He visited all the provinces personally. He went
to that of the Bisayas, which even yet bewails the cost to them of that
visit. And if we must confess that the prelate's zeal was proper,
we have not to confess that the province which has ever enjoyed
an austere reputation had grown so careless as to need so bitter
medicine. And since those who were removed from their priorates were
given others, this rigor could well have been avoided, in my opinion,
although perhaps it ought to be considered proper, as the government
of the prelates is paramount. The provincial returned to Manila,
leaving Fray Alonso de Baraona as his vicar-provincial.
During this period the islands were passing through very great
dangers; for the Dutch from Maluco were vaunting themselves more
than was proper, and every day brought news that the Mindanaos were
assembling to destroy the islands--fears that made the people timorous
and too anxious. Finally their fears came to a head with the arrival
in great force of the Dutch off the coast of the town of Arevalo,
whose purpose was to prevent the aid which was to be sent from that
port to the forts of Ternate.
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