of the college of San Pablo whose
venerating community went out to meet them in solemn procession and
with pomp, when they entered their gates. The learned master gave
proof of his ardent charity in his hospitality and cordial kindness,
making them very happy. He prepared a room for them, in which they
remained, where they received all comfort and aid, until the father
vicar-provincial rented a comfortable house, into which he and his
subordinates, and the brethren whom he had with him moved, in order
not to give occasion for so much ceremony and so many compliments;
hoping for the near opportunity to depart for the port of Acapulco.

That one--although formerly a secular lodging, now a very strict
convent--could rival the most famous monastery in the matter of
observance; for, giving themselves to continual prayers, rigorous
fastings, harsh mortifications, and severe penances, all of them were
opposing themselves to the best of their ability in the war against
the flesh. They did not leave the house unless summoned for some work
of charity, such as to confess or to preach, which they performed
very willingly, and to the profit and good of souls. They voted
unanimously not to strive to obtain for themselves or for others,
under any pretext, in person or through others, any offices within
the order, or out of it--in order to give, as was actually seen,
a solid foundation to the province which they afterward erected so
humbly. Their rigid mode of life there was bruited through the city,
and the most noble and the wealthiest, with simple earnestness, asked
them to remain. Some of such persons offered to endow their house,
and others to contribute very ample alms. They begged our fathers at
least to leave them the number sufficient to give a good beginning to
the convent that they desired to establish. The master, Fray Diego de
Contreras, whom we mentioned above, was aiding and encouraging those
arguments, promising that they would become discalced, and that he
would carry forward our Institute, [32] with his great authority and
power, in that kingdom. Father Joan de San Geronimo was tempted by
those pious offers of generosity, but he did not deceive himself; for
many souls would have been lost if he had desisted from that opportune
and holy voyage, or if he had lessened the number of the helpers whom
he took with him--who were but few for the abundant harvest that they
set about gathering, as we shall note with the lapse o