nds." It was resolved to send one religious to New Spain "to look
after the affairs of the islands, and get colonists for them from the
many workmen in Nueva Espana." The lot fell to Father Diego de Herrera,
and he set sail, after having been elected as the first provincial of
the Philippines. Medina says: "The intention of the religious is not
known. For they had no order from the most reverend general to create a
provincial, and such an order was necessary. Their object is unknown,
but it is well known that the said father Fray Diego de Herrera was
despatched and arrived at Nueva Espana, bearing this title." His
mission in New Spain and Spain proved successful, and advantageous to
the islands; and he set sail again for the Philippines with a number
of religious. Of the three religious remaining in the islands, after
Father Herrera's departure--for Father Gamboa had already been sent
back on the "San Lucas," because of his continual ill-health--Martin
de Rada remained in Cebu, Juan de Alba went to the Alaguer River in
Panay, and Alonso Jimenez to Ibalon. "There, in those ministries,
the religious were learning the language with the greatest assiduity,
in order to be able to preach and confess, and to teach the mysteries
of our faith."]

Chapter XIV

_How our religious went to the island of Luzon, and of other matters
that arose there_

As time passed, it appears that we continued to attain more and more
favorable results in enlarging the Spanish dominion and empire among
the islands, and in extending likewise the name of Christ our Lord,
for the adoration and reverence of those barbarous nations. This year
the return of the father provincial, Fray Diego de Herrera, who had
gone the year before to Nueva Espana, as above related, and returned
the following year, was made most prosperously, and with incredible
rapidity. It seems that he had put his hand carefully to the work,
which he had already commenced, and desired to see it assume a wider
extent, and to have those fields full of workers. He was exceedingly
well received in Nueva Espana, and so much caressed, that all were
importunate to embrace him again and again, not being satisfied
with simply embracing him whom they saw visibly as the apostle of
China--the name by which they designated these islands. They promised
him munificent help in advancing the undertaking. On that account was
his return so prompt. He was accompanied by two religious, namely,
fa