DETAILS RESPECTING COCHIN CHINA. 
117 
the last Persecution, however violent it has been, the number of 
Christians has not diminished: it has even increased in many places. 
We hope that the blood of martyrs, which has lately watered this 
country, will be a “new seed of Christians.” Hence we have at this 
very time the consolation to see Pagans coming in crowds to receive 
the instructions which we give them secretly. The Church of Christ 
has been formed in Europe in the midst of Persecution; the ways 
of Providence are at all times the same; thus it is formed in these 
Countries in spite of the persecutions of the Princes of the world, 
that every one may say: “ There is the finger of God. ” 
OF MISSIONARIES. 
In 1583 Father Bartholomew Ruiz, a Spanish Franciscan, reached 
Cochin China with seven other friars at “Fai Fo” close to Touron ; 
he was welcomed and the holy sacrifice of the mass was there 
offered up with great solemnity. They wanted nothing more but 
the permission of the King to remain in the country: which seemed 
lo be without difficulty. But contrary winds prevented these friars 
from reaching the capital; they were driven by a hurricane to the 
Island of Hai Nam and returned to Manila. Father Ruiz went 
back to Cochin China at the beginning of 1581 and called on the 
King who gave him leave to remain in the country. 
The Chronicles of the order say that he wrought many miracles 
and converted many proselytes; but he was soon caught and 
brought to Macoa by the Portuguese, who even at that early time 
imagined they had alone the right to send Missionaries to the 
East Indies, in virtue of what they call “Real Patroado” or Royal 
Patronage. 
It was about the year 1615 that Portuguese Jesuits and Spanish 
Franciscans went in numbers to preach the gospel in Cochin China, 
and from this time only dates the establishment of the Christian 
religion in that country. 
In 1658 two French Priests, the Rcvd. Messrs, de la Mothe 
Lambert and Paliu were appointed Bishops, Vicars Apostolic, the 
one for Cochin China and the other for Tong King. The former 
left Franca in 1660 via overland and reached Siam in 1662, 
from whence he sent one of his Missionaries, the Revd. M. Chev- 
reuil, lo Cochin China; this gentleman was soon succeeded by 
