The Father returned very seasonably for the good of Cosmo de Torrez, a Spanish priest, and native of Valentia, one of the greatest wits, and most knowing persons of that age.  Torrez was embarked on the fleet which came from Mexico to the Molucca islands; and which having sailed over so many seas to little purpose, stayed at Amboyna, as we have already related.  He there met Xavier, and was so charmed with his manner of life, that he had thoughts of becoming his disciple.  But, besides that the labours which are inseparable from the ministry apostolical somewhat shocked him, he judged, that he ought to undertake nothing but by the counsel of the bishop of the Indies; insomuch, that he left Amboyna without forming any resolution, and even without opening himself to Father Xavier.

When the Spanish fleet was arrived at Goa, he presented himself to the bishop, who, being in want of spiritual substitutes, gave him one of the chief vicariats of his diocese.  Torrez was of opinion, that God required nothing farther of him; and for the space of four or five months, performed all the functions of that office, which the bishop had given him in charge.  But the continual disquiets of his soul rendered him suspicious of his own condition, and brought him to believe, that God had punished him, for not following the new apostle of the East.

Being one day much troubled in his mind, he went to the college of St Paul, and opened himself to Father Lancilotti, desiring him to unfold to him the nature of that institute, with which he was so much taken, by seeing Father Xavier at Amboyna.  As some interior motions had of late pushed him on to the performance of somewhat that was great, and of suffering all things for the glory of Jesus Christ, he found the institute of Ignatius so conformable to the present dispositions of his soul, that, without farther balancing the matter, he was resolved to go through the spiritual exercises, to fit himself for the change of his condition.  From the second day, he received such light, and so much comfort from above, that he believed himself in heaven already.  He could not sufficiently admire, that those plain and easy truths, which he had often read without any taste of them, should make such lively impressions in him, as now they did.  And he discovered this to Lancilotti, with expressions full of astonishment.  Nevertheless, being affrighted at the prospect of a perpetual engagement, and perhaps tempted by the devil, he could not settle to it, and was every day more and more irresolute.

Xavier arrived just at that point of time.  He had scarcely seen Torrez, when behold a man, fixed on the sudden, and resolved, and pressing to be received amongst the children of Ignatius.  The apostle received him, and took pains himself to form him, according to the spirit of the society.  He also admitted some Portuguese, who had great talents for the mission, and were inflamed with the zeal of souls.