is
that they feel." He goes on, "I have sometimes heard a man saying thus to
God, O my Lord, give me not so much comfort in this life; or if, by an
excess of mercy, thou wilt heap it on me, take me to thyself, and make me
partaker of thy glory, for it is too great a punishment to live without
the sight of thee."

A year and more was already past since Xavier had laboured in the
conversion of the Paravas; and in all this time, his two companions, Paul
de Camerine, and Francis Mansilla, were not come to his assistance,
though they had been arrived at Goa some months since. The number of
Christians daily multiplying to a prodigy, and one only priest not being
sufficient to cultivate so many new converts in the faith, or advance
them in Christian piety, the saint thought it his duty to look out for
succour. And besides, having selected some young men, well-natured, and
of a good understanding, qualified for the studies of divinity, and human
sciences, who being themselves well modelled, might return with him to
instruct their countrymen; he was of opinion, that he ought to conduct
them himself, without deferring his voyage any longer.

On these considerations he put to sea, on his return, about the
conclusion of the year 1543; and having got to Cochin by mid-January, he
arrived at Goa not long after. For the better understanding of what
relates to the education of those young Indians, whom Xavier brought, it
will be necessary to trace that matter from its original.

Before the coming of Father Francis to the Indies, Christianity had made
but little progress in those countries; and of an infinite number of
Pagans, inhabiting the isle of Goa, and the parts adjoining, scarce any
man thought of forsaking his idolatry. In the year 1541, James de Borba,
a Portuguese preacher and divine, whom king John III. had sent to India,
searching out the cause of so great a misfortune, found, that it was not
only because the Europeans could not easily learn the Indian tongue, but
also, because if an Indian happened to be converted, they exercised no
charity towards him; and that the children of the faithful, who died
poor, were destitute of succour in their wants.

He gave notice of this to the grand vicar, Michael Vaz, to the auditor
general, Pedro Fernandez, to the deputy-governor, Rodriguez de Castel
Blanco, and to the secretary of state, Cosmo Annez, who were all of them
his particular friends, and virtuous men. These being in the gov