ABSTRACT
<[f. 365v/354v]> While the emperor was in Gojâm involved in the wars that we have mentioned, I stayed in Fremonâ all the time performing the Society’s ministries. That old monk who had told the Portuguese captain that he had dreamt that a father was coming out of the sea, as we mentioned above, often came to talk to me and asked me many things about our holy faith. {[f. 411v]} One day, when I was with a number of people, he came in and said that he had something to discuss with me alone, and so everyone left, except for a Portuguese who was my interpreter. He at once threw himself at my feet, prostrate on the ground. When I saw that, I hurriedly bent down and raised him in my arms, asking why he had done that and saying that if he wanted something of me I would do everything I could with great pleasure. With tears in his eyes, he said, ‘I want you to confess me.’ I made him sit down and asked what had led him to want to confess so much, because when he had spoken to me before he had not appeared to be very attached to our ways, although he did concede some of the arguments that I used to him against the errors that they have. He replied that one night, while he was asleep, he thought he could see a very venerable man who, with a joyful expression, was saying to him, ‘If you want to be saved, confess at once with this father who has just arrived.’ ‘But when I woke up I thought nothing of it, since I thought it was a dream. And two nights later, again while I was asleep, he appeared to me again with a stern expression and said to me, “Why have you not done what I ordered? Go and confess at once.” And despite the fact that I woke up somewhat startled, I did not take a great deal of notice, although I did wonder what it might have been. But last night he appeared to me again, looking very angry, and said to me, “Why do you not do what I command? Go and confess at once, and do everything that that father orders you to do.” I then woke up so afraid that I could not get back to sleep. So as soon as it was dawn I set off for here straight away.’
