"The discalced Augustinian religious," he says in the other, "who reside in these Philippinas Islands are gathering large harvests in all parts in the conversion of the souls of these pagans, as they have done in the kingdom of Iapon. Two years ago six professed religious of the same order were slain there, by fire and sword, for the preaching of the gospel, and the conversion of souls, in addition to seventy other persons who suffered the same death, in the same kingdom, for the preservation of the faith, which they had received then through the ministry of two Spanish religious of the same institute, who were preaching it there. The two latter are also now in prison for the same reason, and it is thought will already have perished by fire or in some other way." Don Fray Pedro de Arze, bishop of Zugbù, was more minute in describing the labors and efforts of our religious, in a letter informing the sacred Congregation of the Propaganda of the Faith, in which he says the following: "For some years past the discalced Augustinian fathers of the congregation of España have been, and are, gathering very large harvests in the conversion of the infidels of these islands; for, besides the many others that they have in other bishoprics, they have more than ten convents in my diocese alone. They are laboring therein in the cultivation of the vineyard of the Lord, with the best of example, strict observance, and care. This is in the newest and most dangerous posts of these islands, where their lives are exposed to great risk, as the islands are hostile. But notwithstanding all these dangers and hardships, they have converted a very great number of infidels, both adults and children, to our holy Catholic faith. I trust, God helping, that the conversion of the infidels--and especially those of one island where those holy religious have their missions, as it is one of the largest islands of these regions--will, in the future, by means of their care and industry, advance and increase to much greater, etc." Besides the above, there are three other letters to the same congregation, of the following tenor: "The discalced religious of the Order of our father St. Augustine have worked hard as long as they have been in these islands (which is many years), and with good example, in the preaching of the holy gospel; and they have gathered a great harvest of souls. They have established many convents in the islands, for which they should receive honor from your Excellencies, and receive protection, so that his Holiness, as master and father, may concede them rewards and favors, so that they may be encouraged to complete what they have begun." The second letter contains the following points: