The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIV, 1630-34 | Page 3

Child in Cebú. Another rising in Leyte is also put down, and
the islands are saved for Spain. A severe earthquake is felt in all the
islands, and does much damage. The constant danger of attack by the
Dutch greatly hinders the coming of missionaries to the islands. The
hardships and dangers experienced by a band of these gospelers are
depicted by our writer.
In 1623 Fray Alonso de Méntrida becomes provincial, attaining in that
office great renown, and displaying much ability and zeal. Medina
enumerates, here as elsewhere, the missionaries received by this
province from Spain. The next election raises to this dignity Fray

Hernando Becerra; but his health is very poor, and he dies soon after
becoming provincial. His temporary successor, Méntrida, is opposed by
many, and is finally obliged to resign, the intervention of Governor
Niño de Tavora being required to settle the affair. The government of
the order is now taken by Fray Francisco Bonifacio, "the most pacific
creature that has been in Filipinas." Medina relates some of the
hardships and dangers that the missionaries in that country must
encounter; the hostilities between the Joloans and the Spaniards, under
Tavora; and the burning of the Recollect convent at Cebú, soon
followed by the like destruction of the Augustinian convent there.
Medina goes to Manila, and obtains for his Cebú convent enough aid to
rebuild its house and church, and supply all their necessary equipment,
even better than before. He describes the expeditions to Formosa under
Silva and Tavora, the latter (a futile attempt) being accompanied by an
Augustinian religious; and the burning of the Parián. The Augustinian
missions at Maluco and Cavite are abandoned.
In 1629 Fray Juan de Henao becomes provincial, at which time arise
various controversies in the order. To settle one of these, an envoy is
sent to Rome, Fray Pedro García; but he dies before reaching Nueva
España. The archbishop of Manila is carried away by a fever; Medina
eulogizes his virtues and ability. He gives an account of the
unsuccessful expedition against the Joloans, led by Olaso; it "returned
to Manila the laughing-stock of all the islands." The burdens imposed
on the Indians for its equipment have occasioned much distress and
many deaths among them; and its failure causes those of Cagayan to
talk of revolt. 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.
The persecutions in Japan still continue, yet religious go thither in
disguise, at the risk of death. An expedition is sent out from Manila to

capture any Dutch vessels that may be encountered on the coasts of
Siam and Camboja. Their destruction of a Japanese junk occasions
various embassies between the Philippines and Japan--the last of these
in 1631, desiring to resume trade between those countries. This and
some other occurrences in that year seem to have been added later by
Medina to his manuscript, which purports to have been written in 1630.
In 1629 an expedition is fitted out by the religious orders to send
missionaries to Japan, but it proves a failure. The canonization of
Japanese martyrs is the occasion for magnificent spectacles in
Manila--processions, dances, comedies, etc. Irritated by harsh treatment
from an arrogant Spanish officer, the Indians of Caragán revolt, killing
the Spaniards, among whom are several missionaries; but troops from
Cebú are sent there, and quell the rising.
Resuming the miscellaneous documents of that period, letters are sent
to Manila (December, 1630) by the king regarding various matters that
have been referred to him. Felipe orders that certain offices shall be
sold; that the natives must pay at least part of their tributes in kind; and
that the salaries of the auditors be more promptly paid. Command is
given that war-ships in the islands be no longer built so large as
hitherto, as they are expensive, unwieldy, and in some circumstances
useless. A letter to the auditors gives directions for the method of
procedure in trying certain cases of appeal; and answers some questions
which the auditors had asked. Bishop Arce, of Cebú, writes to the king
(July 31, 1631). He congratulates Felipe on the birth of a son;
comments on some royal decrees just received; recommends a person
as schoolmaster in the Manila church; and advises the appointment of
the royal fiscal as protector of