To return to the navigation of Father Xavier:—­he arrived at Cochin, January 24th, in the year 1552.  The king of the Maldivias had been there for some months:  He was a prince of about twenty years of age, born in the Mahometan religion, and bred up in the hatred of Christians.  The revolt of his subjects, who loved him not, or hated the government, forced him, for the safeguard of his life, to abandon his kingdom, and to seek sanctuary amongst the Portuguese, by whom he hoped to be restored.  The fathers of the Society received him into their house, and went about to convert him, by letting him see the falsehood of his sect.  The ill posture of his affairs made him apt to receive the instructions which were given him by Father Antonio Heredia, who endeavoured his conversion with great zeal.  But his fear of farther exasperating his rebellious subjects, in case he changed his religion, caused him to defer that change from time to time; and perhaps he had never forsaken the law of Mahomet, if Father Francis had not arrived to complete that work which Heredia had begun.  The holy apostle preached the word with so much efficacy to the king of the Maldivias, that at length he reduced him to the obedience of Christ, notwithstanding all the motives of worldly interest to the contrary.  Having instructed him anew in the mysteries of Christianity, he solemnly baptized him.  In sequel of which, he excited the Portuguese to replace him on the throne, and nominated some of the fathers to accompany the naval army, which should be sent to the Maldivias.  His intention was, that they should labour in the conversion of the whole kingdom, when once the king should be established.  But because it was of small importance to the crown of Portugal, that those islands, which produce neither gold, nor spices, nor perfumes, should be made tributary to it, the governors did nothing for that exiled prince; who, despairing to recover his dominions, married a Portuguese, and lived a private life till the day of his death; happy only in this, that the loss of his crown was made up to him, by the gift of faith, and the grace of baptism.

When the holy man was ready to depart, an opportunity was offered him of writing into Europe, which he laid hold on, thereby to render an account of his voyage to Japan, both to the king of Portugal, and to the general of his order.  Then embarking for Goa, he had a speedy voyage, and arrived there in the beginning of February.

So soon as he was come on shore, he visited the sick in the town-hospitals; and then went to the college of St Paul, which was the house of the Society.  After the ordinary embracements, which were more tender than ever, he enquired if none were sick within the college?  He was answered, there was only one, who was lying at the point of death.  Immediately Xavier went, and read the gospel over him.  At the sight of the Father, the dying man recovered his spirits, and was restored to health.  The physicians had given him over, and all things had been ordered for his burial; but he himself had never despaired of his recovery:  and the day when Xavier arrived, he said, with a dying voice, “That if God would grant him the favour of beholding their good Father, he should infallibly recover.”