[Two sections follow, treating of the lives of Fathers Geronimo de Christo and Diego de Jesus, the first of whom was a missionary in the Philippines and the second in Mexico—­who, being captured by the English, passed through many stirring adventures.]

[Chapter x contains nothing touching the Philippines except a brief survey of the life and death of the founder of the Philippine missions, Father Joan de San Geronimo.  He died near Ormuz, while returning to Spain in order to secure more workers for his mission.]

Third Decade

[The first chapter recounts that papal permission was given to erect four novitiates in the convents in the four Spanish cities of Madrid, Valladolid, Zaragoza and Valencia.]

Chapter II

Foundation of the convent of Cigayan

The year 1612

The missionary fathers of the Philippinas Islands were free from anxiety, and were far from suffering the strife and upheaval that the Reform was enduring in Espana.  However, in their great anxiety to guide souls to heaven, they did not desist from their fruitful conversion along the coasts of Zambales.  They needed associates to help them carry so heavy a burden; but notwithstanding that, in their sorrow for the lamentable loss of those who did not yet know God because of the lack of missionaries, after they had converted many infidels in the village of Cigayan they set about founding a monastery there.  They carried it out that year, and lived therein with all security until an Indian, instigated by the devil, laid violent hands on father Fray Alonso de San Augustin, whom he wounded severely in the throat with a very broad though short dagger, called igua in that country, which is made purposely for beheading a person at one blow—­a vice common to the Zambales, before they knew the sweet charity of the law which we profess.  But as the stroke was first caught by the hood [of the father’s habit], the barbarian did not succeed in his purpose, which had been to behead him in a moment.  But the wound did not heal readily, and consequently he lived but a little while.  It is said that there was no further cause for the atrocious and profane act of the wicked parricide than the desire to free himself from the censures that that same father had administered to him for his crimes and wickedness.  Thereupon, the Indians of the village rose in revolt, and after burning the church and the convent, fled to the mountains.  However, some remained, who defended the other religious, and carried the wounded man to Masinglo.  Consequently, the village was almost deserted.  Afterward they tried, and successfully, to subdue the insurgents again.  They succeeded by their energy and toil, and restored the settlement and church again to their former state for the administration of seven hundred souls or so, who were the last ones to comprehend the cry of the gospel.