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 [64]tant facilemẽt le Capitaine à ne pas vser de cruauté. Mais la fortune trouua bien autres tours, & destours qu'il ne pẽsoit: 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. [66] 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 pourroyẽt 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 demonstroiẽt 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.