of God had made in favour of the ship called
Santa Cruz, gave it the new name of the "Saint's Vessel;" and from
Malacca, from whence she departed at the same time when Xavier went on
board of Antonio, her reputation was extended over all the East.
Wheresoever she arrived, she was received with ceremony, and saluted by
all other ships with the honour of their cannon. All merchants were
desirous of stowing their goods in her, and willingly paid the carriage
of their wares, and the dues of custom, beyond the common price of other
vessels. The weight of lading was never considered, but her freight was
always as much as they could crowd into her. As she lasted very long, and
that thirty years after the decease of the Father she was in being, and
was used for the traffic of the Indies, they never failed of lading her
with an extraordinary cargo, all worn and worm-eaten as she was. The
owners into whose hands she came, during the space of those thirty years,
took only this one precaution, which was to keep her off from shore; so
that when she was to be refitted, that work was constantly done upon the
sea. As to what remains, it is true she met with many ill accidents and
hardships: she was often engaged with pirates, and combated by tempests;
but she escaped clear of all those dangers, and never any one repented of
embarking in her. One time it is acknowledged, sailing from Malacca to
Cochin, with an extraordinary lading, she sprung a leak, and took in so
much water at the beginning of the voyage, that the passengers, who were
very numerous, were of opinion to unlade her of half her burden, and half
her men, and to put them upon other ships which were in their company.
But those vessels, which had already their whole lading, would not
consent to ease the Santa Cruz; so that, fear overpowering the ship's
company, they returned speedily into the port. The whole town was
surprised to see the ship so suddenly come back; and they were laughed to
shame for apprehending shipwreck in the vessel of the saint. Being thus
publicly upbraided with their want of faith, to mend their error, they
took out nothing of the lading, but put again to sea. And what every one
said to them, concerning the good fortune which perpetually attended that
ship, for two-and-twenty years together, so much renewed their
confidence, that they performed their voyage without farther fear. The
Santa Cruz continued in this manner, sailing over all the seas, and to
ev