The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIV, 1630-34 | Page 8

is a
hard thing, when established, to reduce them to a greater degree of
virtue. And since those men must remain in the same order, it is always
an impossible thing to reduce them to that which they have never
observed....
Father Fray Pedro de Arce, who was chosen at this elevation, was such
a person that, were I to praise him, I think, that my tongue would do
him an injury, for another pen and another language must tell his
virtues. He came to this province as a lay brother. He was ordained here
and completed his studies, and always gave signs of what he was to
become; for his modesty, his charity, his devotion, even while a brother,
appeared so conspicuous, and were increasing in such a manner, that
not only were the islands full of his good name and great virtues, but
they even came to the ears of Felipe III, who presented him for the
bishopric of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While in this country, the
decree of the year 1610 was sent him, which caused the holy man
considerable vexation, so that he did not know what to do; for it
seemed a grievous thing for him to abandon the quietness of his cell,
and to exchange it for the majesty of a bishop, to which he was not

inclined. Accordingly, he resigned the bishopric into the hands of the
father master Fray Pedro Solier, [4] who was provincial at that time.
The latter considered that if he [i.e., Fray Pedro] were to accept it honor
would come to the order, advantage to the city of Santísimo Nombre de
Jesus, and service to his Majesty, the king our sovereign, who having
heard of the holiness of the person in question, was considering himself
as very well served in that the father should accept it. Consequently,
when he returned to the holy superior--whom he supplicated on his
knees, with the decree in his hand, to allow him not to accept it--the
provincial ordered Fray Pedro, by his obedience, to comply with his
Majesty's commands, and to render him thanks for it, and that he would
do the same for what pertained to the order; thereupon the former
accepted, and gave up his cell, in which there was nothing of
importance. Although he was prior, and exercised the highest duties of
the province, he was ever the keenest advocate of poverty, and so great
a giver of alms that even now, although a bishop, he must be restrained;
for he gives everything away, and he has no greater happiness than
when some needy person begs from him and enters his gates.
What then would this holy provincial do? One sees with how much
care he would watch over his flock, striving to maintain them without
quarreling, and observing in everything the entirety of the rules. With
the obstinate, he was rigid and severe; with the humble, most humble;
with the afflicted, he held himself as a pious father who desires their
good, and consoled them. As far as was possible, he followed the
advice of Fray Pedro de Agurto, his successor in the bishopric, as he
was so holy and learned a man. For since the affairs of the province had
somewhat declined, and in visiting he found some religious who were
prohibited by the rules--and, in fact, trying to remove them--the holy
prelate counseled him that such religious were men of weight, and that
he should receive their renunciations secretly; and that when the
intermediate chapter should be assembled, then he should show them
and provide those convents. Thereby would he be fulfilling his
obligation, and would also be considering the honor of those religious,
who if they were removed before, would be injured, as it would be
understood that it had been because of their demerits; but it was a
customary thing to do that in chapter, for it was apparent to all that

religious were changed at that time. He did this as the bishop had
counseled him, and thus the matter was remedied as far as possible
without any scandal.
He visited the entire province, and went to that of the Pintados--which
was his own, where he was reared, and where he had been prior of
Panay, Octóng, and Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While he was making
the visitation there, it happened that news was brought that the
inhabitants of Mindanao were coming with a large fleet to destroy the
islands. This tidings was certain; and another fleet was prepared with
all possible despatch in Sugbú, in order that the Spaniards might defend
themselves, and if possible, drive the enemy from the islands. Although
diligent efforts were made in this, when our fleet set sail already had
the enemy rounded the island of Panay. Our