The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898. Volume 24 of 55. Unknown

convent of Salóg was being rebuilt in better style; and the Indians were again settling in the village, although not as in the beginning.

      From that place I was exchanged to the convent of Dumalag, by order of the vicar-provincial of the island, the father commissary, Fray Antonio de Torres. While I was there the father provincial came to visit, and there happened the above. The result of his visit was to send me as prior to Dumangas, which I opposed to my utmost, as I had left two other priorates because of my ill-health. But obedience had to force my will. When I arrived there, even yet the Spaniards were in that river. At last, seeing that they could go, they retired, and my parishioners were more free to attend to their souls, to their houses, to their villages, and to their church, which had been destroyed. Finally, it was the Lord’s will that I built there a church and house of wood, and larger in size [than the former one].

      The government remained in the hands of the Audiencia, because of the death of Don Juan de Silva, knight of the Order of Santiago, governor and captain-general of these islands. He sailed for Malaca with ten galleons, accompanied by two of our religious, father Fray Juan de Montemayor,37 and father Fray Lúcas de Atienza. The Audiencia governed most carefully and successfully, for it had very good results in whatever it attempted. It was rumored that the Dutch enemy were returning to the islands with a greater force, as they had heard of the death of that man—who must be immortal, and for fear of whom they were lost; for daily they were indicating this in their conduct. For as he routed them at Playa Honda, in 1610, they had no wish to fall into his power a second time. But now, without any fear, they were about to return to retrieve their loss and past reputation. The Audiencia appointed as commander-in-chief of the Pintados Don Diego de Quiñones, one of the most valiant and courageous gentlemen ever in this land. His first act was to strengthen the fort of Sugbú, in case the enemy should attack at that point. While he was busy in that occupation, news came from Otóng of the approach of the Dutch with ten galleons, and of their intention to colonize the point of Ilong-ylong. Instantly, he ordered a boat, loaded it with bread and cheese, and went to Otóng. In the nine days’ interval until the Dutch arrived, he built a redoubt of wood and fascines, where he awaited the enemy, who arrived September 29. Don Diego had but few men, although a company from Ternate was there, who happened to come there in a wrecked fragata. They were of no little service. His artillery consisted of small pieces which shot a ball no larger than a very small orange. He had about one hundred men. Lázaro de Torres was their captain, a man of great courage, and than whom no one, in such opportunities, has been more fortunate. His alférez was Don Pedro Zara, a very courageous soldier. In short, they fought so that it appeared rather rashness than bravery. Two of our religious were there, father Fray Jerónimo de Alvarado and Fray Juan de Morales, besides the parish priest of the town, Bartolomé Martes. They confessed the troops, and encouraged them. The balls rained down, and thus they penetrated throughout the fort, as if it had been paper. No place was safe, for the enemy commanded the entire fort from their topmasts; and no sooner did any one mount the parapet than he was shot. The commander was wounded, as was Don Pedro Zara. Within that redoubt all were heaped sweltering in their own blood, awaiting death. For, as often as the enemy invested that small fort or redoubt, the Spaniards resisted bravely and killed many of them. But finally, at the end, the victory had to remain with the conqueror, who could be none other than the Dutch as they had so strong forces. But our Lord in such a conflict aided His own, who were fighting there for His honor under so great odds; and willed that the enemy should abandon the undertaking, and depart—to the wonder of all, after they had been firing at that rampart for nearly two days. In that time they must have used more than five hundred large balls, the reverberations of which sounded on the heights of that island like thunder. On the departure of the enemy, our men must have found themselves in great need of everything, for whatever houses and stores were there were all burned; for the Dutch have done this three times on that point. Help came then from Baong, and father Fray Hernando de Morales came overland with two hundred Indians. He was an angel to the people, and, with the Indians, aided them in their greatest necessity. By this means they had one who served and accommodated them, which was no small achievement. He brought them as much food as he could, and remained with them until the natives began to aid; for all had been frightened greatly at the uproar that they had seen. This was a great matter for the natives, for they all said, “The Dutch have been beaten.”

      Captain Don Diego, seeing that the enemy would go there constantly, began, with the consent of the Audiencia, to build a fort, and constructed a rampart, furnished with some excellent pieces, which arrived the same day when the enemy left, and were almost captured by them. Afterward the fort was completed. It consists of four ramparts, and is the best in the Filipinas. I have related the above, because it shows how our religious attend to the service of our Lord.

      Chapter XXXVI

      Of the election of our father, Fray Jerónimo de Salas; and of other events in this province at that time.

      The [time for the] chapter arrived in which our father Fray Vicente left his office, at which he would rejoice; for this matter of command, although it appears to be all honey, certainly contains much more of gall and confusion than rest. The father visitor, Fray Juan de Enríquez, received votes, and he was well liked in Pampanga. The father-provincial thought that father Fray Agustín de Mejía38 was needed for the government of the province, for he was of Manila, and had maintained that convent with great devotion and punctuality, and no one had been lacking in anything—and that in times so calamitous as his own. During that time the ships from España failed us for two years, and during all that period he had so great courage that he did splendid things in the convent of Manila, both for the church and for the house. The monument placed in our house is the best of all those belonging to the orders; it and many others are his work. Notwithstanding this, the religious did not consider him favorably. Consequently, our father provincial, seeing the difficulty, did not wish, as a prudent man, to venture upon a thing which would make face against him. For the religious alone are of this condition, that they play openly; as they look rather at the common good than that of their own particular interest. Consequently, he cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Salas, a man so well received that the other fathers agreed on him immediately, and he was elected without much difficulty on the twenty-ninth of April, 1617. That election was very pleasing to the province, for all were very sure that they would receive very great consolations at his hands. They were quite right too, for I could treat of that point, as a very large share of it fell to me, when I was in Bisayas acting as prior of Dumangas; for he sent me leave to come to Manila, as he wished me to become subprior.

      Father Fray Jerónimo de Cabero presided at that chapter, as we had no letters-patent from our father general. As definitors, father Fray Juan Enríquez, father Fray Pedro de Lesarte,39 father Fray Alonso de Baraona, and father Fray Felipe de Tallada were elected. The visitors were father Fray Estacio Ortíz and father Fray Agustín de Mejía. All together assembled, they annulled preceding orders and enacted others for the good management of the province.

      But little life was left for our father provincial, for a very slight accident occasioned his death, so that, without any medicine sufficing, he went away and left us on the seventeenth of May, leaving us disconsolate and very desirous of him.

      Our rules, in such an event, summon the preceding provincial, who immediately took the seal. Persons were not lacking to advise him to leave the government of the province, saying that the province was not well affected toward him. And even persons outside of the order who were viewing things with some interest, said the same to him. But we are not to understand that any ambition guided him, but that since he had had experience in the government, which is not the least thing, he thought that he could govern better than another. He commenced to burden the province with mandates, for in his term there was too much of that. Thereupon, the fathers began to regard him less favorably than before, and to represent to themselves the evil of his having the command. There were meetings and discussions in which the coming evil was clearly presaged and announced. One old religious, who was such in all things, in order to avoid cavilings and inquisitions went to confess to him; and told him that he knew most positively that they wished to kill him, and that he should relinquish his office. He

37

Fray Juan de Montemayor was confessor to Governor Juan de Silva and a prominent orator. He was stationed at Malate 1614–1620, being appointed provincial secretary in the latter year. He was procurator-general in 1621, prior of Santo Niño de Cebú in 1623, missionary at Pásig, 1625–1629, of Parañaque in 1626, provincial chronicler in 1630, and prior of Guadalupe in 1635. He died at Manila in 1638. See Pérez’s Catálogo, p. 88.

38

Fray Agustín Mejía was a Mexican missionary, and after going to the Philippines served in mission work in México in 1608, in Bacolór in 1611, in Guagua in 1614, and in México in 1617. He was prior of Manila in 1615, definitor, visitor, and vicar-provincial; and died in 1630, leaving a volume of Ilocan verses, the “Life of San Barlám y Jósaphat,” which remained many years in the convent of Bantay. See Pérez’s Catálogo, p. 79.

39

Fray Pedro Lasarte (not Lesarte) professed in the convent of Toledo in 1572. He was missionary in Purao in 1600, in Bacarra in 1602, in Bauang in 1605, 1611, 1614, and 1620, and in Bantay in 1608 and 1611. He was definitor in 1617, prior of Manila in 1626, and again missionary of Bantay in 1629, dying in that place in 1636. See Pérez’s Catálogo, p. 50.