s if the divine justice had not deferred the death of this
persecutor, but only to render it more terrible, and more memorable.

Father Xavier was very desirous of returning to Travancore; but the winds
blew so contrary, that they always drove him from the coast. By this he
judged that God had called him to some other place; and thereupon formed
a resolution of carrying the light of the gospel from isle to isle, and
from kingdom to kingdom, even to the utmost limits of the East. The news
he heard, during his navigation, caused him suddenly to cast his thoughts
on an island situate under the equinoctial, betwixt the Moluccas and
Borneo, stretched in length two hundred leagues from north to south, and
divided into sundry kingdoms, called by the geographers Celebes, by the
historians Macassar, from the names of the two capital cities, of the two
principal kingdoms; as to the rest, well peopled, and abounding in all
sorts of riches.

It was related to him, that about the year 1531, two brothers, both
idolaters, as were all the inhabitants of Macassar, going on their
private business to Ternate, the chief of the Moluccas, had some
conference, relating to religion, with the governor, Antonio Galvan, a
Portuguese, one of the most famous warriors of his age, and celebrated in
history both for his piety and valour: that having learnt from him the
vanity of their idols, they embraced the Christian faith, and at their
baptism took the names of Antonio and Michael: that being returned into
their country, they themselves taught publicly the faith of Jesus Christ:
that all their countrymen, with one accord, sent their ambassadors to the
governor of Ternate, desiring him to send them some to instruct them in
the principles of faith; and that the heads of this embassy were the two
brothers, known to Galvan: that these ambassadors found a very kind
reception; and that for want of a priest, Galvan gave them a soldier for
their teacher, whose name was Francis de Castro; a man knowing in
religion, and of exemplary piety. In conclusion, that Castro, who was
thus chosen to instruct that people, embarking for Macassar, was driven
by a tempest another way.

Besides this, Xavier was likewise informed, that not long before, a
Portuguese merchant, called Antonio Payva, going to Macassar in the name
of Ruys Vaz Pereyra, captain of Malacca, for a ship's lading of sandal, a
precious wood growing in that island, the king of Supa, which is one of
th