Behold the sequel of the voyages of the Indian apostle Francis Xavier!  I have omitted a vast number of islands and regions, where we are satisfied he carried the light of the gospel; I say I have not mentioned them, because the time is not precisely known, when he made these voyages.  For what remains, I undertake not to reckon up the leagues which he has travelled, (the supputation would be difficult to make,) and content myself to say in general, that, according to the rules of our geographers, who have exactly measured the terrestrial globe, if all his courses were to be computed, they would be found to be many times exceeding the circumference of this world.

In the mean time, the least of his business, in all his travels, was to travel:  And they who were best acquainted with him, report of him, what St Chrysostom said of the apostle St Paul, “That he ran through the world with an incredible swiftness, and as it were on the wing,” yet not without labour, nor that labour without fruit, but preaching, baptizing, confessing, disputing with the Gentiles, rooting out Idolaters, reforming manners, and throughout establishing the Christian piety.  His apostolical labours were attended with all the incommodities of life; and if those people were to be credited, who the most narrowly observed him, it was a continual miracle that he lived; or rather the greatest miracle of Xavier was not to have revived so many dead, but not to die himself of labour, during the incessant sweat of ten years toiling.

His zeal alone sustained him; but how painful soever were the functions of his ministry, he acquitted himself of them with so much promptitude and joy, that, by the relation of Father Melchior Nugnez, he seemed to do naturally all he did.  These are the very words of Nugnez:  “The Father, Master Francis, in labouring for the salvation of the Saracens and Idolaters, seemed to act not by any infused or acquired virtue, but by a natural motion:  for he could neither live, nor take the least pleasure, but in evangelical employments; in them he found even his repose; and to him it was no labour to conduct others to the love and knowledge of his God.”

Thus also, whensoever there was the least probability that the faith might be planted in any new country of the Gentiles, he flew thither in despite of all threatening difficulties.  The certain number is not known of those whom he converted, but the received opinion amounts it to seven hundred thousand souls.  Which notwithstanding, it ought not to be believed that he instructed them but lightly; for before he christened them, he gave them a thorough insight into all the principles of faith.  According to their different conditions, his instructions were also different.  He had some which were proper to youth, others for wives, for widows, for servants, and for masters.  He never changed places till he had left behind him a solid establishment of faith, and capable of preserving