ery
admirable example of humility, patience, and self-mortification; for,
being a prior elected by the chapter, he might well demand, without
being disobedient, that charges should be made against him, and that
according to the result thereof he should be punished. But he refused
to do that, and left his cause to God, who is the most righteous of
judges, and who knows naught by hearsay but by sight, for all things
are plain to Him. Another religious was sent there, with whom the
admiral had a more familiar acquaintance. The ship was finished and
launched. It cost sixteen thousand pesos, for it was the reproach of
[other] ships. But it cost his Majesty much more, without paying the
Indians--many of whom died, for there are no mines so severe as are
the shipyards. It was launched and sails bent, for the Audiencia had
sent for the vessel to make a trip to Espana. At that time there are
no winds of the sea along that coast; therefore the moorings of the
vessel were all ashore. While in this condition, and with a cargo of
lumber, unexpectedly so furious a wind sprang up on the sea, that
the ship ran aground without being able to make any resistance. As
the vessel was laden with lumber, there was no remedy. The wind was
for no other purpose than the above-mentioned [destruction], since it
ceased its fury with the loss of the ship. The admiral suffered this
blow patiently, for he understood that the Lord had no other reason in
it than to avenge the wrong done to His religious. _Mihi vindicta, et
ego retribuam._ [52] For the Lord esteems the honor of His ministers
as His own, and thus charged them, saying: _Nolite tangere Christos
Meos, et in Prophetis meis nolite malignari._ [53] All the others
understood this and were warned. Often since that have I heard him say
to an encomendero, that even though the missionary should destroy his
encomienda, he would neither enter suit against him, nor do anything
to him that he should not do. For the judgment of men is deceptive,
and their passion generally leads them astray and casts them headlong.

Our father Fray Alonso de Baraona was very sensitive regarding this
occurrence, and set it right by advancing the father and making
him prior of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus, and visitor for those
convents. Thus he voted in this chapter which elected father Fray
Juan Enriquez, and himself obtained therefrom the convent of Octong,
the chief one of the island.

During this triennium of our father