The life of father Fray Luis Muro, and his martyrdom at the hands of
heathen Indians in the island of Hermosa.
[To the judgment of flesh and blood it would not seem that the success
of our order in the island of Hermosa was worthy of our efforts. We
have sent there some of our best religious; and they have converted
very few of the Indians, in proportion to the number of noble religious
who have been lost there. Yet to him who will judge aright, and who
understands the worth of the soul, it will not seem much to have spent
the blood of martyrs and the sufferings of holy religious for the sake
of those souls which have passed from this island to heaven. Among the
martyrs on the island a high place is taken by father Fray Luis Muro,
who died gloriously at this time by the hands of these Indians. He
assumed the habit of the order in the famous convent of San Pablo at
Valladolid, where he professed. Feeling the great need of preachers
of the gospel in this province, he left all that he had to come to
these islands (in 1626). He was desirous to go to Japan, but the Lord,
not granting him that, permitted him to attain martyrdom in another
way. He was a most devoted and successful minister in Bataan, whence he
was sent to the island of Hermosa. Here he strove to bring back to the
church those who had martyred father Fray Francisco de Sancto Domingo,
and he obtained their pardon and safe-conduct. At this time there was
a great lack of provisions in the chief town of the island, because
of the failure of the ship sent with provisions from Manila. Troops
were sent out with money and cloths (which the Indians prefer) to
buy provisions justly, and without inflicting wrong. Father Fray Luis
accompanied the troops, to restrain them from harming the Indians, and
especially from driving back those whom he was striving to regain for
the church. God was pleased that six Chinese vessels laden with rice
should arrive at the time, thus relieving their needs. A small guard,
with whom father Fray Luis remained, was put in charge of the rice,
the rest of the company returning with as much as could be taken at
one time to the chief camp. Father Fray Luis went out to make an
attempt to reconcile some other Indians who had risen against the
Spaniards. The Indians, seeing the Spaniards very few in number,
conspired to attack them. A detachment of troops were attacked in
an ambush, and one of the first who was shot by an arrow was father
Fray Luis. The Indians cut off his head, his feet, and his hands,
and washed them with his own blood. Miracles were wrought upon the
holy body, and the provincial chapter gave special attention to his
happy death and his excellent life.]
This was the last life written in this history by the venerable lord
bishop Don Fray Diego Aduarte. He was taken away by death at the
conclusion of it, that it might not be printed without the life of its
author, and that his memory might be eternal--not only as a result of
the labor which he spent upon it, but also of the many labors which
he undertook for the Lord and the good of souls, so greatly to the
honor of this province. Some of these have been recounted in the
course of this his book; but many have remained in silence because
they took place in España where he dwelt many years, filling with
great distinction the post of procurator general of this province. Of
what we have seen and known here, something will now be said, a great
tribulation which came upon this province at this time, and which was
in no small degree contributory to his death, being first dealt with.