Omõcon, whereat he greatly rejoiced, exclaiming that, notwithstanding
his age, he himself would go. To this the governor wonld not consent,
because of his age, and for other personal reasons. They consulted
together as to who should go and who was most suitable for the
matter in hand--namely, as we have said, to effect the entrance of
our holy Catholic faith into that kingdom. They resolved to send
only two religious, for there were but few of them in the islands,
together with two soldiers. The two religious selected were father
Fray Martin de Herrada, a native of Pamplona, who had but lately
been provincial, and was moreover a most erudite and holy man, who,
with this very desire, had learned the language of the said kingdom,
and who, to attain his desires, had offered himself many times as a
slave to the Chinese merchants, in order to be taken to China; and
as his companion father Fray Geronymo Marin, likewise a very erudite
religious, and a native of the City of Mexico. The soldiers selected
to accompany them were named Pedro Sarmiento, chief constable of the
city of Manila, a native of Vilorado, and Miguel de Loarcha, [28]
both of as high rank and of as good Christian life as were requisite
for this matter. These latter the religious intended to take so that,
if they themselves should stay with the king in order to preach the
gospel to him, they might return with news of their success, and of
what had been seen, in order to inform the governor thereof, and, if
necessary, the king, our master. The offer of the captain Omoncon,
and the choice of the governor and the said provincial immediately
spread through the city, and, amid great rejoicings, was approved
by all; because those appointed were, as has been said, of so high
station. All were assured that these men would fail in no point in what
was charged to them, and would lose no opportunity. Much more envy
than pity was expressed, as this was a matter that everyone desired,
especially for the service and honor of God--and secondarily for the