Though the letter of Soora was in itself ridiculous, and full of fustian bravadoes, according to the style of the barbarians, yet it put the governor and officers of the fortress to a shrewd demur; for how should they accept the challenge without ships to fight him, and how could they refuse it with their honour?  A council of war was summoned to deliberate on this weighty and nice affair, when Father Xavier came amongst them.  He had been saying mass at the church of our Lady Del Monte; so called, from its being built on a mountain near the city, and dedicated to the blessed Virgin.  Don Francisco, who had sent for him to consult him in this troublesome business, gave him the general of Achen’s letter to peruse, and demanded his advice what was to be done on this occasion.

The saint, who knew the king of Achen’s business was not only to drive the Portuguese out of Malacca, but also, and that principally, to extirpate Christianity out of all the East; having read the letter, lifted up his eyes to heaven, and answered without the least pause, that the affront was too great to be endured; that the honour of the Christian religion was more concerned in it than that of the crown of Portugal:  If this injury should be dissembled, to what audaciousness would the enemy arise, and what would not the other Mahometan princes attempt after this example?  In conclusion, that the challenge ought to be accepted, that the infidels might see the King of Heaven was more powerful than their king Alaradin.

“But how,” said the governor, “shall we put to sea, and on what vessels, since, of eight gally-foysts which we had in port, there are but four remaining, and those also almost shattered in pieces, and half burned; and, in case we could refit them, what could they perform against so numerous a fleet?” “Suppose,” answered Xavier, “the barbarians had twice so many ships, are not we much stronger, who have heaven on our side; and how can we choose but overcome, when we fight in the name of our Lord and Saviour?”

No man was so bold to contradict the man of God; and they all went to the arsenal.  There they found a good sufficient bark, of those they call catur, besides seven old foysts, fit for nothing but the fire.  Duarte de Bareto, who by his office had the superintendance of their naval stores, was commanded to fit out these foysts with all expedition.  But he protested it was not in his power; for, besides that the kings magazines were empty of all necessaries for the equipping of them, there was no money in the treasury for materials.

The governor, who had no other fund, was ready to lose courage, when Xavier, by a certain impulse of spirit, suddenly began to embrace seven sea captains there present, who were of the council of war.  He begged of them to divide the business amongst them, and each of them apart to take care of fitting out one galley:  At the same time, without waiting for their answer, he assigned every man his task.