Portuguese, dated from Cochin, November 28, in
the year 1550, and is thus translated into our language: "The great
performances of your children and subjects, in all the dominions of the
East; the holiness of their lives, the purity of their doctrine, their
zeal in labouring the reformation of the Portuguese, by the ministry of
God's word, and the sacrament of penance; their unwearied travels through
all the kingdoms of India, for the conversion of idolaters and Moors;
their continual application to study the tongues of this new world, and
to teach the mysteries of faith, and principally at the Cape of
Comorin,--all this obliges me to write to your reverence, and to give
testimony of what I have beheld with my own eyes. Indeed the fathers of
your Society are admirable labourers in our Lord's vineyard; and are so
faithfully subservient to the bishops, that their endeavours for the good
of those souls with which I am intrusted, give me hope of remaining the
fewer years in purgatory. I dare not undertake the relation of all their
particular actions; and if I durst adventure it, want time for the
performance of it: I will only tell you, that they are here like torches
lighted up, to dissipate the thick darkness wherein these barbarous
people were benighted; and that already, by their means, many nations of
infidels believe one God in three persons: for what remains, I freely
grant them all they require of me for the good of souls. Every one of
them partakes with me in my power and authority, without appropriating
any of it to myself: and I look upon myself as one of the members of that
holy body, though my life arises not to their perfection. In one word,
I love them all in Jesus Christ, with a fervent and sincere charity."

The rest of the letter is nothing appertaining to our purpose, and
therefore is omitted.

The man of God received intelligence, at the same time, that the
ministers of Portugal at Goa had sent word to Lisbon of the great
progress which the Society had made; and that, in particular, the new
viceroy, Don Antonio de Norogna, had written, that the Indies were
infinitely satisfied with the Jesuits; that none could look on the good
effects of their labours without blessing the name of God for them; and
that their lives were correspondent to their calling. The saint also was
informed, that the king of Portugal had sent word of all these
proceedings to the Pope; especially the conversion of the king of Tanor,