i 3 4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



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

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

 the governor of Dabul, where his fufferings elfe would not 

 have fo quickly ended. All the Portuguefe cried out upon 

 feeing fuch an ambafiador as Matthew fent to their matter ; 

 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 commiflions known to him ; but he exprefs- 

 ly refufed mewing 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 mould 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, bifhop, and clergy know, that, betides his 

 confequence as an ambaiTador, which demanded their re- 

 fpect, 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 facrilege, to fhew to that precious relict the ut- 

 moft refpeet, and celebrate its arrival as a feliival. No more 

 was neceftary after this. The whole ilreets of Goa were 

 filled with proceffions ; 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 fcafted. But nothing could long 

 overcome the prejudices the Portuguefe had imbibed upon 

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

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

 vions 



