a person that, were I to praise him, I think, that my tongue would
do him an injury, for another pen and another language must tell his
virtues. He came to this province as a lay brother. He was ordained
here and completed his studies, and always gave signs of what he was
to become; for his modesty, his charity, his devotion, even while a
brother, appeared so conspicuous, and were increasing in such a manner,
that not only were the islands full of his good name and great virtues,
but they even came to the ears of Felipe III, who presented him for
the bishopric of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús. While in this country,
the decree of the year 1610 was sent him, which caused the holy man
considerable vexation, so that he did not know what to do; for it
seemed a grievous thing for him to abandon the quietness of his cell,
and to exchange it for the majesty of a bishop, to which he was not
inclined. Accordingly, he resigned the bishopric into the hands of
the father master Fray Pedro Solier, [4] who was provincial at that
time. The latter considered that if he [_i.e._, Fray Pedro] were to
accept it honor would come to the order, advantage to the city of
Santísimo Nombre de Jesus, and service to his Majesty, the king our
sovereign, who having heard of the holiness of the person in question,
was considering himself as very well served in that the father should
accept it. Consequently, when he returned to the holy superior--whom
he supplicated on his knees, with the decree in his hand, to allow him
not to accept it--the provincial ordered Fray Pedro, by his obedience,
to comply with his Majesty's commands, and to render him thanks for
it, and that he would do the same for what pertained to the order;
thereupon the former accepted, and gave up his cell, in which there
was nothing of importance. Although he was prior, and exercised the
highest duties of the province, he was ever the keenest advocate
of poverty, and so great a giver of alms that even now, although a
bishop, he must be restrained; for he gives everything away, and he