_The fryers of Saint Francis came vnto the Ilandes
Philippinas, and procured to passe vnto the firme
lande of the kingdome of China, with zeale to preach
the holy gospell._
The day of the visitation of our Ladie, in the yeare 1578, there came
out of Spaine to the citie of Manilla, in the Ilandes Philippinas, the
father Fryer Peter de Alfaro, who went for Costodio of that prouince,
and fourteene more other religious persons of the same order in his
companie, and were sent by the king of Spaine and his royall counsel of
the Indias, for to be ayders and helpers of the Austen fryers, who
vntill that time had beene there alone in those ilandes, occupied in the
conuerting of the people in that countrie, and were the first ministers
of the gospell, preaching the same with great zeale, vnto the profite of
their soules: of the which people those fryers had baptised (when the
others ariued) more then one hundred thousande, and the rest prepared
and cathecised to receive the like. Because that at the first occasion
that might be giuen, they might enter into the kingdome of China to
preach the holy gospell. The which Fryers, when that they had been there
the space of one yeare occupying themselues in the same exercise in
preaching and conuerting the people of that countrie, in the same time
they were giuen to vnderstande by the relation of the selfe same Austen
fryers, as also by many marchants of China which came vnto them with
marchandice, of things to be wondred at of that mightie kingdome, and of
the infinite number of soules which the diuell had deceiued and brought
vnto his seruice with false idolatrie. The which being by them well
vnderstood, they did burne with great zeale and desire of their
saluation, and to goe and preach the gospell, although it were to put
their persons in whatsoeuer hazarde or danger.
So with this their great desire, they did many and diuerse times
communicate with the gouernor that was there at that time for his
maiestie, who was called the Doctor Francisco de Sandi, desiring his
fauour and licence for to goe vnto China in the companie of certaine
marchants of that countrie, that were at that present in the port with
their ships, offering themselues to get their good will, although it
were to offer themselues to be slaues or otherwise whatsoeuer. And
seeing that at all such times when as they did intreat of that matter,
they found him but luke warme, and that he did (as it were) but to
detract the time, and feed them with hope: then they calling to minde
that the chiefest intent and cause of their comming out of Spayne, was
to enter into that kingdome, caused a newe desire to grow in them, what
with the contractation they had with the sayde Chinos, as well in
conuersation as in talke, and finding them to be a people of great
abilitie and discretion, and of verie good iudgements, the which did
greatly content their desire, they did perswade themselues that it was
an easie matter to make them to vnderstande the things appertaining vnto
God. So that they determined to put other remedies in practise, because
that which they required with the good will of the gouernor, seemed to
be a large and long matter. So it happened that vpon a time intreating
of this matter, and hauing requested of God with great instance for to
direct them the readie way which was best for his seruice, and for the
profite of those soules, there came to the Ilandes Philippinas a Chino,
who, according as they did vnderstand, was one of the priests and
religious men of that kingdome (of the which priests there are a great
number in euerie towne): this priest went diuerse times vnto the
monasterie of the Fryers, and did common with them of the creation of
the worlde and other things, which did open the way that they might
declare vnto him thinges appertayning vnto God, vnto the which he did
hearken with great good will. And after that hee had declared vnto them
in particular the mightinesse and secretes of this mightie kingdome of
China (whose conuersion they so greatly desired), he very inquisitiuely
asked of them matters touching the Christian faith, of whome within a
fewe dayes after he desired to be baptised, for that he would be a
Christian, being instructed before in many matters touching our
Catholike faith.
Our religious men did accomplish his desire, the which was an incredible
ioy vnto all the dwellers of the citie, and a content vnto himselfe.
[Sidenote: The Spaniards rise at their midnight mattens and whip
themselues.]
So after that he was made a Christian hee remayned in the monasterie
amongest the other, but yet would he neuer eate any other thing but
colde herbes: and he seeing that all the religious men did arise vp at
midnight to mattens and discipline themselues, spending the greatest
part of the night in prayer before the holy sacrament, hee did not faile
one point, but did imitate them in all their dooings, with outwarde
showes of a verie good will. All the which did incyte the Fryer Costodio
and all the rest of his companions to put in execution their great
desire they had, according as it hath beene tolde you. Whereupon he went
once againe vnto the gouernour to intreat him by faire meanes that which
before they had comoned with him of, and that he would procure some
order or meanes, that those religious men might go to the kingdome of
China to preach the lawe of God, offering himselfe to be one of them,
with protestation that if he would not giue them leaue, they would
procure to go without it, with that authoritie the which hee had of God
and of his superiors, for to teach and instruct these poore infidels
their neighbors: and this should be done with the first opportunitie
they might finde or haue.
But neither this, nor yet the example of that good Chino, which was newe
christened, was sufficient to perswade the gouernor to consent vnto
their request; but perseuering in his first opinion, he answered and
said, that it was too timely, and that the friendship which they had
with the Chinos as yet was very small, and how that the fathers of S.
Austen had manie times attempted the entrie into that kingdome, and yet
neuer could obtaine their desire. And howe that the Chinos that did
carrie them did deceiue them, and left them in certaine ilands, till
such time as they heard farther newes of the rouer Limahon, and of the
returne of the captaine Omoncon, who did carrie them with the good newes
of the straight siege in the which they had the rouer: and yet for all
that they commanded them to returne from Aucheo, without giuing them
anie licence to remaine in the countrie to preach the holy gospell; and
nowe to attempt the same, was but to giue occasion vnto the Chinos
euerie day to mocke and make a iest of the Spaniardes, and willed them
to staye till such time as it were the will of God to giue way vnto the
same, which could not be long.
This Fryer Costodio vnderstanding the answere of the gouernour,
perseuering still in his first opinion, and did not goe about to seeke
any meanes to accomplish their desire for the entring into the firme
lande, hee straightwayes beganne secretly to procure by all meanes
possible to attempt and accomplish that iourney, although it were
without the order and consent of the gouernour (when that it might not
be doone otherwise), the which incontinent they beganne to put in vre,
for that the Fryer Costodio and Fryer Steuen Ortiz (who was a religious
man, that for the great desire he had did learne the China tongue, and
at that time did speake it resonablie), they both together did giue to
vnderstande of their desire and pretence vnto a deuout souldier of their
religion, and one that they made great account of, who was called Iohn
Dias Pardo, who often times had made manifest vnto them and saide, that
he had a great desire to do some especiall seruice vnto God, although it
were to hazarde his life in the same, who at that instant did accomplish
his desire, and did promise them to beare them companie vnto the death.
So with this conformitie they went straightwayes altogether to speake
with a captaine of China that was in the same port, in a shippe of his
owne, who many times did repayre vnto their conuent, to aske of them
thinges appertayning vnto God, and the heauens, with showe of a very
good vnderstanding, who vnto their iudgement did consent and accept all
with great pleasure and delight.
Unto this captayne they did giue to vnderstande the effect of all their
desire, requesting him of his ayde and helpe in the prosecuting of the
same. Who straightwayes did offer himselfe to accomplish their request
and to carrie them vnto China, so as they woulde then giue him some
thing for to bestowe amongest his marriners. The souldier Iohn Diaz
Pardo did promise to giue them all that they would aske, and gaue them
in earnest certayne ryalles of plate. And for that all thinges shoulde
bee doone in good order, and in such sort that the gouernour nor any
other shoulde haue any suspition or knowledge, it was ordayned amongest
them that the captaine of China should with all speede dispatch himselfe
and depart to the port of Bindoro, which is twentie leagues from the
citie of Manilla, and there to tarrie for them, and to carrie in his
companie the Chino that was new baptised as aforesaid.
The captaine made haste, dispatched himselfe, and departed vnto the port
appointed, and within a fewe dayes after the father Costodio and his
company, with the souldier his friend, did followe them. But when they
came thether they found the captaine Chino in an other mind, in such
sort that neyther gifts nor faire intreatie was sufficient to perswad
him to performe that which he had promised in Manilla, but returned vnto
them their earnest before receiued, affirming that for any thing in al
the world he would not carrie them, for that he knewe very well, if hee
should so doo, it would cost him his life and goods.
The newe baptised religious Chino seeing that, wept bitterly, with
discontentment to see how the diuell had changed the minde of the
captaine, for that in that kingdome the holie gospell should not be
preached. The father Costodio did resolue himselue to returne vnto
Manilla, and there to abide a better oportunitie, as in effect they did,
whereas they remayned certaine dayes, till such time it happened as
followeth.
Upon a day the gouernour sent and called vnto him the father Costodio,
and requested of him that he would let him haue some Fryer for to sende
vnto the riuer of Cagayan, whether not long before he had sent certaine
Spaniards for to inhabite.
The Fryer Costodio promised him one, and that he should go with him in
companie till he came to the prouince of Illocos whether he went, and
that from thence he would dispatch him vnto the riuer of Cagayan,
according vnto his worships commandement, requesting of him to haue in
his companie, to keepe watch and warde in that iourney, the ensigne
Francisco de Duennas, and Iohn Diaz Pardo the souldier, his friend as
aforesaide, with pretence to depart from thence vnto China, as in effect
they did, as shall be tolde you. The gouernor being very willing for to
pleasure him, did grant his request. So with great speede he departed,
and carried with him the foresaide souldiers, and for companion a
religious man called frier Austin de Tordesillas (he who afterwards did
put in memorie all thinges that passed with them in China), out of the
which hath beene taken this small relation.[35] So when they came vnto
the Illocos, they found fryer Iohn Baptista and fryer Sebastian, of S.
Francis, of his owne order, occupied in the teaching and instructing the
people of that prouince, which was the fourth day of Iune.
[35] The friar Augustin de Tordesillas was one of the founders of the
province of St. Gregory in Luzon. His narrative seems never to have been
printed elsewhere. See Sbaralea's _Supplement_ to Waddington, and N.
Antonio's _Bibliotheca Hispana Nova_.
The next day following they called a counsell, where it was concluded
that all those that were there present would venture themselues for to
go vnto China, to conuert those gentiles, or else to die in the
quarrell. And the better to bring their purpose to passe, they thought
it good to speake vnto an other souldier that was there with them,
called Pedro de Villa Roel, not telling vnto him their pretence, because
they would not be discouered (but asked him in this manner) if he would
beare him companie, and the other two souldiers, who altogether went
about a business of great honour and seruice of God, and the benefite
and sauing of manye soules; and that he would declare vnto them whether
he would go or not, without asking whether nor from what place, for that
as then they could not giue him to vnderstand, till time did serue. His
answere was, that straightwaies he would beare them companie, and would
neuer leaue them to death.
So foorthwith they altogether with singular ioy went to the ship wherin
the father Costodio and his companion, with the other two souldiers,
came in from Manilla to that place with a reasonable frigat, although
with but fewe marriners, and they not verie expert. So being altogether
in the shippe, with all such thinges as they could get together in that
small time for their prouision in that iourney, they made all thinges in
a readinesse to set sayle the same day, which was the twelfth day of the
said moneth of Iune. So after they had sayde masse and commended
themselues vnto God, requesting Him to direct their voyage that it might
be to His glorie and seruice, they set sayle vppon a Fryday, in the
morning, with intent to goe foorth of that port; but they could not by
no meanes possible, for that the sea went verie loftie vpon the barre,
and contending with the sea for to get foorth they were in great danger
to haue beene cast away, which was the occasion that with great sorrow
they returned into the port, whereas they remayned all day.