The change of manners, which was visibly amongst the Christians, was of
no little service to the conversion of Saracens and idolaters. Many of
those infidels embraced Christianity. But the most illustrious conquest
of the saint, was of a famous Saracen lady, called Neachile Pocaraga,
daughter to Almanzor, king of Tidore, and wife to Boliefe, who was king
of Ternate, before the Portuguese had conquered the island. She was a
princess of great wit and generosity, but extremely bigotted to her sect,
and a mortal enemy to the Christians, that is to say, to the Portuguese.
Her hatred to them was justly grounded; for, having received them into
her kingdom with great civility, and having also permitted them to
establish themselves in one part of the island, for the convenience of
their trade, she was dealt with so hardly by them, that, after the death
of the king, her husband, she had nothing left her but the bare title of
a queen; and by their intrigues, the three princes, her sons, lost the
crown, their liberty, and their lives. Her unhappy fortune constrained
her to lead a wandering life, from isle to isle. But Providence, which
would accomplish on her its good designs, brought her back at last to
Ternate, about the time when Xavier came thither. She lived there in the
condition of a private person, without authority, yet with splendour; and
retaining still in her countenance and behaviour, somewhat of that
haughty air, which the great sometimes maintain, even in their fetters.

The saint gained access to her, and found an opportunity of conversing
with her. In his first discourse, he gave her a great idea of the kingdom
of God; yet withal informed her, that this kingdom, was not difficult to
obtain; and that being once in possession of it, there was no fear of
being after dispossessed. Insomuch, that the Saracen princess, who had no
hopes remaining of aught on earth, turned her thoughts and her desires
towards heaven. It is true, that, as she was endued with a great wit, and
was very knowing in the law of Mahomet, there was some need of