or the desecrations
that they had committed against the churches and sacred images, who
doubts that the Lord, whose cause that was, would have aided them? But
they were greedy for their own interests, and had their eyes on their
own convenience. Thus they lost both the moneys expended and their
reputation; and to save reputation one should expend much toil, for
by it are conserved monarchies and kingdoms. They returned to Manila
the laughing-stock of all the islands. From that time the Indians of
Cagayan began to talk among themselves of lifting the yoke, placed on
their necks by the Castilians; for as has been seen, all is not gold
that glitters. Many deaths occurred among the Indians of different
districts. The expenses of the natives, as above stated, were great,
for although no one goes from his village except with very liberal
aid, in this case that aid was unusually generous. Thus there was
no encomienda that had a thousand Indians that did not expend more
than a thousand pesos, besides rice--in addition to their tribute,
personal services, and other taxes. It should be considered and
recognized how these poor wretches were continually harassed; hence,
why should one wonder that events do not succeed as one would desire?
In the present year the vessel "San Juan" returned, the ill-fortune of
which was feared, because the almiranta had put back to port. It
gave report of its voyage, whereupon the order voted what was
important. [79] They appointed a procurator who went to Espana. This
was the father reader, Fray Pedro de la Pena, [80] who was prior of
Macabebe in Pampanga. He took passage on the flagship "San Luis." In
the almiranta embarked another father, from Valencia, named father Fray
Vicente Lidon. These vessels left the port of Cavite on August 4. They
put back to the same port to lighten, and set sail again as heavily
laden as before. They experienced no better voyage than the last ones
had; for, besides putting back, they did not lack misfortunes. The
flagship cut down its mast on the high sea, and was all but lost. The
other vessel also suffered greatly, and between them both they threw
overboard more than one hundred and forty [dead] people, while the
others were like to die of hunger, for the voyage lasted seven and
one-half months. Nueva Espana no longer expected them, and therefore
despatched [to the islands] two small vessels from Peru, in which
came the visitor of the islands, Don Francisco de Rojas
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