_The Spaniards depart from China and go to Luzon, they
do passe some stormes at the sea: the mariners do call
vpon the diuell, by lots: the religious men do
reprehend them: in the end they come to their desired
port, whereas they are received with much ioy._
The second day of Januarie, departed out of the porte of Aytim, with a
prosperous wind, the shippe wherein was imbarked the Spaniardes, and two
other which were their safe conduct: but by reason it was winter, the
faire winde indured but a while, yet came they that day vnto the islande
of Amoy, which was sixe leagues from the firme lande, and there they
stayed one day. The next day following they went to sea, to prosecute
their voyage, whereas they were taken with so terrible and foule
weather, that the ship did driue they knew not whither, and many times
in daunger to be drowned. This storme indured four dayes, although more
stronger at one time than at an other: in the which storme was separated
the three ships, the one from the other, in such sort, that euery one
tooke his way, procuring to saue themselves, as commonly in such cases
is vsed, without hauing any care the one of the other; and God was so
pleased that the ship wherein the Spaniardes were, and one of the other
two, entered into a sure port, although with great trouble and with so
great a leake, that they could scarce keepe her aboue water; but in
especiall that which came in their safe conduct. And afterwarde they
understood that the other ship had taken port fiftie leagues from that
place, with the like perill and danger. In this port they remained
certaine dayes trimming their ships, and tarrying for a faire winde. So
they departed from thence the three and twentie day of Januarie, and to
their iudgementes with a settled and good winde, with the which they
sayled fiue dayes, in the end whereof they discouered the iland of
Luzon, with a singular ioy unto them all, for which the Spaniards gaue
thanks vnto God, by whose fauour they had escaped the storme past.
But it so fell out, as they were going alongest the coast of the iland
for to enter into the port of Manilla, and being within fiue leagues of
the entrie thereof, vpon a soddaine there arose the north wind with so
great furie, and caused so great a sea, that they found themselues in a
great deale more daunger than in the other storme past, in such sort
that they sponed[44] before the winde with their foresayle halfe mast
hie, shaking it selfe to pieces, and in euerie minute of an houre readie
to be drowned. The Chinos, for that they are superstitious and witches,
beganne to inuocate and call vpon the diuell, for to bring them out of
that trouble (which is a thing commonly vsed amongest them, at all
times when they finde themselues in the like perplexitie); also they doo
request of him to showe them what they should doo to bring themselues
out of trouble.
[44] Incorrectly written for "spoomed." To spoom a ship is to put her
right before the wind.
But when the Spaniards vnderstoode their dealinges, they did disturbe
them that they shoulde not perseuer in their lottes and inuocations, and
beganne to coniure the diuells, which was the occasion that they would
not answere vnto the inuocation of the Chinos, who did call them after
diuerse manners (as hath been declared in the first part of this
historie); yet they heard a diuell say, that they should not blame them
because they did not answere vnto their demaunde, for they could not doo
it for that they were disturbed by the coniuration of those Spanish
fathers which they carried with them in their shippe.
So presently, when the night was come, God was so pleased that the
storme ceased, and became, in fewe houres, very calme, although it
indured but a while; for, as they beganne to set sayle to nauigate
towardes the port, and almost at the point to enter into the same, a new
storme seised on them, and with so great force, that they were
constrayned to returne vnto the sea, for feare to be broken in pieces
vpon the shore.
At this time they wanted both water and victualles, which was vnto them
a newe torment; and they were brought into so great extremitie, that for
ninetie and sixe persons that were in the shippe, there was not left
victuals for two dayes.
The Chinos beganne a newe to inuocate the diuels by writing, which is a
way that they neuer let but doo answere them, as they did at this
instant, and were not disturbed by the coniurations of the fathers; yet,
notwithstanding they lyed in their answere, for that they saide, that
within three dayes they should be within the citie of Manilla, and after
it was more then four dayes.
In conclusion, having by the fauour of Almightie God ouercome all their
trauayles by the sea, and the necessitie of the lacke of water and
victualles, they arriued at the desired port the second day of
Februarie, anno 1580; whereas they were receiued by the gouernour, and
of all the rest, with great ioy, in pardoning them the offence they had
committed in going without licence, and shewed vnto them particular
fauours, and were very sorrowfull that the father Costodio and his
companions remained in Machao, for that hee was wellbeloved of all, and
that with great desert, for his vnderstanding, learning, and holy life.
Who, within fewe dayes after, did write a letter vnto the rest of the
religious men in Manilla, aduertising them how that in a short time they
came vnto Machao in good health; and how that the bishoppe and the
captaine generall, with all the rest of the towne, were verie glad and
ioyfull of their comming, and fully resolued to the contrarie of the
false opinion that they had conceiued of them, and that he was in great
hope to see his desire accomplished, for that he was daily in place
whereas they did see and comon with the Chinos, whom, so soone as he can
speake the language, he doth pretend to instruct them in matters
touching the faith. Also he wrote, that he vnderstood by good originall
or information (although it was comitted in secret), that the kingdom or
province of Cochin China, which is four daies iourney from Machao,
whereas the Portingals hath contraction, and port for all their ships
that come from the Indias, hath sent vnto the bishop of Machao, and doth
demand of him priests for to baptise them, with such determination and
good will to be Christians, that in some portes they haue alreadie
timber cut downe for to edifie churches. This you may belieue, for that
the bishop himselfe hath tolde him, and in the latter end of his letter
was written as followeth: They have inuited me to this enterprise, and
(for to put my selfe therein) I would gladly haue with me many
companions, which is the treasure that we go to seeke. It is a firme
lande, there whereas God hath prepared a great haruest. They are
politike people, and more easie to be conuerted then the Chinos, for
that the diuell hath not put so manie disturbances against the gospel of
Christ as in China, although it doth ioyne vpon it; and once entering
the faith therein, with the fauour of God, their great and difficult
doings which now they haue among them, will be broken with great ease;
for they are not so many nor so great, whereby wee should be
discomforted to see them ouercome, and principally they being men of so
good wisedome and vnderstanding, as we haue seene by experience in the
time that we haue beene amongest them; and so full of mercie and pitie,
that although wee entred into the lande without licence, and for dooing
of the same wee ranne in great daunger of our owne liues, they did
intreat vs well, and gaue vs all that was needefull, and also did suffer
vs to preach, if we could the language; the which, with the fauour of
God, we will quickly learne, for that we are whereas continually we doo
common and talke with the Chinos; wee doo verie earnestly commit it vnto
our Lord to direct and guide the same, that his holy name may bee
exalted, and the soules of these blinde Gentiles may knowe and beleeue,
and beleeuing, may be saued.
This was the substance of the letter, with the which it seemeth vnto me
great reason to conclude this second relation, and to begin the third,
the which I do beleeue will be pleasant to the reader, and is intituled,
_A Commentarie of the New World_; in the which is contayned many curious
matters, as you shall perceive after the reading thereof, and is
declared in substance and effect by the relation of the father, that did
passe and see them all, who was named fryer Martin Ignacio, a religious
man, of the order of S. Francis, who, after that he had compassed the
whole worlde, came hither to Rome with Martin Simion, bishop of the
Iland of Pepper, in the orientall or East Indias, with whom I haue had
communication diuers times, and is a Chalde borne, and of the citie of
Ninivie in Babylon, and made bishop by the patriarke of Babylon.