of them offered
her more than forty eight-real pieces. But she made answer that our
Lord, in whom she trusted, would relieve her need; that she did not
care to live by any means that would offend Him, but in serving Him
was well content in her poverty; and that she was confident that
our Lord would not abandon her. Another poor woman resisted with
equal courage no less vexatious importunities, refusing a quantity
of gold worth more than eighty escudos, thus leaving her persecutor
in amazement. Another woman, fearing that she would have to defend
her body by force from so many and violent importunities, removed
it from danger, and herself from any occasion of offending God, by
fleeing to the mountains, where she wandered about for almost four
months, suffering, although with much satisfaction, many hardships
and privations; nor did she return to the village until she learned
that he who had brought her to such a plight had departed thence."

The good conduct of the Christians of Botuan. Chapter LVI.

I shall, continuing as I began, relate the prosperous condition
of Christianity in Botuan in the same words which Father Valerio de
Ledesma and his companion, Father Manuel Martinez, used in writing this
year to the father-visitor. The letter of Father Valerio gives the
following account: "Glory to our Lord, the inhabitants of this town
are well instructed. There are nearly eight hundred Christians, and
nearly all the rest of the people are catechumens, engaged in learning
the necessary truths. We hold back these persons that they may prize
more highly the mercy which God is showing them, and understand more
thoroughly the Christian doctrine and acquire good habits. All the
rest of the people have the best possible inclination to receive our
holy faith and come on every Sunday and feast-day to hear the sermons
and discourses; a large audience always assembles, and all of them,
even the infidels, entertain a great affection for holy things. Of
their own accord they bring their children to be baptized, and their
sick people, to hear the gospel read. They erect crosses in their
grain-fields, and sing the Christian doctrine with the Christians,
of whom there are usually some in every house. In times of sickness
they come at once to be baptized; and as they are universally well
instructed, and have sufficient knowledge of the things of our faith,
it is easy to succor them upon such occasions, so that hardly any one
die