_Omoncon is well received of the generall of the
field, and lodged in Manilla with the gouernor,
whereas they doo conclude the going of the fathers of
Saint Augustine to China._
When that the generall of the field vnderstood wherfore the comming of
Omoncon was, hee did entertaine him with great curtesie; and after that
hee had giuen him to vnderstand in what extremitie he had brought the
rouer (which was a thing impossible for him to escape, except it were
with wings), hee did counsell him, that for the time till hee brought
his purpose to effect (which could not be long) that he would go vnto
Manilla, which was not farre from thence, and there to recreate and
sport himselfe with the gouernor and other Spaniards that were there,
for that hee alone was sufficient to accomplish his pretence, without
the comming thither of the kings fleete, neither for to remoue out of
the port whereas they were in securitie. And for his going thither he
should haue a shippe of his the which did row, and was for to bring
victuals and other prouision; and he shoulde go in the company of the
captaine Pedro de Chaues that was bound vnto Manilla, and promised him
that within few dayes he would giue him the rouer aliue or deade, which
vnto the iudgement of all men coulde not bee long.
[Sidenote: Omoncon promiseth to carry the friers vnto China.]
Omoncon, considering that this offer might come well to passe, did put
it straight wayes in vre, and did imbarke himselfe in the company of y^e
captain, and sent his ship wherein he came alone by sea, because it was
big and drew much water: the which was constrained to turne backe againe
into the part from whence he went, by reason of stormie windes and
wether, and was no impediment in the other with ores, for that hee went
alongst the shoare and was shrowded with the land from the force of the
wind, so that in few dayes they arriued in the port of the cittie of
Manilla, whereas they were well receiued and feasted of the gouernor.
Omoncon remained ther certaine dayes, after the which, he seeing that
the siege did long endure, and that his staying might cause suspition of
his death; and againe, that the whole fleete did tarrie his comming to
his intelligence of the rouer, being fully perswaded and certaine that
hee coulde not escape the Spaniards hand, they had him in such a
straight, and that they would without all doubt sende him vnto the king
aliue or dead (as they promised him), hee was determined to returne vnto
China with the good newes that he had vnderstood, with a determinate
intent, to returne againe and carrie the rouer after that they had him
prisoner. With this resolution, in the end of certaine dayes, he went
vnto the gouernor, certifying him of his pretence, whereby he might giue
him license to put it in execution. The gouernor did like wel of his
pretence, and did promise him the same the which the generall of the
fielde did offer vnto him: and which was, so soone as the rouer should
be taken prisoner or slaine, to sende him vnto the king without any
delay, or else to put him whereas he should be foorth comming, and to
giue them aduertisement to send for him, or come himself: and did offer
him, more, that for his voyage he should be prouided forthwith of all
things necessarie, without lacking of anything. Omoncon did give him
great thankes for the same, and in recompence therof did promise vnto
the gouernor, for that he understoode and had intelligence of the
fathers of S. Augustine, that his honor, and his antecessor and the
Adelantado Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, had desired many times to send vnto
the kingdome of China some religious men, to intreat of the preaching of
the gospel, and to see the wonders of that kingdome, and howe that they
neuer coulde put this their desire in execution; for that those Chinos
which came thither, although they did offer them whatsoeuer they would
demand, fearing the punishment that should be executed on them according
vnto the lawes of the kingdome: he did promise him that he would carrie
them with him vnto China, such religious men as his honour would
command, and some souldiers such as would go with them: hoping with the
good newes that hee carried, to runne in no daunger of the law, neither
the vizroy of Aucheo to thinke euill thereof; and for a more securitie
that they should not be euill intreated, hee woulde leaue with him
pledges to their content.
[Sidenote: A good pretence.]
[Sidenote: The friers names that went to China.]
The gouernor reioyced verie much at this his offer, for that it was the
thing that he and all those of the ilands most desired of long time
since, and did straightwayes accept his offer; saying that he did
clearely discharge him of his pledges, for that he was fully satisfied
of his valor and worthines, and that hee would not doo the thing that
should not be decent vnto his person and office. The gouernor being
verie ioyful of these newes, did therewith sende for the prouinciall of
the Augustine friers, who was elected but fewe dayes past: his name was
frier Alonso de Alvarado, a man of a sincere life, and one of them that
was sent by the emperor in the discouerie of the newe Guinea, vnto whome
hee declared the offer that the captaine Omoncon had made vnto him:
whereat he reioyced so much, that being an old man, hee would himself
haue gone thither: to which the gouernor would not consent in respect of
his age, and other particularities, but entred in counsel who were best
to go, and to finde one that were fitte to execute that which they had
pretended (which was, as wee haue saide, to bring in and plant in that
kingdome the holie Catholike faith): they determined that there shoulde
go but two religious men, by reason that at that time there was but a
fewe of them, and two souldiers in their companie. The religious men
shoulde bee frier Martin de Herrada of Pamplona, who left off the
dignitie of prouinciall, and was a man of great learning and of a holy
life: and for the same effect had learned the China tongue, and manie
times for to put his desire in execution did offer himselfe to bee slaue
vnto the merchants of China, onely for to carrie him thither: and in
companie with him should go frier Hieronimo Martin, who also was verie
well learned, and of the cittie of Mexico. The souldiers that were
appointed to beare them companie, were called Pedro Sarmiento, chiefe
sargeant of the cittie of Manilla, of Vilorado; and Miguel de Loarcha,
both principall men and good Christians, as was conuenient for that
which they tooke in hand. These fathers did carrie them for this
purpose, that if they did remaine there with the king preaching of the
gospell, then they shoulde returne with the newes thereof to giue the
gouernour to vnderstande of all that they had seene and happened vnto
them; and likewise vnto the king of Spaine, if neede did so require.
[Sidenote: A token that fine cloth is esteemed.]
This offer of the captaine Omoncon, and the appointment which was made
by the gouernour and the prouinciall, was knowne throughout al the
citie; and after that they had made great reioycings and feasts for the
same, it was approued of all men, that those that were named were
principall persons, as aforesaid, and were fully certified that there
should nothing be neglected of that they did commaunde them: neither let
passe any occasion, for that it was that which they did all desire, but
in particular for the seruice and honor of God, and for the benefite and
profite that shoulde redowne vnto them all by the mutuall contractation
betwixt the one nation and the other: and also giue the king to
vnderstande of so good newes as this is. The gouernor did straightwayes
call those persons that were named and appointed to come before the
captain Omoncon, and tolde them what was determined: the which they did
accept with great ioy, and gaue great thankes; and the gouernor in token
of gratitude, did giue vnto the captaine Omoncon, in the presence of
them all, a gallant chaine of golde, and a rich robe of crimson in
graine: a thing that hee esteemed verie much, and much more esteemed in
China, for that it is a thing that they haue not there. Besides this,
they did ordaine a reasonable present for to sende vnto the gouernor of
Chincheo, he that dispatched Omoncon by the commandement of the king to
go and seek the rouer: also another present for the vizroy of the
prouince of Ochian, who was at that present in the citie of Aucheo.
And for that Sinsay shoulde not finde himselfe agreeued (who was a
merchant well knowne amongst them, and perhappes might bee the occasion
of some euill and disturbance of their pretence), they gaue vnto him
also another chaine of golde, as well for this, as also for that hee was
euer a sure and perfite friend vnto the Spaniards. Then straightwayes by
the commaundement of the gouernor, there were brought togither all such
Chinos as were captiue and taken from Limahon out of the fort aforesaide
at Pagansinan, and gaue them vnto Omoncon to carrie them free with him;
and gaue likewise commaundement that the generall of the fielde, and all
such captaines and souldiers that were at the siege of the forte,
shoulde giue vnto him all such as did there remaine; binding himselfe to
pay vnto the souldiers, to whome they did appertaine, all whatsoeuer
they should be valued to be worth: all the which being done, he
commanded to bee put in a redinesse all that was necessarie for the
voyage, and that in ample manner, the which was doone in a short time.