On the twenty-second of April, 1602, the chapter was convened in
the house at Manila. Father Fray Pedro Arce, who is now bishop of
the city of Santisimo Nombre de Jesús, and who has twice governed
the archbishopric of Manila, was elected in it. Father Fray Mateo de
Mendoza presided at that election, while father Fray Juan de Montesdoza
was the absolute provincial, as we call it, or the freed one, since now
he is no longer provincial. The first definitor was Fray Agustín de
Tapía, the second, Fray Bernabé de Villalobos, the third, Fray Diego
de Zerrabe, and the fourth, Fray Diego de Salcedo. As visitors were
elected Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya and Fray Francisco Serrano. [3]
All, having assembled, as our rules ordered, enacted very wholesome
regulations, and provided for the province with those mandates,
which were seen to be more necessary at that time, in order to check
thereby the boldness of certain men, who were giving room for the
decay of the province, which in nothing loses more than by permitting
it to relax in its rigor. For even there it is said that the bow must
sometimes loose the string which holds it bent, in order to give it
rest and so that it may not break. I grieve over this, that it is
said in the order, so that at times some reasonable recreation may
be allowed; but in that which touches the essential aspects of it,
it does not seem right that it be lost, for never have I seen that
what is once lost in point of religion is regained. It appeared,
therefore, easier to our father St. Ignatius to found a new order
than to reform an old one, where its members were already used to
such and such a manner of life. It is a hard thing, when established,
to reduce them to a greater degree of virtue. And since those men
must remain in the same order, it is always an impossible thing to
reduce them to that which they have never observed....

Father Fray Pedro de Arce, who was chosen at this elevation, was such