He had been bishop in Nueva Espana, and,
although any office there is better, accepted this office, as he had
been reared in Filipinas (where he had enjoyed prebends and health),
and because his Majesty ordered it.
No other order came then. The voyage was fortunate, for, without
furling our sails, day or night, we reached Manila, June 6, 1610;
and no voyage like ours has been made here since, as we sailed on
March 25. Both vessels were very swift, the winds strong, and the
rain-showers must have been a help.
We were welcomed cordially in Manila, as they were not expecting a
company, for the procurator sent by the province--namely, the father
reader Fray Juan de Pineda [18]--was detained in Nueva Espana. When we
arrived, already the favor bestowed upon the province by his Majesty
(in a time when, as ran the news, little was expected) was already
being extended; for the news that circulated through the court was
not very reliable. But his Majesty, better informed, attended to
everything as a pious king. He sent religious to the province, and gave
the bishopric to Don Fray Pedro de Arce, as above stated.
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