First letter

“The order of the discalced Augustinians, which has extended into these islands, has been and is of great fruit in the spiritual by their general virtue, their exemplary lives, and their excellent teaching—­both in the settlements of the Spaniards, where they have convents, and in those of the natives where the ministration and preaching of the holy gospel results in a very great harvest of souls.  Because they were the last order to settle in these regions, they had to build some of their convents among the most rude and warlike natives of these provinces.  They have had so good success with those natives that, through their efforts and the loving treatment which they have shown them, they have so converted them to the faith and so subjected them to the obedience of his Majesty, that the fervent spirit which those religious have infused into both those tasks is very evident.  The order has a great lack of ministers to occupy their many missions; and they need the favor and protection of your Majesty, in order to attain their desire of carrying very far the conversion of souls, and of preserving those who have been converted to the faith.  Therefore, this city is under obligations to represent it to your Majesty, and to petition your Majesty, as we do, with all humility, to be pleased to have a goodly number of religious sent to them, so that they may continue and carry on their good intentions in the service of God and that of your Majesty.  For, besides that the number of religious here is very few, as they have scarcely enough for their missions, they fall sick and die, as many of the sites and posts to which they go are not very healthful; for which reason, the lack of ministers in their order is greater each day.  This is felt so much the more keenly as the importance of it is known.”

Second letter

“This city of Manila has informed your Majesty on other occasions of the great results produced in these islands by the discalced Recollect religious of the Order of St. Augustine.  Their exemplary devotion is daily increasing this Christianity, as they strive for it with so great energy.  In regions so remote, and so full of enemies and of heathen people, they, losing the fear of the violent deaths that they suffer daily, with the holy zeal which accompanies them, have founded many convents.  From that has resulted a very great conversion of those rude people, they being the most turbulent that are known in these regions.  May our Lord, for whom is this work, decree that they continue to increase, since so many blessings result from it for the glory of our Lord and the service of your Majesty.  To you we represent the aforesaid, and their great need of religious so that they may continue.  For two alone who went to Japon have been the cause of sending seventy Japanese to heaven—­some already religious, and others brothers of the girdle—­while the said two fathers were arrested and destined for martyrdom, and it is expected will by today have achieved the happy end of it.”