his side,
according to the principles of his sect, and refined upon it in this
manner: "The God of the Christians and of the Saracens is the same God;
why then should the Christians be confined to one only wife, since God
has permitted the Saracens to have so many?"

Yet sometimes he changed his language; and said, that he would not lose
his soul, nor the friendship of Father Xavier, for so small a matter.
But, in conclusion, not being able to contain himself within the bounds
of Christian purity, nor to make the law of Jesus Christ agree with that
of Mahomet, he continued fixed to his pleasures, and obstinate in his
errors. Only he engaged his royal word, that in case the Portuguese would
invest one of his sons in the kingdom of the Isles del Moro, he would on
that condition receive baptism.

Father Xavier obtained from the viceroy of the Indies whatever the king
of Ternate had desired; but the barbarian, far from keeping his promise,
began from thenceforward a cruel persecution against his Christian
subjects. And the first strokes of it fell on the Queen Neachile, who was
dispossessed of all her lands, and reduced to live in extreme poverty
during the remainder of her days. Her faith supported her in these new
misfortunes; and Father Xavier, who had baptized her, gave her so well to
understand how happy it was to lose all things and to gain Christ, that
she continually gave thanks to God for the total overthrow of her
fortune.

In the mean time, the labours of the saint were not wholly unprofitable
in the court of Ternate. He converted many persons of the blood-royal;
and, amongst others, two sisters of the prince, who preferred the quality
of Christians, and spouses of Christ Jesus, before all earthly crowns;
and chose rather to suffer the ill usage of their brother, than to
forsake their faith.

Xavier, seeing the time of his departure drawing near, composed, in the
Malaya tongue, a large instruction, touching the belief and morals of
Christianity. He gave the people of Ternate this instruction written in
his own hand, that it might supply his place during his absence. Many
copies were taken of it, which were spread about the neighbouring
islands, and even through the countries of the East. It was read on
holidays in the public assemblies; and the faithful listened to it, as
coming from the mouth of the holy apostle.

Besides this, he chose out some virtuous young men for his companions in
his voyage to Goa,