Father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina goes to Roma, and presents his [claim for] justice in the tribunal of the supreme pontiff.  The end of the chapter is concerned with a mission that Ours tried to make to the Philippinas Islands, the founding of two convents, and the deaths of two great religious.

[The provincial’s mission to Roma results disastrously at first, for he is doomed to many months of dreary waiting is denied audience with the pope, and even ordered to quit the city.  But finally the tide turns; the pope, having learned of his mission, grants the long-desired audience, and after hearing the humble representations of the pleader, looks favorably upon the Reform branch.  Although the Augustinians in Spain attempt to suppress entirely the Reform, public opinion is too powerful, and the Recollects have too many influential friends; and consequently, the general of all the Augustinian order, then Juan Baptista de Asti, orders opposition to cease.  Meanwhile, Father Pedro de San Fulgencio comes as procurator from the Philippines to request more missionaries.  He finds the Reform in almost its last throes, but, nothing daunted, departs for Rome to urge his mission before the pope.  Being favorably received and his pretensions granted, after a considerable stay in the Roman court, where he also assists the provincial Gregorio de Santa Catalina, he sets out on his return to Spain, but dies at Milan; and, for lack of anyone to carry on his work everything is lost for the time being.  Now Augustinian agents from Spain take the opportunity to arouse animus against the Reform and to thwart their designs by saying “that the discalced were unnecessary in the Philippinas Islands; and that those who had gone were few and hitherto of no use in the preaching, as they were persons who could in no way prove advantageous to the Indians.  The contrary was seen then; and by the mercy of God, we have since seen it here, and shall see it, very clearly, in due course of time.  We note here only, for the confusion of those who boldly devised such a proposition, the testimonies that have come on different occasions in regard to the credit and praise of Ours, who have shed luster amid those rude and very barbarous provinces, with so much glory to themselves, by illuminating them with the light of the gospel.”  These testimonials, some of them later than the period which the present volume covers, follow:]

Let the first be that of an inquiry made in Manila, at the time that the above-mentioned calumny was learned, before Captain Martin de Herrera, alcalde-in-ordinary of the same city.  The report of this was approved afterward by the city’s cabildo, its justices, and magistrates, the witnesses being fully qualified to act as such:  namely, the master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del Castillo Maldonado, castellan of the fort; Master-of-camp Don Pedro de Chaves; General Don Joan Esquerra; Captain Christoval Guiral; General Don Joan Manuel de la Vega; Don Joan Sarmiento, chancellor