The Aravidu Dynasty of Vijayanagara, Vol. I v1.c13.197

v1.c13.197

died for the sake of the Christians, but it seems that the reason of his murder was not hatred of the Christian faith. These expeditions of the Badagas had a political reason; and beyond doubt his murderers supposed that he was one of the paranguis or Portuguese, against whom they were waging war. These remarks are not calculated to detract in any way from the virtue of Criminali. St. Xavier, writing to St. Ignatius from Cochin, on January 14th, 1549, described him as follows: "Antonio Criminali is now in Comorin with six others belonging to the Society. He is a holy man indeed, believe me, and just born to be the apostle of this country. I beg you to send here many like him, of whom you have plenty there, I am sure". *M. H. S. J., Mon. Xav.*, I, p. 482-3.