_Of the election of our father Fray Juan de Henao_
Our father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, with the mildness which we have
seen, with which he began and divided his government, ended it with
the same, not leaving any religious any ground for complaint. For
he loved them all equally, and equally strove for their spiritual
welfare, acting toward them in every respect as a true father and
shepherd. He had cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Medrano as
his successor. The latter was then definitor, and he was a person
of great talent for what the office requires, and had preached at
Manila in a very satisfactory manner. But since there are so many
different understandings in a province, all men cannot judge of a
thing by the same method, for every one feels regarding it as his own
judgment dictates. Consequently, there was a following which tried
to elect father Fray Francisco Coronel, a man of vast learning, and
of whom very great hopes were entertained for the future. But that
following never could gain the full game, nor even check the other
faction. Thereupon they settled on a scheme which did not succeed
badly, and that was to cast their votes for our father Fray Juan de
Henao, who belonged to the other faction, and had the father president
on his side. By this means, the election was conferred upon the man
who was least expected [to gain it]. One would believe that the Lord
chose to give him therein the dignity which He had taken from him six
years before--the reader will remember what we have said about that.
At this time the fathers born in the Indias, although they were
few, had obtained a bull from his Holiness, so that between them
and the fathers from Castilla there should be alternation [in
the celebration of Corpus Christi]. Its execution was committed
to the archdean of Manila, Alonso García, a creole, who was much
inclined to it. Accordingly he proceeded without allowing any appeal
or argument, although those presented by the Castilian fathers were
very cogent. Finally he proceeded to extreme measures, by declaring
the fathers excommunicated. Here the province refused to admit the
letters of excommunication. Finally, our father Henao was elected
in this contention, with father Fray Estéban de Peralta acting as
presiding officer of the chapter. The definitors elected were:
father Fray Juan de Tapia; the second, Fray Juan de Medina; the
third, Fray Nicolás de Herrera; [75] and the fourth, Fray Martín
de Errasti. [76] The visitors were father Fray Jerónimo Medrano and
father Fray Cristóbal de Miranda. [77]
The father provincial and the other father definitors looked after
the affairs of the province with great prudence, and discussed the
most important matter of that time--namely, the choice of a person to
go to the court of Roma to represent the causes which had moved them
not to accept the alternation, giving him the money for expenses which
the other fathers are accustomed to carry, with additional pay, and as
the case required. The father master, Fray Pedro García, was selected
for that purpose. He was the brother of the archbishop and a person
of great talent and resources, who would be well received anywhere
because of his person, learning, and excellent mode of procedure. But
the Lord was pleased not to allow him to reach Nueva España. The creole
fathers also requested that permission be granted to them, for they
wished to send a procurator on their own account; and their request
was granted. Accordingly they sent father Fray Alonso de Figueroa,
[78] a person of much ability, and the most suitable that could be
selected among the men of his following.
Father Fray Hernando de Cabrera, an admirable minister of the
Tagalos, of whom we have already spoken, asked for leave to go to
España. Together with the father master, Fray Pedro García, he took
passage on the flagship "San Juan," a new ship whose first voyage
this was. Aboard it was Don Fernando de Silva, who had governed these
islands, four procurators for the city of Manila, who were being
sent to look after the property of the citizens, on account of unfair
dealings by those of Nueva España in the returns made for it [_i.e._,
for goods exported thither from Manila]. Further, two fathers and a
brother named Fray Juan de Peña took passage with them. Two of our
religious embarked aboard the almiranta--father Fray Lorenzo [_sic_]
de Figueroa as procurator of the creole fathers, and a brother named
Fray Francisco de San Nicolás. They left the port of Cavite, August
4; they experienced considerable suffering, for the vendavals were
blowing vigorously, and those winds make it difficult to get out of
the bay. At last it was God's good pleasure to give them weather which
enabled them to make their voyage. In this line, on the return trip
to Méjico, the ships do not sail in company, but each one takes the
direction which is most expedient for it, relying on God, who will
aid them. The storms were frightful. The almiranta suffered the most
terrible voyage that ever ship has suffered. For after a few blasts
they had to cut down the mast, and, when they reached thirty-six
degrees, they lost their rudder. In such plight they agreed to return,
suffering destructive hurricanes, so that, had not the ship been
so staunch, it would have been swallowed up in the sea a thousand
times. Finally God was pleased to have it return, as if by a miracle;
and as such was it considered by all the inhabitants of Manila. The
other vessel, being a new and larger ship, on perceiving the storm,
went to a lower latitude. It continued to plow the sea, to the great
discomfort of all, for it was six months on the voyage. The father
master, Fray Pedro, died on that voyage, with so excellent an example
that there was no one aboard the ship who was not edified. Father
Cabrera also died with great piety, and like a devoted religious, as
he was. The brother lived. Even the chaplain aboard the ship died. In
all the dead numbered ninety-nine persons, who could have peopled a
world. Those who arrived were in such condition that it was necessary
to let them regain their strength in the port of Valdebanderas. The
procurators on both sides had this lot, which was plainly that which
occurred to all. But against the will of God there is no one who can
go; what is important is, that His will be always done.
Archbishop Don Fray Miguel Garcia saw that the time was approaching
for the provincial chapter. He hastened and left Manila to visit
and confirm those of his jurisdiction. It is certain that, had
Ours detained him, affairs would have come out better. Finally,
being constrained, they had to summon him; and his coming adjusted
affairs. He returned to his confirmation, being desirous of concluding
it in order to return for the feast of Corpus Christi in the city,
which was his greatest devotion. But his haste cost him his life. He
was corpulent, and had been ailing many days; his blood became heated,
and gave him a fever. He was not attended to in time, and when they
took care of him he was a dead man. His death occurred on that same
day of the most holy sacrament, at nine o'clock at night. He died
as an apostle, after having done his whole duty as religious and
bishop. Great was the concourse of people, for his great sagacity and
prudence made him not only liked but loved by all. He was buried in our
convent, at the foot of the high altar, among the religious. Beyond
doubt our Lord chose to snatch him from this life on that day which
he so much venerated, so that he should see the reward which the
Lord gave him for so great devotion. He was a liberal almsgiver,
and at the time of his death had nothing that was his own. All his
possessions had been expended in charitable works many days before. The
city grieved much over his death, but his church grieved more; for,
besides remaining orphaned, there was no other who would thus look
after it. The bishop of Sugbú came to govern it, by indult of his
Holiness, with which he has governed twice at Manila.
[After dwelling at some length on the virtue of a Bengal slave woman
and her miraculous escape from death, she having been dangerously
wounded by her would-be seducer, Medina continues:]
In our father Fray Juan Henao's first year, when we had already
entered upon the year 1630, the orders considered the little security
that they had from the Moros, for the latter were becoming insolent
with their successful forays; and thus, without giving our people any
breathing-space, were destroying the villages and missions in charge
of the orders--and more especially they were pressing the Jesuits, as
those fathers were established in places more exposed to the insolence
and violence of the enemies. The governor, in an endeavor to uproot
so great an evil at one blow, had a fleet built in the islands--the
largest ever made by Indians--at the expense of the king our sovereign,
and of the Indians and encomenderos. A great sum of money was expended
upon it. Command of it was entrusted to the master-of-camp of the
forces at Manila, Don Lorenzo de Olazu, a soldier, and one of those
of highest reputation in those regions. The fleet bore more than
four thousand Indians, taken from all districts at great expense, and
more than five hundred Spaniards, picked men, commanded by captains
of note. The fleet was composed of two galleys, three brigantines,
a number of caracoas, and champans to carry food. With this fleet
it was confidently expected to subdue not only Joló, but all the
hostile islands.
The Jolog group consists of many islands, but the principal one, where
the king lives, has a hill in the middle of it like a volcano. It
has only one very steep ascent, and is an impregnable point, and as
such it is regarded by all. Accordingly, when the Indians are visited
by enemies, they fortify the hill, and then imagine themselves secure
against any force. But when, about two years ago, Admiral Don Cristóbal
de Lugo had burned their villages, and they knew that the Castilians
were about to attack them, they had fortified the hill strongly,
mounting thereon the guns that they had taken from the [Spanish]
shipyard. The master-of-camp believed himself sufficient to take that
hill alone. Accordingly as soon as he arrived, he landed, and heading
them, led his men up the hill without delay. That fleet was accompanied
by one of our religious, father Fray Fulgencio, an excellent preacher,
and a very good worker, who was preëminent among the others who
went. There was also a Recollect father named Fray Miguel, who did
not move from the side of the master-of-camp. The latter, finding
himself almost alone on the height and near the stockade, many
sharpened stakes and bamboos hardened in the fire were hurled at him,
so that the master-of-camp fell, while others of the more courageous
were wounded, and some killed. Thereupon, had the others ascended
and entered, as the attack would have been less difficult after that
first fury, they would have gained the fort, which had but few men, as
was afterward learned; but they remained inactive. The master-of-camp
arose, and retired without doing more than this; and with this result,
that that fleet, that had made every one afraid, returned. My opinion
is, that the Spaniards were punished for the arrogance that they must
have displayed there; and that along those coasts, and at the expense
of the wretched subjects, they tried to find the pearls of the king
of Joló, which were said to be most beautiful. And accordingly this
was proclaimed, to the sound of drum, in the port of Ilong-ilong
and in Sugbú, and a reward promised to whoever would seize them;
for they considered the victory their own already, and shouted it
forth before obtaining it. If they, as Christians, had gone with
good intent to punish those Mahometan enemies for the desecrations
that they had committed against the churches and sacred images, who
doubts that the Lord, whose cause that was, would have aided them? But
they were greedy for their own interests, and had their eyes on their
own convenience. Thus they lost both the moneys expended and their
reputation; and to save reputation one should expend much toil, for
by it are conserved monarchies and kingdoms. They returned to Manila
the laughing-stock of all the islands. From that time the Indians of
Cagayán began to talk among themselves of lifting the yoke, placed on
their necks by the Castilians; for as has been seen, all is not gold
that glitters. Many deaths occurred among the Indians of different
districts. The expenses of the natives, as above stated, were great,
for although no one goes from his village except with very liberal
aid, in this case that aid was unusually generous. Thus there was
no encomienda that had a thousand Indians that did not expend more
than a thousand pesos, besides rice--in addition to their tribute,
personal services, and other taxes. It should be considered and
recognized how these poor wretches were continually harassed; hence,
why should one wonder that events do not succeed as one would desire?
In the present year the vessel "San Juan" returned, the ill-fortune of
which was feared, because the almiranta had put back to port. It
gave report of its voyage, whereupon the order voted what was
important. [79] They appointed a procurator who went to España. This
was the father reader, Fray Pedro de la Peña, [80] who was prior of
Macabebe in Pampanga. He took passage on the flagship "San Luis." In
the almiranta embarked another father, from Valencia, named father Fray
Vicente Lidón. These vessels left the port of Cavite on August 4. They
put back to the same port to lighten, and set sail again as heavily
laden as before. They experienced no better voyage than the last ones
had; for, besides putting back, they did not lack misfortunes. The
flagship cut down its mast on the high sea, and was all but lost. The
other vessel also suffered greatly, and between them both they threw
overboard more than one hundred and forty [dead] people, while the
others were like to die of hunger, for the voyage lasted seven and
one-half months. Nueva España no longer expected them, and therefore
despatched [to the islands] two small vessels from Perú, in which
came the visitor of the islands, Don Francisco de Rojas. Both vessels
suffered greatly. They lost their rudders, and their arrival was a
miracle. It is quite apparent that the Lord is very merciful toward
the islands. We surmise that these vessels arrived, one in July and
the other in August of 1631. The worst thing resulting to the order
in what happened to the vessels was, that no one would take passage
on the ships, so that the province came to a condition of the utmost
peril. For, if procurators are lacking in España, there is no hope
of getting religious; and the religious who are here now are dying
daily. For never have I seen a triennium when there were not more than
twenty deaths, and sometimes even thirty; while few are invested with
the habit. Thus, perforce, the province is always in need of men.
Nevertheless, I, who had always been desiring to go to España, at
last obtained my wish this year of 1631, under the greatest strife
and oppositions that can be told; but I will not speak of them,
as they are personal, although a not small history might be made of
them. Finally I embarked in the flagship (where I went as vicar),
in which no other priest embarked. The ship was a new one, and had
been built in Cavite, during the residence of Governor Don Juan Niño
de Tábora, who named it "La Magdalena" for his wife. It was always
said that the ship had no strength and ought not to make the trip. The
people said this among themselves; but, when they spoke of it to the
governor, they praised it, and said that it was the best vessel in
the world, for the contrary grieved him greatly. It was laden, and
then its weakness was evident, so that they had to change their tune
to that very governor. It was said that it would be made all right
by putting in some stiffening--namely, three planks on each side,
very thick and heavy--whereby it seemed that the vessel would be
strengthened. Accordingly, the people embarked, a thing that ought not
to have been done. On Thursday, at dawn, we were about to set sail; and
when they weighed the anchor that held the ship, it listed to starboard
so rapidly that, had not the point of the largest yard caught on the
shore, the ship would doubtless have turned keel up. To see so many
men perish there and so much property lost, was a day of judgment--an
event such as no one remembers to have heard told before. The artillery
was fired at intervals from the fort of Cavite, whereat the governor
and many vessels came up. I was the first to escape from the ship,
but as by a miracle; for I jumped into the water from the lantern,
clothed as I was with my black habit. By God's help I was enabled to
reach a small boat, in which I escaped, as above described. May the
Lord's will be fulfilled. With this I have been in danger of death
seven times from the water while in the islands, whence the Lord by
His mercy has miraculously drawn and freed me. The first was shortly
after my arrival in the country, at Aclán. While bathing in the river,
suddenly a current came whose rapidity seized me and bore me beyond my
depth. I was already lost and surrendered myself to the mercy of the
water, for I could not swim. God inspired a sacristan who was there,
who dived quickly into the water, followed me, and, catching hold of
me, drew me ashore. The second was while prior of Ibahay, and when
I was visiting the islands. While crossing to one, so fierce a storm
struck me that the Indians gave up hope, and thought only of dying. The
little boat was a poor one, without helm or sail. All human aid being
exhausted, I had recourse to the [departed] souls, who obtained a
change of wind from the Lord; thus, with a powerful north wind, and
the anchor thrown astern from a cable to aid as a rudder, we reached
a little islet at two o'clock at night. There we moored, that stormy
night. As soon as we reached the islet, the vendaval began to blow
again, so that it would seem that the north wind had blown only for
that. The third was in the same river of Ibahay. While ascending it
when it had a very large strong current (for it is a furious river),
it overturned my little boat, and drew me under; but, although I
did not know how to swim, the water was drawn from under me, and I
remained on the surface of the water, in such manner that I did not
sink beyond my girdle. And thus, with half my body out of the water,
the current carried me a long distance. The Indians were following
me in all haste with the little boat, supporting it with their hands;
and, when it overtook me, I climbed on top of it, overturned as it was,
and in that manner they dragged me ashore. From there I went to the
village, passing through streams as deep as my waist, or even to the
shoulders, and many times even up to the throat, at the imminent risk
of attack by crocodiles, and of life, and health; for I did not dare
enter the boat again. The fourth was in Laglag, when I was going on
horseback to the visitas of that district. The road was so close to
the edge of the river that it could not be followed without risk. The
rest of the country was so rough that it could not be penetrated. I
was going carefully, but the horse knew little of the reins, and
made a misstep and fell into the river--from so high a precipice that
surely, had there not been much water in the river at that time, we
had broken all our bones. But it was deep and had a strong current,
so that when we fell into it we sank. The horse reached the shore
immediately by swimming. The current carried me above water for a
very great distance, until I seized some reed-grass by which I was
able to reach the shore, where I thanked God for so many mercies. The
fifth was by falling into the Dumangas River from a little boat. The
above one of the ship is the sixth. I have left untold countless
other dangers, while on the sea so many times--now from enemies, now
from the weather. The seventh time is the loss of Sugbú, after the
burning of that city and convent. It is not little to tell what the
missionaries suffer here; but, as they are caused by works for God,
His [Divine] Majesty aids us with His help and protection, when by
any other means it seems impossible to save one's life on account of
the enemies and hardships that surround a religious on all sides. May
thanks be given to His [Divine] Majesty for all. Amen.
In 1631 there happened a wonderful thing in Sugbú. On account of the
ill-success achieved at Joló, the governor sent Sargento-mayor Tufino
to Sugbú, so that, being posted in Dapitan (situated in Mindanao),
he might prove an obstacle to the Joloans, so that they should not
infest the islands. He reached the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús,
and was lodged in a house belonging to the convent, opposite the
prison; the two houses are separated only by a very wide street. The
sargento-mayor stored his powder, amounting to sixteen barrels, in
his house. The prison caught afire. All the people ran thither, since
if the fire leaped to the house opposite, and caught in the powder,
the city would surely be blown to pieces. The most Holy Child was
immediately taken out, at sight of whom the fire was checked, and
burned only the nipas of that piece, and left the supports on which
it rests intact. This is the latest thing [of this sort] that has
been seen. It was a solemn miracle; but that Lord who is omnipotent
in all things can do this.