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 garrote, [17] and thrown into the sea.  The other twelve reflected, and, in great anguish for their sins, were converted to our Lord.  They professed our holy Catholic faith and rendered obedience to the holy Roman church.  This was done with such sincerity that they entreated the religious orders of that city to give them the most blessed sacrament at the altar, which they devoutly received; as for the five who fell to the care of our Society, and whom we saw die, I may affirm that they left us notably edified.  With the utmost grief for their sins, they made a general confession and received communion with many tears.  Before receiving the latter sacrament, they made public declaration of their belief in the holy Roman Catholic faith, maintaining that they died within the church, and abominating the heresies of Calvin, Luther, Zwingli, and other heretics.  Two days from that time, having asked pardon of all, they died with rosaries about their necks, and with the bulls of the holy crusade (by means of which they obtained absolution) sewed upon their breasts, each one holding his crucifix in his hands, devoutly adoring it.  They embraced us all, and in great joy at seeing that, by such a death, they were expiating their sins, they suffered death, to the great edification of all.  On the following morning they were buried with great solemnity by the Confraternity of La Santa Misericordia, which was founded by the most prominent people of the city.  But enough for the present concerning the Spaniards; it will be desirable to make some mention of the Indians.

Other edifying matters, among the Indians of Manila.  Chapter LXVI. [i.e., LXVII]

That part of our employment and occupation which lies among the Indians is no less important, since they retort to that city in numbers exceeding those of the Spaniards, and their love and affection for us is more recent.  Usually they are a people inclined to make confession; and this would give, throughout the year, work for six fathers who know the language.  The Indians seek communion most eagerly, and thereby are their souls much profited, and they are aided in cultivating the virtues, especially that of chastity.  All that concerns devotion and the ceremonies of the church makes a marvelous impression upon them, and they set an example to Christians of long standing.  They practice the discipline every Friday in the year; and many more would come to these exercises, if the gates of the city (which separate their villages from the Spaniards) were not closed at night.