Let this true account and fact be considered, and who serves his Majesty, who protects the Indians, to what we religious are exposed, and what we endure in the fulfilment of our duties, and in the preservation of the country—­which the Spaniards themselves are inciting to hostilities by such oppressions.  The soldier was not commended, but neither did the commandant punish him.  Within a short time he died, without his hopes being obtained, and as they are wont to die here.  May God in His goodness have pity on his soul.

While I was prior in Santisimo Nombre de Jesus (the chief house of the province in the olden days), and while the chief commandant and lieutenant-governor was another gentleman whom I shall not name because of his influence, the latter struck a religious, whom I had there as the head preacher, between the eyes.  In order to take away all opportunities for trouble, and that the commandant with his influence might cause none to the order—­for whatever such an official wishes to do here, he does—­I allowed the religious to go to the convent of Carcar.  It was necessary for this religious to go to San Nicolas, on that saint’s day, to preach, and he did so.  As soon as he arrived, clad in his black habit, in all the propriety of an Augustinian religious, he went to the house of the foremost man of the city, both in position and wealth, and his wife, who were regarded most highly by the people, one of whose children had been baptized by the religious.  He requested this man to give him the little loaves that the latter had been asked to make.  The commandant heard of his arrival, and immediately sent two soldiers and an adjutant to seize him, and drag him with them, although he had retired.  The commandant had prepared a champan and shackles to send the religious to Manila.  I was advised of his arrest.  I set out and went to tell Bishop Don Fray Pedro de Arce, who was at that time in his house, of the matter.  He went out in his chair, followed him to the city and we found the religious surrounded by soldiers, who immediately opened the door and went away.  We went to the convent, where the bishop began to write.  Two seculars, who defended this action, and by whose authority the commandant did this, prevented the commandant from being excommunicated.  Finally, in a meeting of the orders, the commandant was declared excommunicated.  But the governor of Filipinas, Don Juan Nino de Tabora, who should have punished the commandant, neglected to do so.  In this he did not imitate Don Juan de Silva, who, when a similar case happened, summoned the alcalde-mayor who was in llocos, took from him his office, and deprived him of all rights, although he was pardoned by having had the express order of the bishop of that province.  But what men neglect to punish the Lord does not forget to punish.  He ordered a change of fortune after certain days, so that the same governor, Don Juan Nino de Tabora, did not like this gentleman.  Accordingly, following