_Of the part played by our religious in the siege of Manila by Limahón,
a great Sangley pirate, and of the latter's flight and destruction._
The month of August, 1572, was, beyond doubt, a sad one throughout
the Filipinas Islands; for, in that month the Lord was pleased to
take to Himself Adelantado Miguel López de Legaspi, by whose valor
and prudence these islands had been won, and increased with the
advantages that were seen. For in his eight years of governorship he
did not begin anything that did not have a prosperous conclusion--well
known to arise from his zeal and Christianity and his firmness and
forbearance. Hence he was, with reason, loved by his own men, and
feared and respected by foreigners. Thus, by merely the renown of his
name in the islands, no one, however brave he might be, dared to exert
himself as a leader. During his life, all promised themselves that that
work commenced by him would attain the ends suitable to beginnings
so distinguished. But at his death everything remained, as it were,
in a torpid condition; for indeed it seemed to the enemy impossible
that that man who had conquered theme had died, or that so great
valor had passed away so soon. But, truly, those who grieved and wept
most were our religious, for they knew what they were losing in his
loss, and how matters of religious instruction would be put backward,
which by his valor were extending and widening the territories of the
church. And their grief was greater because they were surrounded on
all sides by enemies, and were in a city without walls, or other fort
than that of the bodies and good courage of the soldiers But soldiers
are wont to lose their courage when they have no level head to guide
them and face the danger. The adelantado was buried, in fine, in the
convent of St. Augustine in Manila, his bones being deposited there,
until his disposition of them was carried out. Father Fray Martín de
Rada, who lived there then as provincial, conducted his obsequies. He
preached a long sermon on his many virtues, in which it is certain
that one cannot say that love of his benefactor moved him, but zeal
that vices should be eradicated.
After the next year, 73, his obsequies were preached in our convent
in Méjico. There Master Fray Melchor de los Reyes preached with the
vigor that might be expected from so erudite a man. He satisfied the
audience and not less our duty and thankfulness. And certainly we in
this convent ought to feel very thankful toward him [i.e., Legazpi]
and for the blessings and advantages acquired through him by the
order of our father St. Augustine.
The treasurer, Guido de Lavezares, entered into the government by
virtue of a royal decree in the islands (although a secret one), in
which his Majesty ordered that in case of the death of the adelantado
they should be governed by Mateo de Saus--who had gone to the islands
with the title of master-of-camp; and in case of the death of this
second, the treasurer should enter into the governorship, with the
title of governor and captain-general. He did so, thus fulfilling
his Majesty's decree; and he had so great Christianity and prudence,
that one would believe that he had inherited the spirit and zeal of
the dead governor.
[Here follows a very brief account of the descent on Manila by Limahon,
who is forced to retire to Pangasinán--Medina says Cagayán. There the
pirates published news that the Spaniards had all been killed. Medina
continues:]
Those who hastened to believe this were the Indians of Mindoro,
who are also something like the Moros. This island is more than
twenty leguas from Manila on one side; on the other it is so near
that there are but two or three leguas to cross, namely, by way
of Batangas. The island is very large, and very well covered with
mountains; and it has beautiful rivers and a plentiful supply of
fish, and above all, of wax. It has a corregidor, and is more than
one hundred leguas in circuit. It has two benefices, in which live
beneficed seculars. One is called Bacoy, and the other Nauhang. They
have about six and seven hundred Indians respectively. Services are
held in the Tagál speech. But there are here, further, some Indians
whiter than the Tagáls, who live in troops in the mountains. They are
the ancient inhabitants of the country, and it is they who gather the
great abundance of wax which is yielded there. I said that there was a
benefice of them, namely, of the people called Mangyan. [76] They are
very good, and if they were instructed and taught, it would be easy
to reduce them to settlements and missions. But no one attempts to do
any work in the Lord's service. Especially do these Mangyanes fear the
sea. They pay no tribute. They fear lest the Spaniards take them to man
their ships. They go naked; and deliver the wax to the Tagáls, which
the latter pay as tribute, and give as their share. More than three
hundred quintals of wax yearly must be obtained in this island. This
mission, then, was first in our charge, and at the time of the pirate
Limahon's descent upon Manila, that island was a priorate. Its prior
was father Fray Francisco de Ortega, and his companion was father
Fray Diego Mójica. [77] As soon as those Moros heard, then, of the
result at Manila, they threw off the yoke, attacked the fathers,
seized them, and talked of killing them. However, they forbore to
kill the fathers immediately--I know not for what reason, since the
Moros were setting out to execute that resolve.
[The governor, hearing of the imprisonment of the fathers, sent
for them, but they had already been released. The Moros of Manila,
instigated by Borneans, took occasion to revolt at this time, choosing
as their two leaders Lacandola and Rajá Solimán. "Seeing this, father
Fray Gerónimo Marín determined to go to the other side of the river and
talk to those chiefs concerning the cause of their rising, so that,
if there were complaints, as cannot fail to arise among soldiers,
they might be remedied." Quiet was finally restored in this quarter,
the greatest difficulty being found with Rajá Solimán, who "did not act
fairly in whatever the Spaniards were concerned, nor did he regard them
with friendly eyes." The governor proclaimed a religious procession
in honor of the fortunate termination of the affair with Limahon. It
was held January 2, 1575, at which time was founded a brotherhood of
St. Andrew. In the year 1574 three more Augustinian religious had
arrived, namely, Diego de Mójica, Alonso Gutiérrez, [78] and Juan
Gallegos. [79] Also in 1575 came three others, Francisco Manrique,
[80] Sebastián de Molina, [81] and Alonso Heredero. [82]]