ubmission to the
judgment of his host, though he knew beforehand that all manner of
remedies were in vain. A chirurgeon of the ship, who was awkward at his
work, and of small experience in his art, bled him so unluckily, that he
hurt the nerves, and the patient fell immediately into swooning
convulsions; yet they drew blood from him a second time; and that
operation had all the ill accidents of the former. Besides which, it was
attended with a horrible nauseousness; insomuch, that he could take no
nourishment, at least the little which he took, consisted only of some
few almonds, which the captain of the vessel sent him out of charity. The
disease increased hourly, and he grew weaker every day; but his
countenance was still serene, and his soul enjoyed a perpetual calmness.
Sometimes he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and at other times fixed them
on his crucifix, entertaining divine conversation with his God, and not
without shedding abundant tears. He remained in this condition till the
28th of November, when the fever mounted into his head. During this
delirium he talked of nothing but of God, and of his passage into China,
but in terms more tender and ardent than ever formerly.

At length he lost his speech, and recovered not the use of it till three
days afterwards: his strength then left him all at once, so that it was
expected every moment that he would pass away; which notwithstanding, he
once more recovered, and having the free exercise both of his reason and
his speech, he renewed his entertainments with his Saviour in an audible
manner. Nothing was to be heard from him but devout aspirations, and
short ejaculations of prayer, but those full of life and of affection.
The assistants understood not all he said, because he continually spoke
in Latin; and Antonio de Sainte Foy, who never left him, has only
reported, that the man of God made frequent repetition of these words,
_Jesu, fili David, miserere mei!_ and these also, which were so familiar
to him, _sanctissima Trinitas_! Besides which, invoking the blessed
Virgin, he would say, _Monstra te esse Matrem!_ He passed two days
without taking any food; and having ordered his priestly habits, and
the other church-stuff which he used in saying mass, to be carried aboard
the ship, together with those books which he had composed for the
instruction of the Eastern people, he disposed himself for his last hour,
which was near approaching.

Besides Antonio de Sainte Foy