Account of the martyrdom of the Franciscan priest Philip of Jesus, who was on his way from Manila to Mexico to be ordained when his ship blew off course and was wrecked on the coast of Japan. Because of the presence of arms aboard the ship, the Japanese interpreted it as an invasion force, or at least an advance party, and after a brief imprisonment, on February 5, 1597, crucified Philip and 25 others, including other friars and Japanese tertiaries, who became known as the "Twenty-six Martyrs of Japan." The first edition was published in Mexico in 1683, and is even scarcer than this one. Sabin 47337. Provenance: L. Bradford Prince, Governor of New Mexico Territory.