wholy at his dispose Then conforting the inhabitants he promised them that he would alwayes whersoeuer he was haue a great care of their saluation And exhorting them to keep in the meane time the true religion in the midst of a corrupted generation he gaue them assured hope of speedy help In which promise he did not fayle For after he was departed from them by the first occasiō which was offered him he directed letters to Iohn King of Portugall wherin he earnestly commended to his kingly prouidence the Christians of Socotora who straying like sheep without a pastour abandoned of al were greatly oppressed by tyranny For in that Iland there was a Saracen Prince who cōtrary to al right equity tyrannizeth ouer the inhabitants who be eyther Christians or affected to the Christian fayth hauing had their first beginning from the disciples of S. Thomas the Apostle vexing oppressing them in a miserable manner yea taking the children by violence out of their parents bosomes he endeauoureth to make them slaues to Mahomet the Deuill He therefore intreated his maiesty as a most religious King not to permit them by litle litle to fall away from the grounds of Christianity to the customes and rites of the Saracens and that they might not willingly giue their soules to him who had by force gotten dominion ouer their bodyes They were in danger vtterly to be vndone vnlesse his Maiesty from Portugall would help them And there was no doubt but God who had giuen him such ability that he alone of all the Kings in Christendome was able to performe it would also giue him the will and desire to protect defend those miserable and afflicted soules Wherefore he should with all speed endeauour by his Royall assistance to maintayne them in the faith of their Sauiour who had redeemed both them and vs with his most pretious bloud Especially seeing that all this might be done without any danger or charges at all For he needed only to command his Royal Nauy which was yearly to passe that way to deliuer the Socotoreans by force from the most barbarous Tyranny of that Saracene Lord. These letters and requests of Francis lost not their desired effect For the cause seemed no lesse worthy of consideration to the King then it had done vnto him neither did he take it lesse to the hart Wherfore with that speed which beseemed his religious Piety he sent thither a nauy and the warre was as fortunate as pious For they taking Socotora by force beate out the Saracens and freed the inhabitants from the subiection of their Tyrannicall Lord and moreouer placed a strong garrison in the Iland that their liberty might be no lesse gratefull then secure But Xauier not content with this bestowed vpon them afterward a benefit greater then their liberty For he sent some of the Society into that Iland who might againe cultiuate that ouergrowne vineyard of our Lord and deliuer them also from the Tyranny of the Deuill who were already freed from the Saracens As soone as the ship departed from Socotora Francis setled himselfe agayne to his former taske of helping the sick and at last with the same laborious and charitable exercises as he began his Indian voyage hauing passed the coastes of Arabia and Persia he arriued at Goa a famous Citty of India vpon the VI. of May 1542. which day being the feast of Saint John ante portam Latinam is very memorable among the Indians For vpon that very day Xauerius who by the speciall benefit fauour of God was borne for the good of those nations brought with him great light and saluation into India togeather with the light of the Gospel and by himselfe reuiued those lost countries opened a way to others of the Society for the conuersion of other nations the which shal be plainly seene by that which followeth in this History For heerafter I well set downe Xauiers actes more at large then hitherto I haue done Because those things which I haue already spoken of are although not doubtfull yet a litle obscure because for the most part they want the cleere testimony of letters But henceforward I will speake of such things which were left written partly by himselfe and partly by those who through long and familiar conuersation with him in India did not only obserue them whilst he liued but had also particular knowledge of them after his death OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE II. BOOKE In vvhat state be found India CHAP. I. INDIA being a place much spoken of by Poets and Historiographers is a Country of Asia almost twice as long as broad somwhat like in proportion to a mans tongue Towards the North it butteth vpon the Mount Caucasus in the West it is inuironed with the Riuer Indus from whence it taketh its name as the East in like manner is with the riuer Ganges and from the temperate Zone it stretcheth it self out euen vnto the Southern Ocean The forsaid riuers issuing from the mountaines of Scythia and deuiding themselues into two mayne Torrents the further they runne the broader they leaue the land betweene them and hauing run almost a thousand miles that is very neere halfe the length of India they fall finally into the sea Betwixt the mouths of these riuers where India is broadest it hath 800. miles or there about in breadth From thence by litle little it groweth narrower vntill it commeth vnto the Promontory of Commorinum where in forme of a wedge it shooteth out a mighty way towards Asia India in the inward partes of the land is inhabited by Pagans of the same Country Towards the coast which lyeth vpon the riuer Indus they haue for the most part Kings of their own nation but towards Ganges they be Saracens For the Saracens hauing now long since gotten thither out of Arabia Persia by litle and litle partly by policy and partly by force haue brought many of the Indians vnder their subiection The Portugheses also hauing free passage thither by sea and by occasion of their often going to those Countries vnknowne to others haue in ech Coast therof taken the possession of many Townes of good note for which cause they are very famous throughout India the whole East The sea coast of India which for a great part lyeth vnder the Torrid Zone is continually almost so beaten vpon with the sunne that it remaineth euen parched withered vp all the yeare long Yet the heat is so tempered by seasonable raynes and Eastern windes that it is inhabited without any great incommodity although in summer which they haue twice a yeare by reason the sunne passeth yearely the Equinoctiall line twice all things are burnt vp with the forsayd scorching heates The Country is fertile especially of Rize which they vse insteed of wheat next to Rize they haue a certayne Palme-tree whereof they gather not only greene and dry fruite but also which may seeme
called vnto him He the more to dissemble the matter made shew of ready Obedience and came vnto him presently Francis taking him asyde with great sorrow and griefe in his countenance sayd Thou hast sinned Durus thou hast sinned At which words he being stroken to the hart stood like one distracted and amazed wondring with himselfe how Xauerius came to know that which no mortal creature but himself could haue suspected Then being filled with shame and teares his conscience also accusing him he cryed I haue sinned Father I haue sinned Then Francis againe with a ioyfull countenance replyed Confession therefore Child Confession is requisite WherupoÌ„ Durus hauing his hart softned by Xauerius words and by the dew of diuine grace taking againe courage and some respite to examine himself maketh his coÌ„fession Which remedy he found no lesse expedient then wholsome For by the benefit of that holy Sacrament he was not only pardoned his offence but also constantly restored to his former good resolution Wherfore without delay faithfully distributing his goods amongst the poore he constantly adhered to Xauerius as before he had promised fortifying this his resolution with the remembrance of his former lightnes and inconstancy At the same time also came vnto Xauerius a new thought small supply of Companions For that F. Antony Criminalis of Parma F. Iohn Beira of Galliaco of the Society of Iesus being sent out of Portugall were very fitly arriued in India of whose coÌ„ming Xauerius being certified by letters greatly reioyed as being the first supply which had come vnto him out of Europe determining to set them presently a worke by reason of so great want of Priests And he himself that his labours might not be restrained within the bounds of India intended with the first occasion of shipping to visit the furthest parts of the East CHAP. XVII He reformeth the bad liues of the people of Malaca HE departed from Meliapora the Citty of S. Thomas towards Malaca by sea in the yeare of our Lord 1545. The cause of this his iorney was that hauing now holpen the Portugheses who dwelt in that Citty he might passe on to instruct the MacazariaÌ„s in the precepts of the Christian faith Malaca is a country compassed almost rouÌ„d with the sea beyond India and the riuer Ganges called in times past as some thinke the Golden Chersonesus For being ioyned to the continent by a small part of land stretching out into the sea runneth forth in length towards the Iland of Somatra formerly named Taprobana famous for Gold mines In this Country right ouer against Somatra standeth the citty of Malaca beloÌ„ging to the Portugheses a place very rich and of great note from whome that country hath its name distant from the citty of Goa neere 600. leagues It lyeth almost vnder the Equinoctiall Line yet by reason of the frequent showres of raine which fall commonly euery day there is as it were almost a perpetuall spring which doth greatly allay the heates For they haue alwayes two summers and as many haruests both of corne fruit But the Country is more pleasant and fertill then wholsome for that the fruitfulnes of the place and the vnwholsomnes of the ayre proceed from the same causes And besides this they haue another inconuenience which doth more encumber them to wit the Saracens and Ethnickes who border vpon them None of these difficulties did any wayes affright Xauerius to go on with his resolution Nay rather the latter set him forward to help them with more feruour seeing them in danger by reason of their bad neighbours As soone as he arriued at Malaca he goeth to the Gouernour of the Citty and certifieth him of his determination of passing to Macazaria Wherupon he againe told Xauerius how he had lately sent thither a stronge band of Portugheses togeather with a Priest of eminent vertue to assist and guard the Christians if any commotion should by chance be raysed there against theÌ„ And therfore he wisheth him if he thought good to abide a while at Malaca vntill the ship were returned and should bring newes how matters went in Macazaria Francis followed the Gouernours counsaile and in the meane time taking no rest himselfe begaÌ„ to employ his endeauours for the spirituall good of the Portugheses The Malacensians were at this time wholy corrupted with the bad customes of their bordering neighbours liuing indeed more like to Saracens and Ethnickes then to Christians For that through their owne carelesnesse rather then want of Priests al good order by little little was fallen to decay and their behauiours also growing daily worse they began to runne headlong vnto ruine For hauing now lost all memory either of saluation or honesty they for the most part thought that they might do whatsoeuer seemed pleasing or profitable to their sensuality So forcible is the contagion of bad company to infect others with the same vice Francis therfore perceiuing them to 〈◊〉 extremely corrupted that now they had neither any feeling of their sinnes nor could endure any remedy to be applyed thereto setteth vpon their lost soules after a strange and artificiall manner First as his custome was he insinuatâ—th himselfe sweetly into their familiarity winketh at their sinnes and hideth his desire of curing them Then hauing wonne them by custome friendly vsage he by litle and litle prepareth the way to cure their inueterate diseases somtymes laying before them their heinous sinnes and offences by propouÌ„ding vnto them Gods diuine lawes at other tymes striking into them a terrour of Gods fearefull iudgements by vrging of the variable casualities of mans life And at last hauing disposed their minds he setteth his hand to worke he cutteth off auarice taketh away the occasions of lust mollifyeth and healeth their sore wounded consciences wherof then they began to haue some feeling with the sweet oyle of Gods mercies The fruite which he reaped therby well shewed that his labours were not imployed in vayne For it is certaynly knowne that by his meanes many made restitution of goods vnlawfully gotten many put away their Concubines and those that made difficulty to put them away were persuaded to marry them a great number also cleaÌ„sed their guilty consciences by frequenting the holy Sacrament of Confession and were brought to leade a good and vertuous life Neyther did Xauerius profit the people more by the sweetnes of his priuate discourse then by the grauity of his publicke Exhortations Vpon Sundayes he preached in the great Church with no lesse fruite then applause of his Auditors And to moue theÌ„ the more and better to imprint wholesome feare in their minds he with great feruour of spirit foretould what heauen threatned agaynst that Citty It was obserued by many that he was wont oftentimes when in his sermons he reprehended with greatest vehemency the loose and wicked liues of the Malacensians to beseech God to turne from them the wrath which hung ouer their heads from heauen and
the Iaponians he conuerteth many of them pag. 320. Chap. 9. Going to the King of Bungo at his inuitement he is honourably receiued by the Portugheses pag. 331. Chap. 10. He is conducted to the Kings Court in great pompe by the Portugheses pag. 336. Chap. 11. The King of Bungo vseth Francis with honourable respect although the Bonzies were agaynst it pag. 339. Chap. 12. Xauerius instructeth the King and people in the misteries of the Christian faith and curbeth the audacity of the Bonzies pag. 346. Chap. 13. In a disputation before the King he ouercommeth the most learned of the Bonzies pag. 351. Chap. 14. Francis his constancy whilst the Bonzies be vp in tumult pag. 357. Chap. 15. Xauerius getteth a new victory ouer the Chiefe of the Bonzies pag. 361. Chap. 16. He procureth the Kings of Amangucium and Bungo to fauour Christianity pag. 367. THE FIFTH BOOKE CHAP. 1. Intending to passe into China he determineth first to returne into India pag. 373. Chap. 2. Going into China he recouereth by his prayers a Cocke-boate which was carryed away by the violence of a tempest pag. 376. Chap. 3. He maketh the Port of the Chineses and his voyage to Malaca very famous by his Prophesies pag. 383. Chap. 4. At Goa he cureth one that was ready to dye taketh account of what the Society had done since his departure pag. 389. Chap. 5. Hauing procured the Embassage before spoken of he goeth himselfe to China pag. 397. Chap. 6. He Excommunicateth the Gouernour of Malaca pag. 403. Chap. 7. The designe of going with the Embassadour into China being broken of Xauerius notwithstanding setteth forward thither pag. 413. Chap. 8. He endeauoureth though all in vaine to open a passage into China pag. 417. Chap. 9. He agreeth with a Chinese to carry him priuately to Cantona pag. 423. Chap. 10. His transporting into China being differed he â—ortelleth his owne death pag. 429. Chap. 11 He endeth his life in most holy maÌ„ner pag. 434. Chap. 12. His body is buried in quicke Lime pag 440. Chap. 13. His body being found whole and incorrupt is carryed to Malaca and there agayne interred pag. 443. Chap. 14. His Body is translated from Malaca into India pag. 449. Chap. 15. His Funerall is kept at Goa with all solemnity pag. 457. Chap. 16. The great Concourse of people to behould his Holy Body pag. 462. THE SIXT BOOKE CHAP. 1. By the King of Portugall his command Francis his deeds and miracles are committed to writing pag. 468. Chap. 2. How Xauerius fortelleth things future and absent and seeth mens inward Thoughts pag. 472. Chap. 3. In his life time he worketh miracles of all kinds pag. 479. Chap. 4. Miracles wrought by him after his death pag. 486. Chap. 5. Xauerius his feruent loue to Prayer pag. 498. Chap. 6. His purity of Hart and Chastity pag. 508. Chap. 7. His Loue of the Crosse and Euangelicall Poâ—erty pag. 511. Chap. 8. His Obedience and Humility pag. 518. Chap. 9. His magnanimity of Mind and Confidence in God pag. 527. Chap. 10. His charity to God and his Neighbours pag. 534. Chap. 11. His sweetnesse of Behauiour and ConuersatioÌ„ ioyned with Grauity pag. 546. Chap. 12. His Prudence and the Precepts he gaue to the Rectour of the Colledge of Goa and to Gaspar the Low-countryman pag. 550. Chap. 13. Precepts giuen by Xauerius to Iohn Brauius and others of the Society pag. 565. Chap. 14. What kind of Gouernours and Superiours he required in the Society pag. 572. Chap. 15. What kind of men Xauerius wished should be in the Society pag. 580. Chap. 16. What manner of Preachers he required in the Society pag. 586. Chap. 17. What manner of Confessours Xauerius required in the Society pag. 599. Chap. 18. What kind of persons Xauerius required for the instruction of soules pag. 608. THE PREFACE COVRTEOVS READER I purpose heere to set downe the admirable renowned Lyfe of S. Francis Xauier a man specially borne for the saluation of India and the furthest Easterne world Of all the nine first Disciples of our Holy Father S. Ignatius of Loyola he most resembled his Mayster and of the Society was the first who laboured in India Iaponia those barbarous Countries opening the way both for the Indians vnto heauen for the Society into India wherby he brought no lesse renowne then left example to his Order For which cause the whole Society not without good reason desired long since to haue so fayre a Pourtraicte beautified with such admirable vertue liuely drawne in colours for Ours to behold seeing the glorious exploits of Predecessours do coÌ„monly inflame the harts of generous spirits with a certaine kind of heauenly fire which hardly can be quenched vntill by imitation they become true patternes of their noble Vertues Now as on the one â—ide I perceaued that other Authors in their Histories had with great honour touched Xauerius chiefest acts so was I on the other â—ide not a little grieued that for the space of aboue 35. yeares there had bin none who thought vpon the setting forth his life then shining with so many and so illustrious vertues in a proper volume by it selfe either by giuing that charge to some other or by vndertaking it themselues VVherfore being moued of late as well through perswasion of some dearest friends as which is more by the command of Superiours to vndertake the same I was put in some hope to performe what others had conceaued of my ability therin for my deuotion to Xauerius I was not only not vnwilling but very willing also as tyme should afford to set vpon this taske to th' end the memory of a man so worthy yea euen of immortality it self who triumpheth now in heauen might be renewed not only to the minds of our owne Religious but to Posterity also Moreouer it seemeth vnto me this falleth out not so much by humane as diuine prouidence that euen at this tyme his most industrious and laborious manner of life should be layd open to the view of Ours when as we behould such a glorious haruest of soules brought in from those far countries which by him were first cultiuated manured For now the newes is brought vnto vs of the conuersion of many great Princes Kings of Iaponia with almost all their people to the Christian faith and of a passage also through Gods assistance made into China for the preaching of the Ghospell there which was hertofore by the Diuels craft wholy stopped euen raÌ„pier'd vp aswel with walles as lawes Both which certainly next after God we must attribute to holy Xauerius who not only lead the way to our Society for the coÌ„uersion of those Nations but left that enterprize also fully ready and easy to be compassed VVherfore my intention is to set downe heere in writing the life of this most Blessed man being full of all variety of matter And though my VVill and Desire be more ready to obey then either Ability or Hope
against Xauerius thought to saue himselfe But the Neophites comming forth in hast at the clamour and tumult which they heard so stopped vp the entrance to the Church and as it ordinarily hapneth the last came so hard pressing vpon the first that he could not possibly haue way to enter so to saue himselfe They seing this knowing the man cryed out that God the reuenger of Xauerius his iniury had by diuine iudgment debarred him of the refuge he desired And so he who before had contumeliously shut Xauerius out of doores being pursued by his enemies and endeauouring to saue his life by flying to the ChristiaÌ„s Church was himselfe shut out God permitting him to be serued in the like manner as he serued Xauerius CHAP. X. Liuing in the coast of Piscaria vvith great ioy and fruit of his labours he comforteth the Neophites vvho vvere much afflicted BVT it is incredible to thinke what abouÌ„dance of diuine consolation Xauerius fouÌ„d in these extreme labours of his Himselfe signified it in a letter which he wrote to the Society at Rome To which they shall do well to hearken who preferring earthly commodities before diuine thinke that the life of holy persons is without all comfort delight as though there were no place for pleasure where riches delicacies do not abound In a clause therfore of his epistle inuiting others of the Society to the same labours he writeth thus So great is the aboundance of the heauenly ioyes which God bestoweth vpon them who labour in this vineyard for the conuersion of the Indians to Christ that if there be any ioy in this life I thinke it only to be heere Neither did he auouch this without a true ground and of what he had not experienced in himselfe For being oftentimes in the midst of those labours ouerwhelmed with heauenly consolations he hath bin secretly heard to breake forth into these words I beseech thee O Lord do not euerwhelme me with such aboundance of ioyes in this life of if it please thee of thy infinite bounty that still I flow with these flouds of delights remoue me hence into heauen among the blessed for he that hath once had an inward tast of thy sweetnesse must needes liue a bitter life without thee Xauerius therfore liued a whole yeare in the coast of Piscaria with infinite labour and the like comfort and that which much increased his ioy was the great augmentation of the Christian faith For as it appeareth by his owne letters he baptized aboue a 1000. infants who presently after their Baptisme went to heauen Wherby we may gather what a multitude there were either of infants that liued or else of elder people whome he made members of Christs Church And it is well knowen that in that coast many villages some whole Townes were by him conuerted to the Christian faith When he had thus carryed and set in order the affayres of Christian Religion in the coast of Comorinum about the latter end of the yeare 1543. he returneth to Goa to deale in person with the viceroy of India concerning certaine important busines about Christian Religion Vpon this occasion he tooke with him some youths of the chiefe nobility of that Country both as pledges supplies for the Christian faith to be broght vp in learning in the Seminary of Goa for that by this tyme the Colledge there was for the most part built furnished Wherfore Borban not suffering Xauerius to lodge in the Hospitall of the sick as he was accustomed brought him home and of his owne accord gaue ouer to him the whole gouernment therof which he with the consent of the said Borban committed to Fa. Paul Camertes who was lately come from Mozambicum The fame of the admirable things which Xauerius had wrought in the coast of Piscaria was come to Goa before himselfe ariued thither and had much increased his esteeme aswell with others as with the viceroy of India who affected him exceedingly and therfore without difficulty he obteined of him whatsoeuer he desired Amongst other things the report being brought to Goa of those who were raysed to life in the coast of Comorinum made Xauerius name to be spread far and neere Wherfore Iames Borban by reason of his ancient familiarity taketh him aside and earnestly intreateth him that for the honour of God he would tell him the particulers of those who were reported to be raysed to life by his prayers in the Country of Comorinum At which words Xauerius his countenaÌ„ce was all dyed ouer with a virginall crimson-blush bewraying both his modesty the truth of the matter Endeauouring therfore as much as he could with truth to couer any matter which tended to his owne glory he imbraceth Borban in a friendly manner and smiling sayth Good Iesu I rayse dead men to life O wicked wretch that I am Certaine meÌ„ indeed brought to me a youth seeming to be dead who being by me commanded in the name of Christ to aryse presently rose vp this indeed and other such like things they who were present published abroad for miracles Yet this his couering of those miracles though his countenance sufficiently discouered the truth diminished nothing at all the credit of what was reported of him his humility therein being almost as admirable as the miracles themselues Xauerius hauing now dispatched the businesse for which he came and taking Francis Mansilla for his coÌ„panion returned againe into the coast of Piscaria vpon the 24. of March the next yeare following setleth himself to his old exercises of Charity He had now besides Mansilla 3. assistants Iohn Lesian a Spanish Priest two other Priests also of that couÌ„try who at Xauerius request weÌ„t thither for the same cause partly froÌ„ Goa partly from Cocinum Hauing made these men partners of his charge he neuer ceased going about baptizing infants exhorting others to do the same His labour was as much if not more then before and his difficultyes greater For being a stranger wholy ignorant of the Malauarian language in so much besides the Cathechisme he scarce knew one word therof yet liued he and conuersed amongst the Malauarian Neophytes without an interpreter which thing did not withstanding rather stirre vp then hinder his endeauours To baptize infants he had no need of an interpreter the poore and wretched people did of themselues open vnto him their miseries in such sort that he might easily vnderstand them He also by his study and endeauours came to be his owne interpreter for albeyt he were vnskillfull in the country tongue yet made he good shift to preach vnto the people expressing oftentimes by his contenance and gesture what he could not do in words But to keep an order and decorum in all things he called them not al together but caused the men the â—omen to come by turnes euery other day to the Caâ—echisme His chiefe care was to baptize infants and
euery weeke to wit vpon Sunday and Friday he preached to the people at Malaca and his ordinary custome was at the end of his Sermon to intreate his audience to say with him one Pater and Aue for the good successe of the Portughese fleete agaynst the Barbarians The people at first did willingly as he requested them for the space of 15. or 20. dayes as long as there was hope of the victory But when all that tyme there came no newes of the fleete many of the Cittizens suspecting that their men were ouerthrowne gaue ouer and left of that pious practice This sollicitude of the Malacensians was increased by a rumour which the Saracens their neighbours had diuulged abroad without any ground that the Portugheses were ouerthrowne in battayle and put all to the sword by the Acenians That which was knowne to be true made this false rumour to seeme credible For it was certayne that the enemyes were stout warlike men and their forces farre beyond the Portugheses The whole Citty therfore began to be very heauy and afflicted The matrones with aboundance of teares bewayled the death of their husbands their children and kinsfolkes withall their owne desolate and forelorne state The Gouernour himselfe of the Citty because he was esteemed to be Authour of this misfortune durst not come abroad or appeare in sight of the people In this meane time Francis according to his custome preaching to the people indeauored to take froÌ„ them â—hat vayne feare griefe Sometymes he inueigâ—ed against certaine men who had gone about by witchcraft and sorcery to know what was become of the Fleete earnestly reprehending their superstition At other times he sharpely rebuked the CittizeÌ„s for their â—orgetfulnes of Gods prouidence and the ouermuch â—olicitude for themselues Then againe he raysed theÌ„â—p to hope Finally he most earnestly intreated them â—ll to continue their prayers vnto God for the obteiâ—ing of the victory although he knew full well that thereby he incurred the â—ll will of many who muttered that the prayers which he required of them ought rather to be said for the soules of those that were dead slaine then for the victory of the liuing But within a little after Francis his prophecy came to be of credit The day was now at hand which was to be made famous by that memorable victory Franâ—is theâ—efore vpon the very same day which then hapned to be Sunday made a sermon in the Church to the people and it was at the same houre when the Portughese fleete was preparing for the fight Being therefore to conclude his Sermon vpon the suddaine he turnes both himselfe his speach vnto the Crucifix by diuine instinct with great motion of body breaking forth into a prophesy he began by circuÌ„locutions to describe in words the first encounter of the two Nauies to the admiration and astonishment of his auditours Then with an inflamed looke countenance and aboundance of teares gushing out at his eyes he cryed out aloud O Iesu God of my hart I humbly I beseâ—ch thee by the last torments of thy life that thou wouldest not leaue them whome thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Hauing vttered these and other such like words which feare and confidence then suggested vnto him and growing weake faint with the violent agitation of his body he leaned a while with his head vpon the Pulpit Then by and by as if he had awaked out of some extasy lifting vp his head he cryes out on a suddayne with a cheerfull ioyfull countenance thus O yee Malacensians cast off all sadnes reioyce for now at last our fleet hath ouerthrowne the enemy in battayle without any bloudshed on our part hauing lost but three men only so litle hath so noble a victory cost vs. And in a most triumphant maÌ„ner will they presently returne home loaden with spoyles and pillage of the enemy together with many shippes which they haue taken from them forthwith he appointed a certayne day wil they be safe with vs. Come on therfore and in thankesgiuing to God the Author of the victory let vs say togeather once Pater and Auâ— for the same and repeate it agayne for those few of ours that be slayne in the battayle Vpon this prediction of Francis whole audience recited the prayers which he had requested and in signe of approbation what he sayd became ioyfull seeing the great cheerfulnesse of the worthy mans countenance who had thus raysed them out of so heauy a sadnes Hauing thus cheered vp the men with this hope the same day in like maÌ„ner he made a consolatory sermoÌ„ in another Church to the women a part fortould the very day when certaine tydings should be brought of the victory and safety of their husbands and friends The euent wherof hapned in euery thing as he had spoken For within two or three dayes after there came a messenger with the newes of the victory And presently after the messenger followed the Conquerours themselues with an exceeding great booty and no small number of shippes which they had taken from the Enemy Infinite therefore was the ioy which on a suddaine surprized the Malacâ—nsiaÌ„s when so farre beyond all expectation they saw eight shippes to bring home 25. captiue As soone therfore as this victorious Nauy was arriued the whole Citty their late great feare being now turned into excessiue ioy went out to see and coÌ„gratulate the same And Francis himselfe to whome a great part of that noble victory and triumph was due goeth amongst the first and as soone as the Generall was landed he imbraceth him and the other principall Captaines of the Nauy congratulating theÌ„ for their fortunate successe Then in the heat of this generall ioy and congratulation when they inquired more exactly after the time of the victory they found that not only the very day but the battayle also did iumpe aright with that which Francis had foretould Which was so much the more to be admired because the place where the battaile was fought was distant from Malaca aboue 200. miles From that time Francis was highly esteemed throughout all Malaca no lesse for the guift of prophecy then for sanctity of life The fame whereof hauing spread it selfe throughout the East moued some to câ—me from the furthest parts of the world to see him CHAP. XII A Iaponian is by conference vvith Xauerius conuerted to the faith of Christ AFTER he had spent foure monethes or thereabout in helping the Citty of Malâ—ca hauing now gotten commodity of shipping being ready to returne into India there came from Iapâ—nia vnto Malaca a certayne Iaponian called Anger a man of good account in his owne Country and of a singular wit The cause of his comming was to seeke a remedy for cure of the wounds of his soule caused by the intemperate heat of his youthfull bloud For hauing committed a heynous murder in Iaponia being narrowly sought for to
yeares before Xauerius came thither The Country is very cold vnpleasant to the eye in many places mountanous and barrayne yet for the most part chaÌ„pion enterlaced with many fayre riuers by nature fertile although they do not till the ground by reason of their continuall warres so as it is more fit for vines oliues if it were ther with planted for want whereof there be very few vineyards and no oliues at all and yieldeth rather Rice then Corne. Neyther do there want mines of gold but skill to make it yet chiefly it excelleth in siluer mines for which cause it is called Argentaria Notwithstanding for that the Inhabitants are debarred from trafficque with the Chineses in tymes past it wanted many things which now the Portugheses haue by their commercement lately supplyed not without great profit to theÌ„selues And although there be frequent Hauens in the whole Country yet the Iland Ximus both because it hath more store of Port Townes and lyeth most commodious for the shippes that come from India is most of all frequented by the Portughese merchants There was at that tyme one King who ruled ouer all Iaponia called by the inhabitantes Dayrus whose raygne because Kingly Maiesty was now â—worne out amongst the Nobles began to depend vpon their pleasures The people of Iaponia compared with the Indians are white of complexion by nature most warlike and in vertue and vprightnesse doe farre exceed all other Nations which haue â—byn found out of late Xauerius therefore making his â—abode at Cangoxima which is the principall Citty of Saxuma before he would aduenture to set vpon the Iaponians soules thought best to seek out first all kind of wayes meanes how to do it chiefly to inquire of their manners religions And hauing diligently sounded them all out he found the matter for the most part thus to stand to wit that the whole Nation was of a very tractable disposition and for the most part cannot endure any double dealing They haue no great store of gold riches or wealth and therfore as most commonly where there is least money there also is least seeking after it their study is least about such kind of things Neyther do they account any thing more dishonourable then to increase their wealth substance by trafficque or any other art So as their manner of lyfe is vpheld by the direction of pouerty yet in such sort that they hyde the same with a neat and handsome adorning of their bodyes They stand very much vpon their dignity and reputation so that you would thinke them therin most perfectly to resemble the auncient Romans They do all for the most part euen children place their greatest delight in martiall affayres nor do they ordinarily take content in any thing else Notwithstanding which is incredible to be spoken or heard although they be of such couragious spirits and so much giuen to bearing of armes yet they absteyne from all quarrels amoÌ„g themselues reseruing the vse of their weapons for tyme of warre agaynst their enemies For the Iaponians haue such gouernement ouer themselues and their passions that they seeme therein to be of the sect of Stoickes And to see a Iaponese brawling chafing or wrangling one with another is amongst them accounted a monstrous thing Wherfore the better to auoid all occasion of contentions they neuer deale about any businesse of importance or coÌ„trouersy by themselues but by a third person And this they obserue not only with strangers but also with their friends and those of the same household with them wherby they conserue quiet of mynd in themselues and peace with others They take very great delight in hunting in so much that they eate no flesh which is not gotten by that meanes They can no more endure mutton swines-flesh beefe or veale then we can dogges or horse-flesh They absteine from milke and cheese as we do from raw bloud They keep hennes and geese not so much to eate as for their recreation pleasure They do therefore seldome eate flesh which when they doe is alwayes Venison They feed for the most part on fish fruite herbes and rice and by the meanes of their temperate dyet they are very sound and healthfull liuing ordinarily vntill they be very old vnlesse they meete by chance with some violent or vntimely death At least we may learne by this their liuing so well vpon a little that Nature is content with few things although sensuality be neuer satisfied Adulteries are with them most seuerely punished They absteine altogeather from dyce-playing and such like games deeming that by those meanes men become desirous of others goods They are also so farre from theft and robbery that they iudg nothing more vnworthy in a man for which cause they condemne felons to the gallowes the most disgracefull of all punishments amongst them They vse cleanlinesse in their dyet neatnesse in their attyre and most courteous ciuility in all their meetings salutations and conuersation wherein the men are not more exact then the children nor the Nobility then the Country people You would belieue they were all trayned vp togeather to ciuill and courtly behauiour in the same Kings Court But these guifts of nature are obscured by pride a malady deeply rooted in this Nation For they so contemne other nations in respect of themselues that they are for the most part very arrogant and insolent in their carriage towards strangers This one thing only excepted they want nothing but the light of the Ghospell being of themselues a nation if there be any in the world borne and in a manner framed to al ciuility For euen the country people themselues are very ingenious desirous of learning in so much that as euery thing seemeth most conformable to reason so they do most willingly imbrace it They are very attentiue to discourses especially of God and diuine matters They are moreouer commonly very good schollers therfore so much the more apt to receiue Christian discipline Now when Xauerius had vnderstood these and many other things which for breuities sake I omit of the disposition manners of the Iaponians making also iniquity after their Priests Religions he found things standing almost in this manner to wit that they account those things most of all their Gods by whose meanes they receiue help Some therefore do worship the Sunne others the Moone and others other Gods There be also among them certayne Men held for Gods which they had from the Chineses Amongst whome are Xacas and Amidas But there is no greater villanny or impurity then among their Priestâ— whome they call Bonzies so that you may easily know whose Ministers they be For hauing brought in that heynous sinne which is not heere to be named of preposterous lust they haue cast such a thicke mist before the Iaponians eyes that being not able to discerne such impurities they commonly account that most detestable crime of al
midst of such disgracefull reproaches and conâ—â—melious words especially when they heard that he â—as come out of Europe into Iaponia through such â—uge and vast seas for no other end but only out of â—â—ale to teach them a new Religion At last his strange vertue sanctity of lyfe began 〈◊〉 be held in great admiration and reuerence and to â—anifest it selfe not only by words but by deeds also â—hereupon many Noblemen desirous to know more â—rticularly what Religion that was which he had â—ought out of the other world sent for him home to â—eir houses promising of their owne accord that 〈◊〉 he could yield good reasons of those ceremonies â—hich he had introduced amongst them they would â—referre them before those of their owne Country â—ut this indeed was now a businesse not consisting 〈◊〉 the wil or any indeauour of ours but in the mercy â—f God There were diuers others also who heard these â—hings but most of them attended therto more with â—heir corporall eares then with any interiour desire â—hey had to imbrace them Xauerius hauing thus spent â—ome dayes in the streetes and in priuate houses not without fruit was at last sent for by the King himâ—elfe who demaunded of him his Country and the cause of his comming into Iaponia He answered that â—e was a Spaniard borne and came thither to preach â—nto them the law of God out of the care and zeale which he had of their saluation For that none could be saued who did not acknowledge God the Creatour of this vniuersall World and Iesus Christ his only Sonne the Sauiour of all Nations and moreouer keep his diuine lawes and Precepts Whereupon being commaÌ„ded by the King to declare what that law was he willingly obeyed began to recite the same out of the booke which he had written He was heard with great attention and admiration for the space of an hower or there about But the barbarous King being better disposed to heare then to performe those heauenly things was carelesse of what was sayd Xauerius then applying himselfe againe to his former function of preaching as custome doth by little and little qualify the most vnruly dispositions found the minds of the people more indifferently disposed and began to reape more fruit of his labours For that now very many gaue willing eare to the admirable passages of our Sauiours life which he recounted But when he came to relate his bitter torments and most vnworthy death they could not conteine themselues from weping the same seeming euen to the Barbarians harts so greatly to deserue compassion Thus Mercy it selfe opened the way vnto Religion some began already to be Christians But Francis thinking it not worth his labour to remaine any longer in that Citty determined to go vnto Meaco with intention to demand of that King who by reason of the amplitude of his Empire is called the great King permissioÌ„ to preach the Ghospell For he had vnderstood that Meaco was the noblest and chiefest Citty of all Iapon and very famous as wel for the greatnes therof as for the fame of the Colledges being also a prime Academy multitude of ConueÌ„ts therin in so much that at his first entrance into Iaponia he was in the mind to haue gone directly thither But God fauouring those of Cangoxima the ships as we said before arriued thither first where hopes of good successe for the Christian Cause had longer deteyned him then the fruit which he reaped therby Being resolued therfore to go vnto Meaco he tooke with him for his companions Iohn Fernandez of the Society and Bernard a Neophyte of Iaponia a sincere good man the first that became Christian at Cangoxima CHAP. VI. Of the great paynes vvhich he tooke in his iourney to Meaco THE Citty of Meaco standeth almost in the midst of the Iland as it were the Nauil of Iapon It is distant from Amungucium which is scituate in the first entraÌ„ce of the Iland not aboue 150. miles by a direct lyne But the way of passing thither is much longer by reason of the montaynes and the many turnings windings about those narrow armes of the sea Thither did Xauerius direct his iorney in the yeare 1550. and month of October at what tyme the weather is very could and bitter in Iapon The way was then not only rough and craggy but couered also with perpetuall snow which the hard frosty winter had congealed togeather Throughout the woods there hunge downe from the trees as it were certaine ysicles like beames of cogealed Snow and Ice threatning death and destruction to all passengers who trauayled that way Besides this there was no small daunger in respect of the continuall ciuill warres wherewith the whole Country was then exceedingly pestered as also of the great number of theeues wherewith those woods and wayes were ordinarily yea daily haunted and infested Notwithstanding all these many other vnspeakable miseries of the way Xauerius hauing his mynd wholy fixed vpon the Diuine Prouidence and Saluation of Soules vndertooke with incredible ioy and iubilation of hart that so long and daungerous a ioâ—ney entring into the same euen in the most vnseasonable tyme of the yeare And that he might the more freely passe through so Barbarous a Countrey and sauage a Nation and withall to enioy the company and commodity of a Guide in so tedious and vncouth a iourney he maketh himself a seruant and becommeth a Lacky to a certayne Iaponian Gentleman of that Countrey who by chance he met withall trauayling a horsebacke vpon businesse to Meaco accounting it an honourable thinge to serue a Barbarian or Infidell euen in the basest office for Christ his sake Francis therefore running a foote by his Maisters side ouer and aboue the burden of his owne furniture for saying of Masse and administring of other Sacraments he carryed at his backe his Maysters implements and baggage who rode on horsebacke and euen disdayned to carry his owne necessaries himself when he found commodity of another to do it for him Besides the Iaponian when he was to passe through any theeuish place for feare of â—obbing spurred on his horse more like one that were running a race then an ordinary trauayler by the way and this without any compassion at all of his Lacky whome he saw was not able to follow him keeping on that pace especially through such durty and vneuen way and with so heauy a burden on his backe Therefore for the most part he was forced to trauayle barefoote by reason of the many and often slowes and plashes of water he met withall and other little brookes that he was to passe ouer In so much that hauing his feete oftentymes greatly swollen with snow and cold weather he trauayled with exceeding great payne being also partly through running after his Mayster and partly through the weight of both his burdens that he carryed at his backe euen wholy spent and tyred out Besides being
Who likewise had damned to the â—aynes of Hell all those who had not worshipped the â—od they knew not and had permitted also their anâ—estours who neuer enioyed that heaueÌ„ly light to be â—arryed headlong thither Concerning this point â—rancis made it cleare vnto theÌ„ that the diuine Law â—hich of all others is the most ancient was imprinâ—d in the harts of men For the Iaponians euen before â—â—ey had their lawes from the Chineses knew by the â—â—ght of reason that it was an heynous offence to kill 〈◊〉 man to steale forsweare and other things which â—ere forbidden by the diuine law Wherupon if any â—ne had committed any of these crimes he was tormented with the worme of conscience which tooke â—s it were reuenge of that wickednesse This quoth he we may vndoubtedly find to be true in a solitary man who although he should be brought vp in the wildernesse without any learning or knowledge of humane law would not for all that be ignorant of the diuine law concerning Man-slaughter Theft Periury and other the like things And if this were so euen amongst barbarous nations what should we thinke of those that were ciuill and well trained vp Should not they therfore be iustly punished who did violate the diuine law which was ingrafted in them by nature which if they had obserued they should infallibly haue bin illuminated with light from heauen After he had satisfied them with this answere they began by little and little to put themselues vnder the wholsome yoke of Christ Wherupon within the compasse of two moneths there were wel neere 500. cittizens baptized who bewailing the state of their children parents kindred and Ancestours demanded ofteÌ„ of Xauerius whether there was yet any hope or meanes to deliuer them out of euerlasting misery But he with teares in his eyes affirming no exhorted them that they who had the diuine light saluation now offred them should be so much the more thankefull to God for it and should mitigate the feeling of others ruine with the hope of their owne saluation so that Patience might make that lighter which they could not auoid Then turning themselues to other questions they asked him of what figure the world was what coursâ— the sunne and the starres held from whence came theâ— blazing Comets the winds lightning and thunder â—hat force that was which powred forth snow haile â—nd showres of raine Of all which when Xauerius â—ho was very skilfull in Astrology natural Philoâ—ophy had fully declared to theÌ„ the causes they being â—holy ignorant before of all such things stood wholy â—mazed therat admiring both his wit and learning â—auing neuer heard of the like And when the report â—ereof was spread ouer all the Citty it brought also â—â—ch esteeme to the Christian Law that it was much â—oken of not only in publick but also at home in priâ—ate houses This thing also caused no lesse domage to â—â—e Bonzies families then it did good to the Christian â—ause by auerting the affections of many from their â—ountry SuperstitioÌ„s so as some were of opinioÌ„ that â—any Bonzies forsaking their manner of discipline â—â—eir corporall maintenance failing them many of â—â—eir Conuentes would heereby fall to decay to the â—reat aduancement certainly of the Christian cause â—nd how much the Bonzies authority was weakeâ—ed heereby may euen appeare by this in that there â—as neuer a one amongst them all though neuer so â—ealous who was not detained in his former course â—ather out of necessity then for any affection he bare â—nto it There was in Amangucâ—um a certaine Noble man â—o rich wealthy as few in that kind out went him He togeather with his wife exceedingly fauoured â—oth Xauerius and the Ghospell but their too much â—orwardnesse in former times did much abridge them â—f their liberty afterward For they had built many â—ouses for the Bonzies and endowed them with great reuenewes to the end that Amidas to whome they bare special deuotion reuereÌ„ce might be propitious vnto them for the attayning of eternall blisse Whereupon they stood earnestly vpon it that they would neuer by changing their Religion vpoÌ„ a suddain loose Amidas his fauour which they had now purchased with such expences for so many yeares togeather that if this were not which lay heauy vpon their coÌ„sciences they would be otherwise aduised shewing heerin a double folly who hauing once rashly coÌ„mitted an errour had rather still remaine plunged therein then once to rayse themselues out But that which they out of a vaine respect of their ancient institute would not do to follow the glorious faith of Christ was zealously performed by many others who were illuminated with the light of truth The Bonzies therfore being not able to indure this ignominy and disgrace began to be enraged agaynst the Christians and in their Sermons to cast out many impious wordes against God also to belch forth many reproches against Xauerius which suited better with themselues and withall to denounce vnto the Iaponians in a threatning manner that as soone as Iaponia had receiued the faith of Christ it should be vtterly destroyed But these their reproachfull speaches caused more hatred to themselues then coÌ„tempt vnto Xauerius For the Iaponians knowing for certaine that the Bonzies maledictions proceeded out of enuy and malice begaÌ„ not only to find fault therewith but also to fauour the innocent by turning their backbiting into Xauerius prayse and respect towards his person In the meane time Francis making most diligent â—â—quiry whether the Iaponians had had in times past aâ—y knowledge of Christ his Ghospell found both â—y their writings and testimony of the Iaponians theÌ„â—â—lues that they had neuer so much as heard of the â—ame of Christ before his comming which thing as â—ood reason it should gaue thespurre to Xauerius ferâ—ent desire who was of himselfe forward inough in â—reading abroad the Ghospell being exceeding ioyâ—ll that he was come thither for the aduancement of â—eligion that the sound of the Gospell which had 〈◊〉 in heard in the furthest parts of the Land might also â—ow be preached in the vtmost Ilands thereof Many â—herefore being thus brought into the fold of Christ Christianity began greatly to flourish when as there â—apned an accident which caused much furtheraÌ„ce â—onour thereunto There is at Bandua in Iaponia an Academy of very great note both for the fame noâ—â—ility therof as being frequented by more then 4000. â—â—udeÌ„ts One of this Academy a man of good esteeme â—nd renowned for his wisedome and learning vpon 〈◊〉 very memorable occasion became a Christian There were in that Academy a kind of Bonzies who â—aue themselues much to speculatioÌ„ pondering what would become of theÌ„ after this life other such like â—hings wherof many through deep coÌ„sideration came â—â—tlast to be of opinion that there was no meanes in the Iaponians Religion for the sauing of their soules For thus they discoursed with themselues That certainly