It is true, there embarked with him in the same galley, Emanuel Moralez, and Alphonso de Castro; but it was only that the Father might carry them to Malacca, from whence both of them were to be transported to the Moluccas.  The ship, which attended the Father at Cochin, being just ready to set sail they made but a short stay in that place, but it was not unprofitable.  The saint walking one day through the streets, happened to meet a Portuguese of his acquaintance; and immediately asked him, “how he was in health?” The Portuguese answered, “he was very well.”  “Yes,” replied Xavier, “in relation to your body, but, in regard of your soul, no man can be in a worse condition.”  This man, who was then designing in his heart a wicked action, knew immediately that the Father saw into the bottom of it; and seriously reflecting on it, followed Xavier, confessed himself, and changed his evil life.  The preaching of Castro so charmed the people, that they desired to have retained him at Cochin, there to have established the college of the Society; but Xavier who had designed him for the Moluccas opposed it.  And Providence, which destined the crown of martyrdom to that missioner, suffered him not to continue in a place, where they had nothing but veneration for him.

They left Cochin on the 25th of April, and arrived at Malacca on the last of May.  All the town came to meet Father Xavier, and every particular person was overjoyed at his return.  Alphonso Martinez, grand vicar to the bishop, at that time lay dangerously sick, and in such an agony of soul, as moved compassion.  For, having been advertised to put himself in condition of giving up his accounts to God of that ministry which he had exercised for thirty years, and of all the actions of his life, he was so struck with the horror of immediate death, and the disorders of his life, which was not very regular for a man of his profession, that he fell into a deep melancholy, and totally despaired of his salvation.  He cast out lamentable cries, which affrighted the hearers; they heard him name his sins aloud, and detest them with a furious regret, not that he might ask pardon for them, but only to declare their enormity.  When they would have spoken to him of God’s infinite mercy, he broke out into a rage, and cried out as loud as he was able, “that there was no forgiveness for the damned, and no mercy in the bottomless pit.”  The sick man was told, that Father Francis was just arrived; and was asked if he should not be glad to see him?  Martinez, who formerly had been very nearly acquainted with him, seemed to breathe anew at the hearing of that name, and suddenly began to raise himself, to go see, said he, the man of God.  But the attempt he made, served only to put him into a fainting fit.  The Father, entering at the same moment, found him in it.  It had always been his custom, to make his first visit to the ecclesiastical superiors; but besides this, the sickness of the vicar hastened the