of sealing the mouths of the ignorant, since whatever scruples do or can arise in this matter are settled so completely by Alexander VI’s brief.  The soldier has no call to judge or investigate the justification of the war, as the doctors unanimously agree.  It is sufficient that he consider it as not manifestly unjust, and that he consider his king—­as we all do ours—­as so Catholic and so good, that he will war upon no one without a very just reason.  For the justification of a king in matters of conscience, the declaration of the first rule is sufficient, namely, the certain knowledge of the Roman pontiff.

Hence, according to the above, the opinions rendered by Father Urdaneta in two grave councils seem very apropos.  But for soldiers, it is better to take our stand upon this conclusive argument namely, that those islands belong to our Catholic sovereigns of Castilla and Leon, by concession of the pope, and by the reasons that influenced him therein.  Accordingly, the Spaniards may make port wherever they wish, may request provisions in exchange for their money, may establish towns and cities, erect redoubts as if in their own land, and make war on whomever opposes them, as they are unjustly prohibited [by such opposition] from doing what is right.

Chapter VII

Of the arrival and landing of the fleet at the island of Sugbu

Having resolved to follow the advice given, our men set sail, and directed their course toward the island of Sugbu [i.e., Cebu].  They anchored there on the twenty-seventh day of the month of April, day of the glorious martyr St. Vidal, in the year 1565.  This day happened to be also the feast of the resurrection.  They honored the saint as their patron and advocate.  His feast is kept every year, and his day observed.  The flag is unfurled with the greatest pomp possible, but that is little now, because the city of Santisimo Nombre de Dios, founded there, has greatly declined.  A regidor unfurls the flag.  He is assigned therefor by the city, that is, the cabildo, to whom the city grants his gratuity.  On this day, the [image of the] most sacred child Jesus, which rests in our convent of San Agustin, is taken out, and carried in procession to the cathedral, after a paper has been signed, by decree of the justice, that it will be given back to the same religious.  The ecclesiastical and secular cabildos come to our house to take part in the procession, the prebendaries say mass, and a religious of our house preaches.  After the fulfilment of these duties, those who carried the most sacred child carry it back, and the spiritual feast is ended. [23] In the afternoon there is a bull-fight, as extensive as their means allow—­but that, as I have said, is slight.  The island is long and narrow, and extends north and south.  It has but little rice, as the dry seasons there are generally long.  Once it was excellent for cattle, and the herds multiplied