IN THE WHICH IS CONTAINED THE VOYAGE THAT WAS INTO THAT KINGDOME IN THE YEAR 1576, BY THE FATHERS FRYER PETER DE ALFARO, COSTODIO IN THE ILANDES PHILIPPINES, OF THE ORDER OF SAINT FRANCIS, OF THE PROUINCE OF S JOSEPH, AND OTHER THREE RELIGIOUS MEN OF THE SAME ORDER, AND THEIR MIRACULOUS ENTRING INTO THAT KINGDOME, AND WHAT HAPPENED VNTO THEM FOR THE SPACE OF SEUEN MONTHES THAT THEY THERE REMAINED, AND WHAT THEY DID SEE AND VNDERSTAND OF: ALL THE WHICH ARE NOTABLE AND VERIE RARE

CHAP. I

The fryers of Saint Francis came vnto the Ilandes Philippinas, and procured to passe vnto the firme lande of the kingdome of China, with zeale to preach the holy gospell

The day of the visitation of our Ladie, in the yeare 1578, there came out of Spaine to the citie of Manilla, in the Ilandes Philippinas, the father Fryer Peter de Alfaro, who went for Costodio of that prouince, and fourteene more other religious persons of the same order in his companie, and were sent by the king of Spaine and his royall counsel of the Indias, for to be ayders and helpers of the Austen fryers, who vntill that time had beene there alone in those ilandes, occupied in the conuerting of the people in that countrie, and were the first ministers of the gospell, preaching the same with great zeale, vnto the profite of their soules: of the which people those fryers had baptised (when the others ariued) more then one hundred thousande, and the rest prepared and cathecised to receive the like. Because that at the first occasion that might be giuen, they might enter into the kingdome of China to preach the holy gospell.