The conquest of Maluco by the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary;
the foundation of her religious confraternity in this province,
and the entry of religious into it.
On April 16, 1606, an intermediate chapter was held in Manila,
at which notice was given of the brief of Pope Clement VIII, De
largitione munerum. Directions were given to observe this brief
with rigorous exactness, in all things which it commands to all
religious orders and religious. It was ordered and directed that
all memorable things, worthy of being placed in history, which had
happened in this province should be diligently gathered together. In
accordance with this, the father provincial gave a formal precept
to all the religious of the province that they should write down,
each one of them, what he knew in regard to this matter with all
accuracy and truth. In this way something of that which has here
been recounted was brought together; but there continues to be much
which remains buried in oblivion. Some difficulties were resolved;
and it was decreed that devotions to some saints should be offered,
whose devotions had up to that time not been offered in the province.
On the first of April in this year occurred the glorious victory which
Don Pedro de Acuña, knight of the Habit of St. John, knight-commander
of Salamanca, governor and captain-general of these islands, gained
in the Malucas, restoring them to the crown of España, as for many
years had been desired and intended but without effect. This memorable
victory was won by the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary, who was
the sole source of it. This important stronghold remains incorporated
in the government and province of the Philippinas, to the immortal
reputation and glory of the great soldier and devout cavalier who
gained them during his government. He deserves this glory not less
for his devout Christian zeal, love of God, and devotion to our Lady
of the Rosary--in which from his tenderest years he was bred by his
most devout and prudent mother--than for his great military skill and
prudence, which he and all his valorous brothers acquired from his
father, a distinguished and most fortunate captain, as also he saw all
his sons become. The great favor which our Lady of the Rosary showed to
our army in this conquest was very well known and celebrated. That the
evidence of it might be more clearly made known to those who were not
present [at the victory], a formal narrative of the matter was made
before the treasurer Don Luis de Herrera Sandoval, vicar-general of
this archiepiscopate in the year 1609. Many witnesses being examined,
all agreed that this fort was gained by the miraculous aid of the
Virgin, though the soldiers did not on that account fight the less
valiantly. It was plain, in many things that happened, that sovereign
assistance was given by this Lady, as may be seen by referring to
the statement of the first witness, the sargento-mayor of that army,
Christobal de Azcueta Menchaca, who was present throughout the whole
matter; and, who on account of his position, had better knowledge
of what occurred than anyone else in the army. His statement is as
follows: "In the month of February, 1606, the governor was at Oton,
four leguas from the town of Arebalo, in the bishopric of Zebu, on
his way to the conquest of Maluco--where the Dutch had built a fort,
and had made treaties of peace with the king of that country against
the Castilians and Portuguese. It was also said that they had invaded
the country of the king of Tidore, our ally. The governor mustered
his forces at Oton; and with those who had come from Mexico in June,
and those who had been added in these islands, the total number was
thirteen hundred Spanish infantry, and six hundred Indians from the
vicinity of Manila, who fought courageously under the protection of the
Spaniards. Religious of all orders accompanied the troops, and among
them was a certain father Fray Andres of the Order of St. Dominic,
with another lay religious. As if by legitimate inheritance from their
father, all the friars of this habit had in their charge the devotion
to the Holy Rosary; and hence father Fray Andres suggested to the
sargento-mayor that her holy confraternity should be established in
this army, that this our Lady might open the door to the difficult
entrance they were to make. The sargento-mayor spoke to the governor
in regard to the matter, and to the holy bishop of Zebu, Don Fray Pedro
de Agurto. The sargento-mayor received permission to discuss it in the
army, and the captains and soldiers all agreed with great heartiness;
and they determined that the holy confraternity should be immediately
established, with all its ceremonies and ordinances, so that this
important enterprise might begin with some service done to our Lady the
Virgin. The governor ordered the image of our Lady of the Rosary to be
embroidered on the royal standard, that she might guide the army. He
was the first to pledge himself as a member of the confraternity, and
was followed by the master-of-camp, Juan de Esquivel, and the captains,
the soldiers and sailors, and the members of his household--all of
them promising alms when they should be provided with money on account
of their pay. It was then proposed to establish the confraternity in
the first city which should be gained from the enemy, and to call it
"the City of the Rosary." For this purpose a canvas was painted,
having upon it a representation of our Lady with her son Jesus in
her arms, distributing rosaries to the governor, the master-of-camp,
the captains, and the rest of the soldiers. They confessed and
received communion, and went in procession, as is customary when the
confraternity is established. The bishop celebrated pontifical mass,
giving dignity to this solemn act with his holy presence. According
to the ordinances, a Dominican friar is obliged to preach if any be
present. Since Fray Andres had little skill in this office, and spoke
with little grace, he tried to arrange that the bishop should preach;
but matters turned out so that the religious was obliged to preach
the great things of the Mother of God and of her rosary. As all this
had been guided by God, and the preacher chosen by His own will, God
controlled the preacher's tongue in such a manner that all should be
fulfilled which concerned His purpose. Thus the father amazed those
who were present--the bishop to such an extent that he said aloud to
the whole congregation: "Gentlemen this blessed father has preached
in such a manner that it seems the Holy Spirit has been dictating to
him that which he has said; and I do not know what account to give of
the same except to praise God, for it is He who caused it." The fleet
sailed to Tidore; and when it reached there the forces spent Holy Week
in confessing and receiving communion. While they were there an eclipse
of the moon occurred, which was taken by the augurs of the island
as a bad omen, and they uttered presages of evil, and cried aloud;
but the Spaniards took it as an omen of victory. They did not find in
Tidore the king, who was friendly. They discovered two Dutchmen who
had a factory there; and they and that which was in the factory were
held for the king of España. On Friday of Easter week, which was the
last day of March, the fleet cast anchor a cannon-shot from the fort
of Ternate; and on Saturday the artillery from the ships and galleys
was fired, to clear the field. The sargento-mayor made a landing with
the army, drawing them up along the creek between the fort and the
sea. The vanguard was held by the master-of-camp, Gallinato, lookouts
being posted in the trees. While he was planning to make gabions, the
tumult of the army, as if the voice of all, declared that they should
not doubt the victory; that on that very day they were going to capture
the fort and the country, for it was Saturday, a day dedicated to our
Lady. They began with great readiness. It was about midday, an hour
little suited for an attack in so hot a country, for the sun beat down
on them. In addition, on one side they were harassed by falcon-shots
fired from the fort of Cachitulco; it was a very effective weapon,
although at first they shot their balls too high. After lowering
their aim somewhat, they struck seven Spaniards. The companions
of the governor forced him to move to another place, as balls were
constantly striking where he was. At the very moment when he left the
spot, his shield-bearer, stepping into his place, was struck. On this
account the sargento-mayor endeavored to hold back the forces until
they could hear what the lookouts said, or receive an order from
the governor. From among the body of the troops he heard a voice,
calling upon him to attack without doubting of the victory; that the
mother of God purposed that on that day her holy confraternity should
be established in this country. The sargento-mayor turned his head
and asked in a loud voice: "What devout or holy person has said this
to us?" There was no answer, and it was not known from whom the voice
proceeded; but it seemed to him that it spoke to him from within, and
that it came from heaven. It inspired in him such spirit and courage
that he turned to the captains and said: "Gentlemen, the mother of
God wills us to gain this fort today." Captain Cubas reached the fort,
from which his troops were somewhat driven back by the Moros, and his
foot was wounded by a pointed stake [puia]. Some beginning to call
"Sanctiago!" and others "Victory!" they all began to run on boldly
and proudly without any order. So quickly was the fort taken that the
captain-general did not even know it when the soldiers had actually
surmounted the wall. They went on to where the king was fortified,
with many arquebuses and culverins; and with four pieces of ordnance
(pieças de batïr), and with a high wall, from which the enemy did
much execution with bucacaos [48] and fire-hardened reeds anointed
with poison. But none of these things availed him; and, seeing that
the day was lost he fled with some of his followers, in a caracoa
and four xuangas, to the island of the Moro, or Batachina [i.e.,
Gilolo], to which they had sent their women and children and their
wealth. On account of this the sack did not bring very much gold or
money, but amounted to only two thousand ducats and some cloth and
cloves. The rest of the prize was artillery, culverins, arms, and
ammunition. After the victory, the sargento-mayor went to ask the
governor for the countersign, and found him on his knees before an
image of our Lady, saying: "I beg humility of you, our Lady, since
by you this victory has been gained." On the following day, Sunday,
the second of April (which was, accordingly, the first Sunday in the
month), the governor ordered an altar to be prepared, and directed
that the painting we carried of the mother of God of the Rosary,
with the governor, the captains and the men at her feet should be
placed thereon, so that mass might be said. They brought from the
mosque a pulpit, in which father Fray Andres preached. That which
had previously been a mosque was from that day forth the parish
church and mother church--the religious living in one part of it, and
administering the holy sacrament. The confraternity was established,
and it and the city and the principal fort received the name of El
Rosario [i.e., "The Rosary"] that this signal mercy might remain in
the memory of those who were to come. In these events there were many
things that appeared miraculous. The first of them was the voice which
the sargento-mayor heard, with regard to which he declared upon oath
that he could not find out who spoke it, that it appeared to speak
to him within, and that the words inspired in him great confidence,
as has been said. The second miraculous element is the speed with
which victory was attained; for when the governor went away to speak,
with the king of Tidore, who is friendly, the report that the fort
had been gained reached him so quickly that the governor was amazed,
and the king did not believe it. The third was the few deaths which
occurred on our side; for only fifteen died in the war, and twenty
were wounded. The fourth is that when a Dutchman--or, as others say,
a man of Terrenate--was trying to fire a large paterero to clear a
straight path where a great number of our soldiers were marching up
hill in close order, he tried three times to fire it with a linstock,
but was unable to do so. When the Moros told him to hasten and fire
it, he said that a lady with a blue mantle was preventing him with
a corner of the mantle, and sprinkling sand in the touch-hole. So,
throwing away the linstock, he began to run; and the Spaniards came
up with him and killed him.
At the beginning of August in the same year, large reenforcements
of religious came from España; and so great was the need which there
was of them that they came at a very fortunate time, especially since
they were picked men in virtue and learning. The first who volunteered
for this province were five members of the college of Sancto Thomas
at Alcala, which event attracted so much attention in the convent of
San Estevan at Salamanca that, when the vicar of the religious reached
there, thirteen members of that convent volunteered. Among them was
the preacher of that distinguished convent, father Fray Diego del
Aguila. To these, others from other convents added themselves, and
a member of the college of San Gregorio, of whose great virtue an
account will immediately be given. When the time for beginning the
voyage arrived, the thirteen members of the order from the convent
of San Estevan at Salamanca prostrated themselves on the floor of
the church, after thanks had been returned for the meal which had
been completed, and asked for the blessing of the superior that they
might begin their journey. This act aroused great devotion among
those who were present. When they had received the blessing, they
went in procession to the convent of novices, where they took their
cloaks and bags; and intoning the devout hymn of the Holy Spirit, they
began with His divine support upon this journey, with their staves and
hempen sandals, after the manner of persons who go on foot. They were
led by father Fray Diego del Aguila, the preacher of that convent at
the time, and an example of virtue in that city where he had preached
with great reputation for the four years preceding. Hence to see him
walking on foot, and on his way to regions so remote, was a thing
which caused great tenderness and devotion in those who knew him, and
who saw so devout and so humble an act, so determined a resignation,
and such contempt for the world. He labored much in the ship, hearing
confessions, and preaching and teaching; for as in voyages there are
so many kinds of people, there is need of all of these things, while
many of the people need them all at once, because they do not know the
doctrine which it is their duty to know and believe, and do not take
that care of their souls which they ought to take. Some of them do
not even desire to have such things spoken of, that their ignorance
may not be known; and hence there is much labor in teaching them,
and it is a great service to God not to refuse this labor.
[The member of the college of San Gregorio at Valladolid who came
with the rest of these religious was Fray Pedro Rodriguez, a native
of Montilla and a son of the convent of San Pablo at Cordoba. His
departure caused much grief. His parents loved him tenderly, for he
was, like Benjamin, the youngest and was very obedient and docile by
nature. The religious of his convent were grieved because they had
seen in him so notable a beginning in virtue and letters. In spite
of the efforts of fathers, kinsmen, and religious, father Fray Pedro
maintained his resolve. His virtues were very great, and he mortified
himself constantly. His last illness befell him when the vessel had
already come among these islands; and they were already at the port
of Ybalon, and were carrying him ashore that he might receive the
viaticum, when he lost consciousness. He had desired to be left in
the islands of the Ladrones, that he might serve as missionary; but
he was not permitted to do so, on account of the great difficulties
which he would have met with because of ignorance of the language. It
may be that father Fray Pedro would have overcome them; but such things
ought not to be left in the hands of a single person. The evil results
which follow are morally worse than the gain which may be expected,
as has been found out by experience since religious of the seraphic
father St. Francis have remained there. His body was taken to be buried
in the church of Casigura. He left behind him among his brethren the
name of saint.]