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diff --git a/42458-8.txt b/42458-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6d5ba8c..0000000 --- a/42458-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8350 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume -XXXII, 1640, by Diego Aduarte - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume XXXII, 1640 - Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the - islands and their peoples, their history and records of - the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books - and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial - and religious conditions of those islands from their - earliest relations with European nations to the close of - the nineteenth century - -Author: Diego Aduarte - -Editor: Emma Helen Blair - James Alexander Robertson - -Release Date: April 1, 2013 [EBook #42458] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** - - - - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg. - - - - - - - - - The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 - - Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and - their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, - as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the - political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those - islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the - close of the nineteenth century, - - Volume XXXII, 1640 - - - - Edited and annotated by Emma Helen Blair and James Alexander Robertson - with historical introduction and additional notes by Edward Gaylord - Bourne. - - - The Arthur H. Clark Company - Cleveland, Ohio - MCMV - - - - - - - -CONTENTS OF VOLUME XXXII - - - Preface 9 - - Historia de la Provincia del Sancto Rosario de la Orden - de Predicadores (concluded). - Diego Aduarte, O.P.; Manila, 1640 19 - - Bibliographical Data 299 - - - - - - - -ILLUSTRATIONS - - - Indiæ orientalis nec non insularum adiacentum nova descriptio - (map of Indian archipelago), photographic facsimile of part - of map by Nicolaus Visscher [1660?], from copy in library of - Wisconsin State Historical Society 153 - - Map of the East Indies; photographic facsimile, from the - French edition of Mercator's Atlas minor of 1635; from - copy of original map in Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris 169 - - Autograph signature of Diego Aduarte, O. P.; photographic - facsimile from original MS. in Archivo general de Indias, - Sevilla 297 - - - - - - - -PREFACE - - -In the present volume is concluded the excellent Historia of the -Dominican writer Diego Aduarte, begun in Vol. XXX, and continued in -XXXI; the period of mission history here covered being 1608-37. Aduarte -died in 1636; but the events subsequent to 1634, with a sketch of -Aduarte's life, are added by the hand of his editor, Fray Domingo -Gonçalez. - -Continuing the life of Fray Luis Gandullo, who was prominent among -the founders of the Dominican province, Aduarte narrates the marvelous -conversions and even miracles wrought by him, and many of his visions -and other wonderful experiences. In 1612, the chapter again elects -Fray Miguel de San Jacinto as provincial. The persecutions in Japan -become more widespread and severe; various incidents therein are -related. Our writer sketches the life of Fray Diego de Soria, the -second bishop of Nueva Segovia; and of another early missionary in -that province, Francisco Minayo. - -Book ii of Aduarte's history recounts events from 1614 on, beginning -with Japan, where a new and more cruel persecution of the Christians -begins with that year; and orders are given by the shogun that all -priests and religious must be banished from Japan. When this order -is carried out, many of the missionaries remain in the country, -in hiding and disguised--traveling through the country to instruct -and console the Christians, suffering great hardships and dangers, -and finally, in most cases, dying as martyrs for their faith. In -the long biography of Fray Francisco de San Joseph Blancas, the most -interesting point is his linguistic achievements in the Tagal language, -and the introduction of printing in the Philippine Islands, which -Aduarte here ascribes entirely to Fray Francisco. This father also -learned the Chinese language, and assumed the charge of instructing -the negroes and slaves in Manila. - -In 1615, the Cagayán mission is much disturbed and injured by the -flight to the mountains of many Indians who had been gathered into -the mission reductions; this is caused by the machinations of the -aniteras, or priestesses of the old idols, who try to draw these -half-tamed Indians back to their old superstitions. In this year come -a large company of religious; and in 1616 the provincial elected is -Fray Bernardo de Sancta Catalina--who dies soon afterward, and of -whom Aduarte writes a long biographical account. He is succeeded -as provincial (April 15, 1617) by Fray Melchior de Mançano. The -persecutions in Japan steadily increase in severity, in 1615-16, -in which latter year Iyeyasu dies. In 1617 two missionaries--one -a Dominican, the other an Augustinian--deliberately go to Omura to -rebuke the daimiô for his cruelty to the Christians, and to preach -the gospel in public; they, with other captive religious, are put to -death. Their example in so bravely enduring martyrdom encourages and -strengthens the Japanese Christians, many of whom give their lives for -the faith, and compels the respect of the heathen. Other missionaries -are arrested, and suffer great privations while in prison. - -Aduarte recounts the progress of the work undertaken by the Dominicans -for the Chinese in Manila. For many years the missionaries live at -Binondoc, the village to which the Christian Chinese go to live when -they receive the new faith; but they conclude that it would be better -for all concerned to build a convent and church within the Parián. In -1617 they begin to erect these buildings, and priests of the order -take up their residence therein, in the midst of that great market -and its crowd of traders and artisans. Their labors are crowned with -notable and prompt success--not only in securing the baptism of the -sick and dying, but in the instruction of those who are in health, -who carry the gospel into their own country, wherein the missionaries -hope to effect a great conversion some day. The church first erected -is a poor and unsubstantial affair; but afterward a large and very -handsome church is built--in the Chinese fashion, of wood shaped and -fitted without any nails. When the Parián is burned in 1628, the church -is saved by placing an image of the Virgin in front of the approaching -flames. Later, the timbers begin to decay, and another building is -erected, with stone pillars; its walls are covered with paintings, -which serve greatly for the instruction of the heathen. During fifteen -years, the number of baptisms in this church amounts to 4,752. The -Dominicans win the great respect and affection of the Chinese, who -seldom die without having received baptism. - -This order extends its labors to some other countries. China is, of -course, the chief goal of its desires; but the Dominicans are unable -to effect an entrance therein. One of the friars, attempting to go -there (1618), is obliged by storms to land on Formosa; and to his -subsequent report of the advantages of this island is ascribed its -later acquisition by the Spaniards. Another mission sets out for -Korea, but is unable to go farther than Nangasaki, and is thus -frustrated. Twenty-four new missionaries arrive this year from -Spain. A new residence is established at Cavite, the priests in which -accomplish much good, among both Spaniards and natives. A new mission -is begun in the Babuyan Islands, north of Cagayán; it is very arduous -and full of privations, but the religious gladly labor therein, and -find the people excellent Christians, although they are most poor and -needy. The fathers often ask alms from the convents and the Christians -in Nueva Segovia, to help these poor disciples of the Lord. Some of the -religious who have remained in Japan are martyred in this year of 1618; -yet amid the fierce persecutions new converts are made, and the native -Christians show much loyalty and generosity to their spiritual fathers. - -In 1619 the intermediate chapter session meets at Nueva Segovia, -on which occasion the college of Santo Thomas at Manila is formally -added to the province; an historical sketch of this institution -is presented. In November of that year occurs an unusually severe -earthquake in Luzón, of which various features and incidents are -recorded. Among the buildings overthrown is the Dominican convent in -Manila, all its inmates, however, escaping in safety. In 1621 Fray -Miguel Ruiz is elected provincial. On November 6 of that year occurs a -revolt among the Gadanes in northern Luzón, of which a full account is -given. One of the Dominican missionaries, Fray Pedro de Santo Thomas, -courageously goes alone and unarmed, to the mountain stronghold of -the insurgents, to win them back; and some months later he returns -with three hundred families of these rebels, who settle peaceably -on the lower lands. Aduarte fills chapters xviii-xxvi with accounts -of martyrdoms of Dominicans in Japan, during 1621-23, and sketches -of their lives--matter which is presented to our readers in brief -synopsis, as but indirectly concerning the Philippines. - -The election of provincial in 1625 elevates to that dignity Fray -Bartholomé Martinez, who has long labored among the Chinese of -Manila. In this year occurs another revolt among some of the Cagayán -Indians; two religious are treacherously slain by them, and then they -flee to the mountains. In 1626, Fernando de Silva sends an expedition -to conquer Formosa, which is accompanied by Dominican missionaries, who -hope to find in Formosa a stepping-stone to an entrance for them into -China. A fortified post is established in the island by the Spaniards; -the Dominicans act as spiritual guides for the soldiers, and, after -learning the native language, are able to win the confidence of the -inhabitants and begin instructing them. Many of the missionaries -in the province die, but a reënforcement comes to them in this same -year. In 1627 is held the intermediate chapter-session. By that time -the revolted Mandayas have been pacified, and by the efforts of their -Dominican pastors induced to return to their villages and to the care -of the missionaries. In this year occur many martyrdoms in Japan, of -which accounts are given. In 1628, the four orders of friars in the -Philippines unite to send a reënforcement of missionaries to Japan, but -this attempt is frustrated by the wreck of their ship. Aduarte at this -time arrives at Manila with a large company of religious. A Spanish -expedition is sent to Camboja, and the Dominicans send missionaries -thither; but both enterprises result in failure. In Formosa they are -making some progress. - -The provincial elected in 1629 is Fray Francisco de Herrera. Soon -afterward dies Fray Bartolomé Martinez, of whom Aduarte writes -a long biography; he ends his life in the Formosa mission, which -he had established. The persecutions in Japan continue (1629-30), -hundreds being martyred for the faith, and rigorous search being made -everywhere for all Christians. It is with difficulty that any news of -events there can be sent from that country. At the end of 1630, some -Spaniards, accompanied by two Dominican friars, go on an embassy to the -Chinese city of Ucheo; on the way, the Chinese crew mutiny, and kill -most of the Spaniards. Four of these, including one of the friars, -escape to the Chinese coast; the father remains there, and labors -among the heathen. In December, 1633, the preaching of the gospel -is introduced into Itui, in Luzón; two Dominican friars go thither, -of whose mission, and of that region and its people, some account is -given, followed by a long biography of Fray Tomás Gutierrez, head of -the mission. The new provincial this year is Fray Domingo Gonçalez, -Aduarte's editor; at this session of the chapter an important change -is made, the abolition of the intermediate chapter. The missions -are extended farther than ever before, but new workers are greatly -needed. Many religious meet a martyr's death in Japan this year, -and the persecution steadily increases in severity; biographical -sketches of several martyrs are given, one of whom had achieved much -in Formosa. In that island arises a rebellion among the natives, -who murder (1633) one of the missionaries. - -Aduarte describes the mission to the Mandayas of northern Luzón, begun -in 1631; it has been very successful, and many of those fierce and -warlike people are now quite tamed and Christianized. The martyrdoms -(in 1634) of several missionaries and Christian women in Japan, with -sketches of their lives, are related. Two chapters are devoted to an -account of the Dominican missions in China, which contain many devout -Christians; at times, the missionaries are in danger of being slain -by mobs. The Dominican mission in Formosa has not accomplished many -conversions, and it has lost many devoted missionaries. - -At this point ends Aduarte's own work in this history; the remaining -chapters are added by his editor, Fray Domingo Gonçalez. He relates in -full the late effort made by Fray Diego Collado to divide the province -of Filipinas, and to appropriate its best posts and revenues for his -congregation of "Barbones." This attempt greatly disturbs Aduarte, -whose last days are saddened, and perhaps even shortened, thereby. But -not long after his death this cloud passes away, and the province -is restored to its former condition--a result mainly ascribed to -the intervention of the Virgin Mary; and Collado's new congregation -melts away. Gonçalez then presents a long and elaborate biography -of the illustrious Aduarte, which we abridge considerably, retaining -especially such information about that prelate, and such account of -the missions, as has not already appeared in his Historia. His virtues -are recounted at length, and the many benefits which he secured for -his order, for the poor and needy everywhere, and for the Indians. - -Fray Gonçalez completes Aduarte's history up to the year 1637, thus -comprising the first fifty years of the history of the Philippine -Dominican province. In that year, Fray Carlós Gant is elected -provincial; and in Japan the last Dominican friars remaining there -are martyred, of whose lives and deaths sketches are given. At the -end of the book is printed a letter from Felipe IV to the Dominican -provincial at Manila, ordering that the recent partition of the -province be annulled, and Collado sent back to Spain. - - - The Editors - - August, 1905. - - - - - - - - HISTORIA DE LA PROVINCIA DEL - SANCTO ROSARIO DE LA ORDEN - DE PREDICADORES - - - (Concluded) - - By Diego Aduarte, O.P.; Manila, 1640. - - - Source: Translated from a copy of the above work in the possession - of Edward E. Ayer, Chicago. - - Translation: This is made by Henry B. Lathrop, of the University - of Wisconsin. This volume includes chaps. lxxi-lxxviii of book i, - and all of book ii--partly in synopsis. - - - - - - - -HISTORY OF THE DOMINICAN PROVINCE OF THE HOLY ROSARY - -By Fray Diego Aduarte, O.P. - -(Concluded) - - -CHAPTER LXXI - -The arrival at Manila of father Fray Luis, his assignment to Pangasinan -and the events there - - -[Father Fray Luis was assigned to the province of Pangasinan and -went there in the company of the two other fathers who were sent -to the same place. Suffering from disease as a result of exposure, -he was miraculously cured. The Lord wrought miraculous conversions -by means of father Fray Luis, and supported him in his sufferings -and illness with visions. Being taken back to Manila for care, and -fearing that he might be sent to some other province, he prayed God -to renew his strength that he might return to Pangasinan. The Lord -heard his prayer and he was able to return to the duties which he -loved. The Lord blessed the mere word of father Fray Luis, sometimes -even more than the great labors of other religious; and he took as his -special charge those Indians who had been given up by others. At one -time when news came that smallpox was raging in one of the villages -named Bimmalay, and that many children were dying in it, father Fray -Luis instantly went there to baptize as many of the children as he -could. The fathers were not usually permitted to baptize the children, -except in cases where it was certain that they were not going to live, -and then they were permitted to do so only as a result of prayers -and importunities. At one time a soldier came to Binalatongan with -news that Don Luis Perez das Mariñas was dying in the province of -Ylocos. He sent word to father Fray Luis, but without asking him to -come, as the sisters of Lazarus wrote to the Lord. Father Fray Luis -went to his choir to intercede for his friend, and there remained -constantly in prayer and sacrifice until he received news that he -was better. From the very day when the soldier reached father Fray -Luis, the governor began to recover his health. On many occasions -sick children were healed by the prayers of father Fray Luis. He -was ready to risk his life for his duties. In many cases it seemed -as if God had kept children alive only until they received baptism -that they might be saved.] - -A case which illustrates this point happened to father Fray Luis -in Calasiao. He would never tell of this unless compelled by his -obedience. He was called upon to see a child who had been baptized, -and who was dying; and he went there with a boy named Andresillo, -and with others. When they came near the house where the child was, -they heard a great lamentation with which they were weeping over him; -and in another house very near they heard a great noise of people who -were drinking, as was then very common among the heathen. Among others -was their chief named Catongal, a man fierce by nature, and furious -when he had taken wine. On this occasion he came up with the others, -full of wine, and said to the father, "You kill many"--intimating -that he killed them with baptism, because few of those who received -it escaped. The father replied that the reason of this was, that the -Indians did not permit the children to be baptized until there was no -hope for their lives; and he said that the good that the religious did -to them would cause them to rejoice greatly if they knew it. Catongal -was not mollified by this; and the father tried to leave him to go on, -but it seemed best to have the child shrouded first that he might -take it and bury it--to prevent superstitious acts, such as were -customary. He saw it lying dead in the arms of an Indian woman; and, -looking upon it as such, he directed them to shroud it. But a voice -within him seemed to say that he should repeat a gospel. He went -to look at it again, found upon it all the marks of death, and said, -"Why should I say a gospel for it?" They shrouded it; but he was still -more urged on by that inner impulse to repeat the gospel, until at last -he did so. It was the gospel of St. John, In principio erat verbum. [1] -After he had repeated this he made the sign of the cross upon the brow -of the infant, saying, "O Lord, I ask no miracles of thee; but if it -is to thy glory, the credit of thy faith, and the conversion of these -heathen, I pray thee to work them." He added, Evangelica lectio sit -tibi salus et protectio, placing his hand upon the head of the child; -and, before he took away his hand, the Lord looked upon the child and -gave it life. All were astonished, and the father in confusion said, in -order to humiliate himself, that it could not have been dead; and the -chief was convinced that the fathers did not kill children. The child -sucked immediately, like a well and healthy child. It would have been -a miracle, even though it were not dead, for it so suddenly to have -recovered its health. Father Fray Luis passed the rest of that day in -great embarrassment, being anxious lest some part of what had happened -should be attributed to him, as the instrument of it. On the following -day he went to ask how the child was, and found it well and strong. He -asked the Indians who were there what they thought of the event, -and, before they replied, the Lord gave him an answer from within: -"This is excessive curiosity." He blamed himself severely, and was -so ashamed that he went away immediately, and never more looked upon -the child or spoke of the matter; and on the occasions which offered -themselves for any father to make any reference to it (because it had -been public), he changed the subject of conversation, without appearing -to understand. [In the villages of Gabon and Magaldan, father Fray -Luis succeeded in overcoming the hardness of heart of the heathen.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXII - -Some special favors received by father Fray Luis from the Lord, -and some temptations which he suffered from the enemy. - - -[However glorious the success of father Fray Luis in this country, -he was desirous of going to Great China, the conversion of which the -religious of this region had most at heart. He was taught in a vision -that the conversion of China was soon to be attempted and saw also a -vision of a man such as the missionaries to China ought to be. He was -constant in prayer and had frequent visions which guided him in his -religious life. The Lord granted him the blessing of great purity. At -one time, having been careless in prayer, he was visited by the Lord -with a punishment of strange trembling which went from the feet to the -top of his head, and seemed as if it would shatter his bones. When the -fathers of this province decided to send two to make an exploration of -the great kingdom of China, father Fray Miguel de Benavides asked for -the prayers of father Fray Luis--and, in particular, that the idols -might fall to the earth before the presence of God. Father Fray Luis -offered his prayers, and received from God the reply that he asked -much. But he answered, "Thou canst do it, O Lord." - -It is not only favors which the Lord grants His servants; hence -father Fray Luis suffered many temptations of the devil, which were -permitted by the Lord that the virtues of the father might take -firmer roots. At one time the devil appeared to him in the form of -Christ; but father Fray Luis, not being moved by the affection which -he commonly felt for holy visions, said to him, "Thou art not that -which thou seemest." When father Fray Luis made the sign of the cross, -the devil took the form of a great cat, fierce, black, and terrible, -which by sending fire from its eyes and mouth exhibited its rage -and torment. "That is your real form, I think," said the father, and -without paying any further attention to him, he went on with his holy -exercises. The devil strove to interfere with him in his prayer, but -he was able to drive him away. He was at times tempted to be guilty -of improprieties in saying mass, such as looking into the chalice, -but the angels protected him. The devils at times strove to make him -flee from the church where he was performing his discipline. - -Father Fray Luis suffered as much from the temptations of others as -from his own. He comforted Brother Juan de Soria of Manila, who, -under the direction of God, laid aside the habit of the order. On -another occasion, he assisted a novice who was moved by affection for a -woman. He had a vision of Christ crucified, with drops of blood falling -from his head upon his breast, but not upon the ground; this signified -that the novice should leave the order, but not to his destruction.. He -did so, and was married; but in a few days he was left alone, his wife -going to the aid of her poor and widowed mother. This the Lord seemed -to have ordained. On another occasion, father Fray Luis succeeded -in converting a Spanish sinner of the most obstinate sort, who had -been exiled from Nueva España to the Philippinas for his scandalous -life. The wretch confessed, and received communion, girt himself with -a haircloth garment, and, during the rest of his life (during which -he was confined in prison), he fasted often on bread and water.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXIII - -The fervor of spirit of father Fray Luis, and his expedition to China - - -[Although grace perfects nature, it may work so vehemently that it -weakens it and takes from it health and even life. This happened -in the case of father Fray Luis, who, although he was of robust -constitution, sometimes lost his health and was in great danger of -death as the result of the vehemence of his spirit in receiving the -favors of God. He prayed to the Lord to moderate this vehemence of -spirit, and begged that he would take it from him. Father Fray Juan de -Soria prayed the Lord to take from father Fray Luis this intensity, -and to give it to Don Luis Perez das Mariñas. From that day forward -the father lived with the greatest calmness, while the knight became -so fervent of spirit that he seemed like a living fire; and finally he -said to father Fray Luis that he should die of the love of God. Father -Fray Luis, after having received this peace and calm, became eager -to go to the conversion of China. Father Fray Juan had a vision of -Christ our Lord, seated upon a very spirited horse, which was biting -the bit and leaping about. The saddle, the girths, the reins, and all -the other accoutrements all seemed so weak that saddle and horseman -were sure to fall to the ground; but he held his seat firmly, and -made charges in one direction and another, brandishing a lance with -great dexterity. The horseman said to the father, "Who, think you, -can control this horse?" He answered, "Thou only knowest, Lord." "It -is I alone," said the Lord, giving him an inward understanding that -this horse represented China, and the weak accoutrements signified -the scarcity of ministers for its conversion. He added aloud, -"Go straightway and tell Fray Luis what thou hast seen, which is a -corroboration of what has at other times been said to him." Visions -were manifested to others, which ratified the visions which had already -shown Fray Luis that he was to go to China. Before the departure of the -governor Gomez Perez, Cathalina Diaz--a Spanish woman of holy life, -to whom God vouchsafed to see the future in visions, at times--had -a vision of the governor with his head cut open and bathed in his -blood, the death of the governor by treachery being prophesied in -this way. Although the difficulties of going to China seemed as a -result of this act of treachery to be greatly increased, in reality -the Lord made it the means by which father Fray Luis was sent there; -for he received a commission as ambassador, in company with father -Fray Juan de Castro. The ambassadors, reaching the province of Canton -instead of that of Chincheo, for which they were bound, were arrested -as pirates. Father Fray Luis thus had the opportunity to convert an -apostate Christian among the Chinese. He also found many slaves from -Macan who had apostatized in that country; and to them he preached -with much spirit, but little fruit. The voyage was one on which they -suffered greatly, particularly father Fray Luis, who traveled with -nothing but the habit in which he was clothed; and they were exposed -to the rain and to the cold, which was excessive. The viceroy of -Canton was very wrathful with them because they did not show him the -courtesy customary in that country, threatened them, and commanded them -to leave the province within fifteen days, taking with them not more -than twenty-five picos of rice. On his way back to the port he found -a number of apostates, but was unable to bring them back to the faith. - -There is a law of the king of China that any poor foreigner shall -be supported at the public expense so long as he is in the kingdom; -but that, if he desires to depart, he shall pay the mandarin the -cost of his clothing, and something more. The allowance was twelve -maravedis a day. This is sufficient for three meals, since things -are cheap in that country. It is plain from this that there is -no law in China against admitting foreigners. On the contrary, -there is a law to attract them and to keep them. Knowing this, the -slaves of the Portuguese in Macan flee to China, where they have -their liberty and are well received. Father Fray Luis made one or -two conversions. Neither in Chincheo nor in Canton did they find -a trace of the galley which they sought, because it had gone to -Cochinchina. The mandarins in Chincheo played a trick upon them, -when the fathers asked permission for religious to go from Manila -to their country. Pretending to give it, the mandarins handed them a -plate of silver with some Chinese characters upon it, for which they -received large payment. The father obtained this money as alms from -the Spaniards who accompanied him on the voyage; but, when he showed -the plate in Manila, it was found only to give permission to buy food -there without hindrance. At the time of this journey father Fray Luis -was actually prior of the convent of Manila. On one Easter day he had -a vision of the Holy Spirit coming down upon all the religious of the -convent of Manila. After his term was at an end, he was assigned to -Nueva Segovia, where the faith had been newly planted.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXIV - -The silence, occupation, and virtues of father Fray Luis, and his -happy death - - -[Father Fray Luis had the three virtues which St. Ambrose, the -doctor of the Church, affirms to be fundamental ones: the power to -keep silence, the power to speak in due time, and the contempt for -worldly things. His habit of silence seemed excessive to some, but -when it was necessary he spoke with great spirit; and he so contemned -worldly things that, in spite of the high offices which he held in -the order, he had not even, as many good religious have, an image -or any other trifling thing of his own. When he was ambassador in -China, he left the rich table of Don Fernando de Castro and sustained -himself, as one in poverty, by the allowance granted to the poor in -China. Contrary to his nature, he was very humble. He was devout in -prayer, and careful in saying the divine offices. He distributed his -time with the greatest accuracy. He was most modest in the presence of -women, and, though he sometimes had to speak to them, he never looked -upon their faces. He was so charitable and tender-hearted that, when -the judges were about to execute any rigorous sentence, they always -concealed it from father Fray Luis, because they knew they could not -resist his prayers for pity and pardon. He could not bear offenses -against God, however willing to suffer wrongs to himself. He slept -on a mat on the floor of his cell. His pillow was a piece of wood -hollowed to make it light. Though the rules of the order permitted -him two blankets, one to lie on and the other to cover himself with, -he contented himself with one, folding it so that it would fulfil -both offices. He wore his serge tunic a month without changing it, -which in such a hot country causes great annoyance, because of the -great amount of perspiration. He said that custom had made it not -uncomfortable for him. He constantly wore a hair-shirt next his skin, -and over that a corselet of mail. In his extreme old age, the bishop -of Nueva Segovia compelled him to lay this last aside. He wore his -breeches in such a way that the fastenings cut into the flesh of -his legs. He was very sparing in his eating, giving his suppers, -when the constitutions permit them to us, to the poor; and his noon -allowance was more theirs than his. His lunch was two biscuit crusts -and a banana, or two guavas, when there were any; and except at these -times he neither ate nor drank. When he was vicar of the convent of -Nueva Segovia, a father visited him as his guest, bringing with him -two crawfish, which he boiled and put on the table; but father Fray -Luis would not permit them to be eaten, saying it was not a feast, -that they should have anything so unusual. He scourged himself every -night, with the energy which was his by nature. He was most patient, -and, though his body was mortified, his spirit was open to divine -influences. He had great power of insight into the souls of those -whom he saw. At one time he caused the bishop of Nueva Segovia, whose -vicar-general he was, to dismiss two youths of his household--saying -that he saw in them the marks of wickedness, and that one of them -was a thief and the other a traitor. This was not known at the time, -but the truth was afterwards discovered, one of them having ransacked -a desk of the bishop's and the other having been condemned to be -hanged for murder. When he was engaged in contemplation, his mind -was so absorbed that he could hear and see nothing else than the -visions of God. This life of penitence continued from his youth to an -old age of almost eighty years. In his last illness he was taken to -the convent of Sancto Domingo at Manila, where he died. Testimony of -miracles wrought by him during his life was given after his death. He -is mentioned with honor in the records of the provincial chapter of -1612 and in the general chapter held at Bolonia in 1615.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXV - -The election as provincial of father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho, -and the condition of the province and Japon. - - -On the thirteenth of May, 1612, father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho was -a second time elected as provincial, not because there was any lack -of religious of much virtue, knowledge, and prudence to take the place -of father Fray Baltasar Fort--who had just completed his term, and had -governed like an angel--but because father Fray Miguel had left all the -religious of the province so devoted to his good government that they -finally determined to elect him again. They regarded it as more prudent -to select one whom they knew by experience to be of great skill in the -government of the province, than to try the government of others who, -though they gave good hopes, could not offer so much certainty. - -[At this time the bishop of Macan, Don Fray Juan de la Piedad, -was in Manila. He was a religious of our order; and when he saw the -interest of our religious here in the conversion of the Chinese, he -was desirous that some of the fathers of the order who understood the -Chinese language might be given to him to enter the kingdom by way of -Macan. Two fathers, Thomas Mayor--a very successful minister among the -Chinese race, and excellent in their language--and Bartolome Martinez, -were assigned for this purpose; but they met with so much opposition -at Macan from the religious of another order that they were unable -to carry out their purpose. Father Fray Thomas went to España, and -father Fray Bartholome returned to the Philippinas. Their voyage was -not entirely without fruit, inasmuch as it resulted in the conversion -of one Chinaman from Chincheo. - -At this time, although our religious and the Christian people in -the kingdom of Figen in Japon enjoyed peace and quiet, there were -persecutions in other kingdoms of that realm. After the death of Father -Gregorio Cespedes of the Society of Jesus in the kingdom of Bugen, -in 1611, the tono of that region, who had protected Christianity -out of respect for the father, banished two other fathers who were -there, and tore down the churches. The tono of Firando martyred in -October of this year three Christians; and that of Caratzu, [2] -a cruel renegade, banished many. Thus the devil began that which -afterwards took place. The Lord gave warning, by means of crosses -miraculously found, of the persecution which was to occur. In this -year there went to Japon father Fray Alonso Navarrete and father -Fray Domingo de Valderrama, sent there by father Fray Baltasar Fort; -and in the following year father Fray Baltasar himself, at the end -of his term as provincial, went as vicar-provincial to this kingdom. - -For a long time the emperor of Japon [3] had shown much dislike to -Christianity, and in the year 1612 he began to persecute it. Don -Pablo Dayfachi, the secretary of a man who was very intimate with -the emperor, received a great quantity of money from Don Juan, tono -of Arima, to help him in the recovery of some lands which had been -lost by his ancestors in war. Don Pablo, who was a Christian, could do -nothing for the cause of Don Juan, who complained to the emperor. The -emperor commanded that Don Pablo should be burned alive in the sight -of his wife, and that his son should be killed. The emperor thereupon -began to persecute the Christians, saying that deeds like these were -not done by the Japanese, and that Don Pablo had degenerated from -them because he was a Christian. Fourteen knights with their wives -and families and servants were exiled. The tono of Arima was banished, -because he had endeavored to get back by favors lands which others had -gained by war, and was finally executed. A certain English heretic, -named Guillermo Adam [i.e., Will Adams], who knew the Japanese -language and who pleased the emperor by giving him an account of -European affairs, vomited forth the hate which he felt against our -holy faith whenever he had opportunity. He told him that the plan of -the king our lord to conquer kingdoms is to send religious first, -that they may make the way plain for soldiers, citing for example -Nueva España and the Philippinas--although, in point of fact, neither -there nor here did religious precede, but invaders who intended to -conquer the country. In addition to this, Safioye, the governor of -Nangasaqui, had difficulties with certain fathers, and had complained -of them to the emperor. The result was that the hatred of the emperor -for Christianity grew greater and greater. He finally commanded all -the churches in that part of Japon known as Cami to be demolished, -and gave the same commands for the kingdom of Quanto. [4] He required -the Christians in certain parts of the country to deny their faith. A -number of the Christians proved weak; while of those who refused to -obey the commands some were martyred, some banished, and some driven -to the mountains. The conduct of the governors in different parts of -the country varied from very great rigor to as much kindness as was -consistent with obeying the commands of the emperor. The tono of Figan, -who had shown so many favors to our order, directed the religious of -our order to leave the kingdom, but did not at that time persecute -the Christians. The command to depart was received by the religious in -September, 1613. Two of the religious retained their habit, and went on -to Nangasaqui; but the third, disguising himself in Japanese costume, -fled to the country of Omura, and went about secretly animating and -encouraging the Japanese Christians. Don Miguel, the tono of Arima, -who had married a granddaughter of the emperor, [5] requested eight -gentlemen of his household to pretend to have abandoned the faith, -in order that he might satisfy the emperor that he had ceased to be -a Christian. Five finally consented. The other three were executed -with their wives and children, eight persons in all, in October, -1613. They were burned alive with a slow fire. The religious having -been driven out from nearly all the kingdoms and having assembled -in Nangasaqui, two of our religious were sent out to go secretly to -comfort the persecuted Christians, to hear their confessions, and to -celebrate the sacraments.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXVI - -The servant of God, Don Fray Diego de Soria, bishop of Nueva Segovia, -and one of the founders of this province. - - -[Among the most highly honored religious in this province a very -important place is taken by Don Fray Diego de Soria, second bishop of -Nueva Segovia. It was he who began the conversion in this province, -and who might therefore be called the father in Christ of that -church. Father Fray Diego was a native of Yebenes, near Toledo, -and professed religion in the convent of the order at Ocaña. Giving -signs of promise as a student and a preacher, he was sent to the -college of Alcala, where he continued to follow the rigorous rules of -the order forbidding the eating of flesh. When the holy and prudent -vicar-general, Fray Juan de Castro, assigned his companions to their -various duties, he gave father Fray Diego the chief place by making -him superior of the convent which was to be founded in the city of -Manila. The number of the religious at that time was so few that -the superior of Manila rang the bells, assisted in the singing, took -messages to the sacristy, and was general confessor of the many who, -influenced by the great virtue of the new religious (the Dominicans), -came to put their consciences in their care. The Lord had endowed -father Fray Diego with two qualities which appear to be opposed to -each other. The first was natural freedom of speech in rebuking evil -with great courage and zeal; the other was marked gentleness and -suavity of nature. At one time when the governor of Manila--who was -a very good Christian and a learned man [6]--was confessing to him, -a certain difficulty arose in which it seemed to father Fray Diego -that the governor had erred. When the governor strove to defend his -conduct, father Fray Diego said to him that in this matter he was, -although learned, not a judge but a party, and indeed defendant; -that in cases of conscience the confessor alone was the judge; and -that, after reflection, he had formed his conclusion, which was that -the governor's conduct could not be approved. He required him to -accept his decision or to seek a confessor elsewhere. The governor, -with tears in his eyes, professed his readiness to obey. At one time -when a very rich man was sick, and feared death and the judgment, he -sent to call father Fray Diego to him that he might confess; but the -father refused to go, sending back as an answer that the rich man must -return the tribute which he had wrongfully taken from an encomienda, -and must give the Indians there a minister. The sick man put himself -in father Fray Diego's hands, and thus his conscience was composed, -to the great advantage of the wronged Indians. When the bishop of these -islands, Don Fray Domingo de Salaçar, was about to set out for España, -he asked for father Fray Diego as a companion; but the governor at -that time [i.e., Gomez Perez Dasmariñas], being very different from -the previous one, refused to permit him to go to España, fearing -the freedom with which he might speak there. Father Fray Diego was -therefore sent to Pangasinan, where he learned the language of the -Indians; thence he went to Nueva Segovia, being the first minister to -the Indians there. Among them he made many conversions, especially that -of the most important Indian in that region, Don Diego Siriban. He was -afterward elected prior of Manila, and was then sent as procurator -to España. He went on his voyage in complete poverty, trusting in -the Lord for what he might need. He received enough not only for the -support of himself and his companion, but for the purchase of the -convent and garden of San Jacintho--where, from that time forward, -the religious who came from España to this province were lodged. This -was so important a matter that if father Fray Diego had done nothing -else for this province, this would have been enough to entitle him to -its gratitude and perpetual thanks, since it receives here a perpetual -benefit whenever new religious come. He had planned for other similar -prudent arrangements in España, but the province declined them for the -time, failing to see the advantage of them; and afterward, when they -were desired they could not be obtained, because there was no Fray -Diego de Soria in España. In that country, great and small thronged -to consult him in regard to spiritual matters, for he had singular -power in prudent counsel. He gave his chief attention to sending many -good religious to the Philippinas, and for this purpose went on to -Roma clad in the same lowly fashion as in his poor province. He was -very small of stature, and went clothed in a habit of serge which -was short and patched. In spite of his unfavorable appearance, he -made a great impression, not only upon the general of the order, -but upon the supreme pontiff, who at that time was Clement VIII. The -pope desired to retain father Fray Diego with him in Roma, in order -to put into execution the reformation of all the religious orders; -but the father was unable to remain, because he was very much occupied -with assembling religious for this province. It usually happens that -many of those religious who have purposed to come to the Philippinas -have fallen off; but in the case of father Fray Diego not one of those -who had been assigned and prepared for this journey failed him, while -many others came to see if they might be accepted. This happened at -the time of the great plague of 1601, which raged with especial fury -in Sevilla, where the religious were to assemble. Father Fray Diego was -highly regarded at court, especially by Queen Margarita. The bishopric -of Nueva Caceres in these islands was vacant, and was offered to father -Fray Diego, who declined to accept it because he did not understand -the language of the Indians of that region. But when the bishopric -of Nueva Segovia was offered to him, he could find no excuse for -declining it. It was desired to keep him in España in some bishopric; -but, as he wrote, he would not give up his poor apostolic bishopric -for the chief bishopric in España. When he became bishop, he did -not change his manner of living or lay aside his serge habit. The -only thing which he did to maintain his dignity as a bishop was to -keep one servant. He kept his pectoral covered with his scapular, -until the nuncio directed him to make his appearance more dignified, -and to wear his pectoral openly. His prudence was so highly regarded -that he was asked to carry the news of her mother's death to the -daughter of the Duchess of Lerma, the wife of the Conde de Niebla, -which he did with such discretion that she accepted her bereavement -with Christian resignation. On his departure from España, he brought -with him a good company of religious. On the way he was delivered, -as by the hand of God, from some Moorish galliots. When the others -were rejoicing at the opportunity of disembarking at the island of -Guadalupe to get wood and water, the bishop was in great anxiety, as if -he saw the evil that was to follow; and strove, but without success, -to keep the others from going on the land. The bishop disembarked, -and after saying mass instantly returned to the ship. The rest of the -religious, following the usual custom of those who go to that island, -remained till evening. Five of them lost their lives, and four came -back wounded, by the arrows of the Indians on that island. Somewhat -later, a storm attacking the fleet, some of the other vessels were -lost; but that in which the bishop was came safe to land--as it -seemed, miraculously. In Nueva España he inspected the convents of -the province, under direction of the pope, the general of the order, -and the king; and he performed this visitation with such justice -that even those who were grieved by his chastisement were obliged -to admit that he was a saint. On the way a mule laden with a number -of rich and exquisite pieces of cloth which had been given him in -España by many lords, and by the queen herself, for his pontifical -vestments, was drowned. All that the bishop said was Dominus dedit; -Dominus abstulit--"The Lord gave it, and the Lord has taken it away; -let Him be praised for all things." The muleteer was overcome with -shame; but the bishop consoled him, and caused him to be paid as if -he had delivered his entire load safely.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXVII - -The personal habits of Don Fray Diego de Soria and other matters in -regard to him up to his death. - - -[After reaching his bishopric, Don Fray Diego made a visitation of -it. Striving so far as possible to relieve the Indians of burdens and -of other labor, he made these visitations with as little baggage as -possible. He immediately paid those whom it was necessary to cause to -carry loads, and put the Indians to no expense whatsoever, even in -matters in which he might justly have done so. He constantly wished -to give them much, and not to ask even for the little which was his -due. He delighted in labor, and rejoiced particularly when there -were many to be confirmed. He observed the discipline and the rules -of prayer of this province. He rose at dawn and prayed until six, -when he said mass and gave devout thanks. If there was any business -to be done, he gave audience or attended to necessary matters. When -he was not obliged to attend to any of these occupations, he read -and meditated upon holy books and upon the sacred scripture and its -expositors. He did not generally write, but read and meditated, and -received the Lord. Thus he was occupied up to the time for saying -prayers at the sixth and the ninth hour; and then he ate some eggs -and fish, as if he were still in the convent of the order. After -his meal, he conversed with his companion upon some useful subject; -and, after resting awhile, returned to the exercise of prayer until -the time of saying vespers. Then, if necessary, he gave audience, -or engaged in works of piety; and then he returned to his sacred -reading and contemplation. He never had any other entertainment -or amusement, however lawful, nor did he go out to refresh himself -in the garden, or in the chase, or in fishing, taking pleasure in -none of these things. He made a personal visitation of his bishopric -every year, and confirmed many Christians, sending word beforehand, -that the ministers might prepare those who were to receive this holy -sacrament. He gave much to his church and to his convent of Manila, -in spite of the poverty of his bishopric, but gave very little help -to a poor brother of his. In the province of Pangasinan he gave great -alms, and sent a large sum of money to buy rice to be kept on deposit, -as it were, in the cities, and to be distributed in times of famine. He -spent but little upon the persons of his household, directing them to -eat as he did, twice a day, eggs and fish, and to be clothed plainly -as suited ecclesiastical persons. He lived in such poverty that he -sometimes lacked tunics to make a change. He was given to ejaculatory -prayer. At the festival of Pentecost in the year 1608, a dove lighted -on his head, which he was unable to drive away, the Lord thus showing -him honor. In the following year, at the celebration of this festival -in Abulug the dove came and sat upon the shoulder of the bishop. When -the fever with which his last illness began came upon him, he knew -that his death was approaching. So far as he could, he followed the -constitutions of the order even in his sickness. After twenty-seven -days of sickness, and twenty-seven years of labor in these regions, -his works were at an end, and he went to receive the reward of them. In -his last illness he gave to the college of Sancto Thomas, at Manila, -his library and three thousand pesos.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXXVIII - -Father Fray Francisco Minaio and his death - - -[At this time the death of father Fray Francisco Minaio was much -regretted in the province. He was a native of Arevalo in Castilla la -Vieja. He assumed the habit and professed in Palencia, and was sent -to finish his studies in arts and theology to the convent of Sancta -Cruz at Segovia. He came to the province, very near its beginning, -with the bishop Don Fray Miguel de Benavides. He was assigned to -the province of Nueva Segovia, which was practically all heathen. He -labored much and with good results, and was stationed at the utmost -borders of the province, in the village of Pilitan. He learned -the language well, and was very devoted and compassionate to the -Indians. He labored most affectionately with the poor and sick, and -cared for the latter with his own hands. He and his associate, father -Fray Luis Flores, went about through all that region, searching for, -and burning the huts where superstitious sacrifices were offered to -the devil, who was consulted as an oracle in these places. These -huts were generally hidden among the mountains and crags in the -midst of bushes. The servants of God traveled over the rough paths, -and all the rest that they could take was in finding one of these -huts and in burning it. The devils were greatly angered by these -insults; and the Indians heard, in their fields, the complaints of -the devil because they believed in these men with white teeth. But -they were obliged to confess their weakness to the Indians, who in -this way were converted to the true faith. Father Fray Francisco, -not contented with work in these villages, began upon the conversion -of the idolatrous tribes of the great and spacious plains in the -neighborhood of Pilitan, which are known as Zimbuey. So diligent was -he that churches were built on those plains, and practically all were -baptized and became good Christians.] At one time when the father went -to visit them he found one of the principal chiefs of that country, -named Guiab, lying sick. He talked with him about matters of the -faith and his salvation; and Guiab, although he did not listen to -them with displeasure, was still unwilling to embrace them. Since -his sickness was not at that time severe, father Fray Francisco left -him, telling him that if his disease grew worse he should send for -him. Father Fray Francisco returned to his village of Pilitan. The -sickness of Guiab increased in severity; and the physicians who were -there--perhaps the aforesaid sorceresses--told him that the cure for -his disease consisted in killing a child and in bathing himself in -its blood. He immediately sent for the child; but so great was the -respect which they had for father Fray Francisco that, although they -supposed that the life of Guiab was departing, they were unwilling to -put this order into execution without first asking permission from the -father, and sent for some one to ask it. The father heard the message, -and, without letting the messengers return, went with them, fearing -that even if he refused his permission they would go on and kill the -child. At this same time Guiab heard, perhaps from the devil, that -the father was coming. He sent other messengers to say that there was -no necessity of the father's taking the trouble to go to the village; -that if he was not pleased that they should kill the child, they would -not kill it. This message reached the father while he was still on -the way, but he did not stop on that account, and kept on with all the -rest. When he entered the house of Guiab he found it full of people; -and immediately beheld there, weeping bitterly and hoarse with crying, -the child who was designed for the inhuman remedy which should slay its -soul. Full of pity, he told the sick man of the great error which he -was committing, and the frightful sin against God which would result; -the uselessness and unreasonableness of striving to obtain health for -an old man by bathing him in the blood of a child; the indignation -of the Spaniards if they should hear of this act; and the vengeance -which they would take for this unjust and cruel murder, if not upon -his person, at least upon his gold and treasure. Guiab admitted his -error, and ordered the child to be given to father Fray Francisco. In -the course of the father's conversation, Guiab received instruction as -to matters of the faith, which the father explained to him, taking as -the principle and subject of what he said the control of God our Lord -over the lives of men. The father took the child in his arms, and, -on his way back with him, he found a man tied fast to a ladder. This -was the father of the child, who was placed thus that he might not -interfere with the killing under the influence of his natural paternal -love. He had him untied, and left him in freedom and in great happiness -with his son. The sickness of Guiab was mortal, and the father taught -him thoroughly and baptized him. Following the directions of the new -Christian in his will, father Fray Francisco divided his gold among -his relatives, and gave liberty to many slaves whom he wrongfully -held. To the child whom the religious had ransomed (at the price -of six reals), he likewise gave baptism; and named him Feliz [i.e., -"fortunate"], since he had been fortunate in being rescued from the -gates of eternal damnation, where he was already standing, and placed -by baptism in the beauty of grace and on the right path for glory. [It -could but be that the devil should burn with infernal wrath against -one who did so much against him; and that the Lord should reward him, -as He rewards His servants in this world, with sufferings which result -in their spiritual good. A bad man brought a false accusation against -father Fray Francisco of most nefarious wickedness, and supported it -with evidence so plausible that it seemed as if the father must be -guilty. The author of this charge exchanged a religious letter which -father Fray Francisco had written to his superior, for a forged one -very contrary to father Fray Francisco's real manner of writing. In -this way father Fray Luis Gandullo, at that time vicar-provincial, -was convinced of the truth of the charge. The innocent man took this -so much to heart that one day, when he was saying mass before his -Indians, he fainted and fell on the floor, as if he were dead. The -Indians fled from the church, in fear that they should be charged with -having caused the death of their minister. He was withdrawn from his -ministry and placed in confinement; but in the course of the trial -the truth was made clear, and father Fray Francisco was set free with -honor. Some years afterward, he was appointed prior of the convent at -Manila, and afterward, was very nearly elected provincial. He greatly -augmented the devotion to our Lady of the Rosary, and adorned her -image with rich vestments and jewels, and her chapel with a large -retable and other ornaments. He was not forgetful of the necessities -of the poor, and greatly increased the alms which were ordinarily -given at the door of the convent. After he had finished his term as -prior, he returned to Nueva Segovia. When he came back, the Indians, -learning that their good father and teacher had returned, came fifty -leguas to visit him. The Lord gave him a peaceful death, and he was -buried in the church of our father Sancto Domingo at Nueva Segovia.] - - - [End of Book I] - - - - - - - -BOOK SECOND OF THE HISTORY OF THE PROVINCE OF THE HOLY ROSARY - - -CHAPTER I - -The sufferings of the religious in Japon in the persecution which -arose against Christianity - - -[The church in Japon was like the primitive church as it was founded -by our Lord, which from the beginning suffered persecutions. The -first persecutions of the church were not so severe but that the -disciples when persecuted in one city could flee to another; thus, by -sinking its roots deep, it was able to endure the greater persecutions -which followed in the days of the Neros and the Domitians. All the -persecutions in Japon up to the year 1614 were like those in the -infancy of the early church--tempered, and without much shedding of -blood; and giving the ministers an opportunity, when they were expelled -from one kingdom, to flee to another. That which arose in this year -was like the universal persecution of the church. The emperor, seeing -that it was impossible to cut off the trunk of Christianity in Japon, -and that to martyr a few would only give the creed greater strength, -decided (perhaps advised by the devil) that it would be better and -easier to cut off only the roots--namely, the religious, by whose -teachings Christianity in Japon had been brought into existence and -was sustained. In the beginning of January in this year he sent out -an edict to all his tonos that the priests and religious in their -lands should be gathered together and sent to the port of Nangasaqui, -to the governor Safioye, to be put on board ship and banished to -Maccan or to Manila, so that not one should be left in Japon. After -this the rosaries, images, and other sacred objects were to be taken -from the Christians; and they were to be compelled to worship idols, -the disobedient being tortured and put to death. Great care was to be -taken that the bodies of the martyrs should not be permitted to fall -into the hands of the Christians, who might venerate them. This decree -was thoroughly carried out, and the Christians, deprived of ministers -and sacraments, went out of the cities and fled--some to the mountains, -others to caves, others to thick woods; and others set sail in little -boats for other countries. It made the heart burn simply to hear the -cruel destruction wrought by the emperor among the faithful. Some were -hung alive by one foot to high trees; others were tied to stakes and -exposed to the rigors of winter by night and by day; the ears and the -noses of others were cut off. Others were branded on the brow with hot -irons. Men and women were being put to shame by being exposed naked, -and chaste women were threatened with being sent to the brothels. Some -were put in sacks of straw, dragged about the streets and derided; -and others were hung up in panniers and baskets. Others suffered -confiscation of their goods, and were banished, all people being -forbidden to give them food or lodging. These last were, for the most -part, noble and rich persons who had been brought up in luxury. [7] -The religious, laying aside their habits, went in secret throughout -Japon, animating and strengthening the persecuted Christians to suffer -for the Lord. Among these religious there were three of our order. - -In this extremity of persecution confraternities were formed, for the -mutual support of their members. They took pledges to be faithful, -and were likely to be of great use because the Japanese, being a -people who think much of their honor, would be ashamed to lapse -from such agreements and promises. They made many processions, and -subjected themselves to severe disciplines. On the second of June, -Safioye was visited by all the superiors of the religious orders, -whom he received with courtesy and a great show of kindness. As soon -as they had returned to their convents, he sent them word from the -emperor that they should prepare all the members of their order to -go to Macan or Manila in the following autumn; and an inspector was -sent to see that the mandate was carried out. All the officials of -the city of Nangasaqui were compelled to sign a paper to the effect -that they would not conceal any religious or secular clergymen, or -show them favor, or assist them to remain in Japon. It was pitiful -to see the Japanese Christians as the time for the departure of the -religious approached. On the fourteenth of October, our religious -tore up the crosses which had been erected, and burned them, -together with other things from the church, that they might not be -profaned by the heathen. After partaking of the holy sacrament on -the following day, they put out the lamps and left the altars. They -put on board the ships the relics and the bodies of the saints, and -most of the ecclesiastical ornaments and things from the sacristies, -though of these they left some to the Christians who were to remain -in hiding. They were able to take only a few of the bells. On the -twenty-fifth, they were ordered to leave the city for the port of -Facunda, till their ships should be ready. After they had set sail, -certain priests returned in small boats. There were five secular -priests out of seven. Six of the ten Franciscan priests remained, -and seven out of the nine priests of our order. Of three Augustinian -fathers, one remained. Of seventy priests of the Society, eighteen -or twenty remained. [8] More would have returned to land if it had -not been for the failure of one of the boats agreed upon. The names -of the fathers who remained are given in all cases, except in that -of the Jesuits. After the departure of the clergy, the profanation -of the churches was begun. The fathers disguised themselves as well -as they could, and went out upon their mission. Many of them were -obliged to remain in Nangasaqui and its vicinity, because the greater -number of Christians were there. They traveled secretly, however, -all over Japon. They labored chiefly at night, and suffered greatly, -being obliged to travel much, and lacking food and sleep.] - - - - - -CHAPTER II - -Father Fray Francisco de San Joseph Blancas - - -[Though father Fray Francisco de San Joseph was not one of the first -founders of this province, he came in the second shipload from -España. Because of his great virtue he is worthy of an important -place in this history. For this purpose it has pleased God that there -should come to my hands from the bishop of Monopoli, Don Fray Juan -Lopez, an accurate account of the first years of this father, which -follows. Father Fray Francisco was born at Tarazona in Navarra. His -parents were exceptionally pious. From his youth father Fray Francisco -showed signs of exceptional devotion. He fled from the sight of women, -and even declined to accompany his mother, excusing himself on the -ground of his studies. At the age of thirteen he was sent to Alcala -de Henares to continue his studies; and at the age of fifteen he -assumed the habit, and showed the behavior of a man at that youthful -age. An account is given of his sisters; and the testimony of persons -of superior virtue to the sanctity of father Fray Francisco is cited. - -In course of time he came to be reader of arts in the religious -convent of Piedrahita, where he was made master of the students. He -had even greater gifts as a preacher than as a teacher, having a fine -voice, natural rhetoric and powers of action, a great gift of words, -good memory, and skill in systematic arrangement. He was master of -the hearts of all those who heard him. His first pulpit was that -of San Antonino at Yepes, and later he was appointed as preacher to -the convent of Alcala. While here he felt the impulse to go to the -Philippinas, and, in spite of the efforts of the convent to retain him, -he carried out his purpose. When he reached Manila, his superiors, -desiring that the Spaniards of Manila might not be deprived of his -great talents as a preacher, assigned him to the ministry of Bataan, -which is near Manila. Here he learned the common language of the -Indians, called Tagal, so rapidly that he was able to preach in it -within three months, and taught others the language within six. He -was constantly studying the exact signification of the words of the -language and the method in which the Indians used them, so that he -might become a consummate master of this tongue.] - -It is their custom when they are rowing their boats, or when many -are gathered together on any occasion, to sing in order to beguile -and relieve their labors. As they had no others, they used their old -profane and even pernicious songs. He composed many songs in their -language, after their own manner of verse, but on sacred themes--for -he had a particular gift for this--and introduced these among them, -so that they might use them on such occasions. He hoped in this way -to make them forget their old ballads, which were useless or noxious, -without taking from them their pleasure--rather, indeed, to increase -their delight by the devout sentiments of the new songs. He wrote -many books of devotion for them; and since there was no printing in -these islands, and no one who understood it or who made a trade of -it, he planned to have the printing done by means of a Chinaman, -a good Christian. This man, seeing that the books of father Fray -Francisco were sure to be of great use, bestowed so much energy upon -this undertaking that he finally succeeded with it. He was aided by -some who told him what they knew, and thus in time learned everything -that was necessary to do printing; and he printed these books. [9] -[The good father so delighted in seeing the fruit of his teaching -among the Indians that when he was directed to come back to the city, -to preach to the Spaniards, it was a severe penance for him. However, -he did so, especially in Lent. He was very severe in rebuking vice, -and it gave him pain to be obliged to preach to vicious Spaniards, -as it seemed to him that he was toiling in sterile soil. He usually -came down from the pulpit bathed in sweat, but continued to wear his -heavy tunic and to observe the rules of the order rigorously. Although -he had seemed to be of delicate constitution in España, his health -was always very good, so that for more than twenty years during which -he was in this province he did not even have a headache, except once, -when he struck himself by accident. He spoke with intense energy, in a -grave, sententious, and clear manner. He learned the Chinese language, -in addition to the other two in which he preached; and he took as his -especial charge the duty of teaching the many negroes and slaves in -Manila. He was most humble, in spite of his great abilities. When -he was vicar-provincial of Manila, he received a letter from the -provincial, who was making a visitation in the province of Nueva -Segovia. He asked father Fray Francisco, as vicar-provincial, to see -if some of the religious in his district could not be spared for that -needy region. Father Fray Francisco, thinking that he was himself -the least necessary person in the district of Manila, took with -him one father as his companion, and set out for Nueva Segovia. In -the year 1614 he was sent to España as procurator of the province, -but died on the voyage to Mexico. Just before and after his death -his body gave signs by the beauty of its appearance of the sanctity -and purity of his life. He printed a grammar of the Tagal language, -and in that language he printed a memorial of the Christian life, -a book on the four last things, [10] another of preparation for the -communion, a treatise on confession, a book on the mysteries of the -rosary of our Lady, and another to teach the Tagal Indians the Spanish -language. He also left behind him many devout and valuable compositions -in the language of those Indians, particularly many sermons for Sundays -and saints' days, which were highly regarded because of their doctrine -and their language, which is very elegant and pure. He had also made a -collection of sermons in the Spanish language for a whole year, with -the purpose of printing them. The letter of the dean and chapter of -the holy church of Manila (dated May 12, 1614), given him as he was -about to set out for España, corroborates Aduarte's account of him, -and is therefore printed by that writer in full.] - - - - - -CHAPTER III - -Events in this province at this time - - -In the year 1615 this province, which from the beginning had sailed -with a fair wind, and had proceeded with the conversions which it had -undertaken in these Philippinas Islands without meeting any storm, -began to feel a hurricane which caused much anxiety and pain. It was -of great value in teaching the religious to open their eyes, and to -know that in dealing with heathen and new converts they should not -be content with the simplicity of the dove, but should strive to add -the wisdom of the serpent, as our Lord charged His disciples and His -preachers. Seven years only had passed since the village named Batavag, -which is the furthest village in the province of Nueva Segovia, -had been formed by assembling a population of mountaineers. Many of -these were still heathen; while the adult Christians (who were the -minority in the village) had been educated in their idolatries, and -therefore had not completely rooted out from their hearts their ancient -customs. Thus in time of sickness the former priestesses of the devil, -or witches, found their way into many of their hearts. These women, -coveting payment, came to offer on the part of the devil, health to -the sick if they would observe the ancient superstitions which he had -taught them. These sorceresses killed certain birds, anointed the sick -with their blood, practiced other superstitious ceremonies which the -devil accepted as a sacrifice, and performed other similar acts. Some -sick persons were guilty of these things in their desire for health, -not giving heed, since they were not firmly rooted in the faith, -to the grave offense which in this way they were committing against -God, the author of life and health; and not considering the injury -to the faith or the serious harm to their own souls and consciences, -which would follow. Yet their condition was such that they ought -to have considered this matter all the more carefully, as the death -that they feared brought them nearer to the time when an account of -all this would be demanded from them. If the evil had been confined -to this village, it would not have been very great, because Batavag -was small and had not a very large population, and a majority of the -adults were not yet Christian; but the evil spread to other villages -which were larger and older in the faith, such as Bolo, Pilitan, and -Abuatan, each of which had two thousand inhabitants or more. Hence -the matter was of greater importance, and caused more anxiety to -the ministers and preachers of the law of God. When they received -information as to what was occurring, they went with great secrecy to -make an investigation into the evil; and they wrote down the names of -the old aniteras or witches, in whom was the whole foundation of this -sin. One of the persons who took part in this investigation warned -the guilty old women in the village of Batavag; and they, to escape -the punishment which they feared, began to stir up the inhabitants -of that village. When the religious went there with the purpose of -remedying one evil, they found another greater one; for the people of -the village of Batavag were in tumult and alarm because of what the -witches had said to them, and had determined to flee to their mountains -and their ancient dwelling-places. They had been brought to the one -that they now had, that they might be more easily, and more to the -profit of their souls, taught and baptized and given the sacraments, -in sickness and in health; for so long as they were divided as they -had been, into tiny hamlets at great distances from each other, it -was impossible to do that. But being (as at this time they were) -disturbed and alarmed by the witches, and desirous of abandoning -the faith, they returned to their ancient sites, which more readily -permitted each one to live in the law which he preferred, and none in -that which would have been well for him. Yet, in spite of all this, -the religious had dealt so well with them, and had shown them so much -love and benevolence, that the Indians could not cease to feel and -to show kindness for them. Hence, though they were able to kill the -religious or to do them any harm they pleased, because the fathers -were alone among them without any other protection than their good -consciences--which is a great safeguard--the Indians not only did them -no harm, but laid hands on nothing of theirs or of their convent. This -was, as it were, a declaration that they had fled, not on account of -any harm that the ministers had done them, but on account of their -fear of the punishment which their bad consciences caused them to -dread--a fear increased by what the aniteras or witches, as the most -guilty, had falsely said to them with the purpose of alarming them. In -point of fact, the religious had had no idea of severe punishment, -but simply of remedying such pernicious evils. They pitied them as -being new in the faith, and pitied even the very witches as being -persons deceived by the devil, little exercised in the law of God, -and many of them not even baptized. The religious were greatly grieved -by this event, and carried down to the nearest village the adornments -of the church which they had there, taking with them some Indians -who feared God and did not wish to follow the pernicious behaviour of -those who fled from God to the devil. They made some efforts to bring -back with kindness those who had fled; and in this way some of them, -enlightened by God, returned to the bosom of the Church and the easy -yoke of the divine law. They made continual efforts to bring back -the rest, declining no labor, no journeys, and no discomforts, in -order to gain some soul from among these lost ones. The flight of -these Indians took place on the day of the ascension of the Lord, -May 28. Since they had retired into the mountains, the Spaniards, -as they were few, did not pursue them, deeming that on account of -the roughness of the country where they were the pursuit would have -little effect, and would cause many deaths, much suffering, and great -expense. Hence many of them remained apostates from the faith and -the baptism which they received, which is a cause of great grief. - -On the nineteenth of the following month in the same year, ships -arrived from Mexico with thirty-two religious to aid in the work of -conversion upon which this province was engaged. On the following day, -Saturday, in the morning, they entered the convent, to the great joy -of themselves and of those who dwelt in it. Their vicar and superior -from Mexico hither had been father Fray Angel Ferrer, [11] who was -afterward a glorious martyr in Japon. When this company of religious -arrived in Mexico, he was vicar of the convent of San Jacintho, which -this province has near that noble city, as a hospice for the religious -who come to it from España. Since he who was conducting them [i.e., -Aduarte] went back thither, father Fray Angel undertook the very useful -duty of conducting them to the Philippinas, in order that the former -might fulfil his office as procurator of the province. The Lord led -him, without his knowing it, that He might give him a glorious martyr's -crown, which he received a few years afterward, as will be told later. - -These religious reached Mexico in the year 1613. Since in that year -there had been no ships from the Philippinas, it was necessary to -detain them there until the following year, with great risk that those -who were coming to these islands might remain in that kingdom, which -has so attractive a climate and is so abundant in all things; but as -these fathers did not come to seek for pleasures, but for the souls of -their fellow-men and labors for themselves, it was not hard to overcome -this and other difficulties which were met. To this good result the -excellent administration of the superiors greatly contributed, and the -constant occupation of the friars in holy exercises, prayer, fasting, -and disciplines. Thus they not only prevailed against the temptations -of ease and comfort, but were prepared so that the Lord might raise -them to higher things--some of them even to the glory of martyrdom, -which, as St. Augustine says, is the greatest glory of the church. - -[In order to inspire in them a longing for these things, the Lord gave -them grace in the meantime to save some lost souls. Two notable cases -of this sort occurred, one in Cadiz and the other in Mexico. Two of -them rescued and returned to her convent, a wretched woman, eighteen -years old, whom a dissolute lieutenant had enticed from a convent -in Xerez. In Mexico there was a wretched man, a person of acute -intellect and learning, who had been guilty of an infamous crime -with a boy. He had refused to confess, and, when he was tortured, -had charged a number of innocent persons with complicity with his foul -actions. The president of the alcaldes de corte [i.e., "judges of the -high court"] was at this time Dr. Morga, who had a very kind feeling -for the religious of this province, since he had come to know them by -his long residence here as an auditor. By his assistance, and by that -of one of the officers of the prison, father Fray Pedro Muriel obtained -access to this unfortunate man; and by his wise and kindly conferences -softened his heart, so that he confessed his original guilt and also -his malice in making false charges against innocent persons. Both -before and after his execution, there were manifest signs that the -Lord had been pleased to grant him salvation. In the following year, -1616, father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Catalina, or Navarro, commissary -of the Holy Office in these islands, and one of the first founders of -the province, was a second time elected provincial. In the following -month, at a feast of the Visitation, there died in the city of Nueva -Segovia father Fray Garcia Oroz, a Navarrese by nation; he was a -son of the convent of our Lady of Atocha in Madrid, and a religious -old in virtue as in years. When he made his first efforts to come -to the province he had been hindered, but afterward carried out his -intention; and although, because of his years, he was unable to learn -the language, he was of great use to his companion who understood it, -by his assistance and by the good example of his life.] - - - - - -CHAPTER IV - -The life and death of father Fray Bernardo de Sancta Cathalina, -or Navarro - - -[The new provincial had but a short time in which he could exercise his -office, as he died in November of the same year, on the octave of All -Saints. Father Fray Bernardo was a native of Villanueva de la Xara. He -was much inclined from his earliest years to letters and the Church; he -assumed the habit in the convent of Sancta Cruz at Villaescusa. After -he had professed, he was sent to study in the college of Sancto Thomas -at Alcala, which was the highest honor that the convent could bestow on -a student. Here he so distinguished himself that the college gave him -charge of the conduct of a theological discussion in the provincial -chapter, which is the highest honor that a college can give its -theologues. While at the college, he did not take advantage of the -privilege of eating meat, which is granted to students in consideration -of their labors and study. He was a successful and beloved preacher, -and lived a life of the severest mortification. He was most devoted -to the holy sacrament. At one time when a sick person had received -the Lord and had afterward vomited forth the sacramental species, -which was carelessly swept into a rubbish-heap, father Fray Bernardo -rescued the precious treasure. He was most successful in uprooting -the vices of the villages in España where he preached. When he came -to this province he was one of the best of the ministers, and one -of those who labored in the conversion of these tribes with the -greatest results. He was assigned to be superior of the religious -who preached to the barbarian Indians in Pangasinan--an indomitable, -untamed, and bloody race; and above measure opposed to the gospel, -since that was above measure opposed to their vices, cruelties, -lewdnesses, superstitions, and idolatries. Noble religious were his -companions, eager to act and to suffer for the conversion of souls; -but father Fray Bernardo was the head and superior of these religious, -the one who first began to succeed in christianizing those Indians, -the one who perfected them and carried them on to a high state of -Christian excellence. His life and his doctrine were alike marvelous -and efficacious in influencing the souls of those Indians. He was -devoted to his charge, seeking alms from the Spaniards for his Indians, -and defending them with all his might from the wrongs which were -committed against them. It was only in defense of his Indians that -he was seen to give up his ordinary gentleness of demeanor, which was -like that of a dove. The Lord blessed his efforts for the conversion -of those Indians by miraculous healing wrought by his hands. He was -visited by the saints, in particular by our father St. Dominic and -St. Vincent Ferrer, who were seen to come and say matins with him. He -was given miraculous insight into the souls of those who confessed to -him; was miraculously preserved from fire and water; and had power -given him to see devils who had taken possession of those who were -confessing to him, or whom he desired to convert. It was declared -that he even had a vision of the holy Virgin. He lived a life of -abstinence, penance, and the greatest devotion; and translated into -the Indian language a hundred and fifty brief devout treatises. He -also wrote in their language a number of spiritual letters, afterward -collected by father Fray Melchior Pavia, who made a goodly volume of -them that they might serve as an example of the manner to be followed, -in writing to the Indians, by the religious who came after. In temporal -matters he likewise assisted those Indians in all ways in his power; -for in addition to their poverty they were his dearest sons, engendered -in Christ with mighty but successful labors. - -Although father Fray Bernardo would have been pleased to be left -forever among his Indians, the province felt that it had need of him -for higher duties, and elected him as provincial in 1596. He gave -a noble example as head of the province, and was most wise, kind, -and prudent in his visitations. At one time, finding it necessary -to chastise one of his subordinates, he began the punishment upon -himself, compelling the guilty person to scourge him severely while -they two were alone. Then he proceeded to scourge the man who was in -fault, who, considering what had preceded, received his chastisement -with great humility and amended his life. The fervent love of God of -father Fray Bernardo was manifest in all that he said and did. The -high esteem in which he was held spread from the Philippinas to Nueva -España, so that the tribunal of the Holy Office in Mexico made him -its commissary-general in all these islands. On some occasions he -showed the gift of prophecy, foretelling the deaths of some persons, -or declaring the deaths of those who were at a distance. Once when -a governor assembled a great fleet against the Dutch enemies, he -was obliged to obtain the necessary revenue by great oppression of -the Indians and the poor, since the royal treasury did not yield -a sufficient amount for the undertaking. Father Fray Bernardo was -greatly grieved by this course of procedure, and strove to remedy -it without success. When the governor was about to set out, father -Fray Bernardo declared to him that he would never return; and, in -point of fact, he died in Malaca without ever seeing the enemy. [12] -The persecution in Japon was revealed to him before it occurred. Being -asked how he knew of the threatening danger, he said that he inferred -it from certain stars in the sky, which resembled a comet threatening -Japon. His companion when he had looked was unable to see any comet, -or anything like one. His love and charity kept constantly increasing, -and there were continually on his lips the words, "Let us love God; -let us love God." He sent what he could to the needy and persecuted -Christians in Japon, and wrote to Mexico to get such assistance for -them as he could obtain. He was always most loving and kindly to all -the religious. - -At the end of his term as provincial, he would have been glad to live -and die among his children in Pangasinan, but was detained in Manila -by his duties as commissary of the Holy Office. Yet every year he used -to make a visit to Pangasinan, where he was received as an angel from -heaven, and sometimes carried almost by force to distant villages, by -Indians who came more than twenty leguas for the purpose. His arrival -was like a feast-day. The people crowded to confess to him, and to -listen to his spiritual exhortations. They put off the settlement of -their most weighty differences to submit them to his judgment. They -sometimes crowded about him to kiss his hand or his scapular so that -he could not move. When he was a second time elected as provincial, -his devotion to the duties of his office resulted in his death. The -stormy weather preventing him from going by sea to Nueva Segovia, he -made the journey by land, traveling through the swamps and lowlands of -Yllocos [13] and over the Caraballos, some rough and lofty mountains, -where he was caught by a baguio or hurricane. The rivers rose so -that he was unable to go on. Captain Pedro de Rojas, his son in the -faith, had gone with him to keep him company. The hardships of their -journey were such that both men fell sick; and father Fray Bernardo, -in fear of immediate death, kept praying to the Lord that he would -prolong his life until they reached a place where he could receive the -sacraments. Arriving in Abulug, Captain Pedro de Rojas was given up by -the physician; but the father, in spite of his advanced age, seemed -likely to recover. He was deeply grieved that he--who was of no use -in the world, as he said--should be saved, while the captain had given -up his life simply to accompany him. He prayed the Lord that he might -change places with the captain, who soon afterward began to amend; -while father Fray Bernardo within twenty-four hours fell sick again -in Camalayugan, and felt that his disease was mortal. On the eighth -of November, the octave of All Saints, he departed from this vale -of tears, to be with those who are in glory. His death caused great -grief in Pangasinan and Manila. Double honors were shown to him in -our convent, first as provincial, and second as commissary-general of -the Holy Office. At the latter service father Fray Antonio Gutierrez -preached, recounting much of what has here been written. After his -death, a religious had a vision of his soul going to glory. In the -provincial chapter in the following year, honorable mention is made -of father Fray Bernardo in a Latin eulogy, recording his illustrious -virtues, his marvelous success in the conversion of the province of -Pangasinan, and the sacrifice of his life to the duties of his office.] - - - - - -CHAPTER V - -The election as provincial of father Fray Melchior Mançano, and the -situation in Japon at this time. - - -When the sad news of the death of the provincial was learned, the -electors assembled at Binalatongan, a village of Pangasinan, on the -fifteenth of April, 1617, and elected as head and superior of the -province father Fray Melchior de Mançano, [14] who was at that time -vicar of the convent of the city of Nueva Segovia. He was a very -prudent and devout character, a professed son of the convent of the -order in Ocaña; and had been made, on account of his great ability -and his successful studies, a theologue at the college of Sancto -Thomas at Alcala. In this province he had governed many of the best -convents with great approbation; and his term as provincial was very -useful to the province, augmenting it greatly, as will be narrated. - -[Now that the churches in all Japon were torn down and all the -priests expelled, as Safioye supposed, it seemed to him time to -begin the persecution of Christianity. The commencement was made in -the kingdom of Arima, which was under the direct government of the -emperor. The officers upon whom was laid the carrying out of this -persecution did their work with cruelty and insolence. When the news -of the beginning of the persecution reached Figen, twenty courageous -Japanese went from Nangasaqui to Arima to confess the faith, and died -a glorious martyrdom. Some others who purposed to follow in their -footsteps had not the courage, and recanted when they saw the dreadful -torment which awaited them. As soon as father Fray Thomas del Espiritu -Sancto, or Zumarraga, the vicar-provincial of our religious who were -in hiding, heard of this persecution in Arima, he despatched father -Fray Jacintho Orfanel to go to the aid of the persecuted Christians, -and soon afterward sent father Fray Juan de Los Angeles Rueda to go -thither also. They were followed by the father commissary of the Order -of St. Francis, with three other religious of his order. The efforts -of the religious in hearing confessions, giving the sacraments, and -comforting and strengthening the persecuted Christians, were of great -value. It seemed unwise, however, to enter the city of Arima itself, -where guards had been set to prevent entrance and egress; for if the -emperor should learn that any religious had remained in Japon, the -persecution was likely to be very much more severe. The Christians in -Nangasaqui prepared themselves, and were prepared by the religious, -for the beginning of the persecution in that city. When everything was -ready, the persecution was suspended on account of a war between the -emperor and Fideyori, the son of the previous emperor and the true heir -to the throne. [15] The officers contented themselves with publicly -burning a great number of rosaries, crosses, and other Christian -emblems taken from Arima. Father Fray Alonso Navarrete had assumed -the dress of a Spanish layman and was beaten for trying to rescue from -the fire some rosaries. Our religious obtained the sacred relics of a -number of the blessed martyrs. The emperor was victorious over Fideyori -by treachery. During the progress of the war the Christians had peace; -and the fathers did a mighty work in strengthening their courage, and -in perfecting them in the faith. Many, however, of the Christians, -for the lack of ministers, had begun to forget the matters of the -faith and even their own Christian names. Some of the Franciscan -fathers were captured, and thrown into prison; but the fathers of our -order escaped. After the fall of Usaca and the disastrous close of -the war, the persecution broke out again. The fathers were scattered -among various kingdoms, but were prevented, by the very close watch -which was kept, from entering Satzuma. The father vicar-provincial -alone, with father Fray Francisco de Morales and father Fray Joseph, -remained in Nangasaqui, going out at night only, in secular dress. This -lasted until the death of the emperor, in the year 1616. Nangasaqui -being the metropolis of Christianity in Japon, where the number of -Christians was greatest and their spirit resolved and determined, -the emperor did not dare to treat the Christians there with as much -severity as elsewhere. In spite of the exposure of our ministers -in Japon, not one of the members of our order died a natural death, -but all were crowned with the crown and aureole of martyrdom.] - - - - - -CHAPTER VI - -The great devotion in Japon to the rosary of our Lady; the death of -the emperor, and the state of the church there. - - -[In the beginning of the year 1616, the confraternity of our Lady -of the Rosary, which had been established in 1602, when the order -of our father St. Dominic entered Japon, was very greatly increased, -and the devotion to the rosary became much more intense. This order -and the devotion connected with it spread from Nangasaqui through all -parts of Japon, and much improvement in the lives of those who devoted -themselves to the rosary was perceived. Miraculous strength was also -given to the members of the confraternity to hold to their faith. In -July the emperor died by poison, which was given him by mistake -from a box of medicine. The emperor being succeeded by his son, -Xogunsama, [16] the persecution was continued, and even increased -in severity, the officers exerting themselves to invent ingenious -tortures. Sometimes the very tormentors themselves, though they -did not abandon their idolatry, were compelled by the virtue of the -martyrs, and the aid rendered them by the Lord, to admit the truth -of our holy faith. Particulars are given of the deaths of a number of -martyrs. In course of time the persecution extended to Nangasaqui. It -was discovered by accident that there were religious in the city. This -was one cause for the beginning of the persecution. Another cause -was the contentions of two governors in the city, one Christian and -the other heathen. [17] Great efforts being made to capture some of -the religious, father Fray Pedro de la Asumpcion of the Order of -St. Francis, and Father Juan Baptista Tavora of the Society, were -caught and suffered martyrdom, being decapitated May 22, 1617. This -caused great joy among the religious, who had feared that, if they -should be captured, they would merely be sent out of the kingdom, -but were now encouraged to hope for the crown of martyrdom.] - - - - - -CHAPTER VII - -The expedition of father Fray Alonso Navarrete, vicar-provincial of -our order in Japon, and father Fray Hernando de San Joseph, or Ayala, -vicar-provincial of the order of our father St. Augustine, for the -aid of the Christians of Omura. - - -[The persecutors were satisfied with these deaths, thinking that they -would frighten the ministers of the gospel and either drive them out -of Japon or greatly curtail their activity. May 24, 1617, on the eve -of Corpus Christi, father Fray Alonso Navarrete, vicar-general of our -order, set out for Omura, where the other priests had been martyred, -with the purpose of openly preaching the gospel there. He took with him -a courageous Japanese servant named Pablo. The landlord of his house -also volunteered. Father Fray Hernando de San Joseph, vicar-provincial -of the Augustinian order, who was his close friend, decided to -accompany him. After examining their consciences carefully, father -Fray Francisco de Morales of our order approved their enterprise.] - - - - - -CHAPTER VIII - -The capture of the holy martyrs - - -[The two fathers set out, traveling slowly, encouraging the Christians -and recovering some of those who had recanted. The number of those -who came to be confessed was very great, and the religious heard -their confessions at the risk of their lives. The fathers rejoiced -to lay aside their secular garments; and the Christians who saw -them in religious habits were greatly delighted. Five persecutors -came to arrest the fathers, who received them with great joy and -gave them presents. Father Fray Alonso wrote a letter to the tono, -informing him that the fathers had come to give him an opportunity -to repent of his great sin in martyring the fathers who had been -executed, and to deliver him from the pains of hell. Some Japanese -boldly offered themselves for martyrdom. The Christian inhabitants of -the city showed the greatest devotion to the fathers, crowding about -them and offering themselves for martyrdom with them; and they showed -the greatest grief at the thought that the fathers were to be taken -from them by death. The tono of Omura was in the greatest grief and -perplexity, feeling that there would fall on him the obligation to -martyr Christians after Christians who would come to offer themselves -in his kingdom. He finally determined to take their lives, but with -the greatest secrecy, in order to prevent an uprising in the city. The -fathers were accordingly taken to a desolate island named Usuxima; and -in spite of the efforts of the heathen to keep the place secret, they -were followed by a great number of Christians, who confessed to them.] - - - - - -CHAPTER IX - -The death of the three holy martyrs - - -[From this island the three fathers were removed to another named -Coguchi. They received with great joy the news that they were to -die, and were carried to another island still more solitary. Here -they showed great courtesy and kindness to those who were to slay -them. They left letters for their provincials, desiring them to send -religious to Japon at any cost. In spite of the care of the tyrant, -some Christians were present at the execution. The two were beheaded on -Thursday, the first of June, the octave of Corpus Christi. Their very -executioners looked upon them at such men of virtue that they dipped -their handkerchiefs and bits of paper in their sacred blood, to keep -these as relics. The bodies of all the martyrs were put in coffins -laden with stones, and cast into the sea. In spite of the danger, many -Japanese went to the place of the martyrdom to venerate the relics of -these saints; and the Confraternity of the Rosary offered continual -prayers that they might recover the bodies of these holy martyrs. At -the end of two months the bodies of the holy and blessed Fray Pedro -de la Asumpcion and Fray Hernando were cast up on the shore.] - - - - - -CHAPTER X - -The virtues of these blessed fathers, their fitness to obtain the -crown of martyrdom, and the fruits which followed therefrom. - - -[The holy Fray Hernando was especially devoted to the souls in -purgatory, and gave a notable example of poverty and obedience to the -rules of his order. Father Fray Alonso was very pious, almsgiving, -and compassionate. Although the lords in Japon are very rich, the poor -people are very needy; so that the heathen often slay their new-born -children, and the Christians cast them out in the street. The heart -of the holy man was so afflicted by this that, at his persuasion, -a Spanish captain named Pablo Carrucho settled a certain income -upon the pious work of maintaining these children. Just before -his death the holy martyr, not forgetful of this, wrote a letter -to the captain, urging him not to forget the alms for the exposed -children. Father Fray Alonso was one of the first ministers of Nueva -Segovia; he returned to Europe, to bring with him a number of new -religious to the Philippinas. After he had been assigned to Japon -he once returned to the Philippinas. He suffered greatly in these -voyages, since he was of delicate constitution. He was a charitable -and most beloved minister, very bold, and especially distinguished -for his gratitude. From this martyrdom the Christians of Nangasaqui -received new courage, as did also those of Omura, who were greatly -strengthened in the faith. Some, indeed, who had feared to do so -before, boldly confessed Christianity. Throughout Japon the example -of this martyrdom was a great source of strength to the Christians, -and forced the heathen to respect the Christian faith. The heathen -also were cured of their error of supposing that the fathers had come -to this region because of temporal ambitions. The persecution which -was feared in Nangasaqui ceased when the courage of the holy men was -seen. The last result of this martyrdom was the many more martyrdoms, -which soon followed, of those who by the example of these saints -openly avowed Christianity. The names of several of the confessors -and martyrs are given, with a brief account of their deaths.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XI - -The state of affairs in Japon after the martyrdom of the saints Fray -Alonso Navarrete and Fray Hernando de Ayala. - - -[After the martyrdom of these holy religious the Christians of Omura, -ashamed of their weakness, desired to follow their example. Father -Fray Thomas del Espiritu Sancto and father Fray Juan de Los Angeles, -religious of our order, and father Fray Apolinario Franco, commissary -of the Order of St. Francis, went to take spiritual charge of these -Christians in Omura. Fathers Fray Apolinario and Fray Thomas were -arrested, with their servants, and imprisoned. Father Fray Juan de Los -Angeles was not found. The landlord of father Fray Alonso Navarrete -in course of time won the crown of martyrdom by the boldness of his -confession; and he and another Christian were carried to an islet, -and secretly executed at midnight on the last day of September. The -tono of Omura, in perplexity, went to the court of the emperor to -confer with him in regard to the questions raised by the arrest of -the two fathers. The Christian faith extended, and some remarkable -conversions of persecutors took place. The holy fathers suffered -in prison from the rigors of winter, having been deprived of their -clothes, and having no bed or any protection against the cold; for the -prison was made of wood, and did not protect them against the cold, -wind, or snow. They suffered equal tortures from hunger, having but a -small ration of boiled rice without other food--the Christians having -been forbidden to assist them.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XII - -The building of the church of Los Sanctos Reyes in the Parian - - -As soon as the order entered these islands, it took upon itself the -charge of evangelizing and teaching the Chinese who came to these -islands, every year, in pursuit of their business and profit. They -all lived in a sort of alcaicería, or market, called in this country -a Parian; and here there were usually ten thousand Chinese, and at -times as many as twenty thousand. Here they not only store their -merchandise, which is very rich, but maintain all the trades required -for a very well ordered and provided community. They were at that -time all heathen, because up to that time as soon as any Chinaman -was converted and baptized he was obliged to leave this idolatrous -place and to go to live in another village, of baptized Chinese, -which was near there. In this way the effort was made to separate the -newly-baptized from the heathen, so that they might not follow the bad -example of their heathen neighbors while their Christianity, being -new, had not sufficient strength to resist this temptation and free -themselves from the danger of this scandal. The town of the heathen -was not forgotten on this account; for the religious went from the -town of the Christian Chinese, called Binondoc, where they lived, -to preach every Sunday to those who lived in the Parian. This course -was followed up to the year 1617, when it was remarked, with reason, -how advantageous it would be that preachers should be constantly in -residence in this multitude of people. Thus by having more intercourse -with them, and being in closer relations with them, they might reap a -greater spiritual harvest among the Chinese, and the number of those -who should be baptized, in both sickness and health, might be greatly -increased. The father provincial conferred with the two estates, -ecclesiastical and secular, receiving the approval of everyone. The -usual licenses were obtained, and a small wooden church and convent -were begun. Everything was done at the expense of the order, that -it might not be necessary to ask anything from the heathen Chinese, -for whose benefit and advantage the buildings were erected. The Lord -straightway began to manifest that the work was very acceptable to Him, -by showing marvelous favor to a Chinaman who was occupied as overseer -of the building. A Spaniard, enraged because he had been bitten by -a dog, asked the Chinaman "whose dog that was," intending to avenge -upon the owner the pain which the dog had caused him. The Chinaman -answered that he did not know whose it was, and the angry Spaniard -said: "It must be yours, because you do not tell me." Drawing his -sword he thrust it at his chest; but the Lord, who was pleased with -the care which the Chinaman gave to the building of His poor temple, -guided the sword so that it struck an ebony cross which the Chinaman -wore under his clothes. The blow made a deep mark upon this cross, -while the Chinaman was untouched--the Lord receiving the thrust -upon His own cross that it might not harm His votary. The Chinaman -recognized this as a very special mercy, and a great reward for his -labor; and he and all those who knew of the fact praised the Lord, -wonderful in His works. - -The poor church was finished, and being the edifice of those vowed to -poverty it lasted but a short time. The beams which served as columns -and held up the building were not strong, and the soil was marshy and -unstable; hence the beams were unable to carry the load of the tiling, -but gave way, in such a manner as to threaten the downfall of the -church. To prevent this, so that no one might be caught beneath, it -was planned to take down the tiling; and while the church was being -untiled, and there were nineteen persons on the roof, the building -(which was already on the point of falling) broke open with this -additional weight, and the whole roof came down--key-beams, ridge-pole, -and tiles. Even some of the largest beams were broken into very small -fragments; and many of those who were on the peak of the roof were -caught and buried in the lumber and tiles, so that of some there -was nothing to be seen except some part of their clothing. A great -multitude of people ran to the noise. Most of them were heathen, and -stood looking on with much alarm at the ruin which had been wrought; -but they did not dare to show any kindness, or to disinter the poor -workmen who had been overwhelmed. Hence the men remained for a long -space of time covered in this way, all supposing that they were not -only dead, but horribly mangled. However, this was not the case; -for the Lord was desirous of teaching these heathen the omnipotence -of His providence and the care that He takes of those who serve Him; -and all were taken out, unconscious indeed, but uninjured and in -health, without the slightest wound upon any one of them, although -some very heavy key-beams had been broken to pieces. They soon came -to themselves and gave thanks to Him who had so marvelously preserved -them; while all those present, who were innumerable, both Christians -and heathen, were astonished, and the heathen said aloud: "Great is -the providence of the God of the Christians." Thus the Lord drew from -these His enemies the highest praises, and changed into honor to His -name that which might have caused offense among these idolaters if -these men had been killed while working on the house of God. It was -believed that the fervent prayer of father Fray Bartholome Martynez -aided much in bringing about this result; for the work was going -on under his direction, and when he saw that a good account of it -could not be given, if the Lord did not remedy this misfortune, he -begged this grace of Him most affectionately. And this was not the -only time when the Lord granted to his faithful and devout prayers -very marvelous things, as will be narrated in due time. - -A small portion of the land belonging to the convent was made ready to -serve, as well as possible, for a tiny church for the few Christians -who were there. The harvest reaped here by the religious, in this -multitude of heathen and idolatrous people, was marvelous. They taught -them constantly by day and night in the church, in the squares, in -their houses, without losing an opportunity to do them good--though -they labored beyond their strength, trusting in the Lord whose work -they were doing. Marvelous results immediately followed, to the great -service and honor of the Lord and the profit of souls. Of the many -sick in the Parian, who before the residence of the fathers had all -departed in their heathen state, now, since they have had these devoted -fathers among them and have heard their teaching, practically none -have died without being baptized. Such is the fruit of the fathers' -care in expounding the faith to them, explaining to them the great -good and the spiritual benefit of baptism, and the eternal misery of -those who have neglected it. Often even the heathen relatives and -friends of the sick have persuaded them to be baptized; and they, -like the persons of their own nation whom the fathers have appointed -for that purpose, take great care to ascertain if there are any sick, -and to inform the fathers, that the latter may visit them and teach -them the way to heaven. - -In addition to these who are baptized in sickness, many are baptized in -health and take back the news of the gospel to their own country. In -this way, it is hoped, the entry of preachers into China will be -somewhat facilitated, if it is once known that we are persons who, -in addition to loving and helping them, are not desirous for our -temporal profit, but for the good of their souls. This is an argument -of great weight with the Chinaman, who is excessively avaricious, -and hence regards as a very divine virtue the contempt of that which -he esteems so highly. Since they are very intelligent, they are easily -persuaded that that is truth which we preach to them as to the great -reward in the other life for those who are good, since they see that -their preachers take such pains and undergo such penances to become -good, and despise all temporal gain in the firm hope of an eternal -one. If their eternal reward were not to be much the vaster, great -would be their imprudence to cast aside for it all temporal reward; -and they would be, as the apostle has said, of all men most miserable. - -Father Fray Bartholome Martynez afterward erected on the same site a -sumptuous and handsome church, which was intentionally made large and -capacious, that there might be room in it for the many whom he hoped to -baptize; and beautiful, that the very magnificence of the edifice might -give some sign by its appearance of whose it was. In order that it -might please the Chinese better, it was constructed entirely after the -manner of the best buildings in China, out of wood, the pieces framed -together with joints, without any nails in the entire frame. This -was accomplished, in spite of the fact that the number of pieces -which entered into the frame came to more than three thousand. They -were wrought with marvelous skill, and with superior craftsmanship; -indeed, before they began to be put in place they were all shaped, -with their joints so fitted that, although the architect at the time -of erecting the building happened to be unable on account of illness -to rise from his bed, and had to give his directions from it as to -what had to be done, yet everything was found to be so exact that -his presence was not needed. Everything was fitted exactly as it was -planned and worked out by the designer from the beginning. This is -something which aroused great admiration in the Spanish architects -who saw it, and they were amazed, and with reason. It is reckoned -a matter worthy of the wisdom given by God to Solomon that the same -thing is recounted of the temple which he built, as is narrated in -holy scripture. The architect was a heathen, very old and infirm; -but God prolonged his life until this work was finished. Afterward, -as his illness grew worse, he asked for holy baptism; and, having -received it devoutly, he died happy in being a Christian, and was -buried in the church which he had built for God. - -[While the church was being built, some very notable events -happened. One Sunday, after the Christians had heard mass, they and -a number of heathen who helped them were dragging a very large beam -which was to serve as a column in the building. As they went down -a little hill, it began to roll on some round sticks which they had -placed under it in order that they might move it with less difficulty, -and came at one of those who were dragging it with such force that, -as it seemed, he could in no way avoid being caught by it. The Lord -heard the prayers of some religious who were present, and delivered -him from his danger. In the same church the workmen were setting up -the beams which were to support the four corners of the transept like -columns--which beams were much larger, longer, and thicker than any -of the others. A great number of people were stationed on each of -the four sides of one, to draw it so that it might go straight. The -cables which they used were new and heavy, and there was a workman -seated on the head of the beam to watch the hitches of the cables to -be sure that they did not slip. The weight of the beam was so great -that one of the cables gave way, and when it was broken the others -began to become loose. The workmen dropped their work and fled in -alarm, leaving the man on the head of the beam beyond help, as it -seemed. Father Fray Bartholome Martinez prayed to the Lord for this -man, and the beam rested upon some bamboos standing there, which were -strong, but not strong enough to carry such a weight; and the man got -down by them unhurt, but with his blood curdled by fright. The church -was finished and was most beautiful, being a notable piece of work in -its style. It caused great joy to the Spaniards, and to the Chinese, -both Christian and heathen. In the course of time another event which -greatly edified these Chinese occurred; for on Monday, March 13, 1628, -at one o'clock at night, a fire broke out in the Parian which burnt -down practically the whole of it--since it was at that time built of -reeds and nipa, or of dry boards, which burn like a torch. The only -houses saved were some which were protected by green trees, and some -other small ones which were somewhat isolated. The fire bore directly -toward the church, and had already begun to scorch the wood of it, -when the religious carried out the image of our Lady of the Rosary, -and turned her face toward the fire. The wind instantly changed, -and the church was saved. Although in the construction of this most -beautiful church care had been taken to build it of durable wood, -yet within a few years some of it rotted, and it seemed as if it -would be with this church as with the others. Hence it was deemed -necessary to tear it down, for fear of accident; and another church -was built, with strong pillars of stone.] Since this is very near the -city, we did not fail to build it with stronger frame. But it is very -beautifully decorated, its walls being covered from top to bottom with -paintings, in which is depicted everything which may instruct these -heathen in the knowledge of that which is of consequence for them to -understand. There is represented the whole life of Christ our Lord, -and His most holy Mother; there are many pictures of the judgment, -purgatory, glory, and hell; much instruction as to the seven holy -sacraments; many miracles pertaining to them, and especially to the -greatest of all; many martyrs, and many holy examples. All this, -in addition to beautifying the church, is of great use, serving as -devout books wherein these people (who are very inquisitive) may see -and understand that which is taught to them by word of mouth; and very -great benefit is thus wrought for them. Many incidents have occurred -which have made clear the great usefulness of having this church in -the midst of this idolatrous population, to preach the true God with -so loud a voice that it may be heard in the great kingdom of China, -and may dispose it to be converted. - -[One of those who had been baptized here was accused, when he returned -to his country, of being a Christian. When the Christian replied that -there was nothing evil in Christianity, the judge asked him how he -could say that being a Christian was not evil. He handed the judge -a little card printed in the Chinese language, containing the first -prayers, the ten commandments, and directions for works of charity, -and told him that this was the Christian law. The judge, when he -had read it over, dismissed the Chinaman, retaining the card, and -saying: "Who has deceived me by saying that Christianity is evil? On -the contrary, it is very good." Thus the knowledge of Christianity -spreads in that great kingdom. The Lord wrought miracles in defense -of the new converts, punishing with death a heathen who had insulted a -Chinaman that had given up his litigious habits after his baptism; and -other miracles of healing and protection were wrought, and marvelous -conversions took place, evidently by the hand of God.] There have been -baptized in this church, from the year 1618, when baptisms began, up to -the year 1633, when this is written, four thousand seven hundred and -fifty-two Chinese, all adults. Of these, two thousand and fifty-five -were baptized in health, and two thousand six hundred and ninety-seven -in sickness, in addition to some whose names were accidentally omitted -from the registry. Since that time [18] baptisms have continued at -a proportional rate, where, before they had the church, all died -in their idolatry, and there were very few who went hence in health -to be baptized in other churches. Such persons usually went to our -church in Minondo for the Christians of their nation; but those who -went from the Parian were very few, because they did not at that -time have the constant intimacy and stimulus of the presence of the -religious, as now. The result has been a very great increase of the -affection which the Chinese have always felt for our order, and the -high regard which they have for our holy faith. This is so great that -even the heathen, who themselves are not baptized because of worldly -considerations, generally desire the sick with whom they are connected -by relationship or friendship to become Christians. Hence it is rare -that anyone dies in this great multitude of heathens without first -being baptized; while those who return to their great kingdom give -in it a very good report of our faith and of the doctrine of Christ, -to the no small credit of our religious community, with the members -of which they generally have most to do, and receive from them the -greatest benefits, both in spiritual and in temporal matters; for we -are often able to be of assistance to them. They recount all this -in their own country; and this is an excellent preparation for the -rapid advance of the holy gospel, which has already entered it. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIII - -Some missions sent to various kingdoms - - -[Since the establishment of this province was intended not only for the -Philippinas, but also for the neighboring heathen kingdoms, advantage -was taken of every opportunity to send out religious to these other -kingdoms. Our order had planned to labor in the conversion of the -kingdom of Macasar, whose king manifested some signs of desiring -to have religious sent to him. This kingdom is very powerful, and -has a large population. The people of it have an excellent natural -disposition, which is a good foundation for the faith; but, because -of disturbances which arose, this mission did not take effect. - -The religious not only of this province, but of España and Nueva -España, have had their hearts set upon the conversion of the kingdom -of China, the population of which is of incredible vastness, and the -people there exhibit very acute intelligence and have an excellent -civilization and government. They even establish their authority in -all the neighboring kingdoms: Corea, Siam, Camboja, Cochinchina, -and others; and they communicate their system to these as far as -possible. Their character and their moral doctrines also fit them -for the gospel. In spite of the failure of previous efforts to enter -this kingdom, our religious were not discouraged. In this year (i.e., -1618) an opportunity was offered when the governor, Don Alonso Fajardo -de Tença, was about to send an embassy to inform the Chinese that -their enemy and ours, the Dutch, had taken up their station in the -straits through which the merchant vessels of China sail on their way -to this city, richly laden; and that the enemy intended to capture -and pillage the ships there. Our order was asked to send a religious -who understood the language, and who had worked among the Chinese -in the islands; father Fray Bartholome Martinez was chosen for the -post. After some days sailing the vessel met with a furious storm, in -which it lost the mainmast; and afterward struck upon a large rock, -losing the rudder and part of the poop. Some leaped into the water, -and some made their way to land in the boat; the rest remained on -board the vessel, and father Fray Bartholome remained with them to hear -their confessions. The next morning they all succeeded in getting to -land, not far from Pangasinan. Here father Fray Bartholome preached -to the Chinese who had come to that region to carry on business, -and succeeded in converting twenty. From Pangasinan he made his -way with great difficulty to Nueva Segovia, where he was directed -to embark in another royal vessel, and to carry out his embassy by -way of Macan. On this voyage they also met with dreadful storms, -and he landed twice on the island of Hermosa. This island had not -yet been taken possession of for his Majesty; but the Lord willed -that the father should see it and carry to Manila a full report as to -its character, the result of which was that the island was afterward -acquired. He finally reached Macan, where he met with so many obstacles -to carrying out his mission that he was obliged to return to Manila, -and thus failed to gain that entry into China which he had desired. - -At the same time, another mission was planned to the kingdom of Corea; -for it seemed likely that there would be a great and noble conversion -in that kingdom, the people of which have a very good character by -nature, being very simple, and free from duplicity and deceit. That -kingdom is between Great China and Japon, so near to each that it -is separated from them only by some very narrow arms of the sea, -like large rivers. The people have the intelligence and ability of -the Chinese, without their duplicity. They are for the most part -tillers of the soil. They have some of the valor of the Japanese, -without their ferocity. It happened in 1593 that Taycosama determined -to make war against this kingdom of Corea, in order to strengthen -himself by diminishing the power of some princes of his own state, -whom he sent to make this war at their own expense. The war was most -cruel and destructive, and the kingdom of Japon was full of Corean -slaves. [19] Among these was one who was converted and who came to -Manila. The father of this convert (who was called Tomas) reached the -post of secretary to the king, and, taking advantage of his wealth -and high office, spared no pains in the search for his son. The son, -in spite of his love for his native country and his father, and the -hope of the wealth which he would have if he returned, was still -more devoted to his own soul; and was therefore unwilling to return -to his own country without taking with him some religious. The father -provincial, thinking this a good opportunity to begin this conversion, -assigned three religious, who set sail, on the thirteenth of June in -this year (i.e., 1618) in a ship for Japon, since there was no ship -direct to Corea. At Nangasaqui the officials, detecting the purpose -of the religious, detained them and finally prevented them from going -on. Tomas was obliged to go on without them, promising to send for -them; but affairs in Japon became so disturbed that nothing more was -ever heard of him. Two of the three religious who were to go to Corea -returned to Manila. The third, father Fray Juan de Sancto Domingo, -remained in Japon and learned the language, that he might aid the -afflicted Christians there; and he was rewarded by the Lord with the -palm of martyrdom.] - -So eager was the province to extend our holy Catholic faith throughout -all regions, to introduce it into the kingdoms of the heathen, -to enlighten their souls and show them the way to heaven, that the -Lord aided them by sending in this year twenty-four new laborers, -religious who had been gathered in España by Father Jacintho Calvo -[20]--a religious who had been in this province, and who on account of -the severe heat in the islands, which was dangerous to his health, -sent the fathers on from Mexico, whither he had brought them, -under the leadership of father Fray Antonio Cañiçares. They arrived -here very opportunely; for by the missions which have been mentioned -several ministries had been much interfered with, and were now filled -up from this new company. Even some new convents were established; -for instance that of San Telmo at Cavite. This town is the port where -all those go aboard who sail from these islands to Nueva España or -to Yndia or to other regions--except in the case of small vessels, -which are able to sail from the city. In Cavite there is accordingly a -large town of Spaniards, Indians, Chinese, and Japanese. At that time -they were in greater need of Christian teaching because they had only -one convent, that of the seraphic father St. Francis; and, besides, -our order needed to have a convent there in which the religious might -remain while waiting to go aboard the vessels. On this account this -convent of San Telmo was established there at that time, and did great -good to those who lived in the town. The Confraternity of our Lady of -the Rosary was immediately carried thither; and this holy devotion was -greatly revived, and other very good effects were wrought. Thus for the -Virgin's sake the people of the town have come to have a great regard -for her chaplains; and a fine church, with rich altar decorations and -ornaments, and a convent sufficient for the religious who are obliged -to be at Cavite, have been built there. This is supported very well by -alms, without any other income; and the religious with their sermons -and good example have wrought much good, not only among the Spaniards, -but also among the natives. There has been a great reformation of -morals among both, as is always effected by the devotion to the Virgin -of the Rosary, wherever care is taken to give due heed to preaching -it, and to using it as a benefit come from heaven, by the hands of -the Virgin, to correct the sins and reform the excesses of the world. - -During this year a beginning was also made in an undertaking which -had been much desired by good and spiritual religious, as being -worthy of and proper to that charity with which the religious of -this province usually took up enterprises involving great labor, -that they might in return offer souls to the Lord and bring heathen -into the church. There are near the province of Nueva Segovia certain -islands, called Babuianes, following each other in a line toward the -northeast until they approach near those which are called Lequios, -which are near Japon. [21] These latter are innumerable, and some -of them are very large and very fertile. Their inhabitants are of -excellent natural dispositions, so that, being heathen, they cause -wonder in all of those who go there. They are extremely kind, loving, -docile, and free from self-interest--excellent foundations for their -becoming noble Christians if the happy day of the faith shall dawn upon -them. The islands near Nueva Segovia are not fertile, being plagued -with fierce winds, which, sweeping over them without any defense, -do them great damage. The inhabitants, however, are very ingenuous -and simple. When they sometimes came to Nueva Segovia to do their -poor little trading, the hearts of the religious were grieved when -they saw those people of a natural disposition so excellent, so humble -and peaceable; while their souls were left totally without assistance -because they were poor and few, and widely scattered over many islands -in the midst of the sea, without hope that any other preachers would -undertake their conversion if our religious neglected them. They had -a Spanish encomendero, who went duly every year to demand his tribute -from them; but he paid no attention to providing them with Christian -teaching, civilization, or justice. He saw them only when he collected -his tribute, without caring about them all the rest of the year, -and without trying to do them any good, as he was bound to do. The -religious had many times conferred about the conversion of these poor -people, but their purposes had never taken effect until this year, -when the religious came from España; and then preachers were sent -to them. That it might be possible to reach them, the inhabitants of -many islands were gathered on one, where they could more conveniently -be taught; they were baptized, and became very good Christians. In -this way the great labor was somewhat diminished, and the religious -were enabled to bear the almost total absence of comfort among them; -for they were imprisoned on a small island from which during many -months of the year it was impossible to have any communication with -other people. The land was so scanty and in every way so poor that -it did not produce even enough rice for the food of the inhabitants; -but yielded only borona and other grains of less excellence than rice, -or even something inferior to this. The people generally sustained -themselves on roots, potatoes, and such things. If this fails, as often -happens, it is necessary for the religious to support them by giving -them the little they themselves have, and asking alms from the other -convents of Nueva Segovia. All this was evident before the religious -went to convert them, as was also the inconvenience which results -if the religious are ill--as they must inevitably be much of the -time--for there is no physician there, nor are there any medicines; -and for nearly half the year it is not possible for a religious to -go thence to be cared for where he can have them, or even to send a -letter. During this period this sea is not navigable, for it is very -stormy; and the boats which they have there, being the boats of poor -persons, are small. Yet all this, and the fact that those natives have -a different language from all the rest, and many other inconveniences -which they suffered there, the religious bore with pleasure, being -good and devout Christians. They are in two little villages, with -a church and a convent in each, sufficient for its needs. Though -the Indians provided the labor, all the rest was a gift which the -religious had made and are making to them. Since they had religious, -there have been several attacks of smallpox in various years, which -is almost like a plague among the Indians--attacking practically all -of them, and being very fatal. On these occasions great numbers of -baptized children have gone to heaven; and there have been many cases -of the special providence with which the Lord takes hence those who -are predestinated. The love and devotion with which the ministers -strive for their salvation is so great that he only who has seen -it can believe it. On the one hand the people were good Christians, -humble and devout, and on the other hand so poor and needy that it -seemed as if the people and their country had been rejected by all -lands and men. Hence the religious, taking them in charge, pitied -their miseries and strove to provide relief for them in both their -temporal and their more important spiritual necessities. Thus, in -times of need, the religious have come to Nueva Segovia to ask alms -from house to house, sometimes undergoing manifest danger of drowning -to help these Indians. As for their souls, the care which they take of -them may be inferred from the following case. The principal minister, -father Fray Jacintho de San Geronimo, learned that a poor woman was -in the fields about to give birth to a child. She had not come to -the village, as they commonly do, perhaps because she could not. The -religious pitied her, and went to find her and bring her to the town, -so that in her need she might find someone to help her when she should -be delivered. With all this solicitude it took him some days to find -her, so far away from all companionship did she live. When she had -been brought to the village she was provided for by the religious, -and brought forth two children. They were baptized by the religious, -and both died within a short time, going to enjoy God forever because -of the devoted care given to them by their spiritual father while their -natural parents left them on the road to perdition; for without doubt -they would have been lost, if the religious had not had the mother -brought to the village for her delivery. - - - - - -CHAPTER XIIII - -The capture of father Fray Juan de Santo Domingo, and his happy death -in prison in Japon - - -[After the death of Safioye, other enemies of Christianity held the -government of Nagasaki. With great acuteness the persecutors set -about capturing the religious who were concealed in the city. On the -thirteenth of December, 1618, they found two convents and captured four -religious, two of our order, Fray Angel Ferrer and Fray Juan de Sancto -Domingo, with some Japanese. At the same time they captured Father -Carlos Espinola and Brother Ambrosio Hernandez of the Society of Jesus, -with their Portuguese landlord. The fathers, on being interrogated, -confessed who they were. The two Japanese youths, the servants of -the religious, whom the judges desired to set free, insisted that -they were Christians, and declared that they were not ignorant of -the profession of the religious, so that the judges were obliged -to imprison them. The Japanese Christians crowded in and shouted, -and some of them made a bold confession of faith. The persecution of -the Christians throughout the kingdom of Japon increased greatly in -severity, but the Christians protected the fathers and did not give -them up. Even in the midst of the persecution many were converted and -baptized, and other religious came into the kingdom to carry on the -work. The fathers in prison were treated with great severity. Father -Fray Juan de Sancto Domingo fell ill in prison, and finally died -there. His imprisoned brethren desired to keep his body as that of a -saint; but, being unable to do so, cut off a foot and a hand, keeping -them for their comfort. The Japanese took the body, intending to burn -it and to scatter the ashes in the sea; but though they built a great -funeral pyre they were unable to burn it, and finally threw it into the -ocean, weighted with chains. The holy martyr was a native of Castilla -la Vieja, of the region of Campos near Sanabria, and assumed the -habit in the convent of San Estevan at Salamanca. He came to this holy -province in the year 1601. He was assigned to the ministry of Bataan, -where he learned the language quickly, as he did also the language of -Pampanga. Hence he was sent to Pangasinan, where he learned a third -Indian language. When he was afterward sent to preach the holy gospel -in the kingdom of Corea, he remained in Japon to assist the afflicted -Christians there, being persuaded to do so by the holy Fray Francisco -de Morales. He was engaged in the occupation of learning the Japanese -language when he was captured by the persecutors.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XV - -The intermediate chapter, and the death of father Fray Juan de Leyva - - -In the year of our Lord 1619 the intermediate chapter in the term of -father Fray Melchior de Mançano was held, on the twentieth of April, -in the convent of our father St. Dominic at Nueva Segovia. In it -many important ordinances were passed, which were of assistance in -supporting the observance of the rules and in making illustrious our -order. This was the first provincial chapter held in that province -[i.e., of Nueva Segovia], and it was accordingly conducted with -much dignity and was attended by many of the religious of this -province. Their number was great, but greater was the divine Providence -and the paternal affection with which the Lord sustained them, showing -forth His greatness so plainly that it was obvious to all that He -it was who provided the religious with their daily food. [During the -session of the chapter, there was a wonderful catch of excellent fish -called taraquitos. [22] On this occasion they were so large that they -weighed ninety libras, and so abundant that they sufficed not only -for the whole chapter, but for all the Spaniards. All that beheld -this were amazed, because the fish of this kind which had hitherto -been caught there were but few and small, never weighing more than -four libras. No fish so large, and no such numbers of these fish, -had been seen before, or were seen afterwards. The very Chinese -fishermen who were heathen were the most amazed; for being desirous -of continuing the fishery for gain after the close of the chapter, -they did not catch a single fish of this kind.] - -In this provincial chapter was received and incorporated into the -province the college of Sancto Thomas at Manila, which had been -in process of erection for some years, and was now ready to be -occupied. The first man to plan this great work was the archbishop -of Manila, Don Fray Miguel de Benavides. Being a learned and a -holy man, he was grieved that there was in his province no fixed -and regular school of learning--as there was not at that time, the -fathers contenting themselves with carrying on instruction when there -was need of it. This was only when among the religious who came from -España there were some who had not finished their studies; and in such -cases they were given to masters to teach them. The places of masters -were filled with as much system as in the schools in España, by the -fathers Fray Juan Cobo, Fray Juan de San Pedro Martyr, Fray Francisco -de Morales, and others. When the religious had completed their courses, -the schools were brought to an end; and the masters with their pupils, -who were now sufficiently instructed, went to preach the gospel to -these peoples. This was the end for which schools were established, -and for which both pupils and teachers had come from España, many of -them leaving behind them the chairs from which they lectured--coming -here not to lecture, but to convert souls. All this did not satisfy -the great mind and the charitable heart of the archbishop. He declared -that lecturing and teaching were matters of great importance in the -Order of St. Dominic, and were ordained to a lofty end; and that they -had as their purpose not only ministering and preaching the gospel, -but also the creation of ministers and preachers, which is a superior -and creative work, as the degree of the bishops is superior to that -of the priests. Therefore, though the priests have the lofty duty -of consecrating and offering the most sacred body of Christ, the -bishops are those who make these priests. Likewise the lecturers and -masters of theology in this land surpass the ministers and preachers -of the gospel, since with their teaching they make them fit for this -very office. On this account lecturers might well come from España to -lecture in this country, to their own great advantage; since in España -they make preachers for that kingdom, where there is not so great a -need of persons to preach, and where the effect of their sermons is -not so great or so certain as here. Further--and this he repeated many -times--our constitutions, made after consideration and reflection upon -this matter, require that there should be no convent of ours in which -there is not a doctor or master who is actually engaged in teaching; -they require that in the provinces there shall be organized, settled, -and permanent schools of higher learning. Hence, as our province lays -so great stress upon the observance of our sacred constitutions, it -ought not to regard itself as released from the obligation to carry -out this one. This requirement, as is evident from the constitutions -themselves, is one of the most important and one for which a very -special observance and regard is commanded. With this argument -he convinced the minds of the religious, and they began to try to -establish the schools. The death of the archbishop soon occurred, -after he had held his office for only two years. He did what he could -by leaving to this work his library and all that he had, the whole -of which, as befitted one vowed to poverty, came to only two thousand -pesos. However, it did much toward making a beginning to this holy and -necessary work. This institution was so beneficial to his archbishopric -that it may be said that since it was established there are competitors -for benefices, who have studied so that they may be able to hold them; -while previously there were no such persons, and even no persons who -desired to study--because, since no one had studied, it was necessary -to appoint men to benefices, even if they had not learning. On this -account they did not understand the obligation which rested upon them -if they received the benefices, and were unwilling to spend time or -labor upon study when they could obtain benefices without. Since the -establishment of this college there are competitors for benefices who -have studied; and hence those who come into competition with them are -obliged to study--being certain that a benefice will not be taken away -from a good student to give it to one who has no knowledge. After this -good beginning made by the archbishop, the province entrusted to the -holy Fray Bernardo de Sancta Catalina the care of this work. Since -he was beloved and esteemed by all, there were many to aid him with -great benefactions. Everything that was given was bestowed without -any conditions, though the college keeps these benefactions in -memory--feeling obliged to commend the benefactors to God all the -more carefully, on account of the confidence in the religious which -they showed. This was so great that they asked for no more security -than their own knowledge that the religious would do this for them, -which was without doubt a better security than any other that they -could ask in return for their benefactions. The building was begun -and the college was founded during the term of the father provincial -Fray Baltasar Fort. The title of founder was given to him who was -the cause of the foundation and who gave the first gift for that -purpose. This was, as has been said, the archbishop Don Fray Miguel de -Venavides, as appears from the document of foundation which is in the -same college. Some years later the bishop of Nueva Segovia, Don Fray -Diego de Soria, being near to death, left to the college his library, -and three thousand eight hundred pesos which he possessed. With this -sum the building was continued, and in this year [i.e., 1619] on the -day of the Assumption of our Lady, twelve lay collegians entered on -residence. Father Fray Balthasar Fort was appointed as rector, with -two lecturers in theology, one in arts, and one in grammar; and the -college was opened with great formality, and with the same care and -attention as in the best institutions in España. The lecturers and -the rector had all been trained in distinguished schools belonging to -our religious order; and they carried on their lectures, conferences, -and other academic exercises in the same manner in which they had -followed the courses in España. The same system has been persevered -in and carried further. Afterward, to encourage the students, the -sanction of his Majesty and a brief from the supreme pontiff were -obtained, granting this college authority to give all the degrees -which are given in other universities, with all the privileges which -the graduates of those universities have throughout the Indias. The -students have performed their exercises for graduation as brilliantly -as they could be performed in the best conducted universities in -España; and the examination is regarded as even more rigorous, in the -judgment of many persons of authority who have seen both of them. The -income of the college has increased steadily with the course of time, -in proportion to the number of collegians, of whom there are now -usually about thirty; and in buildings, income, and instruction, -the college may compete with the finest in España. - -[In the month of October in the same year, father Fray Juan de Leyva -died in the province of Nueva Segovia. Father Fray Juan was a native -of La Rioja, and was born in a village named Grañon. He lost his -mother when he was a very young child, but had been so carefully -trained in the devotion of our Lady, that he immediately chose her -as his mother. He left his own country while very young, and went to -Madrid, the country of all, being commended to an honorable person -who took him thence to Valencia del Cid. Here by the death of his -benefactor or from some other cause he was left alone, a child of -twelve in a strange country. He determined to make his way back to -Madrid on foot. He reached the convent of our Lady at Atocha, where -he was overcome with fatigue. In response to his prayers, our Lady -opened the way to him to enter the convent of our Lady at Atocha, -by the patronage of a noble person. He was an excellent student, and -as such was sent to our college of Sancto Thomas at Alcala. Here in -the year 1605 he heard the voice that called him to the mission of the -Philippinas, and he was most humble and obedient. After he had begun to -study the language of the Chinese in the mission of Binondoc, he was -called upon to go to Nueva Segovia because of the need of religious -there; and he uncomplainingly obeyed, without giving a thought to the -great amount of labor which he had given to learning the new language -which he now laid aside. He succeeded well with the language of Nueva -Segovia, although on account of his age it was difficult for him to -learn it. He was most devoted to the care of the altars, the adornment -of the church, and the holy sacraments. When he gave extreme unction, -he was accustomed to wash with his own hands the feet of the Indian -who was to receive the sacrament. He never entrusted the lamp of the -most holy sacrament to boys, but himself provided it with oil, raised -the wick, and cleaned the vessel. He was most constant in prayer, -adding an hour to the two hours universally observed in the province; -and he usually made this hour so long that it lasted from one to five, -at which time he went to complines. He was so sparing in eating that -the little which he ate at a meal often lasted him for twenty-four -hours, so that in time his stomach came to be so reduced in size that -any little thing overloaded it. He was prior of the convent of Manila, -and definitor in a provincial chapter. Being elected as procurator, -he was unable to fulfil his office, inasmuch as the vessel in which -he was to go did not sail. He therefore returned to his Indians in -Nueva Segovia. Here by his hand the Lord wrought miraculous works, -granting children to childless parents and healing the sick. He died -a holy death, and was honorably mentioned in the provincial chapter -that followed.] - -Toward the end of November in this year, on St. Andrew's day, a -terrible earthquake occurred in these islands. It extended from Manila -to the extreme limits of the province of Nueva Segovia, a distance -of two hundred leguas. This earthquake, which was such as had never -been seen before, did great damage throughout all of this region and -made a great impression. In the province of Ylocos palm-trees were -buried, leaving only their tops above the ground. Some mountains struck -against others, with the great force of the earthquake, overthrowing -many buildings and killing people. Its greatest violence was in Nueva -Segovia, where the mountains opened and new fountains of water were -uncovered. The earth vomited out great masses of sand, and trembled -so that people could not stand on their feet, but sat on the ground; -and were as seasick on land as if they had been in a ship at sea in a -storm. In the high lands of the Indians named Mandayas [23] a mountain -fell and, catching a village below it, overwhelmed it and killed the -inhabitants. One large tract of land near the river which previously -had contained little mountains, as it were, most of it being at a -considerable elevation, sank downward, and is now almost level with the -margin of the water. The movement in the bed of the river was so great -that it raised waves like those at sea, or such as are aroused by the -blasts of a furious wind. The stone buildings suffered the greatest -damage. Our church and convent in the city were totally overthrown, -the very foundations giving way in places, because of the sinking -of the earth. It was no small comfort to be able to find the most -holy sacrament in this most pitiful ruin, with the consecrated loaves -unbroken and unharmed. There were nine religious at that time in the -convent, three of whom were outside of the house--the rest escaping, -not without a special providence of God. Father Fray Ambrosio de la -Madre de Dios was protected in the arch of a window, everything on -all sides of him having fallen. There were persons who declared that -they had seen above the walls of the enclosure a matron in the dress -and mantle which our Lady is accustomed to wear. It was no new thing -for the sovereign princess to come to the protection of her friars in -their great distress; but because of the great disturbance, and the -carelessness ordinarily shown about such things in religious orders, -the verification of these facts was neglected. Only one religious, -named Fray Juan de San Lorenço, [24] who was sick in bed, had his arm -broken by a beam which fell upon it; and only one Indian boy who was -waiting upon him was killed. This religious lived for some years, and -offered a noble example of patience in enduring the cruel miseries and -the terrible pains occasioned by the blow, of which he finally died. - - - - - -CHAPTER XVI - -Some very virtuous fathers who died at this time - - -[In the hospice belonging to the province in the City of Mexico, -there died at this time father Fray Athanasio de Moya, a near relative -of the holy archbishop of Valencia, Don Fray Thomas de Villanueva. He -assumed the habit in the royal convent of Sancta Cruz at Segovia, where -he showed great courage and devotion in the great plague of 1599. In -1601 he came to this province, and was assigned to the ministry of -Bataan. From here he was sent back to care for the hospice of San -Jacintho at Mexico, where he constantly followed the rigorous rules -of the province of the Philippinas. - -In the next vessels which left for Nueva España the superior of -this province sent father Fray Juan Naya to take the place of the -father who had just died. The Lord, who had carried father Fray Juan -throughout his life through great sufferings, ordained that he should -not fight the last fight in the delightful clime of Mexico; and hence -was pleased to take him to himself before the voyage to Nueva España -was concluded. He was a native of Aragon, and assumed the habit -of the order in our convent of San Pedro Martyr at Calatayud. His -proficiency and scholarship was such, and such was his virtue, that -he was appointed master of novices while still very young. The Lord -wrought miracles through him. He cast out a demon from a sick woman -in España; was miraculously protected from death on the island of -Guadalupe; and was delivered from an illness which afflicted him -in the Philippinas, by [making a vow to our Lady, as follows:] "I, -Fray Juan Naya, being afflicted by this severe infirmity, and seeing -that I am very much hindered from carrying on the ministry for which -I came from España, vow and promise, as humbly and devoutly as I may, -to the most blessed Virgin Mary, my Lady, that I will minister to the -Indians in this ministry, remaining and assisting in it at the command -of my superior, in reverence and honor for this most sacred Virgin, -my Lady, for seven continuous years from the day of her Visitation, -the second of July, 1605, if she will deign to obtain for me from -her most holy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, comfortable and sufficient -health for me to be able to accomplish that which is necessary in -this ministry; and I vow that, if I shall gain this health, I will -exercise the ministry." This humble supplication was heard at that -tribunal of mercy, and our Lady of Compassion granted him his health -so completely that at the end of the month he was well and strong -enough to learn the language, and in three months was fit to render -service and labor in it. As a memorial of this marvelous goodness, -he kept this vow written in his breviary, and, as often as he read -it there, he used always to give devout thanks to her who had gained -that health for him; and with great devotion he fulfilled his vow, -to the great gain of the Indians in this province. At the end of -the seven years he was afflicted with a flux of the bowels, with -abundance of blood; and on the same day of the Visitation he made -another vow to serve four years more in the ministry in the honor -of this Lady. He received complete health, so that he was able to -labor in it for that time and much longer, as one of the best of the -ministers of religion, giving a great example of holiness and virtue -wherever he was. When he was living in the district of Ytabes, in a -village of that province named Tuao, he was once burying a dead man -in the cemetery when a venomous snake came out from the grass and, -amid the noise and alarm of the people, entered between his leg and -his breeches--which was an easy thing for the snake to do, since these -garments are worn loose in this province and resemble polainas. [25] -Although the Indians, who knew how poisonous the snake was, cried out -and gave him over for dead, father Fray Juan continued with the act -which he was performing, because of his duty as a religious, until -he had finished burying the Indian; and then, putting his hand in his -breeches, he caught the snake by the neck, and drew it out and threw -it away, without receiving any harm from it. [When father Fray Juan -was vicar of Yrraya, and was living in a village called Abuatan, a -fire broke out. Father Fray Juan threw himself on his knees and prayed -that the fire should turn away from the village, as it did--making its -way straight toward the tambobos, or granaries where the Indians kept -their food, the loss of which would have been a greater damage than -the burning of the village. In response to the prayers of father Fray -Juan, the wind fell and the fire ceased. On one occasion his guardian -angel came to accompany him in his prayers. When he was assigned to -the vicariate of San Jacintho at Mexico, he embarked in the flagship -sent back that year, in which more than sixty persons died because of -the hardships and length of the voyage. Father Fray Juan was attacked -by some malignant fevers, and when he asked for extreme unction, on -the day of St. John the Evangelist, the sailors were so much alarmed -at the fear of losing his prayers that they declared that if he died -they would not continue their voyage, but would go back to the island -of the Ladrones, that they might not perish in the dreadful storms -to which they would be exposed if they had not the aid and comfort -of father Fray Juan. At the demand of the sailors, the general asked -father Fray Juan if they should continue their voyage. The sick man -was grieved at being asked that which was reserved for God alone; -but he was persuaded to tell what God had given him to know, and -made a sign for them to go on. His poor possessions were shared among -those of the ship as precious relics; and on the octave of St. John, -on the third of January, 1620, a fair wind began to blow. The sailors -cried out joyfully: "Father Fray Juan has seen God, and has sent us -fair weather." On the seventh of the same month, they began to descry -signs of land coming from the coast of Nueva España, whereupon they -regarded as fulfilled that which the holy religious had promised them. - -Father Fray Gaspar Zarfate was a native of the City of Mexico, and -assumed the habit and professed in the convent of that city. He was a -teacher of the arts in the convent at Puebla de los Angeles, whence he -volunteered to come to this province. He reached the islands in 1595, -and was one of the first founders of Christianity in the province of -Nueva Segovia. Here he labored much, with great results. He devoted -himself to the study of the language of the Indians in that region, -and his attainments in it were very great. He was the first to make a -grammar of this language, and he knew a very large number of words in -it. Thus he opened the way for the other religious, that they might -as a result of his labors more easily learn this language, and preach -the holy gospel in it. He was most penitent and devoted to prayer; -and so completely master of his passions that, though by nature he -was very choleric, he seemed excessively phlegmatic. At one time when -he was vicar of Camalaniugan an Indian saw our father St. Dominic -praying in his company, and surrounded by light from heaven. In the -village of Nasiping it was said that father Fray Gaspar had raised a -child from the dead. The verification of this matter was neglected, -but father Fray Gaspar's reputation for sanctity was such that no one -regarded the statement as incredible. He was made preacher-general -of the province, in which there was only one such preacher. He was -definitor, vicar-provincial, and twice prior of the convent of Manila, -in which city he had the name of "the holy prior." He suffered greatly -from a urinary disease, from which he finally died. He received -honorable mention on the records of the provincial chapter during -this same year.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - -The election as provincial of father Fray Miguel Ruiz, and events in -the province at this time - - -On the first of May, 1621, father Fray Miguel Ruiz was elected as -provincial, to the great satisfaction of the province. He was a son -of the royal convent of Sancta Cruz at Segovia; and at the time of -his election was prior of the convent of Manila, which position he -had held twice. He exhibited in it and in other important dignities -the excellent qualities which are desired in a good superior--much -virtue and learning, great prudence, and natural gravity and kindness, -which, while rendering him much beloved, did not allow others to lose -respect for him. In this chapter many ordinances were enacted which -were helpful for the quiet and calm of the religious. During this -year two religious went from Nueva Segovia to Japon, and, after having -suffered much in that kingdom, they had the fortunate end of glorious -martyrdom--being burnt alive by a slow fire, as will be seen later. A -fortunate provincialate was promised because it had begun so joyfully; -for at that time the verification of a most famous miracle wrought -by our Lady of the Rosary was being concluded. She went, in her holy -image which she had in the convent of Manila, to give aid. (as she -did most marvelously) to a votary of hers by the name of Francisco -Lopez, who called upon her in the extreme necessity of his soul. The -narrative, with the most marvelous circumstances which accompanied her -act, has already been given in the part of this history which treats -of the foundation of this convent--where something has also been -narrated with regard to the great deeds of this most holy image, and -some account has been given of the innumerable miracles which it has -wrought and still works. Among them this, which was the most famous, -has been described. [26] On account of it, this most holy image was -brought out during the procession which was made to the cathedral -on the first Sunday of the chapter-meeting, and with its beauty and -the special joy of that day, the city was filled with delight and -devotion. The miracle was made the subject of sermons, and was painted -upon a canvas, and thus the devotion of all to this sovereign lady -was greatly increased; and she, as if by grace omnipotent, from that -day forward conferred more and greater favors on her votaries. She -so greatly multiplied the working of manifest miracles that, although -many of them have been recounted in the place referred to, there were -incomparably more which were omitted on account of their number; and -she has never ceased and will never cease to work the like marvels, -until the devotion of this city for her shall cease. This provincialate -was also very happy in the great number of holy martyrs which the -province had during it. A detailed account of them will be given, -so far as we have been able to learn the facts, though many great -and edifying matters must remain in silence because the disturbances -of the persecution gave no opportunity for verifying them. Yet that -which is certain is so much that it alone would be sufficient to -give glory to an entire religious order; and how much more to a small -province--so small that there were many convents in España which alone -contained more religious than this entire province. Under all these -circumstances, for the Lord to give so many and so great saints to -it is a special mercy; and however much we may strive to praise and -give thanks for it, our praise and gratitude will never reach the -obligation, which is far and beyond measure above our feeble strength. - -All these new causes of joy were necessary to temper the sorrow -caused among the religious of this province by the rising of a large -number of Indians, which happened on the sixth of November in this -year in the most distant parts of the province of Nueva Segovia, -in the region known as Yrraya. On the Friday before, a very large -and beautiful cross had been set up in the court or cemetery of the -church in the largest village there, which was called Abuatan. At -this time the Indians gave every evidence of joy and pleasure and -even of devotion to the Lord who redeemed us on the cross; but on the -following Sunday, instigated by the devil, they burnt their churches -and villages, and avowed themselves enemies of the Spaniards, and even -of God, whom they left that they might return to their ancient sites -to serve the devil in exchange for the enjoyments of the liberties and -vices of their heathen state. Practically all those in this village, -and many of those in another near it called Pilitan, belonged to a -tribe called Gadanes. [27] This tribe was always regarded as one on -a lower plane of civilization than the others, and more devoted to -freedom, and enemies to subjection; for they were a race bred in the -most distant mountains and the wildernesses of that province, and they -had less communication and commerce than did the other tribes--not -only with the Spaniards, but even with the rest of the Indians. It -was these Gadanes, then, who became restless, and disquieted the -other inhabitants of that region, though these others had always -been very faithful to God and the Spaniards. They had even sustained -many bloody wars with the neighbors by whom they were surrounded that -they might not be lacking in the friendship which they had with the -Spaniards, or in the subjection which they had promised them. But now -these revolted and joined the insurgents, partly as the result of -force applied by the Gadanes--for the latter greatly excelled them -in numbers, and caught them unprepared for defense--and partly also -carried away by their own natural desire for liberty, to which they -were invited by the safety of the mountains to which they proposed to -go. The mountains, being very rough, offered opportunities for easy -defense; and, being very fertile, promised them an abundant living. The -Gadanes had planned this revolt far ahead, and had appointed a day -for it to occur some time later. Their purpose was to try to get -back first certain chiefs who were held as hostages in the city of -the Spaniards; and they had already sent there one of their chiefs, -named Saquin, who had the influence of a father over the rest, that he -might bring away these chiefs, with great dissimulation and pretended -arguments of necessity. It happened that the father vicar of Abuatan -had grown weary of his work, and wished to resign his office. He had -gone down at that time to the city to ask the father provincial, who -happened to be there then, to give this office to someone else and -to permit him to take some rest by being under his directions. The -Gadanes, accused by their own bad consciences, supposed that he -had detected their purpose of rising, and had gone down to ask for -soldiers to prevent it. In fear of interference, they hastened on -their treacherous act; and, without waiting for the appointed period, -or for the return of him who had gone down for the hostages (their -relatives), they decided to rise at once. Without further deliberation -or delay, they began active operations. Father Fray Alonso Hernandez, -who was at Abuatan, heard the tumult; and being above measure sad at -what was happening, he tried his best to quiet them. He told them -how foolish their proceedings were, and how they were deceived by -the devil, not only as to the good of their souls, but also as to -the many temporal advantages, which they possessed in their trade, -with the Spaniards as well as with the rest of the Indians--in which -they gained so much that they were the richest and most prosperous -Indians in all that region. All this, he said, and their own quiet, -peace, and comfort would be destroyed by their rising; while if they -would keep quiet they would preserve it all, for he assured them that -no harm would happen to them for what they intended to do. But the -chiefs who led the insurgents said to him that he should not waste -his time by talking about this; and that it was now too late, since -they were determined to carry on what they had begun. "What is it -that moves you," said the religious, "to so imprudent an act? If the -religious have done you any wrong, you have me here in your power; -revenge it upon me, take my life in pay for it, and do not cast away -your souls." "It is not because of any wrong from the religious, -or resentment toward them," said the Indians, "but because we are -weary of the oppressive acts of the Spaniards. Depart hence in peace; -for though it is true that our rising is not against the religious, -we cannot promise that some drunken Indian may not try to take off -your head." The religious perceived the obstinacy of the Gadanes, -and the fact that arguments would be useless in this matter, and -went away to watch over the village of Pilitan, which was under -his care. He found it quiet, but that peace continued for a very -short time; for presently--this was early Sunday morning--he heard -a very great noise and a loud Indian war-cry. They came in a crowd, -after their ancient custom, naked, and thickly anointed with oil, -and with weapons in their hands. It was the insurgents from Abuatan, -coming to force the Indians of Pilitan to join the uprising, in order -that they might have more strength to resist the Spaniards when the -latter should make war upon them to bring them to subjection. One of -the chiefs who were leading the insurgents, named Don Phelippe Cutapay, -a young man of about twenty-three, came forward. He had been brought -up from infancy in the church with the religious, and when he was a -mere child had aided in mass as sacristan, and afterward as cantor; -and at this time he was governor of Abuatan. He went direct to the -church to speak to the religious, intending to inform him as to what -they were about to do, and to advise him to go down the river, for -fear that someone might get beyond control and harm him. While he -was talking with the religious in the cloister, his elder brother, -named Don Gabriel Dayag, who was acting as guide to the others, came -in. Being somewhat nervous and excited, he approached the religious -with little courtesy; Cutapay rebuked him for the way in which -he was acting, saying to him that he should remember that he was -before the father, to whom he owed more respect. The elder brother -answered: "Cutapay, if our minds are divided we shall do nothing;" -however, he grew calm and behaved respectfully in the presence of -the religious. The shouting increased, and there were now in the -courtyard of the church about eight hundred Indians armed and prepared -for battle. The religious roused his courage, and, laying aside all -fear, went out to them; and standing in the midst of this multitude, -as a sheep among wolves, he caused them to sit down, and addressed -them for more than an hour. He urged upon them what would be for -their good, and strove to persuade them to see the great error into -which they were falling. Among other things in the utterances which -the Lord is accustomed to impart under such circumstances, he said: -"My sons, among whom I have so long been, and to whom I have so -many years preached the true doctrine, which you ought to follow, -and have taught you that which you ought to observe for the good -of your souls, I am greatly grieved to see the mistaken path which -you take, casting yourselves over precipices where destruction is -certain, and from which your rescue is difficult. If your wish to -run away is on account of the bad treatment which you have received -from us religious--and from me in particular, as being less prudent -than others--here you have me alone and defenseless. Slay me then, -slay me, and do not cast away your souls. Let me pay with my life -the evil which you are about to do; and do not lose your faith and -your hope of salvation, nor pay in hell for the sin of this uprising, -and for the many sins which you will add to it in your revolt." Some -of them made the same answer as before; that they had not done this -because of ill-will toward the religious; but on the contrary, they -felt for them affection and love, and therefore did not intend to do -them any harm. This they said was plain because, although they had him -alone in the midst of them, no one was rude to him, but even in the -midst of the tumult showed him respect. "The reason of our uprising," -they said, "is that we are weary of the oppressions of the Spaniards; -and if you or any other religious desire to come to our villages, any -one of you may come whenever he pleases, providing he does not bring -a Spaniard." The religious responded by offering that the Spaniards -would do them no harm, especially for what they had already done, -promising himself to remain among them as security, so that they might -take away his life if the least harm should come to them from that -cause. But they were very far indeed from accepting this good advice; -and some of them went away and set fire to some houses, upon which -a great outcry arose in the village. Cutapay stood up and greatly -blamed what had been done, saying that it was very ill considered -and a daring outrage to set fire. "I call your attention," he said, -"to the fact that the father is in the village; and so long as he is -here nothing should be done to grieve him;" and he commanded people -to go and put out the fire and to calm the village. The religious -began to preach to them again; but, though there were so many people -before him, he was preaching in the desert, and hence could accomplish -nothing with them. They asked the father to depart, and to take with -him the silver and ornaments of the sacristy of this church and of -that of Abuatan. This was no small generosity from an excited body of -insurgents. They provided him with boats, and men to row them, and the -friars went down the river to the friendly villages. The insurgents -immediately began to commit a thousand extravagances. They set fire to -the houses, they drank, and they annoyed the people in the village. If -any were unwilling to join them, they threatened them with death by -holding lances to their breasts. The result was that many joined them, -being forced by the fear of instant death, and waiting for a better -time when they could again have religious. A few of them succeeded in -hiding, and going down the river after the fathers, some leaving their -sons and others their fathers. There was one chief who, despising -his wealth and his gold, left it all and came with the religious, -taking with him only his wife. His name was Don Bernabe Lumaban. Doña -Agustina Pamma, who was a member of one of the most noble families -of the region and the wife of one of the chiefs, hid herself in a -marsh--standing in it up to her neck that she might be left behind, -and might go to a Christian village. However, she was discovered, -and was taken along by the insurgents. But the Lord did not fail to -reward her pious desires, for within a few years she accomplished -them, and lived for a long time, as she desired, in the church. The -insurgents did not cease until they had roused all the villages in -their vicinity. As men abandoned of God and directed by the devil, -they were guilty of horrible sacrileges. In the village of Abuatan -they sacked the church and the sacristy, and made a jest and derision -of the things which they found there. They treated irreverently -that which they had a little before reverenced: the women put on the -frontals as petticoats [sayas], and of the corporals and the palls of -the chalices they made head-kerchiefs. They dressed themselves in the -habits of the religious, and even went so far as to lose their respect -for the image of the Virgin. The feet and hands of this image were of -ivory, and it was one of the most beautiful in all that province and -in all the islands. There was one man who dared to give it a slash -across the nose, saying, "Let us see if she will bleed." They also -committed other sacrileges, and even greater ones, as a barbarous -tribe of apostates. Afterward an Indian, finding an opportunity to -flee from them to a Catholic region, did so; and he went not alone, -for he carried with him the holy image of the Virgin of the Rosary -which had been slashed across the face. Although it was received with -great rejoicings by the Christians, they could but shed many tears to -see it so outraged. All this grieved the hearts of the religious who -had trained and taught them, and who now saw them lost irremediably -and without reason; for although they said that they could not endure -the oppressions of the Spaniards, these were not so great but that the -profit which the Indians gained by their commerce with them was very -much greater. The man who at that time used to collect the tributes -was so kind a man and so good a Christian that, confident of his own -innocence and of the fact that he had never wronged them, he went -up when he heard this news, to try to bring them back by argument; -but they no sooner saw him than they killed him. - -One of those who were most grieved by this disastrous uprising was -father Fray Pedro de Sancto Thomas, for he had dwelt for a long -time among this tribe, and had been the vicar and superior of those -churches, and loved each one of the insurgents as his spiritual -son. Hence this misfortune hurt his soul, and he determined to -strive to remedy this great evil as completely as he could, without -shrinking from any danger or effort for the purpose. The places -where the insurgents had betaken themselves had been selected as -particularly strong and secure, and were in the midst of mountains -so high and so craggy that they might be defended from the Spaniards, -if the latter should try to bring them back or to punish them. Hence -the journey to them was long and excessively difficult. Yet in spite -of this, without hesitating at the hardships of the road, and at -the great danger which he ran by passing through villages of other -Indians--with whom he was not acquainted, and who were generally -looking out for an opportunity to cut off some head without running -any risk--he made his way through everything, went among them alone, -and tried to arrange for bringing them back, and made agreements with -them. No Spaniard dared appear among them, for they were certain -to kill him, but father Fray Pedro was admitted and entertained; -and in the following year, 1622, he brought back in peace with him -some three hundred households of those who had rebelled. These had -gone with the body of insurgents from the villages of Pilitan and -Bolo. Most of them had been compelled to do so, as has been said, -and they were accordingly brought back as a result of the earnest -efforts and the courageous boldness of father Fray Pedro. Returning -to a pacified region, they were settled at the mouth of the river of -Maquila. After this was accomplished, he went further up the river -of Balisi, where it was most difficult, with the alcade-mayor and -the troops who were advancing against the rebels. He went before, -trusting in God, to speak with the enemy; and he was so confident -that he was able to say, like St. Martin among the highwaymen, that -he had never had less fear in all his life, because fear had been -taken from him by the Lord, for whose sake he had placed himself in -this situation. The leader of the revolted enemy, Don Gabriel Dayag, -came to him and kissed his scapular with great reverence, and embraced -him. Repenting for what he had done, Don Gabriel planned to return; -and although at that time he did not carry out this project, he -finally came down in peace later, and revealed to the father some -ambuscades on the road in some dangerous passes where the Indians -intended to kill the Spanish soldiers, which danger was avoided by -his information. At that time this father was vicar-provincial, and, -that he might be able to have more time to attend to these necessary -and arduous labors, the provincial relieved him from the office--to the -great satisfaction of father Fray Pedro, who esteemed most highly that -which was most laborious and least honorable. He paid little attention -to his bodily health, all his solicitude being given to the spiritual -health of himself and his fellow-men. He treated himself very ill, -and would take no comfort even when he needed it. He never complained -when he was suffering from illness, until the increase of the disease -obliged him to keep his bed, in a condition of such infirmity that, -even when in bed, he was unable to move. The hardships which he endured -at this time by going (always on foot) over very difficult paths were -most trying. The heat of the sun was terrible; he was obliged to be -awake much; and he had but little food, and that bad--so that nothing -could be looked for except a severe illness or death. He was reduced -to skin and bones, and yet he strove to give himself spirit to return -to that destroyed vineyard, that he might restore it to its ancient -beauty and verdure; but his exhausted strength was insufficient to -resist so severe a disease, and they accordingly had him carried down -to be cared for in the city of Nueva Segovia. The medicines, however, -came so late that he was no longer susceptible to them. Being nothing -but skin and bone, he was like a living image of death. He was greatly -grieved by his sickness, and his grief was greater since the disease -immediately exhibited its deadly malice; yet it was not a rapid one, -and hence he had time for preparation for the dreadful journey. He -received the holy sacraments very calmly, and he made his confession -quite at leisure. Since it was the last one, and there were now no -stumbles to be feared, he declared that he went from this world in -the virginal purity with which he had entered it. He died on the day -of St. Peter the Apostle; on that day he assumed the religious habit; -and finally, on that day he ended this miserable life, in the hope -of going to eternal felicity by the aid of that same holy apostle, -to whom he had always been devoted. This father was a son of the -convent of Villaescusa, and, after a life in España in which he had -a special reputation for virtue, he continued the same course in -this province, with great spiritual progress, for more than twenty -years. He was always beloved by all, and always distinguished in his -labors for the spiritual good of his fellow-men--not only in Yrraya, -but wherever he lived. This was especially true in the district of -Malagueg, where another uprising occurred, and where, though he was -in great danger of being slain by the insurgents, he showed great -courage and readiness to die for the holy gospel. But here the Lord -delivered him for more labors, greater merits, and higher glory. In -the provincial chapter which followed, the following record was -entered on the minutes: "In the convent of our father St. Dominic at -Nueva Segovia, died the reverend father Fray Pedro de Sancto Thomas, -an aged priest and father, vicar of Yrraya. He was beloved by God and -man, and most observant of the rules of the order; and, although he -suffered from disease, yet he underwent the greatest hardships for -the conversion of the Indians and for sustaining them in the faith." - - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII - -The voyage of the holy Fray Luis Flores to the kingdom of Japon - - -[Father Fray Luis Flores was for many years engaged in the ministry -to the Indians of Nueva Segovia. Though his work was rewarded with -much fruit, he felt that it was not such as he desired it to be; -and he asked and received license to return to Manila, where, -by devoting himself to prayer and the reading of holy books, his -soul might obtain strength to be more fit for his labors. While he -was living in the convent in great quietude of spirit, the news of -the imprisonment of some of our religious in Japon reached Manila; -and--like that Antonius who, in the time of Constantius the Arian -emperor, [28] left the desert and went to Alexandria to confound the -heretics--father Fray Luis determined to leave his beloved quiet and -to go to Japon. Having received permission to go on this enterprise, -he departed without having had any companion assigned to him. God -provided one in the person of father Fray Pedro de Zuñiga, [29] an -Augustinian friar who had been driven from Japon at the time of the -banishment of the religious. They embarked as secretly as they could, -June 5, 1620. They dressed themselves in secular habits, and disguised -themselves as completely as possible. They met with storms and contrary -winds, and were obliged to land at Macan to renew their stores. They -reëmbarked July 2, and on St. Magdalen's day anchored off the island -of Hermosa to get wood and water. They were still within sight of -the island when they were captured by a ship of Dutch pirates. The -Japanese, when they saw that these were Dutch, were at ease because -of the peace between the Dutch and the Japanese; but the fathers and -the two Spanish passengers aboard were in great fear, because of the -mortal enmity between the Dutch and the Spanish. The Japanese tried to -hide them in the cargo, which was almost entirely composed of the hides -of deer, many of which are bought by the Japanese in the Philippinas -to be made into breeches. The moisture caused the stench from the -skins to be horrible, and the fathers suffered much from it during -the day and night while they were there. The Dutch caught them and, -suspecting them of being religious, offered them meat to eat on Friday, -and tried them with theological arguments. They also made prize of the -ship and cargo, for carrying Spanish friars. There were seven other -vessels, Dutch and English, with whom they divided their captives and -their booty. The fathers were threatened with death, and the letters -accrediting them to the religious orders in Japon were found. Although -these were in cipher, they increased the suspicion against them. On -the fourth of August they landed in the port of Firando in Japon, -where the Dutch and English had their factories. They were subjected -to a most rigorous imprisonment and to very severe treatment, being -stripped to their waists with their hands tied behind their backs, -and their feet fastened to some small cannon. The Spanish and Japanese -Christians in Nangasaqui were greatly grieved when they heard of the -imprisonment of the religious; and made plans to rescue them, which -came to nothing. The Dutch were desirous of giving their prisoners to -the emperor, for they wished, as he did, to root out Christianity from -Japon, and at the same time to bring to an end all commerce between -the Japanese and the Spaniards, hoping in this way to have the commerce -to themselves, and caring nothing for the loss of all these souls.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XIX - -The many efforts made for the rescue of the prisoners without any -good results, and rather to their cost; the martyrdom of the prisoners. - - -[Several of the fathers who were in Japon made efforts to rescue -the prisoners. At one time father Fray Pedro de Zuñiga and the two -Spaniards were slipped past the guard, but were soon caught again and -driven back. When the Japanese sent to ask if they were religious, -father Fray Luis sent an answer complaining of the Dutch for plundering -the ship and taking him prisoner, and alleging that they were rebels -and pirates. The Dutch, in anger, determined to force the father by -torture to confess that he was a religious. They bound his body and let -water drip upon a cloth over his face until he lost consciousness. The -prisoners were afterward actually rescued from prison, but were -soon caught again and were beaten. It may be asked how priests -were justified in concealing the fact that they were priests. To -this it may be answered, as St. Thomas says (22, sec. 3, art 2), -that the priesthood is a free state, which may be assumed by anyone -who desires; and when they were asked if they were priests or not, -they had a right to conceal it, or to deny it in some good sense true -according to their own meaning, without following the meaning of him -who asked the question--which they were not bound to follow, because -the question was unjust. In making this denial they did not deny that -they were Christians. Indeed, they expressly confessed that; they -denied only that they were fathers, as they were not in the natural -sense. This declaration did not scandalize or injure the Japanese -Christians. They were satisfied that it was not a lie, but a prudent -and lawful artifice. As there is a time to be silent, there is also a -time to speak, and as the evidence against father Fray Zuñiga became so -strong that the truth could not be denied except to his own discredit, -he confessed in December, 1621. Father Fray Pedro was then handed over -to the Japanese to be put in prison; and father Fray Luis, seeing that -nothing would be gained by further concealment, confessed to the king -of Firando that he was a religious of the Order of St. Dominic. The -two friars were imprisoned on the island of Quinoxima. The other -Christian prisoners were visited by a priest, a Japanese by nation, -named Thomas Araqui, who had studied at Roma, but who upon his return -to his own country had apostatized. He was laboring at Nangasaqui to -induce the Christians to recant, that the work of persecution might -be carried on with less bloodshed. On the seventeenth of August, -the fathers and the Japanese who had tried to rescue father Fray Luis -were taken to Nangasaqui. Here it was impossible to find Christians -who would bring the wood for the pyre of the fathers; and finally the -officials found some heathen of low life who lived among the brothels, -who consented to do it. [30] The apostate Thomas Araqui strove to -pervert the fathers, and the holy prisoners were offered their lives -if they would recant, but they boldly refused. Finally sentence was -passed upon fifteen Christians. Three, including the fathers, were to -be burnt alive, and the others were to be burnt after decapitation. On -the following day, the twentieth of August, the sentence was executed -in the presence of a great multitude. When the heads of the twelve -were shown to the multitude in order to strike terror into the hearts -of the Christians, the contrary result was attained, for they shouted -aloud that the saints were happy and victorious. The Japanese by the -name of Joachim who suffered the extreme of torture with the fathers -spoke boldly to the crowd, as the fathers did also. The death of the -fathers came by noon; and this great multitude remained there all -that time without breaking their fast, accompanying the saints with -prayers and groans. At this time the women and children went home, -while the men remained to obtain the holy relics, which were kept -for five days that they might be shown to the Dutch as evidence that -the sentence had been carried out. The Christians afterward secured -the relics. His own holy religious order will take care to provide -an account of Fray Pedro de Zuñiga. The holy Fray Luis Flores was -a Fleming by nation, a native of Gante (i.e., Ghent). He went to -España in company with his relatives, and from there to the Yndias, -assuming the habit of the Order of St. Dominic in the convent of the -illustrious City of Mexico. When he came to the Philipinas he was sent -to the province of Nueva Segovia, where he was an excellent minister.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XX - -The captivity of other religious in Japon - - -[The first of the religious to join father Fray Thomas del -Espiritu Sancto in prison was father Fray Angel Orsuchi, who called -himself in España and here Ferrer, from devotion to the glorious -St. Vincent. He was an Italian, a native of the distinguished city -of Luca, in Toscana. He was born of noble ancestry and assumed the -habit and was a student in the college of La Minerva at Roma. Seeing -the great lack of ministers of the gospel in these regions, and the -great devotion of this province, he desired to enter it. For this -purpose he went to España under color of pursuing his studies, that -his voyage might not be hindered by his relatives or by the religious -of his own province. He took advantage of his first opportunity to -come to these regions from España, which was in the year 1601. He was -assigned to Nueva Segovia, and after learning the language reaped a -great harvest of converts. Being afflicted by a severe illness he -returned to Manila, where his illness kept him for more than two -years. After his recovery he went to the district of Bataan. The -Lord restored his health to him in response to a vow. Father Fray -Angel learned the language of Bataan, and ministered to the Indians -of this region, without leaving it--except for a short time, when -he went to Pangasinan as vicar-provincial--until he was assigned -to the duty of superior of the hospice of our order in Mexico. In -Mexico he advanced greatly in the things of the spirit, and after -a time became very desirous of returning to this province. He took -advantage of the opportunity offered him by the return to España -of the superior of a company of religious, to take his place and to -lead the religious to the Philippinas. In the following year, 1616, -it was proposed to make him provincial, but he himself objected so -strongly that he was not elected. Father Fray Angel was definitor -at this chapter. The news of the sufferings of the Christians of -Japon, and of the glorious martyrdoms of so many religious there, -aroused in the mind of this blessed father such lively desires to go -to the aid of these faithful and courageous Christians that he could -neither sleep nor eat nor take any rest. He submitted his purposes -to a religious of the Society of Jesus named Father Calderon, who had -been in Japon almost thirty years. This father approved his designs; -and then father Fray Angel desired his superior to determine whether -or not he should go--fearing, on the one hand, that his strength -might not be sufficient for the purpose; and being, on the other, -desirous of undertaking this glorious work. His superior accordingly -commanded him to take the journey to Japon. He assumed a secular garb, -and after many hardships and sufferings on the voyage reached Japon -in August, 1618. While he was still studying the language he was -captured by the ministers of Satan on St. Lucy's day in December, -at midnight. With him were also captured father Fray Juan de Sancto -Domingo and a number of Japanese. The fathers admitted that they were -religious, and were sent to the prison of Omura, where father Fray -Thomas de Sancto Dominico and Fray Apolinario Franco, a Franciscan, -had been confined for two years. They were commanded to lay aside -their habits, which they had again assumed, and to dress in lay -garments. It was intended to prevent the Japanese Christians from -reverencing the fathers, but this act of the judges increased the -devotion of the multitude. One of the most devoted of the fathers, -father Fray Alonso de Mena, was betrayed on Thursday, March 14; -and was bound and taken, with his landlord and a number of Japanese, -before the judge. He admitted that he was a religious of the Order -of St. Dominic. On the following day, they tortured a boy until he -revealed the hiding-place of father Fray Francisco de Morales. He -was immediately arrested. This caused much grief among the Japanese -Christians, many of whom showed great courage and boldness in -confessing their faith. On the following Sunday, which was Palm -Sunday, the two fathers were sent to the island of Yuquinoxima, -where the holy martyrs, Fray Luis Flores and Fray Pedro de Zuñiga, -had been burned. In spite of the efforts of the judges to prevent -the faithful from venerating these holy prisoners, the pious Japanese -showed the greatest devotion and reverence to them. The fathers were -thus made happy in their prison; and father Fray Francisco de Morales -sent home a letter to Manila rejoicing in his imprisonment--which was -very severe, and in which they were subjected to great suffering for -lack of proper food, from the discomfort of their lodging, and from -the indecent and insulting behaviour of the guard. In the month of -August all the prisoners were brought together to the prison of Omura, -and they rejoiced to meet one another. Soon after was captured the -holy Fray Joseph de San Jacintho. He was seized on the seventeenth -of August, 1621; he confessed that he was a religious, and told his -name. On August 19 he was brought ignominiously bound to the prison -of Omura, followed by a crowd of sobbing Christians.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXI - -The arrest of the holy Fray Jacintho Orfanel; the narrowness of his -prison, and the great miseries of it; his martyrdom, and the marvelous -fruits which followed from his captivity. - - -[Though most of the fathers had remained in the cities of the Japanese, -others wandered through the mountains and in thinly populated places, -where they suffered even greater hardships than the former class, as -they ministered to their faithful sons in those desolate regions. Among -these was the holy Fray Jacintho Orfanel. Being lean, swarthy and -tall, it was difficult for him to disguise himself, since the Japanese -are generally short, broad-shouldered, and fair-skinned. Even if his -secular habit had disguised him so far as his external appearance went, -the modesty and gravity of his behaviour would have been sufficient -to betray him. While he was resting in Nangasaqui for a time to -recover from an illness, he was betrayed by a renegade Christian and -arrested. Boldly avowing who he was, he was sent to the prison of Omura -to join the rest of the prisoners, who received him with the Te Deum -laudamus, as at the entry of a prince or papal legate. Merely to hear -the description of their prison causes horror, it was so small and so -wretched. The persecutors permitted them no materials for writing, and -no implements made of iron, so that their nails and their hair grew -long. They were not allowed to wash or to change their clothes. The -guards were changed constantly, that they might form no friendship with -the prisoners. This severity, which was intended to alarm the other -ministers of the gospel who were in Japon, if there were any, had -no such effect. The imprisoned Japanese showed the greatest courage, -and their wives desired to follow them into their imprisonment. The -captive Christians spent all that time in holy exercises, prayers, -the singing of psalms, the keeping of the hours, and the celebration of -the mass. The conduct of the Spanish prisoners was such as to overthrow -the false opinion spread through Japon by the Dutch, that the fathers -were spies of the king of España. Their sufferings and their martyrdom -encouraged the Christians in the faith. From the prison the fathers -wrote encouraging letters to the suffering Christians of Japon. They -also wrote to their brethren in Manila.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXII - -The giving of the habit to three Japanese by the holy captives; and -the martyrdom of the fathers Fray Francisco de Morales, Fray Alonso -de Mena, Fray Angel Ferrer (or Orsuchi), Fray Jacintho Orfanel, Fray -Joseph de San Jacintho, and two of those who had professed in prison -(all members of the order), besides many others. - - -[The fathers, desiring those to be their equals in condition who -were so in virtue, determined to give the habit to some of the holy -Japanese, their companions. Three therefore, among those of the best -capacity and the highest virtue, passed their novitiate in the prison, -and at the end of their year professed. These saintly men feared -that their penalty would be banishment, not death. On the ninth of -September, 1622, the judges called before them many of the prisoners, -offering them life and liberty if they would renounce Christianity, -and at this time they brought before them some of the prisoners from -Omura. As they came to Nangasaqui a great crowd of Christians came -to welcome and escort them. On the following day, the martyrs were -brought out to be slain; there were, in all, thirty-three. Before -those who were condemned to the stake were burned, the others were -decapitated in their sight. There were seven of our order in this -company: fathers Fray Francisco de Morales, Fray Alonso de Mena, Fray -Angel Orsuchi, Fray Jacintho Orfanel, Fray Joseph de San Jacintho, and -the lay brothers Fray Thomas del Rosario and Domingo (a donado), [31] -both Japanese. The two lay brothers were decapitated, and the fathers -were burned at the stake, twenty-five men in all being burned. All the -sufferers died with the most cheerful courage. The judges did all they -could to keep the holy relics from being venerated by the Christians, -some of whom lost their lives in the effort to obtain these.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII - -The martyrdom of the holy Fray Thomas de Zumarraga, brother Fray Mancio -de Sancto Thomas, and a Japanese; and those of other Japanese in Omura. - - -[Father Fray Thomas de Zumarraga and brother Fray Mancio de Sancto -Thomas were greatly grieved that they should have been left behind -when the other fathers and brethren went to martyrdom; but soon -afterward their grief was taken away, and the door of the prison -opened that they might go forth to be executed at Nangasaqui. It was -no small grief to the saints not to see the Christians in the streets, -who had withdrawn themselves from fear of the emperor's edict. The -martyrs died courageously. The holy Fray Francisco de Morales was a -native of Madrid. He assumed the habit in the convent of San Pablo -at Valladolid, where he professed and began his studies. He was -afterward a student in the college of San Gregorio in the same city, -and became afterward a lecturer in arts in his own convent. Thence -he went to the Philipinas, where he spent some time as a teacher of -theology and as preacher to the Spaniards in the city of Manila. One -Good Friday some Japanese happened to enter the church; and father -Fray Francisco was so much affected by the sight that when he returned -to his cell he was sighing and sobbing, and repeating, "To Japon, to -Japon!" At the provincial chapter in the convent in 1602 he was prior, -and was appointed definitor. At this time one of the subjects discussed -was the answer to be made to the king of Satçuma, who had earnestly -begged for friars of St. Dominic for his kingdom. The holy friar Fray -Francisco de Morales was appointed superior to the missionaries in -Japon, by the voice of all. In time of peace he built many churches; -he gained many souls for God, and at last he attained the martyr's -crown. The holy Fray Thomas de Zumarraga was a native of the city -of Victoria in Vizcaya, and a son of the convent of the Order of -St. Dominic in that city. He studied in the college of San Gregorio -at Valladolid. He accompanied Father Francisco de Morales to Japon -and attained an elegant mastery of the language of that country, in -which he lived twenty years, five of them in prison. The holy Fray -Alonso de Mena was a native of the city of Logroño; he was a son of -the famous convent of San Estevan at Salamanca, whence he went out to -the Philippinas. Here he was occupied for some time in the ministry to -the Chinese, and the Lord conveyed him thence to Japon. He suffered -from illness for a number of years, and from a profound melancholy, -which did not prevent him from fulfilling his ministry with great -joy. The holy Fray Joseph de San Jacintho was a native of the town -named Villarejo de Salvanes, in La Mancha, and was a son of the -convent of Sancto Domingo at Ocaña. He went out to the Philippinas -from the royal convent of San Pedro Martyr at Toledo, when he had -finished his studies there. He was sent immediately to Japon, where -he accommodated himself in all things to the Japanese manner of life, -dressing and eating like the Japanese, employing their civilities, -speaking their language with as much propriety as they, and in the -same sing-song voice. In all this he surpassed the other fathers, -insomuch that he was taken by the Japanese as one of themselves. The -holy Fray Jacintho Orfanel was a Valencian by birth, and was by his -habit a son of the convent of Sancta Cathalina Martyr at Barcelona. He -was a religious of the greatest modesty and patience.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV - -A mission sent by the province to Japon, and the result of it - - -[Though the province rejoiced in having so many glorious martyrs, -it was grieved to see the preachers of the holy gospel in Japon come -to an end, for without them it was impossible for the faith to be -continued. These true sons of our father St. Dominic strove therefore -to fill up the number of those who, after having fought valorously, -had departed to heaven with the crown of martyrdom. The project was -one of great difficulty. The law directed that not only the preachers -should be burnt to death, but that all those who brought them should -suffer the like penalty, and that the vessels and cargo should be -confiscated. The Dutch and English heretics watched with great care -to see if any religious attempted to enter the kingdom. The emperor -decreed that a registry should be kept of all on board the vessels -which came to the kingdom. And finally there were many, even in -Catholic countries, who for the sake of trade with Japon endeavored -to prevent the religious from going to that country. The commerce of -that kingdom with the Philippinas Islands had been almost destroyed, -so that the very archbishop himself endeavored to prevent preachers -from going from these islands to Japon. They were even more rigorous -in Macan. But the holy martyrs from their prisons sent back calls for -religious to aid the Japanese in their extreme spiritual need. Hence -in the year 1623 the superiors of three religious orders determined -to buy a ship, and to give large pay to the pilot and the sailors to -take the religious to Japon. The risk of death was great in Japon, -and scarcely less in these islands, because the voyage was contrary to -the will and the command of the governor. Finally, ten priests were -embarked--four from our order, four Franciscans, and two Augustinian -Recollects. Many obstacles were placed in the way of the journey, -but the voyage finally took place. The province sent of its best: -father Fray Diego de Rivera, [32] a son of the convent of San Pablo -at Cordova who was at the time teaching theology, as he had done for -many years in the college in Manila; father Fray Domingo de Erquicia, -who was at that time the principal preacher in Manila; father Fray -Lucas del Espiritu Sancto, lecturer in arts in the aforesaid college; -and father Fray Luis Beltran or Exarch, minister to the Chinese and -the Indians. They suffered much on the voyage. They followed the course -by the Babuyanes and the islands of the Lequios, from which they were -driven by a storm to the coast of China, where they took on water and -wood at a point named Sombor. They tried to make port to get fresh -ship-stores, but were attacked by the Chinese. Father Fray Diego -de Ribera was shot in the leg, by accident, by one of his own men, -and finally died. On the nineteenth of June they landed in Satzuma, -and were directed to go to Nangasaqui. They immediately set about -learning the language, and had been there but a short time when the -emperor issued a decree expelling all the Spaniards who had come to -Japon from Manila. The fathers pretended to return to Macan, but left -the vessel to come back secretly to Nangasaqui. The persecution was -going on, seventy persons being martyred in 1623--among them father -Fray Francisco Galvez, [33] a Franciscan; and Father Geronimo de los -Angeles, a Jesuit. Father Fray Pedro Bazquez was taken prisoner; and, -as the other fathers had not yet learned the language, all the labors -of the Dominican order fell upon father Fray Domingo Castellet. The -fathers encouraged the Japanese, a number of whom confessed bravely and -suffered death by burning, among them being some of noble birth. The -accounts of matters in Japon during this period are drawn in the -main from the letters of father Fray Domingo de Erquicia. The fathers -were obliged to be most secret, to go from house to house by night, -and to expose themselves to cold and snow. What happened to this -father and his companion was not known here until August in this year -1626. We turn from the account of the works of these fathers to give -a narrative of the experience of some who had been in Japon longer, -and who had thus far escaped martyrdom. One was Fray Pedro Vasquez, -a son of the convent of Nuestra Señora de Atocha at Madrid; and the -other Fray Domingo Castellet, a son of the convent of Sancta Catalina -Martir at Barcelona. As the persecution advanced, the Portuguese who -lived in the kingdom were expelled from it.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXV - -The harvest reaped in Japon by the holy father Fray Pedro Vazquez; -his life and virtues - - -[The holy Fray Pedro Vazquez was born in Berin in the kingdom of -Galicia, in the county of Monterrey. He assumed the habit in the famous -convent of Nuestra Señora de Atocha at Madrid, and studied arts and -theology in the royal convents of Sancta Cruz at Segovia, and Sancto -Thomas at Avila. He came to the Philippinas with the second body of -religious which I brought over, the first having come in 1613. His -first work in the Philippinas Islands was in Nueva Segovia, where he -reaped a great harvest. When the news of the happy death of the holy -martyr Fray Alonso Navarrete reached him, he strove to be permitted -to go to Japon, and after two years received license to do so. The -ship arrived in Nangasaqui after a voyage of only eleven days. This -was on the twenty-second of July, 1621. Hearing of the great number of -martyrdoms, he strove with all his might to learn the language, until -he knew enough of it to go to the prisons and confess the prisoners, -as he did boldly. Within one year he heard the confessions of more -than seven thousand persons.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI - -A more detailed account of the imprisonment of the holy Fray Pedro -Bazquez, the time while it lasted, and the sufferings which he -endured in it; and finally his glorious martyrdom, in company with -four other martyrs. - - -[When father Fray Domingo Castellet had finished the interment of the -relics of the holy martyr Fray Luis Flores, and father Fray Pedro -was speaking with him in somewhat loud tones, two heathen officers -happened to hear them speaking Spanish. They arrested father Fray -Pedro, but father Fray Domingo escaped. They offered to let the father -go for a bribe, which he refused to give them; and he suffered greatly -in prison. The Christians mourned and grieved when they saw that he -was arrested. He was taken to the prison of Omura, where the holy -Fray Luis Sotelo was in prison. Here they were happy in each other's -company, though the imprisonment was very severe. Finally the servant -of God and his four companions, Father Miguel Caraballo, father Fray -Luis Sotelo, and two Japanese Franciscans, were taken from prison -and burnt, intoning the litany during their sufferings. In spite of -the care of the officers, some small relics of the holy martyrs were -rescued by father Fray Domingo Castellet.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII - -The election as provincial of father Fray Bartholome Martinez, and -the deaths of some religious - - -On the nineteenth of April, 1625, the vigil of the glorious virgin -St. Inez de Monte Policiano, the fathers having votes assembled for the -election of a provincial, since father Fray Miguel Ruiz had finished -his term. On the first ballot the votes were divided almost equally, -since there were so many religious worthy of the post as to cause -difficulty in the selection. But this did not last long, for on the -second ballot those who had the largest number of ballots withdrew, and -father Fray Bartholome Martinez was unanimously elected. He had been -vicar of the Parian of the Chinese, and was their special minister. He -was recognized by all, both religious and laymen, as worthy of this or -of greater offices, because of his great virtue, learning, prudence, -and devotion. At the same time no one had talked about or even thought -of such a choice, because, in truth, there were many others who well -deserved the post and who were much older than he. The Lord, who does -not look at these exterior things alone, but at the heart and the soul, -turned their eyes upon this father as upon another David, so that by -being placed in a post of government he might do great things. It was -the Lord who caused them all, as if moved by a spirit from above, -to elect him with great good-will, and with general applause from -within and without the order, all recognizing the hand of the Lord in -a choice which was at once so wise and so far from the thoughts of -all. In particular, the archbishop of this city was greatly pleased -with it, for he knew well the great virtues of the person chosen, and -sent to give his most special congratulations to the fathers. Father -Fray Bartholome was a son of the famous convent of San Estevan at -Salamanca. He was a great theologian, and a man of superior virtue, -devotion to the rules of the order, and mortification. He underwent -many extraordinary sufferings. Some were voluntarily assumed, and -although these were many, they were (as we shall see afterwards) -easier to bear because voluntary. At the same time, it was necessary -to train and try him for much which the Lord desired to work through -his means; and hence the Lord gave permission to the devil to torment -him--so severely that, when he was still very young, his hair grew -white. In the first year of this assault he lost his strength, and was -dying without suffering from any other disease. He was living in the -convent of novices in Salamanca, and revealed his sufferings to his -confessor and spiritual master alone. This was the holy Fray Diego de -Alderete. He, being of much experience in such sufferings, consoled -and encouraged him, but commanded him not to speak of the matter with -any person. This direction he observed so carefully that it was never -possible to learn any more than these general facts, although there -must have been many very remarkable things which, if known, would have -been highly edifying. But he, striving for more humility, and obeying -the order to keep silence, never revealed them, and no one else ever -knew them. He was seen to be growing weaker, being without strength and -without health, and when he was taken to the infirmary the physicians -corroborated what all knew with regard to the danger in which he was; -but they were never able to find out the cause, since it was beyond -the limits of their science. All this, and much more which was added -to it, was necessary, and helped him much to bear the bitter hardships -which in time he suffered, and which would have broken his heart. Our -Lord conducted father Fray Bartholome through all his life by a way -of suffering, and in suffering he ended it--as will be narrated in due -time, when we reach the year of our Lord 1629, when his virtue and his -abstinence will be specially treated. During his term as provincial, -the province lost by death several religious of superior qualities, -and suffered from several insurrections of villages. Both of these -things were severely felt in a region where the religious are so few -that the loss of a single one is a notable loss; and where all energy -is turned toward converting souls, so that the perdition of a single -one causes great sorrow. For these sufferings our Lord brought some -comfort in the martyrdom of some sons of the province, and in the -extension of the holy gospel to the island of Hermosa. - -[Among the religious who died at this time was father Fray Francisco de -Cabrera, vicar of San Miguel de Nasiping; he was a native of Carmona, -and a son of the convent at San Lucar, whence he was sent to pass -his novitiate in Sancto Domingo at Xerez. He was stationed in Nueva -Segovia and was an exemplary minister. His name is honorably mentioned -on the records of the chapter in the year 1625. At the same provincial -chapter honorable mention was made of father Fray Pedro Blazquez, -vicar of the convent of Manavag. He was a native of Marchena in -Andalucia. He assumed the habit of the order in the famous convent -of San Pablo at Sevilla and was sent as a collegiate to Almagro. He -left his convent of Sevilla to come to this province in 1613, and was -regarded by those who accompanied him as a saint. On the fifteenth -of May, 1624, died father Fray Thomas Vilar. He was a native of -Castellon de la Palana in the kingdom of Valencia, where he assumed -the habit. He was sent to the college of the order in Origuela, and -came to the Philippinas in 1601. He was assigned to the province of -Nueva Segovia, and afterwards was appointed rector of the college -of Sancto Thomas at Manila. In the following November, as fathers -Fray Miguel de San Jacintho (a man who was twice provincial) and Fray -Diego de Toro, vicar of San Jacintho at Camalaniogan in Nueva Segovia, -testify, a marvel happened in the village of Apari, [34] a port in -that province in the district of Camalaniogan. A fire occurred here -one night, and a sea breeze was sweeping it throughout the village, -when the vicar, taking in his hands the little image of our Lady of -the Rosary which they were accustomed to carry in the processions, -made a vow and turned it toward the fire, when the wind immediately -died down and the fire began to go out.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII - -Father Fray Juan de Rueda and de los Angeles, who died a martyr - - -[Father Fray Juan de Rueda was a native of the mountains of Burgos, -and had assumed the habit in San Pablo at Valladolid, whence he came to -the Philippinas in the year 1603, being sent, as soon as he arrived, -to the kingdom of Japon. Here he assumed the name of Fray Juan de -los Angeles. When the priests were banished, father Fray Juan was -one of those who remained in hiding to aid and fortify the Christians -there. In 1619 he came to Manila in order to obtain more religious. He -reaped a great harvest in Arima. He was devoted to the holy rosary. He -translated into Japanese the devotion of the holy rosary while he was -in Manila. His anxiety to return was such that he strove to make his -way back by the islands of the Lequios, where his arguments in favor -of Christianity convinced those who heard them that he was a Spanish -priest. He was therefore imprisoned for a time in an island called -Avaguni, where he profaned a thicket which was dedicated to an idol, -and for this suffered death, but on what day was never known. - -While this provincial chapter was being held in Manila, there died -in Nueva Segovia father Fray Miguel de San Jacintho, a native of -Caceres in Estremadura. He was a son of the convent of San Estevan -at Salamanca. He volunteered for the Philippinas in 1594, and in -Mexico was elected a superior of the company, the vicar who had led -them having died; he was assigned to Nueva Segovia. He was a most -devoted minister, a diligent student of the language of that nation, -and a most zealous and devoted religious. He prayed the Lord that he -might not die a superior, and his prayer was granted; for after he -had been vicar of many convents, vicar-provincial of Nueva Segovia, -prior of the convent of Manila, and twice provincial of the province, -the Lord called him to himself when he was living in Masi, one of -the first villages which he converted. He died suddenly, on the -twenty-fifth of April. The Indians of the villages of Abulug, Masi, -Pata, and Cabacungan gave him the most costly funeral honors within -their power, and made up a subscription for more than five hundred -masses, which at four reals apiece come to more than two thousand. This -they did as a token of their great love for him, and the great debt -which they owed him for bringing them to the Catholic faith.] - -On the eighth of June, the first Sunday after the most Holy Trinity, a -great misfortune occurred in the revolt of some Indians of the province -of Nueva Segovia. Turning their backs on the faith, they gave it up -and fled to the mountains--a thing which caused great grief to the -ministers of the holy gospel. In that province, above a village named -Abulug, near a river which comes down from the mountain, two villages -had been formed by gathering the inhabitants together. They were -called Nuestra Señora del Rossario de Fotol, as has been recounted -in this history, and San Lorenço de Capinatan. In the latter there -lived some Indians known as Mandayas, a wild and fierce tribe whose -native abode was in mountainous places about the bay of Bigan in -Ylocos. The religious ministered to them and assisted them in their -necessities, taught them the law of God, and baptized many people, -for these people generally asked holy baptism from them. Their evil -nature, which was perverse and restless, and their affection for -their ancient places of abode so attracted them that it seemed as -if in that village they were caught fast by the hair. Three times -they endeavored to escape to the mountains; and though they were -prevented twice, and their efforts came to nothing, this last time -they so planned their attempt, and kept it so secret, that they -carried out their evil purpose. With this object, they stirred up the -old inhabitants of Capinatan, and persuaded those of Fotol, bringing -them to join them by means of threats and prayers. Some of the people -of Fotol became so obstinate that they were worse than the Mandayas, -the first movers of the insurrection. Afterward the Mandayas who were -in Capinatan rose; and two of them, Don Miguel Lanab and another chief -named Alababan, set the enterprise in motion by going to the church to -speak to the religious who was there at the time. This was father Fray -Alonso Garcia, [35] a son of the convent of San Pablo at Valladolid, -who had said a first mass in the village of Fotol, and a second in -Capinatan, and was now at dinner with brother Fray Onofre Palao, a -lay religious from the convent of Manila. They were seated at their -meal in a little corridor of the house. Their assailants came up, and -each one standing beside the religious whom he was to decapitate, they -made a pretense of asking permission to go to some villages on their -ancient lands. Father Fray Alonso, who had but recently come, referred -the request to the regular minister of the village, and asked them to -wait till he should come, because he was in another village. At this -point Alababan raised his arm, and with his balanao or knife he struck -such a blow on the neck of Fray Onofre that he cut off his head to the -backbone, leaving it hanging by only a little bit of skin. Don Miguel -Lanab, who had not acted so promptly, lifted his knife, and father Fray -Alonso naturally raised his hand to protect his head. The knife cut -through this and the blow went on and reached his head. Father Fray -Alonso rose from the table and fell on his knees like a gentle lamb; -and the Mandaya traitor repeated the blow, giving him another on the -head. The Indian boys who served at the table began to scream; and the -transgressors, that they might not be caught in so perfidious an act, -made their escape. Some Indians who were ignorant of the conspiracy -came, and took father Fray Alonso to the house of a chief, where some -medicines were applied to the wound. As they were preparing a barge -in which to take him down to the village of Abulug, the Mandayas came, -and prevented them from doing so by threats. They took him back to the -house of the chieftainess: and while father Fray Alonso was exhorting -the people to come back to obedience, and expounding to them the -evil of which they were guilty in apostatizing from the faith, three -Mandayas came in, and with their keen balanaos or knives cut to pieces -the confessor of Christ. They afterward threw out the pieces from the -house, to be eaten by the swine who were there. As a result of this -atrocious deed, the Mandayas rose in a body and roused the Capinatas; -and, coming down to Fotol, they forced the people there by menaces to -flee with them to the mountains. They set fire to the churches, and, -as members of Satan, they defiled them by a thousand sacrileges. They -struck off the head of a Christ, and cut the body down the middle, -dividing it into two parts, which were afterward found by the religious -who came to bring them back to obedience. The religious buried these, -the uprising of the Mandayas (of whose severe punishment we shall soon -hear) allowing no opportunity for anything else. With regard to Fray -Alonso Garcia, several matters worthy of remark were noted. The first -was this. Some months before, while he was living in the convent in -Capinatan, he one night had put himself into the posture of prayer in -the dormitory, with his breviary in his hand. At this time the convent -was disturbed by an imp who caused so much trouble that he would not -give the religious any rest, and from whose visitations there was -not in all the convent any place that was free. He disturbed them -in the dormitory, he made a noise in the cells, he feigned the noise -of a struggle in the church; and sometimes he let himself fall with -a clatter that was heard in the village, and he would throw himself -down from the choir. He used to walk up and down in the church, and -he made his appearance in the larders, where he broke all the plates -there were; he made a noise under the beds, and struck the heads of the -bedsteads; and sounded the strings of a harp which they had for use at -masses on some feasts. This disturbance lasted until the breaking-out -of the uprising, and must have been a prognostication of it, and -a sign of what the devil was devising to disquiet the Christians -of this village. Now while father Fray Alonso was praying, the imp -came to him, invisible to everyone in the dormitory, and struck the -father a heavy blow, so that he felt pain in the same hand and wrist, -in the place where the blow afterward fell which cut it off. This was -the first of the things referred to. The second was that he thought -so little of himself, and had so little confidence in his own works, -that he was accustomed to say that if he did not die by some fortunate -blow which should take away his life and despatch him to heaven, -he did not know whether he should go there. This he said because of -his humility, and the event was as he said. - -Another matter was that, although father Fray Alonso was not a very -skilful linguist, and not one of those who had made the greatest -progress in speaking the language of that tribe, yet when he was -wounded by the first blows and was urging the Indians not to flee, -and telling them of the harm which would come to them if they did so, -he spoke with such elegance and precision that the Indians were amazed -to hear him; and they noted this as a striking fact at the time, and -told of it afterward. He was very charitable, and was in the habit -of praising all and of speaking of the defects of himself alone. He -came to the Philippinas in the year 1622, and lived in the province of -Nueva Segovia--where, in his third year, he met with the happy death -which keen knives, directed by hands of apostates from the faith, -bring to ministers of the holy gospel. The intermediate chapter of -1628 made mention of these two religious in the following words: "In -the province of Nueva Segovia father Fray Alonso Garcia, a priest, and -brother Fray Onofre Palao, a lay brother, died happily by the hands of -impious apostates, an uprising of the Indians to whom they ministered -having occurred." In the place where father Fray Alonso was cut to -pieces, there was afterward raised in his honor a small shrine. The -Indians were brought back in the following year, and this tribe used -devoutly to frequent this shrine. The dwelling of the religious had -stood where Fray Onofre had been killed, and here it was erected -again. Since the first building was burned, it was supposed that the -fire had consumed his body at the same time--although some Spaniards -have some small bones which they value, believing that these are his, -because they found them where he was decapitated. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX - -The foundation of a church in the island of Hermosa and the holy -deaths of some religious - - -[The Order of St. Dominic has always had its eyes fixed upon Great -China; and father Fray Bartholome Martinez was especially anxious -for the conversion of that great realm. In this conversion he was -like Moses, who came in sight of the promised land; for he carried -religious and planted the faith in the island of Hermosa, from -which that most populous realm is almost in sight. This island had -been greatly coveted by Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and Dutch. The -king of España was the first to undertake to conquer it; and by his -order there were prepared two ships of moderate size with a force of -two hundred soldiers and sailors. The leader was Don Juan Zamudio, -who came to the Philippinas in 1593. He chose the time of his voyage -unfortunately, and was driven back to the coast of Batan; but he was -rescued by the intervention of our Lady of the Rosary. The emperor of -Japon in 1615, after his victory over Fideyori, sent an expedition -against the island. It left Nangasaque in 1616 and wintered in the -Lequios Islands. Setting sail again in the following November [sic], -it was scattered by storms upon the coast of China. The Dutch, -desirous of weakening the power of España and of interfering with -the work of the preachers of the holy gospel, had taken possession -of an uninhabited island called Island de Pescadores, [36] which lay -off the coast of China. This was in 1624. By the Chinese the Dutch -were persuaded to go thence to another island (Formosa) running from -northeast to southwest, sixty-four leguas in length, and extending -from latitude twenty-one to latitude twenty-five, and being thus twenty -leguas in breadth. They established themselves at the southern point, -in latitude twenty-three, in a port called Taiban, opposite Hayteng -in Chincheo. From this post they could scour the seas and capture -the vessels sailing from China. Here they built a small fort from -which they could do much damage to the inhabitants of Manila and -might close very important gateways to the holy gospel. [37] - -In the year 1625 Don Fernando de Silva was governor of the -Philippinas. He determined to send a fleet to take possession of a -port in the island of Hermosa, in the name of the king of España, that -the designs of the Dutch might be frustrated. He counseled with the -provincial of the Order of St. Dominic, Fray Bartholome Martinez, who -promised to go to the island of Hermosa and to take religious there, -hoping in this way to gain an entry into China. In order to keep -the design secret it was said that the troops were going to pacify -the rebellious Indians of Yrraya, who had fled to the mountains. On -February 8, 1626, the fleet sailed from the port of Cavite; it was -composed of twelve champans and two galleys. There were three captains -of infantry and their companies, and the force was under the command -of the sargento-mayor, Antonio Carreño de Valdes. The ecclesiastical -authority was in the hands of the provincial, Fray Bartholome Martinez, -who took with him five religious, including those whom he later brought -from Nueva Segovia. They anchored in the port of Nueva Segovia on -the fifteenth of March, and remained there for some time. During the -interval troops were sent to the river of the Mandayas, the Indians of -which had rebelled in the previous June, as was said in the foregoing -chapter. In order to reduce them, a great number of palms were cut -down, that they might more easily be brought to subjection for lack -of food. Since the reduction of the Mandayas took more time than was -expected, and the voyage to the island of Hermosa was urgent, this -matter was left without being brought to a conclusion. To carry out -their principal purpose they sailed on the fourth of May, coming in -sight of the island on the seventh of the same month. They coasted -the island for three days, and on the tenth of May anchored on an -estuary which they named Sanctiago. The provincial and Pedro Martin -Garay, the chief pilot, went in two small vessels to the northern -headland, exploring the coast. Within five hours they discovered -a port which they called La Sanctissima Trinidad. They took back -the news to the fleet, which came on to the port and in the divine -name of the most Holy Trinity took the port under the protection -of España. They built a fort upon an islet [38] a little more than -a legua in circumference. This they called San Salvador. They also -constructed a rampart on the top of a hill three hundred feet or more -in height, which made the place impregnable. The Dominicans erected -a humble church, dedicating it to St. Catharine of Siena. Here they -heard the confessions of the Spaniards, preached, taught, and filled -the office of parish priests, up to the year 1635. The inhabitants of -this region had fled from fear of the arquebuses of the Spaniards, -and desired to avenge themselves for the wrong which they felt -that they had suffered because the soldiers made use of the rice -which the natives had left behind them. To quiet and satisfy them, -the religious set about learning their language; and, although they -knew very little of it, they began to communicate with the natives, -caressing them and giving them presents. The Lord prospered their work, -and the barbarians, who had lived the lives of savages, drinking the -blood of their neighbors, and eating the flesh of their enemies, were -tamed by the treatment of the religious. They brought their wives and -children to be baptized. The first fruits were delicate and tender -children, many of whom, after being laved in the baptismal font, went -to enjoy the possession to which they had acquired a right from the -waters of the holy Jordan. The convent of All Saints of the island of -Hermosa was accepted in the intermediate chapter of the year of our -Lord 1627, and was erected into a vicariate, father Fray Francisco Mola -[39] being appointed as its vicar and superior. - -On the fourth of February of this year father Fray Alonso del Castillo, -a native of Andalucia and a son of Sancto Domingo de Sant Lucar, -set sail from his convent in the islands of the Babuyanes to go to -Nueva Segovia. The distance is a little more than six leguas, but -the crossing is dangerous at some times. His vessel was swamped, -and the father and those who were with him were all drowned. He -was an abstemious and devoted religious. Father Fray Alonso lived -in the islands of the Babuyanes. He was at one time tempted by a -thought which was unworthy of his state as a religious, and the -purity which he maintained--the devil urging him to it, and putting -before him the means of carrying out the design, and the method of -keeping it in secrecy during the absence of the superior. Father -Fray Alonso, recognizing from whose bow this arrow had been shot, -went to his superior and told him the temptation of the devil with -all the details. He and the superior laid the matter before God -with prayers and scourgings. The devil was unable to oppose such -humility, and in a few days father Fray Alonso was able to assure the -vicar that there was nothing to fear. In the following April died -father Fray Ambrosio de la Madre de Dios, a native of Guatimala, -a son of the convent of Sancto Domingo at Mexico. He came to the -Philippinas in the year 1595, and was assigned to the province of -Nueva Segovia. Without any controversy, it is he who up to the present -day has most accurately learned the language there, and who was the -teacher of those who understood it best. No one surpassed him in his -pronunciation and his choice of words. He wrote a methodical grammar, -arranged a vocabulary, translated the gospels, various examples of -holy life, an explanation of the articles, the passion of our Lord, -and other works highly esteemed for the elegance of the writing and the -propriety of the words. He was a religious of great virtue, and our -Lord wrought many miracles by his prayers. It was in response to his -prayers that when the lime-kiln in Abulug fell, those upon whom it fell -did not lose their lives. In Pata occurred two cases, as it seemed, -of resurrection; and in Tocolana he saved the church from burning. - -At the last of May, father Fray Diego Carlos, a native of Guatimala -and a son of the convent at Puebla de Los Angeles, died in the -same province. He suffered much at the time of the insurrection of -the Mandayas Indians, whose minister he had been, and whom he had -brought down from their mountains. In the provincial chapter of 1621 -he twice received half the votes in the election for provincial. In -the month of June, father Fray Juan de San Jacintho, a native of Los -Guertos in Segovia, and a son of San Estevan at Salamanca, fell ill -in the province of Ytuy. He lived a devout and a devoted life in the -province of Pangasinan. He was greatly beloved by all. Some Indians of -the province of Ytuy having asked for baptism, he went thither twice, -suffering greatly from the hardships of the journey. The second time, -he fell ill; and it was rumored that the Indians had given him poison, -as they often do. He died at Manila. In the year of our Lord 1627, -toward the end of March, died in the province of Nueva Segovia brother -Fray Juan Garcia, [40] a lay religious, a native of Yebenes in La -Mancha, and a son of the convent of Sancto Domingo at Manila.] - -To aid in supplying the want of these noble ministers, and to fill up -the gap caused by the death of many more, our Lord gave us in July, -1626, a reënforcement of religious, who had been assembled in España -by father Fray Jacintho Calvo, and whom he had entrusted in Mexico -to father Fray Alonso Sanchez de la Visitacion--a son of the convent -at Ocaña, who had come to the Philippinas in the year 1613. [41] -He was at the time vicar of San Jacintho, where he had been sent -by the chapter of the year 1623; and he now undertook the charge of -conducting the religious, returning to the ministry of Nueva Segovia, -where he had previously been. He had been appointed by the Inquisition -of Mexico as its commissary for the cases which might arise in the -said province pertaining to that holy tribunal. - - - - - -CHAPTER XXX - -The state of the province, and the persecution in Japon - - -For the holding of the intermediate chapter [in 1627], an -ancient custom in the Order of St. Dominic, devout fathers had -assembled. Although the day was at hand, the provincial was absent, -being occupied in the new conversion in the island of Hermosa. He had -not returned from there since the previous year, when he had made the -journey. As the accidents of the sea are so various, the religious -were anxious; but the Lord relieved them from their anxiety on the -day before the holding of the chapter, the morning of Thursday. The -coming of father Fray Bartolome caused joy in all the community; and -in recognition of the good news which he brought and of the labors -which he had undergone, the governor Don Juan Niño de Tavora, invited -him and the fathers who constituted the chapter to dine with him on -the following day, which was Friday. That evening they discussed that -which they were to do on Saturday the twenty-fourth of April; and on -that day they elected as definitors fathers Fray Balthasar Fort and -Fray Miguel Ruiz, who had been provincials; Fray Antonio Cañiçares, -vicar of Babuyanes, and Fray Marcos Saavedra, a son of Villaescusa, -vicar of San Raymundo de Malagueg. By this time the Indians who not -long before had revolted and apostatized from the faith in Mandayas -(and especially those of Fotol and Capinatan) had been reduced to -subjection, and, as a result of the efforts of the religious, had -gone down to their old villages. Recognizing the error which they had -committed, and desirous of atoning for it by amending their lives, -they built churches, reëstablished the villages, and returned to the -quiet which they had enjoyed in their earlier age of gold, giving up -their age of hard iron [42] which they had been deluded into entering. - -[The religious in Japon were at this time greatly afflicted. One of the -persecutors, Feyzo, strove to force his own mother by hunger to give -up the faith from which he was himself a renegade. This man captured -Father Baltazar de Torres, a religious of the Society of Jesus, -who had been his own father in the faith, and imprisoned him. On the -twentieth of July four religious of the Society of Jesus, with five -of their servants, were burned at the stake. The persecution was most -bitter at Omura, where the holy father Fray Luis Beltran (of Exarch) -then was. He was a native of Barcelona, and received the habit in -the convent of Sancta Catarina Martir in that city. He was sent to -the college of Origuela, where even during the time of his studies -he devoted himself to prayer and spiritual exercises. He volunteered -for the Philippinas, reaching Manila in 1618. After learning the -language of the Indians of that region, who are called Tagalos, he -also learned that of the Chinese, ministering in both languages up to -the year 1622, when he was sent to Japon to assist in consoling the -afflicted Japanese. He came in disguise, and very soon learned the -language of that country; and he labored for three years with great -effect in the kingdom of Omura. He foresaw that he was to suffer death -by martyrdom. He was serving in a hut of lepers when he was betrayed -to the judge. While in prison his very jailers showed him respect.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXI - -The state of affairs in Japon; and the martyrdom of father Fray Luis, -Fray Mincio de la Cruz, Fray Pedro de Sancta Maria, and some other -persons of the tertiary order of St. Dominic. - - -[Besides father Fray Luis, father Fray Francisco de Sancta Maria, -and brother Fray Bartholome Laurel, [43] his companion in the Order -of St. Francis, were captured, together with their landlords and -others in their house. The bitterness of the persecution increased, -and the ministers of the gospels went out into the fields, ascended -the mountains, and hid themselves in the caves of the earth. Father -Fray Lucas del Espiritu Sancto had no food for forty days except some -boiled roots. The Christians were forbidden to assemble, and were -brought in scores before the ministers of Satan, to recant or suffer -martyrdom. The number of the holy martyrs cannot be counted. The poor -were driven out from their houses, and were compelled to suffer the -rigors of winter, from which many of them died. The persecution came to -be so severe that this year of 1627 was adorned with martyrs. On the -sixteenth or seventeenth of August, eighteen Christians of all ages -and conditions received the palm of martyrdom, among them father Fray -Francisco de Sancta Maria. Among those executed were some children of -three and five years of age. Details are given of the martyrdoms of a -number of Japanese, with the horrible tortures which were inflicted -upon them. Father Fray Luis gave the habit to some of the Japanese -who were confined with him; and on July 29, 1627, the father and the -nine professed, and three poor women who rejoiced that the time had -come when they were to be freed from their leprosy, were executed by -burning at the stake.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXII - -The great persecution in Japon, and the care of the province to send -ministers there - - -[There were three of our religious in Japon at this time, who comforted -the Christians and kept in hiding from the ministers of the law. It -was with great difficulty that they could be assisted. In the year -1628 the four religious orders in these islands, the Franciscans, -the calced Augustinians, the Recollect Augustinians, and our order, -put forth all their energies to send religious to Japon as secretly -as possible. The expense was enormous, amounting to more than ten -thousand pesos from the common purse of these four orders. They -embarked twenty-four religious; among these were six of our holy -order, one of whom died after two days of sailing--father Fray Antonio -Corbera, a native of La Mancha, who had come within a short time to -the Philippinas from the college of San Gregorio at Valladolid. The -ship was wrecked by the carelessness of the pilot. Though the fathers -escaped from drowning, two of ours died from injuries received in -the wreck, and from sunstroke after reaching land. One was father -Fray Antonio Cañizares, a native of Almagro and a son of the convent -of our order there, who had labored nobly among the Indians of these -regions for some years. [44] The other was father Fray Juan de Vera, -a native of the city of Sancta Fee in the kingdom of Granada. He -studied in España at the convent of San Pablo at Valladolid. He came -to this province, learned the Chinese language, and was occupied in -the ministry to the Chinese when he was assigned to this duty. The -Franciscan fathers, not dismayed by the failure of this enterprise, -strove to make the journey to Japon by themselves. During two years, -no news reached us from Japon, except that the persecution had attained -such a point that not even a letter could get in or out. - -Finally father Fray Domingo Castellet was captured by the diligence -of the persecutors. He was born in a village named Esparraguera, in -the principality of Cataluña, October 7, 1592. He assumed the habit -of our order October 23, 1608, in the convent of Sancta Cathalina -Martir at Barcelona. He pursued his studies in the very religious -convent of Sancta Cruz at Segovia, where he showed great ability. In -the year of our Lord 1613, when I was about to make a voyage to the -Philippinas Islands as procurator-general for the province of the -Holy Rosary of the Order of St. Dominic, and when I came to Sancta -Cruz at Segovia searching for religious to accompany me, one of the -first who enlisted was father Fray Domingo Castellet. He was assigned -to the province of Nueva Segovia, where he taught for six years in -the new villages called Los Mandayas. In 1621 he was directed to go -to Japon, where he showed the greatest intrepidity in danger, and -wrought a marvelous work. He was taken by surprise, and was followed -to prison by several confessors.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIII - -The martyrdom of the servants of God, Fray Domingo Castellet, Fray -Thomas de San Jacintho, Fray Antonio de Sancto Domingo, and some -persons of the tertiary order of St. Dominic. - - -[The blessed Fray Domingo spent all his time in preparing himself for -his last journey, the journey from this world to heaven, and in doing -his duty by the holy company who were in prison with him. There were -many Christians in the prison of Nangasaqui, among them two Japanese -lay novices, who afterward made their profession before the holy -religious who was vicar-provincial of Japon. He prayed many hours in -the day, and took a daily discipline in company with the brethren, -in addition to special exercises of devotion and penance. On the day -of the Nativity of the most blessed Virgin, he was taken out to the -place of execution and born into heaven. Many Japanese Christians were -burned alive or decapitated, the church in Japan being illustrious in -noble martyrdoms, and no less triumphant than the primitive church, -and the Order of St. Dominic having a great share in this glory.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIV - -The voyage in this year of religious of the province to Camboja, -in the effort to convert it; and the progress of the conversion of -the island of Hermosa. - - -In this year, twenty-eight, I came for the third time from España -to the Philippinas, not alone, but with a good company of excellent -religious, [45] who, desirous to advance themselves in virtue, left -their land and their kin and their comforts, like Abraham, that -they might assist in their spiritual necessity, these tribes which -depended so much upon such ministers. There was no lack of hardships -on the way, for the Lord knows of how much importance it is for us to -find persons who will accept these as they ought; He does not lose -the opportunity to apply them, and does not desire that His gift -should be useless. When we reached Manila we were heartily received, -for we had been desired because of the great lack which had resulted -from the deaths that had taken away religious just when they were -most needed by the Indians whom we had under our care. There were -also many others under our eyes who still were heathen for lack of -preachers, but who would have been Christians if they had anyone to -teach them the truth and the Catholic religion. The vacancies were -filled up with these reënforcements. As might be expected of those -who were heartily desirous of converting their fellow men, the more -they labored the more labor they desired; and there were many who were -very eager to go on new missions and to reap new harvests of heathen. - -[The opportunity was offered for making another attempt to convert -Camboja. A Chinaman who had lived in the kingdom of Camboxa brought -word that the good reputation which the fathers of St. Dominic had -left in that country would cause them to be kindly received there -if they went again. The kingdom of Camboxa is the one which has -given religious rites, though false ones, to China, Japon, and the -most civilized of the surrounding nations; and the people of that -kingdom are naturally much inclined to religious devotion. Hence it -was hoped that they would be the better Christians because they were -so devout heathen. A letter was written to the king of Camboxa, asking -permission to preach the gospel in that country. The reply which was -received was courteous, but did not grant the desired permission. At -this time the governor of Manila was thinking of sending Spaniards -to Camboja to build a ship there, because of the excellence of the -wood of that region for such a purpose, and the abundance of workmen -there. That the Spaniards who went might not be deprived of sacred -ordinances, he asked the superior of our order for religious to -accompany the expedition. There were strong arguments against sending -the religious to that kingdom. The Cambodians had twice exhibited their -fickleness, having striven to kill the Spaniards and the religious -who had been invited to enter the kingdom. The same fickleness would -make it unlikely that converts would hold to the faith in times of -persecution. The people were unintelligent, and most vicious; and -the country was very hot and unhealthful. On the other hand, it did -not seem consistent with Christian charity not to take advantage of -every opportunity to attempt to save these people, in spite of their -natural fickleness, their low intelligence, and their inveterate -vices. Three religious were accordingly assigned to this expedition, -the superior of whom was father Fray Juan Baptista de Morales, a son -of the convent of San Pablo at Ecija. He was a master of the Chinese -language, which is of great importance in that kingdom. Two other -religious volunteered to go on this service. They set sail December -21. The voyage, though a dangerous one, was fortunate; and they sailed -four hundred leguas up the famous river of that kingdom (the Me-Kong -River), the source of which is unknown. The religious were courteously -received by the king. Factious quarrels broke out among the Spaniards, -which threatened so grave results that father Fray Juan Baptista de -Morales felt obliged to return with them when they came back to the -islands, for fear of an outbreak on the way. The king refused to give -permission for the baptism of his subjects, allowing only the Chinese -and Japanese to be converted; and the ministers, feeling that they -could be of greater use in these islands, returned to take up their -ministries here, where they have been of the greatest use. This was -the third time that this province actually placed religious in the -kingdom of Camboxa, in addition to the expeditions which set out for -that kingdom but failed. - -At this time our religious in Hermosa were engaged in the most -laborious work of all these ministries, the learning of a new and -extraordinary language without grammar or vocabulary, or any other aid -even in the country itself; for at the beginning they were not able -by payment to keep an Indian who would merely permit them to listen -to him as he spoke and to catch up a word here and there. Although at -the beginning these people were like wild beasts, without the least -trace of human civilization, the religious have now domesticated them -to such an extent that they can go among them--although a few years -before no stranger could enter their country without their drinking -his blood like fierce wolves. Some infants have been baptized, and the -children of some villages, though not baptized, know the creed and pray -every night at the foot of the cross. The children learned to laugh at -the old superstitions, which have a strong hold on their elders. The -hardest thing of all has been to bring them back to their old villages, -from which they fled in fear of the arms of the Spaniards; but as they -learned the gain to be acquired from trading with the Spaniards--which -is a lodestone that attracts hearts of iron--they are returning to -their old abodes. The religious have erected two little convents and -churches, about like shepherds' huts in appearance. One is near the -presidio of San Salvador, in a native village called Camaurri, and is -dedicated to St. Joseph. The other is half a legua from the village of -Tanchuy (i.e., Tamsui), and is dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXV - -The foundation of the first church among the Indians of Tanchuy, -a district of the island of Hermosa, and the events which happened -among those Indians. - - -[The father provincial, father Fray Bartholome Martynez, after -building a church in the new city of San Salvador, went on to Tanchuy, -a province of the same island and a port known to the vessels which -come to it from China. It is fourteen leguas from the chief city in -it. When the fort was built there, to which the name of St. Dominic -was given, he was present, doing all he could to prevent damage -to the natives. Many of the latter fled away to Senar, where he -followed them and built a church. The ministry in this province of -Tanchuy was entrusted to father Fray Francisco de Sancto Domingo, a -son of the convent of Zamora. His companion was brother Fray Andres -Ximenez. They went by sea, having a perilous voyage, and were met -when they landed by father Fray Jacintho de Esquivel.] The three -went with Captain Luis de Guzman and some soldiers, to set up in the -village of Senar a beautiful image of the Virgin of the Rosary. They -went on foot and with great difficulty, as it had rained the day -before and was still raining, and part of the way they went mid-leg -deep. Not a single soldier said the things which are usually heard on -such occasions. On the contrary, loaded as they were with mud, they -comforted themselves by saying: "At last we are going to establish the -faith." The captain, Luis de Guzman, to whom this region owes much, -because of his valor and Christian spirit, and his kind treatment of -the natives in it, marched barefoot, encouraging them and saying: -"Come on, my children; doubtless there is much good here, because -the beginning is so hard." A messenger was sent ahead to notify the -Indians, and by their help the streets were covered with branches; -they fitted up a half-castle [46] with powder, which they had prepared, -and they arranged for a graceful sword dance. When the image, which -they carried as ceremoniously as possible, reached the village, -they placed it in the church. The sky cleared, and the sun came out -as if to rejoice in the festival; and after a mass of the Virgin of -the Rosary had been said, they bore her in procession--the soldiers -firing off their arquebuses, and the castle discharging its salute, -and the dance being performed in token of the possession taken of -this country by the queen of heaven, and of the conclusion of the -devil's ancient control over it. [The Indians rejoiced greatly, -the chiefs being invited to dine with the captain. After this they -gave a ball after their fashion--a very disgraceful one in our eyes, -because at every turn they drink a draught of a very bad wine which -they have. This kind of ball or dance they keep up for six or eight -hours, and sometimes for whole days. The chiefs kept boasting that -their village was the finest in the island, since they had Spaniards, -a father and a church, as the others had not. They desired to return -the invitation of the captain with one to a feast after their own -manner--which is a repast of dogs rather than of men, since they eat -nothing except meat so rotten that the bad odor of it serves them -as salt. After the feast the soldiers, the captain, and father Fray -Jacintho returned to Tanchui; while father Fray Francisco and brother -Fray Andres remained as a guard of honor to the Virgin. Father Fray -Francisco, thinking that the Spaniards would be lonely without their -holy image, thought best to return it; but the Indians were so much -grieved that it was given back to them, and they rejoiced greatly, -though they were not yet Christians. A great part of the labor of the -conversion fell upon the brother. The Lord wrought miraculous works -through his hands, keeping the sick alive until they might receive holy -baptism, and doing wonderful works of healing. The kindly treatment -of the fathers at last made the Indians feel sufficient confidence -in the Spaniards to return to their previous places of abode, whence -they had fled from fear. One lay brother was in the island of Hermosa -for five years among the Indians, who, although they had not been -pacified, never harmed him. He baptized a number, brought down -from the mountains many who had fled from fear of the Spaniards; -and with them formed a village of moderate size named Camuarri, -which is constantly increasing in numbers, and greatly needs a church.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVI - -The election as provincial of father Fray Francisco de Herrera, -commissary of the holy Inquisition; and the beginning of an account -of father Fray Bartholome Martinez. - - -In May, 1629, father Fray Francisco de Herrera was elected as -provincial of this province, on the first ballot. He was a son -of the convent of San Gines at Talabera, and afterward a student -of San Gregorio at Valladolid. At the time of his election he was -commissary of the holy Inquisition in all these islands, and prior of -the convent in this city of Manila. Since he is still living, we must -be silent about him, and not say the things in his praise which are -so well known, and which are said by those who enjoyed his peaceful -and religious government. In this chapter nothing of importance was -done in laying down ordinances for the province; but there was much -cause to give thanks to the Lord for the peace and quiet with which -the religious strove to fulfil their obligations as members of the -order and as ministers of the holy gospel. The Lord gave them special -relief and comfort, that they might find light and pleasant the great -sufferings which they endured in both capacities. Hence the electors -returned to their posts very promptly, feeling that in them the hand -of the Lord had delivered to them their own profit and that of their -fellow-men. - -[At the beginning of the following August occurred the death of -the venerable father Bartholome Martynez, who, being engaged in -the conversion of the island of Hermosa, was unable to attend this -chapter. Father Fray Bartholome was a native of a village of Raoja -called El Rasillo, a hamlet of some twenty poor inhabitants. He was -a son of Sant Estevan at Salamanca, and a student in the college of -Sancto Thomas at Alcala. He took advantage of the opportunity of coming -to this province in company with the holy Fray Alonso Navarrete. He -gave his chief attention in the province to learning the Chinese -language, hoping to become a missionary to the kingdom of China. He -was so devoted to the Chinese that he was beside himself with anger -whenever a wrong was done by a Spanish soldier to any Chinaman. As -this seemed to be an impediment to the conversion, he resolved to -restrain his anger, and learned, as the law of the Lord teaches us, -to be angry but not to sin. It was father Fray Bartholome who built -the beautiful wooden church in the Chinese Parian. The cost was -above twenty thousand Castilian ducados, and it was all raised by -offerings. The Lord wrought miracles by father Fray Bartholome in the -building of this church, and on other occasions. On some occasions -he displayed the gift of prophecy.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVII - -The virtues which God granted him, and particularly some in which he -excelled; his labors and death. - - -[Father Fray Bartholome was notable for humility, patience, penances, -and zeal. When he was elected provincial in 1625, he prostrated -himself on the ground, and begged them to put him in jail rather -than make him provincial. His habit was poor and mean, his tunics -full of sweat and blood and all tattered. He would never permit the -Indians to carry him across streams or to wash his feet. He subjected -his body to the severest mortifications, beating himself cruelly and -wearing chains of various kinds, some with sharpened links. He went -always on foot, even crossing swollen streams in this way. He had so -accustomed himself to abstinence that when he felt obliged to set the -other religious the example of eating a little more than was habitual -to him, that they might not injure their health, he suffered greatly -as a result. He slept as little as he ate. He suffered greatly from -asthma, but was most patient. Although he was often insulted on the -expedition to Hermosa for interfering with the soldiers, he overcame -all this by his great patience. The Chinese or Sangleys were devoted -to the father, because of his affection for them. He gave them alms -of his poverty, and was once almost drowned in the effort to rescue -some heathen Chinese. In spite of the failure of his two efforts to -enter China, he was not discouraged, but hoped that the way might be -opened through Hermosa. In the effort to carry out the plan of sending -an expedition to Hermosa, he exposed himself to dangerous storms, -but was rescued by the Lord. To bring the expedition to success, -he labored with his own hands like a slave. On the way he brought -from Bigan, on the coast of Ylocos, to Nueva Segovia the remains of -Bishop Don Fray Diego de Soria. The efforts of this father on this -journey seemed superhuman. The soldiers when told of the real object -of the expedition believed that they were deceived, and were on the -point of mutiny. When a storm broke out soon after they had landed -on the island of Hermosa, and the soldiers were exposed to hardship, -and when the Indians made some resistance, the soldiers cursed and -swore at the father again; but afterward they came to love him. It -was with the idea of getting nearer to the coast of China that the -father suggested that possession be taken of the port in Tanchuy. It -was fortunate that this suggestion was made and carried out by the -commander, Don Juan de Alcarazo; for if they had waited a week they -would have found the port in possession of the Dutch, who came there -with three vessels of war, but were forced to retire. Happy in the -good results of the expedition, the father set sail to cross an arm -of the sea, in a small boat in which there were eight persons, the -father and the commander among them. The boat was caught by a wave -and capsized; five, including the general, were saved, and three, -among them father Fray Bartholome, were drowned. The death of the -father caused great grief among the soldiers, the Chinese--both -Christian and heathen--the religious, and all who knew him.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXVIII - -The death of father Fray Miguel Ruiz, and the state of affairs in Japon - - -[On Friday, June 7, 1630, died father Fray Miguel Ruiz, a son of the -royal convent of Sancta Cruz at Segovia, who had come to the province -of the Philippinas toward the end of April in 1602. At the time of his -death he was vicar of San Gabriel at Binondoc. He was several times -vicar of the district of Bataan; he was once vicar-general of the -province, was definitor in many provincial chapters, vicar-provincial, -several times prior of Manila, and provincial of the province, -which office he filled with justice and gentleness. He was a devout -religious, much given to penance, and indefatigable in teaching the -Indians--in whose language, in addition to a book of the Holy Rosary -which was printed, he wrote several tracts, made the abridgment of -the grammar which is still printed, and made a careful vocabulary, -which at the end of his life he was desirous of augmenting. It -was said that he died by poison, given him by a person whom he had -chastised for scandalous living. It is most likely that the pains in -the stomach from which he suffered came from the fogs which are so -common in the Philippinas. - -The persecution in Japon had reached such a point that it was -impossible to enter the kingdom. The religious orders did all in their -power to replace the holy martyrs with new laborers. They went to great -expense for this purpose, and many religious died in the effort to make -their way to Japon; but the kingdom remained so closely shut up that -their efforts were without result. Information as to the condition -of affairs there in this year 1630 was received from father Fray -Lucas del Espiritu Sancto. The religious in the empire were even -unable to meet one another, and were hunted from place to place, -exposed to wind and weather. Under these circumstances the peace -between the religious orders was of great utility to the ministers -in Japon. The religious were constantly exposed to being captured, -being obliged to lodge in the houses of renegades and heathen; but -the constancy and devotion of the fathers caused even these men to -respect them. The Japanese were absolutely controlled by the devil -of idolatry. Every false sect was tolerated, Christianity alone was -persecuted. Among the fathers in Japon at this time was a native -Japanese, who had completed his course in arts and theology in the -college of Sancto Thomas at Manila. He profited well by his studies, -and had been given the habit, had professed, and had passed through -all the orders. He had been taken by father Fray Bartholome Martinez, -during his term as provincial, to the island of Hermosa--not to remain, -but to make his way from there to Japan, if possible, by the islands -of the Lequios. He was dressed after the Japanese fashion, with two -swords, and succeeded in making his entry into Japon, from which he -wrote a letter to the provincial, dated January 3, 1630. In this he -says that he reached his country on the eve of St. Martin; but that -he has been unable to get into communication with his superior, -who was at that time father Fray Domingo de Erquicia. He later -writes that it is dangerous to send letters, because of the severe -punishment of those who are caught with letters of the fathers upon -them. If it had not been for the return of this father in this way, -no information would have been received with regard to the fate of -Father Juan de Rueda in the islands of the Lequios. - -The third religious at this time in Japon was father Fray Domingo -de Erquicia, who also sent back a letter in this year. He says that -the savage persecution which was designed to root out Christianity -from Japon made many weak, but brought out the bravery of many noble -martyrs. In November, 1629, father Fray Bartholome Gutierrez, of the -Order of St. Augustine, was captured in Arima; and in the same month -there was captured in Nangasaqui a father of the Society of Jesus, -named Antonio. Somewhat later an Augustinian Recollect named Fray -Francisco de Jesus, and afterward his companion, Fray Vicente de -San Antonio, were captured, a mountain having been burnt over in -pursuit of them. Father Fray Domingo de Erquicia writes that a man -recognized him and set out to betray him, but that he was rescued by -the courage of his landlords. In March, 1630, they captured a brother -of the Order of St. Francis; so that there were in that year five -religious imprisoned in Omura, together with forty lay Christians, -besides those in Nangasaqui. In his letter father Fray Domingo -gives a record of the executions of which he knew. The total within -a year and a half is over two hundred. In this year the daire [47] -(who in Japon is like the pope in our Church), on account of various -causes for offense against the emperor, caused his hair to be cut -off, to indicate that he renounced his high office--something that, -it is said, had never been seen in Japan; and thus that realm is now -without a head in spiritual affairs. No Dutch ship came to Japon in -this year, and the Dutch who had come in the two previous years were -all put in prison. The Japanese desire that the Dutch surrender to -them the fort which they have in the island of Hermosa, where some -of them have been sent, while others remain in Japan as hostages.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XXXIX - -The life and death of father Fray Matheo de Cobissa - - -[Though sufferings and persecution refine the gold of the church, yet -there are many rich and pure spirits who appear in time of peace. Of -these latter we are now to give an example. There were but few years in -which father Fray Matheo de Cobissa lived in this province. He reached -the province toward the close of July, 1628, and was sent directly to -the island of Hermosa where he spent less than three years, but those -were full of glory. Fray Francisco Mola, vicar-provincial of the order -in Hermosa, and Fray Angel de San Antonio, vicar of the convent of All -Saints in that island, wrote a formal certificate testifying to the -facts in the case of father Fray Matheo. They give an account of the -marvelous visions which the father beheld, in which the Lord explained -to him what was to come. The Lord had previously revealed the future to -him, giving him notice beforehand of the coming of the English fleet -to Cadiz in 1625; of the great inundation in España in 1626; and of -the unfortunate death of the reverend father Fray Bartholome Martinez, -the provincial, on his return from the island of Yama. To these fathers -the dying father gave an account of other visions that he had had. He -told them further that his rigorous penances had never weakened his -bodily strength. He received the extreme unction, and told the fathers -who were listening that when he was coming from España he saw by the -mizzenmast of the vessel the patriarchs St. Dominic and St. Francis, -and that he had had a vision of the three holy kings. Not satisfied -with this evidence uttered by this father's mouth, these fathers -added other information. Father Fray Angel told of cases which had -been revealed to him by father Fray Matheo, in confession, which he -had received permission to publish for the glory of God. Such were -the coming of the Dutch enemy against Tanchuy and the death of the -provincial. When the fathers asked if his dreams, which signified that -which was to come, were always clear, or were of indistinct figures, -he answered that they were generally clear; but sometimes only such -that he could understand that something was prognosticated, though he -could not tell immediately what it was. He was most devoted to prayer, -and most rigorously abstinent. Father Francisco Mola testified to -the religious devotion of the friar. Brother Fray Andres Ximenez, -who accompanied the father from España and was very intimate with -him, testified to his life of mortification and penance, and to his -devotion. He was reckoned a saint, and the high esteem in which he -was held in this province is shown by the words of the provincial -chapter in recording his death.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XL - -The entrance made from the island of Hermosa to the great kingdom of -China by two fathers of St. Dominic. - - -[If this island were of no value, its spiritual promise would make -it important; and if it were poor in material things--and it is not, -because it has many mines of gold and silver, and is fertile--it would -still be well that our nation has set foot on it. It is of spiritual -use because it is from hence, as it appears, that the conversion of -the great kingdom of China is to have its rise. It is of importance in -a material way, because of its nearness to the trade of that kingdom, -which is so rich and so abounding in merchandise. That both spiritual -and temporal ends might be attained, Don Juan de Arcaraço, [48] who -was commandant of the island at that time, decided to send an embassy -to the viceroy of Hucheo, the capital of the nearest province, with -a view to opening up trade with it, but without saying anything about -matters of faith. He offered our religious an opportunity to go on the -embassy. Two religious were accordingly sent--the father vicar of the -convent, Fray Angel Coqui, a Florentine by birth, who had assumed the -surname of San Antonino; and, as his companion, father Fray Thomas -de Sierra, who was called here "de la Magdalena." He was a native -of Cerdeña. His natural gifts were but small, but his spiritual ones -were great, as will be seen. They set out accompanied by two soldiers -and seven Indians, carrying their letter of embassy and a present -for the viceroy. They took what they needed to say mass, and a very -little money for their support; and embarked (December 30, 1630) -in two very small vessels. On the way a heathen Chinese, master of -the vessel in which the religious were, planned to kill them in order -to rob them. The signal being given, the Chinese killed five of the -members of the expedition, and wounded two with the clubs which they -used as weapons--for, among the Chinese, soldiers only are permitted -to carry weapons of iron. Father Fray Thomas was one of those who lost -his life. The narrative may pause for a moment to give some account -of him. He was a native of Cerdeña, and a son of the convent there. He -was destined to the Order of St. Dominic from his mother's womb. Since -the schools in his part of the country were not very good, he strove -to be assigned to the province of Andalucia, and went to the convent -of San Pablo at Cordova. Hearing of the devout manner of life of the -religious in this province, he desired to enter it, and departed from -España in the year 1627, at which time I was bringing over a body of -religious. This was the third company which I led (besides the first, -in which I came with others under leadership, which is now about forty -years ago). I accepted his application, thinking that he could complete -his studies in this province as well as in España. He was of most -gentle and patient disposition. He suffered greatly from headaches, -and was unable to carry on his studies, though in some cases of moral -theology he showed ability. He was sent to the island of Hermosa, -in the hope that the cooler climate would benefit him. His health -improved, and he devoted himself to learning the mandarin language, -which is the language used in China by the learned, and takes the -place of Latin among us. Nicolas Muñoz, a native of Mexico, a soldier, -was one of those killed at this time. He was a man of the greatest -piety. God in His infinite pity delivered father Fray Angel from -this terrible danger. He fled to the cabin in the poop, and there -he and the three others who survived were able to defend themselves -against the seventeen Chinese, who fastened them up there, hoping to -kill them of starvation. The vessel was captured by pirates, to whom -father Fray Angel owed his liberty and his life. The mutineers on the -vessel told the pirates that the persons in the poop were captives -taken in lawful war, whom they were going to sell into slavery. The -pirates planned to make an assault upon them, but decided not to, -because they would be certain to meet with some damage, and resolved -to scuttle the ship, leaving the captives to drown. They took off -the sail and the rudder, anchored the vessel that it might not be -carried ashore, and abandoned it. The prisoners were left fastened -up and unable to get out, while the vessel filled with water up to -the poop. The imprisoned men found a chisel in the cabin, with which -they worked a hole between two boards, and finally escaped from their -confinement. They made their way to an island, and on the other side -found an arm of the sea wherein there were many vessels, among them -a fisher's boat. They went up to the fishermen, who fled from them, -but who came back again in response to their prayers, and let them have -some food. These men warned them not to stay on that island that night, -for fear of tigers; and said that if they survived until morning they -would meet with other worse tigers--namely, soldiers from the fleets -which were always moving about that coast, who would certainly kill -them. In fear of both dangers, they asked the fishermen to take them -to terra firma, and to bring them before some mandarin. A thousand -difficulties were raised which were quickly conquered with a few bits -of money which had escaped the recent robbery. Being brought before -a mandarin, they were sent to the city of Ziumcheo with letters of -safe-conduct and provision for the journey--which according to the -custom of this kingdom, is afforded to every poor man who in any -way comes to it. The letter which accompanied them described them -as four robbers who had been caught on the seashore. The second -mandarin before whom they were brought sent them to the third; and -he despatched them to the viceroy, forty leguas away in the city -of Ucheo. Father Fray Angel was taken ill, as a result of all his -hardships, but recovered by the help of God. As all the papers had -been lost, the viceroy directed the father to return to the island of -Hermosa for satisfactory credentials, providing him with a vessel and -everything necessary for the purpose. The father, unwilling to leave -China, and being afraid that the viceroy had some design against him, -sent in his place a Christian Japanese who understood the mandarin -language very well. He was one of a number who were scattered over -China, and who desired to make their way to a Christian country. He -dressed this man in a religious habit and caused him to pretend to be -ill, so that he might be left quiet in a dark part of the ship. By -the laws of the kingdom the father thus exposed himself to death or -to perpetual imprisonment, which in China is a prolonged death. The -curiosity of the Chinese is such that nothing escapes it. The viceroy, -the mandarins, and all knew of the return of the father, and even knew -where he was lodged; but no disturbance arose, and the authorities -paid no attention to the matter. The father decided to change his -dress, and to assume such a one as was worn by the most honorable of -the natives, who pay great attention to such matters. He permitted -his hair and beard to grow in their manner, as some fathers of the -Society of Jesus have done--who have performed many useful labors -here, as is known throughout Europe. During four months the father -was unable to say mass, having been robbed of what was necessary.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLI - -Father Fray Angel leaves the city of Ucheo for the town of Fuhan, -trusting solely in God; the success of his journey. - - -[Father Fray Angel, knowing that there were some Christians in the -village of Fuhan and the province of Funinchiu, decided to set out -thither on foot. He met with no interference on the way. In Fuhan -he found some Christians, and met Father Julio Aleni of the Society -of Jesus. Like father Fray Angel, he was an Italian; and he showed -the father much kindness. Here father Fray Angel made a number -of conversions, and found everything promising for the future of -Christianity in China. The Lord showed the father grace, for, though he -was naturally weak, he received strength for many labors. He begged for -a companion, saying in one of his letters which he wrote from Fuhan, -December 24, 1632: "Laborers! laborers! laborers! for the harvest is -ready and it is great." There was sent him as companion father Fray -Juan Baptista de Morales, a son of the convent of San Pablo de Ezija, -for the province could spare no more.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLII - -The lives and deaths of fathers Fray Marcos de Saavedra and Fray -Juan Rodriguez - - -[January 6, 1631, died in the convent of Sancto Domingo father Fray -Marcos de Saavedra, a native of Villamayor in the district of Veles, -a son of Sancta Cruz at Villa Escusa in La Mancha. He left España -in 1623, in which year he was ordained priest in Mexico. He was -a minister in Nueva Segovia, and understood the language of the -natives very perfectly. He composed in it a book of sermons for -the whole year; and a grammar for those who might learn it later, -abbreviating the old grammar. He was a devout and zealous religious, -and patiently suffered the long illness which preceded his death. - -On the seventh of May in this same year father Fray Juan Rodriguez -departed from this wretched life for a happier one, in the convent of -Sancto Domingo at Nueva Segovia. He was a native of the bishopric of -Salamanca, and assumed the habit in the famous convent of San Estevan -in that city. After he finished his course in arts and theology, -he was assigned to the convent of Sancto Domingo in the city of -Guadalaxara. He was a friar of exceptional devotion and received great -favors from the holy Virgin and from St. Joseph and St. Dominic, -who visited one of his penitents and directed his life. With the -approbation of the Lord, father Fray Juan desired to go to the convent -of the order in the town of Aranda de Duero, which was famous for its -observance of the rule. Here he was master of the novices, and hence -he was called by God to this province. He was sent to Nueva Segovia, -where he learned the language of the natives, and within five months -was able to preach to them in it. He was much beloved by the natives, -and also by the religious, who all desired to be in his company. His -devout and exemplary life edified all wherever he went. After he had -been attacked by an illness which proved to be his last, he was sent -with some Spanish soldiers to bring back some Christians Indians who -were in the mountains, and who wished to return, but were prevented -by their neighbors, who threatened them with death. In spite of his -illness, he accepted the responsibility and went with the troops. The -soldiers, growing impatient with the delay of the Indians, who feared -them, desired to capture them with the aid of some friendly Indians -who accompanied the expedition. The father, however, persuaded them -to wait for another day; and after he had spent the night in prayer -he succeeded by his gentleness and his arguments in persuading those -Indians to give up their lost way of life and to return. There were -in all more than one hundred and thirty persons. After his return -his illness grew rapidly worse, and he died in the month of May.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIII - -A second expedition made by two fathers to the province of Sinay, -otherwise known as Ytui, and the result of it. - - -Eighty years had passed since Christianity was first planted -in this country in the island of Luçon, the chief island of the -Philippinas. From here it had spread to other islands; and in Luçon it -had spread from one province to the next, for in this one island there -are many nations and languages. Yet the province of Ytui [49]--as we -shall call it in future, since it is better known by that name--had -not had the good fortune to receive regular preaching before this late -date, namely, the beginning of the year thirty-three. This delay was -not due to the fault of the natives, for they have often manifested a -desire to receive the gospel, and have asked several religious orders -for ministers to teach them; but to the fact that all the orders -were so poor in ministers, on account of the great number of people -whom they must aid. That country also is so rough and so difficult -of access for the visitations of the superiors, that all the orders -have avoided assuming the charge of it. For some years the order of -the glorious father St. Francis sent religious there to cultivate it, -but without any good result. They made a beginning, but could not -carry it on--some of the fathers being taken away by death, and others -leaving the region because of sickness. The natives have constantly -persisted in their request for ministers of the gospel to teach them, -and have been particularly urgent with our sacred order--because they -have some commerce with the province of Pangasinan, which is in our -charge; and because they know how much that is advanced in all matters, -both temporal and spiritual, as a result of the labors of the fathers -who minister to it, though the population was previously the most -barbarous known in these islands. Once, some years ago, some chiefs -came here to Manila during a chapter when a provincial was elected, -to place their request before it. The fiscal of the king (who was -also that of the royal Chancillería), Don Juan de Bracamonte, offered -a petition to the definitors, supporting this request for ministers -for that province, since the Indians were vassals of the king and -paid him their tribute, and his Majesty was bound to provide them -with Christian instruction. The answer was a hopeful one, saying that -if his Majesty would send ministers from España they would then very -readily be assigned to this duty, as he desired; but in the meantime -the order could scarcely fulfil the requirements of the regions which -they had already in charge, for the Indians were many and the ministers -few. On another occasion when the father provincial of the province, -Fray Baltasar Fort, was making his visitation to this province of -Pangasinan, the inhabitants of Ytui learned of the fact; and there -came to meet him, in a village called Calasiao, some thirty of the -chief Indians of that country--among them he who was, as it were, -their king. He brought with him his wife and his sister; and they -proffered their request with much feeling and many tears, complaining -of their misfortune that when they were so near--the provinces were -about four days' journey apart--they were not worthy to receive the -fathers, though they had several times striven to obtain them with -all possible urgency. The provincial could but feel pity when he -saw these heathen Indians becoming preachers to us, in so urgently -persuading the preachers to come and teach them the law of God; yet -he was totally unable to give them what they asked, but gave them -his promise that he would do so as soon as possible. They returned -to their country with this answer, very disconsolate. Father Fray -Thomas Gutierrez--a minister who was then in Pangasinan and of whom -an account will be given later--learned of this, and volunteered to -undertake an expedition thither. A second father, Fray Juan Luis de -Guete, offered to go as his companion. The father provincial granted -their request, in spite of the need of them that would be felt in the -posts which they left; but he commanded them that they should go at -this time simply to explore the country, and should return within a -few days to report their opinions to him, according to the impression -made upon them by the natives. They did this, and went about through -the villages of the province, setting up in the public squares large -crosses, to the great delight of the Indians; this act was a token that -the fathers took possession of them for the Lord who was crucified on -the cross. That the devil might begin to give up his ancient possession -of the natives, the fathers taught them the worship which they should -perform, and some prayers out of the "Christian Doctrine" translated -into the language of Pangasinan. That language they half understood, -though it was different from their own. They understood it all so well -that they immediately began to say the prayers they knew, around the -crosses, seated on cane benches which they made for the purpose--two -of them intoning the prayer, and the rest repeating it. With these -excellent beginnings, which gave proof of the fitness of the soil for -receiving the seed of the faith, the two explorers returned to report -to their superior as he had commanded them, and offered themselves anew -to return to that region. The provincial, when he heard their report, -was not unwilling to grant their pious desires, although it seemed -that these were contrary to what the strength of the province could -sustain. So trusting in the power of God, and with the permission and -benediction of the father provincial, they prepared themselves for -the return; but they were interfered with by someone who disturbed -them by indiscreet zeal, for the devil sometimes appears clothed in -the garments of an angel of light. The project was not carried out, -but not from the fault of the order or of its sons, who are not -accustomed to be slothful before such opportunities. Perhaps those -peoples were not yet ready in the sight of God for that which they -desired; for in such matters the what, the when, and the how are -understood by God alone and are determined according to His divine -foreknowledge. The natives of Ytuy were not weary of being persistent -in presenting their requests, as in such matters it is well to be. It -happened that in the month of December in the year 1632 the father -provincial, Fray Francisco de Herrera (now commissary general of the -Holy Office for all these Philipinas Islands), was traveling in that -region on his visitation to the province of Pangasinan. The natives -of Ytuy, who must have had scouts to inform them, learned of this; -and there immediately came in search of him some twenty-four Indians, -four or six of them being leading chiefs in the province. In the name -of all the rest of the natives, they put forward their old request. He -did not make them the answer which they had received before--"Wait, -wait again;" but gave his instant approval, drawing strength from the -weakness of the province--which, in the matter of laborers, is great -for such a harvest as it has upon its hands, and as it sees every -day increasing; and which, therefore, has to pass by much for lack -of ability to achieve it all. The father who seemed most suited for -this mission was father Fray Thomas Gutierrez, who some years before -had filled the office of explorer in this country. His companion was -father Fray Juan de Arjona, [50] a son of the convent of San Pablo de -Cordova--a man of middle age, but of more than middling spirit. They -both took up the enterprise with great delight, without any objections -or requests; and went back with the Indians who had come thence, taking -no larger outfit than was absolutely necessary to equip them for the -journey. This chapter will give a brief account of the events of the -journey and their arrival at Ytuy, drawn from a letter written by both -fathers and dated at Ytuy January 21, 1633. The letter was directed -to the father provincial, and contains the following narrative: - -They left Pangasinan for Ytuy December 6, 1632, the day of St. Nicholas -the bishop; and since there is but little communication between the -two countries--none at all, in fact, except that occasionally some -natives on each side visit the other--there is no open road from one -to the other, since the Indians have no need of one, making their way -like deer through the thickets of the mountains. By their account, the -journey takes four days; but this is estimated by their mode of travel, -which is twice as rapid as ours. Father Fray Thomas was so eager to -reach that region that he even wished to make the journey shorter, -and he asked the Indians if they did not know some short cut. One -of them responded that he did; the father asked him to guide them, -and they all followed him. This was in an evil hour, for the short -cut did nothing but to increase their labor, as it took them out of -their way. The journey occupied nine days, over mountains and across -valleys, and through rivers, streams, and marshes, which they came -upon at every step--for the guide did not know where he was going, and -yet they were obliged to follow him. The provision which they carried -was but for a few days, since they did not expect so long a journey, -and they carried it all on their own shoulders that they might not -burden the Indians. Since the journey took twice as long as they had -expected, they became very hungry, and thus suffered much, hunger being -added to exhaustion. The sky was not kind to them on their journey, -for it rained constantly on all these days and they had no protection; -and the ground was as cruel, for the thickets abounded with leeches -who attached themselves to the faces, the hands, and the feet of -the travelers, and drew blood like a physician's blood-letting. The -Indians were not distressed by any of these things, or by the necessity -of carrying the fathers on their shoulders across rivers or very bad -places in the road, which shows the pleasure and affection with which -they were taking the religious to their country. The fathers endured -this no less well, being certain that they were not putting into a -torn sack what they suffered for God. - -They derived some relief from their sufferings from one happy -circumstance provided them by God, who seemed to have designed all -these wanderings. This was that in the midst of these wildernesses they -found a tiny village of Christian Indians; for this jurisdiction was -under the charge of other ministers, but was very little visited -by them, since it was at so great a distance and over so rough -a road. They baptized two children, and heard the confessions of -some adults--among them that of a woman who had not confessed for -some years, having no one to confess to. Though she seemed well -and healthy, she died that same day. This was a marked token of -her predestination. They finally reached the principal village of -the province, which is called Ytui, and takes its name from the -village. The Indians received them with great demonstrations of joy, -after their manner; and they remained there for eight days resting, -and receiving visits from all the villages in the province, who sent -ambassadors to bid them welcome with some presents of the fruits -of the country. They set out afterwards to visit all the villages -in it. Great and small, they visited eleven, that they might become -acquainted with the temper of the Indians. In all they were received -with the same tokens of pleasure. From what they saw and learned from -the Indians, they had much to say in their report of the excellence of -the country. They said that it was cool, so that by day the sun's heat -was pleasant at times, and a covering was agreeable at night. This -is something new in these islands, which have the fault of being -very hot. They reported that the country was so fertile that when -Indians desired to plant their rice they only burn over a part of -the mountain [51] and, without any further plowing or digging, they -make holes with a stick in the soil, and drop some grains of rice in -them. This was their manner of sowing; and, after covering the rice -with the same earth, they obtained very heavy crops. They said that -some good fruits grew there, and that in their opinion that country -would yield all the fruits of Spain, if the seeds of the latter were -planted. There were, they affirmed, pleasant valleys with quiet rivers -and streams in them from which the natives obtain some gold, and that -the Indians are wont to wear golden earrings. They are not acquainted -with silver, and do not care for it. They have no sort of money, so -that all their sales and purchases are carried on by barter. They -keep their villages very clean and in good condition--a new thing -among the Indians. They also remarked that there was great fraternity -between different villages. This is something even more unusual, -for generally these nations live after the law of "Might makes right" -[viva quien vence], at the expense of their heads. Hence these Indians -walk alone over their roads without fear of being injured or robbed, -for they are very safe in this respect--so much so that they leave -the rice which they gather, each one in his own field, heaped up in -the spike and covered with straw. They go there and carry what they -want to their houses, to grind and eat, without fearing that anyone -will take what is not his. They readily offered all their infants to -the fathers to be baptized, so that within about three months, during -which the religious went about visiting the villages, they baptized -some four hundred. It would have been the same with the adults, if -it had not been necessary to prepare them with the catechism. The -fathers have been slow in this, because they have been obliged to -translate the prayers into the native language, of which they have -not a good command. They are spending their time in learning it, -and on this account and no other are delayed in beginning baptism. In -order that so few ministers may be able to teach the Indians, it is -necessary to bring them together into a smaller number of villages, -conveniently arranged so that the people may be visited and helped in -their necessities. Since the country is very mountainous, the fathers -have determined to bring and gather them in large settlements, at -sites convenient for their fields, near a river which rises in this -country, and which, increased by others, grows to be a very large -stream, crossing the whole of Nueva Segovia to the ocean. [52] This -river, on account of its fish (upon which most of the Indians live), -is also of great value to them. This is the only point as to which -they are somewhat obstinate, because they are greatly grieved to -leave their ancient abode. However, most of them have accepted it, -and it is hoped that the rest will come, and in this way in a short -time much will be gained by the aid of the Lord. Through the mountains -next to this province, which are many and very rough, there wander -a tribe of Indians known as Alegueses, a vagabond people having no -settled places of abode. Father Fray Thomas sent word to them by an -Indian chief of Ytuy that if they wished to come and settle one of -the new sites which he indicated, he would receive them there as sons, -and do them all the good he could. They answered in the affirmative, -and he waited for them for some time; but before they came the holy man -finished his days, full of years and of heroic works, as will soon be -seen. This is the work which these apostolic men of God accomplished -in only three months, as appears from the aforesaid report. They -conclude their report with another case similar to that referred to -above, of the woman who died so soon after she had confessed. In the -goings-out and comings-in of the fathers among the Indians that they -might become acquainted with them, they found in one village, called -Palar, a very aged Indian woman who was dying. She had eaten nothing -for five days. Father Fray Thomas went to see her, and began to talk -with her of becoming a Christian for the salvation of her soul. He -expounded to her briefly what she had to believe, and called upon -her to repent of her sins. She answered as well as might be desired, -and he accordingly baptized her on that day, which was the last day -of her earthly life and the first day of her Christian one. It was -a happy day, so far as can be judged; for, being newly baptized, -she had merely to be recorded in purgatory. Not only in these new -provinces where the dawn of the gospel's light now begins to shine do -extraordinary cases happen like those which have been mentioned, to the -great glory of God and the joy of his ministers; but they also occur -in many others where the dawn has risen high but has not yet bathed -all the horizon, though it is covering it, little by little. From the -province of Nueva Segovia father Fray Geronimo de Zamora, [53] a native -of the city of Zaragoça, wrote me a letter dated February 25, 1633. In -it are these words: "Before Lent I went up the river of Mandayas" -(this is the name of a part of that province), "to try to teach many -Indians who were without Christian instruction in heathen darkness, -but who paid tribute to the king our lord as his vassals, without even -being sons of the Church. I asked them if I might visit them, and they -received my request kindly and asked that I or some other father should -remain among them. In token of the heartiness of their wish, they gave -me, as a sort of hostages, ten sons of their chiefs to be baptized; -and after having sufficiently instructed them, I baptized them, to -the great joy and delight of my soul. I hope in God that in this way -thousands of them may be redeemed from the power of the devil, for -there is no one who will declare that they are not his." He afterward -asked aid from his neighbors to draw the net which was laden with so -many fish as are promised by the casts already made there. Many are -needed, but we may say here, "Where are those good men?" - -It is not to be understood that only these new events are the good -ones, or that among Christians who have been so for some time there -are but few occurrences to rouse joy. This is not the case, for there -are so many which have occurred among these latter that a very large -book might be made of the account of them, if it were necessary to -report what has happened hitherto, and what happens every day anew, -to the holy old ministers of the gospel who have been and are among -them, whose beards have grown, and whose hair has become white among -the Indians. They are good witnesses to this truth, and to the growth -that the Spirit is wont to cause in these clods of earth. As for those -who grow weary quickly and leave the ministry, there is no necessity to -say anything. It is certain that among those who have been Christians -steadily for years there are fewer dangers; yet the care of them is of -no less merit, and consequently the reward will be no less, since, as -King David has well said (I Kings, xxx), Aequa pars erit descendentis -ad praelium et remanentis ad sarcinas, et similiter divident. [54] - -Here in Manila the order has under its care a hospital for the Chinese, -in which the sick of that nation are cared for. The province may -place this at the head of its possessions, since there is scarcely -a day in which some soul or souls of newly baptized do not pass to -heaven. Very few are they who die without baptism, and very many are -they who give their souls to God before the baptismal waters are dry on -their heads. This is accomplished with so little effort on the part of -the minister that it calls upon him only to make a little effort, and -to go from his cell to the infirmary. I do not know whether there is -any other hospital in Christendom of the character of this hospital, -its principal end being the cure of souls, while for the cure of -bodies it has its physician, its medicines, and everything needed -within its gates, besides the food and the dainties called for by -the palates of the sick. The effects of the divine predestination -which are beheld in it are so many that they are almost ordinary, -and are therefore not mentioned. - -[In Japon the persecution was increasing in fierceness, and very -few letters were received. One of these, from father Fray Domingo -de Erquicia, gives an account of the death of the emperor and the -succession of his son, who was even more cruel than the father. [55] -He tells of the deaths over a slow fire of a father of the order -of the calced Augustinians, and of two discalced; of a Japanese -Franciscan priest of the tertiary order, and of a Franciscan brother; -and of a Japanese father of the Society of Jesus--the remains of all -being burned, and the ashes cast into the sea. On another occasion -two Augustinian Recollects were burned. Two Franciscan fathers were -captured, while two Dominicans were hidden in caves or cisterns, -and did not see the sun or the moon for many days. From a Dominican -at Macao, Fray Antonio del Rosario, testimony was received as to the -great achievements of father Fray Domingo Erquicia.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIV - -The life and death of father Fray Thomas Gutierrez, vicar provincial -of the province of Ytuy - - -[Father Fray Thomas Gutierrez was a native of the city of Origuela -in the kingdom of Valencia; and he assumed the habit in the convent -and college of the order there. When the opportunity offered he went -to the province of Sant Hipolito de Oaxaca in Nueva España. Here he -learned the language of the Mistecs, whose minister he was for some -years. Coming to the Philippinas, he was assigned to the province of -Pangasinan, where in a few months he learned the language so well that -he surpassed many of the very natives. He rebuked the vices of the -Indians with such efficacy that they called him "Thunder," because -he frightened them like the thunder, which they greatly fear. He -was a rigid observer of the rules of the province and was notable -for his modesty. He went courageously among the savage Indians, who -often attack those who are traveling along the paths--not for their -purses, but for their heads, he who cuts off the greatest number -being the most highly esteemed among them.] On one occasion he came -to a village of these Indians called Managuag. While he was there, -more than four hundred of these Zambales, as they are called, appeared -in the village, with their bows, arrows, lances, and daggers such as -they use--which are so keen that in a single instant they strike a -head to the earth. They came into the unsuspecting village with such -a noise and shout that the poor inhabitants, being unarmed, almost -died of fear. Some fled to the mountains, and some sixty Christian -Indians took refuge in the house of a chief. When they saw that they -were lost, having no weapons nor any means to defend themselves, -they put themselves in the hands of God, and decided to make use of -prayers in place of weapons; so they fell on their knees, and began in -a loud voice to pray in their language. The Zambales, hearing them, -surrounded the house and undertook to go up to it. Without knowing -what held them back, they were several times obliged to retreat when -they were half-way there. They finally set fire to it, though against -their will, for they thought much of being able to take with them the -heads of its inmates. It was burned to the ground in a few moments, -with those who were within. Although God did not deliver them from the -fire, He showed by a miracle that He had delivered them from the fires -of hell, and perhaps from the fires of purgatory, exchanging those -for this fire; for they were all found dead in a circle, untouched -by the fire, and on their knees, with their elbows on the ground and -their heads on their hands. Most of them took refuge in the church -under the protection of the father and of God. These availed them; -and the father, without attempting to close doors or windows, took -in his hands a Christ that was on the altar, from whom he and the -people (who were about him) all begged for mercy, which the Father -of Mercies granted them. It was a marvelous thing that though the -cemetery in front of the church had a wall the height of which was -only from a few palmos up to two varas, the enemy were unable to cross -it; and one of them, who leaped over it, was struck dead by a stray -arrow. The roof of the church and the convent was of nipa, which is -like so much dry straw to the fire. Upon it fell many brands and more -than fifty burning arrows, none of which kindled it, though it was -so inflammable. God, choosing to show who it was that defended this -place, by the prayers of His servant Fray Thomas, permitted an Indian -who was with him in the church, and who thought he was not safe there, -to go out, thinking that he might escape by running. The enemy caught -him and cut off his head in an instant. Not an arrow touched even the -clothes of one of those who remained with the father, though these -fell as thick as grass, and though many arrows passed among them, -for they came in at the doors and windows of the church like showers -of rain. Finally the enemy, frightened--although, being barbarians, -they could not understand--when they saw that the fire would not catch, -though there was nothing to prevent it, and that their arms would not -injure these people, though disarmed, retreated with some heads (the -spoils which they most desire) and with some captives. The father, -when the disturbance was over, immediately set about burying the -dead and putting the village in a situation to defend itself from -any other similar attack. - -On a mountain chain near two villages, one of which is one of the -most important in the province of Pangasinan, which are called -Binalatongan and Balanguey, there were some unpacified Indians so -savage and barbarous that they knew no occupation but cutting off -heads. They were even more cruel than the ones just referred to, -and came down into the valleys, to the fields of the peaceful Indians -and to the roads, to hunt the latter like so many deer. Father Fray -Thomas was much grieved by this, and did not know what to do to -prevent it. To keep them back by arms he had not the strength; and, -as for arguments, these were not people who would accept them. He -therefore made use of a means which the event showed to have been -revealed to him from above, because according to carnal reason it -seemed to be very contrary to the rules of prudence. He directed two -Christian Indians to go up the mountains to the settlements of their -enemies, totally unarmed, and to carry to them a certain message from -him. They went, for the Indians did not know how to refuse to do what -the father directed them; but they went as if they were going to the -slaughter. When they came to the place, they made signs of peace; -but the barbarians, who knew no more about peace than about theology, -were on the point of killing them without listening to them. But one -of the savages themselves diverted them from this purpose by saying -that they would better listen to them first; that there would be time -to kill them afterwards, because they could not escape. They called -our Indians, and asked them what they wished; and they answered that -they were bringing a message from father Fray Thomas their father; -this was, that he begged them earnestly to do no more harm to these -Indians their neighbors, who were to him as sons. He desired them to -come down and settle in the plains wherever they pleased, promising -that he would regard them likewise as his sons, and would show them -great kindness. They were not acquainted with the father, and did -not know his name; and some of them were of the opinion that they had -better slay the simple ambassadors. Others, contrary to their usual -practice, defended the latter, treated them well, and showed them -hospitality. Among those who were thus kind to them were two chiefs, -of whom one--who was, as it were, the leader of all--was named Duayen; -the other was named Buaya. Their hearts, which were harder than the -hearts of tigers, God softened without any other application than -that which has been described. They sent back his ambassadors to the -father with an escort to defend them in dangerous places, and to take -them safe to his presence; and by them they sent the answer that they -were very ready to do with a good will what he commanded them, and -that they would come down to the plain and settle in three places, -so situated that the father might visit and teach them. They did not -delay in carrying out their promise. They built their villages, and -in them churches and dwellings for the father. In one of the churches -were baptized immediately a son and two daughters of Duayen, together -with many other children, twenty of them boys. Thus was sown the seed -of the gospel, which has grown luxuriantly, at no further cost than -has been recounted. Father Fray Thomas was indefatigable in striving -for the good of souls. For the benefit of souls he made journeys of -twelve leguas on foot, over very bad roads and in the heat of the -sun. He sometimes went among warlike Indians who cut off the heads of -others, while he and those who went with him saved theirs. It seemed -to his companion, when he took one, that even though the companion was -weak, a contagion of strength went out from the father, so that his -associate was able to follow him, and they both went on long journeys -without being much exhausted. Father Fray Thomas was not grieved -that the direction of his superior occupied him in different posts, -and called him from one place which was already cultivated well to -another which was not so, but very ill--an effect which might have -resulted from various causes. In the province of Ylocos--which is -next to that of Pangasinan, and between it and that of Nueva Segovia, -all of them being in this island of Luçon--there is a large village -called Nalbacan, the instruction of which was entrusted to secular -clergy. As they were quickly changed, one after the other, and as some -of them did not know the language of the natives, the village was in -great lack of religious instruction. The bishop of these provinces, -Don Diego de Soria, determined to give this village to the order, -that it might minister to it. The father provincial who held that -office at the time, charged father Fray Thomas with this duty. He set -out there immediately, and began on the way to learn something of the -language of the country, of which he had already a vocabulary and a -grammar. Though it is different from that of Pangasinan, he preached -in it at the end of twenty days after he arrived there, and before -the bishop and other priests who were there, and before the natives, -to the wonder of all. He began to fill his office so acceptably to the -Indians that some came from the most remote parts of the province to -confess to him and to receive his counsels. He was given the name of -"the holy father," and, whenever they spoke of him, they used this -name. As this is the appellation of the supreme pontiff of the church, -whom the Indians had never seen, and still less had any dealings with -him, those who were not acquainted with the secret were surprised -to hear them speak until they came to understand it. Father Fray -Thomas remained here a year, and his teaching and example were easily -perceived in the improvement of the Indians and of those who were -under his direction. All this province of the Indians is under the -care of Augustinian fathers, who have in it many places where they -give Christian instruction. They accordingly claimed this of Nalbacan, -which was the only place outside of their jurisdiction. The order was -very willing to yield it, and in exchange for it the Augustinians -gave to our order another, which they had among our ministries in -Pangasinan; and thus each order remained with its province complete, -with its own tribe and language. When the Augustinian fathers came -to take possession of the house of father Fray Thomas, as they did -somewhat in advance of the time, he departed with nothing but his -cloak, his hat, his breviary, and his staff, setting out for the -province of Nueva Segovia, which was very near, to wait for the -order of his superior, and to be disposed of as he pleased. Desiring -not to be idle in the interim, for he did not wish to be idle a -single hour--and if he did not know the language he would have to -be idle many hours--he learned the language of that country with the -facility which God had given him. He was aided by the fact that the -languages of these three provinces of Indians are somewhat alike, -and resemble each other in their idioms and in their syntax--which -does not seem to have been invented by a barbarous people, but by a -race of intelligence and keenness of mind. He remained but a short -time in this province, being sent by the order of his superior to -his former province of Pangasinan, whose language he understood as -if it were his mother-tongue. In this language he wrote many books -of devotion, sermons, and treatises, which he distributed while -he was alive among the fathers who were ministers to that people; -and he left others behind him at his death, as his estate, for he -had no other estate except instruments of penance. From these long -journeys on foot, through these rough and hot regions, a sickness -resulted in Pangasinan which threatened to be the last of his life, -and obliged him to give up the ministry to the Indians, much against -his will. He suffered from this very much more than from the pain -of the illness; but what he could not gain in this life he laid up -for the other by his admirable patience and fortitude. Finally God -restored his health, without medicines or comforts, for which there -is little provision here; and there was less then, because things -were nearer the beginning, when everything was barrenness and extreme -poverty. With all these merits, he still lacked one thing to fill up -the measure of his deserts. The common enemy of souls guessed this, -and once appeared to him, while he was reading a book of devotion, -in a hideous and shocking form; and although the father made the -sign of the cross, the enemy did not flee so quickly but that he -had time to say that, if it were not for the stones on the father's -neck, he would be revenged upon him. This was the rosary, which the -father took off neither by night nor by day, that he might be at -all hours armed against him who may attack at any hour, and will do -so whenever he is permitted. His zeal for souls increased with age, -contrary to what often happens; for with the old age of the body, -the weakening of the strength, and the increase of infirmity, old -age often attacks the spirit--as St. Paul says (Hebrews, viii), -Quod antiquatur et senescit prope interitum est [56]--which is as -true of the spirit as of the body. When the father had reached the -age of seventy years, he implored father Fray Francisco de Herrera, -who was provincial at the time, to send him to Japon on the occasion -when the large mission thither was planned which, afterward, God did -not see fit to permit to be carried out. I think that this was not -the first time that he proffered this request to his superiors. In -proportion to the dangers and hardships promised by this mission, -of which father Fray Thomas was not ignorant, was his earnestness -in the desire to be a member of it. This is a proof of his vigorous -spirit in venerable old age. His urgent request was not admitted, on -the ground of his age; but he did not lose the merit of it, since he -made it without any hypocrisy. God preserved him for another mission -(that described in the previous chapter), which he undertook in the -province of Ytui. He had made a beginning there in former years, but -had not carried it on because of the obstacle there mentioned. He had -now come to three years beyond seventy, and undertook the difficult -expedition already described with as much spirit and energy as if -he had only half his years. Yet he was much bowed with infirmities, -as well as with age; and between them he seemed, as he walked, -to be dragging along his body and his bowels. The words which the -church sings of the holy old Simeon are not inappropriate, Senex -puerum portabat; puer autem senem regebat. [57] This same God whose -name he, as His vassal, desired to carry to all regions, directed -him and strengthened him, so that he undertook enterprises so far -beyond the strength of one bowed with years and infirmities. In this -period of his life he began to learn the language of this province, -accomplishing his purpose in three months, and beginning to preach -to the natives in it. He went to attend them in their spiritual needs -whenever they summoned him, however far away he was, without heeding -rain, or sun, or difficult roads. Though very compassionate to all, -he was rigorous to himself alone, and that throughout his life. Every -night he took a rigorous discipline; and never after he entered the -order did he eat meat, except in case of grave necessity. He did not -complain of his food when it was scanty or ill prepared, in sickness -or in health. To the fasts of the order he added others. After the -festival of the Resurrection he added another Lent up to Whitsunday, -and another afterwards to the day of our father St. Dominic, so that -the whole year was to him fasting and Lent. On Wednesdays, Fridays, -and Saturdays throughout the year, and on the eves of the festivals -of Christ our Lord, of the Virgin his most holy Mother, and of our -father St. Dominic, and of the saints of the order, he fasted on -bread and water. As a result he possessed that which follows such -fasting--a heroic degree of chastity. Finally the last illness of -his life came upon him, being occasioned by a fall from a precipice, -while he was in the work of his ministry. During the whole time of -his illness, his companion could not persuade him to accept a sheet -of very coarse cotton, or to permit his bed to be changed. On the bed -which he had in health, which was a frame of cane-work covered with -a patched blanket, he desired to await the hour of his death. Before -his death he made a general confession, covering his whole life from -the time before he reached years of discretion. Though his confession -covered so many years, it lasted about a quarter of an hour. After -he had most devoutly received the other sacraments, he died in the -Lord, March 30, 1633. The following provincial chapter, in giving -notice to the province of his happy death, said: "In the province of -Ytui father Fray Thomas Gutierrez ended his days, an aged priest and -father, most observant of the rules of the order, severe to himself -and most gentle to others. He labored in this province for the good -of souls for the space of five and thirty years, with such devotion -that the very Indians, by whom he was most beloved, held and regarded -him as pious and a saint. This aroused the ill-will of the devil, -who appeared to him while he was at prayer; and the wicked enemy was -able to arouse in him great fear and terror, but not to harm him, -because he found him protected with the impregnable rosary of the -Virgin. Of him we have the pious faith that, full of years and of -virtue, he has flown to heaven." - - - - - -CHAPTER XLV - -The election as provincial of father Fray Domingo Gonçalez, and the -state of the province - - -On the sixteenth of April in this year 1633, the fathers of the -province assembled in Manila to elect a superior. Their minds were in -such agreement that without difficulty they unanimously elected, on the -first ballot, father Fray Domingo Gonçalez, prior of the same convent, -not one vote being lacking for the election but his own. He was very -acceptable to the estates, both secular and ecclesiastical, of this -region, as have been all of the other provincials; since the electors -have always exhibited great zeal for the good of the order, and have -made their choice without considering personal predilections. In -general, the election has not previously been discussed, so that -the provincial is elected before anyone suspects who he is. Often a -person is elected with regard to whom no one imagined any such thing, -so that the city is not a little edified. He who was elected at that -time was in España a student at the college of San Gregorio, where -he was for many years a teacher of theology. After filling all the -offices of the order, he became commissary of the Holy Office in these -islands--as he still is, with which we must bring to an end all that -may be said with regard to him. - -The provincial and the definitors found nothing to occupy themselves -with in the reformation of the province. Advice was received of a -new ordinance of the chapter-general held in Roma in 1629, in which -permission is given to the provinces to discontinue the intermediate -chapter as being the source of much expense and trouble to all -the order--and, in this province, of much interference with the -systematic instruction of the Indians in our charge, many of whom -are entirely without ministers during the whole time spent in coming -to these intermediate chapters. In their place were very prudently -substituted the councils, which, being reduced to a much smaller -number of religious, the picked men of the province, are almost -as useful and much less expensive, and are not followed by the bad -results spoken of. This permission was accepted, and the precedent -has since been followed. - -In this year the order was extended so far throughout these kingdoms -that it had never before reached such limits. Although the number of -the religious of this province is very small, they have taken up a -jurisdiction so extended and so large that, even though many hundreds -and even thousands of companions were to come to their aid, they -would have enough to provide all these with labor, without needing to -seek for or even to accept anything else, all of them being occupied -with that which has already been acquired and gained. For the lack -of ministers, the Indians are still untaught, and remain in their -heathen state; while if they had ministers they would embrace and -follow the law of God, as those have admitted and professed it who -by the favor of heaven have been able to obtain ministers. - -[The persecution in Japon was still increasing in intensity and -cruelty. The authorities of Japon now offered a reward of a thousand -taes (which amount to almost as many ducados of Castilla) to anyone -who would reveal the place of hiding of a minister, in addition to full -pardon for all offenses previously committed. Besides this, a new and -dreadful method of execution was devised for the Christians, inasmuch -as their crime was regarded as so vile that the ordinary methods of -execution--decapitation, or burning alive over a slow fire--should -not be used as a punishment for them. The condemned Christians were -hung, head downward, in a pit, in such a manner that they could not -move their bodies, and that the blood ran out of their mouths, noses, -eyes, and ears until they bled to death in horrible torment. [58] In -this way father Fray Domingo de Erquicia was martyred. Father Fray -Jacobo de Sancta Maria, [59] a Japanese by nation, who had assumed -the habit in our convent of Manila, August 15, 1624, was martyred in -this year. He had returned to Japon in 1632. He went by way of the -islands of the Lequios; and the champan in which he traveled with some -Japanese fathers of the Society encountered storms, and was cast upon -the shores of Coria. The sufferings of this voyage were such that his -hair turned gray. At the end of five months he reached Satzuma, where -he labored for about three months. His father, who was a Christian, -was tortured by water until he revealed the place where his son was -hidden; and on the seventeenth of August father Fray Jacobo died, -after three days of torture, by the method of hanging described. In -this year two preachers of our order made their way to Japon. One was -the glorious martyr, father Fray Jacobo; the other was a Sicilian, -a very thorough master of the Chinese language, who was called Fray -Jordan de San Estevan. He had assumed the habit in Sicilia, after -having studied arts and theology in Aragon and Castilla. He barely -escaped capture immediately on his arrival; and the whole crew of -Chinese who had been hired to bring him were executed for the crime -of bringing a priest into the kingdom. - -In this year, thirty-three, the cruel old emperor died; and in the -commotions which followed it seemed as if all parties turned their -hands against the Christians. Many other martyrs of other orders -were executed at this time. Among them were Father Manuel Borges, -of the Society of Jesus; fathers Fray Melchor and Fray Martin, -Augustinian Recollects--Spaniards, who were caught before they learned -the language; father Fray Jacobo Antoni, a Roman, of the Society of -Jesus; fathers Fray Benito Fernandez (a Portuguese) and Fray Francisco -de Gracia, of the Order of St. Augustine; and a Japanese father of -the Society named Pablo Saito, who had accompanied father Fray Jacobo -from Manila. In this year father Fray Thomas de San Jacintho reported -that thirteen religious were captured in Nangasaqui, besides two of -the Order of St. Francis who were prisoners in Usaca. Besides these, -there were Fathers Antonio de Sousa and Juan Mateos, and Father -Christoval Ferreyra, all Portuguese Jesuits; father Fray Lucas del -Espiritu Sancto, a father of our order; besides many Japanese, both -lay and religious. - -Father Fray Lucas del Espiritu Sancto was a son of the convent of -Sancto Domingo at Benavente. An account is given of his labors in the -chapter dealing with the year thirty-one. From his prison he wrote -an account of his labors and travels in Japon, in which he told how -he had gone through the most distant parts of the empire from east -to west. Most of these fathers and many of their companions were -tortured while in prison, and father Fray Lucas wrote a long letter -describing their imprisonment and torture. In this letter he makes the -following statement: that if he should die on the day of St. Luke, -he would be exactly thirty-nine years of age; that he assumed the -habit in 1610 in the convent of Sancto Domingo at Benabente, whence -he went to study at Trianos and hence to Valladolid, coming to the -Philippinas in 1617, and being assigned to duty in Nueva Segovia. He -reached Japon in 1623. His letter is dated October 16, 1633, and -two days later he was put to the torture of the hanging described, -being respited for a time and afterward executed.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVI - -The holy Fray Jacintho de Esquivel or De el Rosario, martyred on the -way to Japon; and his holy life. - - -[To the six or seven holy martyrs of our sacred order--Fray Domingo -de Erquicia, [60] Fray Lucas del Espiritu Sancto, Fray Jacobo -de Santa Maria, and three or four lay brothers, should be added -another who, though he did not die in Japon, died on the journey -thither, at the hands of traitorous heathen. This was father Fray -Jacintho de Esquivel. He was a Basque by nation, noble in lineage -and nobler in virtue. He assumed the habit in the convent of San -Domingo of the city of Victoria. While he was a novice I happened, -in returning from the chapter-general in Paris in 1611, where I was -definitor for this province, to rest in his convent for a week; and -at that time he conceived the desire to come to this province. He -was sent to the famous college of San Gregorio at Valladolid, and -distinguished himself in his studies, becoming a teacher of arts when -still very young. In Manila he was appointed as lecturer in theology -in the college of Sancto Thomas; and in this position he did not -take advantage of the dispensations allowed, but rigorously observed -the severe rules of the province. While he was teaching theology he -studied the Japanese language, under the teaching of father Fray -Jacobo de Sancta Maria. With his aid he printed, at the expense -of the college, a Japanese-Spanish vocabulary--a large book, which -required very great resolution and labor. As a result of abstinence, -he had lost the sense of taste. He dressed poorly and roughly, and -his modesty and chastity were such that he once said that he had -never looked a woman in the face. In order to make his way to Japon -he went to the island of Hermosa. On the very night of the arrival of -father Fray Jacintho occurred a heavy storm, which overthrew a small -convent of ours with its church, which had been erected in the Parian -of the Chinese. The other fathers attributed this to the wrath of -the devil because of the coming of the father; but he rejoiced that -materials were provided for building a church in Taparri, for which -the ruins of these buildings might be used. This village of Taparri -was populated by the worst tribe in the whole island; for they were -all pirates, who committed as much robbery and murder on the sea as -they could. It was less than a legua from the presidio of San Salvador, -and strict orders had been issued that no one should go there without -permission, and that those who went should always go in company and -armed. The father asked permission to go and build a church in that -village, where he soon learned a few of the words. When the Indians -asked him where his wife and sons and land were, he answered that -the religious had none, to which they replied that he was a great -liar. At another time, when he told them of the resurrection of the -dead, they called him mad. Afterward, when they came to have a great -deal of affection for him and offered him several marriages, and saw -that he would not accept them, or even admit a woman into his house, -they began to believe in him. He afterward set about building a church -in another village on the same coast, nearer the presidio, and named -Camaurri. He established peace between the two villages though they -had always been enemies before. He was afterward sent to Tanchuy. He -lived a life of great mortification, and labored strenuously to learn -the language of this country. In a few months he succeeded, and made -a grammar and a very copious vocabulary. Being sent back from Tangchuy -to Sant Salvador, he obeyed most readily, and his labors were attended -with great results. He exposed himself to dangers by sea and by land, -and preached to Spaniards as well as to Indians. He established in the -island of Hermosa the holy Confraternity of La Misericordia. The good -cavalier Don Juan de Alcaraso gave four thousand pesos for the purpose; -and father Fray Jacintho gave two thousand, which he had received in -alms. He also established a school for the bright Chinese and Japanese -children, and those of other nations in that country, where they might -be taught the matters of our faith, and where those who are capable of -them might learn Latin, the liberal arts, and theology. He hoped thus -to train up children who might carry the faith into China and Japon. He -finally embarked for Japon in a Chinese vessel, with a Franciscan; -and after they had been at sea for a few days the Chinese, unwilling -to wait and put them ashore in Japon, killed them and took their -noses and ears to the judges in Nangasaqui, who paid them liberally.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVII - -The martyrdom of the holy friar Fray Francisco de Sancto Domingo in -the island of Hermosa, and the death of the venerable father Fray -Angel de San Antonino in Great China. - - -[In the course of time arose a persecution of the Christians in the -island of Hermosa. An Indian chief in Tanchuy excited some villages to -rebel, and to kill some Spaniards from an ambush. They first employed -their weapons upon the holy martyr Fray Francisco de Sancto Domingo, -who had never done them anything but kindness, and who had just rescued -from prison the man who excited all the others. This man had been -placed there because his evil purposes had been detected. Father Fray -Francisco was a native of Portugal, and a son of the convent of Zamora -in the province of España, whence he went in 1615 to study theology in -the royal convent of Sancto Thomas at Avila. He came in my company on -the second expedition which I made with religious from España to this -country. He was assigned to duty in Nueva Segovia, where he learned -the language of the natives, and labored gloriously among them for -some years. He was a lean man but had very good health and great -strength. He was taken by the father provincial, Fray Bartholome -Martinez, as his companion, and the conversion of the island of -Hermosa was begun. He suffered from headache, in addition to which he -subjected himself to the most severe penances. He was most kindly and -charitable, especially to the Indians. When the Indians attacked him, -he sank on his knees before them; and they shot at least fifty arrows -into his body. The Indians cut off his head, leaving the tongue and -lower jaw on the body; and with the head and the right hand they went -to the mountains, to celebrate the festival of head-cutting. On the -way the head wept miraculously, and there was a dreadful earthquake, -so that the Indians in alarm cast the head into the river. The holy -martyr died January 27, 1633, the Lord working miracles upon his body -after his death. - -In this same year, there died in Great China father Fray Angel de San -Antonio, who before coming to this province used his family name, which -was Quoqui (or Cocci). He was of noble Florentine descent. Some mention -of his virtues has been already made, when I spoke of the entrance of -our order into the kingdom of China. By the assistance of miracles, he -succeeded in carrying out the great desire of the province to preach -the gospel in that most populous and wealthy country, the people of -which have so much intelligence and such fine natural gifts. He was -minister to the Indians of Bataan, whose language he understood; but by -the direction of his superiors he undertook the study of the Chinese -language, and, in spite of its difficulty, he obeyed with alacrity -and promptness. Before he had thoroughly mastered this language he -was sent to Hermosa, from which the governor, Don Juan de Alcaraso, -sent him on an embassy to the viceroy of Ucheo. The treachery of the -Chinese on the way has already been described; and an account has -been given of the events which occurred in China. In the year in which -the order sent him a companion (1633), he was taken sick, and died.] - - - - - -CHAPTER XLVIII - -The beginning of the conversion of the Mandayas, mountaineers of -Nueva Segovia - - -Although the conversions of the kingdoms of Japon and China turns -thither much [missionary] effort [61] in España, since these kingdoms -are so magnificent, and summons many noble spirits, that is not the -only conversion; nor ought the others to be despised where the Lord -more quietly (and perhaps in a humbler way) works marvelous effects -among the heathen who are converted--and also among the ministers, -who profit greatly by so noble a work. Many examples of this have -been written in this history, which are confirmed by the events of -this year among the Indians called Mandayas, who inhabit some remote -and craggy mountains in the province of Nueva Segovia. Though this -island of Luçon is the first which received the faith in these regions, -having done so at the time when the Spaniards invaded it, there are -still many regions in it where for lack of ministers the faith has not -been preached, and where the inhabitants have never heard more of the -gospel than if Christians had never come hither. This is true not only -of a village here and there, but of whole provinces, each inhabited -by its own race and each possessing its own language, though they -are all within this great island. Such were these Mandayas Indians, -the conversion of whom was begun in this year by father Fray Geronimo -de Zamora, a native of Zaragoça, a son of the most religious province -of Aragon--from whose report, and from that of two other fathers who -for some time accompanied him, the following facts are drawn. In the -provincial chapter of the year 1631 obedience sent this father as -superior to the villages of Fotol and Capinatan, which are in Nueva -Segovia near the aforesaid mountains. He had great joy in going there, -for he immediately entertained great hopes of the conversion of these -Mandaya tribes. They were as completely given over to their errors -as if there had never been a preacher of the faith in this country, -for they lived in mountains which were very rugged, although they -were near the villages above mentioned. When father Fray Geronimo -came thither and saw that these heathen sometimes came down for trade -with the villages, he began to show them kindness, and to give them -some trifles that they thought much of, until at last he secured -their good will. For the time he did not speak of anything else, for -they were not inclined to matters of the faith, much less to accept -ministers who would interfere with the vices in which they lived and -had been brought up. In this way a year passed, and at the beginning -of the next year, seeing that they were more kindly disposed to him, -it seemed to him that he could trust them; and he determined to go up -to their villages. He was confident that even though they would not -admit him as a teacher and preacher, they would receive him kindly as -their friend and benefactor, who was not coming to take or to ask for -what they possessed, but merely to provide them with a good which they -were without. That he might not make a mistake by following his own -opinion, he consulted first with the father vicar-provincial of that -region and some grave fathers of it; and after they had conferred, -and discussed the case, they resolved that father Fray Geronimo should -make the journey, while the others should pray to the Lord for a good -result. Hereupon he most courageously went up into the mountains, -about the end of January, taking with him some Indians whom he could -trust and who were of good intelligence--acquaintances and friends of -the Mandayas. It took him a day and a half of most laborious traveling -to reach their first village, for they had to row up stream against -the current, which is always strong and in some places terrible. The -river runs between high mountains on both sides and in the middle of -the stream there are great rocks, which make it very dangerous to go -up--and still more so to go down, because the rapid current carries -the boat against the rocks. They received him with great pleasure, -and lodged him in one of their best houses, though it was built of -thatch, after the custom of the country. Next to it the father had -a building erected where he could say mass; and he sent round to the -chiefs of the other villages to ask them to come to that one, and there -he waited for them. They did so readily, because of their good will -toward him; and, when they were all together, the father--standing in -the midst of them in an open place, like St. Paul in Athens--expounded -to them the mysteries of our faith, demolishing the delusions of their -errors and the teaching of the devil, the Father of Lies, and saying -much that was suitable for both purposes. To this they listened with -attention, although the doctrine was new to their ears. God enlightened -them within, and hence they did not answer as the Athenians did to -St. Paul--some making a jest of it, and others saying that they would -hear him another time as to this matter, while there were few that -believed; but here all said at once that they believed what they were -taught, and wished to receive this holy law, placing themselves in -his hands to be disposed of as he thought best. Great was the joy -which father Fray Geronimo felt at this answer, which was beyond -his hopes; and he gave many thanks to the Lord, seeing that it was -he who had accomplished the matter so well, so quickly, and with so -little effort, though it was a great matter. He also thanked them, -and confirmed them as much as he could in their good purpose; and -he asked them as a proof of the validity of the promise which they -had given him, to grant him, as sureties that they would not retract -it, their infant sons in baptism. Without hesitation ten of their -chiefs on the following day brought ten infants, their sons, whom -father Fray Geronimo immediately baptized, offering them to God as -the first-fruits of this new conversion. As a token that in the name -of Christ our Lord and of his most holy Mother he assumed possession -thereof, he said mass, and assigned to the village as their patron -the Virgin of the Pillar of Zaragoça. [62] It was surely a prudent -thought to fasten this tender church to this strong pillar, upon which -from of old that noble city has been supported, and has stood firm -without being overthrown by the storms that have assailed it since -its foundation, though it be as many years in age as the days of the -same Virgin in this mortal life; and it shall last to the end of the -world. Throughout that whole day the father spent his time in converse -with his new sons, encouraging them to go on with what they had so -happily begun; but he was obliged to leave them for the time, that -he might return to the villages under his care, for Lent was at hand -and it was necessary for him to listen to confessions. The ministers -are so few that their strength and power cannot reach as far as their -desire. The Indians were greatly grieved when they saw that they were -to be without a guide just as they were beginning a path which they -had never trod; but the father was more grieved at being obliged to -leave them. He promised to come back and live among them as soon as he -could; and they determined to go to his superior to beg for a minister -and a teacher to instruct them in the way of salvation. They carried -out their plan at such a fortunate time that they found the fathers -preparing to go to the provincial chapter, which was at hand. The -religious promised to help the Indians in their good purpose, and -did so, as will soon be seen. Father Fray Geronimo departed from -them with many tears on both sides--the Indians weeping from sorrow -at being left behind; the father partly from grief at leaving them, -and partly from joy at seeing his desires realized and his labors so -well begun, for this meant that the work was half done. The fathers -of the chapter complied with the promise that had been given, and -recounted to the definitors the good beginning of this conversion -which they had seen, and the great desire with which these heathen -Indians asked for ministers to teach and baptize them. The result was -that the definitors felt obliged to grant so just a petition, and to -give them as minister and preacher the same Fray Geronimo de Zamora, -who offered to dwell in those solitary mountains in order to carry -on what the Lord had begun through his ministry and diligence. That -he might be able to go, he was provided with two good companions--a -great number where the religious were so few, and where there was so -much calling upon them for their help. The convent and convents which -might be established there were accepted; and the patronage of the -Virgin of the Pillar was extended over all the Christian churches which -might be formed there. This last request was so just that it brought -its favorable answer with it; and, even if father Fray Geronimo had -not presented it, there was a definitor in that chapter who would have -made it, because he was likewise a native of the same city of Zaragoça, -and a son of the famous convent of preachers of that city. His name -was Fray Carlos Clemente Gant, [63] long an excellent minister of the -province of Nueva Segovia. It is well that the sons of that noble city -never cease, wherever they are, to see within their souls that great -sanctuary which the city enjoys and in the shade of which they were -bred. Though father Fray Geronimo was eager to carry out the orders of -the chapter, he was unable to do so until the beginning of September, -on account of the obstacles placed in his way by the devil, who saw -how much he was to lose by the expedition. He finally embarked to go -up the river with one of his companions, father Fray Luis de Oñate, -[64] who called himself here by the name of del Rosario; he was a -native of Sevilla, and a son of the convent of Portaceli in the same -city, a religious of much virtue though of few years, and therefore -very well suited to such enterprises. All of his qualifications were -necessary, because in the midst of that voyage, at one most dangerous -passage, full of great rocks, where the waves are high and the current -is stronger, they were unable for three days to make a yard of headway -by the greatest efforts that they could put forth, such was the force -of the current--or of the devil, who, being unable to do more, strove -in this way to interfere with the fathers on their journey. At last -by patience and perseverance, which conquer everything, they reached -the end of their difficulty. They arrived in the first village of -the Mandayas on September 7, the eve of the Nativity of our Lady--a -feast which, among the other feasts of the Virgin, is celebrated in -Zaragoça with the greatest solemnity by the chapter and the clergy of -the holy church of the Pillar. The Indians received them with great -demonstrations of joy, after their fashion; and with much greater joy, -though a spiritual one, the fathers celebrated on the following day -the birth of the Virgin--for it seemed to them wonderfully appropriate -to begin the foundation of this conversion on this day--the Virgin -herself adopting it, so that, as if it were her own, she might look -upon it with the eyes of a mother, and of one so tender. The material -(that is, the minds of the listeners) being so well disposed, it was an -easy thing for the word of God to kindle in it; for it is like fire, -as St. Jerome says in his comment upon the prophet Abdias [i.e., -Obadiah], which consumes the straw and purifies the grain for the -Lord. Hence the first thing which father Fray Geronimo did, because -of his deep spiritual insight and his great experience as a minister, -was to get at them under the straw of their vices and superstitions, -and to place before them immediately the pure grain and clean seed of -the faith. He began, as St. Paul did, in the eleventh chapter of the -Epistle to the Hebrews, with the knowledge of and belief in one sole -God, the great reward which He has prepared for those who serve Him, -and the dreadful punishment with which He chastises the unbelief of -the heathen and the sins of those who offend Him. With such force did -he explain the greatness of the reward of glory, and the horrors of -eternal punishment decreed for the heathen, that all those who heard -desired to be baptized immediately. But as this was not possible -for the adults, who must first be instructed in the matters of our -holy faith, and relieved and unburdened from their previous sins -and superstitions, they immediately offered their infant children, -who might receive holy baptism without these preparations. Within -a few days were baptized some three hundred and more, who learned -the whole of the Christian doctrine with strange quickness, a clear -indication of the great willingness with which they were converted to -their Creator. On the first Sunday in October, which came very soon, -an Indian chief and his wife were baptized; and four days later his -brother, a youth. It was attributed to the particular favor of the -Virgin of the Rosary, whose festival is celebrated on that Sunday, -that so barbarous a race, without knowing how to read or write, -and bred in those mountains without commerce or communication even -with other Indians, should so quickly learn so many prayers. This -is still more wonderful because they were not taught them in their -own language, which is a savage one, but in that of more highly -civilized Indians, which is quite different from theirs. Although -they usually all understand this latter, they never speak it among -themselves, which increased the difficulty of this matter, and the -grace shown by enabling them to conquer it in so short a time. The -religious went on to two other villages higher up, and were received -by the Indians with the same welcome and signs of rejoicing as in -the first village. These Indians listened as readily to the teaching -of the faith as the others. Here was founded a tiny church under the -advocacy of St. Antoninus--for when lots were cast for this glorious -saint, St. Jerome, and St. Francis, that of our holy archbishop came -out; and, mass being said in his honor, the church was dedicated -to him. Then followed the baptism of many children, whose fathers -readily brought them for the purpose--and indeed desired to be the -companions of their children in baptism, but were obliged to wait -until they could be prepared. The religious could not remain here, -and wait until they had prepared them, because they were called back -by their obligations to minister to those who were already Christians -in the older villages of their district, to whom a single religious -could not attend sufficiently. As only one had been left behind, the -fathers were obliged to leave them after making so good a beginning, -promising to return afterward and to perfect them in Christianity, -after fulfilling these duties. It may perhaps seem to some a cause -for offense when they shall read that these fathers left this growing -grain in the blade, without protection or anyone to care for it, when -there was danger that the enemy might come and sow tares in the field; -but if the reader will consider how few ministers the province had, -and how much they had to attend to, he cannot fail to see that they -did not only what they could, but many times more--God giving them -courage for that to which their natural strength, as it seemed, could -not attain. Yet, even so, they were sometimes compelled guiltlessly -to fail in that to which charity would have obliged them if they had -been able to do it. - -[When the fathers informed the Mandayas of their intention, the -Indians were so much grieved that the chiefs and the council resolved -to keep the fathers by force if they would not remain with them -willingly. Father Fray Geronimo called their attention to the fact -that, as a good father, he must attend to all his sons alike. They -replied that it would be enough for one to return, and the companion -of father Fray Geronimo was accordingly left behind. He was but new -in the ministry, and was now to be left alone in the midst of these -mountains to cope with the difficulties of a new conversion. Father -Fray Geronimo separated from him and the Indians with little less -grief and tears, on both sides, than when St. Paul departed from the -inhabitants of Ephesus. Father Fray Luis, the minister who remained -behind, determined to guide himself by the instructions and the -example of father Fray Geronimo. From father Fray Luis is obtained the -report which follows. As it deals with matters in which he was himself -concerned, it was very short, and he was greatly opposed to publishing -it; but the truth of history requires us not to pass over the glory of -his works. He was not to baptize any adults, however well instructed, -until father Fray Geronimo returned, for fear of meeting with the -impediments which are so frequent in such cases--irregularities in -marriage, or the guilt of unjust enslavements and of wrongs done by the -more powerful to the weaker, or any of a thousand other impediments -which only those who are skilful and experienced in the ministry of -new conversions can detect and settle. Father Fray Luis continued to -exercise his office, and found in the Indians a wonderful hunger and -thirst for the matters of the faith, and great readiness in learning -it. Some Christians who were older in the faith, who had accompanied -the fathers, were astonished. One of these was Don Francisco Tuliao, at -present master-of-camp for the Indians of the whole province of Nueva -Segovia; he had accompanied the religious, and his influence was of -great importance in achieving the conversion of these people. When he -saw the fervor of the Mandayas, and the ease with which they learned -Christianity, though they were regarded even by the other Indians as -rude and barbarous, he declared that the hand of God could be seen -in this work. The Lord took to himself the tithe of the first ten -baptized children; but the Indians who in their heathen days had been -accustomed to spend a week in weeping and mourning their dead children, -with a thousand superstitions and extravagances, before burying them, -now accepted readily from the hand of the Lord the death of baptized -children who departed in their innocence; and, without a sign of -grief, they themselves took the little bodies of their children to -be buried in the church. In the case of adults also, some of them -showed marvelous devotion and were baptized on their deathbeds. Even -those who were not baptized believed, and helped the baptized to die -blessedly. Many signs of true conversion were shown by these Indians; -the Virgin showed special grace to some of the converts, in particular -assisting one poor woman of small intelligence to learn the prayers, -with which she had great difficulty; and miracles were wrought in -order that those predestined by God might not die unbaptized. By the -twelfth of January of the following year more than five hundred of -this tribe had been baptized; and though it would seem that such a -number would have justified the permanent residence of a minister -among them, father Fray Luis was obliged to leave the Mandayas, to -go to aid in hearing the confessions of those in the lower villages, -where there were only six confessors for more than eight thousand -penitents. He departed from them with grief, and left behind for -their instruction some Indians qualified for the purpose, among them -the master-of-camp Don Francisco Tuliao (who was an Indian). He had -accompanied the religious in their good work, being also directed -by the civil authorities to lead in a war for the reduction of -some Indians near the Mandayas, in villages called Ysson.] They had -risen; and, being favored by their location in the midst of rugged -mountains, had refused the obedience and the tributes which they -had been accustomed to pay to their encomenderos. This difficulty -was happily settled by Don Francisco, as a result of his prudence and -authority. The truth is that the thing was already practically settled, -father Fray Geronimo de Zamora having arranged it when he came up for -the first time to the Mandayas. At this time he summoned the chiefs of -the villages of Ysson along with the rest; and the arguments of this -father had such an influence upon them that they immediately yielded -to them and put themselves in his hands. As a token of their fidelity -they cut off their hair, which is much cherished by these heathen; -and this was as much as to say that they renounced their ancient -customs and the laws of their ancestors, and that they desired to -embrace the law of God, whose servants did not wear their hair long, -as did all the heathen. Would that there had been ministers and -preachers to give them; for they would have been able to enter this -region immediately, and to go among the heathen villages, baptizing -the Indians as if they had never served the devil. It is a pity that -many of them should be still completely given up to their errors, -for lack of someone to declare the truth to them. As soon as father -Fray Geronimo and his companion were able to leave the confessions -and the communion of the elder Christians, they returned to the aid of -these new ones who so greatly required their presence. It did not seem -that their absence had caused any great evils, for they found them well -taught and prepared for baptism. Accordingly, a few days afterward, -on one of the feasts of the Virgin, namely, the Purification, they -were able to baptize eighty-three persons who had come to years -of discretion, belonging to the leading families in that country; -and in two days more, forty others, elderly men. They took as great -pains as they could to keep these solemn baptisms for festivals of -our Lady, in recognition of her patronage, and with the purpose that -after their spiritual birth these tribes might remain very devoted to -her and continue under her protection. Music to make these baptisms -joyful there was not in these villages, because they were so new; -but there was no lack of music in heaven, for if the conversion of -one sinner causes rejoicing there, the conversion of so many heathen -could not fail to cause great joy indeed. - -In the following April, father Fray Geronimo de Zamora reported -that the conversion of the Mandayas was advancing; and that their -Christian character was, by the grace of our Lady of the Pillar, -becoming better and better established. These Mandayas Indians were -little esteemed in the province of Nueva Segovia, being regarded as -fickle and inconstant, and of small capacity--so that some venerable -and prudent ministers thought it was not wise to extend Christianity -so rapidly among them. But the proofs which they gave of being aided -by heaven relieved their ministers of these fears, and caused them to -baptize them without delay. They learn the faith rapidly, readily give -up their old superstitions, and are much devoted to prayer. Before -baptism they paid their debts, gave liberty to their slaves who were -unjustly held, and did many other things that are very hard. They -have given up killing and wronging their neighbors, and are now -so friendly and peaceful that they visit and entertain each other -without suspicion--even in the case of persons, who a short time ago, -were hunting each other with the purpose of committing murder. Under -all these circumstances, was there any reason for prohibiting their -baptism? - - - - - -CHAPTER XLIX - -The beginning of the account of the glorious martyrdom of four -illustrious martyrs--fathers Fray Jordan de Sant Estevan, Fray Thomas -de San Jacintho, and two religious of our tertiary order in Japon. - - -[Father Fray Thomas de Sant Jacintho was a native of Firando in -Japon, and was the son of Christian parents. He learned Latin and -began ecclesiastical studies, and even commenced to preach, under -the direction of the fathers of the Society. The breaking-out of the -persecution obliged him to go to Manila to carry out his studies; -so that he pursued the study of theology under the religious of -St. Dominic in that city, where he assumed the habit. He showed great -keenness of mind, and advanced far in learning. He was a companion of -father Fray Jacobo de Sancta Maria, whose glorious martyrdom has been -described. The native pride and hauntiness of the Japanese are very -much opposed to the religious state, but father Fray Thomas in his -novitiate and throughout his life exhibited the greatest humility. He -spoke Spanish like a native, and took delight in fulfilling the duties -and performing the offices of a friar. He made his profession August -16, 1635, being thirty-five years of age, and continued to carry on -the study of theology afterward. Under these circumstances he was -selected by the father provincial, Fray Bartholome Martinez, as one -of those to go to the island of Hermosa. On the way, the expedition -was detained for some months in the province of Nueva Segovia, the -climate of which is well known to be most adverse for the Japanese, -who generally fall sick and die there. This had happened only a -short time before to two priests, companions of his and devout -religious. Father Fray Thomas, however, said nothing of his fears, -and the Lord preserved him for the acceptable sacrifice which he was -to make in Japon. There was great difficulty in sending religious -to Japon; out father Fray Thomas went, disguised in Japanese dress, -to the island of the Lequios, which is subject to the Japanese. Here -by the death of his companion he was left alone, with ornaments and -money, and with the direction to go to Japon at the first opportunity -and to present himself to his superior, at that time the holy martyr -Fray Domingo de Erquicia. In the letter which father Fray Thomas -wrote back, he briefly mentions being in the island of the Lequios, -making no allusion to the great sufferings which he must have passed -through on this journey. He reached Japon in the year 1630, remaining -there to the end of the year 1634, four years in all. He was a great -help and comfort to the afflicted Christians. The authorities sought -after him with great diligence, offering large rewards for his capture, -and displaying the greatest severity against those who harbored the -ministers of the faith.] - - - - - -CHAPTER L - -The coming of the venerable father Fray Jordan de San Estevan to this -province, and his entry into Japon. - - -[Father Fray Jordan de San Estevan was a Sicilian, who had assumed -the habit of our order in his native country. Hearing of the crowns -of martyrdom which had been attained in Japon, he went to España, -hoping that he might make his way thence to this province and have -the opportunity of offering his life for Christ. He carried on his -studies in the convent of our order in the city of Truxillo, and -was a religious of the utmost devotion, abstinence, and spiritual -elevation. Submitting his purposes to persons of learning and virtue, -he received their approval, and set out for these islands. He formed -a most intimate friendship with father Fray Jacintho de Esquivel, -or del Rosario, who afterward was a holy martyr. To pass his time -when in Mexico--for he was a great enemy of idleness--he wrote an -elegant Latin summary of the lives of the saints of our order. When -he reached these islands he postponed to his obedience his eagerness -to go to Japon; and was assigned to minister to the Chinese, whose -language and letters he learned, being acquainted with many thousand -characters. The Lord had given him a great gift of languages; for in -addition to his native language he knew Latin, Greek, Spanish, Chinese, -that of the Indians of Nueva Segovia, and finally the Japanese. He -generally lived in the hospitals of the Chinese, obeying the whims -of the sick Chinese with the greatest charity and kindness. At last -he received permission to go to Japon, passing for a Chinese. In -1632 he set sail, reaching Japon in the following year. He met with -many dangers and wandered about through the mountains. As a result -of exposure he was afflicted by a severe illness, but was cured by -the grace of God.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LI - -The capture and martyrdom of the fathers Fray Jordan de San Estevan, -and Fray Thomas de San Jacintho. - - -[The persecutors at this time were seeking with extraordinary -diligence for an Augustinian father named Miguel, a Japanese by -nation. The inquisition brought the officers of the law to the house -where fathers Fray Jordan and Fray Thomas were lodging; and though, -being informed of its approach, they fled, they were caught on the -day of our father St. Dominic, August 4, 1634. When examined in court -they answered briefly and boldly, and with Christian liberty showed -no reverence to their unjust judges, denying the accusation of being -spies of España. After a severe imprisonment and being ignominiously -treated by the judges, before whom they were called several times, -they suffered from the dreadful torture of water, which was poured -down their throats until they swelled out like bags. They were then -laid on the ground and a plank placed upon them, with two men on it, -who trod on the plank and thus forced the water out of their mouths, -ears, nostrils, eyes and other parts, with such torture as may be -imagined. Afterward they again filled them with water, and forced it -out again. They were subject to other tortures of the most horrible -nature. November 11, 1634, sixty-nine persons, men and women, -were taken out of prison to suffer for Christ, some by burning, -some by beheading, and our glorious martyrs by being suspended head -downward. As they passed through the streets, the Christians showed -them secret signs of respect. The martyrs who declared their faith -were brought to a place of execution. Father Fray Jordan lingered for -seven days, and father Fray Thomas somewhat less. During his lifetime -father Fray Jordan had received marked signs of the divine favor, -having power to reveal their secrets to guilty hearts, and receiving -other special revelations.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LII - -The glorious martyrdoms of the illustrious Marina and Magdalena, -religious of the tertiary order - - -[The Christian Japanese who had been well prepared in the faith yielded -many confessors; and the religious decided to admit into religious -orders some of these of the most advanced virtue. Among these was a -certain Sister Marina, admitted by father Fray Luis Exarch--a most -holy woman. She was arrested and charged with being a Christian, and -with protecting the religious. They revived in her case a torture which -had long been given up as barbarous, exposing her naked to the public -view and then subjecting her to other tortures by dragging her about -from town to town, and causing her to suffer from thirst. Her valor -and courage caused even the heathen to respect her. She was condemned -to be burned by a slow fire, and her ashes were cast into the sea. - -Sister Magdalena was the child of two martyrs; she departed to the -desert, and gave herself up to devotion. She received the habit -from father Fray Jordan, and, though the officers were not seeking -for her, she came before them and confessed Christianity, forcing -them to imprison her. After subjecting her to frightful tortures, -the tyrant judge finally grew weary and sentenced her to death, -directing her to be hanged by her feet. She lived in this torture, -without food or drink, for thirteen days and a half.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIII - -The condition of the Christian Church lately established by our -religious in Great China - - -[Though the religious of our order who had recently entered Great -China had not enjoyed entire freedom from disturbance, they had met -with no such opposition as they had expected. They baptized many -who became devout Christians. The Christians converted in China are -better Christians than those converted in these islands, being of -higher rank and greater intelligence. They live a life of devotion, -and do much penance. They often ask acute questions, which cause the -minister difficulty in answering; and they are very constant in times -of persecution. Up to this year 1634 our province has had in China -only two priests; while the Order of St. Francis has sent two others, -who have at our request labored in company with the members of our -order. Our religious have gone to cities which do not belong to any -other order, in order to avoid collisions. The Chinese women are kept -in such seclusion that their conversion has been very difficult, -though their husbands sometimes bring them; and the Lord has in -some remarkable cases shown special favor to the preaching of his -gospel by the members of our order. The Lord also works miracles -by the hands of His preachers, showing that He is the true God, -and that the idols are vanity. In especial, He has cast out devils -by His ministers. At times the Chinese heathen have risen against -the Christians, and have spread false tales about them. Three such -uprisings are described, the church being torn down in one of them, -some Christians being maltreated, and a few being slain. The judge -punished the rioters, but directed the religious to leave the city. The -women are devoted Christians. Father Fray Juan Baptista de Morales [65] -and father Fray Francisco Diaz [66] were both exposed to the danger -of death at the hands of the Chinese rioters, and a number of weak -Christians fell away; but even under these circumstances the presence -of the missionaries achieved much. The Chinese are great idolaters, -especially the women, for they believe that after death they shall -come to life again in new form, even men taking the form of brute -animals, and good women becoming men--which is something which they -regard highly, because of the subjection and inferiority of women in -China. The Chinese in the region where the fathers were at work were -given to horrible vices and to excessive and superfluous courtesy. The -converted Chinese departed from their vices, and did much penance.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIV - -The discovery by the religious of many superstitions concealed by -some new Christians - - -[The greatest of the griefs of the Christian ministers in China -was the discovery of a number of superstitions concealed by their -converts. Many of these had to do with matters which were requisite for -them to retain their honor and their positions in the state. They were -obliged to offer the adoration yielded by everyone in this kingdom -to their deceased ancestors and to worship a certain great teacher -of theirs, Congchu [67] by name, who has left for them admirable -laws full of excellent moral teachings and political virtues, and -defective only from the lack of the divine illumination. The superiors -of the religious orders went secretly to behold the mode in which -the ancestors were worshiped, of which a full description is given in -the text. The magistrates are required to render special worship to -an idol named Chinhuan, the Christian magistrates, in order to hold -their office, being obliged to perform sacrifices to this idol. Among -the flowers they conceal a small cross, thus thinking that they may -be able to satisfy their consciences and to keep their offices. All -the Chinese scholars are obliged to sacrifice to Conchu. This worship -is required of the mandarins and all public officers. Our religious -informed the Christian Chinese that the mere exterior performance -of these rites was a mortal sin, incapacitating them to receive the -sacrament. It is affirmed by the Chinese that the fathers of the -Society of Jesus permitted them to render this sacrifice, but this -is not the case. The religious, by opposing these superstitions, met -with many difficulties. At this time books were printed in Chinese -against our faith, and the superiors of the two orders went to visit -the author of the books, who, angry at the correction of the fathers, -declared that they had attempted to kill him. Worse books were issued, -one of them by a magistrate. The fathers openly opposed what was said, -and were in danger of death, but were delivered by the hand of God.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LV - -The life of father Fray Luis Muro, and his martyrdom at the hands of -heathen Indians in the island of Hermosa. - - -[To the judgment of flesh and blood it would not seem that the success -of our order in the island of Hermosa was worthy of our efforts. We -have sent there some of our best religious; and they have converted -very few of the Indians, in proportion to the number of noble religious -who have been lost there. Yet to him who will judge aright, and who -understands the worth of the soul, it will not seem much to have spent -the blood of martyrs and the sufferings of holy religious for the sake -of those souls which have passed from this island to heaven. Among the -martyrs on the island a high place is taken by father Fray Luis Muro, -who died gloriously at this time by the hands of these Indians. He -assumed the habit of the order in the famous convent of San Pablo at -Valladolid, where he professed. Feeling the great need of preachers -of the gospel in this province, he left all that he had to come to -these islands (in 1626). He was desirous to go to Japan, but the Lord, -not granting him that, permitted him to attain martyrdom in another -way. He was a most devoted and successful minister in Bataan, whence he -was sent to the island of Hermosa. Here he strove to bring back to the -church those who had martyred father Fray Francisco de Sancto Domingo, -and he obtained their pardon and safe-conduct. At this time there was -a great lack of provisions in the chief town of the island, because -of the failure of the ship sent with provisions from Manila. Troops -were sent out with money and cloths (which the Indians prefer) to -buy provisions justly, and without inflicting wrong. Father Fray Luis -accompanied the troops, to restrain them from harming the Indians, and -especially from driving back those whom he was striving to regain for -the church. God was pleased that six Chinese vessels laden with rice -should arrive at the time, thus relieving their needs. A small guard, -with whom father Fray Luis remained, was put in charge of the rice, -the rest of the company returning with as much as could be taken at -one time to the chief camp. Father Fray Luis went out to make an -attempt to reconcile some other Indians who had risen against the -Spaniards. The Indians, seeing the Spaniards very few in number, -conspired to attack them. A detachment of troops were attacked in -an ambush, and one of the first who was shot by an arrow was father -Fray Luis. The Indians cut off his head, his feet, and his hands, -and washed them with his own blood. Miracles were wrought upon the -holy body, and the provincial chapter gave special attention to his -happy death and his excellent life.] - -This was the last life written in this history by the venerable lord -bishop Don Fray Diego Aduarte. He was taken away by death at the -conclusion of it, that it might not be printed without the life of its -author, and that his memory might be eternal--not only as a result of -the labor which he spent upon it, but also of the many labors which -he undertook for the Lord and the good of souls, so greatly to the -honor of this province. Some of these have been recounted in the -course of this his book; but many have remained in silence because -they took place in España where he dwelt many years, filling with -great distinction the post of procurator general of this province. Of -what we have seen and known here, something will now be said, a great -tribulation which came upon this province at this time, and which was -in no small degree contributory to his death, being first dealt with. - - - - - -CHAPTER LVI - -A new congregation of religious which was proposed in these islands -at this time - - -In the ships which reached these islands in this year 1635 there came -twenty religious, sent by his Majesty at the request of the procurator -then at the court, father Fray Matheo de la Villa. [68] This father had -for many years filled that office with great excellence, because of the -great love which he always had for the province--in which he had been -many years a devoted minister of the gospel, prior of the principal -convent in this city, and definitor in its provincial chapters. This -was the only office which the province could give him, though it was -far below his deserts. His merits attracted so much attention in the -court that, without his having any idea of it, as the event showed, -his Majesty nominated him as bishop of Nueva Segovia. The humble -father never accepted the appointment, although strongly urged to do -so; and thus his virtue was better known, and received the higher -glory. When these religious were about to come to this province it -seemed, to one who had been in it and who was then resident at court, -[69] that this was a good opportunity to put into execution a certain -purpose which he had; and he so disposed matters that father Fray -Matheo de Villa accepted this religious as vicar of the shipload of -twenty ministers sent by his Majesty to the province. This religious -seemed to father Fray Matheo to be a person who would fill the office -excellently, as he had been in these regions. He did not imagine that -in the fair words which he heard was concealed the deceit which he -afterwards learned. The fact was that this religious, perhaps with -a good intention, had for many years striven to divide this little -province, by dismembering from it Japon, China, and the other heathen -kingdoms in which it had new conversions, not considering that these -could not be kept in existence apart from the conversion which the -province maintains here. He had discussed this matter with our late -general, the most reverend father Fray Seraphino Sicco, of Pavia--who -having governed the whole order with much prudence for many years, -thoroughly knew and understood what would be for its advantage; and -who therefore immediately perceived how destructive to the province -and how harmful to the order this division would be, and imposed -perpetual silence upon him with regard to the matter. For other reasons -added to this, he took from him his authority as procurator of this -province and commanded him to have no more to do with matters of the -Indias. Because of this mandate, and for other reasons concurrent -with it, the royal Council of the Indias commanded him not to go to -them. On these accounts he gave over his purpose for the time being, -until the election of a new general of our order, to whom he went. As -he was new in the government and very zealous for the conversion of -the heathen, the religious was able, by making great offers in that -regard, to persuade the father-general to make the aforesaid division; -and to take from the province the said conversions, and to give them -to a new congregation of fathers established for the purpose. The -said father was appointed vicar-general of this congregation, and -for its beginning and support it received all the houses belonging to -this province for which the new vicar proffered his request. These, -excluding the convent of the city of Manila, were the best in the -province. All this was done because of the contention that this -province, being much occupied with the conversions of Indians which -it has undertaken in these Philippinas Islands, could not attend -to the conversions of the said heathen regions. On a bosom so pious -and so desirous for the good of souls as that of the most reverend -general of the order, this made so great an impression that without -knowing anything of the province, not even the procurator that it -had in España, he granted everything that was asked. The suitor knew -very well that this division could not be made without the consent -of our lord the king as patron (in which relation he stands to all -the religious orders in the Indias); so he tried all expedients at -court to obtain this assent, but was not successful in any of his -efforts. The prudent counselors of his Majesty, with whom in particular -he discussed the matter, declared that the royal Council would by no -means consent to so great an innovation without first being informed by -the prominent personages of this region with regard to the advantage -or disadvantage of the plan proposed. This caused him to despair of -attaining any of his desires by this road; for he had no hope that -any person acquainted with the facts would declare in favor of his -purposes, because of their thorough impracticability. He therefore -determined to obtain by artifice what he could not obtain by reason -or justice. An opportunity being afterwards offered for religious to -come to this province, he strove to go as their superior, carefully -hiding his purpose from the procurator of this province. Then, just as -they were about to embark from Sevilla, he sent to the court notice of -a mandate and act of excommunication from our most reverend general, -commanding that this new congregation should not be interfered with on -any pretext or cause. This was done at a time when it was impossible to -put any obstacles in his way, because he would already have embarked -beforehand. After leaving Sevilla, and even before going there, -he already had on his side some of the religious, to whom he had -declared his purpose. While at sea he revealed his plan to all, thus -endeavoring to draw them into agreement with him. He placed before them -the opportunity of being taken directly to Japon and to Great China, -a most efficacious bait for the fervor with which the new religious -set out from España to the conversions of those regions. At the same -time he strove to disgust them with the ministries to the Indians, -declaring that the province had now no other ministries, and that he -was the only one who could now send them to those kingdoms and to the -conversion of those heathen regions. In this way he alienated them -from the province, to which it was his duty to take them; for it was -for that province that our lord the king had given them and paid their -expenses, and to which our most reverend general had granted them. He -reached the province, and presented only the letters-patent dividing -the province and establishing the congregation, which were couched -in very strong terms. The provincial, who had already been advised -of the whole matter and of what he ought to reply, listened to them -and made the following response. He was ready to obey the letters and -the mandate of the most reverend general, as his higher officer and -lawful superior, when and in the manner in which his Reverence desired -that they should be obeyed and put into execution. This was by asking -and first obtaining the consent of our lord the king, as patron of -all the orders in all the Indias. Without this consent the division -proposed could not be made, and new provinces and congregations could -not be established; and our most reverend general would not desire to -contravene the right and patronage of the king, because that would be -contrary to justice. The father replied that this matter was now being -attended to, and desired the provincial to show immediate obedience to -these letters by transferring to him the contents of the province which -by the letters were assigned to the congregation. This obedience could -not be shown, and therefore his claim was without effect. As nothing -more could be done, the business remained in this condition for about -nine months, during which this father, taking advantage of a certain -opportunity, very inconsistently with his function of propagating the -faith, asked and obtained a force of soldiers, with which he violently -seized by force the houses of this province which he claimed, contrary -to the royal patronage and the will of the most reverend father. When -the general gave those letters with such authority as he had a right to -claim, he desired first that the consent due by justice should first -be asked of the patron, whom he in no wise intended to wrong. In -addition, there were many other reasons making everything done in -virtue of these letters unjust. They were notoriously surreptitious, -and obtained by false information. It was manifest that the province, -although it attended to the ministry to the Indians of this country, -was not forgetful of the ministry to Japon and China. On the contrary, -it gave so much attention to them that it was constantly suffering -from suits and vexations because the governor, the Audiencia, and the -city, and sometimes even the ecclesiastics, declared that the province -went to excess in that direction. It not only sent preachers of its -own order to those realms, but encouraged and stirred up the other -orders to do the same thing, without shrinking from the excessive -expenses necessary for the purpose. To this end it never imagined -itself poor, though it was so poor that it had not and has not any -income more than what the Lord sends it in alms. Hence the pretext -for establishing the new congregation was manifestly false; and the -letters were so clearly surreptitious that, in order to prove that -they were so, no other evidence was necessary than the evidence of the -governor himself, of the royal Audiencia, and of the councils which -were often held against the province on account of this. Under these -circumstances, our most reverend general did not desire to have his -letters put into execution until he had received information, as is -expressly laid down (even with reference to the commands of the supreme -pontiff) in the law, chap. Siquando, de rescriptis, and chap. Super -litteris, eodem. Much more is this true if most grave inconveniences -would result (as they would) to the conversions of those realms, -which inconveniences our most reverend father by no means desired -to bring about. It was his will that the execution of his letters -should be suspended, as they were suspended, until information was -sent to him with regard to the facts; and it was his will that his -determination as superior should be awaited with humility. Further, -in conformity with our constitution (distinction 2, chap. 1), no -religious house may pass from one province to another unless the -transference be approved in three chapters-general; and hence this -great number of houses and of conversions was not to be immediately -transferred at the first direction to that effect, without further -approbation--especially since the evils which would have followed -from this change were so many, so grievous, and so certain, as they -were instantly proved to be by experience. It is true that the most -reverend general said in his letters that he proceeded in this matter -with the authority of the supreme pontiff, or of the Congregation de -Propaganda Fide; and this would be enough for his letters to receive -entire authority if they were against particular persons, and did not -include spiritual harms and evils to the aforesaid conversions. But as -they were the destruction of this province, and would have produced -the most grievous mischief in the conversions, the most reverend -general did not desire that his letters should be executed until he -had been advised. There was no obligation to do this, the commission -not coming as is expressly said that it should come in the chapter -Cum in iure, de officio et potentia iudicis delegati. This is the -common judgment of doctors, from which may be seen how unreasonable -it was to take violent possession of the aforesaid houses. This and -other disturbances which followed caused great grief throughout this -colony, for it was regretted that by information designed to effect -an evil purpose, and in an improper manner, a province should have -been so disquieted which had continued from its foundation in the -greatest harmony, without any disturbances. The archbishop of Manila -and three bishops in this country, the religious orders, and the city, -all wrote to the most reverend general, testifying as eyewitnesses -that the information given to him was not in conformity with that -which was actually known to occur in point of fact. On the contrary, -it was declared that the province had always shown great care and -watchfulness in sending preachers to Japon, Great China, Camboja, the -island of Hermosa, and other heathen realms near these islands; while -the congregation which it was intended to establish not only could -not surpass it in this matter, but could not even achieve as much, -as is shown by the many martyrdoms which the province has experienced -in these conversions. This will always be plain, for by the grace of -God they have not ceased nor are they ceasing, as we shall see even in -these very years. The one who suffered most from the disquiet caused -by the new congregation was the bishop of Nueva Segovia, Don Fray Diego -Aduarte; for he was one who had most complete knowledge of the province -of which he had written the history, and he understood him who now -disquieted it, for he had had acquaintance and dealings with him for -many years, and that intimately. He accordingly came directly from his -bishopric, the capital of which is distant from this city of Manila -a hundred and fifty leguas, and strove with all his might that the -evil done should be undone. Though at the time he could not succeed, -it is to be believed that he brought it about afterward, when he went -to be with the Lord. For, returning in deep sadness to his bishopric, -he came to his death before many days; and after this there were not -many months before the matter was cleared up, and affairs were set -upon their ancient basis, by the return to the province of the houses -which had been taken from it. This was notably to its honor and caused -the most universal rejoicing through the country that had been seen in -many years. The people in the villages where missions were established -which had been taken from the province and given to the congregation, -were particularly delighted, and held public festivals for many days, -when, after having experienced the method in which the congregation -carried on its work, they saw the convents and the ministries returned -to the religious of the province--whose manner of conducting their -affairs was so much better, that it had caused great grief to -the Chinese and the Indians to be deprived of such teachers and -ministers. Therefore, when the religious returned, those people -displayed their delight by costly public rejoicings, carried on for -many days. - -When the evil befell the province--which was on the fourth of May, the -first Sunday in the month, and the day of our great saint Catharine -of Siena in the year 1636--all the religious of the province went to -beg the favor of their patroness, the Virgin of the Rosary; and in -all the houses of the order her holy litany was recited every night, -in unison, with this purpose. This means was so efficacious that, -contrary to every human hope, matters were settled and arranged as if -by the hands of this great lady; and without any effort on the part -of the province so many things were cleared up, and put together in -its favor that finally, by the aid of one who was not expected to -give aid, the truth was victorious; and the houses returned to their -ancient and legitimate possessors, and the province to its longed-for -quiet, September 6, 1637, after having remained in the power of the -congregation one year and four months. The religious being grateful -for this restitution to the Virgin, from whose generous hands they -had received so great a gift, rendered public thanks to her in all -the convents. In the convent of Manila a feast of an octave was most -solemnly celebrated, this lady being drawn in procession with great -majesty, like a triumphant conqueror. As such she remained all those -days in the midst of the main chapel, with the richest adornments and -the finest of decoration. In this we were aided by those outside of -the order to give to this lady our highest thanks, recognizing her -supreme grace, which could have been granted by none but her powerful -hand. The duty of writing with all care to the most reverend general -was not neglected now, as it had not been neglected before; and a -full account and report were sent to him showing how experience -had manifested that the information in virtue of which the new -congregation had been obtained was impossible. After the congregation -had been placed in possession, and was under the obligation of going -to the aid of Japon and China and other kingdoms, it did not do so; -and there was no hope that it would do so, nor even that it would -so much as have religious to maintain the houses which it had taken -from the province. It was not to be expected that his Majesty would -send them from España, and there was no other way or manner in which -they could come. The vain expectation of giving many habits here was -immediately disappointed, for even if they desired to give these, -there was no one to whom they could be given, nor was there anyone -suitable for the purpose. This would have been much more true if, -as had been said to the most reverend general, the habit was to be -given to Indians. This was something unworthy of thought; but it was -actually stated in the very patent, because information to that effect -had been given to the most reverend general, though it is contrary to -the judgment of all those of ability who have been in the Indias, and -contrary to the demonstration of experience ever since there have been -religious orders in these regions. As soon as it saw itself possessed -of the houses, it saw also the great difficulty or impossibility of -this project; and even to maintain them it found itself obliged to -disquiet the religious of the province by persuading them to enter the -congregation. Some were even received, contrary to the express mandate -of our most reverend general laid down in this patent itself. It is -plain from this that these proceedings must have been the cause of -great annoyance and of many difficulties, for there was nothing but -lawsuits with the province, and disturbances, which left no time to -pay attention to the greater fruit of the conversions of the heathen -which had been promised. On the contrary, it interfered with them, -as the Lord, who was offended with these acts revealed, however -secret the interference was kept. There must be added to all this -that the congregation, from its very beginning, began to relax and -to give up the supports which the prudent and holy founders of the -province set up in holy manner for the maintenance of the evangelical -ministry which it exercised. These are prayers, the disciplines, the -rigorous abstinence, and the like, commanded by the constitution and -ordained in the same law. The congregation did not accept them; and on -this account, and because of the results which followed, it could not -continue, and was brought to an end, the Lord not permitting that to -go further which set out with so bad a beginning. Even before seeing -these evil results by experience, nearly all the religious brought -by this father from España foresaw them; and, leaving him, they were -nearly all incorporated with the province. Generally speaking, the -more religious and intelligent of them did not desire to go to the -congregation; for they judged with much prudence that a thing which -was so ill founded could not have a good end, as it did not. Some of -these have obtained the reward of this wise decision, for they have -been sent to the province of Japon, and became most glorious martyrs, -as we shall soon tell. One of those who were appointed for this most -holy and happy mission lost and abandoned it by abandoning the province -and joining the congregation. As a penalty for this act, he lost the -crown of martyrdom, which his companions gained by remaining in the -province. Thus the Lord manifested the truth of what we said when -we declared that the province was more careful and even more able to -attend to these missions than was the congregation which was formed -for them. At the very time when the province sent out this mission, -the congregation regarded it as impossible, and even strove to impede -it, as has been said. - - - - - -CHAPTER LVII - -The life and death of the venerable bishop Don Fray Diego Aduarte, -a religious of this province - - -For those who knew the great virtues of the most religious father and -most perfect bishop Don Fray Diego Aduarte, this history must certainly -fall under the condemnation of being incomplete, not only because -it passes over in silence the great good which he wrought in España -before coming to this country, but also because he showed singular -dexterity, in hiding, because of his humility, the admirable works -in which he exercised himself, though when in the province he much -surpassed others. In this he was much aided by his nature, which was -not a little taciturn; and although he corrected this fault by virtue, -and those who dealt with him intimately found him always most kind, and -extremely glad to do good to all, yet in himself at first sight and in -one's first conversation with him he did not seem so, and did not even -give signs of the great devotion which he concealed within himself. Yet -after no long time he revealed himself to one who had to do with him; -and his devotion was the more admirable and the more esteemed the more -it exceeded his nature and the less it was exhibited. At the same time, -his great care to hide his own good works and his taciturn nature have -concealed from us many deeds and writings of great edification and good -example. He was a native of Zaragoça, and was of noble birth. At the -age of sixteen he came to Castilla; and, as he was passing casually -through Alcala de Henares, he fell into conversation with a religious -of the order, who told him how, though he was a student in the college -which the order has there, he was giving up this position, with all -the hopes which it offered him, and was leaving all his kinsmen and -friends in España to go to the Philippinas. The religious said that a -new province was about to be established there, under the strictest -rules, and on a basis of so extensive charity as to strive with all -diligence and care for the conversion of the many heathen regions -there. [This conversation, and certain other reasons, decided the -young Diego to ask for the habit in that convent which the order has -in Alcala; and they very willingly gave him the habit immediately, -April 9, the day of St. Peter Martyr in the year 1586. He made his -profession, and, being well instructed in the matters of religion -and virtue, after the custom of the order went to study, reaching -high attainments in scholarship. He was ordained priest in the year -1594, and returned to Alcala on some business, without thinking of -journeying to these regions. In spite of the incident described, he -had never had any inclination to it, or to any other of the Indias; -but was possessed by a particular love for the quiet and calm caused -by retirement in the cell.] At that time there arrived there one of -the religious who had founded this province in the beginning, Fray -Alonso Delgado; he had returned to España, to assemble companions to -carry on the many conversions of the heathen which had been happily -begun. A few days before, the patents of the general of our order -had been read in this convent, giving him authority to take with -him those who might enlist in so holy a work. Father Fray Francisco -Blancas, who was afterward called here "de Sant Joseph," had offered -himself. The prior and the friars of the convent had tried to hinder -him because of the need of him which they should feel; for it seemed -to them that there was scarcely anyone in the province who in life, -spirit, and teaching could fill his place. Father Fray Alonso Delgado -had complained of their interference, and was now returning with new -directions that no one should disturb those who desired to go on this -holy expedition. This brought to an end the force brought to bear -by the prior and the convent, but not their prayers and persuasions -that the said father would remain. Father Fray Francisco Blancas -and father Fray Diego Aduarte were very fond of each other, being -natives of the same kingdom of Aragon, sons of this convent of Alcala, -and being almost of one age and of one mind. [Accordingly the prior -asked father Fray Diego to persuade father Fray Francisco to remain; -but both of them were induced to go to Filipinas by the arguments of -father Fray Alonso. With great content the two began their journey -from Toledo on the first of June, and reached Sevilla in a fortnight -walking poorly and humbly, and setting a noble example. They caused -great joy in all the companions who, expecting father Fray Francisco -alone, saw him arrive with so good an associate. When they set sail -they met with great hardships. The ship was very inconvenient, being -small and having no quarter-deck. They met with contrary winds and -heavy seas the first fortnight of the voyage, which is the hardest -for inexperienced sailors. They met with the heaviest weather in -the gulf well named the Gulf de las Yeguas (i.e., "of the Mares") -because of the kicks which it generally gives to those who sail through -it. On the land journey, before they reached the City of Mexico four -of the religious fell sick, among them father Fray Diego, who alone -escaped. The rest of the chapter consists of a somewhat abbreviated -repetition of the accounts of journeys already given in the body of -the work. A few details are added. For instance, we are told that, -in the prayers of the fathers, father Fray Diego was usually the one -to wake the others up by beginning the singing of the Te Deum. Those -next him observed that he spent nearly all of the night on his knees -in prayer. The only additional information as to his life in Manila -before the first of his many voyages is, that he was assigned to -the ministry to the Chinese. He learned the language, though he -found it very difficult, hearing confessions and preaching in it -within a few months. The narrative of the first journey to Camboxa -is given as in chapters xlvi-xlviii of book i, with the addition of -some new information. When the Spaniards left Camboxa they passed -by the contiguous kingdom of Champa, because of the savagery of the -inhabitants, and went on to Cochinchina. The cruelties of the ruler of -this kingdom are described at some length; and we are informed that on -the return voyage the vessel in which father Fray Diego was sailing -was obliged to take refuge in one of his ports. An account is given -of a miracle wrought by the habit of father Fray Diego, which had been -left behind with four soldiers in a boat at the time of the attack on -the king of Camboja. These soldiers were shot at with volleys of arrows -from the shore, but were protected by the holy habit as by a wall. The -great respect felt by the religious of Malaca for father Fray Diego -when they become acquainted with his virtue and learning is recounted.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LVIII - -Other voyages and sufferings of father Fray Diego Aduarte under the -direction of his superiors and for the preaching of the gospel. - - -[This chapter contains an account of the unsuccessful expedition -to Camboxa undertaken by Don Luis Perez Das Mariñas, as narrated -in book i, chapters xlix and l, of this history. In that narrative, -given by father Fray Diego, he breaks off in the account of his own -experience at the point where he was separated from the rest of the -company, having gone to Macan to be cured of his illness while the -others returned to Manila.] - -He was not able to remain very long in Macan because many Chinese -mandarins frequently came to that city, and to the convent where -father Fray Diego was, since the city is in China itself; and it did -not seem to him that he was safe from the inspector. As there was no -opportunity for him to make a voyage in any other direction, he set out -for Malaca, a city of India about as far from Manila as Macan is. As -we shall see, he went away partly that that ship and all in it might -not perish. They set sail in the middle of January; and as they were -crossing from the gulf of Haynao to the coast of Cochinchina, Champa, -and Camboja, there was a furious storm at the same place where he -had met a storm two years before, and on the same night, between the -eighth and ninth of February. [This stripped the ship of its rigging, -and threw them into great distress; however, as it was strong and -steered well, it soon righted itself and reached Malaca. Here father -Fray Diego remained, and the vessel sailed again for Goa, but came back -again after struggling for forty days with heavy seas and unfavorable -winds. Having lost this opportunity it was obliged to winter there, -and departed with the next monsoon, in the middle of the following -December. In it there went three Portuguese religious of our order, -taking with them father Fray Diego, who, because of his poverty, was -not provided with ship-stores. After they had passed the famous island -of Zeilan (i.e., Ceylon), and were in latitude six, they encountered -so heavy a sea that they were driven back to the equator, under the -lee of the Maldive Islands, where a ship never lands. Caught in that -archipelago of reefs and atolls, the Portuguese are long delayed -before they can make their way out. At last they reach the harbor -of Kocchi in India, "after having spent five months in sailing four -hundred leguas;" and, if they had arrived a few hours later, could -not have entered the port over the bar, although they emptied the -ship. Father Fray Diego waited in India for the season when he could -voyage to España.] He was not idle, but was occupied with many devout -exercises, which he had continued even when he was at sea. Yet this -was not what he most desired, and not what was most suitable to his -wishes, and to his calling as a religious. Hence when he found himself -in convents of devoted religious, his spirit was greatly rejoiced; -and he strove there to lay up some provision of devotion for the -long voyage, in the service of God and of these new conversions, -which he proposed to undertake to España for preachers. He visited -first the Christians converted by the apostle St. Thomas, whose -Christianity has endured from his time to the present in India, and -is now purged from its errors, which it incurred only for lack of -Catholic preachers. There are in that country matters to arouse great -devotion, and anyone who was so devout as father Fray Diego could not -go that way without visiting them, even at the cost of many days of -journey and hardship. This was not in vain, but brought with it much -spiritual reward. He embarked January 15, 1603, in the "San Roque," -a very large ship with four decks and two quarter-decks. They had -favorable weather to the latitude of Cape de Buena Esperança [i.e., -of Good Hope]; and thus a long vacation from hardships was provided -for father Fray Diego, who had been inured to suffering them in the -service of Him who was his comfort in them. [But here they encountered -first calms, and then fearful tempests, which almost wrecked the ship; -and, to save their lives, they were compelled to lighten the ship, -casting into the sea pepper and rich stuffs valued at fifty thousand -ducados. Finally, they passed the Cape of Good Hope on May 12. The -rest of the voyage was peaceful, save that they encountered a storm off -the coast of Portugal; but they escaped from this and landed at Vigo, -which is in Galicia, September 17, after having passed eight months -in navigation. They all went barefoot to church to give thanks to the -Lord, who had delivered them from so many and such great perils; and -father Fray Diego went to visit the church of the apostle of España, -[70] which is fourteen leguas from there, because it would not have -been proper to miss this devotion on account of so short a journey.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LIX - -Other journeys of father Fray Diego in the service of the Lord, -for the advancement of the conversions of these tribes. - - -After all these hardships and perils, which were suffered with such -great patience, father Fray Diego went to the court of España--not to -gain honor or wealth, or rent, or any other temporal thing; but because -of love of the Lord, for His glory, the extension of the gospel, and -the salvation of these tribes. Since he had already passed through so -many difficulties, divine Providence did not see fit that he should -find them there, where there are ordinarily so many; and the royal -Council immediately gave him permission and direction to convey -a number of religious to this province at his Majesty's expense, -that they might there carry on the excellent work which had been -begun by the religious of this order, and that they might continue -to draw heathen from the darkness of unbelief to the light of the -gospel. Father Fray Diego was not of a character to regard himself as -exhausted, although he had so many reasons to be so; and therefore, -without more delay, he traversed the [ecclesiastical] provinces of -España, Aragon, and Andalucia, seeking for laborers for this part of -the vineyard of the church, or this new vine in it. [As this was a -work of God, He moved the hearts of many good religious to volunteer -to undertake this arduous enterprise. They were greatly influenced by -hearing from father Fray Diego and others of the great need and lack -of religious in this province, to accomplish the vast work with which -it is charged; and of the good done by our order in these regions, -which follows the primitive order in the strict observance of the -rule, and which is like the primitive church in the conversion of -the peoples. This company embarked near the first of July, 1605; and, -after suffering the ordinary discomforts of two long voyages following -so closely one after the other, they reached Manila the next year, -six having died in the voyages and journeys. One of these was father -Fray Pedro Valverde, a student in the college of San Gregorio, a -son of San Pablo at Cordova, and a religious of superior virtue. He -died as the vessel was just beginning to come among the islands, and -was buried in an Indian hamlet near the port of Ybalon. Some years -afterward, when the father provincial sent a religious for his bones, -he found the body still entire, without a foul odor or any decay, -just as if it had been newly buried; but neither the Indians nor their -encomendero would permit him to take it away, keeping possession of -it as a holy body. The day after they arrived, the superior gave them -their assignments throughout all the province because of the great -need of religious; and many were sent to Nueva Segovia.] Ere long, -many of the religious wrote to him thanking him for having brought -them to so devoted a province, where they had so much opportunity -to serve God and to do good to their fellow-men. In particular, -father Fray Matheo de la Villa, a son of Sant Esteban at Salamanca, -wrote to him. He was in a large village, the whole population of which -was composed of heathen who desired to become Christians. He taught -them what they desired much, and he desired more. He wrote that on -Holy Saturday he had been obliged to baptize six hundred of them in a -church which they themselves were making; and that he now understood -the language of the natives sufficiently, though he had been only six -months learning it. In spite of this diligence, they were not able to -attend to this great spiritual harvest, for the laborers were few; -and so, though new and old were apportioned, there were not enough, -although they did all in their power, for many villages of heathen who -begged for them with great urgency. The provincial, grieved by this, -and seeing that he had no answer to make except that he would pray -God to bring religious from España, wrote to father Fray Francisco -de Sant Joseph, whom he had left in Manila as vicar-provincial, -and to the other religious, an account of affairs. In particular he -told them that the Indian chiefs from inland had come to him begging -him, on their knees and in tears, to give them a religious to teach -them the way to heaven; and that one of them had offered to make a -village of two thousand inhabitants and the other of nine hundred, in -order that the religious might with greater ease give them Christian -instruction. The Indians in their heathen condition live in farmsteads -and tiny hamlets, where it is very difficult to teach them; and it -is impossible that teaching shall enlighten them, because of the -inability of the religious to care for and attend to so many small -villages. Hence, to make good Christians of them, it is necessary -to gather them in larger villages. At the beginning, there was great -difficulty in causing the Indians to leave their ancient abodes; though -by the help of God, and of that spirit of gentleness and kindness -which He gives to His disciples, the religious overcame it. These -heathen Indians were so eager to have teachers that, unlike the rest, -they did not wait to be asked; but, to succeed in obtaining religious, -themselves offered by anticipation to remove this difficulty, which -is generally so great. The provincial wrote, in addition, that if the -ministers at Manila should be reduced somewhat in number he could -send someone, or someone could go, to help in this extreme need, -to which he could not give aid from there. Father Fray Francisco -de Sant Joseph called together the fathers who formed the council; -and they, after considering the case, found only one religious who -could go. This was father Fray Jacintho de Sant Jeronimo. Because -of this father Fray Francisco de Sant Joseph--as one who always -thought of himself that he did little, and that he would be little -missed--set out with this religious at the time of his embarcation, -without consulting anyone else. In this he acted as superior, which he -then was. After he had sailed eight leguas, he wrote to the religious -of Manila that he was going to supply this lack, since it seemed to -him that he would not be much missed here. But the father-provincial -did not approve, because he knew that for the Indians about Manila, -whose language he understood admirably, he was a St. Paul. On this -account he was called, even by the religious of other orders, "the -apostle of the Indians." For the Spaniards he was a second St. John -Chrisostom in preaching and life; and hence the provincial was not -slow in sending him back to his former post. - -The position of prior of the principal convent in the province of -Manila was vacant, and the religious in it unanimously elected father -Fray Diego as their superior. He declined the position as long as he -could, and accepted it only when he was compelled to do so by the rule -of strict obedience. He filled the position remarkably well, though -he did not hold it long; for in the following year the vessels from -Nueva España brought news of the death of father Fray Domingo de Nieva, -who had gone in the preceding year as procurator of this province in -España. He had left the cares of this life to enjoy the quiet which, -because of his great virtue and charity, the Lord had kept for him in -heaven. Since it was very necessary for the province to have someone -in España to send them religious--for without this supply the province -could not be maintained--they immediately arranged to send another; and -no one was found so suitable as father Fray Diego. He was accordingly -asked to return and begin his labors anew by embarking for España, -where he was to act as the procurator of this province in all matters, -and was especially to provide them with religious.... Notwithstanding -the hardships and dangers of that voyage, his love to God and the -province, and his perception of the need which forced them to do this, -outweighed these other considerations; and he immediately prepared -himself for the departure which was at hand. With only three woolen -tunics in place of shirts, and the ship-stores for the first voyage, -without a real or anything else for the remainder of the journey, he -embarked in the middle of July, having remained in Manila not quite -a full year. They had good weather until they reached the latitude -of Japon, and from there such furious winds as lifted the sea up to -the sky.... Since they had come from so hot a climate as that of this -country, and had so suddenly entered this other, which was so cold, -they could not fail to suffer from many diseases. Many died on this -voyage, among them the commander and the master of the ship, and a rich -merchant who was a passenger. He, perceiving father Fray Diego's holy -way of life, his great virtue, poverty, contempt for temporal things, -devotion toward God, and charity toward his fellow-men, gave him all -his wealth, which amounted to seventy thousand pesos, that he alone, -at his own pleasure, without being obliged to render account to anyone, -might distribute the whole of it in pious works. He told him that, -though he had no heirs to whom he was obliged to leave anything, -he had some poor relatives in Portugal (whence he had come), and he -charged him to aid them. Father Fray Diego gave so much attention -to the fulfilment of his wish that he went in person to Portugal -solely for this purpose, sought with great care for the relatives of -the deceased, relieved their necessities, and left them all in good -circumstances, considering their estate, and very content. He also -fulfilled the rest of the desires of the testator in accordance with -the trust given him, without applying to himself or to any relative -of his more than the trouble and the reward from God, which would not -be small. [Father Fray Diego went on to España, and thence to Francia, -that he might for his province, and personally, yield obedience to the -most reverend general of the order, at that time Fray Agustin Galamino, -a holy man, who as such took particular delight in hearing what father -Fray Diego related as an eyewitness of the devotion of the province -of the Philippinas and of the great services which it wrought for the -Lord in the conversions of these idolatrous tribes. The pious general -gave him all the documents necessary for taking religious thither; -and father Fray Diego was about to return with the documents, that -he might not lose a moment in the execution of his trust, the great -importance of which he perceived. But his superior obliged him to -remain for the general chapter, which was to be held in the middle of -the year in Paris (in which he was a definitor)--to the great regret -of father Fray Diego at losing all this time from the affairs of -the province of which he thought so much. For ten years he filled -this office of procurator for the province in España, setting an -admirable example to lay and religious, who saw him always humble, -devout, and in poverty, and putting forward no claims for himself, -either within or without the order. This made him freely able to -express his judgment with holy and religious liberty before the royal -Council and to the president and members of it. They all looked upon -him with special respect. He aided in sending the religious brought -to this province by father Fray Alonso Navarete, who afterward was a -holy martyr, the first one of our order to suffer in Japon, and the -one who opened the door of martyrdom for so many as afterward followed -his good example. He later sent another shipload, with father Fray -Jacintho Calvo; and the same father Fray Diego, after sending these -first two, afterward set out to bring other religious with him. But, -when he arrived in Mexico, he received letters from the provincial -of this province, desiring him to return to España and continue his -functions as procurator-general in it. Here he could be of use only as -one man; there he could do the work of many, by sending so many good -religious. He went back to the labor which he had desired to give up; -and abandoning a life of contemplation in a cell, for which he was -eager, he returned to the publicity of tribunals, and the distraction -of journeys, from which he desired to flee. At all times, however, -he was instant in prayer, and in other devout exercises. As a reward -for this care, he received from the Lord success in the business -which he undertook, a successful despatch of it being furthered by -his prayer--which, it seemed, would have taken off his attention from -his business and interfered with it. In spite of all this experience -of the pleasure of the Lord in this exercise, he still desired to -retire and to prepare himself for a holy death; and he constantly -begged the superior of this province to send him a successor, that -he might return to it.] - -The province sent father Fray Matheo de la Villa, who has several -times been mentioned with praise. Thereupon father Fray Diego, -after obtaining the necessary licenses and decrees, gathered twenty -companions and came to live and die with them in this province--nearly -all the members of which were his sons, whom he had sent or brought -from España, as has been recounted. Hence he was received as the -general father of all, and was by all much beloved for the great good -which he had wrought for all of them, for each one in particular, and -for the whole province in general, by means of many royal decrees and -grants which he had obtained at court for medicine for the sick, wine -for the masses, oil for the lamps which burned before the most holy -sacrament, and habits for the religious, which are great sources of -relief in our great poverty. Among these things the provision for the -dress of the religious ought not to be passed over in silence. Neither -the province nor any house within it had any regular source of income; -and it provided for all its expenses entirely with alms received -from the faithful. Since serge for our habits had to be brought -from Nueva España, it was a difficult thing for the province to -send every year the money for all the clothing of the religious, -at the price in Mexico. The province provides the religious with -clothing, for no member of it cares for himself, or has any deposit -or anything else of his own, not even with the permission of his -superior. Hence the province sent directions to father Fray Diego to -ask his Majesty to give as alms the clothing for all the religious of -the province--and this not for one year or two, but forever, since the -same need and poverty were to continue forever. Father Fray Diego, -who was acquainted with the heavy demands upon the royal treasury, -regarded it as impossible to obtain this; and he put off asking for -it until he felt obliged to send an answer to the province. Feeling -practically certain that it would not be granted, he asked for it in -a memorial of his own, sending in other memorials in which he asked -for things which seemed to him very easy to grant; and when he looked -over the answers he found that the royal Council had unhesitatingly -allowed the grant and gift of the clothing (which he had regarded as -impossible), but had refused everything which he asked for in the -other memorial. From this it was plain that it was God who had in -His hand the heart of the king; and that He had done more than what -human prudence might hope for. This truth was all the more confirmed -by the fact that when the royal decree came to be presented before -the royal officials in Mexico, who were always accustomed to put a -thousand difficulties and contingencies in the way of such grants, -they not only did not put any such in the way of this grant; but, -seeing that the religious had from mere timidity asked much less than -they needed, urged them to ask for a sufficient amount. The matter was -immediately settled on this footing, and has remained so ever since, -a plain token that the Lord is pleased that the religious of this -province shall wear the habits which they have always worn--poor, -humble, rough, made of coarse and heavy serge; a penance for the -religious, and a good example for others, as have always been the -poor and rough habits of religious orders. At the first vacancy -of the position of prior in Manila father Fray Diego was a second -time elected prior. He filled the post to the great benefit of the -religious and the convent, to the needs and obligations of which -he attended with great care and charity. He was by nature taciturn -and somewhat rigid, but by virtue was so corrected and mild that he -left no necessity unremedied, no afflicted whom he did not strive -to console, no weak or fallen one for whom he did not pray. With -all he was gentle, and to all he desired to do good. While he was in -this position, and very far from thinking of changing his condition, -he received in the year 1632 the royal decree appointing him bishop -of Nueva Segovia. He hesitated long before accepting this dignity, -presenting many arguments against his acceptance. But, since all the -others were opposed to him in this matter, he gave up his own opinion -and accepted the episcopate, with the most firm determination not -to abandon his character as a friar vowed to poverty and to observe -the manner of living which he had previously maintained--and even -to improve it by far, as the superior station upon which he entered -required of him; and this determination he most perfectly fulfilled, -as will be seen. Someone very much devoted to the order sent him a -diamond cross for a pectoral; and he returned it, saying that it was -very rich for so poor a bishop, for whom a pectoral of wood would be -sufficient. The bulls did not reach him that year; so he waited for -them without leaving the cell in which he had lived in the hospital -of the Chinese. He took no servant, and made no change in his poor -manner of living, dress, and clothing. He went to the choir and -performed the other obligations of religious in this poor habit, -and did everything else, whether by day or in the midst of the night, -that he had promised. He was consecrated and went to his bishopric; -and giving himself up wholly to his obligations as bishop he personally -visited all his bishopric, leaving in all parts a lively memory of his -sanctity, devotion, and alms-giving. His common custom was to spend -one hour of prayer before mass, raising his fervor by mental devotion -that he might say it with a greater spiritual elevation. This was in -addition to many other hours of prayer by day and by night. After mass -was finished, he spent another hour in giving thanks to the Lord for -what he had received; and then he went immediately to his study of -holy scripture, which likewise is prayer. He did not rise from his -work until something happened which compelled him to. His expenses -were almost nothing, so that the poor income of his bishopric was -wholly spent upon charity and upon the adornments of his church; for -in these two matters he spent as if he were rich. Hence in the short -time during which he governed the bishopric (which was only a year and -a half), he gave it more ornaments and jewels than others who had been -superiors there had given in many years. He was most humble; and when -father Fray Carlos Clemente Gant was vicar of the convent, the bishop -used to go almost daily from his residence to our house to confess to -him. When father Fray Carlos begged him to remain at home, and said -he would go to hear his confession every day, the bishop declined, -saying, "Your Reverence is very busy. I, who am less so, will come," -and on this footing this matter always continued. He took less food -than when he was in the order, giving up one meal when he accepted -the bishopric. He said that his position brought more obligations; -therefore his food ought to be less. He always ate fish, if necessity -did not force him to take something else. His bed was a piece of felt -for a mattress and a blanket for covering, without any other pillow -than the mat used by the poor Chinese, or one of the native mats--which -was given a coat of a sort of varnish, so that the perspiration might -be washed off and the pillow kept clean. In his whole house he had -no other bed-clothes, so that even in his last sickness he had no -mattress nor sheets, nor even a linen pillow upon which to rest his -head; it was therefore necessary to bring that which was kept ready in -the poor infirmary of the convent, for no such comforts were used or -were to be found in the bishop's house. When he went on visitation, -he always took with him some bundles of cloth to distribute among -the poor, and these and other good works which he did for them -constituted the sole profit of his visitation. He highly esteemed -the ministers whom he had in his bishopric, and was greatly pleased -to see that they were practically all religious--not only of his own -order, but also of that of our father St. Augustine. He loved both -tenderly, and always had much good to say of all of them. During his -time another bishop [71] (who was a member of an order) put forward a -claim that the royal decrees should be put in execution which provide -that the religious who have charge of Indians shall be subject to the -inspection and visitation of the bishop or his visitors. When this -matter was discussed before the royal Audiencia, our good bishop was -present--yielding, so far as his bishopric was concerned, the favor -granted in these royal decrees. He declared and proved with many -strong arguments that, though the execution of the decrees would -greatly increase the dignity and temporal profit of the bishops, -it was to the spiritual and temporal injury of the Indians. Hence, -to avoid these greater injuries, he renounced with a good will these -inferior gains, as a prelate who felt that all his gains were secured -by procuring the proper ministry for those subject to him. The whole -income of his bishopric he collected for the poor, without taking -from it more than the labor or dividing it among the needy; for his -own maintenance, he asked alms as one of the poor. When on any account -he was absent from his bishopric, he left someone in it to distribute -alms to the poor, that they might not be injured by his absence. - -The habit which he wore was of serge, and he wore an old frieze cloak -which had served one of the religious on his way from España. His -shoes were old and patched, and his breeches poor and mean, like those -used in this province. He wore no rings, and did not spend a real for -them or for a pectoral, being contented with those which were offered -to him as to a bishop in such a state of poverty. When he entered our -convents, he prostrated himself on the floor to receive the blessing of -the superior, as the other religious do; and he joined the community -and took no precedence in seating himself, just like any of the other -brothers. He did not permit them to give him anything special in the -refectory; and he remained in all things as humble and as perfect in -his duties, as a member of the order, as he had been before becoming -a bishop. The happy end of all his many arduous labors was at hand; -and after only three days of sickness he went to receive the endless -reward of his toils, leaving those who were subject to him above -measure sad at the loss of such a superior, father, and common -benefactor of all. But those who displayed the greatest feeling, -and with the greatest reason, were the religious of this province, -who had in him an honor, a defense, and an example, which incited -them to all virtue, and to strict observance of their rules. [His -death caused great sorrow, not only in his diocese but in Manila, -where he was beloved by all; and notable honors were paid to his -memory, even by the other orders.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LX - -The glorious martyrdom of four religious of this province, and two -laymen, their companions, in Japon. - - -May 2, 1637, there was elected as provincial father Fray Carlos -Clemente Gant, a native of the famous city of Zaragoça, and a son of -the illustrious convent of Preachers in that city, a person of much -virtue and superior prudence, of which he had given evidence in many -offices which he had filled with great praise. He was elected in this -chapter on the first ballot, and the wisdom of his election was soon -shown, the Lord choosing him as a principal instrument to bring to -an end the congregation--which, as has been narrated, had already -begun to be planned, to the great harm of these conversions. - -[This year, which concludes the number of fifty since the foundation -of this province, is closed, as with a precious key, by the marvelous -martyrdom of four religious belonging to the province--father Fray -Antonio Gonçalez, father Fray Guillermo Cortet (who here bore the name -of Fray Thomas de Sancto Domingo), father Fray Miguel de Ozaraza, and -father Fray Vicente de la Cruz. With the martyrdoms (already narrated) -of father Fray Jordan de San Estevan and Fray Thomas de San Jacintho, -the Japanese persecutors of the church had spilled the blood of all the -Dominican friars of that kingdom; yet they had not, as they expected, -caused the souls of the religious to fear, or cooled their fervent -desires to go to Japon. Of all those who asked for permission to go -thither, these four only received the desired license. Two of them were -teachers of theology in the college and university of the province, in -the city of Manila; and both of them had lectured on theology before -coming to this province--father Fray Antonio in that of España, -and father Fray Guillermo in his native country of France. Thus -the province has sent its best to Japon. Father Fray Francisco de -Morales was for many years lecturer on theology, and at the time -of his mission was prior of the convent of Manila; and father Fray -Jacintho de Esquivel, father Fray Domingo de Erquicia, father Fray -Lucas del Espiritu Sancto, and father Fray Diego de Rivera had all -been lecturers on theology. There was great difficulty in sending -these four religious to Japon, which was finally overcome by the -determination of the religious. In the year 1634, some Spaniards had -been cast on shore on the islands of the Lequios, which are subject -to Japon. They were examined to see if they were religious or no; -but, as it did not appear that they were, they were set free. Many -Japanese came to them by night, asking them if they were priests -to hear their confessions; and, being assured that they were not, -they begged for priests to come to them. Father Fray Vincente de la -Cruz and a Christian Japanese offered to take the religious whom the -province might send and to make their way from the Lequios Islands -to Japon. The governor, learning that the expedition was about to be -equipped, burned the vessel which had been prepared, and set sentinels -at the mouth of the bay to prevent the religious from setting out. By -God's aid they succeeded in eluding him, and after meeting with storms -made their way to the islands of the Lequios, where they landed July -10, 1636. No certain reports have been received as to what occurred -in the islands; but the fathers seem to have been arrested as soon as -they revealed themselves, and to have been sent as prisoners to Japon. - -On September 13, 1637, fathers Fray Guillermo Cortet, Fray Miguel -Oçaraça and Fray Vicente de la Cruz, dressed in secular clothes, -were brought from Satzuma to Nangasaqui, to be tried for their -crime. Father Fray Antonio Gonçalez was not with them, having sailed -in another vessel, and not having yet arrived. They answered boldly, -declaring that they had had no assistance from any government; and -that their very pilot had been a religious who had known something -of seamanship before entering the order. They were subjected to -terrible torture, especially the torture of water, which they bore -bravely. Their tortures were prolonged, and the text describes them -with fulness. On the twenty-first of the same month, father Fray -Antonio Gonçalez, the superior of the religious, arrived in Nangasaqui -in another funea. He was accompanied by two lay companions--one a -mestizo, the son of a Chinese man and an Indian woman; the other a -Japanese, who had been exiled for the faith. [72] As soon as father -Fray Antonio set foot on the soil, he made the sign of the cross, -in sight of all the Portuguese trading there and of a great multitude -of people. The holy father, being of noble stature, towered above the -company about him like another Saul. He was taken directly before the -judges, confessed who he was, was cruelly tortured, and subjected -to insult. The mestizo at first feared the torments, but afterward -plucked up his courage to endure them. The Japanese wretchedly fell -away from fear. Father Fray Antonio suffered the torture of water, -to which he was subjected when he was very sick of a fever; and he -died in the prison, his body being burnt and the ashes cast into the -sea. On the twenty-seventh of the month the prisoners were taken out -to be martyred, being gagged to prevent their preaching. They were all -suspended by the feet, and while they hung in their pits they chanted -praises to God; and the ministers of justice, in admiration of their -courage, caused them to be taken out from the holes still alive and -to be beheaded, that they might no longer suffer torture. The ashes -of the five holy martyrs were cast into the sea, three leguas from -the port of Nangasaqui, on the same day, September 29, 1637.] - - - - - -CHAPTER LXI - -The exercises with which the Lord prepared these saints for martyrdom - - -[The Lord in general requires a holy life to precede a martyr's -death. Father Fray Antonio Gonçalez was a native of Leon, bred up for -the Lord like another Samuel. He showed great capacity in his studies, -and became the master of the students in the most religious convent -of Piedrahita. Before his conversion, he was devoted to poetry and -such matters, which, though they do not take away the grace of the -Lord, choke the good seed of His special counsels and the way of -perfection. But before long father Fray Antonio gave up these trifles, -which, though they were not grave faults, were grave impediments to -the perfection to which the Lord called him. Considering how God might -best be pleased, it seemed to him that the best offering he could -make was the offering of martyrdom. As a means to attain this end, he -considered that coming to this province offered the best opportunity -for becoming a martyr. He devoted himself to virtuous company, and -was most useful as a minister in España. He begged his way from door -to door, and set out for the Philippinas when he was just recovering -from a severe illness. He was greatly given to works of mortification, -and most patient, kind, and obedient. He was devoted to be service -of the Rosary, and offered a special devotion, among many saints, to -St. Peter Martyr, whom he desired to imitate in life and in death. His -martyrdom had been predicted while he was in España. - -Father Fray Guillermo Cortet was a native of Visiers, a city of -France. He was the child of noble and wealthy parents. While still -a young layman he heard of the glory of our holy martyrs in Japon, -which made such an impression upon his heart that he determined -to give up all that he had and might hope for in the world, -and to assume the habit of the order which contained such saints, -hoping that he himself might be one of them. He therefore requested -the habit from father Fray Sebastian Michaelis, who at that time -governed the strictest congregation in France. In time he professed, -and became notable for religion, virtue, and learning. So closely -did he observe the rule that, when the famous convent of the order -in Aviñon was to be reformed, father Fray Guillermo was sent there -for the purpose. All this time he was sighing for Japon, and finally -set out on foot for España, making the journey in the winter through -rain, cold, and snow. He was greatly esteemed in the court, but left -it to come to the Philippinas as a member of the congregation. This -he abandoned when he heard the convincing reasons with which the -province, though obeying the most reverend general and his letters, -suspended the execution of them until they could give him information -as to the surreptitious manner in which they were obtained, the many -impossibilities which they contained within themselves, and the harm -which would be done to the work of conversion by the establishment -of the congregation. The province directed him to teach theology in -the college of Sancto Thomas at Manila, which he did obediently, -putting aside his desire to go to Japon. That he might have more -time and ease in the holy exercise of prayer, he never undressed at -night during the last twenty years of his life, but slept seated in a -chair. This country is infested with multitudes of annoying mosquitos; -but he did not take advantage of the common means of preventing them, -which is a tent, something permitted to all the religious. He would -not accept one, but offered to the Lord the stings of the gnats, which -is no small mortification and penance. It was no wonder that he paid -small attention to the stings of mosquitos, as he often wore next to -his skin a girdle bearing fifteen rosettes in honor of our Lady of -the Rosary and her fifteen mysteries, with points so sharp that they -drew blood when they were touched with the finger. Besides this he -wore an iron chain, which was kept bright by wear and gleamed as if it -were polished; and in addition to all these things he sometimes wore -next his skin a hair shirt, with points of iron so cruel and large -that the mere sight of them shocked some religious who happened to -see them, as being the most severe thing that they had ever seen in -their lives. He was most abstinent, full of devotion for the mass, -and above measure humble. He was also very kind and gentle, especially -to repentant sinners. He was scarcely a year in this province when -his ardent desire to go to Japon was finally gratified. - -Father Fray Miguel de Ozaraza was a native of Vizcaya; and because -of his virtues, devotion, and prudence he was much beloved in the -convent of Sancto Thomas at Madrid, where he lived for some years -in great quiet, with all the comfort that a good religious could -desire. But as many laymen have been moved by the desire of worldly -riches to leave their comforts in España and to go to the Indias, -so the desire for spiritual profit caused father Fray Miguel to come -to this most distant part of the world. He was very industrious, -and skilful in the management of business; and had much to do -with the management of the affairs of the shipload of religious -with which it was intended to begin the new congregation. When he -came to the province, and more clearly understood the condition of -affairs here, he left the congregation and was incorporated into the -province. For this he obtained the reward of martyrdom for which he -sought. No opportunity for him to go to Japon immediately offering, -he was directed to learn an Indian language, and to minister to the -Indians; this he did with humble obedience, not looking down upon -this despised ministry. At the same time he studied the Japanese -language. His fortitude in martyrdom was supernatural and divine.] - -Father Fray Vicente de la Cruz, whose Japanese name was Xivozzuca, was -a native of Japan, the child of devoted Christians of long standing, -and was the youngest of seven brothers. He was offered to God before -his birth; for, while he was still in his mother's womb, his parents -promised that, if they should have a son, they would offer him like -a second Samuel to the service of the church. They bred him in this -way as one dedicated to such a service, never permitting him to wear -any colored clothes like other boys of his rank, that he might grow -up with the sense of being dedicated to God, and of being bound to -serve Him with all care and devotion. At the age of nine he was given -to the fathers of the Society in fulfilment of the vow; and from that -tender age began to be trained in Nangasaqui in the college of the -fathers there--studying grammar, and the other moral teaching given -by the fathers of the Society to those who are to aid them in their -preaching. This Vicente did for many years, up to the persecution -which broke out, with the fury described, in the year 1614. At this -time Vicente went to Manila, when the ministers were exiled, returning -soon afterwards to Japon; but like the dove in the ark, not finding a -place whereon to set his foot, because of the persecution, he returned -again to this city, seeking some established way in which he could -serve the Lord as a minister of the church. He suffered great need, -and was tempted by friends and acquaintances to change his plans and -to marry; but he did not consent, preferring to be poor and needy -in the house of the Lord than to live with ease among laymen. The -Lord, who never fails those who put their trust in him, helped him by -making him acquainted with the bishop of Zubu, Don Fray Pedro de Arce, -a master of such virtue that the virtues of Vicente could not fail to -advance under him. Father Fray Luis Sotelo afterwards came to this city -with the purpose of taking preachers to Japon, and Vicente joined him, -being prepared for every good work, even at the expense of the hardship -and danger required by the preaching of the faith in Japon. It was not -yet time for this holy man to suffer, and hence he was prevented by -sickness from accompanying the holy martyr Fray Luis Sotelo when he -went to Japon; so he remained in this country, teaching the language -to the religious who were to go to that realm. In this and in all -his actions his conduct was so virtuous that the Christian Japanese -offered him a liberal support, so that he was ordained priest and gave -them his spiritual aid, preaching to them and administering the holy -sacraments. That he might live with great perfection, he followed the -rule of the tertiary Order of the noble St. Francis. The expedition -of these holy martyrs was about to take place, and the superior of -it endeavored to have father Fray Vicente accompany and guide them, -as he was a native Japanese who had had experience in the preaching -of the gospel in that realm. He not only readily agreed to this, but -earnestly begged for the habit of the order; and he wore it--in such -manner as he could, since he was going to preach in Japon--for more -than a year; he professed and suffered, as has been described. May -the Lord give us for the merits and intercession of these glorious -martyrs, [73] and of all the other holy martyrs and confessors who -have been in this province, something of the divine grace which made -them such as they were. Thus, as up to this time the present members -of the province have not belied the holy beginnings with which it -was established, but rather seem to perfect themselves with each new -increase, so may we not fall off in the future; but may our love toward -God and our fellow-men, and our devotion to the rule of our order, -forever preserve the perfection which has been found hitherto in the -sons of the province, to the glory of the Author of all good, who is -the same Lord God to whom belongs all glory forever and ever. Amen. - - - -After the fifty years of this history were completed, there came -the following letter from his Majesty, which settled the matter -which had disturbed the religious of this province and kept them -in affliction. This letter was received, as has been said in the -history, without any representation from the province having come to -the royal ears; hence it is a most certain proof that it was given -by the special providence of the Lord, and by the aid of our great -patroness the Virgin Mother; and that it is worthy to be placed as -a conclusion to this history. - - - - - -Letter written by his Majesty to the venerable and devout father -provincial of the Order of St. Dominic of the Philipinas Islands. - -(Copied faithfully from the original.) - - -The King. To the venerable and devout father provincial of the Order of -St. Dominic of the Philipinas Islands. From different reports which I -have received, I have learned of the disturbance and disquiet caused -among the religious of that province by the division of it that was -made by virtue of letters obtained from the general of the order by -Fray Diego Collado, and by the aid given him for the purpose by Don -Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera, my governor and captain-general of these -islands. I desired that the said briefs should not be executed, since -they were not approved by my royal Council of the Indias; and hence, -looking rather to the conformity of the religious with the rule of the -order, and to the quiet of that province, and perceiving that the said -division must cause some relaxation therein, I have commanded my said -governor and captain-general of these islands, and my royal Audiencia, -to suspend the said brief and all other briefs brought by the said -Fray Diego Collado, without permitting them to be executed. And I -have commanded that the division of the provinces which has been made -shall be annulled, and that they shall return to the condition in which -they were before the said division. I accordingly request and direct -you to attend to it, on your part, that these said provinces shall -be placed in the state in which they were before Collado to España -immediately. That this may have effect, I have in a letter of this -day commanded my said governor to have him provided with passage. You -will inform me at the first opportunity of what you shall have done -in execution of what I thus request of you. Dated at Madrid, February -first, in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty-seven. - - - I the King - - By command of our lord the king: - - Don Gabriel de Ocaña y Alarcon - - - - - - - -BIBLIOGRAPHICAL DATA - - -For bibliographical data of Aduarte's Historia, which is concluded -in the present volume, see Vol. XXX. - - - - - - - -NOTES - - -[1] i.e., "In the beginning was the Word." The other quotation reads, -in English, "May the reading of the gospel be health and protection -to thee." - -[2] Karatsu is a town in Hizen, north of Nagasaki; it possesses large -deposits of coal and kaolin. It was formerly called Nagoya. - -[3] The shôgun at that time was Hidetada (1605-1623); but his father -Iyeyasu, although nominally retired from the government, still inspired -its proceedings in great degree, until his death in 1616. - -[4] For description of the Kuwantô, see Vol. XVI, p. 47. This group -of provinces lies near the center of Hondo, and includes the city of -Tôkio (Yedo). - -[5] According to Rein (Japan, p. 304), he had put away his Christian -wife to marry a daughter of Hidetada, and had become an apostate. Then -he removed his residence from Arima to Shimabara, and began a fierce -persecution of the Christians. - -[6] Evidently referring to Santiago de Vera. - -[7] Notwithstanding this fierce persecution--which, thus begun, -culminated in the massacre of Shimabara (1637), and lasted as long -as Christians could be discovered by the Japanese authorities--a -considerable number of Japanese converts maintained their Christian -faith, unknown to their rulers, handing it down from one generation -to another until 1868, when their existence became known to the -government, and for a time they were exiled from their homes, but -were restored to them a few years later. This Christian church was -at Urakami, about seven miles north of Nagasaki. - -[8] Rein states (Japan, p. 306) that there were 22 Franciscans, -Dominicans, and Augustinians (agreeing with Aduarte's total), 117 -Jesuits, and nearly 200 native priests and catechists; and that these -were shipped to Macao. Murdoch and Yamagata say (Hist. Japan, p. 503) -that 63 Jesuits were sent to Macao; and 23 Jesuits, all the Philippine -religious, and several distinguished Japanese exiles, to Manila. - -[9] Cf. Vol. IX, p. 68, for mention of earliest printing in the -islands. - -[10] See Vol. XII, p. 222. - -[11] Angelo Orsucci e Ferrer was born in Lucca, Italy, in 1570, also -entering there the Dominican order. Hearing of the Filipinas missions, -he went to Valencia, in Spain, to join them, and arrived at Manila -in 1602. He labored successively in the Cagayán and Bataán missions, -and in 1612 went to Mexico to take charge of the Dominican hospice -there. In 1615 he returned to Manila, conducting the mission band which -Aduarte had brought to Mexico. He went again to Bataán for a time; -but, hearing of the persecutions in Japan, determined to go thither, -reaching that country in August, 1618. In the following December he was -arrested, and imprisoned in Omura. He remained there nearly four years, -and was burned alive on September 10, 1622. He was beatified in 1867. - -See Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 211-214. - -[12] This was Juan de Silva, who died on April 19, 1616 (see Vol. XVII, -p. 279). - -[13] A letter written by the Franciscan Fray Pedro de Alfaro to Fray -Juan de Ayora, commissary in Manila, under date of Canton, October -13, 1579, and existing (in copy) in Archivo general de Indias (with -pressmark, "Simancas-eclesiastico; cartas y expedientes de personas -eclesiasticas vistos en el consejo; años 1570 á 1608; est. 68, caj. 1, -leg. 42"), says of the Ilocos district: "Also it should be noted by -your charity and the superiors who shall come that the province of -Ylocos is the destruction and sepulcher of friars; for it is known -how the first who went there returned, while I found the next ones, -although they had come there so short a time before, with very -ill-looking, flabby, and colorless countenances, and brother Fray -Sebastian (may he rest in glory), smitten with stomach trouble. His -sickness began there, and there was its ending. In consideration of -this, and of the common rumor and report of all, I do not believe that -it is a district where we can live." The sick friar here mentioned -was Sebastian de Baeza, who, at the time Alfaro wrote, had just died -on a ship in Canton Bay. - -[14] Melchor Manzano came to Manila in 1606, and ministered in the -Cagayán missions until he was chosen provincial in 1617. In 1621 he -was appointed procurator of the province at Madrid; and he died in -Italy, about 1630, as bishop-elect of Nueva Segovia. - -[15] After the battle of Sekigahara (1600) Iyeyasu had left Hideyori -(the infant son of Hideyoshi), with his mother, in the castle of -Osaka. After this child grew to manhood, he incurred the jealousy -of Iyeyasu, which was doubtless aggravated by his intimacy with the -Jesuits, and the shelter given by him to many discontented Japanese, -both heathen and Christian. Armies were raised on both sides, and on -June 4, 1615, the castle of Osaka was carried by assault, and burned, -Hideyori and his mother both perishing. See Murdoch and Yamagata's -full account of this war, its causes, and its immediate results -(Hist. Japan, pp. 507-567); cf. Rein's Japan, p. 306. - -[16] i.e., "the lord shogun;" it is only a title of honor, not a -personal name. It here refers to Hidetada, who had been associated -with his father Iyeyasu in the government. - -[17] Later (at the beginning of chap. xiiii) Aduarte states -that under Safioye were two officials in charge of the Nagasaki -government--Antonio Toan, a Christian; and Feizó, a renegade -Christian. After Safioye's death, dissensions arose between these two; -and finally the emperor made Feizó and Gonrozu (a nephew of Safioye) -joint governors of the city, who proceeded to persecute the Christians -with renewed severity. - -[18] This sentence may be a later addition by Aduarte himself; but -is more probably written by his editor, Fray Domingo Gonçalez. - -[19] Among these Korean captives were numerous potters, who were -carried to Kiôto, Hagi, Satsuma, and other towns of Japan, in order -to introduce into that country the ceramic arts of Korea. Descendants -of these potters are still living in Tsuboya, a village of Satsuma, -where they still carry on their craft. See Rein's Japan, pp. 289, 527. - -[20] Jacinto Calvo came to Manila in 1604, from the convent of Peña de -Francia; but he soon returned to Spain, on business of his order. It -is probable that he spent the rest of his life there, except for -some years while he was in charge of the hospice at Mexico; it is -not known when he died. - -[21] The Babuyan and Batan Islands, groups lying north of Luzón, -extend northward to near the southern end of Formosa. From near the -northern end of that island, the Riu-Kiu Island stretches in a long -northeastward curve to the vicinity of Kiushiu Island, in southern -Japan. - -[22] A vulgar appellation of the fish called rompecandados -("padlock-breaker"), according to note by Retana and Pastells in -their edition of Combés's Mindanao, col. 770. Taraquito may possibly -be a diminutive form derived from tarascar, meaning "to bite, or tear -with the teeth." - -[23] The tribe best known as Mandaya are found in Mindanao; but the -same name is conferred by some Spanish writers on the Apayaos (a -head-hunting tribe in northwestern Cagayán and the adjoining portions -of Ilocos Norte and Abra)--with doubtful accuracy, according to -Blumentritt (Native Tribes of Philippines, p. 531). In U.S. Philippine -Commission's Report, 1900, iii, p. 19, is the following statement: -"In the hamlets on the western side of the river [i.e., Rio Grande -de Cagayán], Itaves, Apayao, and Mandayo are spoken;" but there is -no further reference to a Mandaya tribe in Cagayán. See Aduarte's -mention of Mandayas in later chapters. - -[24] Juan de San Lorenzo came to Manila with the mission of 1618; -he labored in the Cagayán missions, and died at Lal-ló in 1623. - -[25] A sort of trousers, generally made of cloth, covering the legs -as far as the knees, buttoned or hooked together on the outside. It -has also a dust-guard, which extends to the shoe. It is mainly used by -laborers, carriers, and the like. (Dominguez's Diccionario nacional.) - -[26] See book i of Aduarte's work, chapters xii-xv (in Vol. XXX of -this series). - -[27] Blumentritt characterizes the Gaddanes as "a Malay head-hunting -people, with a language of their own, settled in the provinces of -Isabela and Cagayán." Landor mentions them (Gems of the East, p. 478) -as having delicately chiseled features, and being now civilized and -christianized. - -The bulk of the population of Nueva Vizcaya is made up of converts -from two of the mountain Igorot tribes, the Isinay and the Gaddang or -Gaddan. This valley was called Ituy or Isinay. There are but three -or four thousand people in each of these tribes, the rest of the -christianized population of this province being made up of Ilocano -immigrants. (U. S. Census of Philippines, i, pp. 449, 471. 472.) - -[28] Constantius, second son of Constantine the Great; he reigned -from 337 A. D. to 361, and adopted the Arian doctrine, of which he -was a powerful supporter. - -[29] Pedro de Zúñiga was a native of Sevilla, and a son of Marqués de -Villamanrique, viceroy of Mexico; he entered the Augustinian order at -Sevilla, in 1604. He came to Manila in 1610, and spent several years as -a missionary in Pampanga. Fired with zeal for the Japanese missions, -he entered them in 1618, only to be sent back to Manila the next year -with other priests banished from Japan; but, as recounted in our text, -Zúñiga returned to that land to end his life as a martyr (August 19, -1622). He was beatified in 1867. See Pérez's Catálogo, p. 82. - -[30] Probably a reference to the ronins, men who had left their -masters, under the old feudal system in Japan, and spent their time -in low company and in idleness and excesses; see Griffis's Mikado's -Empire, p. 278. - -[31] This brother's proper name was Mangorochi. The term donado, like -the French donné (in each case meaning, literally, "one who is given") -was applied to devout persons who voluntarily entered the service -of the missions, giving themselves (often for life) to that cause, -and sharing the lot of the missionaries. All the martyrs whose fate -Aduarte describes were afterward beatified. - -[32] Diego de Rivera came to Manila from Córdoba, in 1615. He -ministered in Bataán at first, but was lecturer in Santo Tomás from -1619 to 1623--in which year he lost his life as described in our text. - -[33] Francisco Galvez, a native of Utiel, made his profession in -the Franciscan order in 1600, at the age of twenty-six. In 1609 he -departed for the Philippines, where for some time he ministered to -the Japanese Christians resident near Manila. He went to Japan in -1612, but was banished thence in 1614; after several vain efforts, he -succeeded in returning to that country in 1618. He was arrested by the -Japanese authorities, and after great sufferings in prison was burned -alive at Yendo, December 4, 1623. (See Huerta's Estado, pp. 391, 392.) - -[34] Aparri is a port of entry on the northern coast of Luzón, at the -mouth of the Rio Grande de Cagayán. It is the chief port of coast -and ocean trade in that region, and the starting-point for inland -river navigation. - -[35] Alonso García came from Córdoba to Manila, in 1622; he was sent -to the Cagayán missions, where he died as here related. Onofre Palau -was a native of Valencia, but entered the Dominican order at Manila, -in 1620. In the following year he made his profession, and was sent -to Cagayán, where he died with García. (See Reseña biográfica, i, -pp. 294, 373.) - -[36] i.e., "Island of Fishermen," indicating the occupation of nearly -all the 50,000 inhabitants (of Chinese race) of the group known as -Pescadores Islands, west of Formosa, and under the jurisdiction of -that island (which has been, since 1895, a possession of Japan). The -location of the Pescadores is such as to make them of strategic -importance, and Japan is now (1905) fortifying them. - -[37] The Chinese refused to allow the Dutch to trade with them unless -the latter would depart from the Pescadores, but permitted them to -occupy Formosa. The Dutch settled there in 1624, at Tainan (formerly -Taiwan) near Anping, remains of old Dutch forts still existing at both -places; and this island was their headquarters for trade with Japan -and China. See Basil H. Chamberlain's account of Formosa in Murray's -Handbook for Travelers in Japan (4th ed., New York and London, 1898), -pp. 536-542; Davidson's historical sketch in Transactions of Asiatic -Society of Japan, vol. xxiv, pp. 112-136. - -[38] One of the small islands in the bay of Kelung. - -[39] Francisco Mola was born in Madrid, and there made his profession -as a Dominican, in 1600. He came to the Philippines in 1611, and -spent many years in the Cagayán missions; afterward having charge of -the mission in Formosa. After 1643 his name is not mentioned in the -provincial records, as he returned to Spain about that time. (Reseña -biográfica, i, p. 339.) - -[40] Juan García Lacalle entered the Dominican order at Manila, -in 1602; he spent many years in the Cagayán missions. - -[41] Apparently a misprint for 1611. Sanchez remained in the Cagayán -missions until his death, which must have occurred about 1640. The -missionaries brought by him in 1626 numbered sixteen, sketches of -whom are given in Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 375-381. - -[42] A play upon words, the Spanish hierro ("iron") having almost -the same pronunciation as yerro ("error"). - -[43] Both these missionaries came to Manila in the mission of -1609. Fray Francisco labored in the villages of Balete and Polo--the -former being originally a village of Japanese, formed in 1601 by -Tello from that of Dilao, near Manila, but again restored to Dilao -in 1626. Fray Francisco went to Japan in 1623, and was burned at -the stake on August 17, 1627. Fray Bartolomé served in a hospital -(probably that at Los Baños), went to Japan in 1623, and met the same -fate as befell Fray Francisco. See Huerta's Estado, pp. 395, 557. - -[44] He had come to Manila in 1618, and labored in the Cagayán missions -and the Babuyanes. - -[45] In this band were twenty friars; for sketches of their lives, -see Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 381-390. - -[46] Spanish, castillo ("little castle"); apparently an imitation of -the castillo de fuego, a contrivance built of wood in the shape of -a castle, to which are attached various fireworks. - -[47] The reference in our text is to Go-Midzuno-o, who was mikado from -1611 to 1630; in the latter year he abdicated that dignity, forced -to this step by petty persecutions and interference by the shôgun -Hidetada, and lived in retirement for the rest of his life, dying -in 1680. The statement as to cutting off his hair is hardly accurate -in regard to its rarity, as it was then the custom for potentates of -various degrees to abdicate their office at an early period therein, -and retire into a Buddhist monastery, on which occasion the head of -the candidate was shaved. Dairi is merely one of the appellations -bestowed upon the mikado of Japan (see Vol. XIX, p. 51). The term -mikado is practically the equivalent of "Sublime Porte;" the first -to bear this name was Jimmu-Tennô (660-585 B. C.), and his dynasty -has continued to the present day. After the conquest of Korea (202 -A. D.) Chinese influences began to affect Japan; and the mikado's -authority was gradually diminished by powerful chiefs and lords, -until the dignity of shôgun--a military title of honor--was conferred -(1192) upon Yoritomo, and made hereditary in his family. From that time -dates the dual monarchy which ruled Japan--the mikado being but the -nominal sovereign--until 1868; the revolution of that year suppressed -the shôgunate, and restored to the mikado his rightful authority. The -mikado's residence was established at Kiôto in 793, where it remained -until 1868, being then transferred to Yedo (now Tôkiô). The comparison -of the mikado to a pope arose from his possessing certain prerogatives -in religious matters, and because a sort of divine character was -ascribed to him from the claim of the first mikado that he was a -descendant of the sun-goddess Amaterasu. See Rein's Japan, pp. 214, -224, 315-317; also Murdoch and Yamagata's Hist. Japan, chap. i, -and pp. 697-700. - -[48] A variant form of Alcarazo, as the name is spelled -elsewhere. These variations, which occur in numerous cases, may be due -to additions made by Aduarte's editor; or possibly to his employing -more than one amanuensis. - -[49] The modern province of Nueva Vizcaya. - -[50] Juan Arjona came from the convent at Córdoba, in the mission -of 1628, and was assigned to the Pangasinan field. In 1637-38 he -was ministering in Ituy, and in 1639 was appointed to a station in -Formosa. Afterward he returned to Pangasinan, and, after filling -various offices in Manila, died there on September 4, 1666, at the -age of eighty-four. - -[51] There are more than a hundred different varieties of rice, -some of which are lowland, cultivated by irrigation, and some upland, -grown in the dry lands (these being more numerous than the former). See -U. S. Philippine Commission's Report, 1900, iii, pp. 244, 245. - -[52] The province of Nueva Vizcaya (Ituy) is drained by the great river -Magat and its tributaries, which fertilize its soil; this stream flows -into the Rio Grande de Cagayán, which Aduarte seems to regard as the -continuation of the Magat. - -[53] Jerónimo de Zamora came to the islands in 1615, and labored -thirty-eight years in the Cagayán missions; at times he occupied -various offices, among them that of commissary of the Inquisition. He -died at Lal-ló about 1655. - -[54] i.e., "Equal shall be the portion of him that went down to battle -and of him that abode at the baggage, and they shall divide alike;" -in I Kings (of the Douay version; I Samuel of the Protestant versions), -xxx, v. 24. - -[55] Hidetada died in 1632, hut he had, following the usual -custom, abdicated the shôgunate in 1623, in favor of his son -Iyemitsu--retaining, however, as Iyeyasu had done, the actual control -of the empire until his death. - -[56] i.e., "That which decayeth and groweth old is near its end" -(Hebrews, viii, 13). - -[57] i.e., "The old man carried the child, but the child directed -the old man." - -[58] The torment of the pit (French, fosse, Spanish, hoyo); a hole six -feet deep and three in diameter was dug, and a post with a projecting -arm was planted by its side. To this arm the victim was suspended, -being lowered head downward into the pit, and left thus until he -either died or recanted; his body had been previously tightly corded, -to impede the circulation of the blood, but one hand was left free, -to make the sign of recantation. This horrible torment did not bring -death until two, three, or even six days; but most of the religious -endured it unto death, rather than recant. Of the few who did so was -Christoval Ferreira (Vol. XXIV, note 91). See Murdoch and Yamagata's -Hist. Japan, pp. 632-633. - -[59] Jacobo Somonaga (in religion, de Santa Maria) was born in -Omura of Christian parents; he had ability as a speaker, and often -preached while a student. He came to Manila, and at first became an -Augustinian; afterward, he entered the Dominican order (August 15, -1624), being then forty-three years of age. In 1627 he was in Formosa; -in 1632 he went from Manila to Japan, and in the following year died -as a martyr. (See Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 256, 257.) - -[60] Domingo Ibañez de Erquicia was born about 1587, in San Sebastian, -Spain, and entered the Dominican order there. He came to the -islands in 1611, and was sent to Pangasinan. From 1616 he remained -in Manila--except 1619-21, at Binondo--until 1623, when he went to -Japan--where he labored, in spite of persecution and sufferings, -until his martyrdom, August 18, 1633. (See Reseña biográfica, i, -pp. 235-241.) - -[61] Spanish, de grãde estampida; literally, "causes a great stampede -thither." - -[62] Alluding to the cathedral El Pilar at Zaragoza, in which is a -famous statue of the Virgin descending upon a pillar. It soon became -a rival of the noted shrine of St. James at Compostella, in the number -of pilgrims attracted thither, and miracles performed. Maria del Pilar -is a favorite name for girls in Spain, commonly abbreviated to Pilar. - -[63] Carlos Clemente Gant made his profession at Zaragoza, in 1602. He -came to Manila in 1611, and spent most of his life in the Cagayán -missions, filling many high offices in that region; he was also -provincial for two terms. He died at Lal-ló, in 1660, at the age -of seventy-two. - -[64] Luis Oñate made his profession at Sevilla, in 1626, and came to -the islands in 1632. He spent the rest of his life in the Cagayán -missions; and he died at Manila on June 18, 1678, at the age of -almost seventy. - -[65] Juan Bautista Morales was born in 1597, at Ecija; he entered -the Dominican convent there, but was ordained in Mexico. In 1618 he -came to Manila, and was assigned to the ministry among the Chinese -there. In 1628 and 1629 he was in Camboja, but was unable to establish -a mission there. In 1633 he went to China; after spending several years -in the missions there, he was sent (1640) by his order to Europe, -to make complaint regarding the practice of the "Chinese rites" by -the Jesuits in China. Taking the overland route from Goa, Morales -arrived in Italy in January, 1643; five years later, he escorted a -band of missionaries to Manila, and in 1649 returned to China. He -spent the rest of his life there, dying at Fo-Kien, September 17, -1664. (See Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 358-369.) - -[66] Francisco Diaz was born near Valladolid, October 4, 1606, and -entered the Dominican order there. Coming to Manila in 1632, he spent -some time in the Chinese hospital; and in 1635 he entered the China -mission, where he spent the rest of his life, dying at Ting-teu, -November 4, 1646. (See Reseña biográfica, i, pp. 393-411.) - -[67] Referring to the Chinese moralist and teacher Kôshi, usually -known to Europeans as Confucius. His teachings have exercised a -powerful influence on the history and national character of Japan; -and Iyeyasu's celebrated code of laws was modeled thereon. - -[68] Mateo de la Villa, born in the province of Oviedo, made his -profession in the Dominican convent at Salamanca, in 1600. Six years -later he came to the islands, where he spent many years in the Cagayán -missions. In 1622 he was appointed procurator at Madrid and Rome, -a charge which he held as late as 1665; but it is not known when and -where he died. (See Reseña biográfica, i, p. 330.) - -[69] This was Fray Diego Collado, who had come to the Philippines in -1611; see sketch of his life in Vol. XXV, p. 158. The band whom he -led were called "Barbones" (see Vol. XXV, p. 161). - -[70] Allusion is here made to the famous town of Santiago de -Compostela, formerly the capital of Galicia. Its foundation was due -to the alleged discovery (in the ninth Century) of the burial place -of St. James the apostle, who afterward became the patron saint of -Spain. A church was built over the tomb of the saint, by Alfonso I, but -was destroyed by the Saracens; the present cathedral was begun about -1080. It soon became a noted resort of pilgrims, being visited by many -thousands every year, and has continued to be such to the present time. - -[71] Referring to Fray Francisco de Zamudio, an Augustinian, the -bishop of Nueva Caçeres--of whom bare mention (and that only as a -confessor) is made in Pérez's Catálogo. Cf. the earlier controversy -on this question between Archbishop Serrano and the religious orders -(1624), for which see Vol. XXI, pp. 32-78. - -[72] The Japanese was named Lazaro; he was one of the lepers who had -been formerly exiled from Japan for the faith, and came with the -Dominicans as a guide. Although at first he denied the Christian -faith, under pressure of torture, he afterward recovered courage, -and died as a martyr, September 29, 1637. The mestizo was Lorenzo -Ruiz, a native of Binondo; he had left Luzón on account of a murder -that he had committed there. He also was martyred, at the same time -as Lazaro. (See Reseña biográfica, i, p. 276, note.) - -[73] Biographical sketches of all these martyrs are given in Reseña -biográfica, i, pp. 258-276. - -It is well to note, in this connection, the fact that the persecutions -of Christians in Japan were not, in the main, on religious grounds. The -Japanese government was tolerant to the new religion until it had -reason to fear that its authority was being subverted by the influence -of the missionaries, and the independence of the nation threatened by -the foreign nations who sent to Japan the priests and traders. See -Griffis's Mikado's Empire, pp. 247-259, Rein's Japan, pp. 290-293, -and Murdoch and Yamagata's History of Japan, pp. 457-506. The -last-named cites at length the writings of Charlevoix, Léon Pagés, -and other historians. - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: -Volume XXXII, 1640, by Diego Aduarte - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS *** - -***** This file should be named 42458-8.txt or 42458-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/2/4/5/42458/ - -Produced by Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net/ for Project -Gutenberg. - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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