to the omissions of the relations, they are lacking in the
book of history) penetrated into the mountains of Zambales in such
manner, that they arrived within a short time at the contrary part of
them toward Manila Bay. By so doing their approach to the villages of
the district of Batan, the administration of which, as we have already
stated, belongs to the Dominican fathers, was indispensable. The
latter, reasonably, as they thought, took what had been done ill,
saying that Ours were sowing the seed in a field whose territory did
not belong to them; for, in these bodies of militia, more than in
any other, it is easily perceived that triumphs are taken from the
hands of the one to advance others in their obligations. Their father
provincial, Fray Phelipe Pardo (later archbishop of Manila), assumed
charge of that litigation, alleging before the royal Audiencia,
that the conquest of that part of the mountains belonged to his
province, as it was contiguous to their ministries. He petitioned
that our discalced religious be ordered to retire. But our father,
Fray Joseph de la Trinidad, opposed that demand so energetically that
justice was compelled to decide that if the extension of the Catholic
flock followed, it mattered very little which instruments were used,
whether these or those ministers.

406. Divine Providence usually permits such rivalry, certainly holy
in itself in the holy squadrons that serve the God of armies for
the spiritual conquest of the world. Whenever judicial authority
has determined in this way, experience has demonstrated that great
progress follows in favor of the Catholic faith. For each side with
the incentive of the other, dares to undertake greater enterprises,
and repeated triumphs are obtained. So was it now; for seeing the door
locked to their demand in the above-said court, the father provincial,
Fray Phelipe Pardo, resolved to assign two religious of his order,
so that they might, with the zeal that he infuses in all of his
holy institute, make a mission thither by way of Mount Batan. They
began that mission in the month of October, 1675, as is affirmed in
his history of Philipinas by father Fray Balthassar de Santa Cruz,
although he says nothing as to the reason for the expedition. [28]
Accordingly Ours went to another part, thus leaving a sufficient
field for the Dominican fathers, for truly, there is room enough
for all. This strife being the origin of the obstinate work of the
missiona