to an end. In Lent, moreover, their
zeal for all piety flamed forth in the confession of many evils, and
in doing penance for them with daily scourgings, and other exercises
of devotion.

The chastity of a certain woman was assailed by some of the wicked,
with entreaties and the bestowal of gifts; but by the weapons of more
frequent communion and confession she repulsed the attacks of the
enemy. Yet even then the enemy was not made entirely to desist. One
day, after the holy communion, which she had devoutly taken in our
church, she was walking in a lonely place; and there he came up to
her, and with his dagger at her bosom, he threatened her with death
unless she consented to wickedness. But she answered with firmness
that she preferred death to offending God. Then with blows and words
of insult she vanquished the beastly desires of her adversary, barely
escaping with her honor.

Another, giving up all thought of God and of his own salvation, had
spent many years in dreadful sin, and especially in a disgraceful
lust, which was so deeply rooted and fixed in his innermost heart
that he regarded our priest, who strove to lead him away from this
vile manner of life, as only less than a fool. So completely had he
plunged himself into the filth of these pollutions of his soul that,
like a sow in a wallow, he seemed to take pleasure in nothing else. Yet
at last this obstinate man yielded to argument and persuasion, and
not only gave up visiting his harlot, but tore all lust from his
heart by the roots as completely as if he had had no knowledge of
it; for by a general confession of the lapses of his past life he so
corrected his morals that all those who knew him before were amazed
at the sudden change in his life.

When the Dutch pirates of whom we have spoken were condemned to death
in Manila by the judges, the governor thought it well to entrust
them to several religious, as they might perhaps abjure their errors
and be reconciled to Holy Church. It pleased the divine goodness to
restore all, to the number of thirteen, except the admiral, who as an
obstinate heretic was hanged and cast into the sea. The others with so
great sorrow for their crimes subjected themselves to the obedience of
the holy Roman church that it seemed good to the religious fathers to
admit them to the holy communion. Of five commended to our Society I
can affirm that they greatly edified all, for they made a confession
of the sins of all their li