tue, particularly Criminal, who, of
all the children of Ignatius, was the first who was honoured with the
crown of martyrdom. Xavier disposed of them immediately, commanding, by
his letters, "That Lancilotti should remain in the seminary of holy
faith, there to instruct the young Indians in the knowledge of the Latin
tongue, and that the other two should go to accompany Francis Mansilla on
the coast of Fishery."

For himself, having waited three months for news from Macassar, when he
saw the season proper for the return of the ship, which the Governor of
Malacca had sent, was now expired, and that no vessel was come from those
parts, he judged, that Providence would not make use of him at present,
for the instruction of those people, who had a priest already with them.
Nevertheless, that he might be more at hand to succour them, whenever it
pleased God to furnish him with an occasion, it was in his thoughts to go
to the neighbouring islands of that coast, which were wholly destitute of
gospel ministers.

God Almighty at that time revealed to him the calamities which threatened
Malacca; both the pestilence and the war, with which it was to be
afflicted in the years ensuing; and the utter desolation, to which it
should one day be reduced for the punishment of its crimes. For the
inhabitants, who, since the arrival of the Father, had reformed their
mariners, relapsed insensibly into their vices, and became more dissolute
than ever, as it commonly happens to men of a debauched life, who
constrain themselves for a time, and whom the force of ill habits draws
backward into sin. Xavier failed not to denounce the judgments of God to
them, and to exhort them to piety, for their own interest. But his
threatenings and exhortations were of no effect: and this it was that
made him say of Malacca the quite contrary of what he had said concerning
Meliapor, that he had not seen, in all the Indies, a more wicked town.

He embarked for Amboyna the 1st of January, 1546, with John Deyro, in a
ship which was bound for the Isle of Banda. The captain of the vessel was
a Portuguese; the rest, as well mariners as soldiers, were Indians; all
of them almost of several countries, and the greatest part Mahometans, or
Gentiles. The saint converted them to Jesus Christ during the voyage; and
what convinced the infidels of the truth of Christianity, was, that when
Father Xavier expounded to them the mysteries of Christianity in one
tongue, they unde