wished to practise his former
penances. Accordingly, making a hole in the soles of his shoes, he
tore them, little by little, until nothing but the upper portion was
left.

His two years of study being completed, in which, they say, he greatly
advanced, he was advised by his master to go to Alcala to study
philosophy, as he was deemed ready for it.

Before setting out, however, he wished to be examined by a certain
theologian. As he also gave him the same advice, Ignatius,
unaccompanied, started for Alcala. Here he began to beg and live upon
alms. After ten or twelve days, this kind of life drew upon him the
contempt of a priest and of some others. They began to insult him as
one who preferred to live on alms, although quite able to support
himself.

The superior of a new hospital, seeing him thus rudely treated, took
him home, placed him in a room, and liberally provided for his needs.

The time of his arrival at Barcelona was about Lent of the year 1524;
and as he remained there upwards of two years, we do not find him at
Alcala until the year 1526. At the latter place he spent his time in
studying the works of Scotus, Albertus, Alcuin, and the Master of the
Sentences. He was diligent also in giving the Spiritual Exercises and
explaining the Christian doctrine, by which he gave great glory to
God, as very many were thereby led to a knowledge and taste of
spiritual things. Many, however, fell victims to various temptations,
an example of which is to be seen in one who was unable to scourge
himself, because, as he fancied, his hand was held by some invisible
agent. Because of such affairs, and especially by reason of the great
crowd of men coming to him when he explained the Christian doctrine,
various rumors began to spread among the people.

When he first came to Alcala a friendship sprang up between him and
one Didacus Guya, who lived with his brother, a painter. Through that
friendship, Ignatius was abundantly supplied with all that was
necessary; hence he would bestow upon the poor the alms that he
himself obtained, and besides three other pilgrims stayed with him.

One day Ignatius went to Didacus to ask for alms in order to assist
some poor people. He replied that he had no money. Opening, however, a
chest which belonged to him, he took from it trappings of various
colors, candlesticks, and other objects, which he gave to Ignatius,
who distributed them to the poor.

Many rumors, as was stated above, beca