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

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 Ni?o 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 Espa?a. 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 Ni?o" 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 the Sangleys.
Early in 1632 several royal orders are despatched to the colony. In a letter of January 27, the king writes to Tavora on several matters: the monopoly of the sale of playing-cards, the sale of offices, and the salary of the acting archbishop. A