_Omoncon departeth with certificate, in what
perplexitie he left Limahon the rouer, and doth carrie
with him the fathers of S. Augustine._
The twelfth day of June, in the yeare of our Lord 1575, being Sunday in
the morning, the aforesaid gouernor and all that were in the cittie did
ioyne and go together vnto the monasterie of saint Augustine, where was
deuout prayers made vnto the Holy Ghost, and after they had all of them
requested of God so to direct the voyage, that it might be to the honor
and glorie of his diuine majestie, and to the saluation of the soules of
that kingdome, whome Lucyfer had so long possessed, Omoncon and Sinsay
did take their leaue of the gouernour, and of the rest, giuing them
thankes for their good entertainment that they made them, and did
promise them, in recompence thereof, to bee alwayes their assured
friends, as shall appeare by his works, and to carry them, whome he did
request of his owne good will, with securitie as vnto himselfe, and that
he would first suffer wrong himselfe, before any should be done vnto
those whom he had on his charge. The gouernor and all the rest did
thankfully accept his new offer, giuing him to vnderstand that they were
fully perswaded that his word and deede should be all one, and therewith
they tooke their leaue of them, and of the religious men with the two
souldiers their companions, not lacking teares to be shed on both parts.
Then did they al imbarke themselues in a ship of the ilands which was
made readie for the same effect, and went out of the port in the company
of another shippe with merchants of China that were at Manilla, into the
which Sinsay put himselfe with all their victuals, for to carry it
vntill they came vnto the port of Buliano, whereas was the great shippe
of Omoncon, wherin they should make their voyage; which was that which
was forced to returne backe againe by reason of foule wether: they
aryued at the same port the Sunday following, for that the winde was
somewhat contrarie, and had lost the shippe that carried their victuals,
but after founde her at an anker in the port, for that she was the
bigger shippe and sailed better: they founde also in her two Spanish
souldiers, whom the generall of the fielde had sent from Pagansinan, for
that, from the place whereas he was, he did see the saide ship to enter
into the port, with commandement for to carrie them vnto him. This did
cause vnto the religious men and souldiers a suspition that the generall
of the fielde woulde procure to stay them vntill such time as he did see
the ende of the siege of the fort, which euerie day was looked when they
would yeelde, for that they shoulde carry with them Limahon the rouer
aliue or dead. Uppon the which almost euery one gaue his iudgement, that
it were better to depart without obeying his commandement, neither to
take their leave of him, but to prosecute their voyage so much desired,
for they thought euerie houre of their staying to bee a whole yeare:
fearing that euerie thing would be an impediment to disturbe their
intent and purpose: but better persuading themselues, knowing the good
condition and great Christianitie of the generall of the fielde, whom
frier Martin had alwayes in place of his sonne, for that he was the
neuew vnto the Adelantado Legaspi, the first gouernor and discouerer of
the said Philippinas, whom he brought with him from Mexico, being but a
child: they were agreed to go vnto him, and shewe their obedience, and
to take their leaue of him and of all the rest of their friends that
were in the camp. So with this determination they put their shippe into
the river Pagansinan, which was but seuen leagues from the saide port.
They had not sailed three leagues but a contrary winde so charged them,
that they were constrained to returne into the port from whence they
came, and there concluded amongst themselues to send Pedro Sarmiento in
the barke wherein came the two souldiers aforesaid; for that it was
little and went with oares, they might with lesse daunger enter into the
riuer of Pagansinan, rowing vnder the shoore: and that hee in the name
of them all should conferre with the generall of the field, and so take
his leaue of him and of all the rest of their friends, whome they did
request that they would not forget them in their prayers, to commend
them vnto God to bee their aider and helper in this their pretence, so
much desired of them all: and gave him great charge to bring with him
the interpreter that they should carrie with them, which was a boy of
China that was baptised in Manilla, and could speake Spanish very well;
he was named Gernando.[9] This Pedro Sarmiento came thither, and did
accomplish all that was commended vnto him verie faithfully: but the
generall of the field was not therewith satisfied, neither the captaines
and souldiers that were with him, for that the father friers were very
wel beloued of them, for they deserued it: so they determined to send
for them, and to request them to come thither and see them, being so
nigh as they were. They being vnderstood by the friers (not without the
suspition aforesaid), and seeing that they could not excuse to go vnto
them to accomplish their commandement and gentle request, they departed
out of Buliano with a faire wind, for that the storme was done, although
the sea was a little troubled; and therewith they ariued at Pagansinan
whereas they were well receiued of the generall of the fielde, and of
all the rest with great ioy and pleasure. Their suspition fell out
cleane contrarie as they thought, for that the generall of the fielde
would not stay them, but did dispatch them with all speede possible, and
did deliuer vnto them at the instant all such captiues as the gouernor
had commanded, and the souldiers that had them did with a verie good
will deliuer them, seeing to what intent it did extende, and also the
interpreter, with all other thinges that was necessarie and requisite
for the voyage; and writ a letter vnto Omoncon, who remained in Buliano,
that hee would fauour and cherish them as he did not thinke to the
contrarie: and did ratifie that which the gouernour had promised him,
for to sende the rouer aliue or deade, after they had ended their siege
by one meanes or other. He also requested of frier Martin de Herrada
that he would carrie with him one Nicholas de Cuenca, a souldier of his
company, for to buy for him certaine things in China, who did accept the
same with a verie good wil, and promised to intreat him as one of his
owne, and haue him in as great regard: and therewith they departed and
went vnto the port of Buliano from whence they came, taking their leaue
of the generall of the field and of all the rest of the campe, with no
lesse teares then when they departed from Manilla. He sent to beare them
company til they came vnto the port, the sergeant maior, who carried
with him a letter vnto the captaine Omoncon, and a present of victuals
and other things; and other two letters, the one for the gouernor of
Chincheo, and the other for the vizroy of the prouince of Ochian,
wherein he doth giue them to vnderstand how that he hath burnt al the
fleete of Limahon, and slaine many of his companions, and howe that he
hath besieged him so straightly that it is not possible for him to
escape, neither indure long without yeelding of himselfe; and then
either aliue or dead he would send him, as the gouernor of Manilla had
writ and promised. These two letters were accompanied with two presents,
wherein was a basen and an ewre of siluer, and certaine robes of Spanish
cloth, the which the Chinos doo esteeme very much, as also other things
of great valew that they have not in their country, and craving pardon
because he did not send more. The occasion was for that he was in that
place, and all his goods in the cittie of Manilla. The same day with a
faire winde they came vnto the port Buliano, whereas they found Omoncon
abiding their comming, and receiued all such things as the sergeant
maior did carrie him in the name of the generall of the field, and
rendered vnto him great thanks, and made a new promise to accomplish
that offer made vnto the gouernor.
[9] Misprint for "Fernando."