was finished—­which lasted until near dawn, on account of so many pauses—­he begged pardon of all for his omissions and neglect.  He asked them to remember him in their masses and prayers.  They recited the penitential psalms and other prayers, at the end of which, the sick man, very happy, conversed with his brethren with great affability.  He charged them to keep their vows and the observance of the rules of the order.  He persuaded them to persevere steadfastly in their purpose, and to be mindful of the zeal with which they had been ready to leave their fatherland for the welfare and conservation of many souls.  He encouraged them to place their confidence in God, for His Sovereign Majesty had especial providence and care over that small flock.  Accordingly, they were not to become disconsolate with the thought that they had no house or convent in Philipinas, for already a lodging suitable for their purposes was being prepared for them.  He concluded by urging them to commend their souls to Him, and then became very calm.  All obeyed him, surprised, and desirous of such a death; and, at the end of the prayer, that chosen spirit went out in peace and quiet from the waves and shipwrecks of this world, and reached the safe and calm harbor of glory.

Upon beholding his death, one cannot imagine the grief of both religious and laymen; for, venerating him as a father, they bewailed him universally, and, in all truth, there was not one who did not show great affliction.  The corpse remained in such manner that it caused gladness to all who looked at it.  Various opinions were expressed as to whether they should bury it in the sea or not.  The laymen promised that they would deposit it in a fitting place, until they should cast anchor in the islands now near.  Father Fray Joan de San Geronimo did not consent to this, in order to avoid innovations—­and especially when they were going to countries where they had no home, and where they knew no one.  Therefore, placing the body in a closely-sealed wooden box, with an inscription written on a certain sheet of lead, which denoted his name, country, and virtues, amid their lamentations and tears the body was cast into the sea, without having added the weight which is used to draw the body to the bottom of the water.  On account of that carelessness the box should have remained on the surface of the water, without being able to sink at all; but on that occasion the Lord permitted that the waves should receive such deceased without any violence.  As the ship was in a calm, consequently, all were witnesses that it settled to the bottom very gradually, and easily.  Certain violent fevers were raging in that vessel, from which about forty had already died, at the time that the noted Aragonese and observant religious finished the navigation of his life.  But from that instant all had health, becoming better and recovering very soon.  That was attributed to his prayers in heaven in fulfilment of the word that he gave them, during