ABSTRACT
AtthistimetheothercompanionsremaininginFremonahadleftthat villageandwerenowundertheprotectionofthatfriendofminewith whomIhadmadearrangementsforthem. 1TheEmperorhadbeen informedofthisand,ontheadviceoftheheretics,orderedagreat ministerofhis,azealotinhisreligion,whowascomingwithmany forcesinthecompanyofthenewly-appointedViceroy,toseekout alloftheFathersinordertotakethemintocustodyandhandthem allovertotheTurks,allexceptforFatherJeronimo.2Thispersonwas, ofcourse,mypoorunfortunateself,anditwastheEmperor'sorder thateitherIaliveormyheadshouldbebroughttohiscourt,forhe fearedthat,ifIweretoreachIndia,IwouldreturntoEthiopiabringing Portugueseforceswithme,becausehissoothsayershadsoprophesied.3
ThePatriarchandtheSuperiorinformedmeimmediatelyofthe decision,fortheyhadlearnedofitbyanentirelytrustworthywarning fromsomeCatholicswhowereatcourt,andorderedmetokeepmyself inhiding.Thiswasaneasymatterasfarasmyownpersonwas concerned,buttheninecompanionswhowerewithmewouldsuffer becauseofit.Andalthoughthedangerfacingmewasmoreobvious, ifIweretofallintothehandsoftheroyalminister,thanthatwhich couldbefearedbymycompanions,Iresolvednonethelessnotto increasetheirriskforthesakeofmyownsafetybutrathertorisk whatevermighthappenbynotabandoningthem,unlesssomeonecould befoundtohideusall.Andalthoughthelattercoursewasmore difficult,Goddidnotfailtorewardthediligenceandwillwithwhich
Isoughttheaccommodation.Andthus,onthenightofLowSunday, theonlynightwhenwewerenotguarded,andwhenourguardsin thenearbyvillagewereoblivioustotheworldfromsleepinessandwine, forthisistheprincipalfeatureofanyandallholidaysorcelebrations, weallslippedawayquietlytoacertainsafeplacewheretherestof ourcompanionswere.Eachoneleftasbesthecould,whileIremained behindtoaccompanyoneoftheFathers1who,beingold,tired,and frightenedbytheweatherandthedarknessofthenight,whichmade travellingveryhazardous,especiallyinoneplaceabouthalfwaytoour destination,wherewehadtotraverseanareaofverythickundergrowth, thiselderlyFather,asIsay,wasmuchinneedofcompanyand assistance,whichIprovided,muchtomyowncost;for,ashewas supportinghimselfonmyshoulderandarminordertobeabletotravel, Iwasunfortunateenoughtofallheadlongdownagullyofundergrowth, stones,andthorns,praisingGodthatIwasabletocomeoutofitwith nomorethanlacerationsandabrasionsinmanyplacesandtheskintorn frommyrightarmandhand,whichwasagreathelpforthedangerous situationandtravelwhichwewerebeginning.Thewound,although largeandmorepainfulandfrighteningthandangerous,couldbetreated onlywithahandkerchiefwithwhichIbounduptheskinandhand, whichsufficedtohealit,fortherewasnootherremedyavailable, althoughitdidnothealfordays.
