The Historia of Fray Juan de Medina, O.S.A., was written in 1630, but printed at Manila in 1893.  He records the history of his order in the Philippines up to 1630, adding much interesting information regarding secular affairs and the condition of the islands and their people.  He begins with a resume of the discovery and early history of the archipelago—­in the former of which, it will he remembered, the Augustinian Urdaneta was so prominent.  Legazpi’s voyage, and his encounters with the natives, are related at length.  Medina describes the island of Cebu (where the Spaniards first halted), and its economic and religious condition at the time of his writing.  He adds some information regarding Panay, Negros, and other adjacent islands; then, resuming his narration, describes the founding by Legazpi of a city in Cebu, and the purification of the natives.  This is at first a most difficult and vexatious matter, as the natives are faithless to their promises; but they are finally won over by a chief whose wife, captured by the Spaniards, is well treated and restored to him.  In the midst of this account Medina injects another, relating how Urdaneta, sent home by Legazpi with despatches, discovers the return route from the Philippines to Nueva Espana; and recounting subsequent events in the lives of Urdaneta and his companion Aguirre.  Friendship with the natives of Cebu having been established, the Augustinians there begin to labor in the conversion of the Indians, and a considerable number of baptisms are conferred.  The infant colony is attacked (at the instigation of the devil) by the Portuguese, but they are obliged to depart without harming it.  The missions thrive apace, and extend to neighboring islands; and Fray Diego de Herrera goes to Spain to obtain more laborers for this so promising field.  Returning, he brings tokens of the royal favor to both the missionaries and Legazpi.  That officer concludes to remove his seat of government to Luzon, especially to secure the valuable Chinese trade, of which Medina gives some account—­not failing to reiterate the stereotyped complaint that all the silver is being carried to China.

Medina describes with enthusiasm the magnificent bay of Manila, where the Spaniards enter Luzon; and relates the dealings of the invaders with the Moros, who are, as usual, perfidious and unreliable.  After a time, however, they are reduced to obedience, largely through the efforts of the religious who accompany Legazpi.  The Augustinians have a large and handsome convent in Manila, which is described.  The organization of their province of Filipinas is accomplished pro tempore in 1572, and Diego de Herrera is sent to Spain to secure their independence and procure more missionaries.

Medina recounts the convents and churches founded in succession by his order, with some account of the lakes Bombon and Bay, and of the communities about them.  Speaking of the hospitals, he highly commends the Franciscans who have them in charge.  He describes the region watered by the Pasig River, and the Augustinian convents therein; and continues his account, in like manner, for Panay and the other islands in which that order has its missions—­throughout furnishing much valuable, although desultory, information regarding social and economic conditions.