The patache for Espana left here August 24. It had a propitious season
[for departure], and therefore it has apparently enjoyed favoring
vendaval blasts. [1] A short time before that, the patache had left
for the island of Hermosa; its commander was Don Alonso de Alcocer,
and the governor of that island, Sargento-mayor Pedro Palomino,
sailed in it. On the fifth of September, a xalea arrived from Yndia
on its way to Macan, which had been obliged to put in here on account
of the weather. It left Malaca August 16, in order to advise the
inhabitants of Macan to be on the lookout, for there were many Dutch
in the strait. Now they are going in the galleon "San Juan Baptista"
under command of Juan Lopez de Ariduin, to buy materials of importance
for his Majesty's fleets. The xalea remains here to be used for the
expedition to Xolo, for which it seems well fitted. They report as
news that Goa was almost surrounded by Dutch vessels. Six galleons
went out to attack them and sank three of the Dutch vessels. The
latter retired after three days of fighting, with the intention of
returning to Jacatra and getting a larger force. On the way they met
eleven Portuguese fustas, which took shelter in a river. The Dutch
employed strategy in fighting them, and captured seven of the fustas,
while four escaped. One of the latter was an excuse for a galley. In
consequence [of that victory], the enemy are now committing great
depredations in the strait.
It is also reported that the Malabars with seventeen paroos [i.e.,
praus] attacked last year a ship from Macan with a crew of thirty
Portuguese, and carrying great wealth, a thing never before seen. It
is reported that the Dutch there have shown great anger at what
the relief galleons did this year with their ships and the fort of
Malayo; and that, for the coming year, they are intending to send
out a squadron to punish the jest that was played on them.
It is reported that a Portuguese, named Antonio Carnero, has taken
up arms together with others, and that they have adopted the calling
of pirates, and are committing depredations on Moros and Christians.
When the king of Achen was about to go to attack Malaca with a fleet,
he died. The kingdom was inherited by the king of Paon, an old-time
friend of the Portuguese. He has renewed friendship with them--a
great piece of news.
Fray Antonio del Rosario, the ancient of Macan, of [the Order of]
St. Dominic, bishop-elect of Malaca, died on the way [to that city]
before being consecrated.
The fathers who accompanied Father Marcelo, who were captured last
year by the Dutch, together with that famous Polish father, are now
at liberty. Father Antonio Magallanes, procurator of the province of
Goa, whom I saw at Roma and Madrid, was to conduct Father Marcelo and
his companions; but he remained in Espana to finish some business,
has been elected bishop of Japon, and they are awaiting him in Yndia.
Among the Portuguese of that xalea is one who is a lay-brother of
St. Francis. He came last year from Lisboa as companion of a bishop,
the friar Francisco Froan de Benavides, who was once in the mission
of Nuevo Mexico. He died on his arrival at Goa, and this religious is
trying to pass to Espana by way of these islands, with papers left him
by the bishop. This is the principal news brought by the Portuguese.
On the morning of the seventh of this month, Fray Juan de Subelco [2]
came here from the province of the Rosario, to ask assistance by virtue
of an order that he brought from the governor. This was given to him
[by the authorities], and he entered the convent, took possession of it
for his province, and sent to Manila the father rector, Fray Francisco
Pinelo, who surrendered the house peaceably and quietly. The day
before, with the same aid, they had taken possession at the same time
of Minondo, the hospital, and the Parian, and conveyed Father Collado
and the other fathers to their convent. The community received them
at the door of their church, amid the chiming of bells, the playing
of organs, and with candles lighted on their altars; thence they took
the fathers to their cells. As a thank-offering they began a novena,
on November 7, of masses and Salves, accompanied by fine music, the
chiming of the bells, and a goodly crowd. All the people rejoiced
because they were at peace. Your Reverence will be pleased to know
how this happened. Collado wrote bits of satire against the governor,
calling him filius diaboli flagellum dei et alia hujus modi. [3]
His original letters were returned to hands that placed them in
those of Don Sebastian. Finally the governor allowed the claims of
the province of the Rosario to stand. That province had made Fray
Andres del Santisimo judge-conservator, who summoned Collado to show
his despatches that had been passed by the Council [of the Indias],
but he did not answer. The judge-conservator cited him for the second
time, but there was no answer. The judge-conservator proclaimed the
cause at an end, and sentenced his province to be suppressed. Aid
was asked for the execution of the order and was given, etc.
On Saturday, the twelfth of this month, excommunications were read
here in four churches against those who had or knew of moneys,
clothing, books, or other things of the bearded fathers, [4] unless
they gave them up to those of the Rosario. Almost two thousand pesos
were declared here belonging to Pinelo, who had deposited them with
a friend. He came to Manila instantly, and begged protection from Don
Sebastian, saying that they were his--five hundred pesos received from
a berth on ship, given him by his Lordship for Mexico, and which, with
his Lordship's permission, he sold when he remained; one hundred and
seventy pesos from a pay-warrant which his Lordship had ordered to be
paid to him; and he had been given one thousand or more pesos, which
his nephew the reader Ochoa (whom he brought with him as a witness) had
given him. All this did he state, for even as he left here, he tried
to go to Espana in this galleon by way of Macan, which was conceded to
him. The governor wrote to Fray Juan de Subelco to let him have that
money, which was proved to belong to Pinelo. He gave him another and
very stringent letter for his provincial in Manila that declared the
same thing. Father Fray Juan, who narrated the matter to me, went to
talk with him, and told him that the books showed that the expense was
more than eight hundred pesos ahead of the receipts; and that, besides
this, he had just received two hundred pesos belonging to a deceased
man, and one hundred and seventy pesos belonging to another, and that
he will have to give account of this--besides which, in any event,
it all belonged to the order, and nothing was his. He answered that
they should have it there, and that he would write to his provincial;
and that, notwithstanding his letter, Fray Juan should do his duty,
in conformity to the rules of his order. I have now learned that they
gave up all the money to Pinelo, which he carried away. The galleon
sailed September 19.
Of their own accord the Sangleys offered the governor [5] a gift of
six thousand pesos, giving the following reasons for so doing: first,
because he had redeemed thirty-one of their people from the captivity
of Corralat; second, because he had made the seas free and secure
for their ordinary trade; and third, because he maintained them in
peace and justice. Consequently, the expense of the war of Mindanao,
taking into account the artillery, and the pillage which pertained
to his Majesty, and the above-mentioned six thousand pesos, was not
only covered, but there were also one thousand five hundred pesos
left over, as I was told by his Majesty's accountant. The latter
also adds that the golden water-jug and plate that had belonged to
Auditor Alcaraz were bought for the king our lord with those one
thousand five hundred pesos; and the governor Don Sebastian added to
that sum more than two hundred pesos as a gift from his own purse,
in order to make up the cost of the said water-jug and plate. Dated
at Cavite, September 15, 1637.
September 27, sentence was declared in favor of the Augustinian
fathers of Castilla, and that sentence makes a complete end to the
alternative. A sentence was also given in which the will of Espinosa
el Tuerto [i.e., "the one-eyed"] was declared null and void. The
property has been delivered to the fund belonging to deceased persons,
and those who have any right to it are to demand their justice.
I had a letter from Father Melchor de Vera, [6] in which he says that
the people who escaped alive from the six large Javanese ships which
were at Lamitan were accommodated in one caracoa, and passing before
Basilan, full of fear of the Spaniards in the fort of Sanboangan,
talked with the chief men [of Basilan], and told them that they were
those who had been driven from the hill, and that many more than they
had thought had been killed; and that there was no one in Mindanao
who did not mourn a person of very near kin--the father for his son,
the son for his father, etc.
I shall add here what occurred last year in the month of September,
and which I did not learn until the same month of this year 1637. The
captain and commandant of Caragan was then Juan Nicolas Godino. He
went with a fleet to commit depredations on the tributaries of
Cachil Corralat. He met six caracoas at sea, which he attacked and
conquered--although most of the enemy escaped to land, as they were
near the shore. However he killed some of them and captured others. He
also did much damage in a village that he attacked. He returned
to his fort laden with plunder and with one hundred and twenty
captives. Among the dead was one Dumplac, who had formerly killed
Alferez Blas Gonzalez, and had done great damage to the Christians
of our missions and those of Caragan. Among the captives was a very
famous chief, who was regarded as a brave man, and who killed Captain
Pedro Baptista in the insurrection of Caragan.
October 24, the patache from the island of Hermosa entered the port,
and it brought back most of the people in those forts. They say
that the Franciscan friars are all going to China, as are all the
Dominicans, except one who remained there. It is reported that they
are suffering famine, and that no ships from China go there.
The day before, the twenty-third, Sargento-mayor Don Pedro de Corquera,
the governor's nephew, died at Manila. The governor had reared him from
childhood in Flandes. He was well liked and respected in these islands,
for his affable manners had obtained for him much popularity. Three
or four days before, a galley-captain, named N. Ramos, and some
other discontented Spaniards had deserted in a boat with a topmast,
for their provision robbing two Sangley champans.
The master-of-camp, Pedro de Heredia, died at Manila November 5. He
left all his property to charity. But the Audiencia sequestered it
all immediately, until the end of his residencia. Captain Don Diego
de Miranda also died from an accident, which carried him off in
thirty hours.
News was received on November 15 that the enemy were passing the
Mindoro coast. That same day, Don Sebastian despatched some vessels
to attack them. Alferez Arexica went from this place to attack
them with fifty firearms in the xalea and two brigantines. He also
despatched his company from Manila in champans, to pursue and punish
them. Shortly after, Father Hernando de Estrada [7] arrived here
from Marinduque. He states that he met some champans which had been
pursued by the enemy, whom they thought to have been Camucones. The
two brigantines returned on the night of November 24. On account of
the wind and rain they had lost the xalea, which was the flagship,
the night that they had left. They went to Balayan, where they learned
that the Camucones had attacked Lobo, but that they had done no damage,
for the Indians resisted them; whereupon the pirates had taken their
course toward their own country by way of the sea side of Mindoro. The
xalea returned November 29, without having met the enemy. Then came
news that one night the flagship and one other of the champans that
had sailed from Manila had collided. The shock was more severe on
the flagship, which sprang a leak and went down. Only one Spaniard
and one Sangley were drowned.
The champan that carried Father Marcelo Mastril did not go to China,
but to the Lequios, which are subject to the king of Saxuma. Some
Japanese accompanied the father. Accordingly they made use of the
following stratagem. Those of the champan talked with the Lequians,
whom they told that those Japanese had been wrecked on an island,
and that they had rescued them; and that, if the Lequians would give
them some provisions, they would leave the Japanese there; but, if
not, that the latter would return [to Manila]. The Lequians gave them
some food, and immediately despatched the father and the Japanese,
as they wished, in a funea, while the champan returned here. They
learned there that the Dominican fathers who had tried to go to Japon
last year by way of the Lequios had been seized, and sent to the king
of Saxuma by the tono of that land.
Yesterday, December 9, Don Sebastian set out from Manila for Xolo. He
sailed in the galley flagship. With him went the xalea, brigantines,
champans, and the two galleons for Terrenate, under the command of
Geronimo Enriquez; and as admiral Don Pedro de Almonte, the same as
last year. The second galley was launched yesterday, and the commander
of the galleys, Nicolas Gonzalez, will leave here in it in a week,
in order to follow Don Sebastian. Admiral Andres Lopez de [word partly
illegible; Nozadigui?] will govern this port in his absence.
A patache arrived at Manila on December 27 from Macan, laden with
five thousand arrobas of iron for Captain Juan Lopez de Ariduin. It
was bought from some English, who were near Macan with three galleons
and this patache. It brought news of the remarkable martyrdom of Father
Francisco Marcelo Mastril, who reached Japon September 19. Having left
Manila on July 10, he landed at the kingdom of Saxuma with only one
companion. He immediately went inland to go to the emperor's court. But
he was seized October 4, and, having suffered most cruel tortures,
he was beheaded October 17 with his aforesaid companion. Since I
translated the relation from Portuguese into Castilian, and enclose
it herewith, I shall only add that the bells in our church and others
were rung as soon as the news arrived. In the afternoon a notable Te
Deum laudamus was sung. The dean again put on his clerical robes. The
archbishop came, as did the royal Audiencia, and a great crowd of
people, and the orders, as well as the master-of-camp, Don Lorenco
de Olaso, and the flower of the soldiery. From our house they went
to [the church of] St. Dominic to sing another Te Deum for three
martyrs of that order. At night there was also a chiming of bells
and an illumination. The entire city celebrated the glory and virtues
of the holy father Marcelo, with tender tears; for he was generally
loved and regarded as a saint.
Among the Dominican fathers died a mestizo of Binondo, son of a Chinese
and a Tagal woman. He was prosecuted by justice, in order to hang him
for his crimes; and he embarked with the fathers, in order to escape
with his life. Arriving at the Lequios, and his other companions
remaining in the boat, he refused to return, but wished to continue
with the fathers. They tell and do not finish telling of the valor,
fervor, and courage of that holy mestizo, who suffered cruel tortures
with a rare constancy, ever preaching the Divine law of God.
It was learned, at the coming of that patache, that those fathers
who had accompanied the holy father Marcelo who went with the
captain-general of Macan had arrived safely; and that the champan
which had fled hence with eighteen sailors had made port at that
city. It was also reported that the Portuguese have not been well
received in Japon either this year or last, and all that is because
of the preachers who go. It is learned also that Father Alberto de
Polonia was brought to Cochinchina, and that he is now in Macan,
where for some time he suffered from a most severe illness.
A champan, which had sailed from the island of Hermosa some years
ago with a load of people, and had been given up as lost, made port
at Sian because of the violence of the wind. That king treated them
well, and gave them the means with which to return. Afterward they
were driven upon the coast of the kingdom of Patani by other fierce
tempests--where, having been supplied and sailing near the strait of
Sincapura, the Dutch followed them. They landed, and at length made
port at Macan, whence some of the men have come, while the others will
come in the galleon "San Juan Baptista." It is said by those who come
in this patache, who had gone in the galleon "San Juan Baptista," that,
on discovering the English ships, lanchas came from them to reconnoiter
them; and the English, having heard that it was a galleon belonging
to the king of Espana, threw up their caps into the air joyfully,
and eagerly cried out, "Hurrah for the king of Espana!" Then they took
the news to their own ships, which fired many salutes, and by way of
toasting the health of the king our sovereign, fired a hundred pieces
of artillery. They told our men that the daughter of their king [8]
was in Espana for all her lifetime.
Father Fray Francisco de Pinelo and other religious who went from
here to pass to Espana embarked in these English ships, on condition
that there should be no disputes on matters of religion.
News came through the fathers of St. Augustine at Panhay on January
15, 1638, that one of the champans which left Manila to attack
the Camucones became separated from the others. It fell in with
the Camucones, and did them great damage, sinking their flagship
and almiranta. Twelve Borneans were captured, and six Christians
were freed. The enemy's loss was a hundred counting drowned and
killed. Sargento-mayor Pedro de Fuercios was commander of that champan.
Almost all the month of January and that of February was taken
up with prayers in various churches, for the fortunate success of
Don Sebastian. Now we are not the only ones to offer them, as we
were last year; but all make them, both the secular clergy and the
friars. The Sangleys have said very solemn prayers in their Parian
church, of their own accord, as an expression of thanks for the peace
and justice in which the governor maintains them.
Don Sebastian had sent those Borneans and Camucones from Otong to
Manila, ordering them to serve the various orders and hospitals,
so that they might be carefully catechized and made Christians. When
they reached Maribeles, an old Morabite [9] persuaded the others, and
they rose against the Spaniards who were bringing them. There were two
Spaniards in the champan who were wounded, but they killed the Morabite
and wounded some of the others. Some of them were thrown into the sea,
where they were drowned, and with this fortune they reached Manila.
On the night of February 10, robbers entered the church of this
residence at Cavite, and stole two silver lamps. They set a trap in
the stairway, so that the first one who should descend, if the robbers
were perceived, would undoubtedly be killed. It has been impossible to
find any trace of the robbers. A week later, about two thousand pesos'
worth of jewels were stolen in Manila in [the church of] St. Dominic,
Nuestra Senora del Rosario. But the thief (who was a Spaniard) was
discovered, and most of it has been recovered.
Letters were received March 19, announcing the governor's arrival at
Sanboangan and Jolo. The news therein contained is in a separate paper.
A despatch was received from the governor in the middle of April from
Jolo, from which it was learned that he was pressing as closely as
possible the siege of the stronghold, which the Macasars and Joloans
were defending with great obstinacy. There are things worthy of
history, which will go [in a letter] by themselves.
It was learned from the same despatch that the Terrenate galleons
had already returned to Sanboangan, and that they had arrived safely
with their reenforcements, without the Dutch enemy having shown them
any resistance, although the latter had vessels of great burden. Six
Dutchmen deserted to our men; the three who were aboard the flagship,
where Father Pedro Hernando de Estrada was, were converted to our
holy Catholic faith by his efforts. One of them is a fine student,
and very talented. He knows Latin and Greek, and had studied the
whole course of arts, and some years in law, in Flandes.
A patache which left Macan some days after our galleon "San Juan
Baptista," arrived from that city on May 4, and they expected to find
the galleon here; however, experienced persons say that it is not
late. There are six brothers in the galleon--students who are to be
ordained--and Father Bartolome is coming with them as superior. That
patache brings two Franciscan friars, Castilians, who have been driven
from China. They say that the Chinese have driven them away through
love of us, saying that Ours preach Christ risen, and those fathers
Christ crucified--a reason that I do not understand. The statement of
the pilot of the patache is that they have been driven out because they
proceeded in the preaching with but little caution, and I regard that
as true. Some nine months ago, I heard a prudent and experienced man
say that a great persecution was feared in China, because of the little
caution of the preachers. One week after the arrival of the patache,
I received a letter from Father Antonio Cardin, [10] commissary of
the Holy Office for Macan and China, who gives me the following news:
"Section of a letter from Father Antonio Cardin, dated Macan,
April 15, 1638
"I shall relate here the news of the missions that your Reverence
desires to know. Japon is a thing of the past if God do not, in
His mercy, aid it. China was increasing greatly in Christianity
during these years, but with the entrance of the friars, it is
being thrown into confusion; for all the religious have been exiled
in Chincheo, and the churches destroyed, where they and we were
[laboring] in a flourishing Christian church. For as the friars
treat of conquests, saying openly that China can be conquered
with four thousand Spaniards, such talk can have no good effect
on the natives, who immediately tell it to their mandarins,
and we are all lost.
"The fathers have been restored to their former liberty in
Cochinchina. The old king died, but his son has given the Dutch a
factory, and they are doing as much harm as possible. In Tumquin
that Christian church is increasing greatly; but the Dutch are now
there, and, although the king has not conceded them a factory,
they say that they will do us as much harm as possible in order
that we may be exiled. Father Raymundo de Govea is arranging
matters in Tumquin, in order that he may go to the Laos. There
is no news from Siam. They killed Father Julio Cesar there, and
until now they have been at war with Malaca. They now send to
ask for peace, and they also tell me that they will ask it from
Manila. It is said that they are doing this through fear of the
Dutch, who they fear are going to seize their kingdom. Father Lope
de Andrada was ordered to retire from Camboja, on account of ill
health, and Father Antonio Capechi was sent there. The sending
of a large ship directly to Lisboa is being discussed here, but
this is so great a blessing that I doubt whether it will be done."
At the closing of the hour of prayer on May 13, the day of the
glorious ascension of our Lord, news arrived of the capture of the
[fortified] hill of Jolo. It is a matter of the greatest consolation
for all nations; at least, all joined in the festival with great
appearances of rejoicing. The bells of all the churches were rung,
and the Te Deum laudamus, so due to God, was sung in some of them as
a thank-offering. There was a great illumination at night, and more
ringing of bells. I refer to the history for particular.
The above news was received on the occasion of the arrival of five
or six ships from Great China, laden with merchandise, which was
needed in the islands. They give as news that eleven other and more
powerful ships have been given chapas. That has been of the greatest
consolation, for in the last two years those ships have had so little
custom, because of the small amount of silver that had been sent
from Mexico, that it was feared that the Chinese would not come this
year. [11]
The commander of the galleys, Nicolas Goncalez, and Captain Carranca,
who was general of the artillery, having fallen very sick at Jolo
almost at the beginning of the siege, were sent away by Don Sebastian
so that they might recuperate. They arrived at Octong safely more
than two months ago, and this their delay was already causing
anxiety. Today, May 17, I have been told that the Chinese of the
champan in which they were coming [to Manila] killed them through
greed, in order to rob them, and five other Spaniards with them. One
they cast into the sea badly wounded, where some Indian fishermen
rescued him, to whom he related what had happened. Scarcely had they
reached land before he died.
Some influential men were killed in the assaults on Xolo, among whom
were Sargento-mayor Melon, Captain Juan Nicolas, Alferez Aregita, etc.
Yesterday, May 16, while talking with the commandant of Macan,
a very honorable Portuguese, of the Order of Santiago, I asked him
some questions, the replies to which I shall state here, as they have
some interest. He says that the kingdom of Tumquin is a part of Great
China, but has a different king; and it differs in language from China,
as does Galicia from Castilla. He asserts the same of Cochinchina,
although there is a greater difference in language. Tumquin is ninety
leguas from Macan, and is reached by traveling between the island
of Ainao [i.e., Hainan] and the mainland of China. Cochinchina is
one hundred and twenty leguas [from Macan], and is reached by going
outside that island. One of four ships that sailed recently from Macan
to various kingdoms, which was en route to Macasar with two hundred and
fifty persons, was wrecked on this island of Ainao, but only fourteen
persons were drowned. The commandant added that the Society of Jesus
is now preaching in that island, and that the people are rapidly
embracing Christianity. The fathers had brought six boys, sons of
the most influential men, to Macau to be educated better, and they
show signs of great ability. When I asked him about the exile of the
preachers from Chincheo, he only replied that the Castilians, as they
are prepared to hold subject all the Indians of their conquests--as
Mexico, Peru, and these islands--enter into other kingdoms with great
bragging and boasts, which is the occasion of their ruin.
I have learned from some fathers of St. Dominic and the cura of Nueva
Segobia (which is, one hundred and thirty leguas away from here) that
Fray Diego Collado wrote a paper to Don Sebastian, after the reunion
of the fathers of St. Dominic, which was entitled "Deceits, tricks,
and plots of Don Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera," in which he made
disgraceful remarks to him. His Lordship sent it to his provincial,
and the latter retired the father to the house of Nueva Segobia. He
remained some months in prison, where he could neither hear nor say
mass; and he is now locked up where he can hear it through a church
gallery.
Today, May 20, at two o'clock, quite without our expecting it,
and without the fires in Maribelez having announced it, the galleon
"San Juan Baptista"--which had taken fifty days to come from Macan,
a voyage which the patache made in nine--arrived. God delivered them
from a great danger on some shoals, to which the currents were taking
them swiftly during a calm. The fathers assert that they invoked the
holy father Marcelo, the martyr of Jesus Christ, with great faith
in the greatest danger. Thanks to the Lord, who has allowed them
all to arrive safe and happy! Father Bartolome Roboredo has told
us glorious things of the Christendom of Tumquin--where, this year
alone, nine thousand have been baptized. He says that there are some
fathers and a bishop even in Etiopa; and that the rulers do not molest
the Catholics. The fathers of Jentafee, Tibet, and the kingdoms of
Potente and Siranagar, have suffered various fortunes. In the court
of the Megor [i.e., Mogul], the church was destroyed, and the fathers
seized by those Moros, because they were confirming in the faith those
Christians who had been taken captive from Bengala. But now affairs
have begun to brighten; they have been granted liberty, and are aiding
the Christians. By that means it is to be hoped that there will be at
some other time a gateway into Tibet and Siranagar, the way to which
must necessarily lie through [the country of] the Megor. It has been
learned from Japon, from the very ones who are in power, that they
are now tired and weary of killing Christians; and that they are not
well satisfied with the Dutch and their trade. He adds that, because of
what the holy father Marcelo declared to them in his martyrdom--namely,
that they were rendering their nation infamous and obscuring their fame
by the tortures that they were inflicting upon the private parts of
Christians--the Japanese are generally angry, and do not wish that to
be done. All the priests in Japon at present are three of the Society
of Jesus, all Japanese. It is not known where they are wandering,
and no letters have been received from them, because of the severity
of the persecution. There is one other father, a European, named Juan
Baptista Porro. They do not say that he is alive, for, although his
death is not known, it is presumed that he is dead; for he was very
old and worn out with labors, and it is several years since letters
have been received from him. It is also said that there are hopes that
that persecution will soon cease. Would to God that it might be so!
Yesterday, May 23, the day of the Holy Ghost, Don Sebastian arrived
at this port, having left Tanaguan that morning--a distance of ten
mortal leguas. He came in the Terrenate galleons, which, as the
weather was bad, he left at the landing at Mindoro. He, as well as
Father Juan de Barrios, was fatigued, which we could see was from the
hardships that they have suffered; but, thanks to God, these have
been well recompensed in service to God and to the general welfare
of these islands. The chaplain Don Pedro de Francia died of fever in
the ship, and, six days later, Captain Don Lope de Barahona, of the
same sickness. Upon the arrival of Don Sebastian, the bells in our
house were rung for a long time, as a mark of rejoicing. Later the
bells were rung in the cathedral church, and that night there were
illuminations in all the houses and convents.
Yesterday, May 27, the galleons of the Terrenate relief expedition
anchored at this port. Father Hernando de Estrada says that twenty
persons of various nations (for the galleons carried Joloans, Basilans,
and the Bisayans who were freed from the captivity of Xolo) have
died in the flagship since their departure from Sanboangan, and that
sickness was caused by their close quarters; and that a goodly number
have died in the almiranta and the patache; but it is a cause for great
consolation that no Moro, male or female, has died without baptism.
Yesterday, May 31, Don Sebastian made his triumphant entrance into
Manila, in the same manner as he had done, the year preceding, upon
his arrival from Mindanao. I wrote concerning it, by the patache;
and will only state here the number of pieces--namely, eleven of cast
iron and one bronze culverin, these being large pieces. Among the
medium-sized pieces and falcons there were fifteen. The best falcon
had the arms and name of King Don Sebastian [of Portugal]. There were
eleven smaller versos. The crowd of people in the windows and streets,
the illuminations of the night, and the masquerades of the city,
were the same as I wrote last year.
June 3, Corpus Christi day, the procession of thanks for the victory
was united with that of the most holy sacrament, as I wrote last
year. That same day the xalea which had been left in Xolo arrived. It
brings news that the king and queen, who had fled from the stronghold
with the other Joloans, have sent to say that they desire to settle
in whatever place may be assigned to them, and to pay tribute to
his Majesty. They promise to obey the conditions imposed on them by
Don Sebastian.
Monday, June 7, the honors for those killed in war were performed in
the soldiers' church with the same solemnity as those of the past
year. The father rector, Francisco Colin, preached to a generally
appreciative audience.
Friday, June eleven, the flagship galley entered this port with a
round sail, but no bastard; for a flash of lightning, which struck it,
had torn it from top to bottom and killed two men. It brought some
bronze artillery of the pieces captured at Jolo, in addition to what
I mentioned in the triumph--as was told me by a man who comes from
there, and who is well versed regarding artillery. The pieces with
ladles mounted in the stronghold numbered in all eleven of cast iron,
and eleven of bronze; also eleven other large falcons, besides the
ordinary versos.
He says of Dato Ache, who is the greatest pirate, and the one who
has done most damage to the Christians of all those of Jolo--and
who is the one who persuaded the king and the others to fortify
themselves, and to refuse to surrender to the Spaniards--that a
mine which exploded and killed fifty Joloans, also caught him, so
that he was completely buried. With only power to move one hand, he
beckoned imploringly for help; his men hurried to his assistance,
and got him out, much hurt. He recovered afterward, and when the
others descended from the stronghold, he, with some other Malays,
who were steadfastly of the opinion that they should not surrender,
escaped, and left the island in great dudgeon at the king.
Sunday, June 20, when we celebrated the feast of the most holy
sacrament, Father Francisco Rangel chanted his first mass in this
college. He was one of the six who came from Macan to be ordained,
and since his residence here has told us some remarkable things that
happened four or five years ago, and, as I believe that very few
there have any knowledge regarding them, I shall relate them here.
First, he says that the island of Ainao is as large as the island of
Cicilia; and that it has its own natives, who are white-complexioned,
and have a different aspect from that of the Chinese. The latter
conquered the seacoast many years ago, and the natives retired to
the mountains, whence it is their custom to descend to harry the
Chinese--who are scattered, and have never subjected the natives to the
payment of tribute. While Father Bento de Matos was in that island,
two remarkable things occurred to him. In a city of the Chinese,
where no means have yet been found whereby to make an entrance to
instruct the natives--both because the language is special, and
because they are always at war--it happened that the father, having
no lodging, learned that there was a good unoccupied house, for,
because of fear at I know not what noises that had been heard in it,
no one would live in it. The father determined to enter and to live
in that house, although his friends dissuaded him and told him their
fears. He lived there quite a number of days, at the end of which,
in the darkness of the night, a dead man appeared to him in the habit
of a mandarin. The dead man told the father to look well at him,
and note well his marks, and to go to the mandarin So-and-so, who
was his brother, and tell him to disinter his body, which was buried
in such and such a place near the altar; for it was the will of God
that there should not be the body of a condemned heathen in a place
where the holy body of His son Jesus Christ was offered to Him in
acceptable sacrifice. The father gave the marks to the mandarin, who
recognized that it was his brother. They dug in the place noted, and
found the body entire in a casket and preserved with precious spices,
with which it had been embalmed, and carried it to a separate place.
The other circumstance is, that every day when the said father said
mass there, it was heard by a devout Christian, who, after rising
suddenly, appeared so joyful and happy that the other Christians
came to consider and even to believe him as mad. They resolved to
censure him, and to advise him to have more moderation and modesty in
the presence of so great a Lord. He answered them that he could not
do otherwise than he had; for, on rising from the eucharist, he saw
two most beautiful youths kneeling before the most holy sacrament,
amid such lights and splendors that they bathed his soul in joy so
great that it overflowed in its abundance to his body, and he could
not restrain himself from manifesting it.
It happened to that same father that, while on a mission to Chincheo,
some literati suddenly entered a chapel in which he was, to make a jest
of him and of the God whom he was adoring. He kneeled down before a
crucifix and said "Lord, do not abandon me among thine enemies." The
holy crucifix answered "No, son, I shall not abandon thee; but I am
always with thee to aid thee." Thereupon the literati, thunderstruck
and full of fear, left the father, and went out of the chapel.
In one of these recent years, during a great baquio or typhoon,
eighteen Dutch ships were wrecked on the coast of Chincheo. The Chinese
beheaded some of those who escaped alive, and, having seasoned those
heads with salt, took them with the other men whom they left alive to
the court of Paquin, where they were all beheaded. For the aversion
of the Chinese to people with blue eyes is great; and the reason is
that it is said that there is an ancient prophecy that men with eyes
of that color will conquer their kingdom.
About two years ago, six out of seven ships that left Olanda with
reenforcements for India were sunk in the open sea, and only one
arrived.
The king of China is commonly regarded by his vassals as a Christian:
1st, because he has only one wife; 2d, because he only adores the God
of heaven; 3d, because he has tried to exterminate the bonzes. Among
other plans [for the accomplishment of that], he employed that
of having six thousand bonzes enlisted for the war against the
Tartars. He sent them under the command of a great war mandarin,
and all the six thousand died in the war. The captain alone escaped,
and he was shortly after baptized; he is a very devout Christian, and
is known as Doctor Miguel. The manner in which the king [12] became
a Christian is said to have been that the famous Doctor Pablo (who
is now dead), having free entrance into the palace, often conversed
with the king, whom he converted and baptized. The king has shown
Ours favor by giving them a large convent of the bonzes in Paquin,
and has given them lands for their support.
July 6, Father Melchor de Vera passed by way of this college, en
route from Sanboanga. He gives us some particulars which it is well
to know. Cachil Moncay attacked the new village which Cachil Corralat
had built. He killed or captured about one hundred of his men, but
Corralat escaped. Afterward when Dato Siqui brought his customary
tribute to Corralat from the island of Little Sanguil, he attacked
Moncay and killed him and others, so that the number of killed and
captives reached eighty.
Father Vera met on his way here a champan from Terrenate, which
tells him that Corralat, seeing himself expelled [from his towns]
by Don Sebastian, sent messengers to the Moros of Terrenate, to beg
for aid; but that the latter had refused it to him, as they had enough
of their own affairs to attend to. The men of that champan also told
him that the petty king of Great Sanguil talked with them, and said
that he wished peace with the Spaniards, and would pay tribute to his
Majesty. For greater security he gave them the young prince his son, so
that they might give the boy to the governor as a token of peace. All
these are the results of the two victories of Mindanao and Jolo.
Today, July 11, a large champan, which had sailed from the port of
Macasar at the beginning of Lent, arrived at this port. They relate
many acts of affection and favor which the king has shown to the
Spaniards. Those aboard the champan assert that the king will be
very glad of whatever ill-treatment Don Sebastian accords to the
Macasars of Jolo, because they have taken arms against the vassals
of his brother the king of Castilla.
Today, July 18, the patache sails with the reenforcements for the
island of Hermosa, under the command of Don Pedro Fernandez del Rio.
Yesterday, July 23, at dawn, a Macan patache anchored in this
roadstead. It comes from Camboja laden with rice, camanguian or
benzoin, and other drugs.