to the changing of the law they found most difficulty; for they thought that they could attain life eternal by means of the law under which they were living.  The cursed Mahoma made the law, and ordered his believers not to dispute his law; for he knew that his lies would immediately be laid open at the first attack.  On the other hand he advised them that each one was saved by his own law.  Therefore, cursed demon, if thus you have advised, how in spite of torments, do you contrive that your law is received?  This law Mahoma introduced into the world with force and arms.  I am not surprised that these natives were so sorry to leave their religion, for they were persuaded that there was salvation thereby.  But they preferred to follow Mahoma—­homicide, drunkard, incestuous, robber, and sensual—­than Christ, exposed naked on a cross, who preached fasting, mortification, chastity, penitence, love for one’s enemy, and other virtues.  The Borneans who were living in their country offered the greatest opposition to them, and were persuading them to the contrary, with the cessation of their cursed religion.  But as this was a matter that could not be concluded in one day, but only gradually, and they had to be convinced of their errors and superstitions by the true and forcible arguments of our religion, it was left for the fathers—­whose fasting, abstinence, prayers, and sermons were to cast out that demon, so strongly fortified in the hearts of those poor wretches. Hoc genus (demoniorum) non ejicitur nisi per orationem et jejunium. [45]

Upon this, those Moros or Tagals received the peace offered them, and rendered homage to King Don Felipe, our sovereign—­whom may God keep in His glory—­and to his successors, the sovereigns of Espana.  The adelantado set up the standard for him and in his name.  This was concluded and effected in the year 1571, day of the glorious St. Andrew, the patron saint of Manila.  On that day, the standard is carried in that city, the capital of the islands, in the same manner as we related in describing the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesus in the island of Sugbu.  It is now carried with much less pomp than formerly, for all things are declining; and as affairs had their beginning, so they must have their middle and their end, for they are perishable and finite, and consequently must end.

Chapter XV

Continuation of the preceding chapter

Inasmuch as all one’s affairs are subject to change, those things which apparently have greatest stability show, when one least thinks it, their defects [muestran la hilaza] and reveal their mutability.  So it happened here.  The adelantado was very happy indeed at the extremely good outcome of events, and at the peace so fortunately obtained in a matter, which, in his constant opinion, to buy cheaply had to be at the cost of much bloodshed.  For everything he, as so thorough a servant of God, rendered thanks