m this small ascent you pass to a higher and much larger mountain,
which seems formed by nature for a lonely contemplative life; for on one
side it looks upon the sea, and on the other is covered with old trees,
always green, which at once make a fruitful and a pleasing object. Hither
St Thomas retired to pray with his disciples; and here it was also that
he was slain by a Brachman with the thrust of a spear.

The Portuguese, who rebuilt Meliapor, found on the top of the mountain a
little chapel, of stonework, all in ruins. They were desirous to repair
it, in memory of the holy apostle; and, as they were rummaging all about,
even to the foundations of it, they drew out a white marble, whereon was
a cross, with characters graved round about it, which declared, "That God
was born of the Virgin Mary; that this God was eternal; that the same God
taught his law to his twelve apostles; and that one of them came to
Meliapor with a palmer's staff in his hand; that he built a church there;
that the kings of Malabar, Coromandel, and Pandi, with many other
nations, submitted themselves to the law preached by St Thomas, a man
holy and penitent."

This marble, of which we make mention, having on it divers stains of
blood, the common opinion is, that the apostle suffered martyrdom upon
it. Howsoever it be, the marble was placed upon the altar when the chapel
was rebuilt; and the first time that a solemn mass was said there, the
cross distilled some drops of blood, in the sight of all the people;
which also happened many times in the following years, on the day whereon
his martyrdom is celebrated.

When Xavier was come into the town, the vicar of Meliapor, who had heard
speak of him as a successor of the apostles, and a man sent from God,
for the conversion of the Indies, came to offer him a lodging in his
house. The father accepted of it, because it was adjoining to the church,
wherein were kept the relicks of St Thomas; and that he could easily step
from thence by night, to consult the will of God concerning his intended
voyage to Macassar.

In effect, as soon as the vicar was laid to sleep, for they were lodged
in the same chamber, Xavier rose as softly as he could, and went to the
church, through a church-yard which parted it from the house. The vicar
perceived it, and advertised Xavier, that this passage was not over-safe
by night, and that horrible phantoms had been often seen in it. The saint
believed this only said to frigh