acca, told the saint, "He apprehended
lest an embargo might be put upon his ship, for the immediate service of
the town." Xavier, to whom God had revealed the deliverance of Malacca,
and to whose prayers that deliverance had perhaps been granted, cheered
up his friend, with this assurance, "That when the fortress was just upon
the point of yielding, the infidels had been struck with a panic fear,
and fled away, so that the town was wholly free."

Percyra had yet another thing which troubled him, concerning the voyage
which Father Xavier had to make before that of China. The season being
already far spent, he feared there were no vessels at Malacca, which were
bound for Goa. He could not carry the Father to Cochin himself, because
he was obliged to go on to Sunda, there to unlade his merchandize; but
that apprehension was soon at an end, for Xavier, illuminated from
heaven, told him positively, "That the ship of Antonio Pereyra was in the
port of Malacca, and that they should find it just ready to weigh anchor,
and set sail for Cochin."

Xavier discovered these things to his friend during a great calm, which
made the navigation pleasing; when suddenly they perceived one of those
terrible hurricanes arising, which in a moment sink a vessel. All the
company gave themselves for lost; or if they had any hope remaining, it
was only in consideration of the saint; and therefore they earnestly
desired him to intercede with God in their behalf. The holy man, without
replying, retired to his devotions; he returned to them not long after,
with his countenance all on fire, and gave his blessing to the ship,
pronouncing these following words aloud: "This vessel of the Santa
Cruz[1] (for so she was named) shall never perish on the seas; the place
where she was built, shall behold her fall in pieces of herself. Might it
please Almighty God," continued he, "that the same could be said
concerning that vessel which put to sea with us! But we shall be
witnesses too soon of her unhappy destiny." At that very instant
appeared the signs, which were to begin the verification of the prophecy;
the whirlwind was dissipated, and the sea grew calm. Not long afterwards,
they beheld the merchandize and dead bodies floating on the waters, and
from thence concluded, that the hurricane had destroyed the ship which
followed them. Immediately their opinion was confirmed by two mariners,
who had gotten on a plank when the ship was foundering; and who, havi