he wood was finally set on fire, the majority
of these fortunate martyrs turned their eyes toward heaven, and,
without moving them in the least, remained in this posture after
death. During the first few days a strict watch was kept over the
blessed bodies to prevent the Christians from taking them away, but
through the efforts of our fathers who live in that city some have
already been recovered." So far I quote from the father provincial. To
this I will add some points taken from other letters and relations.

The above-mentioned father provincial is a strong pillar in Japon, and
an excellent interpreter. He is director of the Christian community
there, by virtue of a brief from his Holiness, which arrived last
year, and in which, it is ordered that in default of a bishop in
japon the provincial of the Society who may be in office at the
time shall rule that bishopric and Christian community. Therefore,
although the bishop has come; the provincial has governed up to
the present time, and continues to govern, because, as I have said,
conditions in Japon do not admit of the bishop's going there, since
it is feared that the situation may be aggravated and persecution
increased thereby. Consequently his Lordship is now in Macan.

About two years ago our father general appointed Father Francisco
Vieira as visitor of Japon. He is a man already past sixty, and,
indeed, is nearing seventy; but in spite of this he is so vigorous
that when the persecution was at its height he, with great courage,
went from Macan to Japon. He was often in imminent danger of being
imprisoned. He took refuge in Canzuca, a place in the lands of Arima,
where he abode in a hut of straw. Here, on account of the hardships
he endured, he was frequently attacked by a kidney disease which
caused him great pain. Once he had so violent an attack that he sent
in great haste to get holy oil in order that he might take the holy
sacrament. Again the same disease, accompanied by a severe pain above
the heart, attacked him with such violence that he could scarcely
breathe. So he determined that extreme unction should be administered
to him; but, remembering that he had a written signature of our holy
father, he placed it with great devotion over his heart and commended
himself to the saint [12]--through whose merits the Lord caused the
pain to be assuaged within an hour, and he became entirely well. From
Canzuca the father visitor went to Nangasaqui, to take ship