ed as the doing of the most Holy Child. Consequently,
Don Juan de Alcarazo gave Him thanks, and shared the booty with Him.

There was a terrible earthquake in the islands at this time, which
none of them escaped. In the island of Panay, where I was stationed
then, it lasted more than a fortnight. But none of the succeeding
shocks were equal in violence to the first, which was so severe
that all expected everything to be overthrown. The columns of the
church and house, colliding against one another, strewed the ground
on all sides, so that a thick club could easily be thrust around
the columns. The same thing happened in the other convents, where
the images fell and were broken into bits. In the church of Passi,
which is of stone, and was then just roofed, all the upper part fell,
and it sank in many places. Many rivers changed their course, as that
of Aclan, which abandoned its former bed. Mountains were opened, and
there were innumerable other terrible occurrences during that awful
earthquake. At last it was the Lord's will that it should cease, and
with it the fears of all. In Ilocos the shocks were also exceeding
great, but not so severe in Manila. The Lord allows all this, so
that we may recognize His power; and, recognizing it, love Him; and,
loving Him, not offend Him.

During these years, the Dutch enemy did not discontinue coming to the
coasts of Manila, where they robbed the Chinese and did all the harm
possible. They tried to capture the ships carrying aid [from Mexico],
so that without war they were growing rich, and disabling the people
of Manila. In this emergency the pilots carried sealed orders, which
they were to open on the return voyage and learn the port where they
had to go, thus defeating the designs of the Dutch enemy, and freeing
themselves from the secret spies who were in Manila--who, as it was
said, were not lacking. Consequently, in many years no company [of
religious] entered Manila directly, so that whatever missionaries
the ships carried were scattered, and, not reaching Manila, no
benefit was derived from them. Father Fray Alonso del Rincon [54]
was coming from Espana with a fine company of religious. He reached
the port of Acapulco, where that year the flagship from these islands
did not arrive. After it left Manila and rounded the shoals, it had
been wrecked near Verde Island, for the tides drove it upon some
reefs. The almiranta passed on, and immediately another despatch
followed it