I cannot refrain from telling here, although out of place, that in the year in which our father Baraona was elected, when the latter came to visit the Bisayas in the year 1617, Admiral Pedro de Heredia had come, with the governor’s permission, to the district of Aclán, his encomienda, to build a ship. And although he claimed to do it with only his encomienda, the affair went so well with him that he finished a vessel of greater burden than was reported or believed. No Indian ran away from him. On the contrary, the Indians were rich, for he paid them liberally; and Indians even came from other districts to work there, because of his fair treatment of them. Father Fray Lúcas de la Peña,[49] a very devout and zealous religious, as we have written before, was prior of that convent then. He had encounters with the admiral, for rarely do these fail between the encomenderos and missionaries. These happened because the Indians were carrying and bringing, and sowing discord, as they can. The admiral was very indignant, blustered against the missionary, and said that he would oust him from that place, if it cost him his estate. When the provincial came, the admiral found a good opportunity; he went to the provincial, and told him resolutely that the father must leave there. The father provincial understood thoroughly that there was no cause for such a proceeding; but he knew that influential man’s obstinacy, and that, if carried away by his wrath or anger, he might commit some extravagant act. Accordingly, in order to remove the religious from a dangerous situation,[50] the father provincial made him resign his mission. This the religious did very willingly, as it was by the order of the superior. The good religious has no other desire than to do the will of his superior, as our father Fulgencio tells us: Illos veros monarchos esse dicebat qui, mortificatis voluntatibus suis, nihil velle, nihil nolle, sed tantum-modo abbatis precepta, servare.[51] Our father provincial thereupon changed the said father, thus giving a very admirable example of humility, patience, and self-mortification; for, being a prior elected by the chapter, he might well demand, without being disobedient, that charges should be made against him, and that according to the result thereof he should be punished. But he refused to do that, and left his cause to God, who is the most righteous of judges, and who knows naught by hearsay but by sight, for all things are plain to Him. Another religious was sent there, with whom the admiral had a more familiar acquaintance. The ship was finished and launched. It cost sixteen thousand pesos, for it was the reproach of [other] ships. But it cost his Majesty much more, without paying the Indians—many of whom died, for there are no mines so severe as are the shipyards. It was launched and sails bent, for the Audiencia had sent for the vessel to make a trip to España. At that time there are no winds of the sea along that coast; therefore the moorings of the vessel were all ashore. While in this condition, and with a cargo of lumber, unexpectedly so furious a wind sprang up on the sea, that the ship ran aground without being able to make any resistance. As the vessel was laden with lumber, there was no remedy. The wind was for no other purpose than the above-mentioned [destruction], since it ceased its fury with the loss of the ship. The admiral suffered this blow patiently, for he understood that the Lord had no other reason in it than to avenge the wrong done to His religious. Mihi vindicta, et ego retribuam.[52] For the Lord esteems the honor of His ministers as His own, and thus charged them, saying: Nolite tangere Christos Meos, et in Prophetis meis nolite malignari.[53] All the others understood this and were warned. Often since that have I heard him say to an encomendero, that even though the missionary should destroy his encomienda, he would neither enter suit against him, nor do anything to him that he should not do. For the judgment of men is deceptive, and their passion generally leads them astray and casts them headlong.
Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona was very sensitive regarding this occurrence, and set it right by advancing the father and making him prior of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and visitor for those convents. Thus he voted in this chapter which elected father Fray Juan Enríquez, and himself obtained therefrom the convent of Octóng, the chief one of the island.
During this triennium of our father Fray Juan Enríquez, our Recollect fathers founded a convent in Sugbú, as Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce was pleased to give them a chapel which is in that city, between the native and the Spanish towns, and called Nuestra Señora de la Concepción [i.e., “Our Lady of the Conception”]. The city agreed to it in the vote that was taken—although the city was not sufficiently large for such a convent, for it contained that of the fathers of the Society, ours, and the cathedral church; and the Parián, a short distance from there. However, beyond doubt it suited the fathers; for the bishop seeing that there were no seculars who would go to the island of Mindanao, and that, with the fort built by Don Juan de Silva in Caraga, excellent results might be expected, therefore gave that district to the Recollect fathers, together with the river of Butuán, situated in the same island. The Recollects accepted it, and began to establish priorates. Thus they had already seven priorates, in which more than fourteen religious resided. The convent of Sugbú served them as a hospitium, asylum, infirmary, and place to rest—to which purposes more than to anything else it was devoted. Further, not only are the convents there not supported by the alms of the city, but also one can say that they support the city; for most of the inhabitants are poor soldiers, and many now are married there, and receive the king’s ration, which is very meager. Besides these are others who have ceased to receive the ration; who are so poor that, were it not for the aid of the religious, they would doubtless perish. Those who have the most wealth use it up during the year, being limited to what comes to them from their encomiendas, in order not to run into debt; but they borrow the rice in the convents. Thus laymen and religious form a very friendly village and neighborhood.
At this time the alcalde-mayor of Sugbú was Don Juan Alcarazo, a gentleman so deserving of praises, that the sum of his many good qualities cannot be told in few words. He was endowed with the courage of a good soldier, and had served thus for many years in the galleons of España with his brothers and father, whence his Majesty had derived honors and advantages. He was a Viscayan by birth. During this time, the island of Bohol rebelled. This island lies, as above stated, opposite Sugbú, on the side whence blows the vendaval. It was in charge of the fathers of the Society, who had more than two thousand Indians, the tallest, handsomest, and stoutest in the island. A babaylán or priest called Tamblot had deceived them, by telling them that the time was come when they could throw off the oppression of the Castilians; for they were assured of the aid of their ancestors and divatas, or gods. And in order that they might know this, it was proved by certain signs. The priest went with some of the more trusty among them, cut a bamboo with a small knife, and wine gushed forth. He cut another, and rice came out. These articles he had hidden there cunningly and adroitly. Consequently those men were convinced, and became preachers of those lies, which the Indians love and believe so readily; while we have no power to enable us to persuade them of the certainty of our faith so readily as this sort of trickery can influence their natural disposition. In such manner spread the spark that there was no island where it did not catch little or much; although they did not dare to show their faces, but awaited the result in Bohol. The fathers warned the city of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús, and came to solicit aid from the alcalde-mayor. Here there were no evil-doers among those [natives] who lived in the city. Don Juan de Alcarazo did not dare [to send out troops], as he had no order from the governor, Don Alonso Fajardo, and it might be imputed to him as a blameworthy act. But the fathers, seeing that whatever delay occurred was to make the wound incurable, surmounted all difficulties. Consequently, they were able to negotiate with potent arguments, saying that it was especially important to check the evil in its first stages, so that it should not spread. The alcalde-mayor was persuaded, and assembled the soldiers and adventurers who appeared most suitable to him, besides a number of Sugbú Indians, armed with sword and buckler. With these he landed in Bohol, and went to look for the enemy—who, courageous in their mountains and supplied with rice, thought that they were most safe, and that victory was sure.
But the most diligent effort made by this gentleman was to go to our convent to have a mass said to the Holy Child, before whom many candles were burned; to promise to take Him as patron; and to perform no action in that war which should not be done in His name. Since His [Divine] Majesty, he said, had, by His favor, given those islands to the Spaniards, he prayed that He would not permit them to lose, for his sins, those that they already possessed. For the Christianity founded therein with so great toil would be wholly lost, and the victorious enemies of His name would leave no kind of evil undone to the conquered, to the contempt of His name. The most Holy Child showed Himself very gracious, as is His custom in events [that are to be] prosperous, whereupon victory was regarded as sure. Encouraged by such omens, they did not hesitate to attack the enemy, who were entrenched in their fields. The latter were insolent, and reënforced with allies and supporters. During the battle, the rain was so heavy that they could not use the arquebuses, so that the enemy were beginning to prevail. Thereupon, the shields of the Sugbú Indians were brought into service, and the latter aided excellently, by guarding with them the powder-flasks and powder-pans of the arquebuses, so that they were fired with heavy loss [to the enemy]. When the shower of rain came, the enemy’s babaylán encouraged them by saying that there they could see how their divatas had told them true; for what could be of greater use to them at that time than the rain, so that the arms of the Castilians would be useless. Consequently, they became like mad dogs; and they preferred death to enduring the conditions of the conqueror. But so many fell that death had to fulfil its duty, namely, to inspire them with fear. They wounded Don Juan with a stone, but not very dangerously, as his morion received the blow. Although he fell, he arose cured, and with renewed courage, by calling on the Holy Child, who gave the Spaniards the victory, and, with it, the islands for a second time. Truly, had so good an outcome not befallen the Spaniards in Bohol, there would not have been a single one of the Pintados—and these form the bulk of the islands—which would not have risen against them. After this victory, those who had desired to raise the yoke placed their necks once more under it. However, it was not sufficient to deter the natives of Leyte from likewise trying their fortune, which resulted as ill to them as to the natives of Bohol. Then the islands became quiet, and the Indians more humble. However, whenever they see their chance, they will not lose it, as they are a people who wish to live free. The captured Indians were made slaves for the space of ten years. Upon learning of this affair, the governor approved the enterprise, praised it, and promised to reward it. This victory was recognized as the doing of the most Holy Child. Consequently, Don Juan de Alcarazo gave Him thanks, and shared the booty with Him.
There was a terrible earthquake in the islands at this time, which none of them escaped. In the island of Panay, where I was stationed then, it lasted more than a fortnight. But none of the succeeding shocks were equal in violence to the first, which was so severe that all expected everything to be overthrown. The columns of the church and house, colliding against one another, strewed the ground on all sides, so that a thick club could easily be thrust around the columns. The same thing happened in the other convents, where the images fell and were broken into bits. In the church of Passi, which is of stone, and was then just roofed, all the upper part fell, and it sank in many places. Many rivers changed their course, as that of Aclán, which abandoned its former bed. Mountains were opened, and there were innumerable other terrible occurrences during that awful earthquake. At last it was the Lord’s will that it should cease, and with it the fears of all. In Ilocos the shocks were also exceeding great, but not so severe in Manila. The Lord allows all this, so that we may recognize His power; and, recognizing it, love Him; and, loving Him, not offend Him.
During these years, the Dutch enemy did not discontinue coming to the coasts of Manila, where they robbed the Chinese and did all the harm possible. They tried to capture the ships carrying aid [from Mexico], so that without war they were growing rich, and disabling the people of Manila. In this emergency the pilots carried sealed orders, which they were to open on the return voyage and learn the port where they had to go, thus defeating the designs of the Dutch enemy, and freeing themselves from the secret spies who were in Manila—who, as it was said, were not lacking. Consequently, in many years no company [of religious] entered Manila directly, so that whatever missionaries the ships carried were scattered, and, not reaching Manila, no benefit was derived from them. Father Fray Alonso del Rincón[54] was coming from España with a fine company of religious. He reached the port of Acapulco, where that year the flagship from these islands did not arrive. After it left Manila and rounded the shoals, it had been wrecked near Verde Island, for the tides drove it upon some reefs. The almiranta passed on, and immediately another despatch followed it which the governor made, when advised of the event. In the latter the pilot and commander was the overseer Gaspar Nuñez. This boat sailed September 16, and our Lord was pleased to let it arrive, but both vessels were very small. The governor of Terrenate, Pedro de Heredia, was coming. At last a vessel happened to arrive from Perú, and was immediately laden. Our religious embarked in it, as also did the fathers of the Society. Although the other two small boats had sailed a fortnight before, this vessel overtook them, and all entered the port of Casiguran, opposite Manila, about the same time. This small boat bore religious of our father St. Francis, and all the vessels suffered from a plague that was like to finish them. All the Franciscans died, although only one of Ours died, father Fray Nicolás Goyas, a Viscayan by birth, of the province of Castilla. He was an excellent Latin scholar, a fine poet, a very good theologian, and an eloquent preacher—all qualities useful here. But if the Lord chose to take him, who doubts that it was fitting?
The rest recovered and reached the said port on June 25, of the year 1622. There are many convents belonging to our father St. Francis in that district, and they assisted generously the needs of all, and especially of the religious, who were in need of everything. But for Ours, while going to Manila, the route which they took overland was so dangerous and so full of difficulties that daily they braved death a thousand times at the passage of the rivers. For the rainy season was at its height, and consequently the rivers were swollen outside their beds, and had very swift currents. They came afoot and shoeless, for the mud unshod them in two steps. Their food was morisqueta.[55] They suffered so great need of all things, although not through the fault of the father commissary, who ever treated them with great liberality and no less charity; but on the roads they met no people, but only buffaloes, and in the rainy season they experienced all these inconveniences. Finally they came to the confines of Pampanga, where, forgetful of their hardships, they began to receive innumerable welcomes from those most devout fathers, who know how to show kindness to strangers, and all the more to their own who came to aid them, when they had suffered so much and were in need of all things. Thence they went to Manila, where they were received heartily by our father Fray Juan Enríquez—who had them rest, so that they should begin their labor in the Lord’s vineyard, for which they had been chosen, with greater courage. Those who entered Manila in the company of father Fray Alonso Rincón, their commissary, were the following:
1. Father Fray Francisco Bibero, a Castilian, an eloquent preacher.
2. Father Fray Diego Martínez, a preacher, from Mancha.