account; but before he would undertake the reformation of a town so
universally corrupted, he employed some days in serving of the sick; he
passed many nights in prayer, and performed extraordinary austerities.

After these preparatives, he began his public instructions, according to
the methods which he had frequently practised at Goa. Walking the streets
at evening with his bell in his hand, he cried, with a loud voice, "Pray
to God for those who are in the state of mortal sin;" and by this, he
brought into the minds of sinners, the remembrance and consideration of
their offences. For, seeing the ill habits of their minds, and that the
disease was like to be inflamed, if violent remedies were applied, he
tempered more than ever the ardour of his zeal. Though he had naturally a
serene countenance, and was of a pleasing conversation, yet all the
charms of his good humour seemed to be redoubled at Malacca, insomuch,
that his companion, John Deyro, could not but wonder at his gaiety and
soft behaviour.

By this procedure, the apostle gained the hearts of all and became in
some manner, lord of the city. At the very first, he rooted out an
established custom, which permitted the young maids to go in the habit of
boys whenever they pleased, which occasioned a world of scandal. He drove
out of doors the concubines, or turned them into lawful wives, according
to his former method. As for the children, who had no knowledge of God,
and who learnt songs of ribaldry and obsceneness as soon as they began to
speak, he formed them so well in a little time, that they publicly
recited the Christian doctrine, and set up little altars in the streets,
about which they sung together the hymns of the Catholic church. But that
in which he was most successful, was to restore the practice of
confession, which was almost entirely lost. But now men and women crowded
the tribunal of holy penitence, and the Father was not able to supply the