Archbishop Vazquez de Mercado dies, and is succeeded by the Augustinian Pedro de Arce.  The Dutch make an attempt (1618) on Luzon, but are defeated by Ronquillo at Playa Honda.  Juan de Silva’s death is followed by the loss of the galleons that he had taken to Malaca.  The Moro pirates of Mindanao ravage the islands; a Spanish fleet is sent against them, and destroys many of their craft.  An Augustinian friar persuades the survivors to surrender; these are afterward enslaved.  Medina gives some account of Baraona’s management of affairs as provincial.

In the chapter of 1620 Juan Enriquez is elected provincial; he administers his office with discretion and faithfulness.  Various events in his term are recorded by Medina.  In that period the Recollect Augustinians establish themselves in Cebu and Mindanao.  An insurrection arises in Bohol, originating among the native sorcerers or priests; the Jesuit missionaries there induce the Spanish authorities at Cebu to send troops against the rebels, who are subdued by the aid of the Holy Child in Cebu.  Another rising in Leyte is also put down, and the islands are saved for Spain.  A severe earthquake is felt in all the islands, and does much damage.  The constant danger of attack by the Dutch greatly hinders the coming of missionaries to the islands.  The hardships and dangers experienced by a band of these gospelers are depicted by our writer.

In 1623 Fray Alonso de Mentrida 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, Mentrida, is opposed by many, and is finally obliged to resign, the intervention of Governor Nino 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 Cebu, soon followed by the like destruction of the Augustinian convent there.  Medina goes to Manila, and obtains for his Cebu 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 Parian.  The Augustinian missions at Maluco and Cavite are abandoned.