Consequently, in many years no company [of
religious] entered Manila directly, so that whatever missionaries
the ships carried were scattered, and, not reaching Manila, no
benefit was derived from them. Father Fray Alonso del Rincon [54]
was coming from Espana with a fine company of religious. He reached
the port of Acapulco, where that year the flagship from these islands
did not arrive. After it left Manila and rounded the shoals, it had
been wrecked near Verde Island, for the tides drove it upon some
reefs. The almiranta passed on, and immediately another despatch
followed it which the governor made, when advised of the event. In
the latter the pilot and commander was the overseer Gaspar Nunez. This
boat sailed September 16, and our Lord was pleased to let it arrive,
but both vessels were very small. The governor of Terrenate, Pedro de
Heredia, was coming. At last a vessel happened to arrive from Peru,
and was immediately laden. Our religious embarked in it, as also did
the fathers of the Society. Although the other two small boats had
sailed a fortnight before, this vessel overtook them, and all entered
the port of Casiguran, opposite Manila, about the same time.
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