The virtues of these blessed fathers, their fitness to obtain the
crown of martyrdom, and the fruits which followed therefrom.
[The holy Fray Hernando was especially devoted to the souls in
purgatory, and gave a notable example of poverty and obedience to the
rules of his order. Father Fray Alonso was very pious, almsgiving,
and compassionate. Although the lords in Japon are very rich, the poor
people are very needy; so that the heathen often slay their new-born
children, and the Christians cast them out in the street. The heart
of the holy man was so afflicted by this that, at his persuasion,
a Spanish captain named Pablo Carrucho settled a certain income
upon the pious work of maintaining these children. Just before
his death the holy martyr, not forgetful of this, wrote a letter
to the captain, urging him not to forget the alms for the exposed
children. Father Fray Alonso was one of the first ministers of Nueva
Segovia; he returned to Europe, to bring with him a number of new
religious to the Philippinas. After he had been assigned to Japon
he once returned to the Philippinas. He suffered greatly in these
voyages, since he was of delicate constitution. He was a charitable
and most beloved minister, very bold, and especially distinguished
for his gratitude. From this martyrdom the Christians of Nangasaqui
received new courage, as did also those of Omura, who were greatly
strengthened in the faith. Some, indeed, who had feared to do so
before, boldly confessed Christianity. Throughout Japon the example
of this martyrdom was a great source of strength to the Christians,
and forced the heathen to respect the Christian faith. The heathen
also were cured of their error of supposing that the fathers had come
to this region because of temporal ambitions. The persecution which
was feared in Nangasaqui ceased when the courage of the holy men was
seen. The last result of this martyrdom was the many more martyrdoms,
which soon followed, of those who by the example of these saints
openly avowed Christianity. The names of several of the confessors
and martyrs are given, with a brief account of their deaths.]