uly poor. They were not to
entertain secular persons, and much less governors, alcaldes-mayor,
or encomenderos; for, if they did so, it would be very prejudicial
to the fitting retirement and strict observance advisable for the
Reform. The Christian doctrine was to be preached and explained to
the young people every morning in the churches, but to everyone on
feast days, with especial care and personal attendance. In order to
conduct the divine worship, they were to endeavor to have music in
all the convents, by teaching the youth not only to sing but also
to play the sweetest and best instruments that we use in Europa,
so that the new Christians might become very fond of frequenting the
sacred offices. They were to be admonished straitly to attend to the
devotion of the most holy Virgin, our Lady, having her rosary recited
every afternoon in the church; and on Saturday mornings they were to be
present at the mass, and before nightfall at the "Hail Mary," holding
their lighted candles in their hands. The religious also made other
resolutions pertaining to the protection and defense of the Indians,
in case that anyone should transgress by trying to do violence to them,
so that, as true fathers, they might oppose themselves courageously
to any annoyance that the malice of the soulless men of this age,
always iniquitous, might attempt. In short, they applied the needed
and fitting preservatives, with the desire of maintaining the good
name and reputation of religious who were seeking the safety of those
souls, and hating that which might have the appearance of love for
temporal things--in consideration of which no earthly interest had
transported them from Espana to Philippinas.

Chapter VIII

_The third provincial chapter is held; and after the election a not
slight danger assails the Reform. The first convent of Manila is
moved inside the walls_.

[The first section of this chapter deals with affairs of the Recollect
order in Spain. The third election of provincial results in the choice
of father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina. Dissensions immediately
break out in the ranks of the religious, which are engineered by
the retiring provincial, father Fray Joan Baptista. The schism
results in the suppression of the order by a bull of Paul V, and
its absorption into the calced Augustinian ranks. Various influences
are set afoot, however, by those devoted to the Reform, and the new
provincial prepares to go to Rome