passible. The
ship, which was at the port of Sancian, being at the point of setting
sail For the Indies, Antonio de Sainte Foy, and George Alvarez, desired
the captain, Luys Almeyda, not to leave upon the isle the remainders of
Father Francis.

One of the servants of Almeyda opened the coffin, by the order of his
master, on the 17th of February, 1553, to see if the flesh were totally
consumed, so that the bones might be gathered together; but having taken
the lime from off the face, they found it ruddy and fresh-coloured, like
that of a man who is in a sweet repose. His curiosity led him farther to
view the body; he found it in like manner whole, and the natural moisture
uncorrupted. But that he might entirely satisfy all doubts and scruples,
he cut a little of the flesh on the right thigh, near the knee, and
beheld the blood running from it. Whereupon he made haste to advertise
the captain of what he was an eye-witness; and carried with him a little
piece of flesh, which he had cut off, and which was about a finger's
length. All the company ran immediately to the place of burial, and
having made an exact observation of the body, found it to be all entire,
and without any putrefaction. The sacerdotal habits, with which he had'
been vested after his disease, were nowise damaged by the lime. And what
was most amazing to them all, was, that the holy corpse exhaled an odour
so delightful, and so fragrant, that, by the relation of many there
present, the most exquisite perfumes came nothing near it, and the scent
was judged to be celestial.

Then those very people, who, basely to comply with the brutality of
Alvarez, had misused Father Xavier in his life, after his decease did
honours to him; and many of them asked his pardon with weeping eyes, that
they had forsaken him so unworthily in his sickness. Some amongst them
exclaimed openly againt Alvarez, without fearing the consequence; and
there was one who said aloud, what was said afterwards by the viceroy of
the Indies, Don Alphonso de Norogna, "That Alvarez de Atayda had been the
death of Father Francis, both by his persecutions at Malacca, and by the
cruelties of his servants at Sancian." With these pious meditations,
having laid the unslaked lime once more upon the face and body, the
sacred remains were carried into the ship; and not long after they set
sail, esteeming themselves happy to bear along with them so rich a
treasure to the Indies.

They arrived at Malacca,