But perhaps
those fathers had a privilege of observing the interdict and suspension
from mass _ad libitum_, and toward what persons they pleased; for at
that same time, they condemned to sin and cast into hell the other
fathers who said mass. But that your Grace may not be surprised that
that difference should exist between distinct orders, you must know
that there was a difference of opinion among those of the same Order of
St. Dominic. For father Fray Diego Collado, superior and vicar-general
of the new congregation of San Pablo--who by the aid of the secular
arm had already taken possession of the convents assigned him by
his general, namely, those of the Parian, Binondoc, the hospital,
and Cabite--drew up for his general a document which proved that the
orders ought to conform to the mother-church and raise the interdict
and the suspension from mass, as the mother-church had raised them. He
sent that paper to the fathers of his order at Manila, telling them
that, so that they should not imagine that he was trying to oppose and
contradict them in everything, he was conforming with them for two or
three days, and was keeping the interdict and suspension from mass;
but that now he was thinking of doing so no longer, but of conforming
with the cathedral. Hence from that moment he ordered the bells to be
chimed in all his convents, and the divine offices celebrated. However,
finally, at noon of Tuesday, May 20, the three orders of St. Dominic,
St. Francis, and the Recollects rang their bells most joyously;
for until then they had observed the interdict and suspension from
mass. Some of them being asked why they rang their bells, replied
that the archbishop sent them permission from the island of Maribeles,
where he was detained, to raise the interdict and the suspension from
mass. Surely, sir, I do not understand this, nor do I understand
those fathers, nor do I know what they are desiring and attempting
in affairs of this sort.

The archbishop remained in the said island of Maribeles with the
adjutant and soldiers above mentioned, awaiting his despatch. Three
prebendaries of the cathedral--namely, the precentor, Don Gregorio
Ruiz Descalona, the canon, Don Juan de Ledo, and the canon, Don
Pedro de Quesada--asked permission of the governor to take him some
refreshment, and to go to visit him in his trouble. The permission
that they asked was given them, and they went. While they were there,
the prior of the Indian villag