In 1623 Fray Alonso de Méntrida becomes provincial, attaining in that
office great renown, and displaying much ability and zeal. Medina
enumerates, here as elsewhere, the missionaries received by this
province from Spain. The next election raises to this dignity Fray
Hernando Becerra; but his health is very poor, and he dies soon after
becoming provincial. His temporary successor, Méntrida, is opposed by
many, and is finally obliged to resign, the intervention of Governor
Niño de Tavora being required to settle the affair. The government
of the order is now taken by Fray Francisco Bonifacio, "the most
pacific creature that has been in Filipinas." Medina relates some of
the hardships and dangers that the missionaries in that country must
encounter; the hostilities between the Joloans and the Spaniards,
under Tavora; and the burning of the Recollect convent at Cebú,
soon followed by the like destruction of the Augustinian convent
there. Medina goes to Manila, and obtains for his Cebú convent enough
aid to rebuild its house and church, and supply all their necessary
equipment, even better than before. He describes the expeditions
to Formosa under Silva and Tavora, the latter (a futile attempt)
being accompanied by an Augustinian religious; and the burning of the
Parián. The Augustinian missions at Maluco and Cavite are abandoned.

In 1629 Fray Juan de Henao becomes provincial, at which time arise
various controversies in the order. To settle one of these, an envoy
is sent to Rome, Fray Pedro García; but he dies before reaching
Nueva España. The archbishop of Manila is carried away by a fever;
Medina eulogizes his virtues and ability. He gives an account of the
unsuccessful expedition against the Joloans, led by Olaso; it "returned
to Manila the laughing-stock of all the islands." The burdens imposed
on the Indians for its equipment have occasioned much distress and
many deaths among them; and its failure causes those of Cagayan to