The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; 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, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 24]

I630-I634]

MEDINA'S HISTORIA

II7

Don Juan de Alcarazo did not dare [to send out
troops], as he had no order from the governor, Don
Alonso Fajardo, and it might be imputed to him as
a blameworthy act. But the fathers, seeing that
whatever delay occurred was to make the wound
incurable, surmounted all difficulties. Consequently,
they were able to negotiate with potent arguments,
saying that it was especially important to check the
evil in its first stages, so that it should not spread.
The alcalde-mayor was persuaded, and assembled
the soldiers and adventurers who appeared most suitable to him, besides a number of Sugbu Indians,
armed with sword and buckler. With these he
landed in Bohol, and went to look for the enemywho, courageous in their mountains and supplied
with rice, thought that they were most safe, and that
victory was sure.
But the most diligent effort made by this gentleman was to go to our convent to have a mass said
to the Holy Child, before whom many candles were
burned; to promise to take Him as patron; and to
perform no action in that war which should not be
done in His name. Since His [Divine] Majesty,
he said, had, by His favor, given those islands to the
Spaniards, he prayed that He would not permit them
to lose, for his sins, those that they already possessed.
For the Christianity founded therein with so great
toil would be wholly lost, and the victorious enemies
of His name would leave no kind of evil undone to
the conquered, to the contempt of His name. The
most Holy Child showed Himself very gracious, as
is His custom in events [that are to be] prosperous,
whereupon victory was regarded as sure. Encouraged by such omens, they did not hesitate to attack