almiranta and their flagship (in which sailed, as
commander, a corsair named Oliverio del Nort) were
stationed at a place six leguas from Manila, where
the ships from Espana, China, and Japon were obliged
to enter, and where all the ships and vessels which
leave that city must be inspected. Against the
two Dutch ships went forth two others from Manila,
carrying more than three hundred men, the flower of
the militia of those islands, with much artillery
and military supplies. In the flagship went Father
Diego de Santiago and Brother Bartolome Calvo, at
the request of General Antonio de Morga, auditor of
the royal Audiencia, and other officers, who were
wont to confess to the father, because he had a very
affable manner, and could adapt himself to all persons.
At the outset he heard the confessions of most of
the men, and encouraged them, as well as he could,
to make the attack and to fight valiantly. Finally,
on the fourteenth day of December, they sighted the
enemy; and crowding on sail, in their eagerness to
overtake him, both flagships grappled together, so
closely that one could cross unimpeded from one vessel
to the other. They finally succeeded in seizing
the enemy’s colors and hoisting them on our
flagship, our men confident of success, and already
shouting “Victory!” But the ship, whether
unsteady (for, carrying so many people on one side,
it took in water through the port-holes of the lower
tier of cannon), or laid open at the keel by the very
weight of our guns (which were very large), or by the
will of God, went to the bottom with all its crew—except
a few men who seized the enemy’s shallop and
escaped in it, and some others who reached the shore
by swimming. Among the latter was the commander,
who with the enemy’s two flags gained the shore.
Our almiranta (which was a new galizabra), in charge
of Admiral Juan de Arcega, grappled with the enemy’s
almiranta, captured it, and brought it to Manila,
where justice was executed upon the corsairs who were
in it. Among the dead and drowned—who
numbered one hundred and nine Spaniards, the pick
of the captains and soldiers of those islands; and
one hundred and fifty negroes and Indians—perished
Father Diego de Santiago. He died bravely, encouraging
the men, and having heard the confessions of nearly
all. Seeing, a short time beforehand, that the
ship was about to go down, he intended to save himself
by swimming; but he heard the voice of a captain,
who said to him: “Father, hear me but a
word, for it concerns my salvation.” With
much charity, he remained until the last moment, to
hear the soldier’s confession; and afterward
neither the father nor his companion was seen.
The father was twenty-nine years old, a member of
the Society for fifteen years, and a shepherd of the
Indians and Spaniards. Brother Bartolome Calvo
was of the same age, attached to the Society in these
parts for seven years. He possessed much virtue
and died through obedience, a quality for which he
ever professed much esteem.