about
by unfair contrivances that he should attain his own pretensions
and advancement, as is evident by the result. In the face of the
requisitions and notifications made by our assembly of definitors,
he, although he was under solemn oath, concealed the papers and
documents which he brought with him, and brought them forward only in
this present chapter. These documents, although they were nothing but
simple letters from our father-general, were accepted there, in order
to avoid contentions and scandals; and accordingly, as they directed,
he presided in the chapter as vicar-general, the same authority being
valid for all chapters and congregations [of the order] at which he
might be present. Thus he has taken this ancient and rightful name from
our provincials of Castilla, to whom it was granted by his Holiness;
and this without command from your Majesty and your royal Council,
to whom all this is subject. We pray will all humility that such
assumption of authority may be permitted to go no further, in order
that the evils thus begun in such a decay of this province (of which
your Majesty will be informed in this letter) may no longer continue.

After the majority of the chapter, including those most worthy of
confidence, had agreed and determined, for the greater peace and quiet
of the chapter, to elect as provincial a deserving religious of the
qualifications required by our rules, we proceeded peacefully with
the election, until the said father Fray Lorenso de Leon took control
of it. Although he had no right to be present in spite of his being
president, he eagerly seated himself so near the clerk who gave out
the blank ballots that, whether by fear or affection, he certainly
by this, and with his gestures and signs, being himself a candidate,
affected and changed the wills and intentions of some of the electors,
contrary to the freedom of the election. Moreover, he was present at
the counting of the votes and ballots with the three tellers. When
he discovered that he had some votes, at which time he ought to have
departed, and that another (whom he feared) was receiving more than
he was then, so as to be sure of the election--and that candidate is
said certainly to have had it--exceeding his authority, he barred the
votes and commanded the counting to cease, declaring the election to be
void. He showed--as a pretext, as will later appear from all this--a
ballot or vote somewhat torn, in order to force a new elect