This [intermediary] chapter considered that many religious were dying, and that, since the father priors always came to vote, some house must necessarily remain empty, and be entrusted to the fiscals of the villages. This appeared full of inconveniences, both temporally and spiritually, which it is not right to express, since they are so apparent. And even were there nothing else than the great danger of many persons dying without holy baptism, and others without confession, that was sufficient. But there were many other reasons, which, although not so serious, aided not a little. The expenses that would be saved were many; and this reason, that the priorates would have such persons, for the best ones would always be chosen for them. This was opposed very strongly, and the opposition alleged what, in their opinion, were not a few reasons. They asserted that this was a kind of tyranny, and that their opponents were trying to reduce the province to fewer votes in order to perpetuate themselves in the government; and that it was less easy to make sixty votes agree than twenty. The province had commenced thus and should continue thus, and it was a manifest grievance to deprive those elected by the intermediary (or rather, the full) chapter of their votes. They said that that matter was very serious, and should be carried over to the ipso pleno [i.e., the full chapter], in which, after being considered by so many, it could be determined. The whole question was put to vote by our father provincial, Fray Miguel García, who held the affirmative side. With his Paternity were our father Fray Diego de Guevara (who presided as visitor-general), the father definitor, Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda, and the father definitor Fray Francisco Bonifacio. On the other or negative side were father Fray Estacio Ortíz, the father definitor Fray Juan de Tapia, the father visitor Fray Juan Enríquez,27 and the father visitor Fray Juan Villalobos.28
They were equally opposed. One adito, father Fray Antonio de Porras, was not there. Each side put forth its efforts, working for our Lord’s service, at which all aimed, doubtless, but by different paths. The father commissary took sides with the party of our father master, Fray Diego de Guevara, as he thought that the better and more justifiable. And thus this chapter disposed of all that it had proposed. Five houses in Bisayas were left with votes, namely, Santísimo Nombre do Jesús, Panay, Barbarán, Passi, and Octóng. Another five votes were left in Ilocos, namely, Bantay, Ilagua, Batac, Nalbacán, and Bauang. Thus twelve votes were taken away from the province of Bisayas, which has sixteen large convents, leaving the vicars, immediate to the chapter, with the authority and power in temporal and spiritual matters, as if they were priors. Only their vote in the chapter was taken away. Of the thirteen convents in the province of Ilocos, eight were deprived of vote. In the province of Tagalos, votes were assigned to the house of Manila, that of Guadalupe, the father sub-prior, the father preacher-general, the convent of Taal, that of San Pablo de los Montes, the convent of Bay, that of Pasíg, those of Parañaque, Tondo, Bulacán, Malolos, Agonoy, and Calumpit—in all, fourteen votes. Many houses—about ten—were deprived of votes; and of these sometimes they make priorates (or rather, vicariates) and sometimes visitas. Six votes were given to Pampanga, namely, Bacolor, México, Guagua, Macabebe, Lubao, and Candaba. Six other convents were left as vicariates. Thus the houses having vote numbered twenty-eight. The subprior and procurator-general, four definitors, two visitors, the discreto of Manila, the provincia and his associate bring the number up by ten [sic], and make thirty-nine; and the absolute provincial bring it up to forty.
It was declared that when, through the privations of the time, any convent should decrease notably, the definitorio could transfer its vote in that chapter to another convent, as might then seem advisable, as was seen in the convent of Aclán. When this convent passed from the order its vote was transferred to the convent of Barbarán.
Some acts were passed afterward, which, translated into Latin and printed, are observed in the province. I do not place them here, as I think that they do not further our purpose in any way. Their annulment was asked for, for experience has shown that they have been productive of little good, and that the province had not need of so great rigor as they contain.
Chapter XXXV
Of the election of our father Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda
Our father visitor-general thought that he had complied with his obligation, and that the affairs of the province were in good condition. He set about returning to España with the results of his labor, although for the completion of the visit there was no time allotted; for he had ample license to remain in the province as long as he judged it advisable for its advantage and greater good. He did not have good fortune on that voyage, for, either the poor equipment or the late departure caused both the almiranta and the flagship to put back in distress. Our father visitor also came back and resumed his office, as it was one of which he had made no resignation. Now came the time for the chapter which was to be held in Guadalupe, according to the decision made. In this chapter the number of votes was very much less, in obedience to the acts of the intermediary chapter, and the father visitor was to be the president as was necessary in that chapter also, for thus was it ordered in his letters-patent. Some must have been sorry for it. Finally, the matter arranged itself in such a way that our father master Fray Diego de Guevara resigned any right that he might have to that presidency and to the visitation of those islands, and for greater assurance broke the seal of it when he entered the chapter. As the only received master in that province, it was understood that he would be provincial; but I think that the fathers were very far from thinking of it, for they inclined to our father Fray Miguel García, who was most keen and very accurate in matters of government. Being, moreover, a prince of the Church, the latter was more conspicuous, as all thought; and I have even heard very influential persons and even governors say of the archbishop, “He is very wise! He is very wise!”
Upon the arrival, then, of the nineteenth of the month of May, 1614, the date upon which our chapter fell, our father Fray Vicente de Sepúlveda, a person who, one would think, had entered these islands for eminence in everything, was elected. For coming in the company of the bishop Solier (I mean the company which he himself brought to this land), in the year 1606, as soon as the said Solier was elected provincial, he made him [i.e., Sepúlveda] prior of the convent of Macabebe in Pampanga, one of the best of all the convents. Later, while our father Fray Miguel García was provincial, he was elected definitor, and now we see him provincial; and in the succeeding triennium we shall see him return to the office because of the death of the holder of it, which is in accordance with the rules. Within a little more than a month after he had taken the office, we shall see him choked to death. Thus he served as an official in the province for scarcely one and one-half years before he was at the head of it. But so great fortune in temporal affairs announced such a misfortune.
At that chapter presided the definitor, namely, our father, Fray Francisco Bonifacio; for, by the resignation of our father visitor-general, the rules summoned him for it. As definitors were elected in the chapter: our father Fray Juan Enríquez, father Fray Pedro García;29 second, our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida; third, father Fray Alonso Ruiz;30 and fourth, Fray Juan Cabero.31 The visitors were Fray Jerónimo de Salas and Fray Nicolás de Alreybar. All of them assembled, they enacted carefully what they deemed most suitable for the province.
As prior of the province and definitor of Roma was elected our father Fray Miguel García; and, as discreto of the general chapter, father Fray Hernando Guerrero, with sufficient authority so that in case our father [i.e., García] should die he should enter upon his duties.
Leave was also given to our father visitor-general to go to España. They made him prior of Manila. His voyages were fortunate, although in the following year, when they went to España, the fleet was overtaken by great danger and obliged to put in at Lisboa. But affairs went so well in the court of España, that after only a short wait his Majesty appointed them as bishops—our father Fray Miguel García, of Cagayán; and our father visitor,