and Servant John Dryden THE Author's Advertisement TO THE READER HAving already presented you with the Life of St. Ignatius I thought my self oblig'd to give you that of St. Francis Xavier For besides that it was just that the Son shou'd attend the Father it seem'd to me that these two Saints being concern'd so much together the History of the Apostle of India and Japan wou'd give you a clearer knowledge of him who was Founder of the Jesuites I may add likewise that many considerable persons and particularly of the Court have testify'd so great a desire to see a compleat History of St. Xavier in our Language that I thought my labour wou'd not be unacceptable to them and that in satisfying my own private Devotion I might at the same time content the Curiosity of others The Writings out of which I have drawn this Work have furnish'd me with all I cou'd desire for the perfection of it in what regards the Truth and the Ornaments of this History For without speaking of Turselline and Orlandino I have diligently read Lucena and Bartoli the first of which wrote in Portuguese with this Title The History of the Life of Father Francis Xavier and of what was done in the Indies by the Religious of the Society of Iesus He informs us That he had in his Hands the Authentick Copies of the Informations which were made by order of John the Third King of Portugal concerning the Actions of the Blessed Father Xavier and the Originals of many Letters written from the Indies on that Subject which are to this day deposited in the Archives of the University of Coimbra As for Bartoli who is so famous by his Writings and who is accounted amongst the best of the Italian Authors he has extracted from the Archives of the Casa Professa at Rome and from the Acts of the Canonization what he relates of our Saint in the first part of the History of the Society intituled Asia Though these two Historians have in some sort collected all that can be said concerning St. Francis Xavier I omitted not to take a view of what others have written on that Subject and chiefly the Book of Niâ—remberg which bears for Title Claros Varones or Illustrious Men the History of India by Maâ—â—eus and that of Jarrio the Church History of Iapan by Solia the Castilian History of the Missions which the Fathers of the Society have made to the East-Indies and the Kingdoms of China and Iapan Compos'd by Lewâ—s de Gusman and lastly The Portuguese History of the Travels of Ferdinand Mendez Pinto But seeing St. Francis Xavier himself has written some parts of those Accidents which have befallen him in India and Japan I have faithfully copied his Letters and from thence have drawn those particulars which have much conduc'd to my Information and clearing of the Truth These Letters have also furnish'd me with materials to make the Narration appear more lively and moving when you hear the Saint himself speaking in his proper words and mixing his own Thoughts and Reflections with his Actions I had almost finish'd this my work when I receiv'd from Spain and Italy two other lives of St. Francis Xavier which before that time I had not seen The one very new which was written in Italian by Father Joseph Massei the other more ancient written in Spanish by Father Francis Garcia I found nothing in those two Books which I had not observ'd in others but read them with great pleasure as being mâ—st exactly and elegantly written each in their several Tongue For what remains amongst all those Historians which I have cited there is only the Author of the new Italian Life who has not follow'd the common errour in relation to the Age of St. Francis Xavier For the rest of them not precisely knowing the year and day of his Birth have made him ten years elder than he was placing his Nativity about the time when the passage to the East-Indies was discover'd by Vasco de Gama But Father Massei has taken his measures in that particular from Father Poussines that judicious person to whom we are owing for the new Letters of St. Xavier and who has compos'd a Dissertation in Latin touching the year of our Apostles Birth He prâ—duces in the said Treatise a Latin Paper written in all appearance in the year 1585 and found in the Records of the house of Don Juan Antonio Count of Xavier That Paper wherein is treated of the Ancestours and Birth of the Saint and which very probably as Poussines judges is the minute of a Letter sent to Rome where Doctor Navarra then resided to whom it refers you that Paper I say has these words in it Non scitur certò Annus quo Natus est P. Franciscus Xaverius Vulgo tamen invaluit à quibusdam natum eum dici anno Millesimo quadragintesimo nonagesimo-sexto which is to say the year is not certainly known in which Father Francis Xavier was Born but 't is generally held that some have reported he was born in the year 1496. But it is to be observed That these words Non scitur certò Annus quo Natus est P. Franciscus Xaverius are dash'd out with the stroke of a Pen. There is also a line drawn over these other words Natum eum dici millesimo quadragintesimo nonagesimo-sexto and this is written over head Natus est P. Franciscus Xaverius Anno Millesimo quingentesimo sexto Father Francis Xavier was Born in the year one thousand five hundred and six There is also written in the Margin Natus est die 7. Aprilis anni 1506. He was Born on the 7th of April 1506. That which renders this Testimony more authentick is that at the bottom of the Letter these words in Spanish are written by the same hand which corrected those two passages of which I spoke Hallo se la razon del tiempo que el S. P. Francisco Xavier naciò en un libro manual de Su hermano el Capitan Juan de Azpilcueta la qual Sacò de un libro de Su padre Don Juan Jasso videlicet The time when the Blessed Father Francis Xavier was Born is found in the Iournal of his Brother Don Juan de Azpilcueta who extracted it from the Iournal or Manual of his Father Don Juan Jasso 'T is on this foundation that before I had read the Life written by Father Massei I had already clos'd with the Opinion of Father Poussines As to the precise day of the Father's death I have follow'd the common opinion which I take to be the most probable in conformity to the Bull of his Canonization For the Historians who have mention'd it agree not with each other on what day he dy'd 'T is said in Herberts Travels to the Indies and Persia translated out of the English St. Francis Xavier the Iesuite of Navarre dyed the fourth of December 1552. Ferdinand Mendez Pinto the Portuguese affirms that he dyed at Midnight on Saturday the second of December
the same year A Manuscript Letter pretended to be written by Anthony de Sainte Foy Companion to Xavier for the Voyage of China the truth of which I suspect relates that the Saint dyed on a Sunday night at two of the Clock on the second of December 1552. Now 't is most certain that in the year 1552 the second of December fell on a Friday So that it is a manifest mistake to say that St. Xavier dyed that year either on Saturday or Sunday the second of December I shou'd apprehend lest a Life so extraordinary as this might somewhat shock the profaner sort of men if the reputation of St. Francis Xavier were not well establish'd in the World and that the wonderful things he did had not all the marks of true Miracles as the Authour who made the Collection of them has well observ'd The Mission of the Saint gives them an authority even in our first conceptions of them for being sent from God for the conversion of Infidels it was necessary that the Faith shou'd be planted in the East by the same means as it had been through all the World in the beginning of the Church Besides which never any Miracles have been examin'd with greater care or more judicially than these They were not Miracles wrought in private and which we are onely to believe on the attestation of two or three interessed persons such who might have been surpris'd into an opinion of them they were ordinarily publick matters of fact avow'd by a whole City or Kingdom and which had for Witnesses the body of a Nation for the most part Heathen or Mahometan Many of these Miracles have been of long continuance and it was an easie matter for such who were incredulous to satisfie their doubts concerning them All of them have been attended by such consequences as have confirm'd their truth beyond dispute such as were the Conversions of Kingdoms and of Kings who were the greatest Enemies to Christianity the wonderful ardency of those new Christians and the heroical constancy of their Martyrs But after all nothing can give a greater confirmation of the Saint's Miracles than his Saint-like Life which was even more wonderful than the Miracles themselves It was in a manner of necessity that a man of so holy a conversation shou'd work those things which other men cou'd not perform and that resigning himself to God with an entire confidence and trust in the most dangerous occasions God shou'd consign over to him some part of his Omnipotence for the benefit of Souls THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK 1. I Have undertaken to write the Life of a Saint who has renew'd in the last Age the greatest Wonders which were wrought in the Infancy of the Church and who was himself a living proof of Christianity There will be seen in the Actions of one single Man a New World converted by the power of his Preaching and by that of his Miracles Idolatrous Kings with their Dominions reduc'd under the Obedience of the Gospel the Faith flourishing in the very midst of Barbarism and the Authority of the Roman Church acknowledg'd by Nations the most remote who were utterly unacquainted with Ancient Rome This Apostolical Man of whom I speak is St. Francis Xavier of the Society of Iesus and one of the first Disciples of St. Ignatius Loyola He was of Navarre and according to the Testimony of Cardinal Antonio Zapata who examin'd his Nobility from undoubted Records he deriv'd his Pedigree from the Kings of Navarre His Father was Don Iuan de Iasso a Lord of great merit well conversant in the management of Affairs and who held one of the first places in the Council of State under the Reign of King Iohn the Third The name of his Mother was Mary Azpilcueta Xavier Heiress to two of the most Illustrious Families in that Kingdom for the chief of her House Don Martin Azpilcueta less famous by the great Actions of his Ancestors than by his own Vertue married Iuana Xavier the only Daughter and remaining hope of her Family He had by her no other Child but this Mary of whom we spoke one of the most accomplish'd persons of her time This Virgin equally beautiful and prudent being married to Don Iasso became the Mother of many Children the youngest of whom was Francis the same whose Life I write He was born in the Castle of Xavier on the seventh of April in the year 1506. That Castle scituate at the foot of the Pyrenean Mountains seven or eight Leagues distant from Pampeluna had appertain'd to his Mother's House for about two hundred and fifty years His Progenitors on her side having obtain'd it in gift from King Thibald the first of that name in recompence of those signal services which they had perform'd for the Crown 'T is from thence they took the name of Xavier in lieu of Asnarez which was the former name of their Family This Surname was conferr'd on Francis as also on some of the rest of his Brothers lest so glorious a name now remaining in one onely Woman shou'd be totally extinguish'd with her That Providence which had selected Francis for the Conversion of such multitudes of People indued him with all the Natural Qualities which are requisite to the Function of an Apostle He was of a strong habit of Body his Complection lively and vigorous his Genius sublime and capable of the greatest designs his Heart fearless agreeable in his Behaviour but above all he was of a gay complying and winning Humour This notwithstanding he had a most extreme aversion for all manner of immodesty and a vast inclination for his Studies His Parents who liv'd a most Christian Life inspir'd him with the fear of God from his Infancy and took a particular care of his Education He was no sooner arriv'd to an age capable of Instruction than instead of embracing the Profession of Arms after the example of his Brothers he turn'd himself of his own motion on the side of Learning and as he had a quick Conception a happy Memory and a penetrating Mind he advanc'd wonderfully in few years Having gain'd a sufficient knowledge in the Latin Tongue and discover'd a great propensity to Learning he was sent to the University of Paris the most celebrated of all Europe and to which the Gentlemen of Spain Italy and Germany resorted for their Studies He came to Paris in the eighteenth year of his age and â—ell immediately on the study of Philosophy 'T is scarcely credible with how much ardour he surmounted the first difficulties of Logick Whatsoever his Inclinations were towards a knowledge so crabbed and so subtle he tugg'd at it with incessant pains to be at the head of all his fellow Students and perhaps never any Scholar besides himself cou'd join together so much ease and so much labour Xavier minded nothing more than how to become an excellent Philosopher when his Father who had a numerous Family of Children and who
sharply reprehended those impious Creatures As if said she having a Cross so near us we had no expectations of succour from it and that the holy Father had not promis'd us That whatsoever we pray'd for at the foot of that Cross shou'd infallibly he granted Upon this she led those other Women towards a River-side where Xavier had set up a Cross with his own Hands and falling down with them before that sacred sign of our Salvation she pray'd our Saviour to give them Water to the shame and confusion of the Idol At the same moment the Clouds began to gather on every side and the Rain pour'd down in great abundance Then all in Company they ran to the Pagod pull'd it down and trampled it under their Feet after which they cast it into the River with these expressions of contempt That though they cou'd not obtain from him one drop of Water they wou'd give him enough in a whole River A Faith thus lively answer'd the hopes which the Saint had conceiv'd of the Faithful of Amboyna He compar'd them sometimes to the Primitive Christians and believ'd their constancy was of proof against the cruelty of Tyrants Neither was he deceiv'd in the judgement he made of them and they shew'd themselves when the Iaveses provok'd by their renouncing the Law of Mahomet came to invade their Island While the Saracene Army destroy'd the Country six hundred Christians retir'd into a Castle where they were presently besieg'd Though they were to fear all things from the fury of the Barbarians yet what they only apprehended was that those Enemies of Iesus Christ might exercise their malice against a Cross which was rais'd in the midst of all the Castle and which Father Xavier had set up with his own hands To preserve it therefore inviolable from their attempts they wrapt it up in Cloath of Gold and buried it in the bottom of the Ditch After they had thus secur'd their treasure they open'd the gate to the Unbelievers who knowing what had been done by them ran immediately in search of the Cross to revenge upon it the contempt which had been shown to Mahomet But not being able to find it they turn'd all their fury upon those who had conceal'd it and who wou'd not discover where it was Death seem'd to have been the least part of what they suffer'd The Mahometan Souldiers cut off one Man's Leg another's Arm tore out this Man's eves and the others tongue So the Châ—â—stians dyed by degrees and by a slow destruction but without drawing one sigh or casting out a groan or shewing the least apprehension so stroâ—gly were they supported in their Souls by the all-powerfull grace of Iesus Christ for whom they suffer'd Xavier at length parted from Amboyna and probably it was then if we consider the sequel of his Life that he had the opportunity of making the Voyage of Macassar For though it be not certainly known at what time he visited that great Island nor the fruit which his Labours there produc'd 't is undoubted that he has been there and in confirmation of it we have in the process of his Canonization the juridical Testimony of a Portuguese Lady of Malacca call'd Iane Melo who had many times heard from the Princess Eleonor Daughter to the King of Macassar that the Holy Apostle had Baptis'd the King her Father the Prince her Brother and a great number of their Subjects But at whatsoever time he made this Voyage he return'd to Malacca in the Month of Iuly in the year 1547. The End of the Third Book THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK IV. XAvier found at Malacca three Missioners of the Company who were going to the Molucca's in obedience to the Letters he had written These Missioners were Iohn Beyra Nugnez Ribera and Nicholas Nugnez who had not yet receiv'd Priests Orders Mansilla came not with them though he had precise orders for it Because he rather chose to follow his own Inclinations in labouring where he was than the command of his Superiour in forsaking the work upon his Hands but his disobedience cost him dear Xavier expell'd him out of the Society judging that an ill Brother wou'd do more hurt than a good Labourer wou'd profit the Company These three Missioners above mention'd had been brought to the Indies in the Fleet by Don Perez de Pavora with seven other Sons of Ignatius part of whom was already left at Cape Comorine and the Fishing Coast to culvitate those new Plants of Christianity which were so belov'd by Father Xavier Now the Ships which were bound for the Moluccâ—'s being not in a readiness to sail before the end of August Beyra Ribera and Nâ—gnez had all the intermediate time which was a month to enjoy the Company of the Saint in which space they were form'd by him for the Apostolick Function For himself he remain'd four months at Malacca in expectation of a Ship to carry him to Goa and during all that time was taken up with continual service of his Neighbour He had brought with him from Amboyna his old Companion Iohn Deyro Though Deyro was in his attendance yet he was not a Member of the Society for the causes already specify'd and deserv'd not to be of it for those which follow Some rich Merchants having put into his Hands a sum of Money for the subsistance of the Father he conceal'd it from him Xavier who liv'd only on the Alms which were daily given him and who hated Money as much as his Companion lov'd it look'd on this Action of Deyro as an injury done to Evangelical Poverty and the resentment which he had of it caus'd him to forget his usual mildness to Offenders Not content to make him a sharp reprimand he confin'd him to a little desart Isle not far distant from the Port enjoyning him not only continual Prayer but fasting upon Bread and Water till he shou'd of his own accord recal him Deyro who was of a changeable and easy temper neither permanent in good nor fsix'd in ill obey'd the Father and liv'd exactly in the method which was prescrib'd He had one night a Vision whether awake or sleeping has not been decided by the juridical Informations of the Fathers life It seem'd to him that he was in a fair Temple where he beheld the bless'd Virgin on a Throne all glittering with precious Stones Her Countenance appear'd severe and he making his approaches to her was rejected with indignation as unworthy to be of the Company of her Son. After which she arose from the Throne and then all things disappear'd Deyro being recall'd from his solitude some time after said nothing of his Vision to Father Xavier to whom God had reveal'd it He even deny'd boldly to have seen any though the Father repeated it to him with all the Circumstances Xavier more scandaliz'd than ever with this procedure of Deyro refus'd all farther communication with a Man who was interesâ—ed and
many Christians even in the Court though contrary to the Example of the Prince But the Miraculous Actions of Xavier finish'd the Conversion of the whole Kingdom Besides his curing all sorts of diseases he rais'd four persons from the Dead two Women and two Men. The Act of Canonization relates no more of the Resurrection of the Women but the bare matter of fact without any Circumstances but the Resurrection of the Men is related at large of which the substance is in the ensuing account Xavier preach'd in one of the Maritime Villages of Travancor call'd Coulan near Cape Comorin Some were converted by his first Sermons but the greater party remain'd in their ancient Superstition after having often heard him The most obstinate 't is true listn'd to him with delight and found the Maxims of the Gospel to be most conformable to the light of Reason but the pleasure which they took in hearing produc'd nothing and they satisfy'd themselves with admiring the Christian Law without troubling themselves to follow it The Father one day finding that he spoke to them of God without working any thing upon their Hearts pray'd fervently to the Almighty in their behalf and with his Eyes lifted up to Heaven his Countenance more than ordinarily inflam'd and with abundance of Tears besought him to take pity on those obstinate Idolaters O Lord said he all Hearts are in thy Hands thou canst bend as it pleases thee the most stubborn and soften the most obdurate do that honour on this day to the Blood and the name of thy beloved Son. Scarcely had he ended his Prayer when he was assur'd it was answer'd turning himself to his Audience with the Air of one inspir'd Well said he since you will not believe me on my word behold that which will make me be believ'd What testimony do you desire from me of those truths which I have declar'd to you At the same instant he recall'd to his remembrance that a Man had been there buried the day before Then resuming his discourse in the same tone that he began it Open said he the Sepulchre which you clos'd yesterday and bring out the Body but observe carefully whether he who was buried be truly dead The most incredulous ran hastily to take up the Corps far from finding any the least sign of life they perceiv'd it began to putrisie with a noisome scent They took off the Linnen in which he was wrapp'd and laid the dead Man at the Feet of the Father who was come to the place of burial The Barbarians gaz'd with astonishment on the dead Body and impatiently expected the event The Saint fell upon his Knees and after a short Prayer addressing himself to the Dead I command thee said he in the holy name of the living God to arise for the confirmation of that Religion which I preach At these words the Dead arose of himself and appear'd not only living but vigorous and in perfect health All who were present cry'd out with a loud voice That the God of the Christians was Omnipotent and that the Law which the great Father preach'd was true In consequence of which they threw themselves at his Feet desir'd Baptism and receiv'd it on the place The other dead person whom the Apostle rais'd to life was a young Man and a Christian who dy'd at Mutan on the same Coast betwixt Carjapatan and Alicale He had been dead above four and twenty hours of a pestilential Fever Xavier met the Corps by chance as they were carrying it to the Grave The Parents of the dead man who were of the greatest quality in all the Country accompanied the Funeral-Pomp with all their kindred according to the custom of that Nation As comfortless as they were yet upon sight of the Saint they recover'd courage and embracing his Knees implor'd him to restore their Son to life being perswaded that what was not to be effected by the power of Nature wou'd cost him only a word speaking Xavier mov'd by their affliction and excited by their Faith beg'd the assistance of the Most High made the sign of the Cross and threw Holy. Water on the Dead after which he took him by the Hand rais'd him up in the name of the Lord and restor'd him living to his Father and Mother To preserve the memory of an Action so wonderful and so authentick the Parents of the Man they rais'd erected a great Cross on the place where the Miracle was done and were accustom'd afterwards to go often thither and pray to God before it These Resurrections were so famous through all the Country and made so great impressions on the Souls of the Inhabitants that the people came thronging from all parts to behold the great Father and to receive Baptism from his hands Insomuch that the whole Kingdom of Travancor was subjected to Christ Iesus in few Months And the King with some few of his chief Courtiers were the only remaining Idolaters in the Land by a terrible Judgment of Almighty God who sometimes abandons Princes to their unruly Passions and departs from the Great while he communicates himself to those of the lowest quality The End of the Second Book THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK III. THE Reputation of Xavier was not confin'd to the Kingdom of Travancor it was spread abroad through all the Indies and the God of the Christians at the same time was had in so great veneration that the most Idolatrous Nations sent to desire the Saint that he wou'd come and give them Baptism His joy was infinite to find the Gentils of their own free motion searching after the way of Eternal Life but on the other side he was afflicted that he was not sufficient alone to instruct so many vast Countries as were gone astray from it Seeing the Harvest so great and the Labourers so few he wrote earnestly to Father Ignatius in Italy and to Simon Rodriguez in Portugal for a supply of Missioners He had such transports of Zeal on that occasion as to say in one of his Letters I have often thoughts to run over all the Vniversities of Europe and Principally that of Paris and to cry aloud to those who abound more in Learning than in Charity Ah how many Souls are lost to Heaven through your default It were to be wish'd that those People wou'd apply themselves as diligently to the Salvation of Souls as they do to the study of Sciences to the end they might render to Almighty God a good account of their Learning and the Talents which he has bestow'd on them Many without doubt mov'd with thoughts like these wou'd make a spiritual retreat and give themselves the leisure of meditating on Heavenly things that they might listen to the voice of God. They wou'd renounce their Passions and trampling under foot all worldly Vanities wou'd put themselves in condition of following the motions of the Divine Will. They wou'd say from the bottom of their hearts behold me in
answer he wou'd return the King in case he shou'd command him to renounce his Faith I wou'd boldly answer him said he in this manner Sir You are desirous I am certain that being born your Subject I shou'd be faithful to you you wou'd have me ready to hazard my Life in your interests and to dye for your Service Yet farther you wou'd have me moderate with my Equals gentle to my Inferiours obedient to my Superiours equitable towards all and for these Reasons command me still to be a Christian for a Christian is oblig'd to be all this But if you forbid me the Profession of Christianity I shall become at the same time Violent Hard-hearted Insolent Rebellious Vnjust Wicked and I cannot answer for my self that I shall be other As to what remains Xavier when he took leave of the Old Steward whom he constituted Superiour of the rest left him a Discipline which himself had us'd formerly The Old man kept it Religiously as a Relique and wou'd not that the Christians in the Assemblies where they chastis'd themselves shou'd make a common use of it At the most he suffer'd not any of them to give themselves above two or three stroaks with it so fearful he was of wearing it out and he told them that they ought to make use of it the less in chastising their flesh that it might remain for the preservation of their health And indeed it was that Instrument which God commonly employ'd for the Cures of sick Persons in the Castle The Wise of Ekandono being in the Convulsions of death was instantly restor'd to health after they had made the sign of the Cross over her with the Discipline of the Saint Xavier at his departure made a Present to the same Lady of a little Book wherein the Litanies of the Saints and some Catholiquâ— Prayers were written with his own hand This also in following times was a Fountain of Miraculous Cures not only to the Christians but also the Idolaters And the Tonâ— himself in the height of a mortal sickness recover'd his health on the instant that the Book was applied to him by his Wife So that the People of the Fortress said that their Prince was rais'd to life and that it cou'd not be perform'd by humane means The Saint and his Companions being gone from thence pursu'd their Voyage sometimes by Sea and sometimes travel'd by Land. After many labours chearfully undergone by them and many dangers which they pass'd they arriv'd at the Port of Firando which was the end of their undertaking The Portuguese did all they were able for the honourable reception of Father Xavier All the Artillery was discharg'd at his arrival all the Ensigns and Streamers were display'd with sound of Trumpets and in fine all the Ships gave shouts of joy when they beheld the man of God. He was conducted in spight of his repugnance with the same pâ—mp to the Royal Palace and that magnificence was of no small importance to make him consider'd in a Heathen Court who without it might have been despis'd since nothing was to be seen in him but simplicity and poverty The King of Firando whom the Portugueses gave to understand how much the man whom they presented to him was valued by their Master and what credit he had with him receiv'd him with so much the greater favour because he knew the King of Cangoxima had forc'd him to go out of his Estates for to oblige the Crown of Portugal and do a despight to that of Cangoxima he presently impower'd the three Religious Christians to publish the Law of Iesus Christ through all the extent of his Dominions Immediately they fell on preaching in the Town and all the People ran to hear the European Bonza's The first Sermons of Xavier made a great impression on their Souls and in less than twenty days he baptis'd more Insidels at Firando than he had done in a whole year at Cangoxima The facility which he found of reducing those people under the obedience of the Faith made him resolve to leave with them Cosmo de Torrez to put the finishing hand to their Conversion and in the mean time to go himself to Meaco which he had design'd from the beginning That Town being the Capital of the Empire from whence the knowledge of Christ Iesus might easily be spread through all Iapan Departing with Fernandez and the two Iaponian Christians Matthew and Bernard for this great Voyage at the end of October in the year 1550 they arriv'd at Facata by Sea which is twenty Leagues distant from Firando and from thence Embark'd for Amanguchi which is an hundred Leagues from it Amanguchi is the Capital of the Kingdom of Naugato and one of the richest Towns of all Iapan not only by the Traffick of Strangers who come thither from all parts but also by reason of Silver Mines which are there in great abundance and by the fertility of the Soyâ—l but as Vices are the inseparable Companions of wealth it was a place totally corrupted and full of the most monstrous debaucheries Xavier took that place but the strange corruption of Manners gave him so much horrour and withal so great compassion that he cou'd not resolve to pass farther without publishing Christ Iesus to those blind and execrable Men nor without making known to them the purity of the Christian Law. The Zeal which transported him when he heard the abominable Crimes of the Town suffer'd him not to ask permission from the King as it had been his Custom in other places He appear'd in publick on the sudden burning with an inward Fire which mounted up into his Face and boldly declar'd to the people the eternal truths of Faith. His Companion Fernandez did the same in another part of the Town People heard them out of Curiosity and many after having enquir'd who they were what dangers they had run and for what end admir'd their Courage and their procedure void of Interest according to the humour of the Iaponians whose Inclinations are naturally noble and full of esteem for Actions of Generosity From publick places they were invited into Houses and there desir'd to expound their Doctrine more at large and at greater leisure For if your Law appear more reasonable to us than our own said the principal of the Town we ingage our selves to follow it But when once a man becomes a Slave to shameful Passions 't is difficult to follow what he thinks the best and even to judge reasonably what is the best Not a man amongst them kept his word Having compar'd together the two Laws almost all of them agreed that the Christian Doctrine was most conformable to good sence if things were only to be taken in the Speculation but when they came to consider them in the Practise and saw how much the Christian Law discourag'd Vengeance and forbad Polygamy with all Carnal Pleasures that which had appear'd just and reasonable to them
be this poor man is so much enamour'd of his wants and so esteems them that he is Pleasing to the God whom he adores and that practising it vvith all imaginable rigour for his sake he may be richer than the greatest Monarch of the World. The young Embassadour being return'd to Court reported to the King with vvhat respect his Letter had been receiv'd and took upon him to perswade that Prince that this European Bonza vvas to be treated vvith greater honour and far otherwise than their ordinary Bonza's even so far as to say that it vvou'd be an enormous sin to level him vvith them That for the rest he was not so poor as his Enemies had suggested that the Captains and Portuguese Merchants vvou'd bestow on him both their Ship and all their Treasure in case he wou'd accept of them and that properly speaking he vvas not to be accounted poor who possess'd as much as he desir'd In the mean time the Portugueses being assembled to consult how Father Xavier shou'd appear in Court the next morning all of them vvere of opinion that he shou'd present himself with all the Pomp an Magnificence they cou'd devise At first he oppos'd it out of the aversion he had for this Pageant show so unsuitable to the Condition of a Religious man but afterwards he yielded to the request and withall to the reasons of the Assembly Those reasons vvere That the Bonza's of Amanguchi having written all they cou'd imagine to render Xavier contemptible it was convenient to remove those false conceptions from the People and at the same time to let them see how much the Christians honour their Ministers of the Gospel that thereby the Heathens might be the more easily induc'd to give credit to them so that the honour wou'd reflect on Iesus Christ and the preaching wou'd be rais'd in value according to the esteem which vvas given to the Preacher They prepar'd therefore with all diligence for the Entry of the Saint and set out the next morning before day-light in a handsome equipage There were thirty Portugueses of the most considerable amongst them richly habited with their Chains of Gold and adorn'd with Jewels Their Servants and Slaves vvell cloath'd likewise vvere attending on their Masters Father Xavier wore a Cassock of black Chamlet and over it a Surplice with a Stole of green Velvet garnish'd with a Gold Brocard The Chalop and the two Barques wherein they made their passage from the Ship to the Town were cover'd on the sides with the fairest China Tapestry and hung round with silken Banners of all colours Both in the Sloop and in the Barques there were Trumpets Flutes and Hautbois and other Instruments of Musick which playing together made a most harmonious consort the news which was spread about Fucheo that the great European Bonza was to enter into the Town that morning drew many persons of Quality to the Sea side and such a multitude of people ran crowding together at the sounding of the Trumpets that the Portugueses cou'd hardly find footing to come on shore Quansyandono Captain of Canafama and one of the principal of the Court was there attending them by Order from the King. He receiv'd the Saint with great civility and offer'd him a Litter to carry him to the Palace but Xavier refus'd it and walk'd on foot with all his Train in this order Edward de Gama went foremost bare-headed with a Cane in his hand as the Gentleman of the Horse or Major domo to the Father Five other Portugueses follow'd him who were the most considerable persons of the Ship. One of them carri'd a Book in a Bag of white Sattin another a Cane of Bengale headed with Gold a third his Slippers which were of fine black Velvet such as are worn only by Persons of the first Quality a fourth carried a fair Tablet of our Lady wrapt in a Scarf of violet Damask and the fifth a magnificent Parasol The Father came next after them in the habit which I have describ'd with an air compos'd betwixt Majesty and Modesty The rest of the Portugueses follow'd and to behold their countenance their dress and the beauty of their train they resembled rather Cavaliers and Lords than a Company of Merchants They pass'd in this manner through the chief Streets of the City with sound of Trumpets Flutes and Hautbois follow'd by an infinite multitude of People without râ—â—koning into the number those who fill'd the Windows the Balconies and the tops of houses Being arriv'd at the great Place which fronts the Royal Palace they found there six hundred of the King's Guards drawn up some arm'd with Lances others with Darts all of them with rich Sâ—ymiters hanging by their sides and costly Vests upon their backs These Guards at the sign given them by their Captain call'd Fingeindono advanc'd in good order towards the Saint after which they divided into two ranks and open'd a passage for the Father through the midst of them Being come to the Palace the Portugueses who walk'd immediately before the Father turn'd towards him and saluted him with great respect One presented him the Cane and another the Velvet Slippers he who held the Parasol spread it over his head and the two others who carried the Book and Picture plac'd themselves on each side of him All this was so gracefully perform'd and with so much honour to the Father that the Lords who vvere present much admir'd the manner of it and they were heard to say amongst themselves that Xavier had been falsly represented to them by the Bonza's that questionless he was a man descended from above to confound their Envy and abate their Pride After they had gone through a long Gallery they enter'd into a large Hall full of People who by their habit which vvas of Damask heighten'd with Gold and diversify'd with fair Figures seem'd to be Persons of the highest Quality There a little Child whom a Reverend Old Man held by the hand coming up to the Father saluted him with these words May your arrival in the Palace of my Lord the King be as welcome to him as the Rain of Heaven to the Labourers in a long and parching drought Enter without fear continu'd he for I assure you of the love of all good men though the wicked cannot behold you without melancholly in their faces which will make them appear like a black and stormy night Xavier return'd an answer suitable to his age who had made the Complement but the Child reply'd in a manner which vvas far above his age Certainly said he you must be endu'd with an extraordinary courage to come from the end of all the world into a strange Country liable to contempt in regard of your Poverty and the goodness of your God must needs be infinite to be pleas'd with that Poverty against the general opinion of mankind The Bonza's are far from doing any thing of this nature they who publickly affirm and swear that the Poor
he bore to Gospel-poverty caus'd him to subsist on Alms and to beg his Bread from door to door when he might have had a better provision made for him Being even in the Colledge of Goa which was well endow'd he sought his livelyhood without the Walls the more to conform himself to the poverty of his blessed Saviour He was always very meanly cloath'd and most commonly had so many patches on his Cassock that the Children of the Idolaters derided him He piec'd up his tatters with his own hand and never chang'd his habit till it was worn to â—ags at least if the honour of God and the interest of Religion did not 〈◊〉 oblige him At his return from Iapan to Malacca where he was receiv'd with so much honour he wore on his back a torn Cassock and a rusty old Hat on his head The Portugueses beholding him always so ill apparell'd often desir'd him to give them leave to present him with a new habit but seeing he wou'd not be perswaded they once devis'd a way of stealing his Cassock while he was asleep The trick succeeded and Xavier whose Soul was wholly intent on God put on a new habit which they had laid in the place of his old garment without discovering how they had serv'd him He pass'd the whole day in the same ignorance of the cheat and it was not till the evening that he perceiv'd it For supping with Francis Payva and other Portugueses who were privy to the matter 't is perhaps to do honour to our Table said one amongst them that you are so spruce to day in your new habit Then casting his eyes upon his Cloaths he was much surpris'd to find himself in so strange an Equipage At length being made sensible of the prank which they had plaid him he told them smiling that it was no great wonder that this rich Cassock looking for a Master in the dark cou'd not see its way to some body who deserv'd it better As he liv'd most commonly amongst the poorer sort of Indians who had nothing to bestow and who for the most part went naked he enjoy'd his Poverty without molestation All his moveables were a Matt on which he lay sometimes and a little Table whereon were his Writings and some little Books with a wooden Crucifix made of that which the Indians call the wood of St. Thomas He cheerfully underwent the greatest hardships of Poverty and writing from Iapan to the Fathers of Goa his words were these Assist me I beseech you my dear Brethren in acknowledging to Almighty God the signal favour he has done me I am at length arriv'd at Japan where there is an extream scarcity of all things which I place amongst the greatest Benefits of Providence Mortification is always the Companion of poverty in Apostolical persons Xavier bore constantly along with him the instruments of Penance Hair cloath Chains of Iron and Disciplines pointed at the ends and exceeding sharp He treated his flesh with great severity by the same motive which oblig'd St. Paul the Apostle to chastise his Body and to reduce it into servitude least having preach'd to other men he might himself become a Reprobate At Sea the Ship tackling serv'd him for a Bed on Land a Matt or the Earth it self He eat so little that one of his Companions assures us that without a Miracle he cou'd not have liv'd Another tells us that he seldom or never drank Wine unless at the Tables of the Portugueses for there he avoided singularity and took what was given him But afterwards he reveng'd himself on one of those repasts by an abstinence of many days When he was at Cape Comorine the Viceroy Don Alphonso de Sosa sent him two Barrels of excellent Wine He did not once taste of it though he was then brought very low through the labours of his Ministry but distributed the whole amongst the poor His ordinary nourishment in the Indies was Rice boyl'd in water or some little piece of Salt-Fish but during the two years and a half of his residence in Iapan he totally abstain'd from Fish for the better edification of that People And writ to the Fathers at Rome that he wou'd rather choose to dye of hunger than to give any man the least occasiâ—n of scandal He also says I count it for a signal favour that God has brought me into a Country destitute of all the comforts of life and where if I were so ill dispos'd it wou'd be impossible for me to pamper up my Body with delicious fare He perpetually travell'd by Land on foot even in Iapan where the ways are asperous and almost impassable and often walk'd with naked feet in the greatest severity of Winter The hardships of so long a Navigation says he so long a sojourning amongst the Gentiles in a Country parch'd up with excessive heats all these incommodities being suffer'd as they ought to be for the sake of Christ are truly an abundant source of consolations For my self I am verily perswaded that they who love the Cross of Jesus Christ live happy in the midst of sufferings and that it is a death when they have no opportunities to suffer For can there be a more cruel death than to live without Jesus Christ after once we have tasted of him Is any thing more hard than to abandon him that we may satisfy our own inclinations believe me there is no other Cross which is to be compar'd to that How happy is it on the other side to live in dying daily and in conâ—uering our passions to search after not our proper interests but the interests of Jesus Christ. His interiour mortification was the principle of these thoughts in this holy man from the first years of his Conversion his study was to gain an absolute conquest on himself and he continu'd always to exhort others not to suffer themselves to be hurried away by the fury of their natural desires He writes thus to the Fathers and Brethren of Coimbra from Malacca I have always present in my thoughts what I have heard from our Holy Father Ignatius that the true Children of the Society of Iesus ought to labour exceedingly in overcoming of themselves If you search our Lord in the Spirit of truth says he to the Jesuites of Goa and generously walk in those ways which conduct you to him the Spiritual delights which you taste in his service will sweeten all those bitter agonies which the conquest of your selves will cost you O my God how grosly stupid is mankind not to comprehend that by a faint and cowardly resistance of the assaults of the Devil they deprive themselves of the most pure and sincere delights which life can give them By the daily practice of these Maxims Xavier came to be so absolute a Master of his passions that he knew not what it was to have the least motion of choler and impatience and from thence proceeded partly that tranquility of Soul that equality of Countenance