ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY. 



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persecuted so much the more did it diffuse itself, verifying the 

 old saying that " the blood of martyrs was the seed of ' the 

 Church ;" and had soon the mortification of seeing not only 

 many of his courtiers and domestics, but likewise his eldest son, 

 who was destined to succeed him, become converts to it. The 

 conversion of the young prince was effected by his intercourse 

 with a Portugese Merchant, who had dealings at the Court ; 

 and the King no sooner heard of it than he caused him to be put 

 to death, and his body to be dragged into the woods and left 

 a prey to dogs and jackals. After this, when the King thought 

 that he had put a total stop to the further diffusion of Chris- 

 tianity in Jaffna, his sister having privately embraced it, in- 

 structed both her son and nephew, who was brother to the 

 martyred prince ; and in order to preserve them from the fury 

 of her brother, caused them to be conveyed privately to Goa 

 by the above mentioned Portuguese Merchant. The King 

 was so provoked at this, that he renewed the persecution of 

 the Christians with more severity than before, and also sought 

 an opportunity to destroy his brother, (from whom he had 

 usurped the crown, and who now led a wandering life,) being 

 apprehensive that he might possibly change his religion and 

 secure the assistance of the Portuguese for the recovery of his 

 kingdom ; but he having timely notice of his treachery, crossed 

 over to Negapatam, and from thence escaped to Goa. 



When Xavier was informed of these transactions, he pro- 

 ceeded to Cambaya, where the Viceroy Don Alphonso De 

 Sousa was then residing, and endeavoured to engage him to 

 exert himself for the relief of the Christians at Manaar by 

 espousing the cause of the fugitive prince ; but he found the 

 Viceroy very little disposed to take any vigorous measures, 

 and therefore addressed himself direct to King John III. of 

 Portugal, who, thereupon, sent Don John De Castro as Vice- 



