time when we have been obliged to cede villages in Visayas--which
were our offspring, and had been converted by our predecessors,
and whose history was identical with the ancient glories of our
corporation--in exchange we have received parishes organized by the
sweat and apostolic fatigues of ministers of the religion of Jesus
Christ, who were not members of our religious family.

[The villages administered by the Recollects are as follows: Rosario,
with 4,259 1/2 tributes, and 17,040 souls; Santo Tomas, with 2,832
tributes, and 9,748 souls; Lobo, with 805 1/2 tributes, and 3,200
souls; and Balayan, with 5,434 tributes, and 24,154 souls.]

Province of Laguna

The territory of this province, whose coasts enclose the great lake of
Bay, had been administered by the Franciscan fathers, in most of its
extent, from the times of its reduction. But in the year one thousand
six hundred and sixty-two, they invited us to share in the ministries
on the opposite coast, in the neighborhood of the port of Lampon;
and although those missions were not very desirable, on account of
the wretchedness of the country and the small number of tributes,
they were received as very meritorious for heaven, although but little
profitable when looked at from a worldly standpoint.

The Recollect fathers Fray Benito de San Jose, Fray Francisco de San
Jose, and Fray Clemente de San Nicolas having been assigned, with
three other companions, to the village of Binangonan, established
the first house and church, with the title of San Guillermo; and two
religious remained there. Afterward they went to the village of Baler
and established a convent, under the patronage of St. Nicholas of
Tolentino. The third was the village of Casiguran, with the advocacy
of our father St. Augustine. The fourth was established in Palanan,
with the title of Santa Maria Magdalena. The discalced Augustinians
resided for forty years in those convents founded on the coasts of
the Pacific, exclusively consecrated to the service of God, and the
sanctification of their neighbors, and they attained both objects
with great spiritual advantages.

We had religious there of pure virtue, who were imitating the virtues
of the dwellers in the desert. From those missions went forth our
father Fray Bartolome de la Santisima Trinidad, son of the convent
of Madrid. He lived much retired from intercourse with men; and when
he was elected provincial, in the year one thousand seven hundr