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. 24]

I630-I634]

MEDINA'S HISTORIA

49

enactments of other chapters, it seems that they
attained so much excellence in this chapter, that if it
did not surpass them, at least it shone out strongly -
especially a letter which our father Master Solier
sent to the provinces, so learned, spiritual, and so
suitable to the times that it could not be more so.
Its warnings were so necessary, not only for that
time, but for any most important thing. I cannot
excuse myself from writing here the chief thing, so
that one may see the desires for the increase of their
order, and the love with which they discussed matters touching the natives, which shone forth in those
fathers. In the time of our father Solier, the province had a very good reputation, for it made itself
feared and respected. Consequently, there was no
difficulty in receiving his mandates and enforcing
them, so that the province was greatly reformed.
The great devotion of our father Fray Miguel
Garcia, who was then chosen as prior of the convent
of Manila, aided him. He was later provincial,
and after that he went to Espafia, where his Majesty
presented him as bishop of Cagayan. He returned
to these islands with a fine company [of religious],
and in the islands was appointed archbishop of
Manila..
Thus, then, as I have said, the convent of Manila
did not differ at all in divine worship from the most
devout house in Espaina; for the exercise in the choir
was continuous, both day and night, and there was
no cessation, unless necessity demanded it, when some
of it could be dispensed with; for so did our rules
decree for that. The infirmary was so full of all
comforts, and so well cared for, that truly there was
nothing lacking of anything which the sick asked,