words he gave him, and how
rudely he treated him on several occasions; insomuch, that it was the
common talk of Malacca, that this persecution might pass for the
martyrdom of Father Xavier. The servant of God resented nothing which was
done to his own person. He blessed God continually, for giving him
occasions of suffering; but he was extremely sensible of what religion
and the progress of the gospel suffered, and was often seen to weep
abundantly.

He ceased not for a month together to solicit the governor; sometimes
beseeching him by the wounds of a crucified Saviour, sometimes urging
him with the fatal consequences of a miserable eternity, and endeavouring
to let him understand, what a crime it was to hinder the publication of
the gospel; but these divine reasons prevailed as little with Don
Alvarez, as the human had done formerly. This strange obduracy quite
overwhelmed the Father, when he saw that all these ways of mildness were
unsuccessful, and the season of navigation passed away; after he had well
consulted God upon it, he concluded, that it was time to try the last
remedies. Ten years were now expired since his coming to the Indies, and
hitherto no one person, excepting only the bishop of Goa, was made privy
to his being the apostolic Nuncio. He had kept this secret in profound
silence, and had not once exercised his power; but now he thought himself
obliged to own it, in a business of so great consequence, and to strike
with the thunders of the church, if occasion were, the man who made open
war against the church.

Which notwithstanding, he would not dart the thunderbolt himself, but
used the hand of the grand vicar. Having sent for him, he began with
shewing him one of the briefs of Paul III., which constituted him his
Nuncio in all the kingdoms of the East. After this, he requested Suarez
to shew this brief to Don Alvarez, and to explain to him the censures
which were incurred by those, who should oppose the pope's legates in
matters of religion, and to exhort him, by what was most holy in the
world, to suffer the embassy to proceed. In case of refusal, to threaten
him with ecclesiastical punishments from the vicar of Jesus Christ, and
to adjure him at the same time, by the death of the Saviour of mankind,
to take compassion on himself.

Xavier had always hoped, that the governor would open his eyes; and in
that writing which he gave the vicar to engage him in that nice
commission, there were these fo