The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 13]

1604-1605] AUGUSTINIANS TO FELIPE III

295

making this declaration for the benefit of him who
presumed to be most fit to be chosen. Although he
was challenged and called upon to declare the impediment or incapacity of that man or of any other,
he was not willing to do soj since in truth there was no
such disability. As a result of this and other acts of
tyranny, he forced a new election andi new vote, to
the great disgust and astonishment of the chapter.
This sufficed to elect him (as he was in fact elected)
provincial. He caused himself to be confirmed by
one of the definitors; and, as the chapter had begun
by siding with him, so it was continued. He now
saw himself provincial, president, and vicar-general;
and all this encouraged and enabled him to take our
courage and spirit away from us in all elections, both
small and great. Thus they all resulted in accordance with his will, and with the promises which he
'had made to those of his party, and to those from
whom he had asked votes. This he had done through
some laymen, a thing which makes the matter
worse.
The result is manifest in the holders of all the better offices and convents. They are chosen from the
friars of his province of Mexico, and from those who
have assumed the habit here-unlearned, dissipated,
and worthless boys. At the same time he has put out
of office those whom he has oppressed, solely because
they have come, being sent out by your Majesty from
the provinces of Espafa. The hatred and division
among ourselves arising from his party cannot be
remedied unless your Majesty take prompt measures
to cure it from there, so completely have these
fathers who are not from Espafia obtained possession of the province, which is not very lucrative un