The voyage of the fathers
[On Friday, July 17, 1586, the day of St. Alexis, they began the
voyage. Since the vessel already had its complement of passengers,
and a full cargo, there was no place for the religious or for their
goods. To the old and the infirm the captain granted the cabin in the
poop; the others slept where they could. They spent their time in the
occupations which they would have followed in the convent. Reaching
the Canarias they found that the fleet had already gone ahead. The
captain set sail again, without giving them opportunity to say more
than one mass. A fire, which threatened the safety of the ship, was put
out by the holy and courageous Fray Juan Cobo and a Spaniard. Seeing
four vessels which did not seem to belong to the fleets, the people
aboard prepared for battle; but they discovered that these were
friends. They suffered greatly for want of water, but finally readied
port on St. Michael's day in September; from the port they went on
to Vera Cruz, and thence to Mexico. Their hard experience and the
badness of the climate had made a number of them ill. The first to
die was father Fray Miguel Berreaza, a religious of most holy life, a
Basque by nation; he died of a malignant fever. He was soon followed by
father Fray Francisco Navarro, who also died of fever. There also died
father Fray Pedro Flores, in the flower of his age. Many others were
afflicted with illness, but all were kindly received and treated by
the religious at Mexico. The Indians likewise received the religious
with feasts, bouquets, and dances--greatly delighting the newcomers
when they saw these races so marvelously converted from barbarism and
cruelty to peace, kindness, and devotion. The Indians of Cuitlabac
received Father Juan Chrisostomo with special tokens of love, as
their father and former instructor.]