The death of the three holy martyrs
[From this island the three fathers were removed to another named
Coguchi. They received with great joy the news that they were to
die, and were carried to another island still more solitary. Here
they showed great courtesy and kindness to those who were to slay
them. They left letters for their provincials, desiring them to send
religious to Japon at any cost. In spite of the care of the tyrant,
some Christians were present at the execution. The two were beheaded on
Thursday, the first of June, the octave of Corpus Christi. Their very
executioners looked upon them at such men of virtue that they dipped
their handkerchiefs and bits of paper in their sacred blood, to keep
these as relics. The bodies of all the martyrs were put in coffins
laden with stones, and cast into the sea. In spite of the danger, many
Japanese went to the place of the martyrdom to venerate the relics of
these saints; and the Confraternity of the Rosary offered continual
prayers that they might recover the bodies of these holy martyrs. At
the end of two months the bodies of the holy and blessed Fray Pedro
de la Asumpcion and Fray Hernando were cast up on the shore.]