[The remainder of chapter V is concerned with matter that does not touch the Philippines, namely, the founding of the college of Zaragoza, that of the convent of Pedroso, and the life of Sister Polonia de los Santos.]

Chapter VI

Our religious reach Luzon, after the death of Father Andres de San Nicolas in sight of the islands.  They found the convent, which is located outside the walls of Manila, and undertake the conversion of the barbarous Zambales, in which three of their men die from the hardships, and father Fray Alonso de la Anunciacion at the house of Portillo.

We left father Fray Joan de San Geronimo and his twelve associates, anxious to finish their journey, continuing their road from Mexico to the port commonly called Acapulco, because it was necessary to embark once more in order to reach Philippinas, where God our Lord had prepared many souls who, oppressed by the demon, had no ministers to lighten their darkness.  There was already in the said port a ship ready to sail, called “Espiritu Santo,” and they were accordingly detained but a short time.  They finally set sail on the twenty-second of February, that year of one thousand six hundred and six, in all safety, and all being overjoyed at seeing themselves nearer the land that they were seeking.  Some incidents happened on that voyage which were afterward regarded as miracles, and all attributed them to the good company of so notable religious whom they carried.  The first one was that, the ship being all but sent to the bottom by burning, the fire having approached near some barrels of powder, warning was given in so good time that it could be extinguished, when if there had been but little more delay, this would have been impossible.  The second seemed more prodigious; for on a certain very clear and serene night, shouts came from the bow from those who were stationed there, crying, “Land! land!” The pilot and sailors were thunderstruck as soon as they saw themselves upon some shoals or sunken rocks, and already lost beyond all remedy.  Thereupon bewailing their misfortune, they tried to seek confession, as quickly as possible.  They thought that all efforts were useless; therefore they cared for nothing else.  However they tried to cast the line, but uselessly, for their lines were cut, and they the more confounded by their slight hopes of life.  The ship went ahead into that chasm [rebentacon]—­as it is called—­as if it were passing through a strait; and after having sailed a goodly stretch without accident, among so many reefs, they found themselves on the high sea, free from everything.