To that and other temporal precautions and efforts, were added at the same time the spiritual—­acts of prayer and supplications, the most holy host being exposed in the cathedral, the convents, and the parochial churches, with the effect and devotion that exigency and need are wont to stimulate.  The image of our Lady of Guidance was carried in solemn and devout procession from her church (which is located in the suburbs of this city) to the cathedral, where it was visited continually by the inhabitants, who could not tear themselves from it.  In our residence the most holy host was also exposed to all the town; with the solemnity of service and sermon on the day that belonged to it; while on all other days it was especially exposed by Ours at the hour of prayer and devotion.  Each priest was ordered to say a novena of masses, and those who were not priests a novena of rosaries, penitences, and other devotions.  Similar and even advantageous action was taken in the other convents, churches, and communities of the city and surrounding villages.

The Lord, whose providence is always most notable in the greatest exigencies, was pleased to hear the united voice of this community, and induced our enemy, after they had lain at anchor for a fortnight in the bay in sight of Manila, to hoist their sails; and without doing more than seize one champan and send two letters by a prisoner—­one to the commander of their nation [i.e., van Caerden] who was a prisoner here, and the other to the royal Audiencia, asking for his ransom.  But that could have no effect, for the miserable man had died a short time before in his perfidy, exchanging his temporal for the eternal prison. [After sending these letters] the enemy returned to Terrenate, ridding this city of its great anxiety.  On that occasion the religious served not only with spiritual weapons, but also with what temporal arms they could use and those that they knew how to manage.  Among others was one of our brethren, whom the royal Audiencia charged with the management of the artillery of the port of Cabite, because of his skill in the art and of his bravery, which the occasion required.  Another religious, also ours, by his good management prevented the soldiers of Cabite from burning that settlement, for they had already commenced at one of the houses, where were collected the goods of the Portuguese commander, who had come from Espana the year before as commander of certain caravels with reenforcements from the kingdoms of Espana.  They considered it less wrong for us to burn them ourselves than to let the enemy make use of them.  But that religious with his arguments and good management hindered it, and inspired them all to extinguish the fire.  That was a cause of rejoicing afterward, when they saw the enemy go away and leave us, without forcing us to so costly a precaution.