The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55: 1604-1605; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of The Catholic Missions, As Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55: 1604-1605; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of The Catholic Missions, As Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
In the flagship went Father Diego de Santiago
and Brother Bartolome Calvo, at the request of General Antonio de
Morga, auditor of the royal Audiencia, and other officers, who were
wont to confess to the father, because he had a very affable manner,
and could adapt himself to all persons. At the outset he heard the
confessions of most of the men, and encouraged them, as well as he
could, to make the attack and to fight valiantly. Finally, on the
fourteenth day of December, they sighted the enemy; and crowding on
sail, in their eagerness to overtake him, both flagships grappled
together, so closely that one could cross unimpeded from one vessel
to the other. They finally succeeded in seizing the enemy's colors
and hoisting them on our flagship, our men confident of success,
and already shouting "Victory!" But the ship, whether unsteady (for,
carrying so many people on one side, it took in water through the
port-holes of the lower tier of cannon), or laid open at the keel by
the very weight of our guns (which were very large), or by the will
of God, went to the bottom with all its crew--except a few men who
seized the enemy's shallop and escaped in it, and some others who
reached the shore by swimming. Among the latter was the commander,
who with the enemy's two flags gained the shore. Our almiranta (which
was a new galizabra), in charge of Admiral Juan de Arcega, grappled
with the enemy's almiranta, captured it, and brought it to Manila,
where justice was executed upon the corsairs who were in it. Among
the dead and drowned--who numbered one hundred and nine Spaniards,
the pick of the captains and soldiers of those islands; and one
hundred and fifty negroes and Indians--perished Father Diego de
Santiago. He died bravely, encouraging the men, and having heard the
confessions of nearly all. Seeing, a short time beforehand, that the
ship was about to go down, he intended to save himself by swimming;
but he heard the voice of a captain, who said to him: "Father, hear
me but a word, for it concerns my salvation." With much charity,
he remained until the last moment, to hear the soldier's confession;
and afterward neither the father nor his companion was seen. The father
was twenty-nine years old, a member of the Society for fifteen years,
and a shepherd of the Indians and Spaniards. Brother Bartolome Calvo
was of the same age, attached to the Society in these parts for
seven years. He possessed much virtue and died through obedience,
a quality for which he ever professed much esteem.
Nine new members of the Society reach Manila, having been saved from
a ship-wreck--through the intercession, as is devoutly believed,
of our Blessed Father Ignatius. Chapter LXV.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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