ry great harvest of
souls. Because they were the last order to settle in these regions,
they had to build some of their convents among the most rude and
warlike natives of these provinces. They have had so good success
with those natives that, through their efforts and the loving
treatment which they have shown them, they have so converted them
to the faith and so subjected them to the obedience of his Majesty,
that the fervent spirit which those religious have infused into both
those tasks is very evident. The order has a great lack of ministers
to occupy their many missions; and they need the favor and protection
of your Majesty, in order to attain their desire of carrying very
far the conversion of souls, and of preserving those who have been
converted to the faith. Therefore, this city is under obligations
to represent it to your Majesty, and to petition your Majesty, as
we do, with all humility, to be pleased to have a goodly number of
religious sent to them, so that they may continue and carry on their
good intentions in the service of God and that of your Majesty. For,
besides that the number of religious here is very few, as they have
scarcely enough for their missions, they fall sick and die, as many of
the sites and posts to which they go are not very healthful; for which
reason, the lack of ministers in their order is greater each day. This
is felt so much the more keenly as the importance of it is known."

_Second letter_

"This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on other occasions
of the great results produced in these islands by the discalced
Recollect religious of the Order of St. Augustine. Their exemplary
devotion is daily increasing this Christianity, as they strive for it
with so great energy. In regions so remote, and so full of enemies
and of heathen people, they, losing the fear of the violent deaths
that they suffer daily, with the holy zeal which accompanies them,
have founded many convents. From that has resulted a very great
conversion of those rude people, they being the most turbulent that
are known in these regions. May our Lord, for whom is this work,
decree that they continue to increase, since so many blessings result
from it for the glory of our Lord and the service of your Majesty. To
you we represent the aforesaid, and their great need of religious so
that they may continue. For two alone who went to Japon have been the
cause of sending seventy Japanese to heaven--some already