slight accident occasioned his death, so that, without any medicine
sufficing, he went away and left us on the seventeenth of May,
leaving us disconsolate and very desirous of him.

Our rules, in such an event, summon the preceding provincial, who
immediately took the seal. Persons were not lacking to advise him to
leave the government of the province, saying that the province was not
well affected toward him. And even persons outside of the order who
were viewing things with some interest, said the same to him. But we
are not to understand that any ambition guided him, but that since he
had had experience in the government, which is not the least thing,
he thought that he could govern better than another. He commenced to
burden the province with mandates, for in his term there was too much
of that. Thereupon, the fathers began to regard him less favorably
than before, and to represent to themselves the evil of his having the
command. There were meetings and discussions in which the coming evil
was clearly presaged and announced. One old religious, who was such
in all things, in order to avoid cavilings and inquisitions went to
confess to him; and told him that he knew most positively that they
wished to kill him, and that he should relinquish his office. He
assented to nothing, carried away, doubtless, by his good zeal. A
brother served him in his cell, a creole whom he wished well and whom
he treated with affection. The latter, in return for the benefits
which he received, gave him pounded glass in his chocolate, for he
had been told that that was the most virulent poison which could be
administered. But the provincial's natural force resisted everything,
for he was robust, though small of body.

During this time, which was June of the same year, 1617, as the ships
which had been despatched the year before had put back in distress,