Chapter XXXII: i.e., xxxi

HOW THE SHIP WAS VISITED AT THE AÇORES, AND HOW THE JESUITS KEPT
THEIR PROMISE TO THE ENGLISH.

GOD'S hand was evidently stretched over the Jesuits for their
protection, as you have been able to see heretofore. It was also
manifest in another danger through which they passed, and which we
do not relate here, lest we be tedious, in which, nevertheless,
[287 i.e., 289] they confess to have felt more fear than in many
others, and not without cause. This divine protection was even more
evident in removing all apprehensions of danger from the Captain.
For if he had foreseen the great risks which he ran afterwards, I
am not sure that he or his crew would have been so conscientious
as not to have resolved upon murder, before falling into the
perplexities to which they were in this way reduced.

Ils arriuerent à l'Isle de Faeal, qui est vne des Açores, & ne se pensoyent à leur arriuée, que d'anchrer aupres de la ville, d'enuoyer leur batteau pour se charger d'eau, de laquelle ils auoyent principalement besoin, & achepter quelque peu de biscuit, & autres necessitez plus pressantes. En ceste façon il estoit fort facile [288 i.e., 290] de cacher les Iesuites, parce qu'on ne visite gueres, que fort legerement ceux qui sont loin de terre, & puis la visite passee: tout le peril est passé. Ceste consideration fit resoudre tant facilem[~e]t le Capitaine à ne pas vser de cruauté. Mais la fortune trouua bien autres tours, & destours qu'il ne p[~e]soit: car il luy fallust entrer dans le haure, & se tenir à la veuë de la ville, & des autres nauires. Là de sinistre accident, nostre nauire s'alla heurter contre vne carauelle Espagnolle, chargée de succre, & luy rompit son beau-pré; l'Espagnol pensa que ce fut vn guet à pens, à celle fin de surprendre son vaisseau, & le voler: tout ainsi qu'auoit faict vn François dans le mesme port, cinq semaines au parauãt, & partant se print à crier au coursaire, faisant armer ses gens, & peu s'en fallut que lon [289 i.e., 291] ne vinst aux mains. Grand bruit & grande esmeute dans la ville, & par tous les nauires qui estoyent là, grand alarme. Il fallust que le Capitaine allast à terre, & y demeurast pour gages, & asseurance: encores ne pouuoit-on croire, qu'il fut autre que Pirate. on vint visiter & reuisiter le nauire, & les Iesuites ioüoyent comme l'on dit a esconsailles, de trou en cachot, & de cachot en fonds, tousiours en quelque nouuelle musse. Or sur le vif, & le chaud des soupçons, & grabuge, les Espagnols venants visiter les pauures Peres & le garcon Francois estoyent derriere vne chaloupe se tenant coys & sans souffler, car si seulement ils eussent soufflé vn peu gros, ou remué la main ou le pied, ils eussent esté descouuerts. La chose estoit si hazardeuse, que nos Anglois en transissoyent de [290 i.e., 292] male-peur. Mais les Iesuites leur voulurent constamment garder la foy pour plusieurs raisõs, & entre autres, pour faire voir par effect aux calomniateurs de l'Eglise Catholique, qu'à tort, & contre verité ils luy imposent d'enseigner, qu'il ne faut point garder la foy aux heretiques. Ce qu'est totalement faux, & contre sa doctrine. Mais reuenons aux Espagnols, ils n'apperceurent iamais lesdits peres en leur visite, & s'en allerent en fort bonne opinion des Anglois, qui les voyants dehors, & reuenants à soy de la grande apprehension en laquelle ils auoyent esté, se prindrent à faire tant de caresses aux Peres, & tant de feste en recognoissance de leur sincérité, qu'en pourroy[~e]t faire vne troupe de bons parents & amys s'entre rencontrants en paix apres vne absence, & separation [291 i.e., 293] de bien long temps. Les mesmes Anglois ont souuent depuis loüangé lesdicts Peres en la presence de leurs Ministres en Angleterre de ceste leur fidelité, & les Ministres en demonstroi[~e]t grands signes d'estonnement & admiration.

They came to the Island of Faeal, one of the Açores, where, upon
their arrival, they intended only to anchor near the town, to send
their boat for a supply of water, which they needed most, and to
buy a few biscuit and other very necessary articles. In this way it
was quite easy [288 i.e., 290] to conceal the Jesuits; for those
vessels which are some distance from the land are only slightly
visited, and, this visit over, all danger is past. This was the
reason why the Captain so readily resolved not to use cruelty. But
fate found other ways and means, which he had not considered; for
he was obliged to enter the harbor and remain in full view of the
town, and of other ships. There, by an unlucky accident, our ship
ran foul of a Spanish caravel, loaded with sugar, and broke its
bowsprit; the Spaniards thought this was a ruse by means of which
to surprise their vessel and rob it, just as a French ship had
done in the same port five weeks before; and so they began to cry
"pirates!" at the same time arming their crew; just a [289 i.e.,
291] little more and they would have come to blows. There was great
commotion and noise in the town, and considerable alarm throughout
all the ships in the harbor. The Captain had to go on shore, and
remain there as a hostage and security; and even then, no one could
believe that he was other than a Pirate. They came to visit and
revisit the ship, and the Jesuits played, as the saying is, at hide
and seek, from top to bottom, from dungeon to hold, always finding
some new hiding place. Now during the liveliest and fiercest
suspicions, and disputes, the Spaniards came to visit the ship, and
the poor Fathers and the French boy were huddled behind a boat,
still and breathless; for if they had even breathed a little loud,
or moved hand or foot, they would have been discovered. The thing
was so dangerous that our English were seized with a [290 i.e.,
292] panic. But the Jesuits wished to continue to keep faith with
them for several reasons, and among others to make the slanderers
of the Catholic Church really see that they ascribed to it
wrongfully and untruthfully the doctrine that it is not necessary
to keep faith with heretics; which is totally false and contrary
to its belief. But let us return to the Spaniards. They never
discovered the said fathers in their visit, and went away with a
very high opinion of the English. The latter, when they saw them
outside, recovering from the panic into which they had been thrown,
began to embrace the Fathers as effusively, and to make as great
a celebration in acknowledgment of their sincerity, as a company
of kind kindred and friends would make at a peaceful reunion after
a very long [291 i.e., 293] absence and separation. These same
English have often since then praised the Fathers for this their
fidelity, in the presence of their Ministers in England; and the
Ministers have thereupon made great demonstrations of astonishment
and admiration.

CHAPITRE XXXII.

LA VENUË EN ANGLETERRE: & LA DELIURANCE DES IESUITES.

LES Anglois demeurerent trois sepmaines entieres engagez en ceste Isle, que nous disons de Fæal, pendant lequel t[~e]ps les pauures Iesuites ne peurent point voir le Soleil. Or parce que lesdicts Anglois auoyent faute d'argent, ils ne peur[~e]t guieres s'y remplumer, ce qui les fit du tout [292 i.e., 294] resoudre à ne plus retenter la Virginie, ains s'en reuenir en Angleterre, attendu mesmem[~e]t que ja ils se voyoient dans la presente année 1614. qui estoit le terme de leur seruice.