. Both vessels
suffered greatly. They lost their rudders, and their arrival was a
miracle. It is quite apparent that the Lord is very merciful toward
the islands. We surmise that these vessels arrived, one in July and
the other in August of 1631. The worst thing resulting to the order
in what happened to the vessels was, that no one would take passage
on the ships, so that the province came to a condition of the utmost
peril. For, if procurators are lacking in Espana, there is no hope
of getting religious; and the religious who are here now are dying
daily. For never have I seen a triennium when there were not more than
twenty deaths, and sometimes even thirty; while few are invested with
the habit. Thus, perforce, the province is always in need of men.

Nevertheless, I, who had always been desiring to go to Espana, at
last obtained my wish this year of 1631, under the greatest strife
and oppositions that can be told; but I will not speak of them,
as they are personal, although a not small history might be made of
them. Finally I embarked in the flagship (where I went as vicar),
in which no other priest embarked. The ship was a new one, and had
been built in Cavite, during the residence of Governor Don Juan Nino
de Tabora, who named it "La Magdalena" for his wife. It was always
said that the ship had no strength and ought not to make the trip. The
people said this among themselves; but, when they spoke of it to the
governor, they praised it, and said that it was the best vessel in
the world, for the contrary grieved him greatly. It was laden, and
then its weakness was evident, so that they had to change their tune
to that very governor. It was said that it would be made all right
by putting in some stiffening--namely, three planks on each side,
very thick and heavy--whereby it seemed that the vessel would be
strengthened. Accordingly, the people embarked, a thing that ought not
to have been done. On Thursday, at dawn, we were about to set sail; and
when they weighed the anchor that held the ship, it listed to starboard
so rapidly that, had not the point of the largest yard caught on the
shore, the ship would doubtless have turned keel up. To see so many
men perish there and so much property lost, was a day of judgment--an
event such as no one remembers to have heard told before. The artillery
was fired at intervals from the fort of Cavite, whereat the governor
and many vessels came up. I was the first to escape from the