all
mercies, I most humbly implore thee, by the merits of thy sacred passion,
not to forsake those who fight thy battle!" After these words, he hung
down his head, as overwearied, and leaned upon his pulpit, without
farther speaking. Having continued in that posture for some time, he
sprung up, on the sudden, and said aloud, with all the motions of joy,
which he could not master, "My brethren, Jesus Christ has vanquished for
you. At this moment, while I am speaking, the soldiers of his blessed
name have completed their victory, by the entire defeat of the enemy's
navy. They have made a great slaughter, and we have lost but four of our
Portuguese. You shall receive the news of it on Friday next, and may
shortly expect the return of your victorious fleet."

How incredible soever this appeared, yet Melo, and the principal persons
of the town there present, gave credit to it, without the least scruple;
considering the manner of his speaking, and his air, which had somewhat
of divine in it, and bore the testimony of its truth. Yet the wives and
mothers of the absent soldiers, apprehending still it might be false, and
fearing the more, the more they desired it should be true, the Father
assembled them all in the afternoon, at the church of our Lady del Monte,
and there repeated so distinctly the whole series of what he had said in
the morning, that they durst no longer doubt of it.

Even in the beginning of the week, they had almost evident signs of the
victory, by the news which came of the king of Bintan; who having sent on
all sides to be informed, whether the Portuguese had been defeated, being
advertised from the river of Parlez of what had passed, forsook Muar, and
retired with expedition, bewailing the misfortune of his allies, and
ashamed of his ill-timed enterprize.

The frigate dispatched away by Deza, under the conduct of Emanuel
Godigno, arrived exactly on the day mentioned by the saint. The fleet
followed shortly after, and made a triumphant entry into the port, with
trumpets sounding, and a general discharge of all their artillery. The
town received them with repeated shouts of welcome; and Father Francis,
who was at the head of the people on the shore, held forth a crucifix in
his hand, to give both the inhabitants and soldiers to understand, that
they owed their victory to Christ alone.

Both the one and the other joining their voices, gave solemn thanks to
the Saviour of mankind; but they also broke out in