The capture and martyrdom of the fathers Fray Jordan de San Estevan,
and Fray Thomas de San Jacintho.
[The persecutors at this time were seeking with extraordinary
diligence for an Augustinian father named Miguel, a Japanese by
nation. The inquisition brought the officers of the law to the house
where fathers Fray Jordan and Fray Thomas were lodging; and though,
being informed of its approach, they fled, they were caught on the
day of our father St. Dominic, August 4, 1634. When examined in court
they answered briefly and boldly, and with Christian liberty showed
no reverence to their unjust judges, denying the accusation of being
spies of España. After a severe imprisonment and being ignominiously
treated by the judges, before whom they were called several times,
they suffered from the dreadful torture of water, which was poured
down their throats until they swelled out like bags. They were then
laid on the ground and a plank placed upon them, with two men on it,
who trod on the plank and thus forced the water out of their mouths,
ears, nostrils, eyes and other parts, with such torture as may be
imagined. Afterward they again filled them with water, and forced it
out again. They were subject to other tortures of the most horrible
nature. November 11, 1634, sixty-nine persons, men and women,
were taken out of prison to suffer for Christ, some by burning,
some by beheading, and our glorious martyrs by being suspended head
downward. As they passed through the streets, the Christians showed
them secret signs of respect. The martyrs who declared their faith
were brought to a place of execution. Father Fray Jordan lingered for
seven days, and father Fray Thomas somewhat less. During his lifetime
father Fray Jordan had received marked signs of the divine favor,
having power to reveal their secrets to guilty hearts, and receiving
other special revelations.]