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This paper had been carelessly folded and placed where he found it, upon the altar stone. Had it remained undisturbed and the service of Mass been said over it, it would have, in the belief of the indian who put it there, become infused with marvelous virtues and could have protected its wearer from the dangers to be incurred in the armed rising against the Spaniards which they were about to attempt.
In all probability Buencamino carried some anting-anting with him to Washington to protect him from assassination or from ... nausea.
Appendix E.
Manila, 10th January 1897.
“I Faustino Villaruel y Zapanta, 52 years of age, publicly declare that as I was born so wish I to die—a Spaniard, a christian, a Roman Apostolic Catholic; and that I detest with my whole soul any rebellion or treason against our beloved mother Spain.
“I also repent of having belonged to masonry and of having devoted myself to its propaganda in these islands and having been such a bigoted mason that I caused my two children to enter also into the society I now curse. I counsel my children and all my friends to renounce the said society, and beg pardon of God, as I do now, it being condemned by the Church.
“I beseech the most Excellent and Illustrious Archbishop to make public this my spontaneous and free retraction.—Faustino Villaruel. Witnesses:—the official guard of the Chapel, Antonio Pardo.—the sergeant of the Guard, Felix Garcia.”