ure in their oratories; and even the
archbishop of Goa, Don Christopher de Lisbonne, (for the episcopal see
had been erected into an archbishopric,) the archbishop, I say, wore on
his breast an image of Xavier in little, which he often kissed with a
reverent affection: and his devotion was not without reward; for, having
been cruelly tormented with the stone, for a month together, he was freed
immediately from it, and felt not any farther pains.

It also happened, that in many places of the Indies the new converts
built churches in honour of Father Francis, through a precipitate and
indiscreet devotion, which their good meaning and their zeal are only
capable of excusing. Amongst those churches, there was one much
celebrated, on the coast of Travancore. The Saracens having demolished
it, together with eleven other ancient structures of piety, the
Christians, who, by reason of their poverty, were not able to rebuild
them all, restored only this one church, which was dearer to them than
any of the rest.

For what remains, in what place soever any churches were dedicated to the
Father, there never failed a wonderful concourse of people to honour
the memory of the holy man; and, according to the relation of Francis
Nugnez, vicar of Coulan, they were obliged to sink a well for the relief
of poor pilgrims near the church, which was built in honour of him at
that town. Nugnez also reports, "That those which had been consecrated to
the apostles, and other saints, in a manner lost their titles, when once
the image of St Xavier was there exposed; and that the people, turning
all their devotion towards him, were wont to call them the churches of
Father Francis."

But what was most to be admired, even the professed enemies of Jesus
Christ paid him reverence after his decease, as well as during his life;
calling him, "the man of prodigies, the friend of heaven, the master of
nature, and the god of the world." Some of them undertook long voyages,
and came to Goa, expressly to behold his body exempted from corruption,
and which, only excepting motion, had all the appearance of life. There
were amongst the Gentiles, who spoke of raising altars to him; and some
people of the sect of Mahomet did, in effect, dedicate a mosque to him,
on the western coast of Comorine. The king of Travancore, though a
Mahometan, built a magnificent temple to him; and the infidels had so
great a veneration for that place, where the great Father was adored,