from earthly things.  The priors were not to leave their districts under any pretext; and they were not to send their associates and subordinates unless there were urgent necessity, and after a consultation, to be registered in the books of the convent.  The religious were not to enter the houses of the Indians, except to administer the sacraments in the necessary cases; and no one could employ himself in this office until he should be well acquainted with the language of the land.  They were not to acquire possessions, or more income than the one hundred pesos of their stipend; and necessity was to be the standard and rule that they were to seek, as those who were truly poor.  They were not to entertain secular persons, and much less governors, alcaldes-mayor, or encomenderos; for, if they did so, it would be very prejudicial to the fitting retirement and strict observance advisable for the Reform.  The Christian doctrine was to be preached and explained to the young people every morning in the churches, but to everyone on feast days, with especial care and personal attendance.  In order to conduct the divine worship, they were to endeavor to have music in all the convents, by teaching the youth not only to sing but also to play the sweetest and best instruments that we use in Europa, so that the new Christians might become very fond of frequenting the sacred offices.  They were to be admonished straitly to attend to the devotion of the most holy Virgin, our Lady, having her rosary recited every afternoon in the church; and on Saturday mornings they were to be present at the mass, and before nightfall at the “Hail Mary,” holding their lighted candles in their hands.  The religious also made other resolutions pertaining to the protection and defense of the Indians, in case that anyone should transgress by trying to do violence to them, so that, as true fathers, they might oppose themselves courageously to any annoyance that the malice of the soulless men of this age, always iniquitous, might attempt.  In short, they applied the needed and fitting preservatives, with the desire of maintaining the good name and reputation of religious who were seeking the safety of those souls, and hating that which might have the appearance of love for temporal things—­in consideration of which no earthly interest had transported them from Espana to Philippinas.

Chapter VIII

The third provincial chapter is held; and after the election a not slight danger assails the Reform.  The first convent of Manila is moved inside the walls.

[The first section of this chapter deals with affairs of the Recollect order in Spain.  The third election of provincial results in the choice of father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina.  Dissensions immediately break out in the ranks of the religious, which are engineered by the retiring provincial, father Fray Joan Baptista.  The schism results in the suppression of the order by a bull of Paul V, and its absorption into the calced Augustinian ranks.  Various influences are set afoot, however, by those devoted to the Reform, and the new provincial prepares to go to Rome to entreat the pope to reconsider the suppression.  The second section deals with the]