prediction was accomplished some few years afterward.

Though all these conversions drew the public veneration on Father
Francis, it seemed that God took pleasure in making the name of his
servant yet more illustrious, by certain wonderful events. A merchant of
Meliapor being just ready to embark for Malacca, went to take his leave
of him. In receiving his blessing, he begged of him some little token of
his friendship. The Father, who was very poor, could find nothing to give
him but the chaplet which was hanging at his neck: "This chaplet,"[1]
said he to the merchant, "shall not be unprofitable to you, provided you
repose your trust in the Virgin Mary." The merchant went away in full
assurance of the divine protection, and without fear of pirates, winds,
or rocks; but God would make a trial of his faith. He had already almost
crossed, without the least hazard, the great gulph which is betwixt
Meliapor and Malacca, when suddenly there blew a furious storm, the sails
were torn, the rudder broken, and the mast came by the board, and the
vessel afterwards being driven against the rocks, was split: The greatest
part of the seamen and passengers were drowned; some of them held upon
the rocks, where they were cast away, and the merchant himself was of
that number; but, being upon the wide sea, and not having wherewithal
to supply nature, to avoid dying by hunger, they took a resolution which
only despair could have inspired; having gathered up some floating planks
of their wrecked vessel, and joining them together the best they could,
they put themselves upon them, and abandoned their safety to the mercy of
the waves, without other hope than of lighting on some current which
might possibly carry them on shore.

[Footnote 1: Or beads.]

The merchant, full of confidence in the blessed Virgin, had still