The city agreed to
it in the vote that was taken--although the city was not sufficiently
large for such a convent, for it contained that of the fathers of
the Society, ours, and the cathedral church; and the Parian, a short
distance from there. However, beyond doubt it suited the fathers;
for the bishop seeing that there were no seculars who would go to
the island of Mindanao, and that, with the fort built by Don Juan de
Silva in Caraga, excellent results might be expected, therefore gave
that district to the Recollect fathers, together with the river of
Butuan, situated in the same island. The Recollects accepted it, and
began to establish priorates. Thus they had already seven priorates,
in which more than fourteen religious resided. The convent of Sugbu
served them as a hospitium, asylum, infirmary, and place to rest--to
which purposes more than to anything else it was devoted. Further,
not only are the convents there not supported by the alms of the
city, but also one can say that they support the city; for most of
the inhabitants are poor soldiers, and many now are married there,
and receive the king's ration, which is very meager.
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