[2] The missionaries found the general state of morality among the Spanish sugar plantations deplorable, and Spinola considered their arrival providential.

[3] Based in San Juan, he and the small band of Jesuits preached and taught catechism, visiting outlying settlements.

In order to return to Lisbon, the group of Jesuits decided to split up among a number of Portuguese ships which set sail together from Puerto Rico on 21 August 1597.

The next day, his ship continued to its home port 'Atapson' (Topsham[6][5]), six leagues from 'Arthmuth', where Spinola and de Angelis spent a month being looked after at the Captain's expense.

With the captain's help, they left 'Atapson' on 6 December[1] in a small boat bound for France, but in a storm were swept back to the English coast, where they spent a further month in a different port.

[3] Spinola spent another year in Lisbon awaiting permission to resume his journey to Japan before setting out once again with the India fleet in the spring of 1599.