In spite of the fact that I am one of those who joined in signing a common letter which was sent to your Majesty by the majority of the chapter of this province of our father St. Augustine in the Philippinas, I cannot satisfy my conscience or manifest the zeal which I ought to possess, without giving personal notice to your Majesty of certain things with which as associate of the late provincial and as secretary of the province I became acquainted, and which still continue to exist, to the great harm and diminution of the province.  I am encouraged to do this, although it is the first time that I address you, by reasons which demand a remedy; and by considering, with the certain proofs which I have, that your Majesty as a king and father most benevolent and most Christian will not be indignant that a chaplain, servant, and vassal such as I should give information, by means of these and other just suggestions, in order that reform may result from them.  Ever since father Fray Lorenso de Leon returned to this province, it has steadily degenerated from the harmony and influence which it had previously gained, as a result of the great improvement shown in all things under the control of the virtuous superior of the previous term.  It now grows worse and worse the more it has of him who is at present the superior, the father already mentioned.  The plan and the tricks with which he was elected I do not write to your Majesty, since they have already been recounted in a common letter, to which I refer.  As a result of his election the religious from Mexico who are here, and have assumed the habit in this country have recovered their strength.  They are nearly all of little ability, ignoramuses, uncontrolled, and of most perverse inclinations.  Out of the respect and reverence due your Majesty I do not enter into details; I only state particularly that the games of cards have been revived among them.  The one who has especially distinguished himself is a certain Fray Jhoan de Amorin, who with the said father Fray Lorenco de Leon went from this province to the province of Mexico, returning again with a very bad reputation and the name of having a restless disposition, ambitious and injurious to all, and personally vicious and dissolute, unrestrained in all respects.

The said father being in Mexico took under his charge the conduct of some religious intended for this province, and recruited from that one.  He was in charge of the clothing and other possessions of these religious, and even of the fund granted from your Majesty’s treasury of that kingdom for such conveyance of friars.  He deceitfully affirmed that it has been spent, but rendered no account for it; and tells different stories about it, such as to condemn him.  He has always been under the protection of the said father Leon, who has received his pay from the great amount which the other has obtained for him, during this last chapter, by means of secular and religious persons belonging to his party.  As the climax of all this, he has appointed the said father Amorin prior of the convent of Tondo, in the sight of all this community.  The common people have objected and murmured much, since in that village they have previously had special proofs of our disinterestedness and purity of motive.