The mandarin ordered that I be thrown into a prison cell with my feet in stocks, and from that moment on, I have been writing on this piece of paper that I found by chance in this place where everything is lacking. There are only the tears of the wretched imprisoned, dying of hunger and cold, and there is no one to heed their tears. The mandarin informed me that they want to execute me to test me.
Do not let your concern for your brothers lead you to give this mandarin money for my ransom. The Lord did not send us money to hand over to a tyrant, nor have I read that during past persecutions, servants of the Lord were delivered from death by money, or that in doing so, what is meant for the poor was given to the tyrant. After all, sacred servants usually resorted to their God to rescue them, just as He rescued Peter and others. I clearly understood that the Lord has placed me here, and that He will deliver me from here if I am worthy of being of any benefit to Christians, and if not, He will take me with Him…
(Francisco Fernandez de Capillas OP /1607–1648/, letter from Chinese prison to the superior)
