punishment was forced partly by the remorse of conscience and partly by his enemies who pursued his life to fly for sanctuary vnto a ConueÌ„t of the Bonzies who amongst the Iaponians are accounted a kind of Religious men to seeke therby as well the quiet of his conscience as a refuge for his safety But this his hope fayled him in both which was finally the cause of his saluation For when he found no comfort nor yet safety amongst the Bonzies he began to be auerted from them to seeke for remedy elsewhere It happened fitly that certaine Portughese merâ—hants had arriued in Iaponia for traffique amongst â—home Alphoâ—sus Vasius who was before acquainted with him vnderstanding the matter for old acquainâ—nce sake offered him freely all the help he could affoard him if he would put himselfe out of danger 〈◊〉 escaping away priuately He againe with harty â—ankes tould him that he would make vse of his liâ—â—erality whereupon Vasius forecasting with himself that his owne ship was for the dispatch of his busines to make there some longer stay commendeth him very effectually by his letters to Fâ—rdinand Aluarez a speciall friend of his being then ready to depart out of another hauen for India And these letters of commendations he giueth to Anger himselfe who going to deliuer them in the night mistooke the merchant by reason there were two of the same Surname and giueth them to one George Aluarez a maister of another shippe which mistake notwithstanding proued well for him For George Aluarez thinking that this occasion of gayning a Iaponians friendship was not to be neglected dissembled the mistake in very courteous manner entertayned him and carryed him along with him to Malaca intending to present him to Xauerius his great frieâ—d there This Aluarez being a pious man out of desire he had to winne Anger 's affection and also the better to dispose him for the Christian fayth recounted to him oftentymes by the way many things of Xauerius eminent sanctity and worthy deeds of the institutes of the Christians Anger therfore desiring much to be acquainted both with Xauerius and his manner of lyfe which he heard so highly commended came to Malaca greatly longing to see and heare him whome by Aluarez report he admired as a diuine man yet a certaine delay which happened much troubled him at first as commonly it falleth out but afterward inflamed his desire the more Anger arriued at Malaca some monthes before Francis his returne from Moluca and vnderstanding that he was absent being disappointed of what he came for resolued to retourne backe againe into Iaponia being much grieued that he had taken so long a iorney in vaine For Moluca is distant froÌ„ Iaponia about 800. leagues lying in the mid-way almost betweene India and Iaponia Taking therfore shipping at Malaca after almost three months sayle he was cast vpon the confines of China some 500. leagues from Malaca There he stayed a while intending to passe thence into Iaponia distant from that place a most 800. miles Departing therfore from China within six or seauen dayes he was come within sight of Iaponia when vpon a suddain a contrary wind togeather with a cruell tempest hindred his going forward tossing him vp downe for the space of foure dayes draue him againe into the same heauen in China where he had taken shipping Whilst he remaineth there vncertaine doubfull what to do not without the infallible prouideÌ„ce of God he meeteth with Alphonsus Vasius the same man who had bin the cause of his departure out of Iaponia And by his persuasion in the yeare 1548. he râ—tourneth againe to Malaca whither Xauerius was â—ow come At his very first landing he fortunately â—ighteth vpon George Aluarez that brought him first â—ut of Iaponia who being exceeding glad for his reâ—urne bringeth him presently to Xauerius and told him what he was what his busines required Then Francis as it were presaging that he would be a meaâ—es to opeÌ„ a way into Iaponia imbraced him louingly shewed manifestly both by his words contenaÌ„ce the great comfort he tooke for his comming thither Anger being not ignorant of the Portughese language began to conferre with Xauerius about his busines without an Interpreter whome he instructed with such diligence in the mysteries and precepts of the Christian faith that he freed him from all scrupulous anxiety of mind and planted in his soule the seed of a vertuous and happy life whereof Anger gaue alwayes good testimony that by Xauerius meanes he had reaped most aboundant fruit both of his life and trauaile And withall he affirmed that the whole course of his iorney was certainly disposed of by God that he might at last imbrace that with greater desire which he had so long sought to learne which manifested it selfe within a short space For being continually present at the explication of the Catechisme and noting downe in a little booke the articles of the Creed he so much profited in short time that he recited the whole by hart in the midst of the people although he were a man of grown yeares moreouer asked many questions and made many obiections with no lesse prudence then sharpenesse of wit The Iaponians in their manner of writing differ much from other natioÌ„s for beginning their lines aboue in the paper they write directly downeward Which Francis perceyning in Anger 's booke wondring at the strangenesse thereof demaunded of himâ— why they did not write according to our manner of Europe Nay quoth he why doe not you rather write as we do who follow the dictamen of nature which teacheth vs so to do For as in a man the head is highest and the feete lowest so he should also in writing bring his lines from aboue directly downeward Xauerius therefore obseruing both by Anger 's words and actions that he was of a notable wit asked him agayne whether the Iaponians would receyueth Ghospell if it were brought vnto them They will not quoth he belieue presently whatsoeuer is tould them but will examen both the religion itselfe and the life of those that preach it And if by their doctrine they can satisfy their demands and â—o confirme also what they say by their owne liues then no doubt being a Nation which is lead most by reasoâ— when they see and approue the same they that be of yeares of discretion wiâ—l easily become â—hristians Xauerius being greatly incouraged by these words of his stirred vp also by the relation of some merchants who recounted wonderfull things of the good disposition of that nation made a resolution to preach the Gospell vnto them Vpon the eight day after Anger came to Malaca Francis being himselfe to visit the neophytes of Comorinum by the way sent him before to Goa with the forsaid George Aluarez to remaine in the Colledge there to be better instructed 〈◊〉 the mysteryes and precepts of the Christian faith Before Xauerius
After the Portughese ships were gone Francis as the property of hope is neuer to giue ouer still expecting the Chinese merchant employed himselfe with neuerthelesse diligence in his accustomed exercises of Charity to gayne thereby by Gods holy assistance the victory ouer Sathan who as he perceyued vsed all the stratagemes he could to defeate his endeauours But God whose counsayles are vnsearchable wayes incomprehensible had otherwise determined of the busines and being content with Francis his endeauour reserued the glory of conuerting the Chineses vnto others who were to come after God being therefore greatly delighted with the inflamed hart and desyre which Xauerius had both to labour and suffer pleased to bestow vpon him rather the reward of all his trauayles formerly taken for his sake which were both many and great then to open the way for him to new And so vpon the very same day which was appointed for his passing ouer into China he fell into a sicknes whereof soone after he dyed His disease was caused by themhumanity of his Host For when the ships departed towards India Francis his Host also changing his mynd and violating the right of Hospitality being eytheâ— taken with some toy the head or prickt forward with desire to be gone departed in all hast without euer taking his leaue of Xauerius his old friend and guest nâ— not expecting a ship which himselfe had lately boughâ— in another Iâ—and of China For Francis according tâ— â—â—is custome going to say Masse was accompanied with â—â—is said Host who leauing that sacred mystery wherat â—e was present and forsaking his guest departed the â—land more like a fugitiue then a friend Xauerius as soone as he had done Masse and made â—â—is accustomed recollection sayd the prayer for the â—ead looking about perceyued that his Host was abâ—ent and inquiring what was become of him anâ—were was made that he was shipt in all hast with the â—est for Malaca Then Xauerius Verily quoth he I am â—frayd that his conscience being guilty of some heiâ—ous sinne suffereth him not to rest in quiet through â—he wrath of God towards him For what meaneth â—his ouerhasty speed Behould the ship which he hath â—ately procured to be bought is hourly looked for yet â—s he loath to expect her But let him go in Gods name â—o Malaca from whence he shal neuer depart for there â—he wretch will soone end his dayes Of these two Prophecies the one was presently verified and the other not long after For they who were present were scarcâ—â—y come out of Church when the ship he had bought vpon a suddayne appeared in sight wherat they were all stroken into admiration and esteemed Xauerius as a â—man sent from God And his Host as was afterward verifyed a few dayes after his ariuall at Malaca goâ—ng into the forrest to prouide himselfe of wood was murdered there by theeues and so made a miserable â—â—nd for that he had byn the cause of Francis his vntimely death But Xauerius knowing he was not long to liue fortold the same to some familiar friends yet after a manner no lesse profitable then admirable As he was one day in an assemby of Portugheses Let vs see sayd he how many we are heere for within a yeare most of vs shall dye This Prophecy was more true then ioyfull For of seauen who were then present fiue dyed that very yeare whereof Xauerius himselfe was one who certaynely both foresaw and foretould that his owne death was at hand For that about the same tyme also he by diuine instinct no doubt 〈◊〉 forgetting all humane things began to haue a great desire to see God which was no small token of theâ— beatitude wherunto he was now approaching Wherupon he wrote in a certayne Epistle That although he had vntill that tyme desired to haue lyfe graunted him for the seruice of Christ and the propagation oâ— his Ghospell yet now those liuely sparkes were grow 〈◊〉 en but cold in him through a burning desire he had oâ— seeing and inioyning the diuine Maiesty CHAP. XI He endeth his life in a most holy manner THE suddayne and vnfriendly departurâ—â— of Xauerius Host constrained him to beggâ— his victuals And so much the more 〈◊〉 his pouerty afflict him by how much 〈◊〉 more scarse all things were made by reason of thâ— strict watch which the Manderino's made who peâ—mitted no man to transport any victualls out of Châ—◠〈◊〉 Which incommodity he most patiently indured â—auing his mynd fixed more vpon Euangelicall poâ—â—erty then vpon his owne necessity wherefore he â—â—ought good not to seek out any new Host but heerâ—fter to prouide his victualls by begging But now alâ—â—ough his mynd being wholy desirous to suffer did â—â—aliantly encounter with so great difficultyes disâ—ommodities of all things yet his body could not â—hoose but be much broken therby being euen worne â—ut as well with age and continuall labours as with â—is late sicknes also whereof he was not as yet perâ—ectly recouered Besides this he was greatly afflicted 〈◊〉 mynd through the care and sollicitude which his â—esire of going into China caused in him Being therefore sicke not in body only but alâ— in mynd earnestly wishing his soule might by â—eath be freed of all her anxietyes about the twelfth â—f Nouember he fell agayne into his former sickâ—es He had scaresly made an end of saying Masse for â—he dead when as a mortall feuer came vpon him to â—pen him the way to lyfe eternall Wherfore sicke â—s he was he withdrew himselfe into the same ship which brought him thither partly to visit the sicke â—herein as his custome was and partly also to take vp â—is lodging there among them yet some few daies afâ—er his sicknes grew so violent that being not able to â—ndure the tossing of the ship he was constrained to â—o agayne to land A Portughese Merchant therefore â—â—eing such a man as he so pittifully tormeÌ„ted with an â—oat burning feuer and lying abroad in the open ayre â—moued to compassion towards him inuiteth him presently in a courteous manner to take a lodging with him and bringing him home to his house which stood alone vpon a litle hill being indeed more turly a cottage then an house vsed him very liberally considering the want of all things at that present And taking a great care of his health he intreated him to suffer himselfe to be let bloud Xauerius although he knew well inough what kind of Phisitians that desert Iland could affoard sayd notwithstanding that for all things which belonged to the cure of his body he would most willingly put himselfe into the Phisitians hands And this he performed with all alacrity and resignation seeking all occasions whereby to exercise his obedience He therfore was let bloud not without great paine and conuulsion of his nerues After which there followed in him a certayne loathing of all meates although indeed there was not any meate to be gotten in the
the companies â—orses and perpetually both at home and abroad in the Hospitalls of the sicke with the greatest affection that could be he tooke vpon him all the basest offices â—herof And when he came to Goa although he were Legate Apostolicall yet he fell downe at the Bishops â—eet and deliuered vp to him the Kings Letters and the Popes Breue which he would not vse otherwise then might seeme fitting vnto him Which modesty of his so gayned the Bishops good will that he did not more reuerence Xauerius authority then admire his Humility But Francis had the Prelates of the Church in such speciall veneration and reuerence that he exhibited vnto them euen diuine honour almost as representing the person of God himselfe vsing with very great reuerence both to kisse their hands and someâ—ymes also to cast himselfe prostrate at 〈◊〉 feete Moreouer such was his singular Humility he not only bare these great respects and submissions to Prelates and their Vicars but also to priuate Priests and Clergy men carrying himselfe rather as a seruant to them all then as Legate Apostolicall Yet his exteriour Humility which is a token of the interiour was not the only marke his affections chiefly leuelled at but rather the interiour it selfe which consisteth in the knowledge and contempt of ones selfe For when in respect of his singular sanctity he was held for no lesse then an Apostolicall Man yet he esteemed himself to be the most wicked of all mortall men as may be gathered out of many of his letters Wherefore being a true Contemner of himselfe he no lesse detested prayse and honour the alluâ—ements to pride arrogancy then others do â—â—ate disgrace and dishonour For he so neglected both honour it self those that gaue it to him that all might playnely see he baâ—e most cordiall affection to that ancient Simplicity which in former tymes was neuer acquainted with flattery or ambition Wherefore he alwayes vsed great diligence to keep such thinges secret which he had done worthy of prayse or commendation and if at any tyme he were for the good of others constrayned to make them knowne he did it in such sort as you would haue thought they had â—elonged to some other not to himself And so wriâ—ing to those of the Society out of the Promontory of â—â—omoâ—â—nuÌ„ of things which he himself had there done 〈◊〉 attributeth the health which many sicke persons â—â—ad recouered by his meanes vnto certaynes Neoâ—â—hyte children whose help he had vsed therein alâ—hough it were neuer so litle Writing also of the heauenly Ioyes which God 〈◊〉 the same Promontory had bestowed vpon them who labour for his sake he recounted what had hapâ—â—ed to himselfe as appertayning to a third person without any equiuocation at all Nor was there any â—hing in him which more declared his singular modeâ—ty then a certaine remarkeable blush which straight â—rose in his face when he heard himselfe praysed as a manifest demonstration of his interiour Humility which we may see sufficiently declared by this one example At his returne out of the coast of Comorinum to God when Iames Borban asked him whether that were true which was reported of him to wit that he had restored a dead man to lyâ—e he was so wholy confounded and out of countenance through shame-fastnesse that Borban taking great compassion of him could not find in his hart to vrge him any further in that point Moreouer he was so farre from affecting titles of Dignity that for the space of ten yeares for so long he liued in those Countryes there was none but the Bishop of Goa only who knew that he was Legate Apostolicall so carefully he concealed the matter Neither did he euer discouer his authority vnto others vntill he was driuen therunto by necessity to curbe the insolent audaciousnesse of the Gouernour of Malaca wherin notwithstaÌ„ding he so moderated his authority that it seemed to be rather Humility then power And for as much as out of the aboundance of the hart the mouth speaketh in all the Exhortations almost which he made to those of the Society he insisted most coÌ„monly vpon the perfect rooting out of Pride and selfe esteeme from their minds And he was wont to say that looke how much any one was in the iudgement and estimation of God so much no more ought euery one to deeme of himselfe although the whole world should otherwise esteeme of him Wherfore he admonished them neuer to extoll themselues for the good opinion which other men had of them and that ballancing themselues in their owne knowledge they should humble themselues and consider that they were far otherwise in their owne conscience and in the iudgement of God from that which they seemed vnto men For they who want the knowledge of themselues are soone puffed vp by the prayses of men thinking themselues to be such indeed as men esteeme them as though they were able to deceaue both God and men This also he was wont oftentymes to say with inward griefe of hart O arrogaÌ„cy the poyson of Christian vertue How much hast thou doest thou and wilt thou hurt the world How contrary art thou to the institute and perfection of the Society of IESVS What a deadly enemy art thou to the pious wholesome endeauours of those that be of that profession â—or he affirmed that none could be a true Child of the â—he Society of IESVS or imploy himselfe faythfully â—or God who did not contemne himselfe and thinke â—owly and humbly both of himselfe and of all his aâ—tions Wherefore as he could by no meanes away with such as too much esteemed themselues who eyâ—her vnder the colour of Humility or for the Nobiliâ—y of their Ancestours desired to be honoured so he â—are an extraordinary affection to such as were truly â—umble contemned both themselues and whatsoeuer els was theirs although they were persons of neuer so meane condition CHAP. IX His Magnanimity of Mind and Confidence in God THIS Humility of Francis did not for all that cause in him so abiect a mynd that he durst not ayme at high matters or aspire to any noble enterprize but putting his whole confidence in God and accounting nothing to be eyther hard or difficile to the magnanimity of his mynd be attempted euen the greatest things For whensoeuer the Honour of God required it he gaue way to no difficulty nor daunger so as he ordinarily attempted nothing which he did not effect or bring to some good passe This indeed is proper to the seruants of God to be humble and abiect in their owne sight but most couragious and constant in the affayres of God This magnanimity of mynd and slighting of all difficultyes dangers appeared manifestly throughout the whole course of Xauerius lyfe And indeed it oftentymes so farre surpassed the vsuall straine of ordinary Fortitude that it might haue bin accounted â—emerity if it had not depended rather vpon diuine theÌ„
with the greatest diligence that could be before the committed them to others of the Society for their further education in vertue And as â—or those of the Society he neuer sent them vnto any â—lace where himself had not first bene and laboured Those also whome he sent he armed with certayne wholesome and proper instructions agaynst inconueâ—iences that might happen vntill they were well acâ—uainted and experienced in those thinges which â—â—mselfe had learned by long practise and diuine inâ—â—inct Now concerning Francis his Prudence being â—o lesse-profitable a Maistresse vnto others then to â—â—ose of the Society it shewed it selfe most of all in â—â—ose Precepts and Instructions wherof I haue before â—poken although I deeme it worth my labour to set â—owne a good part of theÌ„ againe since they may be of â—s great force to teach vs knowledge and prudence as â—hey were to make him admirable Hauing therfore â—onstituted Fa. Paul Rectour of the Colledge of Goa 〈◊〉 his departure he left him these admirable ensuing â—â—structions First of all I pray and beseech you for the loue you â—â—eare to God and for the obseruance you owe vnto â—ur holy Father Ignatius that you will louingly and â—â—ourteously receiue and treate the whole Society of â—ESVS and al the Fathers and Brothers therof coÌ„ming either out of Portugal or already dispersed ouer â—ndia I for my part haue indeed such an opinion of all â—hose of the Society that for so much as I can ghesse 〈◊〉 do not thinke they haue need of a Rectour Notwithstanding that others may neither want a subiect of obedience and that all things may be kept in right â—â—due order I haue thought good that there should be someone to whome the rest in my absence may be obedient Wherfore confiding in your Humility Prudence and Wisedome I haue iudged it expedient that you should be made Superiour ouer all those of the Society in India so as all of our Order in out of Goa shall obey you vntill it be otherwise ordayned Antony Gomez shall be President of the Colledge of Goa and shall gather vp the rents and disburse them vpon necessary occasions as shall be thought fitting In these things I haue giuen him ful power wherfore you shall not therin interpose your authority If you find him to do otherwise then well you shall directâ—â— him by your counsayle rather then by command Againe I earnestly pray and beseech you for the obedience which you owe to Father Ignatius that there may be nothing done which may at any time sow discord betweene you Antony Gomez or affoard subiect of talke either to those of the house or to others abroad And on the other side to indeauour all you can that you may alwayes carry the businesse togeather betweene you with all concord both in willâ— and actions If at any time those of the Society in Câ—morinum or others that labour in the vineyard of Christ shall require of you any thing belonging to the saluation of soules you shall with all speed and liberally prouide them therof And when you write to those poore wretches who are so greatly oppressed 〈◊〉 take heed you write not any thing harshly which may offend them Moreouer to such as labour couragiously for Godâ— cause you shall readily and liberally administer such things as be necessary but especially to those of Comorinum and Malaca who carrying a most heauy crosse beare the burden and heate of the day You shall therfore both carefully speedily furnish them not only with spiritual but with corporall supplyes also requisite for their soules and if any of them come vnto Goa to retire themselues you shall receiue and cherish theÌ„ as beseemeth both your selfe and them And this I charge and command you in Gods Father Ignatius name Moreouer I beseech you deere Brother that you will dayly go on forward in the way of vertue and become a patterne and example therein vnto all men as hitherto you haue bin Write to me also often into Iaponia wherby I may know how all things goe with you and with those of your Family especially how you and Antony Gomez and the rest of the Society do loue agree togeather and of the number quality sufficiency of those Fathers both in natural and supernaturall talents who shall heereafter come vnto you out of Portugall This you shall not fayle to do euery yeare twice to wit in the moneths of April and September You shall likewise take care that some others of the House also to ease you of labour do certify me by writing of such things concerning the Fathers Brothers throughout India which you thinke I desire to know And if any thing require secrecy you shall write it with your owne hand in a postscript Lastly I earnestly request of you that you will make much of these precepts and read them ouer euery weeke once and withall being mindfull of me that you will both by your selfe continually pray to God for me and incite others to do the like Other like precepts he also gaue to F. Gaspar the Low-country man when he was to goe to Ormus to other Fathers who went to labour in India as follow Attend principally to your selfe being very carefull both of Gods honour and your owne Saluation For assuredly if you be vpheld with these two props you will both affoard more help to others be also your selfe the better prepared for humble and religious exercyses You shall therfore instruct the Portughese children and bondslaues and other ignorant persons in the Christian precepts and this charge you shall not commit to any other since it is a thing of so great importance for the saluation of soules and gaining of good will You shall diligently visit the poore and sicke in the hospitall and by telling them that sicknes is most commonly a punishment of sinne you shal gently incite them to examine their conscience and confesse their sinnes Then when you haue leasurely heard their confessions and refreshed them with heauenly food it will be conuenient to commend them to the Prefect of the Hospitall and to help them with such things as they shall want It is likewise fit that you goe oftentimes vnto the Prisons to visit the prisoners and to exhort them to make a generall Confession of their life For amongst those kind of men you shall find many that neuer made a true Confession You shall commend all to the Sodality of Mercy that no iniury may be done to any one for such as be in extreme necessity you shall also begge meanes to assist them therby to relieue them in their misery You shall likewise prouide for the Sodality of Mercy so farre as you shall be able Wherfore when any money is to be restored and is vncertaine to whome I thinke absolutely that you had best giue it to the said Sodality of Mercy For although there want not poore for the
knowledge and learning well knowing that Vertue was absolutely necessary for the ouercoÌ„ming of so many and great difficulties and that Sanctity was of more importance then learning for the conuersion of Ethnicks But where vertue and learning were beautifully combined togeather such he said were indeed singular and perfect preachers of the Ghospell and specially fit for Iaponia and other such places where the Barbarians being a sharpe-witted people do by their subtile interrogations make sound tryall of the Christian Religion He required moreouer in all such as laboured amongst Ethnickes a propension and desire to learne their strange language since without that knowledge there could be small profit made in gayning the Barbarians to the Christian faith or in the instructing of new Christians For which cause the Apostles before they began to teach the Gentils were miraculously endowed with the guift of all tongues And his chiefe desire was that all should be inflamed with ardent zeale of sauing soules so as neuer to omit any occasioÌ„ in that kind but presently to lay hold therof and follow it close He likewise charged them to insist thoroughly vpon the saluation and instruction of the Neophytes to teach Children their Catechisme and aboue all things to baptize children and infants so as none if it were possible might euer dye without Baptisme the only safeguard of that tender age He also exhorted them that by gayning the affection of the Neophytes they might be loued respected by them euen as their parents For loue naturally taketh all things in good part and to one that loueth nothing is hard Furthermore in the instructing of new ChristiaÌ„s they should shew no lesse fortitude then perseuerance as well by enduring their vices as bearing with their weakenesse and as good husbandmen expect with our Sauiour the haruest of the seed they had sowen the fruites of their labours though it were long first knowing that they who sow in teares shall reape in ioy And if they found the Christians at first not to be such as they desired they should carry themselues towards them as good parents do towards vntoward children putting their confidence in God who in due tyme bringeth forth such fruit in men as is to be hoped for wished Wherfore they should attend vnto them diligently since God our common Parent although we infinitely offend him doth not cease to bestow his benefits vpon vs. Yet would he not haue too much time spent with the ancient Christias least the new should be defrauded But if in ciuility their conuersation could not be auoided they should at least wayes bring in discourses of heauenly matters and of things pertaining to the good of their soules that so they being plyed continually with such pious admonitions they might either grow better or else being wearyed out therewith might suffer vs to busy our selues with helping the Neophytes He likewise esteemed more of a little fruit with approbation of the people then of a great deale with offence though neuer so small of any because a little fruit reaped with example of vertue was both of loÌ„g continuance and alwayes receiued new increase wheras oftentymes a great deale with offence vnto the people did by little and little dry vp and wither away Hetherfore charged them to behaue theÌ„selues mildly humbly towards all hauing as the Apostle sayth peace with all men and by all meanes to auoid contentions especially with Religious men Priests and to be mindfull alwayes of Gentlenesse and Affability that so they might gaine all to Christ He vsed also to say that what good soeuer was not gained by vertue could not any way be gotten but by vertue Wherfore they should take great heed that they did not according to the practise of the world seeke or seeme to seeke after dignityes and honours neither by words or deeds endeauour to get the fauour rather of men then of God since the high authority which alwayes accompanieth Vertue was a guift not of men but of God And it often coÌ„meth to passe that whilst by humane fauour neglecting the diuine men seeke to purchase authority and euen sweat agayne to get it they by the great prouidence of God wholy loose it to this end no doubt that they may not haue so base an esteeme of things diuine For they who in procuring the same haue more regard to humane fauour then diuine do manifestly shew they do not respect the diuine honour so much as their owne and that such sacrilegious ambitions wil turne at last vnto their owne confusion and destruction Euery one therfore ought first to haue a speciall care of his owne soule then to help other mens For he that neglecteth his owne will hardly haue a care of anothers saluation neither can he well be mindfull of another who is forgetfull of himselfe Wheras contrariwyse he that hath care of his owne good will also haue a care of his neighbours Wherfore no day should passe without meditation of diuine matters and perfect examination of their conscience obseruing wherin they had fayled in the diuine seruice or in their owne duety and withall consider with themselues how many things God through their default had ceased rather effect then what he had performed by them since the one was an incitement to humility and perfect vertue the other to pride and folly challenging thereby Gods workes vnto our selues then the which a more deadly plague may not be found among religious persons Now for asmuch as he esteemed the education of children to be a mayne principall mayster-piece he ordayned that they should deliuer the Christian doctrine to whole troupes of children togeather neuer omitting so fruitful an employment nor committing it to others They should neuer exasperare or prouoke any child to anger but forbeare threates as they Apostle aduiseth to the end that so tender an age might with the more alacrity imbrace their wholesome instructions Towards magistrates and Ecclesiasticall Prelates they should carry themselues with all moderation and humility and vpon no occasion whatsoeuer maintayne iarres or quarrels agaynst them allthough they should by neuer so great iniuries be prouoked For Magistrates are sooner woone by others suffering then by withstaÌ„ding their authority Wherfore they should communicate vnto them as to the Patrons of their endeauours and labours part of their fruit and gayne attributing vnto them next after God all the good they had receyued so as by this meanes they who labored in the Vineyard of our Lord should haue more helpers and defenders of their labours or at â—east fewer aduersaries He lykewise aduised them to employ themselues no lesse frequently then willingly in the exercise of charity humility by helping the sicke of the Hospital and prisoners the Goales both with charitable attendance as also with almes which they should gather for them but so as their help might profit them both corporally and spiritually For by such exercyses of Charity we shall haue our
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