The isle of Manar was at that time under the dominion of the king of Jafanatapan; for by that name the northern part of Ceylon is called.  This prince had usurped the crown from his elder brother, and enslaved his subjects.  Above all things, he was an implacable enemy of the Christian faith; though in appearance he was a friend to the Portuguese, whose forces only could set bounds to his tyranny.  When he understood that the Manarois were converted to Christianity, he entered into that fury of which tyrants only can be capable; for he commanded, that his troops should immediately pass over into the island, and put all to the sword, excepting only the idolaters.  His orders were punctually executed; and men, women, and children, were all destroyed, who had embraced the Christian faith.

It was wonderful to behold, that the faithful being examined, one by one, concerning their religion, and no more required for the saving of their lives, than to forsake their new belief, there was not one amongst them, who did not openly declare himself a Christian.  The fathers and mothers answered for the newly baptized infants, who were not able to give testimony of their faith; and offered them to the death, with a resolution, which was amazing to their executioners.  Six or seven hundred of these islanders gave up their lives for the name of Jesus Christ; and the principal place which was consecrated by so noble blood, from Pasim, which it was called before, now took the name of the Field of Martyrs.

This dreadful massacre, far from abolishing the Christian law, served only to render it more flourishing.  The tyrant had even the shame of seeing his officers and domestic servants forsake their ancient superstition in despite of him.  But what most enraged him, was the conversion of his eldest son.  This young prince, inspired of God, caused himself to be instructed by a Portuguese merchant, who had dealings at the court; which yet could not be so secretly performed, but that the king had notice of it.  At the first news, he cut his throat, and threw the body into the fields, to serve for food to savage beasts.

But Heaven permitted not, that a death which was so precious in the sight of God, should be without honour in the sight of men, The Portuguese merchant buried his disciple by night; and on the next morning, there appeared a beautiful cross, printed on the ground, which covered the body of the martyr.  The spectacle extremely surprised the infidels.  They did what they were able, to deface, and (if I may so say) to blot out the cross, by treading over it, and casting earth upon it.  It appeared again the day following, in the same figure, and they once more endeavoured to tread it out.  But then it appeared in the air, all resplendent with light, and darting its beams on every side.  The barbarians who beheld it, were affrighted; and, being touched in their hearts, declared themselves Christians.  The king’s sister, a princess naturally virtuous, having privately embraced the faith, instructed both her own son, and her nephew, who was brother to the martyr.  But, while she directed them in the way of heaven, she took care to preserve them from the cruelty of the tyrant.  To which purpose she addressed herself to the merchant above mentioned, and intrusting him with the lives of the two princes, ordered him to convey them to the seminary of Goa.