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 Espana.  The hatred and division among ourselves arising from his party cannot be remedied unless you Majesty take prompt measures to cure it from there, so completely have these fathers who are not from Espana obtained possession of the province, which is not very lucrative under their control.  All the rest of us remain in discouragement and unhappiness to see such things, so opposite to good government and the Christian religion, and so full of peril to consciences.  The result has been that some religious have not been willing to accept priorships in this chapter, for fear that they cannot hold them securely, inasmuch as the said father has not in their view been elected as a lawful superior, considering the coercion in the proceedings.  Taking warning from past experience, fearing to cause public scandal and the rumors that result from disputes and investigations in such matters, and timid because of the little redress that can be had here, we have endured this affliction, and will suffer the harm within our own gates.  For the whole series of proceedings is in violation of law; yet we have not, although your Majesty has many just counselors in this his royal council, entered our plea for justice and liberty before the council; for we desire to avoid scandals, and the governor of these islands has shown himself to be greatly biased in favor of the provincial elected.  This is due to the activity and unlawful proceedings of the sargento-mayor Christoval de Asqueta, long since an agent for father Fray Lorenso de Leon.  Such a relation is completely contrary to the rule of our order and our withdrawal from the world.  Our only redress is in recourse to your Majesty, prostrate before whose feet we send our petition from this remotest province to our patron, defender, and gracious king, praying for justice, relief, and liberty in this case and in all other cases in which oppression is brought upon our good purpose and holy zeal, which were taught us in the convents in the provinces of Espana.  We assure your Majesty that we who make this earnest and truthful