“ Although he was prior, and exercised the highest duties of the province, he was ever the keenest advocate of poverty, and so great a giver of alms that even now, although a bishop, he must be restrained; for he gives everything away, and he has no greater happiness than when some needy person begs from him and enters his gates.
What then would this holy provincial do? One [35] sees with how much care he would watch over his flock, striving to maintain them without quarreling, and observing in everything the entirety of the rules. ”

“ For he loved them all equally, and equally strove for their spiritual welfare, acting toward them in every respect as a true father and shepherd. He had cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Medrano as his successor. The latter was then definitor, and he was a person of great talent for what the office requires, and had preached at Manila in a very satisfactory [158] manner. But since there are so many different understandings in a province, all men cannot judge of a thing by the same method, for every one feels regarding it as his own judgment dictates. ”

“ There is little to hope from the kingdom of Sian, as those people are very treacherous, and are hand in glove with the Dutch. No injury will be inflicted upon them, but, if I had sufficient force, it is certain that it would be to your Majesty’s service that it be used in restraining them; for the evil course which they have pursued toward these islands, as well as the same so far as India is concerned, deserves that. I thoroughly believe that if those of India are able, they should make head against the Siamese from Malaca. ”

“ The governor thought that, from that place, the Dutch were depriving us of the trade; this would mean the destruction of Manila, which only a lucrative trade could sustain. To remedy all this, he thought to capture Hermosa Island, and he discussed and conferred about this plan. The Dominican fathers, influenced by the gain of souls, encouraged this affair, because of the nearness of the island to China. As all are dependent on the governor in these regions, no one dares to contradict him in whatever pleases him; for they fear his anger upon them, which often deprives them of sustenance. ”

“ Neither would it be right for only one judge to declare as improper any expense which the governor, auditors, and royal officials had approved by their opinions. The councils of the treasury were established for expenses of government and war. If there were no authority for those expenses, it would be an evil, and nothing could be accomplished. That will be the case on the day when we shall be subject to have one accountant proceed, in the visitation, against those who gave their opinion as to the expenses which may have been incurred. ”

“ Two years after the provincialate of our father Solier began, a visitor-general arrived, to visit this province in behalf of his Holiness and our most reverend father-general, and to reform it. For that purpose he was given permission to bring twenty-four religious. He who came as visitor was father Master Fray Diego de Guevara, who died afterward as bishop of Camarines. He was most religious, and devout beyond belief. While living in the convent at Madrid, he was there an example and model to all those excellent men who are never lacking in the convents of the capital ”

“ He is a man of great worth, and has been very useful in the islands and labored not a little, to the approbation of all. For he was with Don Pedro de Acuña in the taking of Maluco, and founded there a house in the name of the order; and there he was not only the father and consolation of all, but a very valiant soldier, who strove for the service of his king as well as the best. While definitor, he was also prior of Manila, increasing that convent with many works—as he did afterward in the convents among the natives where he was prelate, which he left notably increased. ”

“ Accordingly, since we are confronting so many, it is necessary that we be always in a state of defense. Consequently, we must not wait until they arrive before we make the expenses for the necessary precautions—especially since Manila is surrounded by Chinese and Japanese, and full of slaves, all of whom need no more than to see us without preparation, in order to revolt. All these are so cogent reasons, in my poor judgment, that I consider it beyond doubt that it will be for your Majesty’s service to have a new order issued giving your governor and captain-general authority. ”

“ To Don Juan Niño de Tavora, knight of the Order of Calatrava, member of my Council of War, my governor and captain-general of the Philipinas Islands, and president of my royal Audiencia therein, or the person or persons in whose charge their government may be. I have been informed that the secular priests who go to those islands from Eastern India with their trading-ships generally are those expelled and exiled; that they remain there, and are often employed in vicariates, curacies, and benefices, to the injury of the natives, and the patrimonial rights of the country. ”

“ The commandant of the town of Arévalo, also its alcalde-mayor and overseer-general, without mincing words, was no more a man than is a hen. Even in bravery, a hen is more than he; since the hen, upon seeing the approach of the kite, is aroused, and becomes a lioness in order to guard her chicks. But this person, [80] by name Antonio de Jaréz de Montero, did no more than to run away, although he had troops to meet the enemy face to face. He had assembled more than two thousand Indians from those encomiendas; he had more than two hundred Spaniards. ”

“ The enemy from Joló had often made incursions, to the great loss of the islands; for they caused many deaths, made many captives, and occasioned not few expenses, which had been incurred for his Majesty in opposing them, but all to no purpose. For either the Spaniards did not try to look for them, or did not find them, or indeed, when they met them, the enemy took to their heels; for on the one hand their boats are swifter, and on the other they come more as soldiers than our men, who seem to have inherited the carelessness and phlegm of the country. ”

“ 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. ”

“ The efforts are not made in this city either that could be made by those who ought to make them. Accordingly, having seen this so great loss, both to your Majesty and to the inhabitants of this city, in assemblies of the orders that the reverend bishop, governor of this archbishopric, called on petition of the city, censures were issued, ordering no one to employ the money of the inhabitants of Nueva España or Piru, thinking that that would be an efficient remedy. But experience has demonstrated that it has been of no effect, for all have employed that money and no one has been denounced. ”

“ I wrote, with the ship that sailed to India, the good news that was had from the island of Hermosa. We have not received later news. The disobedient Indians have been punished, and affairs have been better regulated. May God in His mercy bring them to a knowledge of His holy faith. I am sending two ships there, so that more abundant relief may be sent to our men. They will bring back the general, Don Juan de Alcaraso, who is there. The sargento-mayor will remain in his place until another person is sent, as he is a person of trust and worth. ”

“ The governor, in an endeavor to uproot so great an evil at one blow, had a fleet built in the islands—the largest ever made by Indians—at the expense of the king our sovereign, and of the Indians and encomenderos. A great sum of money was expended upon it. Command of it was entrusted to the master-of-camp of the forces at Manila, Don Lorenzo de Olazu, a soldier, and one of those of highest reputation in those regions. The fleet bore more than four thousand Indians, taken from all districts at great expense, and more than five hundred Spaniards, picked men, commanded by captains of note. ”

“ The year 1630 is unusually stormy, and all the ships on the Acapulco route suffer disasters and loss of life. Religious are unwilling to risk their lives in crossing the Pacific, and the missions in the islands suffer accordingly. A ship built at Cavite is so poorly constructed that it partially capsizes at the time of setting sail, by which great loss of property and life ensues. Medina is so fortunate as to escape to shore—one of many like deliverances, which he proceeds to recount, as also a miracle performed by the “Santo Niño” at Cebú. ”

“ One of the persons on whom this cabildo has set its eyes—and, together with all this community, we have been sure that your Majesty would show him honor—is the archdean, Don Alonso Garcia de Leon; but, only through his great modesty, he has never put forward any such claim. Consequently, we petition your Majesty to honor us all through him—assuring you, with the truth that one ought to speak in regard to such a matter, that we judge him to be worthy of any favor and honor that your Majesty might be pleased to show him, which will be for the glory of God and your Majesty’s service. ”

“ Finally the governor, Don Juan Niño de Tábora, had to intervene. Thanks to him, the matter was adjusted, so that our father Méntrida resigned the government, which was assumed by father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, the most pacific creature that has been in Filipinas. He has never been known directe or indirecte to have any altercation with any religious. He has ever been unwilling to cause trouble to any one, and therefore has avoided giving it, and I believe he caused trouble to no one during his term. The Lord coöperated with this holy intention, giving him a triennium of great quiet. ”

“ The worst thing resulting to the order in what happened to the vessels was, that no one would take passage on the ships, so that the province came to a condition [167] of the utmost peril. For, if procurators are lacking in España, there is no hope of getting religious; and the religious who are here now are dying daily. For never have I seen a triennium when there were not more than twenty deaths, and sometimes even thirty; while few are invested with the habit. Thus, perforce, the province is always in need of men. ”

“ He visited his entire province whenever possible; and that which has always been most annoying to the provincials in respect to its visitation—namely, the province of Bisayas—was not troublesome to him, for he visited it. He did not hesitate at the suffering or the dangers of navigation, which at times is wont to be especially perilous, because of the many storms that generally invade the islands, and the not few enemies. He was considered lost, for he was not heard of for more than four months; for they wrote from the Bisayas that he had already embarked for Manila, and he had not arrived. ”

“ In regard to the difficulties on account of which they might at Acapulco refuse to accept this tax, which will reach so great an amount of income, I answer that the trade of these islands is not injured nor will the exchanges of the money that comes annually from Nueva España increase. Only that which has hitherto been done surreptitiously will be done openly in the future, to the benefit of the royal treasury. The higher and lower officers of the galleons will content themselves with the emoluments of their offices, which are those that they are enjoying for this. ”

“ To conclude, when the enemy were sighted, Captain Lázaro de Torres found himself alone with three caracoas—his own, that of Alférez Patiño, and that of Alférez Francisco de Mendoza, a creole from Sugbú. Our flagship went straight toward the enemy. The others stationed themselves in between, where they played havoc with the smaller craft. The small boats of the enemy perceiving themselves attacked so suddenly, without further counsel than that of fear, took to the open, which is there of great extent, and scattered. ”

“ God is a Father of pity, and attends to His children (and more to His servants) when they find themselves most in need of Him. He was received in the convent of Manila by many people, for all revered him as a servant of God, loved him as a father, and respected him as a true prelate.
On the twenty-second of April, 1602, the chapter was convened in the house at Manila. Father Fray Pedro Arce, who is now bishop of the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesús, and who has twice governed the archbishopric of Manila, was elected in it. ”

“ It should be a matter commended to God to be pleased to open the eyes of this people to a knowledge of Him, as there are so many souls there to be damned—for (so they say) there are more people in Great China than in half of all the rest of the world. It has been revealed to a holy nun, and to one of our friars of rare virtue, that those who are now living will see the conversion of this people. I can assure you that the labor is great, and the workers few; for there are missions in these islands where, on account of the lack of religious, we can have no more than one ”