at expedition could not have been for the best,
for the Lord proceeded to defeat it, by allowing their champan to be
wrecked. Afterward, although they bought another in China (or rather in
Ilocos), it had no better success. Ours spent more than five hundred
pesos. The father reader, Fray Pedro de Quesada, [82] and father Fray
Agustin de Chauru went. The sufferings of the religious from storms,
rains, roads, and famines would not be believed. It seems that they
can say with St. Paul: _Omnia superamus propter eum qui dilexit nos._
[83] They had to return because their superiors thus ordered, for
in any other way they would not have done it; as they know very well
how to suffer with Christ and for Christ, whose hardships were sweet
to them, as to another St. Paul: _Mihi autem absit gloriari nisi in
cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi._ [84]

That same year certain splendid feasts were celebrated in Manila for
the holy martyrs of Japon who were canonized by his Holiness Pope Urban
VII. There were twenty-one of them. Three were dogicos of the Society;
the others belonged to the order of our father St. Francis. The
religious marched in glittering vestments, all at the cost of the
pious and religious inhabitants of Manila. The orders invited one
another. There was a general procession in which the altars were
excellent. As for that of our house, if it were not the best one,
none of the others were ahead of it. It is certain that the dances,
comedies, and the other things which made the festival magnificent,
could have been envied by the best cities of Espana, to the honor and
glory of its sons; for they have so pacified this earth that even at
the limits of the world may be seen so many grandeurs to the honor
and glory of the Author of all. Of this not a little redounds to
the Catholic sovereigns of Espana; for by their expenses of men and
money the banners of the Church have floated over the most remote and
unknown parts of the world. Our kings of Espana deserve much, no doubt,
since God has made use of them for so great affairs in His service.

Governor Don Juan Nino de Tabora sent Captain Juan Bautista,
who had married one of his servants, to the fort and presidio
of Caragan. He was a very energetic and courageous youth, as he
had proved on all opportunities that arose--both in that presidio,
where he made many successful expeditions, and in other places where
he had been sent. He had been badly wounded in Jolo. When he behe