed into +them all the fish there were. Indeed, even if there were no other +return than this, I would consider myself well repaid for having come +from Espana; for all--the headmen and chiefs, the children, old men, +and women--prostrated themselves at the feet of Jesus Christ, making +public confession and asking for the waters of baptism. The first +time, we baptized a hundred souls; the second time, the rest of +the people in the village, so that we did not know of any perverse +one remaining--although, at the beginning, there were a few who +resisted. When I arrived at the village, I heard someone say in +a loud voice: 'I do not have to become a Christian;' but he was +afterward converted, being unable to resist the Holy Spirit. Another +savage, fierce and intractable in disposition, after having heard +the sermon on salvation and hell, said that he would go to hell; +and he maintained this so obstinately that he seemed to be possessed +by the devil. He was arousing the same spirit in others, as he was +an influential man, respected by those of the village. I told him of +the terrible punishments of hell, and in return he asked what he was +to do if his ancestors and parents were there, and he wished to be +with them. I told him that he ought first to try the fire, to see if +he could endure it, and I ordered some red-hot coals to be brought, +that he might make this test; but his hands were as hard as his heart, +and the fire had little effect on them. After a few days had passed, +however, he turned over a new leaf, so completely that he went through +the plains and grain-fields, calling together his people so that they +might become Christians and be baptized with him. He is now one of +our good Christians, and the most earnest one whom I have known among +the Bissayans. + +"The devil, envious of such success, sought to disturb our new +Christian community with rumors of war, which compelled us to return +to the village of Tobigo. There, while the people were wrought up +to the most ardent fervor of prayers and conversions, forty-eight +armed men descended upon the village, to plunder it and to burn +the church. That night our people posted a sentinel, and kindled +large fires, and so the enemy did not dare to enter openly; but +they remained in the neighborhood to rob anyone who might enter +or leave the village. On the morning of the next day, armed with +better weapons than theirs--namely, with confidence in the Lord, +whose work we are doing--I set out to go where they were, taking +with me Brother Dionisio (who has been, in all these experiences, +my very faithful companion); and there I said to them: 'Fear not, +my children, for I am your father, not the alcalde-mayor; I come to +do you good, not harm. What do you fear from a man unarmed and alone, +who puts himself in your power? You behold me here. If you desire me +for a slave, I will live with you in your village of Tibor, and will +serve you as a slave if you will in turn let me teach you how you +may obtain salvation. I have compassion on you when I see you acting +thus, for if the Spaniards seize you they will do you much harm. Let +us be friends, and in token of our friendship, take this garment:' +and I handed to the chiefs an elegant striped mantilla, asking them to +give me also some pledge. They presented to me a necklace, and then we +embraced each other and drank from the same cup. In short, we became +so good friends that they promised me that whenever I might summon +them to Loboc, they would come, provided that they would bring but few +people. They gave me a little fruit and some eggs, and I gave them a +basket of rice. After expressions of friendship had been exchanged, +I asked them to make peace also with my friends of Tobigon; this they +did, and departed abashed without having done any harm. May God bring +them to a place where they can receive instruction; for some of them, +when questioned, replied that I was the first Spaniard whom they had +ever seen in their lives. This took place near Sebu; what must be +the condition of affairs elsewhere?" + +Another letter from Father Valerio to the father-visitor, dated +October 4, gives the following account: "Father Gabriel writes me +that he has baptized in Loboc and Dita more than four hundred souls, +most of them children under the age of reason. In these three months +I find, upon examination, that more than a thousand souls have been +baptized, and that the ardor of numberless others is aroused. The +fathers write me that the hour has come in which God is present in this +island. May your Reverence send us laborers, or at least one father, +until those from Espana arrive. Fortunate is he who may come hither, +for he will delight in the fervor of this primitive church." + +Father Gabriel Sanchez writes thus, in a letter of October 5: +"Our Lord has favored the plans and labors of the father rector and +other fathers; for in uniting the villages, their people have been so +thoroughly converted to the Lord that I know not what to say, except +that the Lord, who created and redeemed them, has been pleased to call +them with so special a vocation. Of the people in those reductions +there have been newly baptized in the last four months more than +two thousand souls, and it seems to me that, if we had fathers, +the whole island would be converted in one month. I am filled with +devotion when I see people who are practically savages come from the +mountains, and on their knees ask for baptism, and children as well, +like angels, who have already learned the prayers, although I know not +who are their teachers. Today, for instance, one of them came down, +a child about ten years old, whom I had never before seen; and yet +he knew the catechism and the questions, and was most eager to be +baptized. Catolonas, or priestesses, also come to us, and have given +so many proofs of their holy desire that we have not been able to +deny them baptism. Truly, my father, I am living in great consolation +and joy; for here in these regions there is nothing more to be desired +than that we may faithfully serve our Lord, and that all the people may +be brought into the presence of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday we had +in the church of Loboc six or seven hundred souls, which is the usual +attendance. If your Reverence could see in the early mornings nearly +a hundred children from the mountains, boys and girls but recently +baptized, march with praises to God in a procession along the bank +of this river, singing the doctrine with angelic voices that seem +to come from heaven, I verily believe that your Reverence would be +moved to devout tears, at seeing how God has brought them down from +these mountains and dragons' caves that they may praise and glorify +Him. During the last few days there were baptized in Dita five hundred +more souls, so that in this mission of Bohol there are now more than +three thousand Christians. At the beginning, we had eight hundred, and +now, with the blessing of God and the mercy that He has shown them, +two thousand three hundred have been baptised. Since God decrees it, +may St Peter bless it. Amen." + +In another letter he writes: "For days I have been toiling alone; +and when I depart from a village, a considerable time passes before I +return to it. But it is evident that the spiritual benefit of those +poor people acquits me for this delay, in order that your Reverence +may take pity on them. For this reason, my father, let fathers be +brought from Espana; and will your Reverence send hither even twenty, +for there will be a harvest for all of them. In Loboc and Dita in the +last few days nearly four hundred little ones have been baptized; +this has given me much consolation in the Lord, for I find great +satisfaction in these little creatures. The adults are learning the +doctrine with such fervor that even until midnight the sound of their +voices is incessant. We have received information that enemies are +coming to attack this island, and the people are therefore greatly +disturbed. Would to God that we might be made captives for His love, +and might die for pure love of Him!" All this is from Father Gabriel +Sanchez. + +The enemies whom the father here mentions are Indians from the island +of Mindanao which lies near the islands of Terrenate and Maluco, where +the doctrine of Mahoma is professed. In the year one thousand six +hundred that people collected an armed fleet of sixty small vessels, +which descended upon these islands subject to the government of Manila, +and wrought much damage. They laid waste the island of Bantayan and +the river of Panai, and burned the churches. Then they coasted along +other islands, robbing and murdering, and finally carried away as +captives one thousand two hundred souls. But it pleased our Lord that +when they came to this island of Bohol, where our fathers reside, they +should inflict no considerable losses, nor did they burn our church +and house--which they could have done with impunity, for all the +people fled to the mountains. Yet they passed on without stopping, +as Father Gabriel relates in part of his letter of November 16, +which runs as follows: + +"In order that your Reverence may aid us in rendering thanks to our +Lord for a great act of mercy which He has shown us, your Reverence, +as father-visitor, should know that on the twenty-sixth of October in +this year, 1600, the enemy attacked Baclayun just after our fathers +had gone thence to Sebu, summoned thither by holy obedience; for the +father rector had sent in haste for the three of us who were in the +island, and lo! the enemy were there. As evidence of the value of holy +obedience, and to show how it exempts from dangers, as well as another +token of mercy--the enemy committed scarcely any ravages in Bohol, +considering what was in their power to do. Their approach was made +known three or four hours in advance, and all, as I have been informed, +fled to the mountains--except three old women and an old man, whom they +killed; and three women and a man, whom they carried away captive. One +of the old women whom they killed had been a notorious witch; but God +our Lord, who loved her soul, inspired her with so fervent a desire to +become a Christian and receive baptism that for three months she did +not cease asking me for it. Finally, on account of her importunity, +I baptized her, after she had several times given evidence of her +sincerity by expressing in public her abhorrence of her idolatrous +belief. But she was fortunate indeed, for soon after she had been +baptized they killed her, which is certainly a singular blessing from +our Lord. The other old woman who was about seventy years of age had +also been baptized a little while before. They did no damage in our +church, although I am told that they disinterred some bodies--why, +I know not. Here is another instance of God's mercy: although they +passed very near the river of Lobo, Dita, and other little villages +belonging to our newly converted Christians, they neither visited +nor attacked them; this seems miraculous, considering that they had, +as your Reverence well knows, committed so deplorable ravages in +other places." + +Another of our fathers held a mission in that island, during the +vacation in the Latin studies in the College of Sebu; and, among +other things, he writes thus about his short stay there: "So great is +the heavenly influence which God sends upon this village of Tobigon, +and the abundance of gifts which He bestows upon it, that I have not +dared to go hence, and cut the thread of a progress so auspicious, +thinking it best to remain and behold the marvels of God. The church +is full night and day, and there is no leisure to leave the building, +and hardly to eat when I must; and it is necessary to have my food +brought to me from a distance. All are eager to become Christians and +be baptized. During the two weeks that I have spent here, among those +to whom we have been able to give instruction, one hundred and fifty +adults have been baptized, and today we are to baptize about forty +catechumens; the rest will be left until our return. Their affection +for us is great; they bring their children and sick that we may bless +them, and in the street they fall upon their knees to receive the +benediction. They make frequent use of holy water for their houses, +at their meals, in their grain-fields, and for their sick; indeed, +to drink a swallow of it they consider an efficacious remedy. In +short, all that I see in them is piety and devotion--which is all +the more precious since they are Christians so recently converted. An +old man asked on his knees for baptism, and, as it was necessary to +defer the sacrament, he said with his hands crossed upon his breast: +'Father, teach me how to invoke God, since I do not know how to +pray and thou wilt not baptize me; for I truly reverence Him in +my soul, and desire to serve Him:' Another old man--a chief, whom +all respect--who hitherto had been obdurate, has just asked me for +baptism; he is very hoary, and so old that it seems as if he could +not, from very age, utter a word. I go to his house to instruct him, +for he is too feeble to come to the church. I shall soon baptize him, +and another old man of his age; and it seems to me a certain proof +of their predestination that God should have kept them so long, and +now have inspired in them so ardent a desire to be saved. The Lord be +blessed, amen! for His marvels, who from the stones can raise sons of +God and heirs of heaven, at the time and hour that pleases Him, and by +instruments most inadequate, so that all may know that it is the work +of His power. Up to this time we have in this island three thousand +three hundred Christians, and I am confident in the Divine goodness +that by next year there will not be one man who is not baptized." + + + +The mission held in Tanai. Chapter LXXI. + + +Tanai is a beautiful and thickly-settled river in the great island +called Negros, on the side which forms a strait with the island of +Sebu. This part of the island is under the parochial care of Don +Diego Ferreira, the bishop's vicar there, and first archdeacon of +the cathedral of Sebu. This priest, in his great affection for our +humble Society, and influenced by seeing the results of our fathers' +labors in those islands--aided by the demand of the natives of +Tanai themselves, who had at various times asked for us--so urgently +requested our presence there that at last the authorities were obliged +to consent. Overjoyed that they had assigned this field to Father +Gabriel Sanchez, whom he held in great esteem, the said Don Diego went +in person to Bohol with a ship, expressly to convey Father Sanchez, +and carried him to their Tanai. What this faithful minister of Jesus +Christ accomplished there the Indians themselves made known, and the +archdeacon lauded it in various letters, being most grateful to God +and to the Society for this service that we had rendered him. We +gave him therein no little aid in carrying his burden of the many +souls which are under his care, alone as he is, without any other +assistance or instruction than ours. But Father Gabriel Sanchez, with +his accustomed plainness, has written a more detailed account of some +particular cases, while making a report of his labors to the superiors, +as is the custom among us. In a letter to the father-visitor, dated +in November of the year one thousand six hundred, he writes thus: + +"The archdeacon of Sebu, who holds the benefice of Tanai--a venerable +and meritorious man, as your Reverence well knows--went in person to +the island of Bohol, twelve leguas away, to beseech Father Alonso de +Umanes, our superior, to send, for God's love, a father to teach his +people the law of God, since he himself did not know their language. I +was chosen, and it pleased our Lord to give us a good foothold in +the island; on the very first day we found all the people gathered +on the beach, awaiting us with music and other tokens of joy. We went +to the church, and there I began to address them and discuss our holy +faith. At the first or second sermon, your Reverence might have seen +almost all the people suddenly changed. Indeed, as they had not before +had any minister who could address them in their own language, they had +not, as I learned, been able to form any conception of the things of +God. When the light penetrated their souls, they were astonished; and, +full of joy, they began to ask one another, 'What is this?' They gazed +on me (poor wretch that I am), as on one descended from heaven. As the +greater number of those who assembled there were Christians, but had +not made their confession nor did they even know _si Spiritus Sanctus +est_, I discussed with them the remedy of confession, explaining its +purpose, and arousing their affection for it. Within one month about +four hundred persons made their confessions, with the utmost sorrow +for their sins; and many received communion, with such devotion that +to behold them inspired a like emotion. I baptized about eighty, +most of them infants, although there were a few adults. We instituted +the procession of children which, in our doctrinas, is wont to march +through the streets. We began, too, in the church to give instruction +and ask questions, which so pleased them that the chiefs answered them, +and were offended if we did not question them. + +"During our stay several incidents occurred which I shall relate. An +Indian woman, wife of the governor of the village, and of high rank, +lay sick. One night her malady grew so violent that it left her without +power of speech. Believing her to be dead, they hastened to summon us +late in the night. When we arrived she was speechless and unconscious, +and they were bewailing her as one dead. It grieved me that the woman +should die in that state; for she had been a Christian for some years, +and yet had not attended confession (although she led a blameless life) +because there was no priest who knew her language. I was anxious that +she should, if only by a sign, ask for confession, but she could not +do even this. We repeated the gospel to her, sprinkling her with +holy water; and God, the Father of mercy, gave such efficacy to +these means that we had not finished reciting the holy gospel when +the woman regained consciousness and asked for confession, saying: +'Jesus, have mercy on me.' Many people were present on this occasion, +and we gave thanks to our Lord. Within ten minutes the sick woman was +as well as before her illness; accordingly, I would not confess her +in her own house, but left her, directing her people to bring her to +the church the next day. This was done, and on the following day she +confessed, to her great consolation. Another woman, also of rank, +was attacked by an illness so violent that she could not be held, +and even dashed herself against the walls. Finally, she was dying, +and they hastily summoned us; we read to her the gospel, as usual, +and gave her holy water. Then with much difficulty, on account of +the many persons who were in the house, I began to confess her before +she should die. But it was God's pleasure that, just as she began to +confess, her malady and the pains of death should be mitigated--so +fully that before her confession was concluded she was as well as +before. The next day she went to the church, and there, before many +persons, she made known the mercy which our Lord had shown to her the +night before. Another woman was reduced by sickness to the point of +death, so that she was speechless; her people hurriedly summoned us, +saying that she was already dead, and we found her unconscious, and +already lamented as dead. We recited the holy gospel, and gave her +holy water; and we had not yet finished the reading when the woman +regained her senses and said 'Jesus.' She then made her confession, +and even before we departed she had recovered health, and was offering +thanks to our Lord. + +"They also called us in to see two children who were dying. We went +to them in haste, putting aside the confessions which we had on hand; +and found both of them speechless and unconscious--one of them with +no sign of respiration--and already bewailed as dead. We recited the +holy gospel to them, and gave them holy water; and soon we left them +so well that one of them, who was four or five years old, came down +that same day to play with the other children, and the other one soon +became well. We went to hear the confession of a man who lived a legua +and a half away from the village; he was so sick that they could not +bring him to the church, for his body was in such a state of corruption +that no one would touch him. We went to hear his confession and found +him in the condition which we have described; he could not even move +from one side to another. We sought to induce him to confess, and +repeated to him the holy gospel. This was on Friday or Saturday; on +the following Sunday, when I asked for him, they told me that he was +sound and well, and had gone to another island in quest of food. We +were informed that another, a pagan woman, was at the point of death; +at her request, we went to baptize her. I gave her this sacrament +in some haste, lest she should die on my hands; but after baptism +she regained her health. All these things aroused in their hearts a +deep affection for our Lord, and they recognized that what had been +preached to them was the truth, and that their idols are but demons. + +"I also desire to relate to your Reverence how one night, about ten +o'clock, while I was commending myself to our Lord, round about the +church I heard many persons weeping most piteously, yet in gentle +tones, as if grieving for something which had been lost. Fearing lest +it might be some case of death, I sent out two boys to inquire what +it was. Some women of rank, the daughters of the master of the house, +replied that they and the other women were weeping because on that +night, having finished chanting the Christian doctrine, while in a +passage-way or corridor of the house and gazing toward the sky, they +saw as it were one fastened on a cross with a crown on his disfigured +but beautiful head. His body and breast were brighter than the sun, +white, and lovelier than words can depict. This [vision of the] Lord +gradually receded from them, rising toward heaven, until it reached +the moon, when it disappeared from their sight. This lovely vision +aroused in them deep love, and, when it departed from them, sadness +and sorrow. I sent to bid them calm their grief. On the following day, +in the church, those same young women, with their servants and those +of their household, arose before all the people; and when I asked them +what that meant, they recounted what had occurred to them the night +before. Yet they are simple and artless people, who were quite bashful +and timid when I questioned them. The next day we learned that this +vision, or cross, had been seen at the same time in another village, +one or two leguas distant from this one. What most impressed me in this +incident was that those persons, although virtuous before it occurred, +were afterward much more so, and in their exemplary and modest behavior +are the example and pattern for the other women; for they pass many +hours on their knees in prayer, they hear mass every day, and, while +we remained there, they made their confession every Saturday. The +incumbent of that benefice wrote me, several months later, that they +were persevering, and setting a rare example in virtue. + +"The time for my departure and my return from Tanai arrived, in +accordance with the orders of holy obedience. Such was the sorrow, +and so many were the tears of those poor people that I was constrained +thereby to weep for compassion. They cast themselves at my feet, +and upon their knees besought me not to depart, saying: 'If we again +fall into sin, to whom shall we have recourse?' I consoled them as +best I could; and they accompanied me as far as the river, where +I embarked. Then they plunged into the water, and surrounded the +boat--men, women, and children--dripping with water, and shedding +tears. They brought me for the journey their offerings of rice, +chickens and other presents, which I did not accept, as it seemed +to me more becoming not to take them. I left them with much regret +at seeing so many souls exposed to danger and without a shepherd or +minister who knew their language. May God our Lord provide aid for +them, according to His mercy." + +Seeing the excellent disposition of those people, and the harvest +which our Lord was gaining from the missions, the same Father Gabriel +Sanchez held another one among those people which he briefly mentions +in one of his letters. He says: "I found the people steadfast in their +good intentions, and in the doctrine which I had taught them. When +I asked them, on certain occasions, if they had committed such and +such a sin, they would answer: 'Jesus. Father, would I be false to +God? When we were taught last year that we must not sin against the +Divine Majesty, would we dare to do so?' And their works confirmed +their deeds, for their lives were like those of the primitive +church. There were women who, although they were offered chains of +gold and presents of great value, could not be influenced thereby to +consent to sinful acts. Others suffered insults, and harsh treatment +until their blood was shed from the blows and wounds they received, +because they would not consent to offend our Lord. Many instances of +this could be related." + + + +The fruits of other missions in the island of Ibabao. Chapter LXXII. + + +As the inhabitants of the island of Ibabao are scattered along +the coast and shores of the sea, it has been necessary to despatch +thither, on missions, three fathers and three brethren, during most +of the year, who instruct the people with the excellent results that +are wont to accrue from such missions. In these the harvest has been +very large, the divine grace corresponding to the earnest desires of +those fathers, and with their labors and perils. Nearly all the time +they are journeying by sea, sailing along the coast of this and other +adjacent islands, and crossing from one to another, never without +danger. They have become fishermen of souls, casting their nets for +the heavenly catch--from these journeys returning to Tinagon, where, +as we have said, is the house of their residence. This residence +cares for fourteen villages, large and small. During the year, there +have been baptized therein three thousand six hundred and eighty +persons, most of them adults. Father Alonso de Umanes, superior of +the residence, Father Manuel Martinez, and Father Juan de San Lucar +formed six principal missions, each father with his companion being +assigned to certain villages. Father Alonso de Umanes writes that in +the first mission two hundred and sixty-nine persons were converted +to Christianity, eighty of whom were children, and the rest adults. + +In this mission two small and isolated islands were visited, concerning +which Father Juan de San Lucar writes to the father-visitor, as +follows: "Knowing the satisfaction which your Reverence receives when +we render to you an account of our missions, I will now tell you of +the last one which I made in the two little islets of Maripipi and +Limancauayan, which for more than two years had not been visited by +any priest. The people were most eager to have some father to instruct +them; and when they knew that Brother Francisco Martin and I were +going to them, they made a great feast, and adorned with branches +of trees the streets of the village, and the shore as far as the +church. The boys and girls came forth, singing the doctrine and bearing +a cross, which was to me a most gratifying reception. Afterward, in +the church, I thanked them with tears for the affection which they +showed us. From the time of our arrival until we departed from those +islands, they were continually bringing us gifts from the products of +the land, such as wax, rice, and bananas, and other articles of more +value. When I undertook to make a list of those who sought baptism, +they asked me not to do so, since all those who were not converted +(who were very few) desired to become Christians; so I did as they +wished. The old men, who elsewhere are usually obdurate and stubborn, +and answer that they are now too old to learn the doctrine and begin +a new manner of life, here used this very same argument to induce me +to baptize them, saying: 'Father, consider that we are already old, +and soon shall end our lives; do not let us die without baptism, +since we are so anxious to be Christians.' With this good disposition +on their part, I began to preach to them, and our Lord was pleased +that they should all become Christians. They not orly learned the +doctrine, but discussed together the sermons and instructions in the +church and in their houses; indeed, so concerned were they about this +matter that they seemed to pay no attention to anything else. + +"We were greatly aided in facilitating their instruction by the method +of [learning by] decuries which your Reverence imparted to us. Dividing +them by tens, as if in classes, some learned the _Pater-noster_, others +the _Ave Maria_; and thus they came to acquire with much facility +and ease all the prayers of the primer. I baptized one hundred and +forty persons, some of whom were old men of rank. One of them was very +anxious that his mother should become a Christian, and on the day when +our Lord accorded him this mercy he was greatly rejoiced; he made a +great feast, inviting the people to eat at his house, and furnished +to them a bountiful repast. We celebrated the octave of Corpus Christi +with a solemn procession, in which we bore the most blessed sacrament +through the streets, which were decorated and adorned for the occasion +with as much splendor as was possible. They laid all their riches and +gold chains on the platform; and although it was all insignificant +enough, greater was the good will and love with which they offered it. + +"With the report that those two islands had been converted to the +faith, the island of Cauayan and others of Samar were led to ask +for fathers to instruct them. I repaired to Cauayan, and in fifteen +days I baptized, after some instructions and sermons, one hundred +and seventy adults, with four or five little children. I inquired +if any one yet remained to be made a Christian; they replied that +only one was left, an old woman, outside the village, but that I +need not concern myself about her, for, on account of her great +age (she must have been more than a hundred and thirty years old), +she had not sufficient understanding or judgment to penetrate into +the things of God. I had her conveyed to the village with great +care, and they brought me a clod of clay, which had only a little +perception, and hardly any understanding; sight had forsaken her, +and her hearing was very dull. She had no more power of motion than +a stone, for wherever they placed her, there she remained without +stirring. She had great-great-grandsons living, and I believe that +the descendants extended even further. I began to catechize her, or +rather to test her, to see if she had the use of reason; but for the +time I could not convince myself whether she had it or not. I had her +conveyed to the house of a worthy Christian, an Indian woman of much +judgment, by whom the old woman could make herself understood; and I +asked her to talk with the old woman very carefully about the things +of God, and to draw from her all that she could. Relying upon what +this good woman told me (she acted as my interpreter in the church, +and as catechist in her own house), I was finally persuaded that the +old woman had the use of reason; but when I began to instruct her in +the things that were absolutely necessary, the Christian woman told me +that, as for the other truths, it was morally impossible, on acount of +the old woman's limited capacity, to give her further instruction. I +then baptized her, with much consolation, being persuaded that God +had preserved her for that hour. I am convinced that she has a very +short time to live, but I trust, in the mercy of God, that in the +other life she will obtain eternal blessedness through the merits +of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gained it for her with His precious +blood. From Cauayan I went to a little hamlet called Cotai, where I +baptized eighty-three persons. From that place I went to Paet, where +I baptized one hundred and twenty, all adults; thence to Canauan, +where I baptized one hundred and forty. According to my reckoning, +then, more than five hundred persons have been baptized, all of age, +besides twelve children. What I especially value in this is the +sight of the fervor and devotion with which they received baptism, +their horror of sin, and their zealous desire that other neighboring +peoples should become Christians. They often take the initiative with +those people, and preach to their friends with a fervor and power +that astonish me. I am also much gratified at having brought about +more than eighty marriages within the church, for I suspect that +the alliances formed by those people are not marriages, but rather +the taking of concubines, considering the readiness with which they +divorce and marry again, according to the custom of the country. + +"It seems to me that the road to the conversion of those natives is +now smooth and open, with the conversion of the chiefs and of the +majority of the people; for the excuse which they formerly gave, +saying, 'I will become a Christian as soon as the rest do,' has now +become their incentive toward conversion, and they now say: 'We desire +to become Christians because all the rest are Christians.' While I +was passing through Canauan, one of the chiefs was enraged because a +slave woman of his had become a Christian, and rebuked her angrily for +it; but recently he brought her to me with all his slaves, and he, +with his wife and all his family, have become Christians. Another +chief prevented his wife from hearing the divine word and becoming +a Christian, which she desired most heartily to be. Being unable to +go to the church, as she was kept at home, she sent a message to the +father informing him that her husband was using this violence toward +her. Orders were given to arrest him, and, this done, the woman was +baptized. But she obtained from God, as I believe, the conversion of +her husband; for within a few days he returned to the church, subdued, +and was baptized. This occurred during the first mission. + +"Another mission was held at Catubig; this village is farthest from +the residence, for it is at the extremity of the island of Ibabao, +which is very large. The Indians are very well disposed, and among +them are some Christians, who lack instruction; and all are desirous +of having a father to teach them. There are more than four thousand +souls who only await the coming of ministers of the holy gospel +to distribute among them the bread of heaven. If we had chosen to +open the door for baptism many might have received that sacrament; +but during that mission only one hundred and fifty-four children were +baptized, the others being reserved for a better opportunity, when our +Lord might be pleased to send them those who would preserve them with +the food of instruction in the new life which, with the divine grace, +they would receive. + +"In the third mission, there were baptized in three months eight +hundred and thirty-seven persons; seven hundred and five of these +were adults, and ninety-two children. At first, the men encountered +great difficulty in putting away their many wives; but finally the +divine Majesty made the outcome propitious, softening the hearts of +those pagans, and they brought their undertaking to a glorious end. + +"In the fourth sortie or foray, six hundred and thirteen were baptized; +in the next, two hundred and seventy; and in the last, two hundred and +fifty-four. With these and other baptisms in this residence alone, +three thousand six hundred and eighty persons were therefore made +Christians, as I stated above; and many more might be converted if +the earnestness with which they ask for baptism were appreciated. But +our fathers proceed by inspiring them first to desire baptism, and +to give proofs of their desires, and constraining them to learn the +doctrine, to attend the church, and to abandon all their heathen rites, +their paganism, and their polygamy; thus they become more thoroughly +acquainted with and rooted in the faith." + + + +Instances occurring in the mission of Dulac. Chapter LXXVIII. + + +The year one thousand six hundred and one also gave evidence of +great increase and perfecting in the Christian community of Dulac, +effected through the ordinary labors and occupations of four fathers +and three brethren. These laborers, making their retreat at the +appointed times, to practice the spiritual exercises (as is the +custom in all those residences), repair thereafter with greater +courage to their ministry to souls; and the results of their work +thus correspond to their fervor. But, of all the means that they +have employed, we must attribute their good fortune in winning souls +to their exposing the most blessed sacrament in our churches, thus +stimulating the devotion and respect with which it should be regarded; +celebrating with solemn processions the feast of Corpus [Christi]; +and inviting the faithful to the table and feast of heaven. As a +result of these measures, the people were so fond of holy communion, +and so greatly enjoyed receiving it, that on some feast-days the +crowd was as great as in cities of Europe; and with so thorough +preparation, by fasting, discipline, prayer, fervor, and confession, +that it seemed to be a primitive church. Thus their esteem for our +holy faith is so increased that few are those who do not ask for or +desire baptism. Indeed, there are so many who seek it that during +the two weeks of advent and Easter in 1601 more than seven hundred +persons were baptized; and from the Easter of the previous year, 1600, +there were counted in this mission-field more than two thousand and +twenty persons baptized--and all this with great fervor, eagerness, +and esteem for the new law which they profess with holy baptism. + +The residence of Dulac has in its care, among many others, the two +large villages called Dagami and San Salvador (which is Paloc), both +populous; their people are well instructed and submissive, and our +fathers have labored among them with great success. Father Melchior +Hurtado writes that in San Salvador, during the celebration of the +Christmas feast, almost eight hundred infidels were baptized, and +that the confessions and communions were such as might be expected in +Espana--so many, that the fathers could not attend to them all. This +is occasion for much glory to our Lord, especially in a land so new, +which the Society had entered but six years before to instruct its +people, and had found them so obdurate, as I have already stated. From +the letters of this father, and from others of Father Juan de Torres +and Father Francisco Vicente, some special incidents have been drawn, +which I shall here relate. + +A father, passing through a little village belonging to that residence +and inquiring who were Christians, was told of an old man who lived +out in the country, alone in his little hut, and remained there +unable to walk. The father gave orders that this man be brought to +his presence, and asked him concerning his life, not expecting him to +recall much of the doctrine; but he gave so good an account of himself +as to leave the father astounded. Among other things the old man said: +"Although I remain in this life with my body, my desires are in heaven; +and so much so that at night I dream only of the things of the other +life. There I see all the dwellers of heaven covered with splendor, +and especially one, who excels all the others in brightness. O, father, +would that I might be there, freed from this decaying and burdensome +body!" The father showed him a print of the judgment, in which heaven +was depicted with splendor and beauty, and then asked him if it looked +like what he had seen. He answered, _Aba_, which is one of their words +of surprise, and, as it were, of disdain. "That and nothing more, +Father? Much more, much more!" Then the father wondered as he beheld +the riches which God our Lord had deposited in that clod of earth; and +he felt sure that, as the old man said, his only occupation thereafter +would be to repeat "Jesus" and "Mary"--which would never leave his +memory or his lips, until he should end this life and begin that +which is eternal. Two of Ours, passing a wretched hut, found a man, +who must have been more than eighty years old, stretched upon some +reeds, unconscious and dying. So thin was his body that it was hardly +more than skin adhering to bones; and so wasted that he seemed the +living picture of death. In their pity for him they prayed our Lord +to have compassion on that poor soul. In a short time he recovered +consciousness, and gladly asked for the waters of holy baptism, which +he greatly desired; this was plainly evident in the ardor with which +he declared his belief in our holy faith. After being baptized, his +senses were entranced, and he very sweetly invoked the most blessed +name of Jesus, and that of Mary; and then he died. + +One of our fathers desired to visit another sick man (who had, when in +danger of death, been baptized by the schoolmaster of the village), +but, with his many confessions and other duties, he had forgotten +to do so. Afterward, while resting, he had heard loud wailing and +outcries, such as they are wont to utter for their dead; and they came +to tell him that the man had died. The father could not refrain from +going to see him (although he left all the people in the church), +deeply grieved that he had not seen the sick man before. But with +great confidence (although everyone said that he was already dead), +he approached the unconscious sick man, and said: "Clement" (such was +his name), "dost thou hear us, my son?" He opened his eyes and said: +"Yes, Father." Then the father bade him invoke the most blessed name +of Jesus, and the most sweet name of Mary, and aided him with some +nourishment; the sick man regained consciousness, and some strength, +and at the end of a few days made his confession, and died in the Lord. + +Ours had been asked to visit a sick man, and, when the visit to him +was ended, the father, while descending from the house, was seized +with the desire to ascertain if there were any other sick person in +the vicinity. In the next house he found an old woman, an infidel, +ninety years old, although not very sick; he approached her, gave +her instruction, and baptized her. On the following day, when he was +setting out from the village at the same hour, his heart would not +allow him to depart without first visiting his sick people. He gained +the little hut, and found therein a dead person, shrouded. He inquired +who it was and they told him that it was Ana (the name of the woman +whom he had baptized the day before). He continued his way, praising +the divine Providence and judgments of God, who had thus predestined +the lot of that soul. We were informed that a sick man lay at the +point of death, far out from the village. The road thither was hard +to descry in the darkness of the night, and abounded with serpents, +which were continually encountered, stretched out in the road. In +addition to this, a very broad river must be passed, with rapid +current and full of crocodiles--which, when they become ravenous, +rush upon anything. Yet all these obstacles were of less importance +than one soul redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ; so the father +went to visit his sick man, and, with a certain medicine, in the name +of Jesus Christ our Lord, cured and comforted him. But the marvel was +that on the way he found another sick person, a woman, apparently in +less danger; he baptized her, and she died immediately, while the sick +man, for whom the father had undertaken all that hardship, was healed. + +An Indian, finding himself in the clutches and jaws of a crocodile, +covered with wounds, and almost dead, began to invoke the most holy +name of Jesus, which a little before he had heard in the sermon +of a father; and our Lord was pleased that the savage beast should +release him. + +This befell a father and a brother while journeying along a sandy +tract, greatly fatigued by the heat of the noonday sun, without any +restorative or food, and parched with thirst--in short, deprived of +everything that might serve them as a relief or comfort; yet enduring +their suffering and with devout meditation offering to God that +hardship, even desiring that it might be increased if his Majesty +might thus be served. Unexpectedly and suddenly they descried a man +seated in the midst of the sand, with a collation of fresh cocoanuts +and other fruits; and so gracious and serene was his appearance that +he inspired admiration and pleasure. When the fathers and those who +accompanied them accepted from him those delicacies, refreshing their +heated bodies and appeasing their hunger, this man displayed unusual +satisfaction and joy, inviting them to partake of more, since what he +possessed was theirs, and he was a servant of the Spaniards. With this +they continued their journey (which otherwise would have been very +wearisome), giving thanks to Him who had thus succored them in their +dire necessity. Although at the time the father took little notice of +this incident, afterward recalling the circumstances, as well as the +gracious manner of the man, he became convinced that he must have been +some angel. Nor was he far out of the way, considering the occasion on +which he succored them, when they could not go any farther on account +of the oppressive heat of the season, and the lack of food; the spot +where they had encountered him, a place where it had never occurred +that they found an Indian so solitary and, moreover, unknown; and +then his gracious manner and serene countenance, and his generosity +and liberality in sharing with them what he had, saying that it all +belonged to the fathers, and that he was a servant of the Spaniards +(at a time when there was not one Spaniard in the island): all this +induces the belief that the incident was something more than ordinary, +or, at least, a token of our Lord's especial providence. There can be +no doubt that the incident was most pleasing to Him, on account of the +unusual and extraordinary harvest which He permitted to be gathered +in the village from which the father had that day set out. I shall +not relate this in detail, in order not to repeat the same events, +and to pass on to what yet remains to be narrated, which is much. + + + +The many conversions to the Christian faith in Carigara and its +district. Chapter LXXIV. + + +We deem it a special providence of our Lord that while the native +language of the Indians of our various residences is the same, and it +is easy for our workers to remove from one place to another, since +they are not, in doing so, obliged to learn several tongues--there +is, at the same time, such variety in the stations and missions. Some +of them may be visited entirely by sea, such as those of Tinagon or +Samar; others wholly by land, as the mission of Alangalang. Again, +others may be reached partly by sea, partly by land, such as Dulac, +Carigara, and Bohol. This is a great convenience, in assigning the +missionaries according to the abilities and temperament of each, +allotting to those who cannot journey by land, stations on the coast, +and inland posts to those who can endure the hardships of the roads. + +There is enough of such hardship in the residence of Alangalang, +where four fathers and three brethren are employed, toiling in the +vineyard of the Lord--journeying on foot (as is our custom there) +under sun and shower, through swamps and rivers, with the water often +waist-deep; yet with much consolation and joy in the Lord, for whose +love are undertaken these and like hardships. + +Our brethren live in those villages well content at seeing that our +Lord is continually gaining souls to Himself, and inclining to His holy +law the hearts of those who but a few years ago were living without God +and without law. From the year 1600 to the year 1602, when I departed +from those regions, two thousand six hundred and ninety-four persons +had been baptized in that mission. They attend with great punctuality +the sermons, masses, and other divine services, which in that mission +are celebrated with greater splendor and more punctiliousness than in +others, through the advantage which it has in three choirs of Indians, +who [in this service] surpass many Spaniards. They are wont to sing +the _Salve_ to our Lady; on some days, the litany; and on the Fridays +of Lent the _Miserere_ to accompany the discipline--all of which +indicates the faith which burns and glows in their souls. + +To that residence of Alangalang are annexed those of Ogmuc and +Carigara, with seven or eight other villages; through these our fathers +have dispersed (having made their retreat, in the course of the year +for the [spiritual] exercises), being assigned [to certain villages] to +instruct their people. The superior, Father Mateo Sanchez, took charge +of the newer villages, in order to build there churches and establish +stations convenient for the affairs of those Christian churches--as +he did in the village of Lingayon, and in others. On the way, he +baptized in Barugo twenty-five adults, and in Carigara sixty-three. + +At the residence of Ogmuc we had completed a church, one of the +finest in that island, through the diligence and labors of Father +Alonso Rodriguez, who spent a long time there. Father Francisco de +Enzinas went to that residence, and baptized one hundred and two +persons; of these eighty-one were adults, and among them some old +men. These last asked for baptism, as it seemed, with reason, saying +that they were already at the gates of death, and they ought to be +most favored since they were most needy. They asked questions about +the life eternal; and while the father was explaining to them the +resurrection of the body he was aided, by a man recently baptized, +with the simile of the serpent, which sheds and then renews its skin, +and with other comparisons of that sort. On his road the same father +visited a little village, called Baibai, and baptized there ninety +persons, of whom eighty-seven were adults. + +Father Alonso Rodriguez held another mission in a little village called +Ugyao, where he baptized twenty-eight persons, among whom was the wife +of the chief of the village; she was afterward an instrument for the +conversion of many. He also sojourned in a village called Leite, whence +he writes a letter to the father-visitor, which runs as follows: "The +lord bishop was greatly consoled at the aspect of this village. The +Indians seemed to him very tractable, and submissive to the things +of our holy faith. They are continually in the church, morning and +evening, frequenting the services to such an extent that the time I +spent there seemed like a jubilee. I noticed among the chiefs much zeal +in bringing me pagans that I might baptize them. During this visit and +the next that I made there, I baptized one hundred and thirty-seven +persons, who were children and old people. I was in Alangalang and was +much pleased with the people there; indeed, everything in that island +seemed to me to be from heaven. I cannot sufficiently thank our Lord +for the signal favor that He has granted me in bringing me to this +land, and employing me in this Catholic ministry--of which I feel +myself most unworthy, often acknowledging this before our Lord, with +tears and humiliation. I regard it as most lavish pay for many faithful +services that our Lord should consent to employ one in these missions, +and that one may behold His mercy toward these new Christians. I have +just visited the people of Ugyao, and to live among them, enjoying +the mercies which God conters upon them, seems to me like Paradise." + +Such is the father's general account; I will illustrate the details +by only two instances. While a father was sojourning in one of those +seacoast villages, there arrived in a little boat a solitary Indian, +to the astonishment of all, as he had neither feet nor hands. But +God and his good angel aided him to steer the boat, and so he +reached that place where the father was, and urgently asked him +for baptism. The reason for this was, that he had heard a Spaniard +say that those who were not Christians went to hell. The father +baptized him with great satisfaction, and gave praises to our Lord +that He had preserved this man on the sea, and had guided that little +vessel and a man who was alone, and bereft of hands and feet. There +were some persons--especially a Spaniard in whose charge he was--who +earnestly desired that a certain Indian should become a Christian. This +Spaniard sought to convert him by arguments and inducements, and by +other efforts; but apparently he became steadily more hardened. At +that time one of our brethren chanced (although it was not without +divine Providence) to speak to him of the things of heaven; and all +at once that soul turned in earnest toward our Lord. At his baptism +the Spaniard acted as his godfather, and was much gratified at seeing +his pious desire fulfilled. + +Great benefits have resulted from the schools and the education of +the children; for these pupils are, in their homes, teachers to their +own parents, and in the villages through which they are scattered +they arouse the people to devotion. A young boy, one of the singers +in the church, thus replied to a Spaniard who communicated to him his +evil desires, in order that the youth might help him to attain them: +"Sir, I know of an excellent remedy for this temptation which thou +art suffering. Do thou repeat a rosary to the Virgin Mary, and I +will say another in thy behalf; thus thou wilt drive away these evil +thoughts." Thus he who should by right have been the teacher was +himself instructed by this new Christian. + + + +Other events in the same residence of Alangalang and in +Carigara. Chapter LXXV. + + +When a certain father was setting out from one of the villages that +he had been visiting, in order to return to the chief town [of the +mission], an incident befell him which the father himself relates, +in a letter which is in part as follows: "In this village there was +a sick man, an infidel, whom the father had visited, and provided +with someone to instruct and catechize him for holy baptism. As the +father thought that the malady was making but slow progress, he left +the sick man thus. But God, who chose to comfort that soul so desirous +for its salvation, caused such a change in the weather that, although +the sky was serene and clear when they went to visit the sick man, +a rainstorm suddenly arose, so violent that it seemed as if our Lord +were constraining the father (as he did the glorious St. Benedict) +to halt and abandon his journey in order that that soul might enter +by the true way into heaven. With this he began to instruct the sick +man very slowly; and, having taught him what was sufficient, gave +him holy baptism, to the great consolation and joy of both. At once +the rainstorm ceased, and the sky became so clear that the father, +leaving that poor man much consoled--or, more correctly, rich in +celestial gifts--made his journey very comfortably. A few days having +passed without his making any inquiry about the sick man, an Indian +came to the father, and said to him: 'Father, that Indian whom thou +didst baptize, coming hither, our Lord has taken.' + +"During Lent and Holy Week they performed their penances with +great devotion, shedding their blood with such fervor that it became +necessary to restrain them. So strong and ardent was their desire to do +penance that those who could not procure woolen shirts would not go in +the procession, waiting for those garments already stained with blood, +in order that they might bathe these anew with their own. Nor was +there less fervor among the children, who sought permission [to take +the discipline], even at a very tender age, and became disconsolate +indeed if it were denied them. These new Christians practiced another +sort of penance during the last two weeks of Lent, which caused great +edification. In the early evening they went out, clad in their woolen +shirts; their hands extended in the form of a cross, were bound to a +piece of wood; and from each hand hung a very heavy stone. In this +manner they went about the village, halting finally at the church +whence they had set out. There they remained a long time on their +knees, offering their penance to God our Lord. The children had +practiced this penance before; for during the Shrovetide festival +(at which time there are so many disorders among our Christians of +long standing) they formed themselves in pairs, and went forth with +great devotion, having their hands extended, in the form of a cross, +on a piece of wood, with heavy stones hanging at each side. For this +purpose one child bound the other, accompanying him until he returned +to the door of the church; there, unfastening the other's bonds, he +himself took the stick and stones, and thus they again went forth, +and he who had first borne the stones now accompanied the other. Thus +did each one acquit his obligation to the other, with more devotion +and understanding than the Shrovetide season demands from persons +of greater age, judgment, and obligations. In this way does our Lord +bestow upon them His mercy--as happened to a young boy, whose story, +as it is very attractive, I am unwilling to omit. There was a child, +about five or six years old, who was suffering from a disease of +the eyes; the little one in his pain went to a father, to whom he +tenderly made his plaint. The father, inasmuch as a few days before +he had taught the child the _Ave Maria_, bade him enter the church, +and on his knees to say that prayer and offer it to the most blessed +Virgin, our Lady. The child did thus, and when his prayer was concluded +went out from the church, and began to play contentedly with the other +children of his age. The father, perceiving him so merry with the rest, +called to him and asked him if he were well. He answered that as soon +as he had said the _Ave Maria_ to our Lady, the pain left him and he +became well." + +Among the occasions when Ours have gone to make excursions into +the country, and to despoil the enemy of his former possessions, +there is one which Father Mateo Sanchez describes in a letter to the +father vice-provincial, as follows: "The voyage of the fathers who +were sailing for Ogmuc and Sebu proved to be unfortunate; for they +suffered many hardships through contrary winds, being finally driven +into a small bay, where they remained as long as their provisions +lasted. When these were consumed, they determined, as the weather +remained unfavorable, to return to Carigara. The two of us who remained +had made, in the meantime, some important visits, especially in Tunga, +where the village was in great excitement on account of some murders +among the Indian chiefs. It pleased our Lord that our fathers should +begin to calm and soothe the respective factions, and reconcile their +differences, and establish friendly relations between them. Although +this was not accomplished at once, the affair made gradual progress +toward settlement; and even the murderers came to our fathers for +protection, so that through our agency, peace might be restored and +established. This affair was one of the greatest importance, for the +island [of Leyte] was well-nigh in a state of insurrection, and overrun +by bandits. Our Lord was pleased that by means of the gentleness +and love with which we approached them, this condition of affairs +should pass away like smoke, and the bandits be dispersed. There were +twelve criminals, who, on account of the various murders that they had +committed, were roaming in bands through the mountains and highways, +sheltering the slaves and fugitives who joined them, as well as base +women and notorious witches--who accompanied them either through love +for evil, or in fear of punishment for their own heinous crimes. All +these people have been reclaimed, and have come to our fathers--not +only the men, but the women--asking for protection, pardon, and +penance. Only one has failed to come, and he was the beginning and, +as it were, the source of all this disturbance; but I hope that God, +in His great mercy, will bring in this man. In truth, it will be +very difficult for him to effect a reconciliation with the parties +concerned and obtain a pardon, on account of their rank and wealth; +for the murdered man (whose name was Humbas) was one of the most +noted and valiant Indians in the island, and always had been, and +was at the time, governor of the village of Ogyao [_sic_]. But since +his sons were all Christians, and the eldest, Don Philipe Tipon, +is an excellent man, greatly attached to us, and well instructed, +and informed in the Christian religion, I promise myself that it will +not be very difficult to obtain from him a pardon for this man, and +reconcile them, and settle this affair as we have desired and sought +for the greater glory of God." Thus writes Father Mateo Sanchez. [21] + + + + +The mission in Panamao. Chapter LXXVI. + + +Panamao [22] is one of the islands which lie adjacent to Leite, +on its northern side, and is almost a continuation of the latter, +since they are separated only by a strait so narrow that a ship can +scarcely pass through it. As it contains a great abundance of trees, +it is well adapted for shipbuilding, as are many others of these +islands. On this account workmen were building there, in December +of the year one thousand six hundred and one, the ship in which I +departed from those islands, early in July of the year one thousand +six hundred and two. As many Spaniards, Indians, and other peoples had +gathered there for this work of construction, they furnished sufficient +occupation to Father Francisco Vicente of our Society, who came from +Carigara, or Alangalang, to visit them and provide for them spiritual +consolation. The father arrived there at a juncture when our Lord had +undertaken to prepare the hearts of all those people. They were indeed +prepared, as by the Divine hand, by an occurrence which affrighted +and horrified them. There was a Spanish speaking negro who entered +the service of the captain there, and was accompanied by his wife. It +became necessary for him to go away, to procure some articles necessary +to the progress of the work. Returning one night, he found his wife +with another man, and, maddened by jealousy, he killed the adulterer +with a lance and wounded the woman, leaving her for dead. This was +a deplorable occurrence, for the murdered man was a youth of comely +parts and beloved by all; and to see him thus slain--a reputable +man, without confession, and in such circumstances, by the hand of a +negro--was sufficient to lead all to do penance. For assistance in +this, it was necessary for Father Francisco Vicente to proceed to +Panamao; and he, finding the harvest ready, was soon reaping, with +his sermons, discourses, and confessions, the now ripened grain--as +that father reports in one of his letters, which runs as follows: +"I reached Panamao, on Saturday before the last Sunday of Advent, and +we were welcomed by the captain with much affection and kindness. It +is a large population which has been gathered there, of both Indians +and Spaniards, and among them God our Lord gave us a goodly harvest +of souls. On arriving there I sought to speak to them and show them +my affection. At the outset, I undertook to have a church built; +and this was done so that we said mass on the following day. I also +preached to them on matters relating to sin, explaining to them its +hideous and injurious nature--especially by recalling to their minds +that recent example or sermon which our Lord had preached to them a +short time before. They were all deeply moved, and resolved to ask me +for confession and the cure for their souls. In order that so rich a +prize should not be lost, I labored assiduously, preaching now to the +Spaniards, now to the Indians. On that Sunday I preached three sermons, +and tried, moreover, by special discourses to attract the headmen and +chiefs, explaining to them how they ought to make confession. When +they understood that I must go immediately after the first day of +Easter, they entreated me to remain, if only until the third day, +in order that they might make their confessions as they should. I +consented to this; and from that hour, all the people, Spaniards as +well as Indians, began to consecrate themselves with such devotion as +to make me ashamed. I did not lose this opportunity--now encouraging +and consoling them, now removing their difficulties, now instructing +them; and striving most heartily to assist them. The confessions began +before dawn, about four o'clock in the morning; and the people came +with general confessions for a whole life or for many years, uttering +them with tears and sobs. Indeed, it was necessary to loosen the reins +and encourage them, for it was not necessary to seek, as is usually +done, incentives to contrition and grief. During this mission some of +the Spaniards were obliged to go away to another islet; some of them, +in order not to lose this opportunity, hastened to confess, making up +for the shortness of the time allowed them by their great devotion; +others, who were deprived of even this satisfaction, deferred their +confessions until my return, to their own great sorrow and with holy +envy for those who remained. In truth, God knows best what went on in +those souls: what I can say is, that I have never seen such tears, or +conversions so sincere. There were persons who spent entire nights in +weeping, with the crucifix in their hands. During the Easter season +they were so withdrawn from worldly concerns that it seemed to be +Holy Friday; and they did not leave their houses except to go to +mass or to confer with me about the welfare of their souls. In their +silence and downcast looks, and the grief which they felt within, +they gave evidence of the mercies which our Lord had showed them, and +the light which He was bestowing upon them, as they went from and to +their houses. I experienced a thousand scruples in regard to calming +and satisfying their consciences; but I gave a thousand thanks to God +our Lord for having brought me to that place for the great good of so +many souls. Certain persons assured me that they had never before seen +the like. We continued to hear the confessions, so that they might be +better prepared for Easter. Certainly, had I to purchase by dint of +toil those moments of consolation, when I was administering to each +one the sacrament of communion and seemed to read his very heart, +a thousand journeys from Espana were little to give for that. I was +to go on the fourth day of Easter, but that was impossible, for with +earnest solicitations they entreated me to remain--and some, moreover, +had not finished their confessions; it was therefore necessary to +wait until Sunday. On that day we effected a reconciliation between +the murderer and the adulteress, who embraced and pardoned each other +and made their confession with much devotion. On Monday morning I was +obliged, on account of my departure, to say mass shortly after two +o'clock; and yet the service was not so secret as to prevent them from +attending it, all being present, and manifesting great devotion. With +tears and words they expressed their great regret at my departure, +and made me promise that I would soon return to console them; and +with this I came away, glorifying the Lord. I left, in process of +erection, a little hospital for the sick and poor, which all aided +with charitable offerings and personal attendance. Glory be to our +Lord Jesus Christ, from whom proceed all things." + + + +The death of Father Francisco Almerique, and other events in +Manila. Chapter LXXVII. + + +At the end of that year, one thousand six hundred and one, Father +Francisco Almerique ceased his labors, death claiming him while he +was busily occupied, and full of joy and consolation therein. He +had no illness save that occasioned by his very excessive labors, +which for a period of almost twenty years had been so wasting and +reducing his energies that the coming of hot weather carried him off, +without strength to resist, in five days. At the time of his death +he was engaged in forming villages, some of Indians and others of +blacks. These latter are in Manila called Itas; he had lured them from +a rugged mountain region, and persuaded them to settle in a lovely, +peaceful spot, fertile and pleasant, about two or three leguas from +Antipolo, giving to the new settlement the name of Santiago. First +in Manila, and afterward in the mission of Taitai, he busied himself +with the study of languages and the care of souls, to the very great +satisfaction (as we have already said) of all those who had relations +with him; for, on account of his great humility and gentleness, he +was loved and sought for, followed and obeyed, honored and respected, +and regarded as a saint. He never spared toil when the aid of souls +was concerned, nor did he heed times and seasons; by day and by night, +in rain or the sun's heat, and both far and near, forgetful of himself +and his health, he indefatigably rendered his services to whomsoever +called him. His most important occupation was to bring the people down +from the mountains and thinly settled districts, drawing them by cords +of love and gentleness. Such was his grace in this that as we have +said, on more than one occasion entire villages would come to him; +and, leaving to the care of others those whom he had already won, +he devoted himself to winning and inviting other and new souls. Not +a feast day or Sunday passed when he did not preach a sermon; and +often he said mass twice and delivered two sermons, in two different +villages. Inasmuch as those people usually had recourse to the father +with all their affairs, it always happened at the end of mass that he +remained to answer and console his Indians, with untiring patience, +without touching food until past midday, or even two or three hours +later. His soul went out toward some one of those poor creatures, +and the meaner the Indian, the greater was his love. In this exercise +and occupation, God our Lord communicated with him most familiarly +and affectionately, the father holding Him ever before his mind by +frequent and fervent prayer. This power he acquired in so high a +degree that those who were in close intercourse with him affirm, in +the words of the glorious St. Dionysus, that, _erat divina patiens_; +and it called forth our admiration to behold in him the gift of prayer +so lofty and sublime, united to a power of action so incessant and +effective. In harmony with these characteristics was his peaceful +and easy death, joyful and full of heavenly consolation. He died on +the first Sunday of Advent at the college of Manila (whither I had +taken him for medical treatment), after having received the most +blessed sacraments with great devotion. His death occurred just as +all the churches were ringing for the _Ave Marias_, on the second +of December, 1601, the day of the glorious departure of the blessed +father Francisco Xavier, whose true follower he ever was. His death +was deeply felt and lamented, and his obsequies were celebrated with +tears and solemn ceremonies; his body was deposited in the main chapel +of our church at Manila, before the steps of the great altar. + +At that time we were still pursuing our occupations in Manila among our +neighbors, where our Lord was continually forwarding the progress of +all our ministries, not only in those that pertained to divine worship +and the salvation of souls, but in those which concerned learning and +letters. To the Latin studies was added a course in philosophy, which +was begun in that year by Father Miguel Gomez, who had previously +taught it in Gandia. At the first lecture, which served to open +the studies of that year and which was itself grave and learned, +there assembled a goodly number of students, clergy, religious, and +persons of other ranks; and dignity was lent to the occasion by the +presence of the governor, president, and magistrates. The course was +continued, with a membership of many students, and with the theses, +conferences and other exercises which are customary to that branch of +learning, wherein the students gave excellent proof of their talent and +ability. The two congregations of La Anunciata (composed respectively +of students and laymen), who continually emulated each other in their +devotion and service to the most blessed Virgin, celebrated together +the feast of the Annunciation with great splendor and dignity, and +much devotion on their part and that of the people. The youth of +this city were in the utmost need of a seminary where they could +be withdrawn from the world and reared in virtue. Although this +had been desired for years, it had been impossible to carry out +the plan until the preceding year [_i.e._, 1600], when, with the +divine favor, a seminary was begun, which chose as its patron the +glorious St. Joseph. The institution was placed in charge of two +members of the Society, a father and a brother. On the day of its +foundation were assembled the royal Audiencia, [those who direct] +the vacant Bishopric, the religious orders, and many other people +of rank in this city. The collegians were clad in mantles of husi, +which is a thin fabric like picote, [23] inclining toward violet, +with insignia of red braid extending to the feet. They went out at +the gate of the college to receive the royal Audiencia, and soon +afterward in the chapel the archdeacon of Manila said the first mass, +the acolytes being two of the above-mentioned collegians, Don Pedro +Tello de Guzman, nephew of the president, and Don Antonio de Morga, +son of Don Antonio de Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia. At +the conclusion of mass, two other collegians made harangues, giving +an account of what was intended in the foundation of this college; +wherewith they were well satisfied, and pleased with the work which +the Society had undertaken. The collegians at the foundation of the +institution were thirteen. That number has continued to increase until +it has reached twenty, as at present, which is not an insignificant +beginning in so new a land. Many people came to visit the college and +its apartments, admiring its good order and plan, and praising this +work, so serviceable to God our Lord, and to this commonwealth. They +attend with punctuality the devotional exercises and the divisions +of time according to the arrangements of the college, and thus derive +profit in letters and in virtue. The Indians, too, repair to Ours, as +they would to parents; and with the confidence of faithful children +they make known their doubts and give account of their affairs. For +instance: An Indian, on the day of the birth of Christ our Lord, +was in his house contentedly repairing his boat and preparing to +make a voyage the next day for matters concerning his occupation, +when a certain person chanced to pass his house, who said to him: +"How now? dost thou dare to work on Christmas day?" The other answered +him, in jest: "Oh, yes! I have permission from Jesus Christ to do +this." But his chastisement was not long delayed, for just when he +was making ready for his voyage on that very day a violent and mortal +illness attacked his family, sparing neither wife nor children, and +laying him at the door of death, so that for three months he could +not leave his house. He came to us in remorse, and acknowledging his +guilt; and after telling us these things asked for advice, made his +confession, and prepared for communion, through the efficacy of which +he recovered his health, and was able to accomplish those things which, +on account of his sins, our Lord had prevented him from doing. + +While one of our brethren was sojourning in an Indian village far from +that city [of Manila], two incidents occurred whereby was seen and +manifested the supernatural virtue of the holy _Agnus Dei_, so famed +for many other great miracles. Two women were quarreling, as is usual +among barbarians and vulgar people. One of them was a famous witch, +and in anger and passion she threatened the other woman with summary +vengeance through her charms. She went home; and the poor Indian +woman, entering her own house without fear of evil, was seized with +a violent trembling throughout her body. In this paroxysm she arose +from her husband's side while they were eating their food and fought +desperately to throw herself down from the window. The husband ran, +in his consternation, to save her, and called loudly to his neighbors +for help. Three persons ran to her, and were hardly able to hold +her. Our brother sent to ascertain what this disturbance meant, and +when he learned what had happened he called the husband and gave him +a little piece of the _Agnus_ in a reliquary, exhorting him at the +same time to have faith, and promising that his wife would soon be +healed. Then, upon his knees, the brother prayed our Lord to deign +to grant his request, for the greater strengthening of the faith +of those new Christians. The husband went home with the _Agnus_, +and no sooner had he applied it to his wife, than she was freed of +the trembling and terror and remained quite calm. This occurrence +soon became public, and another Indian, who had been bewitched by +the same Indian woman, on seeing this marvel was convinced that God +granted health to those who invoked Him; accordingly, he asked for +the same relic, and the result was conformable to his faith. Thus the +people were confirmed in their faith, and grateful for the benefits +received from the bounteous hand of the Lord. + + + +The number of villages in the mission of Taitai, and the events +therein of the year MDCII. Chapter LXXVIII. + + +The villages of San Iuan del Monte, Antipolo, and others, were +instructed by Father Francisco Almerique and Father Tomas de Montoya, +with the help of another priest who desired to enter our Society, and +who busied himself in assisting us in this work to the great profit of +the Indians, of whose language he had an excellent knowledge. These +fathers were joined by Father Angelo Armano, who had gone hence two +years before and had been detained in Manila compiling the history of +the saints, whose relics, as we have said, had been deposited in our +Church--a work which this father made very learned and eloquent. Having +completed this task, he went to Antipolo, where he began the study +and practice of the native language, with admirable results in all of +those villages. On the death of Father Almerique (who was stronger +than the rest), the burden of work so exhausted the others that, +falling sick one by one, the entire load fell upon Father Angelo, who +bravely sustained it for several months. This mission contains three +principal villages, all of which are capitals of their respective +districts, other villages being annexed and subordinate to each of +these three. Each one of these villages requires and needs at least two +priests with their usual assistants, in order to give adequate care to +so many souls. San Iuan del Monte, which is a village of about four +hundred inhabitants, has near it Dalig and Angono. Antipolo contains +seven hundred houses, and has the two villages of Santa Cruz and +Maihai. Santiago was then being settled, with more than four hundred +inhabitants, and had in its vicinity other villages, especially two +inhabited by blacks, or Itas. All those people were in charge of +Father Angelo Armano, who, during Lent of the year one thousand six +hundred and two, maintained them in great devotion and fervor without +their losing sight, on that account, of their devotional exercises +throughout that season, especially in Holy Week. During the latter +period, the divine services were celebrated with great solemnity, and +there were processions of blood in the two churches of San Juan and +Antipolo, with a goodly number of confessions and communions. Another +father--a middle-aged man, who knew the language--came from Manila to +help in this work, with orders not to remain more than one week, on +account of the need of priests in Manila. However, on the second day +of Easter, the rector of Manila came with two other fathers who knew +the language, on their vacation, very opportunely for concluding the +confessions and communions in those villages. During the month that +we spent there, there was a notable concourse of people who came to +confess, and great was the number of communions. At that time there +occurred to Father Pedro de Segura, who was one of those who had gone +thither from Manila, an extraordinary incident in connection with +the image of our blessed Father Ignatius. One morning, at daybreak, +he was summoned in behalf of a woman who lay in a critical condition +from childbirth, and wished to confess with Father Segura. While +the father was dressing himself to go, he sent for an image of our +father, to whom he professed great devotion--which had been increased +by the outcome of the shipwrecks which we have described, in which he +himself had been present. There was some delay in bringing the image, +so that the father reached the sick woman first; and after he had +confessed her the image arrived. The poor woman was much exhausted, +and, according to the midwife, in extreme danger. The infant was dead, +and as it lay obliquely in the womb, the mother could not obtain +relief by expelling it. The father exhorted her to have confidence in +our Lord, and placing the image before her, left her calling loudly +to heaven in her anguish. A second time they called him to hear +her confession; and the father, having done so and encouraged her +as before, went away. As he was descending from the house the woman +expelled the infant, to the wonder of all at seeing the dead child, +and the mother living and free from so great a peril. + +The people of Antipolo celebrated with great solemnity the feast of +the most blessed sacrament, which was attended by the people of our +mission as well as of many others. A dialogue in the Tagal language +was spoken by the children of the seminary with much cleverness and +indication of ability, and to the satisfaction and pleasure of the +hearers. This seminary is making great progress in both spiritual and +temporal affairs. It is aided by the Indians, with generous alms for +its maintenance; and (what is of even greater value) they act with +such harmony and edification that they may well serve as an example +to the Spanish youth. Some of these pupils are of signal virtue, +and our Lord shows them many favors. Every day they go to hear mass, +or, in case there is no one to say it, to commend themselves to our +Lord in the church. They regularly go from their houses reciting +aloud the Christian doctrine; and, upon reaching the church, they +conclude it upon their knees. They celebrate the feasts with much +solemn pomp and music (for the seminary can furnish good music); +and they practice there reading and writing, and other honorable +and virtuous exercises. The hospital is making excellent progress, +and the Confraternities assign each week those of their members who +are to care for the service of the sick, doing this, as I have said, +with great alacrity and devotion. + + + +The new residence of Silan and its Christians. Chapter LXXIX. + + +This new field of Silan was assigned to the Society of Jesus from +the year 1599, as the people of those villages, among whom were some +Christians, were without a priest to minister to them, although they +were but a day's journey from Manila. [24] There are five villages, +which contain about one thousand five hundred inhabitants, besides the +many other people who, as is their custom, are separated and dispersed +through the country districts, in their cultivated lands. These +villages are in the tingues, as they call them, of Cavite, among some +mountains; the climate there is very moderate, and in no season of +the year is there excessive heat--rather, the mountains render it +cooler. The people are simple, tractable, and well inclined toward +all good things. The first members of the Society who went expressly +to instruct them and to settle there were Father Gregorio Lopez +and Father Pedro de Segura, who went in the year 1601. In previous +months and years some of us had gone there for a short time, as we +had visited other places, on a mission or by way of recreation; and +by the friendly reception that they gave us and the results which, +by Divine grace, were accomplished among them, we were encouraged +to establish among them in that year a regular mission, stationing +there the two fathers whom I have mentioned. Through the teaching +and good example of those fathers they abandoned some of their evil +practices, and applied themselves to the Christian customs with good +will and pleasure; and many (for there were no Christians among them) +received holy baptism. + +Not only do they attend their own mass and sermon on Sundays +(never missing one of these services), but on Saturdays they go +to hear that in honor of our Lady, which is said for them with as +much solemnity as that on Sundays. They were greatly encouraged in +the observance of these masses and feasts by the following incident +which occurred at that time: A woman, who was very eager to finish +the weaving of a piece of cloth, sat down at her loom one Sunday to +work thereon; afterward, upon returning to her task, she found the +cloth all eaten away by moths. She herself made this known, with +the full knowledge that it had been a chastisement and penalty for +that offense of hers. To assist us in instructing the large number +of catechumens in those villages, and in teaching the doctrine to +the innumerable children who assemble at the mission from all the +settlements, our Lord provided for that work an Indian blind in body +but truly enlightened of soul, who, with great faith, charity, and +love for the things of God, instructs those who wish to be baptized, +catechizing them morning and night in the church. He is so expert in +the catechism that none of us could excel him therein. Consequently, +they come from his charge marvelously well instructed; and, although +he is blind, he is so watchful over the large number of catechumens in +his charge, that he notes if even one person is absent, and reports +it to the father. The first time when he received communion, which +was on the feast of our Lady, he displayed such profound respect and +reverence that his body trembled while receiving the holy sacrament, +and so great devotion that the sight of it inspired that emotion in +others. This man deserves all the greater credit for what he is doing, +for having gone from one extreme to another; formerly he was one of +the heathen priests, whom they here call catalones, and now he has +become a preacher of our holy faith. This he relates, while uttering +fervent thanks and exalting the great favors and benefits which God +has bestowed upon him. + +The increase of this mission has been very great, although it requires +arduous labors on the part of the fathers, who have been obliged to +go forth among mountains and rugged cliffs seemingly inaccessible; +for they go to seek the people in their huts and grain-fields, where +it seems as if the devil, in order to deprive them of instruction and +gospel truth, had persuaded them to seek wild and rugged places which +can be reached only with the greatest difficulty. In this work the +fathers have spent the greater part of their time, and have gathered +into settlements (to the consolation of their own souls) a great +number of people, of all classes. Old persons who seemed the living +and fearful images of death, men, women, and tender little children, +of all ages, have in this way become acquainted with gospel truth; +and as they see that we act disinterestedly in all things, even aiding +them in our poverty, they are attracted to us, and soon are ranked +in the number of the faithful. + +The fathers have succored them in their sickness; and during a +pestilence which was prevalent in one of the places visited from this +mission, they went there twice to confess the people, although the +distance was great, and the roads so difficult that in the going to +that one place one must go through nine or ten precipitous ravines, +to pass which, as it was then the rainy season, they must walk +barefoot, the mud in many places being knee-deep. The fathers heard +the confessions of all the sick, some of whom our Lord soon took to +Himself. While returning from this village the father passed through +a little hamlet of Christians not dependent on this mission, which +lay within some very rugged ravines; and among all its people there +was not one who had in all his life made confession. They welcomed +the father with great joy, going more than a quarter of a legua out +of the village to meet him; and when he departed from the village +they accompanied him to a like distance. He heard the confessions +of some, and all were desirous of removing to our mission-village; +they put this desire into execution, at the end of four months, by +breaking up the entire village, and proceeding with their families +to Silan. This and other beneficial results from that residence of +Silan are well described by Father Gregorio Lopez in a letter written +by him for the father-visitor, thus: + +"Early in my stay there, the people told me that in Caibabayan was a +catalona, or priestess; and in order to cut the thread of evil, and to +gain a knowledge of those distant fields and peoples, I went thither, +desiring to act toward them as a father rather than as a judge; and +the Lord, who is the true Father of all, fulfilled my desire. Finding +no present evil, but only the report of past things, I sought to +reestablish the reputation of the person whom they defamed. I found in +one of the most distant fields, an old man about seventy years of age, +who was crippled and had been sick for days. I baptized him, giving +him the name of Ignacio, and invited many others who had not even +been baptized--encouraging in them the desire for so great a good, +helping them to learn what was necessary, to which they commonly give +attention. Word was sent from one to another among those mountains +and plantations, and those people followed me about with tokens of +love and offered to entertain me. Afterward were baptized there many +persons of all ages--children, youths, and old men. A few days ago I +was informed that in the villages of Malabag, Balete, and Dinglas there +were many sick persons who needed help. I set out in the morning after +saying mass, thinking to return in the evening; but when I arrived +there and saw the needy condition of the people, I changed my plan, +for I found in Malabag many sick persons. After I had cared for them +I heard the confessions of many who were infirm and old, and those +who wished to guard against the malady which was attacking many of +them--and perhaps not a few that they might profit, at little cost, +by the presence of the new confessor in their village. I passed on to +Balete and found that it had become a hospital. I went through all the +houses to hear confessions, but could not finish them on that day; so +I continued this task on the following day, and then went to Dinglas, +where I found the same needs. All, both the sick and those in health, +were greatly consoled by my visit; and finally I returned to Silang +in the night, with the fiscal and others, who accompanied me. I had +occasion to make other and shorter trips among the plantations in +the vicinity of Silang, as they contained sick persons who were in +need; I also desired to ascertain what houses and persons were in +those country districts. Moreover, I thus did something to further my +plan of removing them to the village and to have them carry thither +their rice and their little possessions, desiring to accomplish what +your Reverence so desires, and which is so expedient for the proper +instruction of those people. The great activity and solicitude of +the father, who is my companion, was of great value to me in this as +in all other matters; and the coming of the father rector and Father +Diego Sanchez, who assisted us here until Lent, was most valuable, +adding more energy and ability to our forces, and consoling and +encouraging those people with suitable instruction. + +"After Christmas I was summoned back to Manila, but in Lent was sent +again to the village of Silang. At that time I found the mission +greatly increased by the many natives whom the fathers had recently +brought together; they were coming to us each day from other villages +(the entire village of Indan had joined us), all of them very needy, +and almost half of them unbaptized. On the feast of St. Gregory I +baptized twenty-five persons, only one of whom, a sick woman, was of +adult age, and on the feast of the Annunciation twenty-one, of whom +nineteen were adults; at present another goodly number of them are +being prepared. The number of those baptized this year is about two +hundred, and the confessions very numerous; and the number of those +admitted to communion is about fifty, the choicest of whom are members +of the confraternity. We erected our altar of the sepulchre [25] as +skilfully as we were able, and celebrated the offices [appropriate to +the occasion], by the help of which this new people gained new light +upon the services of Holy Week. Those who took the discipline, going +forth in a formal procession, were on Holy Monday, the singers, who did +this by way of preparation; others desired to march on Holy Tuesday, +but, as the day was stormy and the winds violent, I forbade them to +do so. They had their procession on Holy Wednesday; and others, in +greater number, marched on Holy Thursday. Our most important procession +was on Holy Friday, in the evening; two images were carried--one, +a small crucifix (for we had no larger one); the other, an image of +our Lady--while the choir sang the litanies. When this procession +ended, people gathered in sufficient number to form another; this +was caused by the lack of [woolen] tunics, which were removed by +their wearers and lent [to those in the second procession]. In all +the processions except the principal one, the music consisted of the +Christian doctrine, sung by the children as they walked. + +"I must continue the account which in other letters I have written to +your Reverence of the favors which the Lord communicates by means of a +print of our blessed Father Ignatius; for He is continually bestowing +these favors upon those new Christians, on account of their strong +faith in Him. A woman was brought in to us, sick and unable to speak, +and was dying before us without our being able to obtain from her +a word or sign so that we could give her absolution; the statement +of her friends, moreover, that she had asked for confession, was +doubtful. I was therefore anxious and grieved, until I brought her +an image of our blessed father, and I said mass for the sick woman, +and when I returned she was able to speak, and made a good confession; +but utterance again failed her, and she died in peace. + +"When I returned the second time, I was called in haste to visit a +sick woman, great with child, who was suffering violent pains and +torment. We went to see her, and it aroused our compassion to behold +her in convulsions of pain, both she and the infant (which was entering +the ninth month) being in danger of death. I sent for the image of +our blessed father, and then left the sick woman with Diego, our good +blind man, and his wife, who performs the duties of a midwife. So +good service did they render, in conjunction with the intercession +of our blessed Father Ignatius (to whom they were greatly devoted), +that very soon they sent for me to baptize the child, which was born +alive. I baptized it, but it died; and the mother regained her health. + +"On Holy Saturday a young man came to me in alarm, saying that +a demon was trying to choke his sister. I went to her house and +found her suffering from an oppression in her breast and throat, and +distressed by fear. I asked for the image, and when it was brought, +I heard the sick woman's confession; she was at once relieved from +the oppression and anxiety. For her greater consolation I left the +image in order that she might have good company. + +"On the following day, the Lord accorded us a most joyful Easter +Sunday. In the morning there came to me a man, but recently arrived +from Indan, who said that his wife was in a very exhausted condition +from the pains of childbirth. I sent him with a boy to take the +image of our blessed father and carry it to his home. He departed at +once, and when the image was carried into the house his wife brought +forth her child. It seems that the Lord has chosen to confirm this +newly-converted people in their recent coming to Him, and in their +faith. A few days ago, a Bilango came to us in haste to ask for the +image in behalf of a woman who was in childbirth; and as soon as +it was brought to her, she gave birth to a child. In Santiago also +the fiscal, remembering what he had heard about our blessed father, +entreated his aid, as his wife was in a like critical condition, and +her life in great danger. Immediately her infant was born alive, and, +while receiving the water of holy baptism, passed on to the bliss of +eternal light." Thus far I have cited the letter of Father Gregorio +Lopez; he could easily have related therein many other unusual events +and marvelous incidents which occurred among those new believers. He +omitted them probably for the sake of brevity, and because many of +them are quite similar--for which reason I too omit them. But I must +not fail to mention one incident which occurred during the absence of +Father Gregorio Lopez, at which time his companion, Father Pedro de +Segura, remained in Silan. Two Indians came to this father one night, +seeking relief for a woman who was the wife of one and a relative +of the other. She was suffering violent pangs in childbirth, and +was in a most critical state, being unable to expel the child. The +two Indians earnestly entreated the father, in their simplicity, +for some blessed beads. He gave them his own reliquary, and as they +were carrying it away he bethought himself of the image of our blessed +Father Ignatius. Immediately he summoned the fiscal (who is always a +man of mature years and trustworthy character), and gave him the image +to be carried to the sick woman. The Indian woman, when she beheld the +image, took it in her hands with devotion and love, and at the same +moment gave birth to a child as beautiful as an angel, to her own great +joy and the wonder of those who were present. Soon afterward she named +the child, on this account, Maliuag, which signifies "difficult;" and +again, at the baptism, Ignacio, in memory of so signal a favor. The +name which this woman gave her child at its birth gives me occasion +to describe the custom of these people in giving names. + + + +The manner in which names are conferred among the Filipinos. Chapter +LXXX. + + +When a child is born, it is the mother's duty to give it a name; and +whatever appellation she gives it must remain its name. The names +are most often conferred on account of certain circumstances--as, +for example, Maliuag, which means "difficult," because the child's +birth was such; Malacas, which signifies "a man of strength," because +the mother thinks that the child will be strong, or desires that it +be so. At other times they name it, without any symbolism or special +reason, by the first word which occurs to them--as, for example, +Daan, which signifies "road;" Babui, which means "pig;" or Manug, +which signifies "fowl." All persons are called by these names from +birth, without using surnames until they are married. The first-born +son or daughter then gives his or her name to the parents; for until +they die they call the father Ama ni Coan, "father of So-and-so," +and the mother Ina ni Coan, "mother of So-and-so." The names of the +women are distinguished from those of the men by adding "in." Thus, +while the name of a man and of a woman may be practically the same, +that of the man is left intact, and to the woman's is added the +[termination] "in;" for example, Hog (which means "river") being +the name of two persons of different sex, the man is called Hog, +the woman Hoguin. In naming children they use diminutives, just as +we do; but in order not to exceed the limits of my narrative, or +to enter those of grammar, I shall not enumerate these, or the other +appellations more personal, more intimate, or more elegant, which those +people use for nearly all the degrees of relationship. For instance, +_ama_ means "father;" thus the son, in speaking of him to a third +person calls him _ang amaco_, that is, "my father." But the son in +addressing his father directly does not call him _ama_, but _bapa_, +which is a more intimate and affectionate term; nor does he address +his mother as _ina_, but _bai_. On the other hand, the father and +mother in familiar intercourse call their sons, brothers, uncles, +and other near relatives, not by the common appellations of such +relationship, but by others more intimate and personal, which signify +a like connection. This is but another illustration of the fertility, +elegance and courtesy of the Tagal language, which we described in +chapter 16. The children of those natives were reared in such respect +and reverence for the names belonging to their parents that they +never called them by these, whether the parents were living or dead; +they believed, moreover, that if they uttered these names they would +fall dead, or become leprous. + +At first, I was much often annoyed at these superstitions, because, +as I did not know the secret, I would upon occasions of affability +or flattery, or necessity or obligation, inquire of the son for +his father; and, as he gave me no answer, I remained confused and +abashed. But, with the aid of Divine grace, this and other bad +customs and errors were banished and forgotten; and we played a +game--our fathers, and the little children, and even the adults--in +which each one told the name of his father, I also telling them the +name of mine. Not only this, but anyone would name the parents of +another--a thing which they consider a great incivility and insult. + +It is a general custom among all these nations not to have any special +family names, titles, or surnames; using, as I have before said, but +one appellation. Now, besides the Christian name, Juan or Pedro, they +use as a surname that which the mother gives them at birth--although +there are mothers so Christian and civilized that they will not use +this latter name, but prefer that both Christian name and surname be +conferred in baptism; this we often do. The wretched "Don" has filled +both men and women with such vanity that every one of them who has a +tolerably good opinion of himself must place this title before his +name; accordingly, there are even more Dons among them than among +our Spaniards. + + + +The visit which the right reverend bishop of Sebu made to Bohol, +and the fervor and growth of those Christians. Chapter LXXXI. + + +The right reverend bishop of Sebu, in the course of his visits +among his flocks, determined to go for this purpose to the island of +Bohol--which, as we have said, is about eight leguas to the south +of the island of Sebu--taking as his companion Father Francisco +Gonzalez of our Society. We learned of the outcome of this visit +through that father's account of it in one of his letters, as follows: +"I think that your Reverence knows of the visit which his Lordship +made to the island of Bohol; but, as it was my lot to accompany him, +I shall relate to your Reverence, if only in outline, something of +what befell us there. He visited in the island of Bohol eight villages +which are instructed by the fathers of the Society, and confirmed +therein three thousand Christians, spending about twenty days in the +visit. Most remarkable was the fervor which resulted from it, for the +Christians made excellent preparation for receiving the sacrament, +many of them, in all the villages, making their confessions. Besides +this, he had previously trained and examined them, all being assembled +in the church, in the catechism, causing them to repeat aloud the +principal mysteries of our faith. A sermon was preached them wherein +they were exhorted to feel much grief at having offended our Lord. At +the conclusion of the sermon, they all fell upon their knees, and +offered audible acts of contrition and of love to God. They were +next asked if they desired to receive the sacrament of confirmation; +and they answered aloud that they desired it, in order that our Lord +might pardon their sins and strengthen them in the faith. Then, his +Lordship confirmed them, with a short exhortation at the end of the +ceremony, by which they were all greatly consoled and fortified in +the truth of our holy faith. This result was greatly aided by the love +and so paternal affection which the lord bishop manifested to them not +only in the church but in their houses--going to visit the sick, and +confirming them in their very cabins; giving alms, ransoming slaves, +and clothing the poor; and performing many other deeds of mercy. His +Lordship was especially delighted at beholding those new flocks of +his so well instructed, when they were answering the questions on +catechism, which was done in the presence of his Lordship." Such is +the brief account given by the father. + +All these are but flames of that celestial fire which we said had +taken hold of this island, and with which even the little children +are ablaze. Thus in each of those villages nearly two hundred +children assemble every day, uttering praises to the Divine Majesty, +acknowledging His greatness, learning the Christian doctrine, and +imparting it to their parents and elders. The confessions cannot be +enumerated, for they are as many as there are Christians. No one fails +to make his confession during Lent, even though he may have confessed +many times during the year; and with like ardor the other exercises +of piety and devotion are performed. This was especially evident on +Holy Friday of that year, one thousand six hundred and two, during +the adoration of the cross, in which they displayed deep emotion; +they even removed the rings from their fingers and the jewels from +their ears, to make offerings of these. As Father Gabriel Sanchez +has been the usual laborer in that island, I shall here set down +a part of one of his letters in which, with his usual simplicity, +he gives some account of the island and of Christianity therein: +"Our Lord has been well served this year in the island of Bohol, with +the fruits gathered from the conversion of those pagans, for in this +barren waste we have set out a beautiful garden of new plants which our +Lord has planted. Many people have been brought together and induced +to settle in villages, wherein they are instructed. At the time when +I am writing this, we are in a village on the coast, whither there +came down to us yesterday two other villages of the Tinguianes, or +mountaineers, asking us, of their own accord, to allow them to live +here. As an earnest of their desire, they brought as many as forty +children that we might baptize them, which we have done. We value this +all the more because these two villages have up to this time been the +most obstinate and stubborn in all the island: but God has now been +pleased to soften their hearts. May He be blessed and praised that, +if there had been fathers for all of them, the whole island would +now be converted; for, although there are actually in this mission no +more than four thousand Christians, its people are so well disposed +that on the day when they shall have someone to teach and baptize +them they will all be converted. The very villages that we are unable +to teach come frequently to ask that we will go to instruct them and +unite them into one, and give them baptism. But, as so few fathers +have been in this island, we have not been able to succor them; and so +they remain until God shall send them a reenforcement of fathers--of +whom they themselves are so desirous that they have already built +us houses and churches, before a priest has been brought to them, +or even mentioned, to my knowledge. May God, whose plantation this +is, send workmen hither, since there is harvest enough in all this +island; and when they shall undertake to extend their labors further, +there are, near by, some little islands in extreme spiritual want, and +entirely deprived of any human succor for their conversion. Therein +might be held some missions most acceptable to God, all the more so +because those people are so forsaken; for, as those are insignificant +little islands, no one cares for them. Those people are on the road +to hell, if we do not succor them; and we do not aid them for lack of +ministers. One of these islands is called Isla de Fuegos ["Island of +Fires"], and is a half day's sail distant from here. Several times +its chiefs have come to ask that we would go thither. The people +already know how to recite the Christian doctrine, and yet not one has +been baptized there (although they are calling for that sacrament), +for there is no one who may distribute the bread, and thus they are +perishing of spiritual hunger. + +"But, to return to our island, there is great cause to glorify our +Lord in seeing the esteem with which its people regard the Christian +religion, and the fervor with which they one and all fulfil their +obligations as Christians, in confession and communion, and in their +pious and general affection toward the things of God. A week ago, +there was in our house a young man, an infidel, who had come from +another village to see us. He was laughing and enjoying himself with +the others, although quite modestly; yet another lad who was there, a +Christian, said to him: 'How is it that thou, who art not a Christian, +dost laugh and sport?'" Thus writes the father; he adds that the new +baptisms during this past year amounted to four hundred. The number +was no larger, because they did not dare to baptize converts in other +villages until those people could have fathers to maintain them in +the faith and in Christian customs. + + + +The growth of Christianity in Catubig. Chapter LXXXII. + + +The same want of gospel ministers is felt by other residences (as +is plainly evident from what I have thus far said), but especially +in the island of Samar, where for that very reason the exercises of +Holy Week and Easter were celebrated this year in one village; and +there were many confessions and communions together with the feast and +procession of the institution of the most blessed sacrament--both of +which were conducted with devotion and grandeur, although with some +inconvenience, as they were not celebrated at their proper time. + +Nevertheless, on account of the extraordinary and crying needs +of Catubig--which, as we have said, is in the eastern part of the +island of Ibabao, bathed by the South Sea--Father Juan de Torres, +accompanied by a brother, was constrained to go thither from Tinagon +at the end of the year one thousand six hundred and one. For a year +and a half no one had visited Catubig, because there was no one who +could go there; and now, although this caused a lack of service at +other stations, the greater needs of Catubig compelled us to leave them +[for the present]. Well did our Lord exercise them in their journey, +so that upon arriving they might enjoy the pleasant fruit which +they afterward gathered; for besides the rivers and swamps--through +which they journeyed with the water, in some places, and the mud in +others, to their knees--the slopes and mountains were so rugged that +it was impossible to advance except by using their hands as feet. But +consolation was not long delayed; even before they reached Catubig, on +their very way, our Lord aided them, as the father himself describes +in the following words: "One night three villages met together, +rejoicing at our arrival, and, thinking that it would be appropriate, +I told them about the things of the other life, the immortality of the +soul, and the existence of God; and of the reward for Christians, and +the torment for those who are not. I am sure, my father, that among +the many people who were there you would not think that there was +one who had not faith, to judge by what they said and the questions +they asked, and the way in which they encouraged one another to +receive baptism. They soon made arrangements to build a large church, +and gave me a list of all the inhabitants, including the children, +of whom there are an infinite number. God knows what my grief was +at seeing them in the arms of their mothers; for they appeared to +me like unto the ripe fruit hanging from the bough, which, if the +gardener neglects it, is either stolen or decays, and thus is lost." + +Refreshed by such consolation, the father continued on his +way, crossing the entire island of Ibabao, as far as the river +of Catubig, where he found the whole people busied in their +grain-fields. Accordingly, he went farther to some small islands lying +adjacent in the broad sea, where the people had already gathered in +their rice crops. In one of them, called Batac, he made a short stay, +and the people from all the neighboring islands assembled there to +celebrate the Christmas festivals, and attend to the things pertaining +to their salvation. When they were about to return home, advice was +given to the women in other matters relating to civilized ways and to +modesty--especially in regard to their mode of dress, which, on account +of their being a rough and barbarous people, was not quite decent; +but after they were taught, they adorned and covered themselves more +modestly. They had built, in anticipation of the father's coming, a +church and house and even a confessional for the women. After a goodly +number had been made Christians, the father returned to the principal +station, which is Catubig; and at his departure these poor creatures +besought him earnestly not to leave them so forsaken, now that he +was going away, but to teach some Christian the form and ceremony, +so that he could baptize them in cases of necessity. The father did +so, and left them with much grief in his heart. But these pains, +which in truth are more intense than those of childbirth, we often +suffer there, since the harvest is so great and the laborers are so +few. So many were the baptisms in Catubig that the father, fearing +lest the blessed oil and chrism would give out, carried the water of +baptism from place to place, in order not to prepare it so often. [26] + +Among the notable conversions in this mission, which amounted to seven +hundred, the most distinguished and remarkable of all was that of a +chief some sixty years of age, and highly esteemed in that region. In +this case much time was needful to extricate his conscience from the +former robberies and tyrannies which we have already described. He +gave their freedom to many slaves, and, in order to settle other +obligations which were not defined by the church, presented to us a +handsome house, so large that, together with the church (a building +about fifteen brazas long), it serves us a commodious habitation for +our fathers who are there; and finally, after a thorough preparation, +baptism was conferred upon him. He was governor of the village, +and yet as a catechumen he attended each morning the sermons for the +children. There he encouraged all, both children and adults, exhorted +them to adopt Christian customs, and rebuked in them anything that +seemed to be opposed to these. When the father reminded him that all +his household should be baptized, he attended to that matter with +surprising energy. He himself conducted them to the church, and with +efficacious arguments persuaded them to be baptized. In this way the +greater number of his household were baptized, the rest being deferred. + +Another conversion no less notable also occurred, which I shall +relate. An Indian chief from another island happened to pass through +a village where the father was sojourning. He went with the press of +people to hear the father speak, and our holy faith so convinced him +that he did not for a moment leave our fathers, asking them questions +about his salvation. So pleased was he with the instruction that they +gave him, that without saying a word, keeping to himself this new +secret of his vocation, he went back to his island, where he became +a new preacher. He persuaded his wife, children, and relatives, +actually carrying away all his kindred; and went to the place where +the father was, in order to enjoy the light of the gospel, which had +not shone on that country of his. He went in quest of the father, +and carried him as a gift a turtle, the shell of which required two +men to lift it--so monstrous in size are the turtles in those seas; +some of them I have seen and eaten. This chief often made known to +the father the state of his soul, and sought spiritual aid in very +exact and clear terms; and if he forgot anything therein, he told +of it in the same maner on the next day. His preparation continued +thus until, having given full evidences of his faith, he entered with +all his household--wife, children, sons-in-law, and servants, in all, +twelve persons--through the gate of holy baptism, into the flock of the +great shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ our Lord. He was a man of great +valor, as will be seen from an incident which we learned concerning +him. A large crocodile often came to the neighborhood of his house; +and the Indian, angered thereat, determined to punish the hardihood of +the beast. For this purpose, abandoning the usual means of catching +those animals (that is, with a large hook), blinded by rage and +trusting to his own valor, he assembled as many as twenty persons; +and while they stood watching him, he leaped alone into the water, +and swam toward the beast with a knife in his hand. Then, diving +beneath the crocodile, like another valiant Eleazar, [27] he gave it +several knife-thrusts in the belly and killed the beast. And, as a +greater trophy, he was not, as was Eleazar, buried in his triumph, +[28] but remained alive and sound--without a wound, or any lesion +beyond two insignificant scratches, one on his forehead, and one +on his leg. At this instant his followers hastened toward him, and +dragging the beast to the shore, were hardly able, with the strength +of all, to land it, although it was floating on the water. They saw +(and told me of it) a monster of incredible size, the largest that +I have ever seen there, or heard of. The animal measured, from its +shoulders to the tip of its tail, five brazas, [29] and from the +shoulders to the mouth one braza--making its total length six brazas; +and across the breast alone measured a full braza. + +There was another crocodile, smaller than this one, which inflicted +loss on the household of a reputable Spaniard of Manila; and this +man came therefore to our house to entreat that Ours would provide +him with a father who would make his Indians Christians. The affair +occurred thus: This Spaniard was in his encomienda, where his house +stood on the shore of a river much infested by these beasts. While he +was dining one day, a youth, one of those who waited on the table, +went to the river to wash some plates; but he did not finish his +task, for a crocodile suddenly sprang upon him and swallowed him. The +people [in the house] saw this tragic event, and the good man left +the table, grieved that the youth should perish without baptism, +and desirous to see if there might be some means of giving him the +sacrament before he should die in the belly of the crocodile. He soon +decoyed the animal by means of a little dog, a food of which these +beasts are very fond; and, having captured the crocodile and landed +it on the shore, he cut it open and found the boy within, whole but +dead. This man, who measured the beast (which was not a large one) +told us that it was fifteen [Spanish] feet in length, but that the +capacity of its stomach was extraordinary: for within it were found, +besides the corpse of the boy, a great number of eggs of various +animals, and fifteen human heads. Grieved by this sad event, he had +come to entreat that instruction might be supplied in his villages; +but this could not be done, as there was no one to give it. + +But to return to Catubig: I shall conclude my account of this mission +with the miraculous experiences of two children, which gave us more +consolation than did the incident which we have just related. While +some Indians were on their way to visit the father, one of those fierce +beasts attacked their boat, and seized a boy by the arm, carrying him +away before anyone could rescue him. The boy, following the pious +custom that those people have of invoking Jesus and Mary, when he +found himself in the water in the power of the crocodile, cried aloud: +"Jesus and Mary, help me!" and the marvelous thing was that the beast +at once let him go practically unharmed, for the few scratches that he +had received from the nails hurt him but little. Rejoicing at this, +and strengthened in the faith, they drew the child from the water +into the boat, praising God for His mercies toward them. One night +the same father was summoned in behalf of another child, who was +very sick. His parents were very sorrowful, for, although but ten +days old, he had not sucked his mother's breast for three days. They +were anxious for his recovery, but desired, even more, that he should +not die without baptism. The father went, and baptized the child; +and the next morning, when he inquired about it, they replied that +the infant was already well, for holy baptism had immediately cured it. + +Let this suffice concerning that mission, and at the same time conclude +my narrative, since I have now related the most notable events, and +those which seemed most important and edifying, up to my departure from +those islands--which, as I said in the beginning, was in the month of +July of the year one thousand six hundred and two. [30] I trust that +the progress of events from that time until the present, a period +of almost two years, may give no less satisfaction and consolation, +and that of the future even more; and I hope that it will have a more +able chronicler; indeed, any one in the Society can do it better than +I. It is enough for me that I have tried to render some service to the +Society by this humble work, which although a small one, has cost me +much effort. This, and that other and greater task of undertaking so +many and so long voyages (made not for my own pleasure, but in response +to the claims of obedience), I think deserve the reward which I desire +and claim for them, which is nothing else than the object to which +those labors were dedicated--the increase and extension of the holy +Catholic faith in those so remote islands, by the conversion of so +many souls who are so ready to receive it. May your Paternity and all +those who are able to come to their aid take pity upon them, so that +ministers of the gospel may distribute to them the bread of heaven, +for the hunger from which they are dying. It is a sorrowful thing, +more sorrowful than can be told, to see them die without relief. At +Roma, March 5, 1604. + +_Father Chirino_, of the Society of Jesus. + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1604 + + + Letters to Felipe III. Pedro de Acuna; July 15 and 19. + Decrees regarding religious orders. Felipe III, and others; + February-July. + Grant to the Jesuit seminary at Cebu. Pedro Chirino; [undated; + 1604?]. + Decree regulating commerce with Nueva Espana. Felipe III; + December 31. + + +_Source_: All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: These are made by Robert W. Haight--excepting the +third, which is by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University of Wisconsin. + + + + +LETTERS TO FELIPE III FROM PEDRO DE ACUNA + + +On the Sangleys + +Sire: + +The two ships which came this year from Nueva Hespana arrived in sight +of these islands on the tenth of last month, and the captain made the +port of Cavite on St. John's day. The Almiranta, not being so good a +ship, could not follow him, and remained on the shoal of Mindoro until +the fifth of the present month, which caused great loss. The viceroy of +Nueva Hespana writes me that the cause of these ships leaving Acapulco +so late was because they had met this despatch and that of the Conde +de Monterey for Peru, and that for the coming year he will see to +it that it is earlier. This is necessary, for it has likewise been +unavoidable, on this account, that those who were going back to Nueva +Hespana should be late in leaving here; for the Sangley merchants, +taking warning from the many losses which they have suffered, and the +neglect of the Spaniards to pay them during years past, will not give +up their cloth without first seeing the silver at hand. Accordingly +they waited until the money came before buying the goods and making +up the packages and cases, all of which used to run on credit. + +I wrote your Majesty by way of Yndia, in November and December past, +of the uprising by the Sangleys, and the outcome of it, with what up +to that time had occurred to me, which your Majesty will have ordered +examined when this arrives. In case my sheets may have been lost, +duplicates of them will go with this. + +In that despatch I informed your Majesty that I was considering +sending a ship to China with information of the event, so that if +any ship belonging to the rebels should arrive there and try to place +on us the blame for their loss and ours, they might be made aware of +the truth. This was done, although with some opposition, and was of +so much use that when certain captains learned that this ship was in +Macan they determined to come, although with little merchandise--for +they came with some hesitation, as they afterward said, as they do +not wish vengeance to be executed upon them for the loss which the +others had caused by the said uprising. I had the property which +was deposited returned to them (which I think amounted to more than +[_MS. defective_] pesos), which was to them a strong proof of our +innocence; this was done that they might not credit in China what +those rebels who arrived there had published, for they said that, +in order to seize the property for ourselves, we had taken the lives +of those Sangleys. These goods deposited belonged to quiet Chinese +merchants, reputable persons, who were not in the uprising--and even +for the most part had hanged or suffocated themselves, at seeing +what a plight those of their own nation had put them in, and that +their own countrymen were robbing and maltreating them, as is told +in the relation of this affair. From the said deposited property +had been appropriated, by my order and that of the Audiencia and the +council on finances, a sum amounting to more than thirty-six thousand +pesos, to aid the troops; and when the affair was over I was quite +unprovided and embarrassed, as there were likewise other expenses for +fortification and for the exigencies of the service of your Majesty, +and there was no other place whence it could be supplied. We cannot +satisfy the Chinese at present, as we have not the means to do so; +this troubles me much, as I should wish to be able to fulfil the +offer I made to the viceroys of China by my letters, which was the +restitution of this property, which would remain on deposit until it +was surrendered to the owners. As the necessities have been so great +since then, we could not avoid deferring this; it appeared best to +carry out our agreement with these people by giving them the money, +since they had the cloth to sell, but it has not been possible. I +beseech your Majesty to be pleased to order that the viceroy of Nueva +Hespana send us this amount for this purpose, as I doubt much if the +obligation can be satisfied here for many years. This commonwealth +has been greatly consoled at seeing that the Chinese have chosen to +continue the commerce, of which we were much in doubt; but they have +actually done so. This was made easier by sending the information, +and the entire failure of one year; in many ways this loss cannot be +repaired. Nevertheless, the lack of money is felt in the treasury; +for the duties on the entry and clearance of the goods from China, +the royal officials tell me, amount to forty thousand pesos less this +year than the year past. I believe that in the coming year we will have +many goods here; for the little which they brought this year has sold +very well, and they are content and quite satisfied at the freedom +allowed them in their traffic, and that nothing is taken from them +without their consent, as they were not before favored in this manner. + +I have responded to almost all the points of a paper which your +Majesty ordered me to write on the sixteenth of February of the past +year 1602--as your Majesty will command to be examined in my answer, +to which I refer you, merely saying that there I explain everything +which might be said in this. + +Christoval de Azqueta, captain and sargento-mayor of this camp, +has passed more than twenty-eight years in these islands. During all +this time he has been occupied in the service of your Majesty in the +affairs of war, and a very good account of him has been given. He +is one of the most serviceable men I have for this employment; for, +besides being a very good soldier, he has wide experience in all the +islands and their ports. Likewise I was very well satisfied with +his person on account of his having so well and so industriously +attended to his duty as sargento-mayor at the time when the Sangleys +had invested this city. It being understood that a great body of +them had fortified themselves at San Pablo and another at Batangas, +and that they were in a region where much food could be obtained on +short notice, as it was near the harvest time in those provinces, +it was resolved that some person of tried valor should go to punish +them, being provided with a number of Indian arquebusiers, archers, +and other soldiers, and a few Japanese, with one hundred and fifty +Spaniards, and the necessary munitions for that purpose. I chose for +this the said sargento-mayor, Christoval de Azqueta, and he left with +his troops. He went about it so skilfully that the undertaking was +successful, and all the Sangleys were left dead except a few whom +he brought for the galleys. Therefore, considering the condition in +which this colony was, and the risk which he ran in this service, it +was one of the most important which have ever been performed in these +islands for your Majesty. I have desired to give the sargento-mayor +some testimonial for his honor and gratification, but I have not done +so because I had not the means to do so. I have therefore offered +him this, to give him a good encomienda; and accordingly it will be +given and allotted to him in the name of your Majesty, at the first +opportunity. He has, moreover, earned it by the services which he +performed long ago. It is fitting that it should be known that your +Majesty favors and honors those who serve him, so that others may +be encouraged to do the same. It has seemed best to me to give an +account of this to your Majesty and to beseech you, as I do, that +you should be pleased to command that the affairs and claims of the +sargento-mayor always be favored, and that honor and grace be done +him; for in this affair I can assure you, the service which he has +done here was greater than appears by this writing. + +The punishment of the Sangleys being accomplished, there remains +to us another care no less great, which is the suspicion we have +that within a short time a great fleet is to come from China to take +possession of this country, as I wrote your Majesty last year. This +arises from the coming of the mandarins, and from information that +some of those Chinese who were punished for their guilt in their +uprising were trying to circulate. Accordingly all the people were +persuaded that this rebellion depended upon that; and at one time a +rumor was current to the effect that seven hundred Chinese ships had +been seen not far from here--on which occasion it seemed best to me to +put things in order as thoroughly as if I had certain advice that the +said fleet was on this coast. Among other precautions which I took, +I appointed for the company left vacant by Don Tomas Brabo (my nephew, +whom the Sangleys killed in the uprising), Captain Juan de Villacon, +as he is a soldier who has spent many years in Flandes, and during +that time had been the alferez of Don Luis Brabo de Acuna, my brother; +and because he has had experience in the conduct of war in besieged +cities--as it was expected this one must be so in a short time, and +as we had very few or none to whom we could have recourse in such a +case. It was necessary for me to urge and coax him, and he accepted +it because it was on such an occasion, and to please me. Although the +auditors were in the midst of so many cares, and I was hard at work +fortifying the weak places, erecting bulwarks and opening trenches, +they issued an act in which they commanded me to make appointments +according to the royal ordinances, and that in the meantime there +should be no changes--as if that were the time for such offices to be +filled by whomsoever the auditors wish and ask to do it, or in which +to be considering ordinances, instead of what was most fitting for your +Majesty's service and the good of the cause. It was necessary in order +to make them understand this, or make them willing to understand it, +to use much time and energy; and they finally approved of it as if +they were doing me some great honor. By this event your Majesty may +see to what tune the affairs of war were going, with demands and +responses. God was pleased to bring it about that the information +which I sent from Macan caused the Chinese not to collect any +fleet in China for the present, and that the merchant ships came; +I accordingly dismissed Captain Villacon, giving him his discharge, +seeing that the reason for his accepting the said company had ceased; +I have thought best to give an acount of this to your Majesty, that +you may be informed thereof, and may have given such order as may be +expedient in similar cases which may arise in the future. + +The decree which your Majesty ordered to be sent to me with the +declaration of the places which must be taken in the processions and +public acts by the president, auditors, and prelates when they take +part therein together, arrived at a very opportune time, and has been +necessary to avoid the troubles which have arisen with the archbishop +in this regard, as he would not be persuaded that this was the will +of your Majesty; but he is satisfied with the decree. + +We are on good terms with the emperor of Japon, and likewise with +his vassals who come here to trade and to make money on flour, hams, +tunny-fish, nails, iron, weapons, and other things which they bring to +sell. They go back with loads of deerskins and Chinese merchandise, as +they have always done. This year, owing to the loss of the ship from +Macan, they brought some money and spent it. I have overlooked this +for the present, and allowed it to be done in order not to displease +them. But I have warned them not to bring any more, or I shall not +give them any chance to employ it. + +The accountant Juan de Bustamante, who acts in that capacity for +the royal exchequer of your Majesty in these islands, is very old, +infirm, and crippled, for which reason the affairs of his office are +not so well expedited as they should be. I last year besought your +Majesty to order him retired and pensioned, and to appoint a person +in his place. At present I shall again make the same suggestion, +as it appears to me important for the service of your Majesty. + +The Marques of Montes Claros, [31] viceroy of Nueva Hespana, last year +made the allotment of the money which your Majesty has graciously +permitted to be assigned to the citizens of these islands. As this +cannot be done punctually in Mexico, and there are in that country +interested persons--perchance the very ones who are apportioning +the money, or giving their advice therein--there have been many +complaints. This could not be otherwise, as Mexico is so far away +and they cannot know there what each of the citizens here has and +deserves, and what ought to be given them. The viceroy writes that +he did the best he could, and could do no better, and accordingly +I believe him. He likewise wrote me to send him some information in +regard to this matter. What I have done is to appoint eight persons +from the most honored of this colony, and disinterested in the matter +of partnership, to make the allotment among the citizens, as is done +with the cargo, considering what is most expedient and most just +and satisfactory for the people; and it has been so done. I have +allotted to the distributers themselves their own part because I was +not willing that they should allot it. I have sent the memorandum +to the viceroy. Your Majesty will be pleased to order that the said +allotment be made in accordance therewith, as well as the licenses; and +that, this be continued from year to year; for it is most expedient, +and with it there will be less uncertainty and fraud. + +The royal treasury of these islands is in great need of inspection +and reform. It should be put in good order and well regulated; for, +according to the officials, there are no ordinances, nor is there +proper government and administration for the property. Although +I do what I can to maintain it, some measure must be taken in this +regard which will be more radical and put it on an entirely different +footing from the present one. The original inspection made in past +years was by the factor, Francisco de las Missas, alone. I have this +in my possession, and a copy of it was sent to the Council by Doctor +Morga, who took it. As the commission for the inspection of the other +officers--delivered to me in order that the late licentiate Cambrano, +might make it--covers only the time of four months (which is not +even a long enough period to look over the papers), I instructed +them to take a further adjournment, so that this vacancy in the +inspector's office should not cause the neglect of necessary work; +and accordingly I am doing so at present. Your Majesty will command +according to your pleasure. + +It has likewise seemed best to give your Majesty an account of the +inexpediency of appointing as inspector of the auditors any of their +companions, especially those who have exercised that office at the +same time with them, and given judgment in the same affairs; for if +one of them has acted unjustly, the other one may have done so as +well, and might not perform his duty in reprimanding or inspecting +those whom he should. Your Majesty will order as is most expedient. + +In the despatches which I have sent from here since I arrived via Nueva +Hespana, I have advised your Majesty of the great difficulty which +lies in the appointment by the viceroy of Mexico of persons there, +as the commanders, admirals, and other officials who come and go on +the ships; and how important it was that they should be appointed +here from those who have here served your Majesty, for the reasons +which I there gave, as your Majesty will command to be examined. The +same matter confronts me now, and every day I am coming more to see +the great injury which this commonwealth suffers, without finding any +means for its redress. I promise your Majesty that I am not moved to +this step by the greater importance which this office will then have, +but only for the service of your Majesty, and by seeing that this +is as I have said in my other letter; and that there is great need +of reform, in order to ward off disaster at all points, for it is +very near. May our Lord protect the Catholic person of your Majesty, +in the prosperity which is necessary for Christendom. Manila, + +July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuna_ + + + +It is not expedient that there should be an Audiencia in the +Philipinas. + +Sire: + +For a long time I have been reflecting upon the matter which I shall +here mention, and many times I have resolved to give your Majesty +an account of it, and of others as important. I have been kept back +and restrained, by fear that it might or could be suspected that +I was moved by some personal interest or passion; but owing to the +difficulties which have confronted me in one way and another, having +consulted and conferred with serious religious and other persons, +both ecclesiastical and lay, who look at the matter dispassionately +[_MS. defective_] resolved not to delay any longer, for it appeared +to me that otherwise I did not act in accordance with the obligations +of my office, or the favor which your Majesty has done me by putting +me in this position. + +Your Majesty has a royal Audiencia in these island with four auditors, +one fiscal, and other officers, whereby your Majesty spends each +year sixteen thousand five hundred pesos. It seems that this might +be dispensed with for the reasons set forth in the paper which goes +with this, and to which I refer, only adding (what I may say in all +truth) that, although this commonwealth is in the greatest trouble, +through the many causes of death, wars, conflagrations, afflictions, +shipwrecks, and the destruction of so much property, as your Majesty +has learned, there is nothing which it feels more keenly today, or +which afflicts it more, than to have the Audiencia here judging, and +with it to lack all freedom of person or property. The name of auditor +is so odious here that it alone offends; and we have come to such a +state of affairs that because I, in conformity to what your Majesty +has ordered, have attempted to maintain and have maintained amicable +relations with the auditors; and have shown, on various occasions, +more patience and endurance than the people considered right; and +more than seemed fitting to my situation, in order not to give rise +to scandal: some have conceived hatred for me, publicly saying that, +to comply with the expenditures and opinions of the said auditors, +I was neglecting to look after them, and that I could correct the +evil which the Audiencia was doing. But as I cannot do that, it has +seemed to me the best means to let the public see that there was good +feeling between me and the Audiencia, and to give an account to your +Majesty now of the reasons which lead me to this conclusion, in a +letter separate from other matters, as I am now doing, and to which +I refer you. I shall end by saying that I remind your Majesty that no +private interest moves me to take this step, but merely the obligation +and zeal which I have always had and now have for the service of your +Majesty. This is vouched for by the fact that, a year ago, I sent my +brothers the order and authority to beseech your Majesty to be pleased +to grant me the favor of commanding an appointment for this charge, +and giving me permission to go to Espana, where I might continue +my service more nearly in the sight of your Majesty; and although I +hold it certain that this was not neglected, I would again on this +occasion lay on them the same obligation, and beg your Majesty to be +pleased to command that my request be favorably regarded. May our Lord +protect the Catholic person of your Majesty through many long years, +with the prosperity necessary to Christendom. Manila, July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuna_ + +[_In the margin_: "Let it be answered that his letter is received, +and have him thanked for his zealous interest and care in all that +he mentions. Respecting what he says of abolishing the Audiencia, +suitable measures have been taken, and for the present nothing will +be done in regard to it. As to the general statements made in his +report, in regard to the trade and traffic which he speaks of and the +proceedings of the Audiencia, let him give particular information +of what auditor or officer is trading in this way, and whatever is +worthy of correction--so that, having considered it in the Council, +fitting measures may be taken."] + +[_Endorsed_: "Manila, to his Majesty; 1604. Don Pedro de Acuna, on the +fifteenth of July, concerning the inexpediency of having an Audiencia +in the Philipinas. July 20, 1606, examined and decreed within."] + + + +Reasons why there should be no Audiencia in the Filipinas Islands, +and why the one there should be abolished. + + +In all the islands there are not more than twelve hundred Spaniards; +and the suits are so few that for the greater part of the year the +Audiencia has nothing to do, and there is no business to be despatched +therein, and the auditors are dismissed after having passed judgment on +a few petitions from Indians--and sometimes not even these, because +none are presented. The administrative session is just the same, +and most of the time only exists in name. + +There are no cases here of importance which cannot be adjudged by the +alcaldes-in-ordinary; and if we had a lawyer for a lieutenant-governor, +as we used to have before the said Audiencia was established, that +is sufficient for business--which would be despatched with less +difficulty, and without the Audiencia being missed; for when there +is any suit of importance, which seldom happens, appeal can be made +to the Audiencia of Mexico, as was formerly done. + +It must be taken into consideration that each auditor or fiscal +brings with him, his household, wife, children, and relatives, who +are drawn by the idea of coming to the Yndias, and has other creatures +and connections; and for one and all of them he must procure aid and +favor so that they may become rich; for this is the aim and intention +with which they come here. Accordingly, although your Majesty has +commanded that the livings and offices of these islands be given to the +old citizens and those deserving of these rewards, the auditors and +their wives bring it about that the said relatives, dependents, and +other persons whom they bring with them are the first to be provided +for. If the governors do not consent to this, the auditors dislike +them, and seek means and expedients whereby the worthy persons to +whom the said offices and livings are given shall not be received +therein. Accordingly the governors, in order not to displease the +auditors, give up their claims and dare not insist upon them. + +The said creatures and connections of the said auditors trade and +traffic a great deal in merchandise from China; and the citizens +complain that it is with the auditors' money (their own, or borrowed), +and that with the favor they receive they cause great injury to the +commonwealth, for they take up the whole cargo. They desire to be +preferred therein, and in buying the cloth, and in every other way, +try to take advantage. If the president wishes to remedy this they do +not cease to offer him little annoyances; for the auditors know how to +magnify themselves, in such a manner that they give one to understand +that any one of them is greater than he; and they attain this by +saying that what the president and governor does they can cancel, +and that what the auditors decree has no appeal, recourse, or redress. + +This country is not at peace but at war; and it is therefore more +fitting for the time being to attend particularly to military affairs +and to the government, for our defense, than to keep courts of high +justice. For in countries so new the rigor of the law should not +be applied in all cases; and, when some punishment must be applied, +they say that it shall not be done, and are of no use except to undo +what the governor and captain-general orders (as well in matters of +war as of government), although these things may be quite just. + +All the resources of this land are scanty, but if there is anything +good the auditors also say that they want it for themselves; and when +there is a Chinese embroiderer, tailor, carver, or other workman, +they proceed to take him into their houses and have him do much +work--in such a way that the Sangley himself has no freedom. Such +benefits do not extend to the citizens; but rather, if any of these +things are available, the said auditors demand them and by entreaty +or intimidation get possession of them. It is the same thing in +regard to jewels, slave men and women, articles of dress, and other +things--in such manner that, as experience has proved to me since +I have considered it very well, when there were very few officers +in this colony affairs went more smoothly, and the affairs of the +service of God and your Majesty in a more orderly manner. Aid could +be given to the one or the other, and to the defense of this land, +with fewer hindrances and less difficulty; for in my opinion there +is no one who in one way or another is not seeking his own gain and +private interest, and the more there are of them the greater injury +is wrought. We are compelled to overlook these things, and others of +more importance, that we may not experience worse trouble; for we are +unable to do more, as your Majesty is five thousand leguas from here, +and redress comes so slowly. + +The same trouble arises in the matter of provisions, each one looking +after the care of his own house without considering the needs of others +or of the poor, who should be looked after; consequently nothing can +be heard but complaints and clamors from the people--poor and rich, +and of all conditions--loudly asserting that the auditors are seeking +everything for themselves. + +Since in what regards the payment of their salaries they consider +and assert that these must be preferred and the first paid even +if it be from the stated fund for the religious orders, bishops, +ministers of instruction, and for the military forces, who are before +them in order--they have difficulties and misunderstandings with the +royal officials; and as the said auditors do not care for the great +importance of paying the soldiers, and look only to their private +interests, I have had many complaints from the said royal officers, +as they must have written you. + +The soldiers, captains, master-of-camp, and military officials are +greatly discontented and grieved at the ill-treatment which the said +auditors accord them; and at seeing that they are hindered by them, +an auditor commanding at his will the arrest of a captain, official or +soldier, without cause or reason, and interfering in all the details of +service--even going so far as to inspect their quarters, and send them +to the public prison, for very trivial affairs, against all military +precedents. If affairs are going in an orderly and concerted way, it +is when the auditors do not meddle with them; for all this concerns +primarily the chief commander and officers provided therefor. Judging +by the state in which things are in the Filipinas today, and in the +opinion of right-thinking men, soldiers are of more use and benefit +in the commonwealth than are judges, for the former do more than +their share, and the others are deficient. Considering the evil which +results to the soldiers from seeing themselves punished and checked by +so many magistrates; the hardships which they so commonly endure, and +the occasions which are every day arising where these are necessary; +and in view of the scant and poor pay which is given them, and as +they are the defenders of the land, and are so far distant and little +favored; and seeing the great hindrance which the Audiencia is for +military affairs--for they will give no opportunity for the execution +of edicts, nor do they attend to what is necessary, as it appears +to them that they are sufficient for everything; and that they can +manage this matter like those which they have studied--we may fear +some irreparable injury. We should immediately prepare for this, +especially as the enemies which we have here are not like those in +other parts of the Yndias, but much greater in number and more skilful +in war, and accordingly more adroitness and prudence are necessary +to maintain us; and the soldiers must be content and well paid, +and ordered by their leaders, of whom they should not have so many. + +The property which your Majesty has here is very little for the +ordinary expenses which every day arise; and if it is not brought +here from Mexico with more care and punctuality than hitherto, +affairs cannot be maintained here in any way. Even with that which +is sent we suffer much hardship; and accordingly it is necessary to +avoid expense, so far as is possible. That which is incurred for the +auditors and Audiencia is not so insignificant, as it is not less than +sixteen thousand five hundred pesos, not counting other expenses; and +then the fines from condemnations, which they apply to suit their own +convenience. These amounts, taken altogether, would be enough for an +armed fleet, with which to help in the defense of this land--which is +needed badly enough, but which for lack of money we cannot equip--and +many other things could be remedied. In the future there will be +still more difficulty in this matter, because of the extraordinary +expenses which have resulted from the uprising of the Sangleys, and the +deficiency which on this acount has this year resulted in the royal +duties on merchandise from China, which goes as high as thirty-five +to forty thousand pesos; and there is a further loss of five or six +thousand pesos each year, which is the amount of the tributes from +the Sangleys--an income that we formerly received, which is now at +an end. Consequently, I do not believe that the Audiencia will be of +any use at all, but rather it will cause great injury to the service +of your Majesty and the welfare of this commonwealth. Even if the +two were not rivals, I doubt very much if the Audiencia could be +maintained without there being great deficiency in everything else, +if their salaries are to be paid here. I consider it more advantageous +and safe to spend what the said Audiencia draws in salaries, to aid +in paying the soldiers and maintaining the fleet of galleys which +[_MS. defective_] we defend, and not the presence of the said auditors +and Audiencia, as they themselves assert who were of the opinion that +the Audiencia should again be established; for this country is not even +in a state to be able to bear such a burden, as it is so ill provided, +as I have said, and so borne down with troubles and even with war. + +Likewise another difficulty is presented, as the treasury is always +straitened; and, on account of the great care which the auditors take +to collect their salaries, as it cannot be so prompt as they would +wish, they seek borrowed money from the citizens--who give it to +them, willingly or unwillingly, each one according to his means or +designs. From this follow difficulties, to which they pay no heed; +as some of them demand these loans from persons who are parties to +suits at the time, who grant these to the auditors in order to place +them under obligations, and profit by them. + +The difficulty which presents itself to me in this matter is that, +if the Audiencia is abolished and everything left in charge of the +governor, there will be but slow and poor remedy for the grievances and +disorders which may occur. For they must be taken to the Audiencia of +Mexico, which is so far away that the aggrieved ones would consume +both life and property before the business was settled. Several +difficulties occur to me, which are connected with this; but having +informed myself fully on this point as to what has happened in the +past, all say that they consider government by one person the best, +when he governs justly. These men know what the governor can do +without the Audiencia, and with it; and they believe that it is +better when there are not so many to command them, for they have +never seen the audiencias redress illegal acts by the governors. I +therefore consider it better, before God and my conscience, that your +Majesty should choose for this charge some gentleman and soldier who +has proved trustworthy, and whose mode of governing and procedure has +been learned and tried in other offices. He should be a good Christian, +and, above all, not greedy; for if he is affected with this last the +country is ready and eager for an alteration of its condition, whereby +the same losses which we have seen in other cases might be caused here. + +I am likewise confronted with another difficulty, which is redress +for violations of the law by the ecclesiastical judges; but these +are cases which seldom happen, and it does not seem just, in order +to settle an affair of this sort, that others of a different nature +should be deranged, and that an opportunity should be given for so many +troubles as result from the contrary--especially as we might attend +to such a case by some suitable means, referring it to trustworthy +persons here, who would take it in charge. + +Although there is no doubt that much of what this paper recounts occurs +in other regions where there are audiencias, it must be remembered +that in this country, which is the newest of all and more engaged in +war than any of the others; and where the hardships of conquest and +maintenance are so omnipresent; and your Majesty has little profit or +advantage, except the cargo of cloth which goes to Nueva Hespana, and +which is divided among all; and as the resources of the country are +so scant that there it no place to go in order to seek a livelihood +outside of Manila: there is much criticism in this matter, and the +people are much grieved at seeing themselves in the utmost part of the +world, harassed and troubled by so many magistrates and officers and +their dependents, and at having so many to satisfy; and that matters +are in such a state that he who has an auditor for a protector may, +it appears, go wherever he wishes and with as much as he wishes, +and he who has not must be ruined. Dated at Manila, July 15, 1604. + +_Don Pedro de Acuna_ + +Sire: + +There is in this city a seminary named Sancta Potenciana, of which your +Majesty is the patron, where the daughters of the citizens of these +islands are sheltered, and carefully taught and instructed. It has been +visited by the archbishop of the islands, Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, +and when he observed the custom that obtained of allowing the wives +of citizens to enter within the seminary, he issued a decree with +censures, ordering that no person, without any exception, should have +entrance there. The fiscal of your Majesty considered this a matter +for complaint, saying that it was not in the said archbishop's power +to do this, as the matter did not concern him. The case came before +this Audiencia as one of fuerza. When the proceedings were examined, +he was charged to raise the said excommunication, and leave the matter +as before, as it was purely a case for the [secular] government, and +concerned the governor of these islands, who represents the royal +person of your Majesty by virtue of the royal patronage. Various +controversies regarding this having arisen, and answers on the part +of the archbishop, this Audiencia continually overlooked his actions +that they might avoid a rupture with him, as your Majesty will see by +the documents that accompany this. Since it is most expedient that in +the future he should be restrained from issuing such decrees, and that +scandals should not become necessary, we beseech your Majesty that, +after having examined this matter, you will take such action as is +expedient for your royal service. + +[_In the margin_: "Santa Potenciana. Take this clause in the process +cited to the reporter." "Elsewhere provided for."] + + + +On two voyages from Nueva Espana Don Diego de Camudio Manrique has come +to these islands as admiral and commander. He has enjoyed our entire +confidence, and has discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction +of all in these islands; nor has anyone ever said anything about him +other than that he is a good servant of your Majesty. All this, and +the great ability displayed by him in so few years, constrain us to +make this representation to your Majesty, as we have no authority +to reward him. May the Lord protect the Catholic person of your +Majesty. July 19, 1604. In session. + +[_In the margin_: "Recommendation of Don Diego Camudio Manrique, +telling how meritorious he is, and how worthy to receive reward."] + +_Don Pedro de Acuna_ +The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_ +The licentiate _Tellez Almacan_ +The licentiate _Andres de Alcaraz_ +The licentiate _Manuel de Madrid y Luna_ + + + +DECREES REGARDING RELIGIOUS ORDERS + +Sire: + +The order of the Recollects of St. Augustine [32] desire to be +established in the Indias, and have entreated your Majesty to order +that permission be given therefor, and that several religious may +go for that purpose, and to preach the gospel, to Nueva Espana, the +Philippinas Islands, and China. This request having been examined +in the Council, it has appeared desirable that--as this concerns the +mendicant orders, so highly esteemed, pious and strict in religious +observance, and as they can accomplish much good in those regions +by their teaching, preaching, and example--your Majesty, if such be +your will, might give them permission to go to establish themselves +in the Philippinas Islands, where there is most need of ministers of +the gospel; and these religious are fitted for so new a country by the +poverty and strictness which they profess. Valladolid, February 23, +1604. [There are nine signatures, apparently those of councilors.] + +[_Endorsed_: "Council of the Indias, February 23, 1604. That +permission may be given to the Augustinian Recollects to go to +establish themselves in the Philippinas." _In a different hand_: +"Since this order wishes to send religious to the Indians, notify +the superiors to take care that those who go be learned men, and of +mature age."] + + + + + +The King: Don Pedro de Acuna, governor and captain-general of the +Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia there: In +my Council of the Indias has been examined the clause of a letter +from the ecclesiastical cabildo of the church there, a copy of +which accompanies this, wherein was recounted the transactions in +relation to the taking posession by the religious of the Order of +St. Augustine of a certain chapel of Nuestra Senora de Guia, which +had been erected into a parish; and how the friars of the Order of +St. Francis, on their own authority, and without any permission, +had established another church in the village of Dilao; and the +freedom with which the said fathers of St. Augustine acted, and +the arrogance shown by them in not receiving a visitor of their +order. As these are matters that should be carefully looked after, +I charge and command you neither to allow nor give opportunity for +such irregularities, and to take measures to check and correct them, +with the utmost discretion, and by the most expedient means possible, +advising me of all that may occur. Valladolid, on the third of June +of the year one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "To the governor of the Philipinas, +directing him to take effective measures to check and correct in future +the high-handed proceedings of the Augustinian religious. Corrected."] + + + + + +The King: Most reverend father in Christ, the archbishop of Manila, +and member of my Council: A letter from you has been received and +examined in my Council of the Yndias, from which has been learned your +advice to the effect that when it is necessary to summon councils +to discuss reforms in certain matters, the religious of the orders +do not attend them as they should, availing themselves as they do +of the privileges which they hold; and that some of them abandon the +missions of Indians which they have already instructed and baptized, +and dispose of and exchange the appurtenances and furniture of the +churches where they administer the sacraments. I thank you for the care +and zeal for the service of our Lord with which you ascertained this, +and have given me an account of it. However, in so far as concerns the +councils, measures will be taken to have his Holiness order a brief +to be issued directing the said religious to attend the said councils +when the prelates summon them. As for the exchanges and sales of the +properties of the churches which you say the teaching religious make, +you will check these by the remedies of the law, excommunicating and +punishing those who oppose you. Accordingly I charge you to do this; +and to be watchful for the preservation and instruction of the natives, +so that what they need may be furnished to them everywhere, for this +is the principal thing that should be looked to by all the ministers +of the gospel. Valladolid, on the thirtieth day of July in the year +one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by Joan de Ybarra; signed by the members of the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "Reply to the archbishop of Manila in +regard to stopping the bartering and sale of church furniture by the +religious who give instruction."] + + + + +GRANT TO THE JESUIT SEMINARY AT CEBU + + +Sire: + +I Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus, and procurator thereof +for the Philipinas, affirm that the said Society, as a result of its +desire that there may be in these islands persons who during their +youth may engage in exercises of virtue, to the end that letters +may flourish there, founded a residence [_colegio_] in the city of +El Santissimo Nombre de Jesus eight years ago; [33] and that in it +there are such religious as are needed for the purpose not only of +teaching religion to the natives, but also of giving instruction in +reading and writing to their children and to the Spanish children; +and that also Latin is studied there--from all of which great good +has resulted to the natives, as well as to the Spaniards. Since the +country is very poor, and since the said residence has no income, +it suffers from great need; and in order that the said residence +may advance and may be able to carry on these laudable exercises in +learning still further, and may include the study of other subjects +of knowledge, I offer my petition to your Majesty that you will be +pleased to bestow a gift of one thousand pesos of annual income for +the support of the said religious who regularly reside therein for +the said purpose, charged against the royal treasury of Mexico or +against the proceeds of the saleable offices which are received there. + + +_Father Pedro Chirino_ + + +I offer my petition to your Majesty that you will make a grant against +the following sources of income: In the first place, against the royal +treasury of Mexico, and especially against the saleable offices; +against the royal treasury of Manila; against the dues collected +on the merchandise brought to Manila by the Chinese and Japonese; +against the tributes collected from the Chinese in the island of +Manila; against the dues and tributes collected from the Chinese in +Cebu and Oton; against the Indians who are assigned to the royal crown, +so long as funds remain in the treasury of the fourth. [34] + +The Camara [_i.e._, Council]; let this be now examined. At Valladolid, +January 14, 1605. + +The licentiate _Alonzo Fernandez de Castro_ + +I, Pedro Chirino, of the Society of Jesus and procurator thereof +for the Philipinas, affirm, in the name of the residence of the said +Society in the city of Santo Nombre de Jesus, that when your Majesty +had examined the official reports conveyed in letters from the royal +Audiencia of Manila and from the bishop of the said city of Santo +Nombre de Jesus, and the _ex parte_ statement made at the request +of the said residence, your Majesty decreed that the matter should +be considered at the present time. Since the present necessity of +the residence is so urgent, as appears from the documents presented, +and since the service which it will perform to our Lord God and to +your Majesty is so great, provided that the grant desired for the +said residence shall be given, I supplicate your Majesty anew to be +pleased to consider again the documents which in virtue of a royal +decree of your Majesty were made and have been presented. From the +four Statements of testimony officially presented, will plainly +appear the care and attention with which the religious of the said +Society have attended and do attend to the administration of the +holy sacraments, and to preaching and hearing confessions, not only +from the Spaniards of the said city of El Santo Nombre de Jesus but +from the natives and Sangleys. They give their assistance in all the +necessities of the people, both spiritual and temporal, with special +care; and the said residence has schools in which their children are +not only taught to read and write, but also receive instruction in +good morals and habits, and, for all those who desire it, in Latin +also. There are many students, from whose education and instruction +results much good and advantage to all that country. At the same time, +the aforesaid residence is very poor, since it has no fixed income +to sustain it. The result is that it suffers great need; and if it +receives no assistance there is no doubt that the necessity in which +it at present is will be increased, since the country is very poor, +and the gifts which are made to it are extremely small. At the same +time the expenses are heavy; and it is now housed in a very small, +old, wooden building, which at the present time is decaying and is +in great need of repairs. The members of the said Society receive +for the masses, administration of the sacraments, preaching, reading +and all their other ministries to their fellow-men nothing whatever, +but do all these things gratis. It should further be observed that +the citizens of the said city of Santo Nombre de Jesus are few +and very poor, and are unable to aid the said religious with any +gifts or alms. In addition to the aforesaid affirmations, which are +contained in the official evidence, there are other statements in +the _ex parte_ testimony in which the same things are said by twelve +witnesses, one of whom is Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Agurto. Besides +the above, he has written a letter, which is enclosed herewith, +in which he declares as an eye-witness the great service done to +our Lord God in those regions by religious of the aforesaid Society; +and the great value of their residence there, from which great profit +results to the said city and all that province of Cebu, distant from +Manila one hundred and fifty leguas by sea. This said residence is, +as it were, a nursery and asylum for all the missions and centers of +teaching that are under the charge of the aforesaid Society in that +province. There are two letters from the royal Audiencia in which they +state that which they consider necessary to relieve the wants of the +aforesaid residence, and the excellent use to which such a grant would +be put. I pray your Majesty that, in view of these considerations, +this favor may be granted, by giving commands that a regular income +of two thousand ducados of eight reals may be allowed, as has been +requested, for the support of the religious who reside therein. The +aforesaid sum is to be charged against the royal treasury of Mexico, +from the proceeds of offices which are sold, deposited therein; +and therewith the Society will receive a great grace from your Majesty. + + +_Father Pedro Chirino_ + +Granted by the Camara, May 26, 1607: +The licentiate _Alonzo Fernandez de Castro_ + + + + +DECREE REGULATING COMMERCE WITH NUEVA ESPANA + + +The King: The king my lord and father (may he rest in peace!) by +various decrees prohibited trade and commerce of the Western Indias +with the Philipinas Islands and China generally, to obviate the +loss that resulted therefrom to these kingdoms and to their trade +and commerce; and he ordered and commanded that no vessel whatsoever +should go from the provinces of Peru, Tierra Firme, Guatimala, or any +other part of the Western Indias, to the said kingdoms of China and +the Philipinas Islands, under the penalties which were for that purpose +imposed. But further, considering the importance of the preservation of +the parts of those lands that are reduced to our obedience and to the +Christian faith (which had been established there), and likewise for +the greater extension of the gospel and of our holy Catholic faith, +he allowed and gave permission for two ships to go each year from +Nueva Espana to the said Philipinas Islands, each of three hundred +toneladas, in which were to be conveyed reenforcements of troops and +other things necessary, and the goods for trade which were to come +thence to Nueva Espana, and which were shipped on account of the royal +exchequer; the cost of sending these ships was to be taken from the +freight-moneys for the goods, and the quantity and value of the goods +freighted each year was not to exceed two hundred and fifty thousand +pesos of eight reals, nor the return in money five hundred thousand +for principal and profit, this trade being restricted to the citizens +of the said Philipinas Islands. All the said goods must be consumed +in the said Nueva Espana, or brought to these kingdoms; and in no +case might they be taken to Peru nor to any other part of the Indias, +[35] under the penalties imposed for such violation, as more fully +explained in the decrees cited, to which we refer. Although it has +been ordered by other decrees at various times that these should +be observed and complied with, I have been informed that this has +nut been done, and that the quantity allowed has been and is being +greatly exceeded in the amount taken each year, with the knowledge +and permission of my viceroys, audiencias, and governors--goods to +the extent of more than two millions of ducats being registered and +openly sent, besides what is secretly shipped. All this money finally +makes it way into infidel kingdoms, whereby their power is increased; +and from this have resulted great losses to our exchequer and to the +commerce of these kingdoms with the Western Indias. Those chiefly +interested in this trade are the citizens of Nueva Espana, Peru, +and other provinces; they have taken the said merchandise there +against the provisions and commands of the said decrees, and the +warnings sent to the said viceroys, audiencias, and governors, and +the measures that have been and are now being taken are not sufficient +to prevent these violations. As the correction of these lawless acts +and a remedy for the greater injuries that may be expected, are of +so great importance and moment (all these difficulties having been +represented to me), and as I have been petitioned by the prior and +consuls of the mercantile corporation of Sevilla, and other persons +who are zealous in behalf of my service that, in order to stop this, +I should command the entire prohibition also of the trade of the said +Nueva Espana with the said Philipinas Islands: Having discussed and +considered this in my royal Council of the Indias, and consultations +being held on all that should be considered in this matter, as it +appears that they desire to prevent and avert future losses, and +likewise aim to secure the preservation and growth of the Christian +religion in the said islands, and the neighboring kingdoms, wherein +the service of our Lord is so greatly concerned, I have decided that +for the present the trade and commerce of the said Philipinas Islands +with Nueva Espana should be maintained according to the ordinances; +that the quantity of merchandise which may be carried each year from +the Philipinas Islands to Nueva Espana is by no means to exceed two +hundred and fifty thousand pesos of eight reals, as is provided; +and the return of principal and profit in money is not to exceed +five hundred thousand pesos, which I have permitted. For no pretext, +cause, or reason to be alleged therefore is this to be exceeded, and +the traders in every case must be citizens of the said Philipinas +Islands, and none others whatsoever, as is likewise ordered by the +royal decrees of the king my lord, and under the penalties therein +provided. These I command to be executed without fail against the +trangressors, without there being any exemption or excuse. + +Further, in order that this may be better accomplished, and to +remove the opportunities for shipping a great deal of merchandise, +and likewise that the crews may go and come in safety, it is my will +and I permit that there be four ships in this trade, each of two +hundred toneladas burden, and no more; and they shall be my vessels, +and shall sail on my account, two each year; and the others shall +remain in port making ready for the voyage of the succeeding year, +as is ordered--for in this way they will sail at the proper time, +without waiting for one another; nor shall they exceed this number +and capacity. These ships shall be built expressly for that route, +of the said size and of the required strength, on account of the +inconveniences that have heretofore resulted from the ships being +large and having been navigated on the account of private persons, +in whose charge they were placed--which last must without fail cease. + +Furthermore, in order to avoid such large expenses as have hitherto +been incurred on that route, owing to the large number of agents and +officials who have gone in the ships thereon, it is my will and command +that from now on there shall be only one commander of the two ships, +and one lieutenant, who shall be admiral. Each vessel shall take not +more than one captain of war, besides the ship-master, and there may +be as many as fifty effective soldiers in each ship, drawing pay; and +the sailors who shall be necessary to go and return. These shall be +kept under discipline, that they may be effective and practiced. There +shall be two examined pilots and one assistant pilot for each vessel, +of the necessary qualifications. For the present, and until further +orders, I desire, and it is my will, that since the property to be +traded will be that of the citizens of those Philipinas Islands, +all these officials--commander, lieutenant, captains, masters, and +pilots--shall be appointed by my governor and captain-general of the +said Philipinas Islands and the archbishop of Manila, the present +or the future incumbents of those offices, notwithstanding that +they have heretofore been appointed and furnished by my viceroy of +Nueva Espana; and him I command to cease doing this from now on. If +the said governor and archbishop do not agree in this selection, +I command that they shall join with them the senior auditor of the +Audiencia, and the decision of the majority of these shall be carried +into effect. The persons appointed for these offices shall be chosen +among the principal and honored citizens of the said islands, and +the fittest to be found for the duties that they must perform. They +shall give securities in the form and amount that may seem best to +the said governor and archbishop, for the greater security of what may +be in their charge. Their residencias shall be taken for each voyage +by the auditors of my said Audiencia of Manila; and I command that +they shall not be allowed to make a second voyage until they shall +have given the said residencia, and account satisfactorily for what +was in their charge. + +As I have been informed that there have been many infractions and +irregularities during past years on the part of the commanders, +admirals, and officers of the said ships, in the matter of carrying +money and bringing back great quantities of merchandise on their own +behalf; and that they have caused serious grievances to the traders, +especially to the citizens of the said islands: for the present +I forbid and prohibit them in any case to trade or traffic, or to +occupy or lade the said ships during the voyage made in their charge, +in small or great quantity, under their own or any other name, in any +article whatsoever; nor shall a single tonelada be assigned to them, +as to the other citizens; nor can they buy or take from others any +space for freight--under penalty of a perpetual deprivation of the +said offices on the trade-route, and confiscation of the goods which +they may have laded, carried, or taken, which on investigation may +be found to be theirs. + +I consider it well, and so decree, that, in order that the said +officials may be maintained according to their station and the +obligations of their offices, there shall be give to the said +commander a salary of four thousand ducats, and to the admiral three +thousand, for each voyage out and back. And I permit and allow the +said governor and archbishop to give to the captains, soldiers, +sailors, and artillerymen who shall go in the said ships for each +voyage, the wages that they may assign as their earnings, and as just, +for the said voyage; for to these no more [than to their superiors] +shall permission be given to lade, or cause to be laded, merchandise +in quantities small or great, under the said penalties. + +And as it has been understood that in the past more commanders than +necessary have been appointed for the ships on the said route, and +they have carried in the posts of artillerymen and sailors many who +were not such, it is my will that this should cease and be corrected +henceforth; and that for each piece of artillery that the ships carry, +there shall go one artilleryman, and no more, nor shall wages be paid +to superfluous men. + +And in order that there may be the fitting account and regularity +in all things, all proceedings shall be conducted equitably and with +great precision in the matters ordered. It is my will and command that +there shall be in the said vessels, and sail with them, an inspector +and an accountant, to keep account and system in everything. And they +shall inspect the articles laded as merchandise, and carried back on +return in the said ships, and account for them in their books. The +said inspector and accountant shall be appointed by the governor and +archbishop in the same maner as they select the commander, admiral and +other officers, and with the same intervention of the senior auditor +of the Audiencia in case they do not agree. They shall take care +that these be persons of approved qualifications, satisfactory, and +worthy of confidence; and shall assign them such salary as may appear +sufficient and just, provided that it does not exceed two thousand +ducats a year to each man for each voyage, for they must not ship goods +[for themselves] either little or much, under the penalties provided +for the commander and admiral. And the said inspector and accountant +must sail, one in the commander's ship and the other in the admiral's +ship, alternating each voyage. The said governor and archbishop +shall give them the instructions and plan which they must follow on +the voyage, and they must give residencia like the other officers of +the said fleet, before they embark again for another voyage; and the +consciences of the said governor and archbishop are charged with the +selection and appointment of all the said ministers and officials. + +And since, on account of the overloading of the vessels which thus +far have plied on the said Philipinas route, we have seen that many +have been wrecked, with the men and goods which they contained, and as +it is fitting that this be remedied and prevented, we command that in +future care be taken that the tonnage to be carried in the said ships +shall be conformable to their capacity, leaving the space necessary for +the men who sail in them, and the supplies they take--which must be +sufficient so that in case of the lengthening of the voyage, for any +cause which may arise, the men may not perish for lack of them. Great +care should be taken that they be not overloaded or encumbered, so as +to put them in danger of wreck or some misfortune; on the contrary, +they should be lightly laden, and in such manner as will secure their +safety against storms or enemies that may be encountered. The tonnage +which, as aforesaid, is to be laden in them shall be allotted by my +governor, the archbishop of Manila, the senior auditor and the fiscal +of my said Audiencia, and two regidora of the cabildo of the said city +of Manila, among the citizens of the said islands who may have property +to invest. This allotment shall be made in the most equitable manner, +and without aggrieving anyone (as we are confident they will do), for +it is just that all should enjoy this benefit and convenience for their +maintenance and benefit; and their object should likewise be that the +country be peopled with useful colonists, such as will remain there. + +I also command that my viceroy of Nueva Espana and the governor +of the said Philipinas Islands, each so far as this concerns him, +shall moderate and regulate the freight charges to be paid on what +is laded in the said ships on their voyages to and fro, according +to the expenses thereof--conformably to the reduction that is made +in the tonnage of the said ships and the number of men who are to +sail in them, and the other expenses incurred--in such manner that +no superfluous or unnecessary expenses shall be incurred (but not +so that necessaries or conveniences shall be lacking), and that +it shall not be necessary to supply anything from my exchequer for +the expenditures for the said fleet. For this reason the duties now +levied and collected on the merchandise shall be raised two per cent, +and that on silver another two per cent, by way of averia [36] as +is done on that carried from the Indias via the Northern Sea in the +fleets and armed vessels; for this is conformable to the profits of +those that trade in the said Philipinas route. The proceeds of this +shall be a special fund, with a separate account carefully kept, in +the said city of Manila, to be used for the expenses contracted for +the said ships and their crews; with this shall be placed the freight +charges which may be collected conformably to the order which will be +given, as has hitherto been done; and in all things the necessary order +and system must be maintained by the said accountant and inspector, +and by my royal officials of the said Philipinas Islands. + +I charge and command my viceroys of Nueva Espana, both present and +future, to take especial care in the accomplishment and execution of +all the foregoing; and to station in the port of Acapulco, besides +the royal officials who are now there, a person of great integrity, +trustworthiness, and competence, with a commission as alcalde-mayor, +so that this decree may be suitably enforced in all respects; and no +more money may be carried [in the ships] than the amount permitted, +whether with or without license. In the said port the registers of +all that is brought from the said Philipinas Islands shall be opened +by the person to whom that duty is entrusted by my viceroy and by the +officials of my royal exchequer at the said port of Acapulco. They +shall also together inspect and check off the bales and chests, with +the scrutiny and care necessary to ascertain what has come without +registry and contrary to permission. The said registers are to be +sent to Mexico, as usual, with the results of the investigations made +in the said port of Acapulco, by a person of integrity or by one of +my said officials. In Mexico everything shall be again checked off, +and appraised; and the duties that belong to me shall be collected +and proper measures shall be taken to ascertain and learn what has +come registered, and whatever shall be found to have come without +registry, and whatever is carried contrary to the said prohibition, +shall be confiscated: but no permission or opportunity shall be given +for committing, in this procedure, or under pretext or occasion thus +afforded, any injury or act of injustice against the owners of the +said property. + +And I command that the same care be taken at the port of Acapulco in +examining the royal silver and other articles which may be embarked +and carried to the said Philipinas Islands. The royal officials of +the said port shall take account of them, and shall inform my governor +thereof and the royal officials of the said islands, sending them the +registers, and giving them all necessary information. As the majority +of the persons who go every year from Nueva Espana to the said islands +do not remain there, but return immediately, investing what money +they possess, I command my viceroy of Nueva Espana to give permission +to no one to go to the Philipinas Islands, unless such person shall +give securities that he will become a citizen and resident there for +more than eight years, or unless he shall go as a soldier, sent to +the governor; and against those who violate this decree, and their +bondsmen, he shall execute the necessary penalties without fail. + +And as it is my will that all the aforesaid should be complied with, +observed and executed inviolably, as also the decrees which were +ordered to be despatched by the king my lord, which are hereinbefore +mentioned, concerning the said trade, in so far as they are not +contrary to what is decreed and ordered, I command my viceroy of +the said Nueva Spana and my governor and captain-general of the said +Philipinas Islands, and my audiencias there, and my other judges and +magistrates, and all private persons whomsoever--each in so far as +concerns him--to observe and comply with, and cause to be observed +and complied with this decree, with exactness, and to execute the +said penalties without any exemption or remission. And in all cases +of remissness or carelessness which these my ministers shall display +in the fulfilment and execution of the said orders, I command that +the penalties be executed against them, and the example which the +affair demands shall be made; for this reason I command that, when +the residencias of their offices shall be taken, they shall be made +responsible for such matters. And that these commands may come to +the notice of all, and none may pretend ignorance of them, I command +that this my decree be publicly proclaimed. Issued at Valladolid, +on the last of December of the year one thousand six hundred and four. + +_I The King_ + +Countersigned by _Pedro de Ledesma_; signed by the Council. + +[_Note at beginning of MS._: "Your Majesty's decision and +mandates concerning the trade of the Philipinas Islands with Nueva +Espana. Corrected."] + + + +DOCUMENTS OF 1605 + + + Complaints against the Chinese. Miguel de Benavides, and others; + February 3-9. + Letter from a Chinese official to Acuna. March. + Letters from Augustinian friars to Felipe III. Estevan Carrillo, + and others; May 4-June 20. + Letter to Felipe III. Antonio de Ribera Maldonado; June 28. + + +_Source_: All of these documents are obtained from MSS. in the Archivo +general de Indias, Sevilla. + +_Translations_: The first and fourth are translated by Robert +W. Haight; the second and third, by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University +of Wisconsin. + + + + +COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE CHINESE + + +In the city of Manila, on the third day of the month of February in +the year one thousand six hundred and five, the most reverend Senor +Don Fray Miguel de Benavides, archbishop of these islands, member +of the council of the king our lord, etc., declared that, since the +uprising of the Chinese Sangleys who were formerly settled in this +city, in a market [_alcayceria_], or large town (which they call +Parian) that was situated there, the said Parian and town has been +commanded to be built, and has now been built anew, and is at this time +again peopled with the said infidel Sangleys. The said Sangleys are +infidels and idolaters, and a most pernicious and injurious people +to be settled among the Christian natives, newly converted to our +holy Catholic faith; for the said infidel Sangleys are most vicious, +both with women and in an unnatural manner, and are extremely liberal +in spending money for their purposes and desires, and artful and +crafty for every form of evil. Moreover, these Indian men and women +of these islands, especially those of the neighborhod of Manila, +are very easily persuaded to carnal sins, in short, as natives of +so hot and humid a climate; although it is a crime against nature, +this they do not know, and in some regions did not even have a word +for it in their language, until these infidel Chinese made this sin +known to them. These native Indian men and women are very greedy, +and as they are but lately made Christians, and are not thoroughly +instructed, a great many of them find it very easy to leave not only +Christian morals, but even the Catholic faith as well, and embrace the +superstitions and rites which the idolatrous infidels desire to teach +them. Likewise--and this is very important, considering the state of +the faith here, and upon what depends the peace and preservation of +these islands (namely, the faith in God and obedience to the king +our lord), and the extreme danger and peril in which these infidel +Sangleys placed us in the previous year of one thousand six hundred +and three, in the month of October, from which we were delivered only +by the mercy and infinite power of God, by which alone we could be +freed--their desire to slaughter all of us Spaniards, and to make +themselves masters of this kingdom, is much inflamed now at seeing +so many thousands as were here of their fathers, sons, brothers, +and kinsmen, and of their friends and countrymen, slain; and how so +great an amount of their property here was destroyed. With this so +open enmity, hatred, and thirst for vengeance so aroused, they will +seek, great in cunning and craft as they are, to sow discord between +us Spaniards and the Indian natives of these islands, and separate us, +mind and heart. For this purpose they promise and give them articles +of value; for of all known people they best understand how to bribe, +and they will contrive to know all secrets. And all this they can +easily accomplish, if they succeed in maintaining dishonorable carnal +intercourse with the Indian men and women. To stop all this, there +is no other means out to send all the said infidel Sangleys out of +this city, and give them only a place to live and dwell in during +the two or three months of April, May, and June, while the trading +and lading for Nueva Espana is being carried on; or, if it seems +best to his Majesty, to give license to a few of them, even though +they be such cruel and open enemies of him and of God; and to give +an order that no Indians, men or women, shall settle near them, but +shall remain at a considerable distance from the settlement or market +where these infidel Sangleys may dwell. His most reverend Lordship, +considering these things from the point of view of a person who has +known the Sangleys so many years, is acquainted with their language +and customs, has been in that country of China for a long time, +and has noticed that since the said rebellion and war which the said +Sangleys set on foot and waged against us, some of the natives have +made a settlement on a part of the site where the market and Parian +formerly stood, in which dwelt these infidel Sangleys; and that the +new settlement of the said natives adjoins the new market and Parian +which has been erected for the said infidel Sangleys, in which they +now are, and at present dwell. The said natives are so near to the +said infidel Sangleys, that it is not more than a rivulet, no wider +than a narrow street, that separates them; and it has a foot-bridge of +timbers, which affords passage from one side to the other. And even +this is not the only evil and danger, but as the said Parian of the +said infidels is midway between Manila and the said new settlement of +the natives, every time when those Indian men or women have to come to +this city, they must do so by passing through the street of the said +Parian of the said infidel Sangleys; and at morning, noon, and night +the latter can securely plan and execute all their misdeeds. What is +perhaps the worst is, that from birth the Indians of this country, +men and women, grow up in the water, bathing and swimming. The said +Sangleys see them naked in the said creek, or at best in the river +which is there, close to both districts. What with this unavoidable +chance for caressing them, and particularly for attracting the boys +with fruits and other little presents, they must draw them into their +own vices. This is particularly so as these boys actually go upon +the bank in the district of the infidel Sangleys, and there disport, +and enjoy themselves; and they are usually naked, or, if dressed, +they are almost the same as naked. It is very noticeable with these +Sangley people that they intermix with any other people who are here, +in a very singular fashion; for at once they intermarry with the women +of these nations, adopt their customs, and live like Indians. These +are not the only evils connected with the said settlement of the +said natives remaining there, but there are even other injuries, +perhaps greater, at any rate as great. One is that the said settlement +and district of these said Indian natives is very close to another +district and market, that of the Japonese, so near that they are only +about a stone's throw from each other; and the Japonese are fully as +bad as the Sangley infidels, both on the score of the infamous sin, +and as concerns the need of protecting ourselves from them as from +enemies. For on the banner that the infidel Sangleys raised when +they rebelled and made the late war against us, so endangering us, +there were written Chinese letters, which declared the Sangleys to be +friends of the Japonese; and in the rebellion about sixteen years ago, +when the former royal Audiencia of these islands commanded and caused +to be executed Don Agustin and Don Martin Panga, Indian chiefs from +Tondo, they found a Japonese implicated in the plots and the rebellion, +and hanged him in the plaza here at Manila. There is no one that +does not know the well-founded rumors and suspicions that have been +afloat to the effect that the king of Japon wished to come against +this city. It is likewise a matter of importance that these natives +of this new village and district before mentioned, neither sow grain +nor have lands for that purpose, but can only act as peddlers and +wanderers; and as such, must be ready for any ill deed, especially +if there be profit in it--as there will be, and that a great one, +as has been pointed out. His most reverend Lordship, considering that +he stood alone, has done his utmost to persuade the lord governor of +these islands, Don Pedro de Acuna, to provide a remedy for an evil +so greatly developed (or rather for so many evils), by removing the +said natives from the vicinity of the said infidel Sangleys; but the +said lord governor would not do it. When his most reverend Lordship +commenced to point out the great evils attendant on having the said +natives so near the said infidel Sangleys, the remedy was easy and +without difficulty; for the said district and settlement of natives +had but just begun, and they had not even commenced to build the new +Parian of the infidel Sangleys. Thus, each day the said settlement +grows larger, and its destruction grows every day more difficult; and +later it will be a greater damage to the said natives to remove them. + +Therefore his most reverend Lordship, desiring to check so enormous +sins, and to avert the so evident dangers from them, and the +destruction and end of this kingdom--both in faith and morals, and in +loyalty to the king our lord--commanded and commands that there be +drawn and received an investigation of the said matter, to seek and +apply the remedy, if in justice and right that be fitting; and that +the witnesses received shall declare the truth in all matters, under +oath, and under penalty of major excommunication, _late sententia, ipso +facto_, incurring [_word illegible in MS._] canonical admonition and +[_word illegible_]--as only this said penalty and oath will secure +secrecy so that they will not tell that they were cited for this +purpose, or what they declared, or any part thereof, or that this +investigation is being made, or anything concerning or touching the +matter. Accordingly I so provide, command, and sign; and they shall +declare, under the said oath and penalty, not only whether there have +not been infidel Sangleys here, since his Lordship has taken up this +matter of separating these natives from the said infidel Sangleys +in the district of the said Parian; but likewise whether they were +not living there in the said quarter of the said natives, until his +most reverend Lordship was constrained to make known the truth, and +cause them to be removed from the place--for it had already become +an intolerable thing, in the sight of any man whatsoever. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +By command of his most reverend Lordship: +_Francisco de Carranca_ + + +In the city of Manila, on the fifth day of February in the year +one thousand six hundred and five, his most reverend Lordship, +Don Fray Miguel de Venavides, archbishop of this said city, caused +to appear before him the canon Pablo Ruiz de Talavera, cura for the +natives of this city, from whom he took and received oath _in verbis +sacerdotis_, placing his hand upon his breast. Having done this, he +swore to tell the truth; and being questioned after the tenor of the +caption of this document, declared that this is what he knows, and +what is occurring. After the uprising and rebellion of the Sangleys +which occurred on the fourth of October in the previous year of six +hundred and three, as the settlement and Parian built by the said +Sangleys was burned--which stood outside the walls of this city, at +about an arquebus-shot from them, where the first houses began--all +the site on which the said Sangleys had thus settled was abandoned. As +it was thus depopulated, several Indian natives of this country, with +some servants of Captain and Sargento-mayor Christoval de Asqueta, +settled in several houses close by and adjoining the said site of the +Parian, so that there is nothing but a creek between (so small that at +low tide it is almost dry), with a wooden bridge; and on the further +side, a stone's throw more or less, is the site of the Parian of the +Sangley merchants (or _auhaes_), where the Xaponese are at present +settled. This witness, as a person who has been in this country +more than thirty years, and who is an interpreter of the natives, +knows that the said Sangleys are a very pernicious people, and are +cunning in all evil. They are especially so in the unnatural sin, +which they practice commonly among themselves, and likewise with women, +with whom they commit the same sin. For this they are very generous, +and readily give bribes for the fulfilment of their desires. Likewise +he knows that the natives, especially those of this district, are +very vicious, and the Indian women very facile and unchaste in regard +to offending God. Moreover, among themselves they never knew of the +unnatural sin, and they had no word or name for it, nor would they +know of it, until these Chinese came to this country; and from them +they have learned it. Further, this witness knows that indeed these +said natives are but lately converted to our holy Catholic faith, and +therefore are easily approachable; for they easily give up not only the +good morals that have been taught them by the ministers of the gospel, +but likewise our holy Catholic faith, that has been taught them with +so much pains, and is being taught them from day to day. And if they +communicate and have dealings with the Chinese, it will be an easy +matter to persuade them to abandon their obedience to his Majesty, +as they did when the said Sangleys rebelled in the previous year of +six hundred and three, when the Chinese gardeners of the village of +Huiapo, where this witness holds a benefice, persuaded many Indians +to rise in rebellion with them, saying that they were good people and +the Spaniards bad. And the said Indians, not wishing to fall with them, +gave information to this witness, as their cura, which he communicated +at length to his most reverend Lordship, bringing the Indians to him so +that they might tell him. And shortly after this the Sangleys rebelled, +and placed this city in so great straits that if God our Lord had not +miraculously delivered us, they would have killed all the Spaniards, +and remained in possession of the country; and the Catholic faith would +have perished here, which has cost so much to the king our lord for +its establishment and support. Owing to the loss of life inflicted on +them so justly at that time, they have become irritated, both those +who remained alive, who now maintain the new Parian--which has been +built on a part of the site of the old one, close to the village of +Indians above referred to--and likewise those that live in Great China, +where their brothers and kinsmen are. These also had a part of their +property burned. And this witness knows that the said Chinese are +a people full of craft in all they undertake, and that they can in +one way or another turn the mind to any rebellion or uprising. This +witness heard Ensign Christoval Gomez--who was sent as ambassador to +the province of Myndanao by the governor of these islands, Don Pedro de +Acuna, and who came back to this city--say concerning a ship of infidel +Chinese, which was in Myndanao and came armed to the port of this city, +where it at present is, that the infidel Chinese of this ship while +they were in Mindanao persuaded the said people of Mindanao to come +to these islands in an armed fleet, encouraged them to do this, and +gave them many supplies of war, catans, and metal to make artillery, +powder, and battle-axes; and the said ensign added, to this witness, +that these Chinese were great rascals, and that they ought all to +be in the galleys. Further, he told this witness that they did not +come to the port of this city of their own will, but were forced to +it by winds; and that another vessel had gone to the island of Xolo +for the same reason. And, both, for this and on account of the hatred +they bear for us, this witness knows that they will do all in their +power to stir up the Indians against us--which will be easy for them, +with the bribes that they give the Indians; and easier still if they +have committed the crime against nature with them, and with their +women. And it appears to this witness that there is no other remedy +than to drive the Chinese out of the country, and allow them here +only during the three months of the year while their trade lasts, and +then let them go back to their own country. And if it should appear +best to his Majesty to give permission to some few of them to remain +in this land, he should order that no Indian men or women be settled +near them, or near the market where dwell the infidel Sangleys. And +this witness knows that his most reverend Lordship is considered to +know the language and customs of the Chinese, having been acquainted +with them for many years past, and that he has spent a considerable +time there in China. He also knows that the Indians of the village +above mentioned are so close to the new Parian of the Chinese that +they must pass through it in going and coming, when they are obliged +to come to this city; and there they have opportunity to talk with the +said Sangleys, to concoct their misdeeds and sins. This witness knows +that the said houses and village of the natives, as has been said, +are also near the Parian of the Japonese, a pernicious people, who, +like the Sangleys, do great harm through practice of the infamous +sin; and they are a more restless and warlike people than the said +Sangleys. They have always been threatening this country with war, +and they have molested it and its coasts by their ships, with which +they come to plunder; and they bring Sangleys as pilots and sailors. In +a native rebellion organized sixteen years ago by certain Indians, at +which time several chiefs who were implicated were executed, they were +in communication with the Japonese, and one Japonese was hanged. This +witness likewise knows that at the time when the Sangleys rebelled, +in the said past year of six hundred and three, there was taken from +them a banner, with an inscription in the characters which they use, +which was examined and read by one who understood it; and he said that +in the said inscription the said Chinese declared themselves friends +of the Xaponese. Besides, it is easy to see the loss that would +result from the intercourse of these natives with the said Xaponese +and Chinese. And this witness knows (for he was present and saw it) +that at the time when they were commencing to rebuild the Parian of +the said Sangleys there were present his most reverend Lordship, +with the president and all the auditors of this royal Audiencia, +the regidors, and many other persons, on the site of the Parian--at +which time they were considering its rebuilding, it being on the first +anniversary of the burning of the said Parian, which was on the sixth +of October of the said year six hundred and three. This witness saw +that the lord archbishop opposed it, saying that it was inexpedient +to build it for many reasons, until an account of them had been given +to his Majesty. And finally he called to this witness, and said to +him that those houses of the Indians--pointing out to him the said +village above mentioned--would better be moved back and taken from +that place; for it was not good that they should remain there, and +particularly when they were considering putting Sangleys so near. This +was heard by the lord governor, Don Pedro de Acuna, and other persons +who were there. And this witness knows that on that same day the lord +governor and both the cabildos, the secular and ecclesiastical, were +in the church of San Andres, where mass was being chanted in honor +of the patron saints of this city, in thanksgiving for their aid, +which, on such a day as this, had given us victory over the Chinese; +and the said lord archbishop preached, and in the sermon discoursed +at length concerning the inadvisability of a second Parian, owing to +the many offenses against God there committed, and the great danger in +which it would again place this city. Notwithstanding this and other +measures which the said lord archbishop took in the matter--such as +sending to tell the lord governor, Don Pedro de Acuna, with Captain +Pedro de Ortega, alcalde-in-ordinary of this city, that this village +of the natives should be removed, as it was so near to the Parian, +in order to avoid the offenses that would there be committed against +God our Lord--so far as he has learned, they have not up to the +present day removed the said village. And this witness knows that in +the said village of the said natives, there was a house of Sangleys, +in which this witness saw three Sangleys; for this witness, as cura of +the natives of this city, was commanded by his most reverend Lordship +to investigate their way of life, and see whether there were any +infidel Sangleys among them. In compliance with what his most reverend +Lordship commanded, he went to the said village, with Senor Geronimo +de Alcaraz, and both together saw the said three infidel Sangleys, +who were living there; and, when asked how long they had been living +there, they answered "three months." Likewise this witness asked the +Indians of the said village and another Indian--a chief from Mindoro, +who frequently went to the said village--whether there had been more +Sangleys. They answered that as many as six other Sangleys had lived +there, in this said Indian village, for more than two months. This +witness knows further that, by a strenuous effort made by the said +archbishop, the said Chinese were removed from the said village. This +procedure was public, as was also the fact that the said archbishop had +informed Senor Don Pedro de Acuna, governor of these islands, that the +Chinese were among these Indians, and that the said lord governor sent +to investigate this an ensign of the guard, who returned and told the +said lord governor that the said Sangleys were not there; or at any +rate the said governor so understood the said ensign. But as the lord +archbishop was certain of the truth, he told the said lord governor, +in the presence of all the people, that they were deceiving him, and +that the said infidel Sangleys were among the said natives of the said +village. As the lord governor was not yet satisfied, he himself went +in person to the said Parian, and, from the bank of the stream, called +for the Sangleys who were living in the said village with the natives; +immediately the said three infidel Sangleys came into the presence +of the said lord governor. This witness asked them how long they had +been there, and they answered that they had been there three months, +and had come from Cebu. This was heard by the lord governor, who was +present, and by other persons who were accompanying him. Then the +said lord governor ordered the said Sangleys to leave the said village +straightway. And the said village of the said natives is, at this very +day, as has been said, in the danger explained in the document heading +these proceedings, and in this statement and declaration. And this +is the truth, by the oath he has taken, which he affirmed, ratified, +and signed; and he says that he is about thirty-five years of age. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +_Pablo Ruiz de Talavera_ +Before me: _Francisco de Carranca_, notary. + +[On the ninth of February of the year one thousand six hundred +and five, the archbishop caused to appear before him for the said +investigation, the canon Diego de Leon, who, having been sworn in +the manner before described, made a declaration in every way similar +to that of the preceding witness. He mentioned as an instance of +the bad faith of the Chinese, the death of Gomez Perez Das Marinas, +and the many good soldiers that they then killed. Below the formal +closing of the declaration, but before the signature, he adds the +following to his testimony:] This witness further says that in his +opinion, if the infidel Sangleys were to come only for purposes +of trade to these islands, and none of them were to remain here, +the kingdom of China would be altogether friendly toward us for the +sake of our trade; and if none of them remained here, the Spaniards +would have no occasion to injure them, and they would not have time +to acquire influence over these natives, who are quick at learning a +new language, and are excellent soldiers, shooting even better than +do the Spaniards with arquebuses, and possessing very good weapons. + +_Fray Miguel_, archbishop of Manila. +_Diego de Leon_ +Before me: _Francisco de Carranca_, notary. + +I, Francisco de Carranca, canon of this holy church of Manila, +appointed notary by his Lordship, by his command caused this copy +of this information to be made from the original, which was drawn +before me, and remains in the archives of the notary-public of +this archbishopric. It is a certain and true copy, to the best of +my knowledge, and I refer to the original. Witness its copying, +correcting, and comparison, Thomas de Cardenas and Juan Camacho de +el Hello, residents of this city of Manila, where it is dated, on to +the seventh of July of the year one thousand six hundred and five. + +_Francisco de Carranca_, notary. + +[We append to this document the following affidavit:] + + + +Sworn statement to the effect that there are Sangleys in Manila in +the present year 1605. + + +In the city of Manila, on the fifteenth day of the month of June in +the year one thousand six hundred and five, the schoolmaster Don Luis +de Salinas, whom I affirm that I know, declared that it was necessary +for expediency's sake that I, Francisco Davila, notary of the king +our lord, should testify on oath that today, on the said day here +given, there live, exist, and reside infidel Sangleys in the houses +of the citizens of Manila, or in some of them. It should be known +that they are in the house of the master-of-camp Pedro de Chaves, +and in the house of the master-of-camp Augustin de Arceo, who is at +present exercising the said office and military rank in this camp--and +the said houses form one side of the palace, and front on the Plaza +de Armas--and in the houses of the dean Don Juan de Bivero and those +of Antonio de Spinosa, which are on the plaza of this said city; and +in a number of others belonging to the most prominent citizens--that +is, those of the highest life and rank in the city. The said notary +requested me to give the said testimony, and by these presents I ask +that there be witnesses, that I the said Francisco de Avila, give my +word and truthful testimony that I have seen today, on the said date, +the said Sangleys in the said houses, selling their merchandise and +being present therein as if in their own homes. And in accordance +with the said request I have given these presents in the said city of +Manila on the said day, month, and year, being witnesses thereto the +prebendary Tomas de Cardenas, Antonio Bacan, and Alonso Cano, residents +in Manila. And therefore I have set my seal in witness of the truth. + +_Francisco Davila_ + +We, the notaries who have here signed our names, certify and give +faith that Francisco de Avila, by whom the statement above is signed +and sealed, is a royal notary, and to the acts and instruments which +have been or are drawn before him full faith and credit are given, in +and out of court; and that this may be apparent we have given these +presents, in Manila, on the sixteenth day of the month, of June in +the year one thousand six hundred and five. + +_Bartolome de Quesada_, royal notary. +_Alonzo Gomez_, his Majesty's notary. +_Francisco de Alanis_, notary-public. + + + + +LETTER FROM A CHINESE OFFICIAL TO ACUNA + + +(Translation of a letter from the inspector-general of Chincheo in +the kingdom of China, which was received in this year 1605, addressed +to Don Pedro de Acuna, governor and captain-general of the Filipinas +Islands. The address is to the great captain-general of Luzon. The +same letter was sent by the viceroy of Chincheo and the eunuch of +the same province; and since they are all three identical, without +any discrepancy except in the signatures, this copy stands for all +of them.) + +Learning that the Chinese who went for purposes of trade to the +kingdom of Luzon have been put to death by the Spaniards, I have +inquired into the cause of these deaths and have prayed the king +that he will do justice upon the person who has been the cause of +this great evil, that redress for it may be undertaken and that the +merchants may enjoy peace and quietness. Some years before I came +here as inspector, a Sangley, by name Tionez, [_sic; sc._ Tiognen] +[37] went by permission of the king of China with three mandarins +to Luzon, searching at Cabite for gold and silver. The whole thing +was a lie, for they found neither gold nor silver; accordingly the +king directed this deceiver Tionez to be punished, that the strict +justice done in China might be known. + +During the time of the preceding viceroy and eunuch, Tiognen and his +companion, named Yanlion, told this lie; and I, after I came hither, +begged the king to have a copy made of all the documents in the case +of Tiognen, and to command the said Tiognen to be brought before him +with the record in the case. I myself saw the aforesaid papers and +caused him to see that the whole thing had been a deceit uttered by +the said Tiognen. I wrote to the king declaring that on account of +the deceits of the said Tiognen the Castilians had suspected us of +intending to make war upon them; and that on this account they had +put to death more than thirty thousand Chinese in Luzon! The king did +as I asked him and therefore punished the said Yanglion by ordering +him to be killed, and the said Tiognen, by commanding his head to be +cut off and suspended in a cage. The Chinese who were put to death +in Luzon were innocent, and I with others discussed this matter +with the king, that we might learn what was his will in this grave +affair. There was also another matter of importance to be considered, +which was that two English ships had come to this coast of Chincheo, +a very dangerous thing for China. This we did that the king might learn +what was to be done in these two matters of such importance. We also +wrote to the king that his Majesty should command the two Sangleys +who pointed out this port to the English to be punished. After we +had written the aforesaid letter to the king he answered us that +since English vessels had come to China, they should be commanded +to go away immediately to Luzon, for fear that they had come for +piratical purposes; and that they should carry word to the inhabitants +of Luzon not to give credit to a deceitful and lying set of Chinese, +He also commanded the two Sangleys who had piloted the English to be +immediately executed. As for the other things that we had written to +him he declared that our will should be done. Immediately, after having +received this document, we--the viceroy, the eunuch, and I--sent these +documents to the governor of Luzon, that his Lordship might know the +greatness of the king of China and of his realm (for they are so great +that he governs everything upon which the moon and the sun shine), +and likewise that the governor of Luzon may know the great justice +with which this vast realm is governed. It is long since anyone has +dared to give offense to this kingdom; and although the Japonese have +endeavored to disturb Corea, which is under the government of China, +they have been unable to succeed therewith, and have been driven from +the said kingdom, and Corea has remained in great peace and quiet, +as the peoale of Luzon know well from what has been told them. [_At +the beginning of this paragraph, and on the margin_: "They knew that +the English are our friends."] + +Last year, after we learned that, as a result of the deceit of +Tiognen, so many Chinese had been put to death in Luzon, many mandarins +assembled to agree upon urging the king to take vengeance for all these +deaths. We said that the land of Luzon was a wretched land of little +importance, of old inhabited only by devils and snakes; and that, as a +result of the immigration there a few years ago of so many Sangleys to +trade with the Castilians, the country has been enriched to the extent +to which the said Sangleys have labored therein. They have built the +walls, and made houses and gardens, and other things of great advantage +to the Castilians. Nevertheless, the Castilians had no consideration +for these things, and have felt no gratitude for these good works, +but have 60 cruelly slain all those people. Although we wrote this +statement two or three times to the king, he replied to us that, +although he was grieved by what had happened, there were three reasons +why we should not avenge ourselves or make war upon Luzon. The first +was that the Castilians had long been friends of the Chinese in this +region; the second is that it was uncertain who would be victorious, +Chinese or Castilians; and the third and last reason, that the people +slain by the Castilians were a base people, ungrateful to China, +their native country, to their parents, and to their relatives, +since so many years had passed during which they had not returned +to China. The king said that he did not consider these people of any +value, for the aforesaid reasons; and he merely commanded the viceroy, +the eunuch, and me to write this letter sent by this ambassador, that +the people of Luzon may know that the king of China has great kindness, +great patience, and great pity, since he has not commanded them to +make war against the people of Luzon. His justice is plainly to be +seen, since he has punished the deceit of Tiognen. As the Spaniards +are a wise and prudent race it must be that they would be grieved +for having put so many people to death, and will repent thereof and +will show justice to the Chinese who have survived. If the Castilians +show justice to the Chinese, send back the Sangleys who have survived +the war, and pay the money due for the goods taken from the Sangleys, +there will be amity between this kingdom and that, and merchant vessels +will sail there every year. If not, the king will not permit merchant +vessels to make the voyage, but will command a thousand vessels of +war to be built with a force of soldiers--relatives of the deceased, +and inhabitants of the other nations and kingdoms that pay tribute +to China; and, without having mercy upon anyone, they will make war, +and afterward the kingdom of Luzon will be given to that people which +will pay tribute to China. [_On the margin_: "Those who pay tribute +are Siang, Cochinchina, and Corea."] + +(The letter of the inspector-general was written on the twelfth of +the second month, which, according to our reckoning, is March of the +[_blank in MS._] year of the reign of Bandel. [38] The letter of the +eunuch was written on the sixteenth of the same month and year; and +that of the viceroy on the twenty-second of the same month and year.) + + + + +LETTERS FROM AUGUSTINIAN FRIARS TO FELIPE III + + +Sire: + +This province of our father St. Augustine in the Philipinas enjoyed +a fortunate and prosperous season as a result of the care, zeal, +and strictness in religion of the provincial, who (to my great +sorrow) has just completed his term, and was chiefly inspired by +the advice, directions, and commands which your Majesty has sent +us in your letters, all of which have been scrupulously obeyed and +respected. During this happy time there returned to this province Fray +Lorenso de Leon, [39] a man who after having been provincial here +went on business of the province to Espana and Roma for six years, +as your Majesty has been fully notified. This father Fray Lorenso de +Leon came, then, to disturb all this good, having sought and pursued +nothing but his own personal interest and desires, with his notorious +vanity and ambition, and having wholly neglected the general advantage +of this forgotten province. + +He arrived last year, one thousand six hundred and four; and up to +the present time (our provincial chapter having been held in the +interim) his only occupation and efforts have been to bring it about +by unfair contrivances that he should attain his own pretensions +and advancement, as is evident by the result. In the face of the +requisitions and notifications made by our assembly of definitors, +he, although he was under solemn oath, concealed the papers and +documents which he brought with him, and brought them forward only in +this present chapter. These documents, although they were nothing but +simple letters from our father-general, were accepted there, in order +to avoid contentions and scandals; and accordingly, as they directed, +he presided in the chapter as vicar-general, the same authority being +valid for all chapters and congregations [of the order] at which he +might be present. Thus he has taken this ancient and rightful name from +our provincials of Castilla, to whom it was granted by his Holiness; +and this without command from your Majesty and your royal Council, +to whom all this is subject. We pray will all humility that such +assumption of authority may be permitted to go no further, in order +that the evils thus begun in such a decay of this province (of which +your Majesty will be informed in this letter) may no longer continue. + +After the majority of the chapter, including those most worthy of +confidence, had agreed and determined, for the greater peace and quiet +of the chapter, to elect as provincial a deserving religious of the +qualifications required by our rules, we proceeded peacefully with +the election, until the said father Fray Lorenso de Leon took control +of it. Although he had no right to be present in spite of his being +president, he eagerly seated himself so near the clerk who gave out +the blank ballots that, whether by fear or affection, he certainly +by this, and with his gestures and signs, being himself a candidate, +affected and changed the wills and intentions of some of the electors, +contrary to the freedom of the election. Moreover, he was present at +the counting of the votes and ballots with the three tellers. When +he discovered that he had some votes, at which time he ought to have +departed, and that another (whom he feared) was receiving more than +he was then, so as to be sure of the election--and that candidate is +said certainly to have had it--exceeding his authority, he barred the +votes and commanded the counting to cease, declaring the election to be +void. He showed--as a pretext, as will later appear from all this--a +ballot or vote somewhat torn, in order to force a new election. Hence +followed much ill-will, which he manifested on his side. In order to +compel a new decision, as a result of the fear and change of purpose +which he intended to cause in their minds, he delivered deceitful and +satirical speeches (with which he is provided), in which he let them +know that there was no one else in the chapter who could be elected +except himself. He declared that he was not obliged to confirm him whom +they might elect, making this declaration for the benefit of him who +presumed to be most fit to be chosen. Although he was challenged and +called upon to declare the impediment or incapacity of that man or +of any other, he was not willing to do so, since in truth there was +no such disability. As a result of this and other acts of tyranny, +he forced a new election and new vote, to the great disgust and +astonishment of the chapter. This sufficed to elect him (as he was +in fact elected) provincial. He caused himself to be confirmed by +one of the definitors; and, as the chapter had begun by siding with +him, so it was continued. He now saw himself provincial, president, +and vicar-general; and all this encouraged and enabled him to take +our courage and spirit away from us in all elections, both small and +great. Thus they all resulted in accordance with his will, and with +the promises which he had made to those of his party, and to those +from whom he had asked votes. This he had done through some laymen, +a thing which makes the matter worse. + +The result is manifest in the holders of all the better offices and +convents. They are chosen from the friars of his province of Mexico, +and from those who have assumed the habit here--unlearned, dissipated, +and worthless boys. At the same time he has put out of office those +whom he has oppressed, solely because they have come, being sent out +by your Majesty from the provinces of Espana. The hatred and division +among ourselves arising from his party cannot be remedied unless you +Majesty take prompt measures to cure it from there, so completely +have these fathers who are not from Espana obtained possession of +the province, which is not very lucrative under their control. All +the rest of us remain in discouragement and unhappiness to see such +things, so opposite to good government and the Christian religion, +and so full of peril to consciences. The result has been that some +religious have not been willing to accept priorships in this chapter, +for fear that they cannot hold them securely, inasmuch as the said +father has not in their view been elected as a lawful superior, +considering the coercion in the proceedings. Taking warning from +past experience, fearing to cause public scandal and the rumors that +result from disputes and investigations in such matters, and timid +because of the little redress that can be had here, we have endured +this affliction, and will suffer the harm within our own gates. For +the whole series of proceedings is in violation of law; yet we have +not, although your Majesty has many just counselors in this his royal +council, entered our plea for justice and liberty before the council; +for we desire to avoid scandals, and the governor of these islands +has shown himself to be greatly biased in favor of the provincial +elected. This is due to the activity and unlawful proceedings of the +sargento-mayor Christoval de Asqueta, long since an agent for father +Fray Lorenso de Leon. Such a relation is completely contrary to the +rule of our order and our withdrawal from the world. Our only redress +is in recourse to your Majesty, prostrate before whose feet we send +our petition from this remotest province to our patron, defender, +and gracious king, praying for justice, relief, and liberty in this +case and in all other cases in which oppression is brought upon our +good purpose and holy zeal, which were taught us in the convents in +the provinces of Espana. We assure your Majesty that we who make +this earnest and truthful report are the most prominent and sound +part of the chapter; and that we are moved solely by the purpose of +serving our Lord God and of promoting the advance of our holy order in +credit and reputation, to the benefit of the royal crown and to the +spiritual desert of your Majesty in these regions. We feel certain +that your Majesty will soon send the remedy for all these evils, +as we entreat, by interposing the authority of the nuncio of his +Holiness, that he may by his official censure revoke all documents, +rights of preeminence, or letters of our father-general which the +said father Fray Lorenso de Leon may have, since it is entirely +improper that he should take advantage of them. By this means and +by the decrees which your Majesty will issue, this province can be +assembled anew for an election--that is, those of it who have the +right to vote--free from domination, under the presidency of a bishop +of these Philipinas Islands. That which is supremely necessary is, +as we have often prayed your Majesty, that there may come here from +that province of Castilla a religious to inspect this province and set +its affairs in order. If need be, he should have plenary authority to +govern it, without allowing other elections; and he whom your Majesty +shall send should come accompanied by religious fit to restore and +preserve this province. Like a young vine, it is in need of such +laborers, and not of such as dry up its moisture and pluck its fruit, +like the friars who come here from Mexico. They have no other care, +imitating in this their head; for it is evident that the said father +Fray Lorenso de Leon has always acted in this way, since for his +own private claims he has taken almost ten thousand pesos in past +years and at present he has begun to collect the same a second time, +in order to satisfy these claims entirely. We are eye-witnesses that +in his behavior, desires, possessions, and unlawful wealth [40] he +lays claim to great things. According to rumor and his beginnings, +he aims at a bishopric; and this is made certain by the saying that +he brought back here, when he complained that he would have received +the bishopric of Manila if some persons had not written against him, +and declared that he brought letters with him which would cause him to +be feared, and that he would be provincial, by fair means or foul. May +your Majesty be pleased to abate this evil by causing him to leave this +province, and by granting us this boon and redress for which we pray, +and which will conduce so greatly to the restoring of this province. Be +assured that we make this truthful representation without any sort +of malice or evil purpose, but only with wholesome and well-founded +zeal. Your Majesty will have satisfactory proof of this in the letters +and advices which will be sent from the government, the community, +and the religious orders here, all of which will furnish information +in the case. The cause is that of God and of your Majesty, and this +will give us calmness and courage, in certain hope of receiving this +great grace and protection. We remain your Majesty's humble chaplains +and faithful servants, praying our God to grant your Majesty many +years of happy life with all spiritual gifts, to the increase of your +royal estates and Christian seigniories. Dated after the session of +our chapter in our convent of San Augustin in Manila, on the fourth +day of the month of May, one thousand six hundred and five. + + +_Fray Estevan Carrillo_, definitor. +_Fray Bernabe de Villalovos_, definitor of Guadalupe. +_Fray Miguel Garcia_, visitor. +_Fray Jhoan de Tapia_, associate of the late provincial and secretary +of the province [?]. +_Fray Francisco Serrano_, sometime visitor. +_Fray Miguel de Siguenza_, sometime visitor. +_Fray Mathedo Dacas_, prior. +_Fray Jhoan de Pineda_, prior, and lecturer in theology. +_Fray Diego Pardo_, procurator-general. +_Fray Jheronimo de Salas_, prior. +_Fray Jhoan de Rojas_, sub-prior of Manila. +_Fray Miguel de San Marco_ +_Fray Bartolome de Aguirre_ +_Fray Ambrosio de Leon_, procurator. + + +[_Endorsed_: "September 12, 1606. Considered; the decree on a separate +paper."] + + +Sire: + +The Order of St. Augustine in these islands has for years been in +need of reform, and many letters have been written to your Majesty on +this subject. During the provincialate which has just come to an end, +that of Fray Pedro Arce, some reforms were accomplished as a result +of his good example, for he is a friar who follows the rules of his +order very scrupulously; but as he had no one to carry this beginning +to perfection, for lack of friars such as himself, he did not achieve +what he desired. His successor is named Fray Lorenzo de Leon; and he +has begun to overthrow everything which his predecessor established, +by oppressing the Castilian friars and encouraging the creoles, +[41] who are utterly shiftless and a set of fools. From this will +necessarily follow the entire ruin of the province. The only means of +remedy is that your Majesty should send religious from Castilla and +those provinces of Espana in order that this province may lift its head +and be reformed. The religious of the said order will write to your +Majesty. There are very zealous ones among them, especially Fray Pedro +de Arce, [42] the late provincial, to whom entire credit may be given. + +May our Lord keep your Majesty for the good of your many +kingdoms. Manila, June 1, 1605. + +_Fray Bernardo de Santa Catherina_, commissary of the Holy Office, +of the Order of St. Dominic. [43] + +Sire: + +In spite of the fact that I am one of those who joined in signing +a common letter which was sent to your Majesty by the majority +of the chapter of this province of our father St. Augustine in +the Philippinas, I cannot satisfy my conscience or manifest the +zeal which I ought to possess, without giving personal notice to +your Majesty of certain things with which as associate of the late +provincial and as secretary of the province I became acquainted, and +which still continue to exist, to the great harm and diminution of +the province. I am encouraged to do this, although it is the first +time that I address you, by reasons which demand a remedy; and by +considering, with the certain proofs which I have, that your Majesty +as a king and father most benevolent and most Christian will not be +indignant that a chaplain, servant, and vassal such as I should give +information, by means of these and other just suggestions, in order +that reform may result from them. Ever since father Fray Lorenso de +Leon returned to this province, it has steadily degenerated from the +harmony and influence which it had previously gained, as a result of +the great improvement shown in all things under the control of the +virtuous superior of the previous term. It now grows worse and worse +the more it has of him who is at present the superior, the father +already mentioned. The plan and the tricks with which he was elected I +do not write to your Majesty, since they have already been recounted +in a common letter, to which I refer. As a result of his election +the religious from Mexico who are here, and have assumed the habit +in this country have recovered their strength. They are nearly all +of little ability, ignoramuses, uncontrolled, and of most perverse +inclinations. Out of the respect and reverence due your Majesty I +do not enter into details; I only state particularly that the games +of cards have been revived among them. The one who has especially +distinguished himself is a certain Fray Jhoan de Amorin, who with +the said father Fray Lorenco de Leon went from this province to the +province of Mexico, returning again with a very bad reputation and the +name of having a restless disposition, ambitious and injurious to all, +and personally vicious and dissolute, unrestrained in all respects. + +The said father being in Mexico took under his charge the conduct of +some religious intended for this province, and recruited from that +one. He was in charge of the clothing and other possessions of these +religious, and even of the fund granted from your Majesty's treasury +of that kingdom for such conveyance of friars. He deceitfully affirmed +that it has been spent, but rendered no account for it; and tells +different stories about it, such as to condemn him. He has always +been under the protection of the said father Leon, who has received +his pay from the great amount which the other has obtained for him, +during this last chapter, by means of secular and religious persons +belonging to his party. As the climax of all this, he has appointed +the said father Amorin prior of the convent of Tondo, in the sight of +all this community. The common people have objected and murmured much, +since in that village they have previously had special proofs of our +disinterestedness and purity of motive. + +Of the many things which were taken in charge by Father Lorenco de +Leon to be attended to in the kingdoms of Espana and Roma, for the +benefit of this distant province, not one of the least importance +or necessity has been concluded; yet he has spent, just as if he +had carried everything through, the assessments and additional +contributions which were given him in common by the province. He +has cared only for his private interests and his private claims, +as is manifestly shown by the titles that have been lavished upon +him ... master, though he has not sufficient learning; and president +and vicar-general for all chapters and assemblages, to the manifest +injury of the members of this province. He was received as such, +although in violation of law, only in order to avoid contention and +scandal. But he has assumed still more authority, as a result of +the liberty which he has, and in the documents which he issues adds +the title of provincial and vicar-general. All this is without the +command of your Majesty and of your royal Council of the Indias, +and is contrary to the grants made to our provincial fathers of +Castilla who have so long exercised a similar office. This is right, +since this province was established and is maintained by them and the +honored friars who have come out hither from Espana. We have greatly +suffered from the lack of such Spanish friars, since it is now six +years since religious were sent out to us here. The cause has been +the fact that the said father Fray Lorenzo de Leon went thither, and +although he might have brought back a noble shipload of them, he did +not undertake the work with sufficient diligence--expecting to obtain +friars from Mexico, and to convert to his own use the grants made for +such conveyance in Sevilla from your Majesty's treasury. The fact is, +that although he received a decree and allowance to bring eighteen +religious from those provinces, he actually brought only seven to +whom the habit of our father St. Augustine belonged. The other eleven +he supplied with laymen who were traveling secretly to the Indias, +and he received from them special bribes, putting upon them habits +of the order, that they might in this way get as far as the registry +in Vera Cruz and afterward return to their own condition. The said +father thus retained in his hands all the allowance which he had +received. I would not dare to make this statement to your Majesty +if I did not know it from the relation of those very seven religious +whom he brought hither from Espana. Additional evidence is a letter +(which I saw) from Dr. Antonio de Morga, written soon after his +arrival in Mexico, in which he gave this information to persons from +there. Nothing has been done in this matter because of the fear and +subjection in which the said father Leon has placed those of us who +might speak and demand justice for this and other most unjust acts +of which he has been guilty. I testify to your Majesty that his cell +and manner of dress are like those of a trading merchant, and not of +a poor and abstinent friar; and, through the trade conducted by the +Chinese here, I know that he has invested a great amount of money in +sending merchandise to Mexico. Now this he could not do except at the +expense of the convents; for in the larger and richer houses he has +granted offices to those of his party and those under his control, +while he dislikes and ill-treats the virtuous and grave religious from +Espana. All this causes us sorrow and affliction, especially because +of the offense committed against our Lord God, and the loss to our +order and the disservice of your Majesty and of your Majesty's holy +zeal, and because your Majesty's directions are not fulfilled. May +your Majesty be pleased to put an end to all this by exercising your +authority and sending as promptly as possible an inspector from the +province of Castilla, accompanied by religious like himself. Such a +one may amend this and take these two religious from here, depriving +them of the titles of which they have made so bad a use. I beseech your +Majesty to pardon my boldness in having dwelt so long on this matter. I +may have failed, in my manner of writing, to observe the respect and +form due to my king and lord, but I believe that I have not been at +fault in purpose or zeal. I am now occupied in the service of your +Majesty as chief chaplain and vicar of the galleys and fleets of your +Majesty in these kingdoms, upon the important expedition which is now +being made. [44] In this and in all things I am the meanest servant +and vassal of your Majesty. I kiss your royal hand and pray that God +may keep your Majesty in a long and happy life with the increase of +every good. + +Manila, June 20, 1605. +_Fray Jhoan de Tapia_ + +[_Endorsed_: "June 22, 1606; to the Count of Lemos." "September 12, +1606; examined; no answer."] + + + + +LETTER FROM MALDONADO TO FELIPE III + + +Sire: + +On every occasion which has arisen I have regularly advised you of +whatever seemed desirable for the proper service of your Majesty, +which is my only desire. Accordingly, last year I sent a letter by the +two ships which were despatched, a duplicate of which I send in this, +with other matters that have come to my notice. Your Majesty will +be pleased to have this examined, as it treats of some affairs which +demand remedy; and in regions so remote many difficulties arise when +due provision is not made--as will be seen in some papers which are +sent with this, concerning the little respect which the soldiers and +troops of war show toward the auditors, as the governor claims that +we are not their judges; and regarding the galleys which the governor +has built, and their excessive cost, which is the ruin of this country; +likewise will be seen therein the many offices and positions of profit +which the governor has given to his creatures, against the decrees of +your Majesty and the instructions for his office, so that all those +who have served here feel very indignant over it. These things, +and the obligation of my office, have constrained me to give this +report, and to try to secure the remedy which the vassals of your +Majesty hope for, when your Majesty shall cast your gaze upon this +land which was so cared for and favored by his Catholic Majesty +(whom may God keep!) which your Majesty is still caring for, with +the great favors which your Majesty grants it for the spiritual and +temporal good which is your object. + +The royal [estate] in these islands is in debt for a large sum of +money in gold, as your Majesty has been informed; on this account +all those who draw salaries and stipends therefrom are in the utmost +need--so much so that we have not been able to pay this year the +president, auditors, archbishop, bishops, prebendaries, or ministers +of instruction and justice, not having the means to pay them. Most +pitiable of all has been the plight of the soldiers, who are suffering +the utmost extremity, without there being any resources with which +to aid them. All this has been caused by the excessive cost of the +galleys, and the great expenses incurred by some expeditions made +with them without anything being thus gained. In the interim, until +your Majesty be pleased to order some provision, we shall take great +pains to do what is most expedient so that these expenses may cease +and the country be defended without them. [_In the margin of this +paragraph is written_: "No answer to be given."] + +This year it will be very necessary to appropriate a considerable +loan of money from what comes from Nueva Spana--because the viceroy of +Mexico has not sent the usual aid, and it is impossible to get along +without obtaining it from private persons--that the land may not go +to ruin; for I can assure you that it has come to this extremity. + +Last year I advised you of the many offices which the governor had +granted, and in this he has continued--going so far that, observing +the general complaint of all the meritorious persons, I have tried to +restrain him. At this he showed little inclination to favor my efforts, +and offered me some affronts--which I shall not mention, as they were +of such a nature as to affect only me personally and not my office +or its authority. But, because it appears to me expedient to inform +you concerning one such case, I shall do so, as it is a matter which +touches the preeminence of the officers whom your Majesty maintains +here, so that your Majesty, if you please, may order it to be set +right. [_On the margin of this paragraph_: "Concerning the offices +which the governor has filled; join this relation which Don Antonio de +Ribera sends to that which the governor writes concerning the offices, +and have it all brought."] + +By the ordinance of this royal Audiencia it is directed that an +Audiencia building be erected in which the president and auditors +shall live; and by a later decree it is ordered that there shall be +a royal building, very imposing, so that these infidels may see the +authority with which your Majesty is served and which the officers +who serve in these offices must possess. I, as the senior auditor, +lived in the royal building, whence, on the occasion when your Majesty +directed the treasury of the royal exchequer to be established in the +royal building, the governor ordered me to move, in order to make room +for the treasury. As this wrong was done to me, I laid it before the +Audiencia, saying that he was exceeding the commission given by the +royal decree; and that, in accordance therewith, it was not the will +of your Majesty that my place of abode should be taken from me, as it +had been occupied from the time when it was built by the president +and auditors. This was shown to the governor by the [Audiencia's] +record of proceedings; and it was decreed in the Audiencia that in the +royal building where I was two main apartments should be cleared out, +in which the treasury and the books of the royal exchequer should +be accommodated. The governor, in spite of this action, took all my +apartments from me and lodged therein a royal official; whereupon, +as there is a great lack of houses in this city, I was obliged to +move into a house of wood and thatch, which was unsuitable to the last +degree, and attended by much danger because of the frequent fires which +occur in this city. Accordingly, in the two fires which have occurred +this year I have been obliged to go with my effects and books from +one place to another, until at last I rented for them and my papers +an apartment outside of my house in a building of stone belonging +to a citizen, where I keep them. Besides experiencing so great +inconvenience, this country is so warm that I assure your Majesty, +with all due regard for truth, that my health is failing; and I fear +that I shall lose my life, through the poor appointments of the house +and on account of the intemperate heat from which I suffer in going +to the Audiencia. But so great is the dislike which the governor +has taken toward me, that neither the injustice and wrong, nor the +danger of fire, nor the failure of my health has moved him to give +me a lodging; nor is one to be found at any cost. I beg your Majesty +that, even if it may not be necessary for me, you may command what is +to be done in regard to the other auditors, for he has depreciated my +authority and maltreated me in such manner that I would consider it a +great neglect of duty to your Majesty if I did not advise you of it, +and this has led me to give so detailed an account. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given."] + +In the letter of last year which will accompany this, I communicated +an expedient which has occurred to me whereby this land might be +maintained in abundance, with only the property which the royal +treasury has in these islands, without there being any need of aiding +it from the royal exchequer of Mexico; and the paid soldiers could +be increased, and other good results might be achieved. I beseech +your Majesty to have it examined, as it appears desirable to both the +archbishop and the bishop of Nueva Segovia, to whom I have communicated +it, and who thought it very good. [_In the margin of this paragraph +is an order which says_: "Let the governor and the Audiencia inform us +concerning this plan, sending them a copy thereof without issuing any +decree; and let them send an account of the advantages and difficulties +which may have occurred to them, with their opinion."] + +It is more than eight years since your Majesty was pleased to do me +the favor of giving me a post as auditor of Mexico, with an order to +establish the Audiencia in these islands. I sat therein four years, +and I am now advised by way of Nueva Espana that the place in that +Audiencia which was occupied by the licentiate Francisco Alonso de +Villagra, who passed on to the royal Council of the Yndias, has been +given to me. Although the time for which I was to serve here is already +past, I have not dared to leave these islands this year, as I have +no order expressing the wish of your Majesty; and likewise because +the governor, Don Pedro de Acuna, is obliged to go on the expedition +to Maluco, and, if I go to Nueva Espana, only three auditors will +remain. The eldest of these, who, according to the ordinance, must take +up the duties of the captain-general, is so burdened and his health +so poor that he cannot attend to the affairs of war. On this account, +and because I understand that your Majesty would be better pleased +to have me in this country, I have not gone to enjoy the favor which +has been extended to me in Mexico--which is very great, and a notable +promotion--although the greatest favor that I can receive is to let me +serve in this Audiencia at a time when important affairs may occur, +whereby I may show my desire. I beseech your Majesty that what I am +doing in staying here to further serve your Majesty be permitted and +approved. [_In the margin is this order_: "Let him go immediately, +in accordance with the decree which was sent him." [45]] + +During the whole time since I have been favored with this post in +Mexico, I have been occupied in your Majesty's service, and with +sitting in this royal Audiencia. I beseech your Majesty that, since +in similar offices of justice all the privileges are enjoyed from +the day of the nomination, as if the office were being exercised, +the favor may be done me that I may not lose my seniority, from the +day when your Majesty was pleased to appoint me auditor in Mexico +(especially as I have been occupied in what I was commanded to do), +as was done with Doctor Francisco Alonso de Villagra when he went to +fill the same post at Mexico; he was detained by an official visit +at Santo Domingo, and did not lose his seniority, [_In the margin_: +"What he asks is unreasonable."] + +Last year two ships were despatched somewhat late, and the flagship +arrived in a dismantled condition at the end of four or five months of +sailing, with little damage; but the other was lost on the opposite +coast of these islands, without any person or any part of her cargo +being saved. This was a great pity, and especially so after so many +wrecks as we have had in years past. God was pleased to bring hither +in safety two other ships, which go out this year, which has been some +relief to the citizens and merchants of this city. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given."] + +The licentiate Geronimo de Salazar y Salcedo, fiscal of this royal +Audiencia, is dead. He leaves his wife in very poor circumstances +and a daughter who is without any resources, which is a great pity. + +In a letter of last year I told your Majesty how the sargento-mayor +went to La Laguna, which is about fifteen leguas from this city, +in pursuit of the Sangley rebels. As they were in two bodies of +at least two thousand each, unarmed, wounded, and fatigued, and +without any means of defense; and the sargento-mayor had two hundred +Spanish arquebusiers, and three hundred others from Pampanga who are +natives of these islands, armed with arquebuses and muskets, and eight +hundred well-armed Japonese, besides five or six thousand natives with +lances, pikes, halberds, partizans, javelins, and bows and arrows, +their strength was so great that, without the Sangleys facing them, +the natives killed them--attacking first one troop and then the other, +with perfect safety and not the slightest danger. In this affair twelve +or fifteen days were spent in the going, the work, and the return, and +for this he claims more remuneration than if he had pacified the states +of Flandes; and he is not even contented with the governor having given +him an excellent encomienda in the vicinity of this city, besides +another good one which he possesses in Pangasinan. At present he is +enjoying both of them contrary to the instructions of your Majesty, +and they are among the best in the islands. I advise you of this so +that the service which he has rendered, the time spent, the danger of +the expedition, and the risk that he personally ran, may be known, +so that the reward may be conformable to that and not to the favor +which the governor extends to him and the claim which he makes. For +he dares not ask to have investigations made in the Audiencia, nor +should an opinion be given in it as your Majesty orders by the royal +decrees; for it is not known in the royal Council how little he did, +that it was not a service of such importance as to demand more reward +than what he held in the first encomienda. + +All the welfare of this land, for its maintenance and the prosperity +of those who reside in it, lies in the cargoes of the ships which +are despatched to Nueva Espana, with which your Majesty favors the +citizens of this city and the settlers. I assure your Majesty with +the truth that I desire to employ, that much wrong is done them, +and that the ships are laded for the dependents and connections of +the governor, by which they are benefited with great riches; and +the same thing is done by the commanders and admirals who come from +Mexico, who, as they are persons from the household of the viceroy, +are the ones who get the benefit. The governor will not allow the +Audiencia to interfere in this; and thus the persons to whom this +favor was extended suffer, and those enjoy it who were prohibited +from doing so, and counted undeserving. I communicate this, that +your Majesty may be pleased to order it corrected; for it is a matter +which affects all with much grief and resentment. [_In the margin_: +"No answer to be given, for suitable provision has already been made."] + +The plan which appears suitable for this (which I humbly beseech may be +looked into, according to my desire) is what your Majesty has commanded +by his royal decree--that there should be sent each year to the Council +a report of what is laded in the ships, and to what person it belongs; +and this is not done. In order that this should be carried out, it is +expedient that an auditor should be sent by the royal Audiencia--and +not by the governor, as that is not fitting--who should take, on the +oath of a notary, account of everything which enters in the ship, +nothing being laded without his presence and supervision. In this +manner the freighting will be justly done without the freighters +who are appointed having a chance to sell the tonnage, as they do +today. Thus they leave the citizens without the share which belongs to +them, defrauding the royal customs, as would appear if this plan were +observed--at which I know your Majesty would be very glad, and all the +citizens would enjoy fully the favor which has been granted them. God +protect the Catholic person of your Majesty. Manila, June 28, 605. + +The licentiate _Don Antonio de Ribera Maldonado_ + + + + + +BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA + + +_Relacion de las Islas Filipinas_, by Pedro Chirino (concluded).--See +Bibliographical Data at end of _Vol_. XII. Full details regarding +this work will be given in the bibliographical volume at the end of +this series. + +All the rest of the matter contained in this volume is obtained +from original MSS. in the Archivo general de Indias, Sevilla; their +pressmarks are as follows: + +1. _Letters from Acuna._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de Filipinas; +cartas y expedientes del Gobernador de Filipinas vistos en el Consejo; +anos de 1600 a 1628; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 7." The postscript regarding +Santa Potenciana--"Simancas--Filipinas; cartas y espedientes del +presidente y oidores de dha Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; anos de +1600 a [1612?]; est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 19." + +2. _Decrees regarding religious orders._--(A) The first: +"Simancas--Audiencia de Filipinas; consultas originales +correspondientes a dha Audiencia desde el ano de 1586 a 1636; est. 67, +caj. 6, leg. 1." (b) The second and third: "Audiencia de Filipinas; +registros de oficio; reales ordenes dirigidas a las autoridades del +distrito de la Audiencia; anos de 1597 a 1634; est. 105, caj. 2, +leg. 1." + +3. _Grant to Jesuit seminary._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes de religiosos y misioneros en Filipinas +vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1569 a 1616; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 37." + +4. _Decree regulating commerce._--The same as No. 2, (b). + +5. _Complaints against the Chinese._--"Audiencia de Filipinas; +Simancas--Eclesiastico; cartas y espedientes del arzobispo de Manila +vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1579 a 1679; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 32." + +6. _Letter from Chinese official._-The same as No. 1. + +7. _Letters from Augustinians._--"Simancas--Eclesiastico; cartas y +expedientes de personas eclesiasticas vistos en el Consejo; anos 1570 +a 1608; est. 68, caj. 1, leg. 42." The letter from Santa Catherina--the +same as No. 5. + +8. _Letter from Maldonado._--"Simancas--Secular; Audiencia de +Filipinas; cartas y expedientes del presidente y oidores de dicha +Audiencia vistos en el Consejo; anos de 1600 a 1606; est. 67, caj. 6, +leg. 19." + + + + + + +NOTES + +[1] Marginal reference: "I John, 2." + +[2] A town on the western coast of Samar, ten miles east of Catbalogan. + +[3] These were Father Melchor Hurtado and Francisco Gonzalez, and +the brother coadjutor Diego Rodriguez. They were sent from Mexico +in March by Francisco Vaez, the provincial of Nueva Espana.--_Pablo +Pastells, S.J._ + +[4] Referring to Ignatius de Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the +Jesuit order, and afterward a saint; he is here mentioned as "blessed," +as he was not canonized until 1622. + +[5] The religious exercises recommended by Loyola, and composed by +him while in retirement near Manresa, Spain, in 1522; they from a +book entitled _Exercitia spiritualia_ ("Spiritual exercises") which +has ever since been a text-book of the Jesuit order. + +[6] "The figure of a lamb stamped on the wax which remains from the +paschal candles, and solemnly blessed by the pope on the Thursday after +Easter, in the first and seventh years of his pontificate." (Addis +and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, pp. 17, 18.) + +[7] Apparently meaning the interior pellicle of bamboo (_Bambus +arundo_; _Vol_. XII, pp. 189, 190, note 44), used in Eastern lands +as a substitute for paper. + +[8] _Decurias_: alluding to a custom in Spanish schools of placing the +pupils, by tens (or sometimes in smaller numbers), under the charge +of the most competent of the older students, under the supervision +of the master of the school. + +[9] Marginal reference: "Wisdom, 7." + +[10] Marginal reference: "Romans, 10"--evidently to the seventeenth +verse of that chapter, "Faith then cometh by hearing; and hearing by +the word of Christ." All citations from the Holy Bible, and references +thereto, made in the translations for this work, are taken from the +standard editions of the English Douay Bible. + +[11] Marginal references: "Psalms, 18," and "Hebrews, 4." + +[12] Marginal reference: "John, 9." + +[13] Marginal reference: "I Timothy, 2." + +[14] These were Fathers Gregorio Baroncini, Fabricio Cersali, Tomas +de Villanueva, Diego Laurencio, Pedro de Segura, and Angel Armano; +and the brother coadjutors Francisco Simon, Martin Sanchez, and Diego +Zarzuela.--_Pablo Pastells, S.J._ + +[15] This was the "Santo Thomas;" a full account of its voyage, and +of its wreck at the Catanduanes Islands, is given by La Concepcion +(_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 428-435). He says that at the Ladrones +Ribera found the survivors of the ship "Santa Margarita," which had +been wrecked there only a month before; of these he ransomed four, +promising to send from Manila for the others, later. He mentions, +as a part of the cargo, "horses, sheep, goats, and cats." At the end +of this account, he states the pressing need of better ships for the +long and stormy voyage to Nueva Espana. + +[16] Marginal reference: "Psalms, 77; Zacharias, 9." + +[17] A punishment by which the culprit was strangled with an iron +collar. + +[18] La Concepcion gives (_Hist. de Philipinas_, iii, pp. 409-411) a +summary of the proceedings of this council. They appointed a committee +to provide a vernacular translation of the catechism (of which the +Christian doctrine had already been rendered into the Visayan tongue), +in harmony with the Tagal translation of that book. They also appointed +a representative to go to Manila and confer with the Audiencia +on various matters concerning the royal jurisdiction--especially +regarding the proposal to enact statutes suppressing polygamy among +the natives. In the council complaints were made by the ecclesiastics +against the encomenderos, that they treated the Indians with injustice; +in return, the encomenderos attacked the priests, and the bishop was +obliged to interfere between them to quell the dissensions, reproving +the encomenderos. + +[19] Spanish, _angelitos_; a play upon words, apparently alluding to +the gold coin known as _angelot_ (from the figure of an angel thereon), +used in the Low Countries in the sixteenth century. A similar name +(_angelet_) was given to one of the coins struck by English rulers +of France in the period 1150-1460. + +[20] A delicate and refreshing fruit, the _Carica papaya_; sometimes +called "papaw," but is not the same as the papaw of North America +(_Asimina_). Crawfurd regards it, however (_Dict. Ind. Islands_, +p. 327) as having been introduced in the Philippines by the Spaniards, +from tropical America. See descriptions of the papaya in Delgado's +_Historia_, pp. 520, 521; Blanco's _Flora_, pp. 553, 554; and +U.S. Philippine Commission's _Report_, 1900, iii, p. 280. + +[21] La Concepcion gives a similar account of this episode in _Hist. de +Philipinas_, iv, pp. 67-69. + +[22] Panamao is the ancient name of the island of Biliran, off the +northwestern extremity of Leyte, and is still applied to a mountain +in the northern part of Biliran. + +[23] _Picote_: a sort of silken fabric, very lustrous, used for +garments. _Jusi_ (_husi_) is thus described in the U.S. Philippine +Commission's _Report_, 1900, iv, pp. 55, 56: "The especial product +of Philippine looms, especially those from the towns of Caloocan +and Iloilo, is jusi. These Philippine jusis, celebrated for their +lightness, beauty, and delicate patterns, are made from silk alone, +or more commonly with the warp of cotton or pineapple fiber and the +woof of silk. Pieces are made to suit the buyer. These pieces are +usually 30 or more yards in length, and from three-quarters of a +yard to a yard in width, and beautifully bordered in colors. This +beautiful cloth, which varies in price from 50 cents to $1 a yard, +compares favorably with fabrics of European manufacture." + +[24] The present Silang is nineteen miles south of Cavite. + +[25] Spanish, _monumento_; an altar erected in churches on Holy +Thursday which resembles a sepulchre. + +[26] Water blessed in the font on Holy Saturday and the vigil of +Pentecost, which must be used at least in solemn baptism.... The priest +then pours oil of catechumens and chrism into the water." These are +two of the three kinds of "holy oils;" chrism is composed of olive +oil mixed with balm. See Addis and Arnold's _Catholic Dictionary_, +pp. 64, 152, 616. + +[27] Marginal reference: "I Maccabees, 6." + +[28] Marginal reference: "St. Ambrose, _De officiis clericorum_, i, +chap. 40." + +[29] Equivalent to about twenty-eight feet, U.S. measure. + +[30] He left Cavite on the seventh day of July, in the vessel "San +Antonio," which was built in the island of Panamao. This vessel +was lost in 1604, while making its second voyage from Cavite to +Acapulco.--_Pablo Pastells, S.J._ + +[31] Juan Manuel Hurtado de Mendoza y Luna, Marques de Montesclaros, +who held an important office in Sevilla, was made viceroy of Nueva +Espana, arriving at Mexico in September, 1603. This office he held +until 1606, when he was made viceroy of Peru. He died in 1628. + +[32] Spanish, _Recoletos_: the barefooted branch of the Augustinians, +known also as _Descalzos_ in Spain and its former colonial +possessions. The origin of this brotherhood is due to a reform movement +in Spain in the sixteenth century, started by the Venerable Thomas de +Jesus, who was for many years a captive among the Moors in Africa. He, +with other lovers of primitive observance of the Augustinian rule, +essayed to reintroduce divers customs no longer common among the +brotherhood, as frequent fasts, midnight prayers, wearing beards, and +going with uncovered heads. In 1588. at a chapter of these brethren +held at Toledo (the general of the order presiding), Luis de Leon, +the famed scholar and poet, was commissioned to draw up constitutions +for the observants, and these were approved by Rome. In 1614, the new +branch known now (as then) as "discalced" were freed from dependence +on the general of the order; and in 1622 Pope Gregory XV approved +their constitutions. In 1589, the reform movement (as above) spread +to some of our nunneries; these sisters were, like their brethren, +established as _Descalzas_, with their first house at Madrid under +Madre Maria de Jesus (or Covarubias) as Superioress--the first house +of the Recoletos being at Tatavera de la Reyna. In 1606, the Recoletos +entered the Philippines, where their first house was at Bagungbayan, +with the title of S. Juan. In 1602, by decree of November 16, the +general of the Augustinians, Fulvius of Ascoli, sanctioned the division +of the Philippine fathers of the order into two provinces--those who +held with the old rule to be known as Augustinians of the province of +Santisimo Nombre de Jesus; the Discalced, or Recoletos, as those of +the province of San Nicolas de Tolentino; so when the Recoletos went +to the Philippines they bore the name of their home province with +them to Malaysia. In Manila the famous Puente de Espana ("Bridge of +Spain") was projected and built under the superintendence of a Recoleto +father. (Thus Zamora, in _Las Corporaciones en Filipinas_, p, 358.) In +1726, the Discalced were dispensed from wearing beards; in 1746, from +going barefooted. Their earliest form of dress resembled the Capuchin +habit, except that its color was black. In 1736, the _beaterio_ of +S. Sebastian at Calumpang, in Luzon--which seventeen years previous had +been established by four Indian maidens, who were devout to Nuestra +Senora de Carmel--was handed over to the care of Recoleta sisters; +it is not known when these first came to the islands. The province +of the Recoletos in the Philippines bears the title of San Nicolas +de Tolentino. In Spain the Recoleto study-houses of their Philippine +missionaries are (or were in 1897), at Alfaro, Monteagudo, Marcilla, +and San Millan de la Cogolla.--_Rev. T.C. Middleton, O.S.A._ + +[33] Cf. the document in _Vol_. XI, "Grant to Jesuit school in Cebu," +dated December 11, 1601. See note thereon regarding translation +of _colegio_. + +[34] Referring to the fund arising from the fourth part of the +tributes in encomiendas where no religious instruction was given; this +fourth was reserved for the benefit of the Indians. See _Vol_. VIII, +pp. 29, 160. + +[35] In legajo 2637, sec_a_, de est_o_. of the Simancas archivo is a +document recording the proceedings at a session of the Council of State +on July 20, 1604; among the questions discussed was this one of trade +between the American and the Oriental colonies. The councilors gave +their opinions separately. Their conclusion was that the prohibition +of trade in Chinese goods then in force between Peru and Nueva Espana +be made general; and that a period of only six or eight months be +allowed for the consumption of such goods already on hand, instead +of the two years recommended by the Council of the Indias. "It is +desirable to do this promptly and rigorously; but merchandise brought +for use in the churches and in Divine worship should be excepted from +this prohibition--save that in the future neither this nor any other +exception should be considered, but the door to this trade should +be closed by all means. The Marques of Montesclaros was recommended +as the proper person to carry out these instructions, as he had not +been concerned in that trade. One of the councilors advised that the +appointments of the commanders on ships in the Philippine trade be +retained by the viceroy of Spain, rather than given to the governor +and archbishop at Manila. + +[36] Literally, "average;" a certain duty levied on merchandise in +the India trade. + +[37] See account of this affair in _Vol_. XII, in the first document +1603; this name is there given as Tio Heng. + +[38] Apparently a corrupt phonetic rendering of the name of Wan-Leh, +then emperor of China (_Vol_. III, p. 228). As he succeeded his father +in 1572, the blank date here must refer to the thirty-third year of +his reign (1605). + +[39] Lorenzo de Leon was a native of Granada, and entered the +Augustinian order in Mexico where he made profession in 1578. Four +years later, he entered the Philippine mission, and spent twelve +years as minister in Indian villages in Luzon. He was then advanced +to various high offices in his order, among them that of provincial +(1596). He was a religious of exceptional abilities, and the general +of the order, as a recognition of his great endowments in virtue +and knowledge, appointed him master and president of provincial +chapters. After his second election as provincial (1605) he was at the +intermediate congregation deposed from this dignity by the fathers +definitors. Accepting this rude blow with humility and Christian +resignation, he withdrew to the convent of San Pablo de los Montes, +where he spent the following year in prayer and pious works. Returning +to Mexico in 1606, he died in that city in 1623. This account is +condensed from Perez's _Catalogo_, p. 29. + +[40] Spanish, _propiedad_: property enjoyed contrary to their vows +by members of religious orders. + +[41] As the word "creole" is often used in a vague or inexact manner, +it seems best to state that, as used in our text, it means a person +of pure Spanish blood, born in any of the Spanish colonies. + +[42] Pedro de Arce was born in the province of Vitoria, in Spain, +and made his profession in the convent at Salamanca, in 1576. He came +to the Philippine Islands in 1583, and ministered in various Indian +villages, then filled several high offices, finally becoming bishop +of Nueva Caceres (1609) and bishop of Cebu (1613). After a long and +laborious career, he died at Cebu, on October 16, 1645, at the age +of eighty-five. + +[43] Bernardo Navarro de Santa Catalina was one of the first Dominican +missionaries, arriving at Manila in July, 1587. His labors were +principally among the Indians of Pangasinan (in whose language he +composed many short devotional works), until he became provincial of +his order in the islands, June 15, 1596. When the term of this office +expired, he was appointed commissary of the Inquisition; and in 1616 +was again elected provincial. Undertaking soon afterward a journey to +Cagayan in the rainy season, he was made ill by fatigue and exposure, +and died at Nueva Segovia (the modern Lal-lo or Lallo-c), on November +8, 1616. See sketch of his life in _Resena biog. Sant. Rosario_, +pp. 80-86. + +[44] The enterprise here mentioned was an attempt to regain possession +of the Maluco Islands, which had just been seized by the Dutch. In +June, 1605, arrived at Manila the commandant of the Portuguese fort at +Tidore, with some of his soldiers, accompanied by three Jesuits and +many native Christians--all of whom had been expelled from Amboyna +and Tidore by the Dutch. At the same time came a reinforcement of +a thousand troops from Spain; and Acuna resolved, with this aid, +to prepare an expedition for the recovery of the Spice Islands. In +February, 1606, a powerful fleet set out for this purpose, carrying +more than one thousand three hundred Spaniards, who were aided by +six hundred Indian auxiliaries; they were successful, under Acuna's +personal command, in recapturing Amboyna, Tidore, and Terrenate, +and carried to Manila as a prisoner the petty king of the last-named +island. See La Concepcion's account of this expedition, in _Hist. de +Philipinas_, iv, pp. 20-93. + +[45] In July, 1606, Rivera sailed for Mexico to fill his post in +the Audiencia there; but an epidemic (probably ship-fever) on the +ship caused the death of eighty persons, among them Rivera. See La +Concepcion, _Hist. de Philipinas_, iv, p. 108. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, +Ed. by Blair and Robertson + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, 1493-1898, *** + +***** This file should be named 15184.txt or 15184.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/1/8/15184/ + +Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the PG Distributed Proofreaders Team + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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