for certain
libels and crimes; and he was ordered to come to these islands, to
serve at the will of the governor. The latter having need of him to
go with the galleons which, I have already said, were to go to Maluco
with the reenforcements, he was fitted out for the expedition. But
he took refuge in [the convent of] St. Dominic, alleging that he
was a familiar of the Holy Office. From that occurrence also arose a
thousand lies against the governor, declaring that he tried to take
the surgeon from his retreat--as if the church can be of any avail
to a soldier, so that he need not go to serve in the post where his
captain orders him. And if the fact that he was a familiar of the
Holy Office (which was not proved), did not avail him in Mexico, in
the opinion of the inquisitors, to exempt him from coming here under
condemnation, it is a token that those gentlemen did not wish that plea
to be of any use to him in Filipinas so that the sentence should not
be executed upon him. However, a few days after he had taken refuge,
the said Francisco Garcia came to a better resolution, and, leaving
the church, delivered himself to the governor. The latter received him
kindly, and told him that he need not go in the said galleons. But
a few months after, as the hospital of the port of Cabite had been
put in order, so that the soldiers and sailors might have a place
of retreat in their illnesses, Francisco Garcia was detailed as the
physician of that hospital, with a salary of one peso per day--which
was not a bad stipend. But, that he might not obey his orders, the
archbishop ordained the said Francisco Garcia on Tuesday, April 20,
with the tonsure and with minor orders; and he, garbed in very reverend
fashion as a cleric, began to walk through the city in sight of the
governor--to whom those orders meant to give a slap in the face,
although he passed it by. In truth, sir, I cannot see that they could
be of any use, since, for one to enjoy the clerical privilege, it is
necessary that one be already ordained when the crime is committed;
but without that, then it matters but little whether he is ordained,
according to what I have read in some authors. Your Grace will ask,
then, why the archbishop ordained him and did not think of that. I
answer that even as he ordained him, he ordained a few years ago,
a Portuguese physician who was living in this city, who went to the
city of Macan, one Licentiate Pereira. I have heard that he was
twic