_Continuation of the preceding chapter_
[The missionaries are well received by their brethren in Mexico. But
they despair of getting vessels for the islands, "for already they
were long overdue"--that is, the vessels from the Philippines, which
are to return thither again. However, within a short time the "San
Andrés," bearing two Augustinians, Fathers Carrillo and Plaza, arrives
in port. They bring a tale of storms and almost shipwrecks. "The
almiranta suffered eleven hurricanes, and all had already lost hope of
life. The vessel miraculously made the voyage through the courage of
the pilot Toral, and that of father Fray Estéban Carrillo--who, lashed
to the mizzen-mast, with a crucifix in his hands, consoled the crew,
and animated and encouraged them. He always shared his food with the
sick." Of the other two vessels of the fleet, the flagship runs aground
in Japan, but the crew are saved. "It was one of the greatest losses
sustained by these islands. Don Rodrigo de Vivero was returning in
the vessel. He had governed the islands for one year, in behalf of his
uncle Don Luis de Velasco. The latter sent him for that purpose until
the governor should be nominated in España." The vessel "Santa Ana"
is repaired and makes the voyage the succeeding year. "The arrival of
the almiranta gave great comfort to Nueva España; for, as these vessels
are of great profit, their loss is felt more than that of those coming
from España. All together the latter do not in any way compete with
those coming from Filipinas." The almiranta and another vessel, the
"San Francisco" of Peru, return that year to the islands. The viceroy
refuses to allow all the religious who have come for that purpose to
embark. The following religious embark in the "San Francisco."]
1. Father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, visitor-general.
2. Fray Diego de Uribe, his associate, who afterward studied and
preached in the Ilocan language. He died as prior of one of the
Ilocan convents.
3. Fray Agustín de los Ríos, native of Extremadura, a zealous servant
of God and an eloquent preacher. He returned to Nueva España, in
search of health, and afterward lived for some years there without
it, in the hope of returning; but he died in that country, from
epilepsy. But it is always thought that he, who was so spiritual,
must have died to enjoy God.
4. Father Fray Hernando Becerra, one of the most learned and
substantial men who have gone to the islands. In but little time he
had filled all the principal offices of the order, such as reader of
theology, chief preacher at Manila, associate of the provincial and
of the visitor-general, prior of many convents, visitor, definitor,
provincial with visitor (which he had been before), and prior of
Manila. But he exercised the office of provincial scarcely two
months. He was very judicious, and therefore acquired the above
offices. God took him to Himself; for he left all envious of his death.
5. Fray Pedro de Herrera, of excellent mind. Although he could have
been great if he had wished, like his pupil, our Father Becerra (both
of them from Valladolid), yet all do not have equal fortune. This
father was unfortunate. Our father general, before whom he presented
himself, deprived him of his habit, but after seeing that he did
so unjustly, returned it to him; but Father Herrera was much broken
because of so many troubles. He was the best Tagál linguist known.
6. Fray Andrés de Ocampo, of Córdoba, an excellent religious. He
ministered in the Pampanga speech, and enjoyed good priorates. He
died while returning to España.
7. Fray Silvestre de Torres, of the same company, came the next
year. He was a native of Granada. He went to Japón and learned from
the sanctity of the holy martyr Fray Hernando de San José. Later,
when the religious were expelled from Japón, he came to Manila. He
was chief preacher of Sugbú, and later of Manila; and had a mission
among the Tagáls. He died by falling from a window. And since the
Lord took him in such fashion, from his piety one will understand
that that was the most appropriate hour for his salvation, as he had
labored so assiduously.
8. Fray Andrés Jiménez, of Murcia. He came the same year as the
above. He returned to Nueva España, but, not finding any refuge there,
he came back to the shelter of Filipinas--where, partly in the province
of Ilocos, and partly in that of Pampanga, he has done his utmost,
according to the talent that God gave him.
9. Father Fray Juan Boan came four years ago. He has been very
fortunate; for one would believe that they went to meet him with
honorable duties, in which he has ever carried himself to the honor
of the habit and the esteem of the natives, who have always loved
him. He has made material advances for the province, acting with great
mildness, and it is hoped that he will continue to do so more and more.
10. Father Fray Pedro de la Peña, a native of Burgos, and an excellent
religious. He read theology in Manila, with great credit. He held
excellent priorates in Pampanga, and before these held some in Ilocos,
where he was vicar-general. He was elected definitor of Roma and
procurator of the province at the Spanish court. He died at sea
in 1631.
11. Fray Pedro de Zuñiga, one of those whom we can honor most, since
he obtained glorious martyrdom in Japon. I refer to his life.
12. Fray Juan de Medina, of Sevilla, missionary to the Bisayans. This
is he who writes this history. I confess that the province has honored
me beyond my deserts with offices and honors.
13. Fray José de Vides, a creole of Nueva España. Unfortunately he
was deprived of the habit with father Fray Pedro de Herrera. He went
to Roma by way of India, and it is not known where he stopped.
14. Fray Pedro de Mendoza, of Mechoacán, missionary to the Ilocos. He
always refused a priorate (although he could have obtained many,
had he wished), and also the office of provincial. But he is humility
itself, and I think that he will give us an opportunity.
15. Father Fray Juan de Sahagun, of Salamanca. He has held priorates,
and has lived up to the measure of his strength.
16. Fray Francisco Figueroa, of Córdoba, a Pampanga missionary. He
has carried himself well, and is esteemed and loved by all.
17. Father Fray Juan Ruiz, Bisayan missionary in the Bisayas for
several years; and then our God took him to Himself.
18. This was father Fray Juan de Ocadiz, who was hanged for the murder
of our father Fray Vicente. It would appear that that murder was
needful to him for his salvation, for his penance during the entire
time of his imprisonment was incredible. And his preparation for
death was remarkable. It has been the Lord's will to have given him
His glory, since, to pardon one, He wishes repentance alone. _Si autem
impius egeret pænitentiam ab omnibus peccatis suis, quæ operatus est
... omnium iniquitatum ejus, quæ operatus est, non recordabor._ [16]
When the violent murder of the provincial was divulged, an auditor went
to [the fathers of] St. Augustine, by order of the royal Audiencia,
to inquire into it. All the religious were assembled, and when all
were in the hall of his Paternity, the auditor ordered all of them
to kiss the hand of the dead provincial. On kissing it, father Fray
Juan de Ocadiz began to tremble, etc., and confessed his guilt.
19. This was brother Fray Juan Bautista, a native of Genova, but a
devoted servant of God, as he has proved in the time while he has
lived in the Filipinas Islands, in the confidential offices that the
order has entrusted to him. [17]
Our father visitor-general, seeing that many religious were necessary,
and that very few were going to Manila, resolved to bestow some
habits in the port of Acapulco. It served no other purpose than to
bring to the table those who had to leave it next day, and to give a
better passage to those who would have come exposed to the wretched
lot endured by the soldiers; and, when they wish to give habits,
there is no lack [of men] here in Manila. Therefore, scarcely were
they come to Manila when they left. That year the first archbishop
who has belonged to the islands sailed, namely, Don Pedro Vazquez
de Mercado, a secular. He had been bishop in Nueva España, and,
although any office there is better, accepted this office, as he had
been reared in Filipinas (where he had enjoyed prebends and health),
and because his Majesty ordered it.
No other order came then. The voyage was fortunate, for, without
furling our sails, day or night, we reached Manila, June 6, 1610;
and no voyage like ours has been made here since, as we sailed on
March 25. Both vessels were very swift, the winds strong, and the
rain-showers must have been a help.
We were welcomed cordially in Manila, as they were not expecting a
company, for the procurator sent by the province--namely, the father
reader Fray Juan de Pineda [18]--was detained in Nueva España. When we
arrived, already the favor bestowed upon the province by his Majesty
(in a time when, as ran the news, little was expected) was already
being extended; for the news that circulated through the court was
not very reliable. But his Majesty, better informed, attended to
everything as a pious king. He sent religious to the province, and gave
the bishopric to Don Fray Pedro de Arce, as above stated. He gave also
an alms of two thousand pesos to the Manila house, and joined to it a
visitor-general, with orders to attend to whatever needed remedy. His
Majesty should be considered as a most kind benefactor of the orders,
and very thankful for the services that our order has performed in
these regions for him.
The first thing given attention was the examination of the papers of
our father master Fray Diego de Guevara. When they had been examined
in the definitorio, there were no objections possible. Therefore,
with humble mien, the venerable father definitors were very obedient,
and complied with the letters of our most reverend father. They
were much beholden for the favors received from our pious king, and
served him likewise in this thing that he ordered. Thus was our father
visitor-general received by the definitorio. He was visitor-general
for the entire province, since necessarily the body must obey the
movements of its head.
Our father visitor was especially charged by the court to inquire into
our Father Solier's acts; and, if necessary, he was to deprive him
of his office and declare it forfeited. But he found matters quite
different from those reported there, for he found Father Solier's
province under his government very much reformed, and his devotion
admirable. For our Father Solier was in all things a remarkable man;
and by his letter to the province and his systematic conduct of it,
and the manner in which he conserved it, one can see how well he played
his part. Thus if he had lost any of his luster in his dispute with the
chapter of the past _intermedium_, he more than made it up. And this
being so understood by our father visitor-general, he congratulated
Father Solier highly, and honored him to the utmost.
It appears that our Father Solier was obliged to give account of
himself. Therefore leaving the province so well conducted with a
so honored superior, who came to it to honor and to investigate it,
he determined to go to the kingdoms of España. Accordingly, having
obtained leave for this from the father visitor, he set sail that
year, with authorization from the province to take care of its causes
and plead them in the court. Then, accompanied by father Fray Lúcas
de Atienza, [19] an aged religious, and at that time prior of the
convent of Ibabay in the Pintados, he set sail in the vessels which
left that year, in the first part of August. The galleon "San Juan"
was to sail; it had been built to fight the Dutch enemy. Gaining the
victory on St. Mark's day, April 24 of the same year, it had been
repaired again and was to make the voyage. One of the Dutch vessels
captured was to go as almiranta; but it did not make the voyage, as it
was unseaworthy. The trip was prosperous and the father reached España,
attended by the same fortune. There he gave so satisfactory an account
of himself that not only did they not find him deserving of reprimand,
but honored him, by making him bishop of Puerto Rico. Later he was
promoted to the archbishopric of Santo Domingo. He gave the proofs that
all the order promised itself from his great goodness and fervor. His
zeal in conducting the affairs of this province of Filipinas was very
great. He always recognized this province as his mother, and as that
from which his higher station had originated. Therefore, although now
a bishop, he looked after the interests most important to him, namely,
the sending of ministers and missionaries. And indeed he did this by
securing a fine company, whom he sent in charge of father Fray Juan de
Montemayor, a most illustrious preacher, who was living in Andalucía,
and wished to come to these regions. He considered the offer made
to him, to be prior of that company, as not bad; and conducted it to
the Filipinas, as we shall see later.
The father master Solier appointed our father Fray Miguel García
(then prior of Manila) his vicar in the province of Filipinas;
and left for him letters-patent, and all the authority that he
could. As we have said, he could not have left anyone more suitable,
nor one who more completely filled the vacancy made by Father Solier's
departure. Father Garcia governed during the one remaining year [of
Father Solier's provincialate], with great prudence, and proved what
an excellent provincial he would have made. Yet he was not, on that
account, neglectful of his house of Manila, but governed it with
strictness, which even became greater. He enriched the choir with
beautiful stalls of inlaid work and wood, which, after many years,
are still in excellent condition. He built the largest room in Manila,
namely, the porter's room. Afterward, while provincial, he aided in the
further progress of the work. That house owes more to him than to any
other. Our father visitor chose as his associate father Fray Estacio
Ortíz, [20] who had also been his associate when he went to begin
the [work of the] order in Japón. As he knew his talents and prudence
through that long association, the father visitor thought that he could
make no better choice of one to whom to entrust an office of so great
secrecy than this man whom he considered so good. Therefore as soon as
he reached Manila, he appointed Father Ortíz as such, and therein he
did exceeding well. For, as has been proved, he is the most prudent
man who has come to the Filipinas, very silent, very long-suffering,
and above all, a most devout religious. The province, aware of this,
has never allowed him any rest, but has always entrusted to him the
offices of greatest weight and honor; and he has given most strict
account of them, to the very signal interest of the order. He has
twice been prior of Manila, which place is the rock of experience,
and where each one shows his talents. Both times he labored hard,
performed much, and ruled that convent in all strictness. He was
prior of Sugbú, as well as visitor and definitor of the province at
the same time, and prior of many convents. He ever bore the name of
provincial, to which office he was not elected--not for lack of merit,
but of fortune, which is not always equal; and the lots go by pairs.
Our father visitor-general began, then, his visit through the
Tagál province Pampanga, and Ilocos, and kept for the following
triennium what remained in the Pintados. He was not limited in time,
and therefore, went slowly. Everywhere he exhibited great prudence
and wisdom, as the religious recognized, and he knew how to carry
himself with them. He provided what he saw was most essential to
the perfection of the province, which he thought to establish with
the earnestness demanded by his care and devotion, and by disposing
their minds to observe what he was teaching them by word and precept.
When he was in Manila he was an excellent chorister, and in the
other convents he assisted in the same manner. When he saw what was
advisable, he approached Manila to arrange what was needful in the
chapter affairs, for the true reformation is, that the superior be
such. If the superior be perfect, then he must try to see that all
whom he rules be perfect also. _Qualis rector est civitatis, tales
et inhabitantes in ea._ [21]