134 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



upon Abyffinia, hearing that fuch a perfon, in fuch a cha- 

 rafter, was arrived, fent and took him out of the hands of 

 the governor of Dabul, where his fufFerings elfe would not 

 liave fo quickly ended. All the Portuguefe cried out upon 

 feeing fuch an ambaflador as Matthew fent to their mafler; 

 fometimes they pretended that he was a fpy of the Sultan, 

 at other times he was an impoftor, a cook, or fome other 

 menial fervant. 



Albuquerque treated with him privately before he land- 

 ed, to make his commiilions known to him ; but he exprefs- 

 ly refufed lliewing any letter unlefs to the king himfelf in 

 Portugal. This behaviour hurt him in the eyes of the vice- 

 roy, who was therefore difpofed, with the reft of his officers, 

 to flight him when he fhould come afhore. But Matthew, 

 now out of danger, and knowing his perfon to be facred, 

 would no longer be treated like a private perfon. He fent 

 to let the viceroy, bifliop, and clergy know, that, befides his 

 confequcnce as an ambaflador, which demanded their re- 

 fpedl, he was the bearer of a piece of wood of the true crofs, 

 which he carried as a prefent to the king of Portugal ; and, 

 therefore, he required them, as they would avoid an impu- 

 tation of facrilcge, to fhew to that precious relict the ut- 

 moft. refpec^, and celebrate its arrival as a feftival. No more 

 was neceflary after this. The whole ftrcets of Goa were 

 filled with procefllons ; the troops were all under arms ; the 

 viceroy, and the principal officers, met Matthew at his land- 

 ing, and conveyed him to the palace, where he was mag- 

 nificently lodged and feafted. But nothing could long 

 overcome the prejudices the Portuguefe had imbibed upon 

 the firft fight of him; and, notwithftanding he carried a piece 

 of the true crofs, both he and it foon fell into perfect; obli- 

 vion: 



