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 Esteban de Peralta; [63] the third, Fray Jeronimo de Medrano; [64] and the fourth, Fray Alonso de Carvajal. [65] Those elected as visitors were father Fray Alonso del Rincon, and father Fray Alonso Ruiz. They made regulations for the province, and fortified it with good laws.