tay in that place, but only till the ship which was
intended for Malacca should be ready to set out. The Christians, more
glad of his return, because they had despaired of seeing him again,
begged of him to continue longer with them, because Lent was drawing
near; and that he must, however, stay all that holy time, in the island
of Amboyna, for the proper season of navigation to Malacca. The captain
of the fortress of Ternate, and the brotherhood of the Mercy, engaged
themselves to have him conducted to Amboyna, before the setting out of
the ships. So that Xavier could not deny those people, who made him such
reasonable propositions; and who were so desirous to retain him, to the
end they might profit by his presence, in order to the salvation of their
souls.

He remained then almost three months in Ternate; hearing confessions day
and night, preaching twice on holidays, according to his custom; in the
morning to the Portuguese, in the afternoon to the islanders newly
converted; catechising the children every day in the week, excepting
Wednesday and Friday, which he set apart for the instruction of the
Portuguese wives. For, seeing those women, who were either Mahometans or
idolaters by birth, and had only received baptism in order to their
marrying with the Portuguese, were not capable of profiting by the common
sermons, for want of sufficient understanding in the mysteries and maxims
of Christianity; he undertook to expound to them the articles of faith,
the commandments, and other points of Christian morality. The time of
Lent was passed in these exercises of piety, and penitence, which fitted
them for the blessed sacrament at Easter. All people approached the holy
table, and celebrated that feast with renewed fervour, which resembled
the spirit of primitive Christianity.

But the chief employment of Father Xavier was to endeavour the conversion
of the king of Ternate, commonly called king of the Moluccas. This
Saracen prince, whose name was Cacil Aerio, was son to king Boleife, and
his concubine, a Mahometan, and enemy to the Portuguese, whom Tristan
d'Atayda, governor of Ternate, and predecessor of Antonio Galvan, caused
to be thrown out of a window, to be revenged of her. This unworthy and
cruel usage might well exasperate Cacil; but fearing their power, who had
affronted him in the person of his mother, and having the violent death
of his brothers before his eyes, he curbed his resentments, and broke not
out int