Page:Vol 2 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/742

722, Francisco de Marquina, Francisco de Leon, and Melchor de Benavente. All the above figured in the province of the Santo Evangelio. Another very remarkable man was the lay brother of minorities Friar Sebastian de Aparicio, a native of Gudiña, in the province of Galicia, Spain, of humble birth. On coming to New Spain, he was for several years engaged in lowly pursuits, but always noted for the purity of his life. He was twice married, and yet it is alleged that he maintained continence. At the early death of his second wife he surrendered all worldly goods and joined the Franciscans as a donado, becoming afterward a brother. He served in the convent of Puebla as its solicitor for arms until his death, which occurred at the age of ninety-eight, on the 25th of February, 1600. Many miracles are ascribed to him; he was beatified and canonized, since which time be has been recorded in the Roman calendar as the beato.

Among the distinguished Franciscans of Michoacan were Pedro de Oroz, a great theologian and linguist, who died about 1597; Miguel de Gomalez, theologian and linguist, who is said to have mastered the Tarascan language in 80 days; Gerónimo de la Cruz; Joseph de Angulo, one of the conquerors of New Spain, and late captain and treasurer of New Galicia; Juan de San Miguel; and Maturin Gilberti, a Frenchman. Torquemada, iii. 556-61.Some members of the Santo Evangelio, in or a little prior to 1544, under the impression that the old vow of poverty and strict discipline were already declining, resolved to found another province for attaining greater observance of the rule. Father Alonso de