hat
saint in a loud voice, from that moment, he affirmed, his courage
and strength returned, and he felt a confidence that he would not be
drowned. As a result, he swam nearly a legua, and reached the shore,
to his own great surprise and with much devotion to that saint.

Several interesting cases occurred of fervor in these devotions of
which I shall mention only two or three. A certain woman, to whom God
our Lord had communicated lofty purposes and sentiments of chastity
and purity, was for a long time beset with gifts and importunities
from wicked men. Her refuge was to confess and devoutly to receive
communion, arming herself with these holy sacraments. One day,
after she had received communion in our house, one of these men
lay in wait to seize her when alone; and, with a bare dagger at her
breast, was about to slay her if she would not consent to his evil
purpose. But she, fortified with the bread of the strong, and with
the wine springing forth virgins, [16] told him that she was ready to
die on the spot, rather than offend God. He abused her with words,
and even handled her roughly, but left her, astonished and overcome
by her chastity.

Another man lived for many years in great impiety, and, forgetful
of his God, in mortal sins--especially a base passion so fixed and
rooted in his heart that when one of our fathers talked with him,
striving to convert him, he seemed mad and beside himself. In truth,
he was beside himself, for he still remained with that evil companion
with whom he had lived, nor did he seem to have feeling or thought for
any other thing. It pleased our Lord that by serious conversations
and arguments he was induced not to visit his wicked companion; and
after a reluctant "yes" had been drawn from him, almost by force,
he did afterward abandon her, so entirely that it seemed as if he had
never known her. He made a general confession, and began a new life,
to the wonder of those who knew him.

The corsairs from Gelanda [Zeeland] who had been brought as prisoners
to the city of Manila were condemned to death. The governor of those
islands deemed it advisable that they should be distributed among
the religious orders, to see if they would be converted to our holy
Catholic faith; our Lord was pleased that twelve of the thirteen
should be converted. The exception was the admiral, who died a
heretic, while obstinately uttering a thousand blasphemies against
our holy faith; he was executed by the g