hausted by their lack
of strength to reap such copious harvests, unanimously called for the
succor of new companions. But as this aid must be sent from Europe,
which is so far away, and as they could not depend upon letters,
it was agreed to despatch Father Francisco de Vera, as a person
who had been most successful in conveying the last reenforcement,
so useful and so large--which, however, was now too small for so
greatly increased a harvest, and more reapers were needed. The
father set out from Manila on this journey, in the month of June
of the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-eight, in the ship
"Santa Margarita," which, after a prosperous voyage of four months,
reached Nueva Espana. Soon afterward, orders arrived there from
our very reverend father-general, Claudio Aquaviva, that Father
Diego Garcia, who had completed his term as rector of the college of
Mexico, should repair at once to the Filipinas, to visit and console,
on behalf of his Paternity, Ours who were there; and should take with
him a reenforcement of earnest laborers in the vineyard of the Lord,
which was the same object for which Father Francisco de Vera had
gone. It seemed best to the superiors that the good father should
remain there and obtain his much needed rest, and not undergo at
once the fresh hardships of a second voyage to the Filipinas. Besides
this, they desired to retain him in Mexico, because his presence in
that province was important, as it had been in the Filipinas, and,
still earlier, in Madrid, and in Alcala de Henares where he had been
superior. So the father-visitor departed, as we shall later see,
with some companions for the Filipinas.

Further transactions in Manila up to the year one thousand five
hundred and ninety-eight. Chapter XXXVIII.

Although in Manila we had received novices from the very beginning,
and although a goodly number of acceptable men of various ranks had
entered our Society there, and had proved to be zealous servants of
God and very useful in our ministries, at the time of which we are
speaking their number was greater. For there were seven novices--all
very religious, humble, and devout--also three brethren of long
standing, and six priests; all were busy, each according to his degree
and vocation. The number of those who attended Lenten services and the
regular sermons continued to grow with the increase of the Spaniards
in Manila, and our Lord was pleased to give our fathers the immedi