t our Father Solier was obliged to give account of
himself. Therefore leaving the province so well conducted with a
so honored superior, who came to it to honor and to investigate it,
he determined to go to the kingdoms of Espana. Accordingly, having
obtained leave for this from the father visitor, he set sail that
year, with authorization from the province to take care of its causes
and plead them in the court. Then, accompanied by father Fray Lucas
de Atienza, [19] an aged religious, and at that time prior of the
convent of Ibabay in the Pintados, he set sail in the vessels which
left that year, in the first part of August. The galleon "San Juan"
was to sail; it had been built to fight the Dutch enemy. Gaining the
victory on St. Mark's day, April 24 of the same year, it had been
repaired again and was to make the voyage. One of the Dutch vessels
captured was to go as almiranta; but it did not make the voyage, as it
was unseaworthy. The trip was prosperous and the father reached Espana,
attended by the same fortune. There he gave so satisfactory an account
of himself that not only did they not find him deserving of reprimand,
but honored him, by making him bishop of Puerto Rico. Later he was
promoted to the archbishopric of Santo Domingo. He gave the proofs that
all the order promised itself from his great goodness and fervor. His
zeal in conducting the affairs of this province of Filipinas was very
great. He always recognized this province as his mother, and as that
from which his higher station had originated. Therefore, although now
a bishop, he looked after the interests most important to him, namely,
the sending of ministers and missionaries. And indeed he did this by
securing a fine company, whom he sent in charge of father Fray Juan de
Montemayor, a most illustrious preacher, who was living in Andalucia,
and wished to come to these regions. He considered the offer made
to him, to be prior of that company, as not bad; and conducted it to
the Filipinas, as we shall see later.

The father master Solier appointed our father Fray Miguel Garcia
(then prior of Manila) his vicar in the province of Filipinas;
and left for him letters-patent, and all the authority that he
could. As we have said, he could not have left anyone more suitable,
nor one who more completely filled the vacancy made by Father Solier's
departure. Father Garcia governed during the one remaining year [of
Father Solier's provincialate], with great pru