This was the church that had been built by the
said father Fray Pedro de Torres--a fatal one, I call it. For four
days after the fleet had left, on the eighth of the same month, while
I was in the refectory dining with the Recollect fathers, whom I had
brought to our convent, another Recollect came from Manila, who was
coming to be ordained. While recounting to him the misfortune that had
occurred, the prior said: "Tell me, brother, if you saw this convent
ablaze, would you not feel compassion?" We went up stairs, and at one
o'clock the fire began in the middle of the city, to the windward. It
originated from some tobacco; cursed be it, and the harm that that
infernal plant has brought, which must have come from hell. The wind
was brisk, and blowing toward the convent. In short, everything was
burned, though we saved the silver and whatever was possible. The Holy
Child willed to allow His house and most of the city to be burned,
although no two houses had ever before been burned in that city at the
same time. This happened on Saturday, the eve of Passion Sunday.
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