Chapter 22

[49] The Dominican provincial at this time was Bartolomé Martinez, who made his profession in 1602, and arrived in the Philippines in 1611. In the following year he made an unsuccessful attempt to found a mission at Macao; but on his return to Manila was assigned to the Chinese village of Binondo, where he became proficient in their language, and afterward was vicar of the Parián at Manila. In 1618 he was shipwrecked on the coast of Formosa, which he considered to be a gateway to the Chinese empire. In 1626 he founded a mission there, and when his provincialate was ended he returned to Formosa, where he died by accidental drowning, August 1, 1629. See sketch of his life in _Reseña biog. Sant. Rosario_, i, pp. 335-337.

[50] Cf. the account by Paul Clain (Manila, June 10, 1697) of a similar occurrence, natives of the Caroline Islands being blown by storms to the coast of Samar. See _Lettres édifiantes_, i (Paris, 1717), pp. 112-136.

[51] "In 1610, the Dutch had built [in Java] a fort, which they named Batavia. This was besieged by the Sunda princes of Bantam and Jacatra in 1619, and it was on their defeat in that year that it was resolved to build a town on the ruins of the native one of Jacatra, and this took the name of the fort. Batavia has been the capital of all the Dutch possessions in India since its foundation in 1619." (Crawfurd's _Dict. Indian Islands_, p. 44.)

[52] A native town in the northern part of Gilolo (or Almahéra) Island; it was captured by Juan de Silva.

[53] Probably referring to the plant called "China grass" (_Boehmeria nivea_), a shrub indigenous in India, and probably in China and other countries of eastern Asia; also introduced by cultivation into Europe and America. The Chinese name for it is _tchou-ma_. The well known "ramie" is but a variety (_tenacissima_) of _Boehmeria nivea_. The fiber of China grass is considered as a textile substance of the first rank. For description of this plant and its culture and use, see C.R. Dodge's _Useful Fiber Plants of the World_ (U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, 1897), pp. 85-91.

[54] This was the revolt of the Moors in Granada in the reign of Felipe II, which occurred in 1568-71, under the leadership of Aben Humeya. It was due to an edict restricting the liberties of the Moors, and depriving them of the exercise of most of their distinctive customs. It was quelled under the leadership of the famous Don Juan, and the Moon were expelled from their homes to other parts of Spain.

[55] This document, like so many existing in Spanish archives, was printed, evidently for the greater convenience of the members of the Council. The signature is in writing, as also the above two endorsements, which are in different hands.

[56] Fabricio Serzale was born at Naples, April 2, 1568. He was admitted into the Society, December 10, 1586, became a teacher of grammar, and went to the Philippines in June, 1600. He was superior of Carigara; and his death occurred at Manila June 30, 1644. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_.

[57] This paragraph is written in the margin of the original document that we follow. The church here mentioned was that of the Dominicans.

[58] Father Fernando de Estrada, a native of Ecija, died at Manila in the year 1646, at the age of forty-five. He was a missionary in Naujan of Mindoro, in Ternate, and among the Bisayans and Tagáls. (Murillo Velarde's _Hist. de Philipinas_, fol. 194.)

[59] This was Juan de Bueras, born in 1588; he arrived at Manila in 1622, and for four years was rector of the college there. He was provincial from 1626 until 1636; and in 1644 he went to Mexico as visitor of that province. See sketch of his life in Murillo Velarde's _Hist, de Philipinas_, fol. 71, verso.

[60] Juan Lopez was born at Moratalla, in the diocese of Murcia, December 27, 1584. Admitted into the Society October 11, 1600, he went six years later to the Philippines, where he was rector of Carigara, Manila, and Cavite, associate of the provincial, commissary of the Inquisition, and missionary among the Indians; he also went to Rome as procurator of his province. He died at Manila, September 3, 1659. A probable error in name makes Francisco Lopez rector of Cavite in 1637, for Juan was rector of the residence there at that time. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_; and Murillo Velarde's _Hist. de Philipinas_, fol. 269, verso.

[61] Geronimo Perez de Nueros was born at Zaragoza, in 1595. He entered the Society in 1616 and became a teacher of philosophy, and also taught theology for nine years. He went to the Philippines, whence he went later to Mexico. He died at Puebla, September 27, 1675. He wrote a number of relations, one on the life and martyrdom of Father Marcelo Francisco Mastrilo; while a piece of his composition was acted in the church of the college of Manila, July 5, 1637. See Sommervogel's _Bibliothèque_.

[62] In the margin occurs the following at this point: "It is called _nonog_ in the language of Manila." Blanco _(Flora,_ p. 106), after enumerating a number of native names given to this tree, says that it is called _nono_ at Otaiti in the South Sea. The chief uses of the _nino_ (_Morinda ligulata, Morinda de cintillas_--Blanco; _Morinda citrifolia_--Linn.; _Morinda tinctoria_--Roxb.) are the making of red ink and dye, while the leaves, were used in making plasters for the relief of pain. The tree attains a height of ten or twelve feet, and has wide-spreading branches, and the leaves are eight or more inches in length. See Blanco _ut supra_, pp. 105-109; and Delgado's _Historia_, p. 449.

[63] Pastells publishes in his edition of Colin's _Labor evangélica_ (iii, p. 755) the following letter from the Manila Audiencia:

"Sire:

The fathers of the Society of Jesus of this city have been suffering signal discomfort and need, because of the falling of their church, and because the house in which they live is threatened with the same ruin, as it is dilapidated in many places; and, as it is propped up in many places, the religious are living in great danger. This city has grieved much over this loss, as the Society is so frequented by all its inhabitants and is of so great benefit as it is in all the world. Although they have commenced to build their new church, and a dwelling-house, they will not be able to finish these very soon, because of lack of funds; and their present need demands a more speedy relief. Consequently, this Audiencia is obliged to represent the case to your Majesty, so that, with your accustomed liberality, you may be pleased to give an alms to the fathers for these works. Since they were commenced with what your Majesty was pleased to give them five years ago, it will be right that they be finished with another equivalent sum. The fathers deserve this aid, as they were the first to engage in the matters of the royal service in the building of galleons with the Indians of their districts; while, in the fleets which are offered to them, they embark personally. And, in this respect, they are very attentive in all other things that concern year Majesty's service and the public welfare. With the protection which they promise themselves from the piety of your Majesty, they will continue successfully in this care. May our Lord preserve your Majesty many years, as is necessary to Christendom. Manila, July twenty-nine, one thousand six hundred and thirty.

_Don Juan Nino de Tavora_ Licentiate _Geronimo de Legaspi_ Licentiate _Don Mathias Flores_ Licentiate _Marcos Zapata de Galvez_"

[64] La Concepción relates this occurrence _(Hist. de Philipinas,_ v, pp. 139-145), and its effect on the archbishop, Serrano; he was so horrified and grieved that he fell into a profound melancholy, which ended his life on June 14, 1629. The disposal of the stolen articles was finally made known in the confessional by one of the accomplices in the theft.

[65] The Portuguese commander Albuquerque had in 1508 seized the more important ports on the eastern coast of 'Omân, which were then tributary to the ruler of Hormûz--a petty principality on the southern coast of Persia, afterward removed (about 1300 A.D.) to the island now called Hormûz (or Ormuz). The Portuguese exacted tribute from these towns, and from the ruler of Hormûz; and later coöperated with him in enforcing his authority over his tributaries, and defending him from foreign foes. They were expelled from 'Omân by its imam, Nâsir-bin-Murshid (who reigned from 1624 to 1649)--except from Máskat and el-Mátrah, which was accomplished by his successor, Sultân-bin-Seif, by 1652. See George P. Badger's _Imâms and Seyyids of 'Omân_ (Hakluyt Society's publications, London, 1871), pp. xxii, 4, 46, 66-69, 74, 78-90.

[66] i.e., "We have passed through fire and water, and thou hast brought us out into a refreshment." (Psalm lxv, v. 12, Douay Bible; lxvi in Protestant versions.)

[67] Many of these exiles went to Formosa and other neighboring islands.

[68] Thus in original (_la mucha Plata qe_ tomaron a los dichos Religiosos, q_e_ dicen serian dos mil sacos de hazienda); but one would hardly expert that so large an amount of silver could have been borrowed, as the context would indicate, from the merchants of Manila (apparently for an investment in Japanese goods, from the proceeds of which the friars in charge of it might aid their persecuted brethren in Japan) for conveyance by two friars on so dangerous and uncertain a voyage--doubly so, since the Japanese authorities had strictly forbidden all trade between their ports and Manila.

[69] i.e., on the bar at the mouth of the river of Siam (the Chow Payah, commonly called Meinam). For account of the capture of the Japanese vessel, see "Relation of 1627-28," _ante_.

In a letter of August 4, 1630, the governor says, regarding the question that arose on account of the capture of the Japanese junk: "For the preservation of the commerce of the Japanese with Macan, which is interrupted by the capture of one of their junks by our galleons in the port of Sian in May of 628, the investigations which I have written during the last two years have been made by my efforts. The Japanese have become somewhat more softened, because they have understood that it was not the intention of this government to damage them. What I wrote last year to the king of Japon was of considerable aid in that understanding, and that king made it known in Japon. The city of Macan lately begged me to write new letters to Japon, and I have done it very willingly, with the advice of the Audiencia and other experienced persons. Our Lord grant that it will have a good result." See Pastells's _Colin_, i, p. 242. The original of this letter rests in the Sevilla archives; its pressmark, "est. 67, caj. 6, leg. 8."