was
greater than the former one, was not less. It is a remarkable thing,
and certain to befall a monarchy, that when it is about to come to
an end it slips and totters. Consequently, it was always suspected
that those appointed by the province were announcing some new method
of governing. The governor also--who was then Don Fernando de Silva,
of the habit of Santiago, and who had been sent by the viceroy of Nueva
Espana--took a part in it, so that the affairs of the order should not
go outside of its limits. Finally, it was our Lord's pleasure that they
should settle upon a third person, namely, our father Fray Hernando
Becerra, a person very deserving of what the order has given him.

CHAPTER XL

_Of the election of our father Becerra_

We have already related that our father, Fray Hernando Becerra,
from the time that he set foot in Filipinas, was always climbing
the rungs and going from good to better. He came to the islands in
the company brought by our father visitor, Fray Diego de Guevara;
and as soon as he was ordained, that same year of 1610, he was
sent to Ilocos to be minister in that province. Beyond any doubt
at the time of his arrival, he made so good an impression on those
in authority, and they regarded him as so worthy of eminence, that
almost immediately he was given the chief priorate of that province,
called Bantay. He came to vote, therefore, at the following chapter,
and remained in the province of Tagalos, with the title of reader
of theology. Soon after that the bishop of Camarines, then visitor,
selected him as his associate in the general visitation.

He afterwards came to read at Manila, and also voted in that chapter
with the title of associate to our father Fray Miguel Garcia. Our
father Fray Vicente chose him as his associate, and immediately gave
him the priorate of Agonoy. During the provincialate of our father
Baraona, he was prior of Bulacan. During that of our father Fray Juan
Enriquez he was definitor; and also, for a year and a half, prior of
Manila. During the triennium of our father Mentrida, he was visitor
and prior of Pasig. After that, in the contest for provincial he fell
a trifle short of the required age, but was dispensed by the father
master, Fray Diego del Aguila--who presided as provincial, or rather,
as senior definitor. The definitors elected in that chapter were: Fray
Francisco Bonifacio (the second time that he had held that office);
the second, Fray Esteb