ly from the scourge of smallpox which was
formerly so common in the Philippines. Section iii treats of Spanish
affairs. Section iv deals with the life of Fray Melchor de la Madre de
Dios who died in the Recollect convent of Talavera de la Reyna, Spain,
May 30, 1677. He was born in Nueva Segovia or Cagayan in Luzon, his
father being Juan Rodrigues de Ladera. While still young his parents
removed to Manila where he studied until the age of twenty the subjects
of grammar, philosophy, and theology. Although he was apt, he found
himself below others not so clever as himself because the pleasures
of the world appealed to him too strongly. Consequently, he quit his
studies in disgust, and gave himself to trade, "the occupation of
which is not considered disgraceful there to people of the highest
rank." But his evil courses still prevailed and during his several
trips to Acapulco he succeeded only in wasting his money. Returning
to Manila after his final voyage, he gave up some of his worst vices,
but still kept a firm grip of the world. He must have taken up his
neglected studies again, but almost nothing is known of him until
he reached his thirty-third year. It is said by some that he became
a priest before joining the Recollect order, but there is a lack of
definite knowledge on that score. At any rate he did not abandon his
rather loose way of living. In the midst of his vices he had always
been greatly devoted to St. Augustine, and his conversion finally
occurred on the eve of that saint. Then a vision of the saint who
appeared to him caused his conversion and an enthusiasm that never left
him. He became a novitiate in the Recollect convent of Manila that same
year 1639 and professed in 1640. After preaching with great clearness
and force in Manila which had been the scene of his excesses, he was
sent as missionary to the Visayan Islands, where he worked faithfully
and well. But breaking down in health because of his strenuous life
in the snaring of souls, he was compelled to retire to the convent
of Cebu and then to that of Manila. It being impossible for him to
accomplish much work longer in the Philippines because of his health,
he begged and received permission to go to Spain for the remainder of
his life. When he went is uncertain, but it was after 1656, for that
year he was in Siargao in the province of Caraga. After his arrival
at Madrid he was assigned to the convent of Talavera de la Reyna,
where his memory was re