Heredia, was coming. At last a vessel happened to arrive from Perú,
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. This
small boat bore religious of our father St. Francis, and all the
vessels suffered from a plague that was like to finish them. All
the Franciscans died, although only one of Ours died, father Fray
Nicolás Goyas, a Viscayan by birth, of the province of Castilla. He
was an excellent Latin scholar, a fine poet, a very good theologian,
and an eloquent preacher--all qualities useful here. But if the Lord
chose to take him, who doubts that it was fitting?

The rest recovered and reached the said port on June 25, of the year
1622. There are many convents belonging to our father St. Francis
in that district, and they assisted generously the needs of all, and
especially of the religious, who were in need of everything. But for
Ours, while going to Manila, the route which they took overland was so
dangerous and so full of difficulties that daily they braved death a
thousand times at the passage of the rivers. For the rainy season was
at its height, and consequently the rivers were swollen outside their
beds, and had very swift currents. They came afoot and shoeless, for
the mud unshod them in two steps. Their food was _morisqueta_. [55]
They suffered so great need of all things, although not through the
fault of the father commissary, who ever treated them with great
liberality and no less charity; but on the roads they met no people,
but only buffaloes, and in the rainy season they experienced all
these inconveniences. Finally they came to the confines of Pampanga,
where, forgetful of their hardships, they began to receive innumerable
welcomes from those most devout fathers, who know how to show kindness