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
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
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
Cangoxima she sent one of her Officers to have a Copy of the Tablet which she had seen but a Painter was not to be found to satisfie her curiosity She requir'd that at least she might have an abridgment in writing of the chief Points of Christianity and was satisfy'd therein by Paul. The Father overjoy'd at these good inclinations of the Court thought earnestly of making himself capable to preach in the Language of the Country There is but one Language spoken through all Iapan but that so ample and so full of variety that in effect it may be said to contain many Tongues They make use of certain words and Phrases in familiar Discourse and of others in studied compositions The Men of quality have a Language quite differing from the Vulgar Merchants and Souldiers have a Speech proper to their several Professions and the Women speak a Dialect distinct from any of the rest When they treat on a sublime Subject for Example of Religion or Affairs of State they serve themselves of particular terms and nothing appears more incongruous amongst them than to confound these different manners of expression The holy Man had already some light notions of all these Languages by the communication he had with the three Iaponian Christians but he knew not enough to express him with ease and readiness as himself acknowledges in his Epistles where he says that he and his Companions at their first arrival stood like Statues mute and motionless He therefore apply'd himself with all diligence to the study of the Tongue which he relates in these following words We are return'd to our Infancy says he and all our business at present is to learn the first Elements of the Japonian Grammar God give us the grace to imitate the simplicity and innocence of Children as well as to practise the exercises of Children We ought not to be astonish'd in this passage last quoted that a man to whom God had many times communicated the gift of Tongues shou'd not speak that of Iapan and that he shou'd be put to the pains of studying it Those favours were transient and Xavier never expected them Insomuch that being to make abode in a Country he studied the Language of it as if he cou'd not have arriv'd to the knowledge of it but by his own industry But the holy Spirit assisted him after an extraordinary manner on those occasions as we have formerly observ'd And we may say that the easiness wherewith he learnt so many Tongues was almost equivalent to the lasting gift of them While Xavier and his Companions were labouring to acquire that knowledge which was necessary for their preaching the word of Iesus Christ to the People of Cangoxima Paul de Sainte Foy with whom they lodg'd himself instructed his own Family God gave that Blessing to his Zeal that besides his Mother his Wife and Daughter many of his Relations were converted and baptiz'd by Xavier Within the compass of forty days the Saint understood enough of the Language to undertake the translation of the Apostles Creed and the Exposition of it which he had compos'd in India As fast as he translated he got every parcel of it by Heart and with that help was of Opinion that he might begin to declare the Gospel But seeing that in Iapan all the Measures of the Laws and Customs are to be taken and observ'd with great exactness and nothing to be attempted in publick without permission from the Government he wou'd first visit the King of Saxuma and chose the time on the day of St. Michael the Arch-Angel He had put the whole Empire under the protection of that glorious General of the Coelestial Host who chas'd the Rebellious Angels out of Heaven and recommended in his daily Prayers to him that he wou'd exterminate those Devils from Iapan who had usurp'd the Dominion of it for so many Ages The Apostle of the Indies was not unknown at the Court of Saxuma Paul de Sainte Foy had spoken of him there in such a manner as infus'd the desire of seeing him into all Hearts and caus'd him to be look'd on with admiration when he first appear'd The King and Queen treated him with honour testify'd great affection to him and discours'd with him the better part of the night They cou'd not but be astonish'd that he and his Companions were come from another World and had pass'd through so many stormy Seas not out of an avaritious design of enriching themselves with the Gold of Iapan but only to teach the Iaponneses the true way of Eternal Life From the very first meeting the King caution'd Xavier to keep safely all the Books and Writings which contain'd the Christian Doctrine For said he if your Faith be true the Demons will be sure to fly furiously upon you and all manner of mischief is to be expected from their Malice Afterwards he granted permission to the Saint to preach the Christian Law within the whole extent of his Dominions and farther caus'd his Letters Patents to be expedited by vertue of which all his Subjects had free liberty of being made Christians if they so desir'd Xavier took advantage of this happy conjuncture and deferr'd no longer his preaching in Cangoxima He began by explaining the first Articles of the Creed That of the Existence of one God all powerful the Creatour of Heaven and Earth was a strange surprise to his Auditours who knew nothing of a first Being on whom the Universe depended as on its Cause and Principle The other Articles which respect the Trinity and Incarnation appear'd to them yet more incredible Insomuch that some of them held the Preacher for a Mad-man and laugh'd him to scorn Notwithstanding which the wiser sort cou'd not let it sink into their Belief that a Stranger who had no Interest to deceive them shou'd undergo so many hardships and dangers and come so far on set purpose to cheat them with a Fable In these considerations they were desirous of clearing those doubts which possess'd them in relation to those Mysteries which they had heard Xavier answer'd them so distinctly and withal so reasonably with the assistance of Paul de Sainte Foy who serv'd him for Interpreter in case of need that the greatest part satisfy'd with his solutions came over to the Faith. The first who desir'd Baptism and receiv'd it was a man of mean condition destitute of the goods of Fortune as if God will'd that the Church of Iapan shou'd have the same Foundations of meanness and Poverty with the Universal Church the name of Bernard was given him and by his Vertue he became in process of time Illustrious In the mean time Xavier visited the Bonza's and endeavour'd to gain their good-will being persuaded that Christianity wou'd make but little progress amongst the people if they oppos'd the preaching of the Gospel And on the other side judging that all the World wou'd embrace the Law of the true God in case
the Father ask'd for nothing more besought him to make a better use of the Kings offers but seeing that all his intreaties prevail'd nothing you shall not be Master in every thing said he with some kind of heat and at the least you cannot possibly refuse a Servant to attend you because I am sure you cannot be without one So long as I have the use of these two hands replyed Xavier I will have no other Servant But decency rejoin'd the Count requires that you shou'd have one if it were but to maintain the dignity of your Character How shameful wou'd it seem to behold an Apostolical Legat washing his own Linnen on the Deck and dressing his own Victuals I will take upon me for once said Xavier to serve my self and others too without dishonouring my Character So long as I do no ill I am in no fear of scandalizing my Neighbour nor of debasing that Authority with which I am intrusted by the Holy See. They are these humane considerations and false notions of decencies and punctilios which have reduc'd the Church to that condition in which we now see it This positive answer stop'd Castagnera's mouth but afterwards he gave great commendations of Xavier and publickly said that he found it much more difficult to combat the denials of Father Francis than to satisfie the craving desires of other men The day of his departure being come at length and all things in a readiness to set Sail Xavier went to the Port with his two Companions whom he carried with him to the Indies namely Father Paul de Camerino an Italian and Francis Manâ—illa a Portuguese who was not yet in Priests Orders Simon Rodriguez bore him Company to the Fleet and then it was that embracing each other with much tenderness My Brother said Xavier these are the last words which I shall ever say to you We shall see each other no more in this present World let us endure our separation with patience for most certain it is that being well united with our Lord we shall be united in our selves and that nothing shall be able to divide us from the Society which we have in Jesus Christ. As to what remains I will for your satisfaction added he discover to you a Secret which hitherto I have conceal'd from your knowledge You may remember that when we lodg'd as Chamber-Fellows in the Hospital at Rome you heard me crying out one night yet more O my Lord yet more You have often ask'd what that exclamation meant and I have always answer'd you that you should not trouble your self about it I must now tell you that I then beheld but whether sleeping or waking God onely knows all I was to suffer for the glory of Iesus Christ Our Lord infus'd into me so great a delight for sufferings that not being able to satiate my self with those troubles which he had presented to my imagination I beg'd of him yet more And that was the sence of what I pronounc'd with so much servenâ—y yet more yet more I hope the Divine goodness will grant me that in India which he has â—oreshewn to me in Italy and that the desires which he inspir'd into me shall be shortly satisfi'd After these words they embrac'd each other a-new and parted both of them in tears When Rodriguez was return'd on shore they gave the signal of departure and set Sail. This was on the 7th of April in the year 1541 under the Command of Don Martin Alphonso de Sosa Viceroy of the Indies a man of known Integrity and consummate experience in what related to those parts where he had formerly liv'd for many years He was desirous of Xavier's Company in the Admiral which was call'd the St. Iames. Xavier went aboard on his own Birth-day entring then on his six and thirtieth year He had resided eight months entire at Lisbonne and for seven years and somewhat more had been the profess'd Disciple of Ignatius Loyola THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK II. WHile the Christian Religion flourish'd in Asia under the Emperours of Constantinople there were two ordinary passages and both of them short enough towards the Indies The one by Syria over the Euphrates and the Persian Gulph the other by Ezypt over the Arabian Gulph commonly call'd the Red Sea. But after the Saraâ—ens had possess'd themselves of those places the European Christians finding those passages unsecure for travelling sought out ways of a larger circuit to avoid falling into the hands of their most mortal Enemies The Portuguese were the first who bethought themselves of Coasting all Affrick and one part of Arabia and Persia by taking this compass the Indies are distant from Portugal about four thousand Leagues and the Passengers are constrain'd to suffer twice the scorching heats of the Torrid Zone in going under the Equinoctial Line which divides Affrica almost into two equal parts Don Henry Son of King Iohn the First the most skilful Prince of that Age in the Mathematicks was he who attempted the discovery of those Seas and undertook to double the Cape of good hope upon the account of traffick which he desir'd to establish betwixt the Crown of Portugal and the Emperour of Ethiopia commonly call'd Prester Iohn This Enterprise having succeeded the Kings of Portugal Alphonso the Fifth Iohn the Second and Emanuel the First follow'd it so happily that by little and little they compleated the passage to the Indies This was the course that Father Xavier held with the Fleet of Portugal He found himself sufficient employment during the time of the Navigation His first study was to put a stop to those disorders which are commonly occasion'd by an idle liâ—e on Ship-board And he began with gaming which is the only recreation or rather the whole employment of the Sea-men That he might banish Games of Chance which almost always occasion Quarrels and Swearing he propos'd some little innocent diversions capable of entertaining the Mind without stirring up the Passions But seeing that in spight of his endeavours they were bent on Cards and Dice he thought it not convenient to absent himself but became a looker on that he might somewhat awe them by his presence and when they were breaking out into any extravagance he reclaim'd them by gentle and soft reproofs He shew'd concernment in their gains or in their losses and offer'd sometimes to hold their Cards There were at least a thousand persons in the Admiral men of all conditions The Father made himself all to all thereby to gain some to Iesus Christ entertaining every Man with such discourse as was most suitable to his Calling He talk'd of Sea Affairs to Mariners of War to the Souldiery of Commerce to Merchants and of Affairs of State to men of Quality His natural gayety and obliging humour gain'd him a general esteem The greatest Libertins and most brutal persons sought his Conversation and were even pleas'd to hear him speak of God. He instructed the Seamen daily
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
to leave him in writing these following Rules before his departure to Iapan See here my dear Brother the from of life which you are constantly to practise every day In the morning as soon as you are awaken'd prepare your self to meditate on some Mystery of our Lord beginning from his holy Nativity and continuing to his glorious Ascension the Subjects of the Meditations are mark'd and put in Order in the Book of Exercises Employ at the least half an hour in Prayers and apply your self to it with all those interiour dispositions which you may remember you practis'd in your retirement of a month Consider every day one Mystery in such manner that if for Example on Monday the Birth of our Saviour was the Subject of your Meditation that of his Circumcision shall be for Tuesday and so in course 'till in a months time having run through all the actions of Iesus Christ you come to contemplate him ascending into Heaven in Triumph You are every Month to begin these Meditations again in the same order At the end of every Meditation you shall renew your Vows of Poverty Chastity and Obedience to which you have oblig'd your self You shall make them I say a-new and offer them to God with the same servenâ—y wherewith you first made them This renewing of your Vows will weaken in you the motions of Concupiscence and render all the Powers of Hell less capable of hurting you for which reason I am of opinion that you ought never to omit them After Dinner you shall resume your mornings Prayer and reflect on the same Mystery half an hour you shall also renew your Vows at the end of your Meditation You are to employ your self in this manner interiourly through all the variety of your outward business giving an hour in every day to the consideration of the most holy life of our Lord Iesus in whatsoever Affair or in whatsoever Incumbrance you are ingag'd You may practise this with most convenience by allowing half an hour in the morning and another half in the afternoon according to my direction Before you lie down at night examine well your Conscience in calling over your thoughts words and actions of all the day and even observing if you have not fail'd of doing something which it was your duty to have done let this discussion be as exact as if you were just ready to Confess your self After you have conceiv'd a most lively sorrow for your faults by the motive of God's love you shall humbly ask Pardon of Iesus Christ and vow amendment to him In fine you shall so dispose your self to rest that your sleep may come upon you in thoughts of Piety and in resolutions of passing the next day with greater holiness On the morrow at your waking think on the Sins which you observ'd in the examen of the night before and while you are putting on your Cloaths ask the assistance of Gods Grace that you may not that day relapse into your yesterdays offences Then perform your mornings Meditation and proceed through your whole days work as I have order'd you â— But be so punctual and so constant in all these spiritual practices that nothing but sickness cause you to forbear them For if when you are in health you shou'd deferr or leave them off under some pretence of business be sure you make a scruple of it and let not the day pass over you till in the presence of your Brethren you confess your fault and of your own free motion demand Penance for having omitted or neglected that which was so strictly commanded by your Superiour For what remains whatsoever you do or in whatsoever condition of Spirit you may be labour with all your power still to overcome your self Subdue your Passions embrace what is most abhorring to your sense repress all natural desire of Glory most especially and spare not your self in that particular till you have torn out of your Heart the very Roots of Pride not only suffering your self to be debas'd beneath all men but being glad to be despis'd For hold this for certain that without this Humility and Mortification you can neither advance in Vertue nor serve your Neighbour as you ought nor be acceptable to God nor to conclude all persevere in the Society of Iesus Obey in all things the Father with whom you live and however displeasing or difficult the things may be which he commands you perform them with much chearfulness never opposing his Orders nor making any exceptions on your part on any account whatsoever In fine hearken to him and suffer your self to be directed in all things by him as if Father Ignatius were personally present speaking to you and directing you With whatsoever temptations you shall find your self assaulted discover them all sincerely to him who governs you and remain perswaded that this is the only means of subduing them Besides this advantage there accrue other spiritual proâ—its in making known the secret motions of your Heart for the violence which you do to your self to surmount that natural shamefac'dness which hinders you from acknowledging your Imperfections and Frailties draws down the Grace of God upon you And on the other side This Overture and Franckness of your Heart ruins the designs of the evil Spirit who can never do mischief but when he is in disguise but when once discover'd is so far disarm'd and despicably weak that they for whom he lies in ambush laugh at him ' â—was in this manner that the holy Apostle Francis Xavier instructed the young men of the Society and nothing perhaps cou'd better explain to us the great resemblance that was betwixt the Souls of Xavier and Ignatius At this time there came news from Iapan and some Letters reported That one of the Kings of that Island had desir'd some Preachers to be sent to him by an express Embassy to the Viceroy of the Indies That this King had learnt somewhat of the Christian Law and that a strange accident had made him desirous of knowing more This accident was related in those Letters after this following manner Some Portuguese Merchants being landing at the Port belonging of the Capital City of one of those Kingdoms of Iapan were lodg'd by the King's order in a forsaken House which was thought to be haunted by evil Spirits the common opinion was not ill grounded and the Portugueses soon perceiv'd that their Lodging was disturb'd They heard a horrible rumbling all the night they felt themselves pull'd out of their Beds and beaten in their sleep without seeing any one One night being awaken'd at the cry of one of their Servants and running with their Arms towards the place from whence the noise was heard they founâ— the Servant on the ground trembling for fear They ask'd him the occasion of his out-cry and why he shook in that manner He answer'd That he had seen a frightful Apparition such a one as Painters use to draw for the picture of the
Devil As this Servant was not thought either â—aint-hearted or a liar the Portugueses no longer doubted what was the meaning of all that ratling and clutter which they heard every night to put an end to it they set Crosses in all the Rooms after which they heard no more of it The Iaponneses were much surpris'd to hear the House was not at quiet The King himself to whom the Portugueses had said That the Christian Cross had driven away the euil Spirits admir'd that wonderful effect and commanded Crosses to be set up in all places even in his own Palaces and in the High-ways In consequence of this he desir'd to be inform'd from whence the Cross deriv'd that Vertue and for what cause the Devils so much fear'd it Thus by little and little he enter'd into the Mysteries of Faith. But as the Iaponneses are extreamly curious not content to be instructed by Souldiers and Merchants he thought of sending for Preachers and in that prospect sent an Embassadour to the Indies This news gave infinite satisfaction to Father Xavier and so much the more hasten'd his Voyage by how much he now perceiv'd the Iaponians were dispos'd to receive the Gospel There were in the Port of Malacca many Portuguese Vessels in readiness to set Sail for Iapan but all of them were to make many other Voyages by the way which was not the Saints business His only means was to have recourse to a Iunck of China so they call those little Vessels which was bound directly for Iapan The Master of the Vessel call'd Neceda was a famous Pirate a Friend to the Portugueses notwithstanding the War which was newly declar'd against them so well known by his Robberies at Sea that his Ship was commonly call'd The Robers Vessel Don Pedro de Sylva Governour of Malacca got a promise from the Chines Captain that he wou'd carry the Father safely and without injury and took Hostages to ingage him inviolably to keep his Faith but what can be built on the word of a Pirate and a wicked man Xavier and his Companions imbark'd on the twenty fourth of Iune in the dusk of the Evening and set Sail the next Morning at break of day with a favourable Wind. When they were out at Sea the Captain and Ships Crew who were all Idolaters set up a Pagod on the Poop sacrifis'd to it in spight of Xavier and all his Remonstrances to the contrary and consulted him by Magical Ceremonies concerning the success of their Voyage The answers were sometimes good and sometimes ill In the mean time they cast Anchor at an Isle and there furnish'd themselves with Timber against the furious gusts of those uncertain Seas At the same time they renew'd their Interrogatories to their Idol and cast Lotts to know whether they shou'd have good Winds The Lotts promis'd them a good passage whereupon the Pagans pursu'd their course merrily But they were no sooner got out to Sea again when they drew Lotts the third time to know whether the Iunk shou'd return saâ—ely from Iapan to Malacca The answer was That they shou'd arrive happily at Iapan but were never more to see Malacca The Pirate who was extreamly superstitious resolv'd at the same instant to change his Course and in effect tack'd about and pass'd his time in going to every Isle which was in view Father Xavier was sensibly displeas'd that the Devil shou'd be Master of their destiny and that all things shou'd be order'd according to the Answere of the Enemy of God and Man. In cruising thus leisurely they made the Coast of Cochin China and the Tempests which roâ—e at the same time threaten'd them more than once with Shipwrack The Idolaters had recourse to their ordinary Superstitions The Lott declar'd that the Wind should fall and that there was no danger But an impetuous Gust so rais'd the Waves that the Maâ—iners were forc'd to lower their Sails and cast Anchor The shog of the Vessel threw a young Chinese whom Xavier had Christen'd and carry'd along with him into the Sink which was then open They drew him out half dead much bruis'd and hurt in the Head very dangerously While they were dressing him the Captain 's Daughter fell into the Sea and was swallow'd by the Waves notwithstanding all they cou'd do to save her This dismal accident drove Neceda to despair And it was a lamentable sight says Xavier himself in one of his Letters to behold the disorder in the Vessel The loss of the Daughter and the fear of Shipwrack fill'd all with tears and howlings and confusion Nevertheless the Idolaters instead of acknowledging that their Idol had deceiv'd them with a lye took pains to appease him as if the death of the Chinese Woman had been an effect of their Gods displeasure They sacriâ—is'd Birds to him and burnt Incense in honour of him after which they cast Lotts again to know the cause of this disaster which had befaln them They were answer d That if the young Christian who had fell into the Sink had dâ—'d the Captain 's Daughter had been preserv'd Then Neceda transported with fury thought to throw Xavier and his Companions over-board But the Storm ceasing in an instant his mind grew calmer by degrees he weigh'd Anchor and set Sail again and took the way of Canton with intention there to pass the Winter But the Designs of Men and Power of Devils can do nothing against the Decrees of Providence A contrary Wind broke all the projects of the Captain constraining him in his own despight to enter with full Sails into the Ocean of Iapan And the same Wind carry'd the Iunk of the Pirate toward Cangoxima the birth-place of Anger sirnam'd Paul de Sainte Foy they arriv'd there on the fifteenth of August in the year 1549. The End of the Fourth Book THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK V. I Undertake not to make an exact description of japan after those which have been made of it by Geographers and Travellers By an ordinary view of the Chartes and common reading of the Relations of the Indies 't is easy to understand that Iapan is situate at the extremity of Asia over-against China that it is a concourse of Islands which compose as it were one body and that the chieâ—est of them gives the name to all the rest that this World of Islands as 't is call'd by a great Geographer is fill'd with Mountains some of which are inaccessible and almost above the Clouds that the Colds there are excessive and that the Soil which is fruitful in Mines of Gold and Silver is not productive of much Grain of any sort necessary to life for want of cultivation VVithout dwelling longer either on the situation or nature of the Country or so much as on the Customs and Manners of the Inhabitants of which I have already said somewhat and shall speak yet farther as my Subject requires it I shall here only touch a little on the Government and Religion
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
Holiness of Xavier to give credence to such improbable stories as were rais'd of him and all the Bonza's cou'd say against him serv'd only to increase the publick hatred against themselves Thus despairing of success amongst the multitude they were forc'd to take another course to destroy him in the good Opinion of the King. About twelve Leagues distant from the Town there was a famous Monastery of the Bonza's the Superiour of which was one Fucarandono esteem'd the greatest Scholar and most accomplish'd in all the Learning of Iapan He had read Lectures of the Mysteries of their Divinity for the space of thirty years in the most renown'd University of the Kingdom But however skill'd he was in all Siences his Authority was yet greater than his Knowledge Men listen'd to him as to the Oracle of Iapan and an implicit Faith was given to all he said The Bonza's of Fucheo were perswaded that if they cou'd bring him to the Town and set him up against Xavier in presence of the Court they shou'd soon recover their lost Honour such confidence they had of a certain Victory over the European Doctor On this account they writ to Fucarandono with all the warmness of an earnest Invitation and sent him word That if he wou'd give himself the trouble of this little Journey to revenge the injury they had receiv'd they wou'd carry him back in triumph on their Shoulders to his Monastery The Bonza who was full as vain as he was learn'd came speedily attended by six Bonza's all Men of Science but his inferiours and Scholars He enter'd the Palace at that point of time when Xavier and the Portugueses had Audience of the King for their last farewel being to embark the next morning Before the King had dismiss'd them he was inform'd that Fucarandono desir'd to kiss his Hand in presence of the Portuguese Bonza At the name of Fucarandono the King was a little nonplus'd and stood silent for some time suspecting that he came to challenge Father Xavier to a Disputation and devising in himself some means of breaking off this troublesome affair as he afterwards acknowledg'd For what ever good Opinion he had of the Saints Ability Yet he cou'd not think him strong enough to encounter so formidable an Adversary and therefore out of his kindness to him was not willing to expose him to a disgrace in publick Xavier who perceiv'd the Kings perplexity and imagin'd from whence it might proceed begg'd earnestly of his Majesty to give the Bonza leave of entrance and also free permission of speaking For as to what concerns me said the Father you need not give your self the least disquiet The Law I preach is no earthly Science taught in any of your Vniversities nor a Humane Invention 't is a Doctrine altogether Heavenly of which God himself is the only teacher Neither all the Bonza's of Japan nor yet all the Scholars extant in the World can prevail against it any more than the shadows of the night against the Sun-beams of the rising-Sun The King at the request of Xavier gave entrance to the Bonza Fucarandono after the three usual reverences to the King seated himself by Xavier and after he had fix'd his Eyes earnestly upon him I know not said he with an overweening look if thou knowest me or to speak more properly if thou remembrest me I remember not said Xavier that I have ever seen you Then the Bonza breaking out into a forc'd laughter and turning to his fellows I shall have but little difficulty in overcoming this Companion who has convers'd with me an hundred times and yet wâ—u'd make us believe he had never seen me Then looking on Xavier with a scornful smile Hast thou none of those Goods yet remaining continu'd he which thou soldest me at the Port of Frenajoma In truth reply'd Xavier with a sedate and modest Countenance I have never been a Merchant in all my life neither have I ever been at the Port of Frenajoma What a beastly forgetfulness is this of thine Pursu'd the Bonza with an affected wonder and keeping up his bold laughter how canst thou possibly forget it Bring it back to my remembrance said Xavier mildly you who have so much more Wit and a Memory happier than mine That shall be done rejoin'd the Bonza proud of the Commendations which the Saint had given him 'T is now just fifteen hundred years since thou and I who were then Merchants traded at Frenajoma and where I bought of thee an hundred Bales of Silk at an easy pennyworth dost thou yet remember it The Saint who perceiv'd whither the discourse tended ask'd him very civilly of what age he might be I am now two and fifty said Fucarandono How can it then be reply'd Xavier that you were a Merchant Fifteen hundred years ago that is fifteen Ages when yet you have been in â— the World by your own confession but half an Age And how comes it that you and I then traffick'd together at Frenajoma since the greatest part of you Bonza's maintain that Japan was a Desart and uninhabited at that time Hear me said the Bonza and listeâ— to me as an Oracle I will make theâ— confess that we have a greater 〈◊〉 of things past than thou and thy fellows have â—f the present Thou art then to understand that the World had no beginning and that Men Properly speaking never die The Soul only breaks loose from the Body in which it was confin'd and while that Body is rotting under ground is looking out for another fresh and vigorous Habitation wherein we are born again sometimes in the nobler sometimes in the more imperfect Sex according to the various Constellations of the Heavens and the different Aspects of the Moon These alterations in our Birth produce the like changes in our Fâ—rtune Now it is the recompense of those who have liv'd virtuously to preserve a constâ—nt memory of all the lives which they have pass'd through in so many Ages and to represent themselves to themselves entirely such as they have been from all Eternity under the figure of a Prince of a Merchant of a Scholar of a Souldier and so many other various forms On the contrary they who like thee are so ignorant of their own Affairs as not to understand who or what they have been formerly during thâ—se infinite revâ—lutions of Ages shew that their Crimes have deserv'd death as often as they hâ—ve lost the remembrance of their lives in every change The Portuguese from whose relation we have the knowledge of what is above written and who was present at the Dispute as himself informs us in his Book of Travels gives us no account of the Answers which were made by Xavier I have neither Knowledge nor Presumption enough says he to relate those subtile and solid Reasons with which he confuted the mad imaginations of the Bonza We only have learnt from this Portuguese that Fucarandono was put to silence upon the point
their own accord he re-establish'd the Seminary whose dissolution was so prejudicial to the Christianity of the Indies It was only remaining to chastise the Criminal who had made such evil use of his authority Xavier wou'd make an example of him and so much the rather because having told him what punishment his faults had merited he found him standing on his terms insolent and with no disposition to submit He judg'd upon the whole that a man who was neither humble nor obedient after such scandalous misdemeanours was unworthy of the Society of Iesus which notwithstanding he was not willing to pull off his Habit at Goa for fear his departure might make too great a noise But having made the Viceroy sensible of the justice of his proceeding he sent him to the Fortress of Diu towards Cambaya with Orders to the Fathers residing there to give him his dismission and to use all manner of perswasions with him that he wou'd return into Portugal by the opportunity of the first Ship which went away All was perform'd according to the intentions of the Holy man. But Gomez embarking on a Vessel which was wreck'd in the midst of the Voyage was unfortunately drown'd Giving us to understand by so tragical an end that the talents of Nature and even the gifts of Grace it self serve only to the destruction of a man in Religious Orders who is not endu'd with the Spirit of Humility and Obedience THE LIFE OF St. FRANCIS XAVIER BOOK VI. THE Affairs of the Society being accommodated in this manner Xavier thought on nothing more than how to supply the Missions of the Indies with good Labourers or rather to increase the number of the Missioners who were not sufficient for the common needs He therefore sent Melchior Nugâ—ez to Bazain Gonsalvo Rodriguez to Cochin Iohn Lopez to Meliapore and Luys Mendez to the Fishery where he confirm'd Henry Henriquez for Superiour whom the Missioners of that Coast had already chosen instead of Antonio Criminal After this he bent his whole endeavours to Procure an Embassy to China The Viceroy Don Alphonso de Norogna with great willingness granted to Iames Pereyra that employment which Xavier had desir'd for him He promis'd even to favour it in all things depending on him and gave wherewithal to furnish out Presents for the Emperour of China Notwithstanding the most magnificent were made at the charges of the Embassadour He had prepar'd Cloth of Gold Ornaments for an Altar of Brocard Pictures of Devotion in rich Frames made by the best hands of Europe with Copes and other magnificent Church-stuff all proper to represent to the Chineses the Majesty of the Christian Religion The Bishop Don Iuan d' Albuquerque was not less favourable to the designs of the Father than the Viceroy And being willing to write to the Emperour of China thereby to give an honourable testimony to the holy Law of God he order'd his Letter to be written in Characters of Gold and border'd about with curious Painting Nothing more was wanting than only to make choice of such Missioners as were to accompany Xavier to China and to provide others for Iapan For besides that the Saint himself had his dear Iaponians always in his memory the Ambassadour of the King of Bungo who was come with him to Goa requested some Evangelical Preachers in his Masters name The man of God had enough to do to content all those who were desirous of that Employment There were at that time thirty of the Society in the Colledge of Gâ—a Some of them had been in the Indies from the first years of Xaviers arrival in those Ports Others were either new comers or had been lately admitted all of them were of approv'd vertue and well worthy of that vocation which they so earnestly desir'd but there was none amongst them who sought it with more eagerness nor who more signally deserv'd it than Gasper Barzaeus Xavier before his Voyage to Iapan had recall'd him from Ormuz with design of sending him to that Country or else of taking him with himself to China Yet he alter'd both those intentions for after many serious debates within himself he thought it most convenient to leave Barzaeus at Goa where since his return from Ormuz he had labour'd in the Ministry with great success but his principal reason was the necessity of the Colledge of St. Paul which had not yet shaken off all the ill symptoms of the government of Gomez and which stood in need of a Superiour whose conduct shou'd be regular On these considerations he made him Rector of the Colledge of Goa and also Vice-Provincial of the Indies by the authority which he had receiv'd from the General of the Order For the Saint at his return from Iapan found two Patents waiting for him which had been expedited from Rome in the year 1549 one bearing date the 10th of October the other the 23d of December as the minutes which are kept in the Archives of the Society declare by the first Ignatius constitutes Father Xavier Provincial of the Indies and of all the Kingdoms of the East of which he made a particular Province distinct from that of Portugal by the second he endows him with all the priviledges which the Popes have granted to the head of the Order and to those Members of it to whom the General shall please to impart them For what remains see here the form of Barzaeus his establishment which is preserv'd in the Archives of Goa and written by the hand of Father Xavier Master Gaspar I command you in vertue of holy obedience as Superiour of the Company of Iesus in these Countries of the Indies to take the Government of this Colledge of Santa Fe in quality of Rector perswaded as I am of your vertue your humility your prudence and of all those qualities which make you proper for the governing of others I will that all the Fathers and Portuguese Brothers of the Society of Jesus who are spread over this new world from the Cape of Good Hope as far as Malacca the Molucca's and Japan be subject to you I will in like manner that all those who shall come from Portugal or from any other Country of Europe into the Houses of the Society under my obedience shou'd acknowledge your for their Superiour if it happen not that our Father Ignatius name some other Rector of this Colledge of Goa as I have already requested him by my Letters informing him at large of the necessity of sending hither some experienc'd person in whom he much confides to Govern this Colledge and all the Missions of our Society depending on it If then any of the Society sent by Father Ignatius or by any other General of the Society of Jesus with Patents sign'd in due form shall arrive at Goa to take the Government of this House and of those which are subjected to it I command you in the same vertue of holy obedience to resign the
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