. In consequence
of this promise, after leaving Barcelona, he gave up all anxiety about
finding souls advanced in the spiritual life.

CHAPTER IV

HIS JOURNEY TO ROME, VENICE, JERUSALEM, AND THE HOLY LAND

After a voyage of five days and nights the vessel in which they set
out from Barcelona reached Gaeta, and the pilgrim disembarked and
started for Rome, although there was danger there on account of the
plague. After reaching the city, he found the gates closed. He spent
the night in a damp church, and in the morning sought to enter the
city, but could not obtain permission. As no alms could be obtained
outside of the city, he wished to go on to a neighboring village, but
for sheer weakness, the pilgrim could go no farther. On that day it
happened that a great procession came out of the city. On inquiry the
pilgrim learned that the Duchess was in the throng. He approached her,
told her that his malady was simply the effect of weakness, and asked
permission to enter the city to get relief. She readily consented. He
was successful and his strength returned, and two days later he
resumed his journey, reaching Rome on Palm Sunday.

Those whom he met at Rome knew he had no money for his journey to
Jerusalem. They tried to dissuade him from his undertaking, alleging
that such a journey was impossible without money. He felt assured,
however, that everything needed for his voyage would be at hand when
required. Accordingly, on the octave of Easter, he received the
blessing of Adrian VI and left Rome for Venice. He had in his
possession six or seven pieces of gold which they had given him to pay
his passage from Venice as far as Jerusalem. He had taken this money
with him from Venice only because they had convinced him that without
it he could not reach Jerusalem. On the third day from the time he set
out from Rome, he realized that this fear had come from a want of
confidence, and was sorry he had accepted the money, and was
deliberating about giving it away. Finally, however, he determined to
spend it on those he met, who were chiefly beggars. The result was
that when he came to Venice he had only four coins left, and these
were necessary for his lodging that night.

On this journey to Venice, on account of sentinels placed around the
cities, he was obliged to sleep outside the walls. The dread of the
pestilence was so great that one morning on rising he saw a man
fleeing from him in terror. Pursuing his journey