in the islands. Another auditor’s son, Don Pedro de Almazán, when general of the galleys, had the Mindanaos blockaded in the river Baco, and when already the enemy were thinking of surrendering, he left the port, whereupon the enemy regained courage and went away. The sons of auditors have done many things like these, but I do not write them, as I am not the historian of their acts of prowess. I have merely remarked this in passing, as it was necessary to speak of it. Finally, Don Juan de la Vega died suddenly. There he will have given account to God. Perhaps his intention in something may save him.
It will be apparent from what I have written, that there has been scarcely any event in these islands, either of war or peace, where those of my order have not distinguished themselves. In the above they did so no less than in others, for they were fathers to so many poor, and hosts and support to so many soldiers. They relieved, if not wholly, at least partially, the needs of so many, which one can easily believe would be many, since they were abandoning their houses, burned with what little they contained, and fleeing from the enemy who were burning their possessions.
The enemy left the islands after that, whereupon father Fray Juan de Lecea, as a true father to the end—and what he grieved over, was, in truth, the leading astray of his flock—went down from the mountains, as soon as he learned that the enemy were not in Otóng, and reached (although not without many tears), those sites where had been the convent, and where the true God had been worshiped. He began to gather together those dear wretched beings, and gave them alms of the little that he had. Finally, with God’s help, those natives gradually came down from the mountains and assembled in their village, where they began to build their houses anew. Father Fray Juan de Lecea showed so excellent management that he soon had a habitation. I left the upland then and went to the visita of Guimbal, where the enemy had not been. From that place I sent Father Lecea men, and what [supplies] I could, so that the work might progress. There by the Lord’s pleasure, the Tinguianes of that visita, who had never consented to build a church, nor have the father visit them, at length, through the Lord’s mercy, ceased their obduracy. They built me a church, and I baptized many of them, both children at the breast and those somewhat older, and adults. If I have done any service to the Lord in that place, I pray His Majesty to receive it as a partial payment for my many acts of disservice.
On my departure from all those mountains, and my return to Otóng, I found already a church and small dwelling-house built, and another under way, larger and more commodious, which was soon finished, until it finally became a very handsome edifice.
The 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
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
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
