the captains of the performance of their duty.

He passed over from Manar to Negapatan; but there he found all things in
a far different condition from what he hoped. The Portuguese navy
diminished daily; and the commanders, who at the beginning had been so
zealous for the Holy War, were now the first to condemn it. It was in
vain for him to set before their eyes the honour of their nation, and
that of God: interest did so blind their understanding, that they forgot
they were either Portuguese or Christians: behold, in short, what
overthrew so glorious an expedition.

While they were equipping the fleet, it happened that a Portuguese
vessel, coming from the kingdom of Pegu, and laden with rich merchandise,
was driven by tempest upon the coast of Jafanatapan. The king made
seizure of it, and possessed himself of all within it, according to the
custom of the barbarians. The captain and the ship's company foreseeing,
that if, in this conjuncture, war should be made against the heathen
prince, they should never be able to retrieve their wealth out of his
hands, corrupted the officers of the fleet with large presents, to desist
from their undertaking. Thus the tyrant, whom Father Xavier designed to
drive out from his ill-gotten kingdom, was maintained in it, by the
covetousness of Christians; or rather by the secret decrees of
Providence, which sometimes permits the persecutors of the church to
reign in peace, to the end a trial may be made of such as dare to
continue constant in their faith.

As holy men resign their will to that of God, Xavier wholly abandoned the
enterprize of Jafanatapan, and thought only of returning to the kingdom
of Travancore. Being now on sea, he cast back his eyes on the Isle of
Ceylon, which he saw from far; and cried out, lamenting for it, "Ah!