his Holiness deigned to bless them; and, as I think, that means that he approved them without adding to them greater force than they possessed, as they are the orders of our general chapters.  That is the ceremony that his Holiness is wont to display with provincial councils.  Hence they are authorized, but with no greater force than that given them by the Council.  For if he would positively approve the rules and order them to be observed, then they would have the force of apostolic rules.  The fifth part of the said rules, which treats of degrees, was not received by the Spanish provinces, who dissembled with it.  The generals have heard that, and not only have they not said anything about it, but have even neglected it, so that the fifth part is now not binding.

In what pertains to the visitors, they are elected in the province, and have a vote in the provincial and intermediary chapters.  But our most reverend father generals have dispensed with their making visits the third year, on account of the inconveniences that have been found to result from the visit.

Therefore, according to these new rules, the fathers assembled in the Manila convent, and cast their votes for father Fray Diego Munoz, although he had not reached the age of thirty years.  That was a sufficient argument for his ability, since his so great lack of years was dispensed with, and since a province which was founded with so great devotion chose to select a man so young.  But in truth, he was a person of so excellent erudition and rare virtue that that dignity was the least thing that he merited.  His election was very well-received, and his person was judged to be very suitable for the office.  He was a son of the house of Mejico; and that fortunate house has been one of great learning and virtue, as is proved by its numberless illustrious sons who have gone forth from it.

He came to the islands at the completion of his studies, eager for the salvation of souls, and thinking that there were many laborers for Nueva Espana and a lack of them for these islands.  In the islands, he so conducted himself, during the period of his residence in them, that he was always ascending to higher planes, until he became provincial.  In that office he showed himself no less devoted than previously to whatever arose for the welfare of his order, which was not little.  Nor did he show a halting courage in it, as will be told in due season.  He was commissary of the Holy Office in the islands, which he administered with the greatest of prudence and wisdom, and not less to the satisfaction of the inquisitors.

He, also, added to the luster of the province by founding new convents.  Among them was that of Apalit, in Pampanga.  Apalit is located on the river of Candaba (of which we have before spoken), very near to Macabebe.  It had many Indians formerly, but now it has very few, scarcely three hundred, I believe. [139] This house has no vote.  One religious, who is sufficient, generally lives there; he can confess himself at the many convents near by, reached both by water and by land.