The captains durst not oppose Xavier, or rather God, who inclined their hearts to comply with the saint’s request.  Above an hundred workmen were instantly employed on every vessel; and in four days time the seven gallies were in condition for fighting.  Melo gave the catur to Andrea Toscano, a man of courage, and well versed in sea affairs.  He divided amongst the seven captains an hundred and fourscore soldiers, chosen men, and appointed Francis Deza admiral of the fleet.  Xavier was desirous to have gone along with them, but the inhabitants, who believed all was lost if they lost the Father, and who hoped for no consolation but from him alone in case the enterprize should not succeed, made such a disturbance about it, that, upon mature deliberation, it was resolved to keep him in the town.

The day before their embarkment, having called together the soldiers and the captains, he told them that he should accompany them in spirit; and that while they were engaging the barbarians, he would be lifting up his hands to heaven for them:  That they should fight valiantly, in hope of glory, not vain and perishable, but solid and immortal:  That, in the heat of the combat, they should cast their eyes on their crucified Redeemer, whose quarrel they maintained, and, beholding his wounds themselves, should not be afraid either of wounds or death; and how happy should they be to render their Saviour life for life.

These words inspired them with such generous and Christian thoughts, that, with one voice, they made a vow to fight the infidels to their last drop of blood.  This solemn oath was so moving to Xavier, that it drew tears from him:  he gave them all his blessing; and, for their greater encouragement, named them, “The Band of our Saviour’s Soldiers:”  in pursuit of which, he heard every man’s confession, and gave them the communion with his own hand.

They embarked the clay following with so much cheerfulness, that it seemed to presage a certain victory.  But their joy continued but a moment.  They had scarcely weighed anchor, when the admiral split, and immediately went to the bottom, so that they had hardly time to save the men.  The crowd of people, who were gathered together on the shore to see them go off, beheld this dismal accident, and took it for a bad omen of the expedition; murmuring at the same time against Father Xavier, who was the author of it, and casting out loud cries to recal the other vessels.  The governor, who saw the people in an uproar, and apprehended the consequences of this violent beginning, sent in haste to seek the Father.  The messenger found him at the altar, in the church of our Lady Del Monte, just ready to receive the blessed sacrament:  he drew near to whisper the business to him, but the Father beckoned him with his hand to keep silence, and retire.  When mass was ended, “Return,” said Xavier, without giving the man leisure to tell his message, “and assure the governor from me, that he has no occasion to be discouraged for the loss