of his health and the sign of the Cross was no sooner made over him but his whole body became as clean as if he had never been infected with Leprosy The suddenness of the Cure wrought in him to believe in Christ without farther difficulty and his lively Faith brought him hastily to Baptism But the most celebrated Miracle which Xavier wrought in Cangoxima was the Resurrection of a young Maid of Quality She died in the flower of her youth and her Father who lov'd her tenderly was ready to go distracted with his loss Being an Idolater he had no sourse of comfort remaining for his affliction and his Friends who came to condole with him instead of easing did but aggravate his grief two new Christians who came to see him before the Burial of his Daughter advis'd him to seek his remedy from the holy man who wrought such Wonders and beg her life of him with strong assurance of success The Heathen perswaded by these new Believers that nothing was impossible to this European Bonza and beginning to hope against all humane appearances aftâ—r the custom of the distrest who easily believe what they infinitely desire goes to find Father Xavier throws himself at his feet and with tears in his eyes beseeches him to raise up from death his only Daughter adding that the favour wou'd be to give a Resurrection to himself Xavier mov'd at the faith and affliction of the Father withdraws with Fernandez his Companion to recommend his desire to Almighty God and having ended his Prayer returns a little time after Go says he to the sorrowful Father your Daughter is alive The Idolater who expected that the Saint wou'd have accompanied him to his house and there call'd upon the name of his God over the Body of his Daughter thought himself ill us'd and cheated and went away dissatisfy'd But before he had walk'd many steps homeward he saw one of his Servants who transported with joy cried out aloud to him at a distance that his Daughter liv'd Soon after this his Daughter came her self to meet him and related to her Father that her Soul was no sooner departed from her Body but it was seiz'd by two ugly Fiends who wou'd have thrown her headlong into a Lake of Fire but that two unknown Persons whose Countenances were venerably modest snatch'd her out of the gripe of her two Executioners and restor'd her to liâ—e but in what manner she cou'd not tell The Iaponian suddenly apprehended who were the two Persons concern'd in her Relation and brought her straight to Xavier to acknowledge the miraculous favour â—he had receiv'd She no sooner cast her eyes on him and on Fernandez than she cry'd out Behold my two Redeemers and at the same time both she and her Father desir'd Baptism Nothing of this nature had ever been seen in that Country no History ever made mention that the Gods of Iapan had the power of reviving the dead So that this Resurrection gave the People a high conception of Christianity and made famous the name of Father Xavier But nothing will make more evident how much a Favourite he was to Heaven and how prevalent with that God whom he declar'd than that exemplary Judgment with which Divine Justice punish'd the bold impiety of a man who either carried on by his own madness or exasperated by that of the Bonza's one day rail'd at him with soul injurious Language The Saint suffer'd it with his accustom'd mildness and only said these words to him with somewhat a melancholly Countenance God preserve your Mouth Immediately the Miscreant felt his tongue eaten with a Cancer and there issued out of his mouth a purulent Matter mix'd with Worms and a stench that was not to be endur'd This Vengeance so visible and so sudden ought to have struck the Bonza's with terrour but their great numbers assur'd them in some measure and all of them acting in a Body against the Saint each of them had the less fear for his own particular What rais'd their indignation to the height was that a Lady of great Birth and Riches Wife to one of the most considerable Lords of all the Court and very liberal to the Pagods was solemnly Baptis'd with all the Family Seeing they prevail'd nothing by the ways they had attempted and that Persons of Quality were not less enamour'd of the Christian Doctrine than the vulgar and on the other side not daring to use violence in respect of the King's Edicts which permitted the profession of Christianity they contriv'd a new Artifice which was to address a complaint to the King of the King himself on the part of their Country Deities The most considerable of the Bonza's having been elected in a general Assembly for this Embassy went to the Prince and told him with an air rather threatning than submissive that they came in the name of Xaca and Amida and the other Deities of Iapan to demand of him into what Country he wou'd banish them that the Gods were looking out for new habitations and other Temples since he drove them shamefully out of his Dominions or rather out of theirs to receive in their stead a stranger God who usurps to himself Divine honours and will neither admit of a Superiour nor an Equal They added haughtily that 't is true he was a King but what a kind of King was a profane Man was it for him to be the Arbiter of Religion and to judge the Gods what probability was there too that all the Religions of Iapan shou'd err and the most prudent of the Nation be deceiv'd after the run of so many Ages what wou'd Posterity say when they shou'd hear that the King of Saxuma who held his Crown from Amida and Xaca overthrew their Altars and depriv'd them of the honours which they had so long enjoy'd but what wou'd not the Neighbouring Provinces attempt to revenge the injury done to their Divinities that all things seem'd lawful to be done on such occasions and the least he had to fear was a civil war and that so much the more bloody because it was founded on Religion The Conjuncture in which the Bonza's found the King was favourable to them It was newly told him that the Ships of Portugal which usually landed at Cangoxima had now bent their course to Firando and was extreamly troubled at it not only because his Estates shou'd receive no more advantage by their Trade but also because the King of Firando his Enemy wou'd be the only gainer by his loss As the good-will which he shew'd in the beginning to Father Xavier had scarce any other Principle but Interest he grew cold to him immediately after this ill news and this coldness made him â— incline to hearken to the Bonza's He granted all they demanded of him and â—orbad his Subjects on pain of death to become Christians or to forsake the old Religion of their Countrey Whatsoever good inclinations there were in the People
stead for the Mission of the Indies For sometimes that which appears but chance or a purely natural effect in the Lives of men is a disposition of the Divine Providence vvhich moves by secret ways to its own propos'd ends and is pleas'd to execute those designs by means as easy as they are powerful Mascaregnas who had finish'd his Embassy and was desirous to carry with him into Portugal the second Missioner who had been promis'd him was within a day of his departure when Bobadilla arriv'd Ignatius seeing him in no condition to undertake a Voyage apply'd himself to God for his direction in the choice of one to fill his place or rather to make choice of him whom God had chosen For he was immediately enlightned from above and made to understand that Xavier was that Vessel of Election He call'd for him at the same instant and being fill'd with the Divine Spirit Xavier said he I had nam'd Bobadilla for the Indies but the Almighty has nominated you this day I declare it to you from the Vicar of Iesus Christ. Receive an Employment committed to your charge by his Holiness and deliver'd by my mouth as if it were conâ—err'd on you by our blessed Saviour in person And rejoyce for your finding an opportunity to satisfie that â—ervent desire which we all have of carrying the Faith into remote Countries You have not here a narrow Paâ—â—stine or a Province of Asia in prospect but a vast extent of ground and innumerable Kingdoms An entire World is reserv'd for your endeavours and nothing but so large a Field is worthy of your courage and your zeal Go my Brother where the voice of God has call'd you where the Holy See has sent you and kindle those unknown Nations with the flame that burns within you Xavier wholly confounded in himself with these expressions of Ignatius with tears of a tender affection in his eyes and blushing in his Countenance answer'd him that he cou'd not but be astonish'd that he shou'd pitch upon a man so weak and pusilanimous as himself for an enterprise which requir'd no less than an Apostle that nevertheless he was ready to obey the commands of Heaven and that he offer'd himself with the whole power of his Soul to do and suffer all things for the salvation of the Indians After which giving leave to his internal joy to break out and to diffuse it self he more confidently said to Father Ignatius that his desires were now accomplish'd That for a long time he had sigh'd after the Indies without daring to declare it And that he hop'd from those Idolatrous Nations to have the honour of dying for Jesus Christ which had been deny'd him in the Holy-Land He added in the height of these transports that at length he saw that clearly of vvhich God had often given him a glymps under some misterious Figures In effect Xavier had frequently dreamt by night that he carried on his shoulders a Gigantick and very swarthy Indian and opprest with this strong imagination he groan'd and sigh'd in that uneasie slumber as one out of breath and labouring under an intolerable burden insomuch that the noise of his groans and heavings wak'd those vvho were lodg'd in the same Chamber and one night it hapning that Father Laynez being awaken'd by it ask'd him what it vvas that troubled him Xavier immediately told his Dream and added that it put him into a svveat with big drops over all his body Besides this he once beheld either in a dream or in a trance vast Oceans full of Tempests and of Rocks desart Islands barbarous Countries hunger and thirst raging every where nakedness multiplicity of labours with bloody persecution and imminent dangers of death and of destruction In the midst of this ghastly Apparition he cry'd aloud yet more O my God yet more and Father Simon Rodriguez heard these words distinctly but however he importun'd him to declare their meaning he wou'd discover nothing at that time 'till embarking for the Indies he reveal'd the Mystery Such Ideas always present in his imagination fill'd his familiar discourses with notions of a new World and the Conversion of Inâ—idels While he was speaking on that subject his face was on a fire and the tears came into his eyes This was testified of him by Father Ierome Dominec who before he enter'd into the Society had convers'd with him at Bolognia where a strict friendship was made betvvixt them As Xavier vvas advertis'd of this Voyage to the Indies but the day before Mascaregnas departed he had but time enough to piece up his Cassock bid his friends farewell and go to kiss the feet of our Holy Father Paul the third overjoy'd that under his Pontificate a gate shou'd be open'd to the Gospel in the Oriental Indies receiv'd him with a most Fatherly affection and excited him to assume such thoughts as were worthy of so high an undertaking Telling him for his encouragement that the eternal wisdom is never failing to supply us with strength to prosecute the labours to which it has ordain'd us even though they shou'd surpass all humane abilities He must indeed prepare himself for many sufferings but the affairs of God succeeded not but by the ways of suffering and that none cou'd pretend to the honour of an Apostleship but by treading in the steps of the Apostles whose Lives were but one continual cross and a daily death That Heaven had employ'd him in the mission of St. Thomas the Apostle of the Indies for the Conquest of Souls That it became him to labour generously in reviving the Faith in those Countries where it had been planted by that great Apostle and that if it were necessary for him to shed his blood for the glory of Christ Jesus he shou'd account it his happiness to die a Martyr It seem'd that God himself had spoken by the mouth of his Vicâ—-gerent such impression had these words on the mind and heart of Xavier They inspir'd into him a divine vigour and in his answer to His Holiness there shone through a profound humility such a magnanimity of Soul that Paul the third had from that very minute a certain presage of those wonderful events which afterwards arriv'd Therefore the most Holy Father having wish'd him the special assistance of God in all his Labours tenderly embrac'd him more than once and gave him a most ample Benediction Xavier departed in the company of Mascaregnas the 15th of March in the year 1540 without any other equipage besides his Breviary In giving his last adieu to Father Ignatius he cast himself at his feet and with all humility desir'd his blessing And in taking leave of Laynez he put into his hands a small Memorial which he had written and sign'd This Memorial which is still preserv'd at Rome contains that he approves as much as depends on him the Rules and Constitutions which shall be drawn up by Ignatius and his Companions that he elects
because they lead a hard and solitary life having very often no other Lodging than the hollow of a Tree or a Cave and sometimes living expos'd to the Air on a bare Mountain or in a Wilderness suffering all the hardships of the weather keeping a profound silence fasting a whole year together and making profession of eating nothing which has had Life in it But after all there was not perhaps a more wicked nation under the Canopy of Heaven The fruit of those austerities which they practice in the desart is to abandon themselves in publique to the most brutal pleasures of the Flesh without either shame or remorse of conscience For they certainly believe that all things how abominable soever are lawful to be done provided they are suggested to them by the light which is within them And the People are so 〈◊〉 with them that they believe 〈…〉 become holy by partaking in 〈◊〉 â—â—mes or by suffering any outrage 〈◊〉 them On the other side they are the greatest Impostours in the world their talent consists in inventing new Fables every day and making them pass amongst the vulgar for wonderful misteries One of their cheats is to perswade the simple that the Pagods eat like men and to the end they may be presented with good cheer they make their Gods of a Gigantique figure and are sure to endow them with a prodigious paunch If those offerings with which they maintain their Families come to fail they denounce to the People that the offended Pagods threaten the Country with some dreadful judgment or that their Gods in displeasure will forsake them because they are suffer'd to die of hunger The Doctrin of these Brachmans is nothing better than their Life one of their grossest errours is to believe that 〈◊〉 have in them somewhat of Sacred and Divine That happy is the man who can be sprinkled over with the ashes of a Cow burnt by the hand of a Brachman but thrice happy he who in dying lays hold of a Cow's tail and expires with it betwixt his hands For thus assisted the Soul departs out of the Body purified and sometimes returns into the Body of a Cow. That such a favour notwithstanding is not confer'd but on Heroick Souls who contemn life and dye generously either by casting themselves headlong from a Precipice or leaping into a kindled Pile or throwing themselves under the Holy Chariot-wheels to be crush'd to death by the Pagods while they are carried in Triumph about the Town We are not to wonder after this that the Brachmans cannot endure the Christian Law and that they make use of all their credit and their cunning to destroy it in the Indies Being favour'd by Princes infinite in number and strongly united amongst themselves they succeed in all they undertake and as being great Zealots for their antient superstitions and most obstinate in their Opinions 't is not â—asie to convert them Father Xavier who saw how large a Progress the Gospel had made amongst the People and that if there were no Brachmans in the Indies there wou'd consequently be no Idolaters in all those vast Provinces of Asia spar'd no labour to reduce that perverse Generation to the true knowledge of Almighty God. He convers'd often with those of that Religion and one day found a favourable occasion of treating with them passing by a Monastery where above two hundred Brachmans liv'd together he was visited by some of the chiefest who had the curiosity to see a man whose Reputation was so universal He receiv'd them with a pleasing countenance according to his custom and having engag'd them by little and little in a discourse concerning the eternal happiness of the Soul he desir'd them to satisfie him what their Gods commanded them to do in order to it after death They look'd a while on one another without answering At length a Brachman who seem'd to be fourscore years of age took the business upon himself and said in a grave tone that two things brought a Soul to glory and made him a companion to the Gods the one was to abstain from the murther of a Cow the other to give Alms to the Brachmans All of them confirm'd the Old man's answer by their approbation and applause as if it had been an Oracle given from the mouths of their Gods themselves Father Xavier took compassion on this their miserable blindness and the tears came into his eyes He rose on the suddain for they had been all sitting and distinctly repeated in an audible tone the Apostles Creed and the ten Commandments making a pause at the end of every Article and briefly expounding it in their own language after which he declar'd to them what were Heaven and Hell and by what actions the one and other were deserv'd The Brachmans who had never heard any thing of Christianity before and had been listning to the Father with great admiration rose up as soon as he had done speaking and ran to embrace him acknowledging that the God of the Christians was the true God since his Law was so conformable to the Principles of our inward light Every one of them propos'd divers questions to him if the Soul were immortal or that it perish'd with the Body and in case that the Soul died not at what part of the Body it went out if in our sleep we dreamt we were in a far Country or convers'd with an absent Person whether the Soul went not out of the Body for that time of what colour God was whether black or white their Doctours being divided on that point the white Men maintaining he was of their colour the black of theirs the greatest part of the Pagods for that reason being black The Father answer'd all their questions in a manner to suitable to their gross understanding which was ignorant alike of things divine and natural that they were highly satisfied with him Seeing them instructed and dispos'd in this sort he exhorted them to embrace the Faith of Iesus Christ and gave them to understand that the truth being made known to them ignorance cou'd no longer secure them from eternal Punishment But what victory can Truth obtain over Souls which find their interest in following Errour and who make profession of deceiving the common people They answer'd said the Saint in one of his Letters that which many Christians answer at this day what will the world say of us if they see us change and after that what will become of our Families whose only subsistence is from the offerings which are made to the Pagods Thus humane interest and worldly considertions made the knowledge of the truth serve only to their greater condemnation Not long afterwards Xavier had another conference with a Brachman who liv'd in the nature of an Hermite He pass'd for the Oracle of the Country and had been instructed in his youth at one of the most famous Academies of the East He was one of those who was knowing in their most
readiness O my Lord send me wheresoever thou shalt please even to the Indies if thou command'st me Good God how much more happily wou'd those Learned men then live than now they do with how much more assurance of their Salvation and in the hour of death when they are ready to stand forth before the dreadful Iudgment-Seat how much greater reason wou'd they have to hope well of God's Eternal Mercy because they might say O Lord thou hast given me five Talents and behold I have added other five I take God to witness that not being able to return into Europe I have almost resolv'd to write to the Vniversity of Paris and namely to our Masters Cornet and Picard that Millions of Idolaters might be easily converted if there were more Preachers who wou'd sincerely mind the interests of Jesus Christ and not their own concernments 'T is pity that his Letter to the Doctours of Sorbonne is irrecoverably lost for certain it is he wrote to them from the midst of the Indies to engage them to come and Preach the Gospel And for this we have the testimony of Don Iohn Derada one of the chief Magistrates of the Kingdom of Navarre who studying at Paris saw the Letter sent from Father Xavier admir'd the Apostolical Charity with which it was replenish'd and took a Copy of it as did also many Divines to whom it was directed Amongst those Idolatrous Nations which breath'd after Baptism and desir'd to be instructed the Manarois were the first who made a deputation to the Saint The Isle of Manar is scituate towards the most Northern point of Ceylan and at the head of the Sands of Remanancor It has a very convenient Port and is a place of great Trafick But the Soil is so sandy and so dry that it produces nothing unless in some few places which also are cultivated with much care and labour For Manar has no resemblance to Ceylan though plac'd so near it Ceylan being the most delicious and most fruitful part of all the East where the Trees are always green and bear fruits and flowers in every Season where there are discover'd Mines of Gold and Silver Chrystal and Precious Stones which is encompass'd with Forests of Ebony Cynamon and Coco and where the Inhabitants live to an extream old Age without any of the incommodities which attend it The wonder is that being distant from the Equinoetial but six degrees the Air is temperate and pure and the Rains which water it from Heaven regularly once a Moneth joyn'd with the Springs and Rivers which pass through it refresh the Ground in a greater measure than the scorching heats can parch it Father Xavier was employ'd in establishing Christianity in Travancor when he receiv'd this Embassy from Manar As he cou'd not forsake an Infant Church without a reasonable apprehension of its ruine he sent to Manar one of the Priests whom he had left on the Coast of Fishery And God so bless'd the labours of that Missioner that the Manarois not only became Christians but died generously for the Faith and this was the occasion of their Martyrdom The Isle of Manar was at that time under the Dominion of the King of Iafanatapan for by that name the Northern part of Ceylan is call'd This Prince had usurp'd the Crown from his elder Brother and enslav'd his Subjects Above all things he was an implacable Enemy of the Christian Faith though in appearance he was a Friend to the Portuguese whose Forces only cou'd set Bounds to his Tyranny When he understood that the Manarois were converted to Christianity he enter'd into that fury of which Tyrants only can be capable For he commanded that his Troops shou'd immediately pass over into the Island and put all to the Sword excepting only the Idolaters His Orders were punctually executed and Men Women and Children were all destroy'd who had embrac'd the Christian Faith. It was wonderful to behold that the Faithful being examin'd one by one concerning their Religion and no more requir'd for the saving of their lives than to forsake their new Belief there was not one amongst them who did not openly declare himself a Christian. The Fathers and Mothers answer'd for the newly baptis'd Infants who were not able to give testimony of their Faith and offer'd them to the death with a Resolution which was amazing to their Executioners Six or seven hundred of these Islanders gave up their lives for the name of Iesus Christ and the principal place which was consecrated by so noble Blood from Pasim which it was call'd before now took the name of the Field of Martyrs This dreadful Massacre far from abolishing the Christian Law serv'd only to render it more flourishing The Tyrant had even the shame of seeing his Officers and Domestick Servants forsake their ancient Superstition in despight of him But what most inrag'd him was the Conversion of his eldest Son. This young Prince inspir'd of God caus'd himself to be instructed by a Portuguese Merchant who had dealings at the Court which yet cou'd not be so secretly perform'd but that the King had notice of it At the first news he cut his Throat and threw the Body into the Fields to serve for food to Salvage Beasts But Heaven permitted not that a death which was so precious in the sight of God shou'd be without honour in the sight of Men. The Portuguese Merchant buried his Disciple by night and on the next morning there appear'd a beautiful Cross printed on the Ground which cover'd the Body of the Martyr The spectacle extreamly surpris'd the Infidels They did what they were able to deface and if I may so say to blot out the Cross by treading over it and casting Earth upon it It appear'd again the day following in the same Figure and they once more endeavour'd to tread it out But then it appear'd in the Air all resplendent with light and darting its Beams on every side The Barbarians who beheld it were affrighted and being touch'd in their Hearts declar'd themselves Christians The Kings Sister a Princess naturally vertuous having privately embrac'd the Faith instructed both her own â—on and her Nephew who was Brother to the Martyr But while she directed them in the way of Heaven she took care to preserve them from the cruelty of the Tyrant To which purpose she address'd her self to the Merchant above mention'd and intrusting him with the lives of the two Princes order'd him to convey them to the Seminary of Goa This Portuguese manag'd all things so discreetly with the concurrence of the Princess that he escap'd out of the Island with the two Princes undiscover'd He took his way by the Kingdom of Travancor that he might behold Father Xavier and present to him these two illustrious new Converts The Father receiv'd them as Angels descended from above and gave immortal thanks to God for so noble a Conquest He fortify'd them in the Faith gave them excellent
were the Universal Language His first care was to have a little Catechism translated into it being the same he had compos'd on the Coast of Fishery together with a more ample instruction which treated of the principal duties of Christianity He learnt all this without Book and to make himself the better understood he took a particular care of the Pronunciation With these helps and the assistance of Interpreters who were never wanting to him at his need he converted many Idolaters as also Mahometans and Iews amongst the rest a famous Rabbi who made a publick Abjuration of Iudaism This Rabbi who before had taken for so many Fables or juggling tricks all those wonders which are reported to have been done by Xavier now acknowledg'd them for Truths by the Evidence of his own Eyes For the Saint never wrought so many Miracles as at Malacca The Juridical Depositions of Witnesses then living have assur'd us that all sick persons whom he did but touch were immediately cur'd and that his Hands had an healing vertue against all Distempers One of his most famous cures was that of Antonio Fernandez a Youth not above fifteen years of age was sick to death His Mother a Christian by profession but not without some remainders of Paganism in her Heart seeing that all natural Remedies were of no effect had recourse to certain Enchantments frequently practis'd amongst the Heathens and sent for an old Sorceress who was call'd Nâ—i The Witch made her Magical Opeperations on a Lace brayded of many thrids and ty'd it about the Arm of the Patient But instead of the expected cure Fernandez lost his Speech and was taken with such violent Convulsions that the Physitians were call'd again who all despair'd of his recovery It was expected every moment he shou'd breath his last when a Christian Lady who happen'd to come in said to the Mother of the dying Youth Why do you not send for the holy Father he will infallibly cure him She gave credit to her words and sent for Xavier He was immediately there Fernandez who had lost his Sense and lay gasping in death began to cry out and make violent motions so soon as the Father had set his Foot within the Doors but when he came into the Room and stood before the Youth he fell into howlings and dreadful wreathings of his Body which redoubled at the sight of the Cross that was presented to him Xavier doubted not but there was something of extraordinary in his Disease nor even that God for the punishment of the Mother who had made use of Diabolical Remedies had deliver'd her Son to the evil Spirits He fell on his Knees by the Bed-side read aloud the Passion of our Lord hung his Reliquiary about the Neck of the sick person and sprinkled him with Holy Water This made the fury of the Devil cease and the young Man half dead lay without motion as before Then Xavier rising up Get him somewhat to eat said he and told them what nourishment he thought proper for him After which addressing himself to the Father of the Youth When your Son added he shall be in condition to walk lead him your self for nine days successively to the Church of our Lady of the Mount where to morrow I will say Mass for him After this he departed and the next day while he was celebrating the Divine Sacrifice Fernandez on the sudden came to himself spoke very sensibly and perfectly recover'd his former health But how wonderful soever the cure of this Youth appear'd in the Eyes of all Men the Resurection of a young Maid was of greater admiration Xavier was gone on a little Journey somewhere about the Neighbourhood of Malacca to do a work of Charity when this Girl dy'd Her Mother who had been in search of the holy Man during her Daughter's sickness came to him after his return and throwing her self at his Feet all in Tears said almost the same words to him which Martha said formerly to our Lord That if he had been in Town she who was now dead had been alive but if he wou'd call upon the name of Jesus Christ the dead might be restor'd to life Xavier was overjoy'd to behold so great Faith in a Woman who was but lately baptis'd and judging her worthy of that blessing which she begg'd after having lifted up his Eyes to Heaven and silently pray'd to God some little space he turn'd towards her and said to her with much assurance Go your Daughter is alive The poor Mother seeing the Saint offer'd not to go with her to the place of Burial reply'd betwixt hope and fear That it was three days since her Daughter was interr'd 'T is no matter answer'd Xavier open the Sepulchre and you shall find her living The Mother without more reply ran full of Conâ—idence to the Church and in presence of many persons having caus'd the Grave-stone to be remov'd â—ound her Daughter living While these things pass'd at Malacca a Ship from Goa brought Letters to Father Xavier from Italy and Portugal which inform'd him of the happy progress of the Society of Iesus and what it had already perform'd in Germany for the publick service of the Church He was never weary of reading those Letters he kiss'd them and bedew'd them with his Tears imagining himself either with his Brethren in Europe or them present with himself in Asia He had news at the same time that there was arriv'd a supply of three Missioners whom Father Ignatius had sent him and that Don Iohn de Castro who succeeded Alphonso de Sosa in the Government of the Indies had brought them in his company These Missioners were Antonio Criminal Nicholas Lancilotti and Iohn Beyra all three Priests the two first Italians and the last a Spaniard Apostolical Men and of eminent Vertue particularly Criminal who of all the Children of Ignatius was the first who was honour'd with â—he Crown of Martyrdom Xavier dispos'd of them immediately commanding by his Letters That Lancilotti shou'd remain in the Seminary of holy Faith there to instruct the young Indians in the knowledge of the Latin Tongue and that the other two shou'd go to accompany Francis Mansilla on the Coast of Fishery For himself having waited three Months for news from Macassar when he saw the season proper for the return of the Ship which the Governour of Malacca had sent was now expir'd and that no Vessel was come from those parts he judg'd that Providence wou'd not make use of him at present for the instruction of those people who had a Priest already with them Nevertheless that he might be more at hand to succour them when ever it pleas'd God to furnish him with an occasion it was in his thoughts to go to the Neighbouring Islands of that Coast which were wholly destitute of Gospel Ministers God Almighty at that time reveal'd to him the Calamities which threatn'd Malacca both the Pestilence and the War with which it was
to discover the neighbouring Coast. She was three days before she came back and all the Ships Company imagin'd that she had been overtaken by some Hurrican but Xavier assur'd them that she shou'd suddenly return with refreshments sent them by the Portugueses of Sancian and that also she shou'd be follow'd by some Vessels which shou'd come to meet them on their way and conduct them into the Port. All happen'd as the Father had foretold and the Santa Cruz. guided by the Vessels of Sancian arriv'd at that Island twenty three days after her departure from Malacca There are three Islands so little distant from each other that they appear but one for which reason the Chineses in their language call them Samceu a word compos'd of Sam which signifies three and Ceu which is to say an Island The chief of these Islands which the Portugueses have nam'd Sancian has a convenient and safe Port all Crown'd with Mountains and forming a semicircle on that side which looks towards Macâ—â— It has few Inhabitants who are Natives almost no Provisions and is so barren of it self so uncultivated and so wild that it seems rather a place of Banshment than of Commerce The Chineses had permitted the Portugueses to trade thither to buy their Commodities and sell their own to them without breaking their fundamental Law of suffering no stranger to set foot within their Country So that the Portugueses durst come no nearer the main Land for fear of hazarding their lives or at least their liberty Neither was it permitted them to build solid Houses in the Isle they were only allow'd to set up slight Cabins cover'd with Matts and dress'd about with boughs of Trees that they might not always be shut up within their Vessels Amongst these Merchants there was one who was very rich and infinitely charitable but of a gay humour and pleasant in Conversation addicted to all pleasure which decency permits and loving not to deny himself any thing which will make life comfortable For the rest most affectionate to Father Xavier his name was Peter Veglio the same Veglio who was with the Saint at Iapan and who return'd in his Company Xavier being very desirous of his Friends Salvation exhorted him from time to time to mortify his natural Inclinations even sometimes to chastise his Body for the expiation of his Sins Veglio understood not that Latin whether he was too tender of his own person or thought his Sins were not of a nature to deserve such severities he cou'd never find in his Heart to take up the Discipline but instead of Macerations and Penances he gave great Alms and Father Francis receiv'd from him very large supplies for the relief of such as were in want One day the Father having need of a certain sum of Money to marry a young Orphan Virgin who was poor and handsome and consequently in danger of being ruin'd had recourse to Veglio according to his Custom He found him ingag'd in play with another Merchant but the business being urgent he forbore not to request his Charity Veglio who lov'd to be merry made as if he were angry with him and answer'd thus Father Francis when a man is losing he is in no condition of giving Alms and for a wise man as you are you have made a very gross miâ—â—ake in this unseasonable demand 'T is always in season to do good reply'd Xavier and the best time for giving Money is when a man has it in his hand The Merchant continuing in the same tone and seeming to be displeas'd with the Fathers company added as it were to be rid of him Here take the Key of my Chest take all my Money if you will and leave me to play my Game in quiet In the Merchants Chest were thirty thousand Taës which amount to forty five thousand Crowns of Gold. The Father took out three hundred Crowns which were sufficient to marry the Orphan Mayden Some time afterward Veglio counting over his Money and finding the sum was still entire believ'd the Father had not touch'd it and reproach'd him with want of friendship for not making use of him whereupon Xavier proteâ—ted to him that he had taken out three hundred Crowns I swear to you said Veglio that not one of them is wanting But God forgive you added he my meaning was to have parted the whole sum betwixt us and I expected that of my forty five thousand Crowns you shou'd at least have taken the one moity Xavier finding that Veglio had spoken very sincerely to him and out of a pure principle of Charity said as a Man transported out of himself by the Spirit of God Peter the design you had is a good work before the Eyes of him who weighs the motions and intentions of the Heart he himself will recompence you for it and that which you have not given shall be one day restor'd to you an hundred-fold In the man time I answer for him that temporal gâ—ods shall be never wanting to you and when you shall have misfortunes to put you backwards in the World your Friends shall assist you with their Purses I farther declare to you that you shall not die without being first advertis'd of the day of your death After these predictions Veglio was quite chang'd into another man applying himself wholly to exercises of Piety and in the condition of a Merchant liv'd almost the life of a Religious What had been foretold him that he should have warning of his death came frequently into his remembrance and he cou'd not hinder himself one day from asking the Saint at what time and in what manner it shou'd be The Saint told him without pausing When you shall find the taste of your Wine bitter then prepare your self for death and know that you have but one day more to live The Merchant liv'd in Opulence and Splendour even to an extream old age He had several losses in his Trade according to the chance of things which are depending on the Sea. But his Friends continually reliev'd him in his necessities and gave him wherewithal to set up again At length being one day at a great Entertainment and more gay than ever having ask'd for Wine he found the taste of it was bitter Immediately remembring the Prophecy of Father Xavier he was seiz'd with an inward horrour which begining from the Soul spread over his Body as if death had been pronounc'd against him or the Image of death presented to his Eyes Nevertheless somewhat recovering his Spirits for his farther satisfaction in the point he desir'd his fellow Guests at the Table to taste the Wine out of his Glass All judg'd it to be excellent besides himself who made divers tryals of it on his Palat. He call'd for other Wines and another Glass but always found the same bitterness Then no longer doubting but that his last hour was coming after he had made an interiour Sacrifice of his life to
in the Kingdom of Navarre by a miraculous accident or rather by the ceasing of a Miracle In a little Chappel at the Castle of Xavier there was an ancient Crucifix made of Plaister of about the stature of a Man. In the last year of the Fathers life this Crucifix was seen to sweat Blood in great abundance every Friday but after Xavier was dead the sweating ceas'd The Crucifix is to be seen even at this day at the same place with the Blood congeal'd along the Arms and Thighs to the Hands and Sides They who have beheld it have been inform'd by the Inhabitants of the Neighbourhood that some persons of that Country having taken away some of the flakes of that clotted Blood the Bishop of Pampeluna had forbidden any one from henceforward to diminish any part of it under pain of Excommunication They also learnt that it had been observ'd according to the news which came from the â—â—dies that at the same time when Xaâ—ier labour'd extraordinarily or that he was in some great danger this Crucifix distill'd Blood on every side as if then when the Apostle was actually suffering for Iesus Christ Iesus Christ was suffering for him notwithstanding that he is wholly impassible The Ship which was at the Port of Sancian being at the point of â—etting Sail â—or the Indies Anthony de Sainte Foy and Georâ—e Alvarez desirâ—d the Captain Luys Almeydâ— not to lâ—ave upon the Isle the Remainders of Father Francis. One of the Servants of Almeyda open'd the Coffin by the order of his Master on the seventeenth of February 1553. to â—ee if the Flesh were totally consum'd so that the Bones might be gather'd together but having taken the Lime from off the Face they found it ruddy and fresh colour'd like that of a man who is in a sweet repose His Curiosity led him farther to view the Body he found it in like manner whole and the natural moisture uncorrupted But that he might entirely satisfy all doubts and scruples he cut a little of the Flesh on the right Thigh near the Knee and beheld the Blood running from it Whereupon he made haste to advertise the Captain of what he was an Eye-witness and carry'd with him a little piece of Flesh which he had cut off and which was about a Fingers length All the company ran immediately to the place of burial and having made an exact observation of the Body found it to be all entire and without any putrefaction The Sacerdotal Habits with which he had been vested after his decease were no ways endammag'd by the Lime And what was most amazing to them all was that the holy Corps exhal'd an Odour so delightful and so fragrant that by the relation of many there present the most exquisite Perfumes came nothing near it and the scent was judg'd to be Coelestial Then those very people who basely to comply with the brutality of Alvarez had misus'd Father Xavier in his life after his decease did honours to him and many of them ask'd his pardon with weeping Eyes that they had forsaken him so unworthily in his sickness Some amongst them exclaim'd openly against Alvarez without fearing the Consequence and there was one who said aloud what was said afterwards by the Viceroy of the Indies Don Alphonso de Norogna That Alvarez de Atayda had been the death of Father Francis both by his persecutions at Malacca and by the cruelties of his Servants at Sancian With these pious Meditations having laid the unâ—â—ak'd Lime once more upon the Face and Body the sacred Remains were carry'd into the Ship and not long after they set sail esteeming themselves happy to bear along with them so rich a treaâ—â—re to the Indies They arriv'd at Malacca March the twenty second without meeting in their â—assage any of those dreadful Whirl-winds which infest those Seas as if the presence of those holy Corps was endu'd with Vertue to dispel them Before they had â—ain'd the Port they sent in their Chaâ—op to give them notice in the Town of the Present which they were about to make them though none of the Society were in Malacca and that the Flague was there violently raging yet the whole Nobility and all the Body of the Clergy came with Iames Pereyra to the Shore to receive the blessed Body each with a waxen Taper in his hand and carry'd it in Ceremony to the Church of our Lady of the Mount follow'd by a crow'd of Christians Mahometans and Idolaters who on this occasion seem'â— all to be join'd in the same Religion Don Alvarez was the only person who was wanting in his Reverence to the Saint He was then actually at play iâ— his Palace while the Procession was paâ—sing by and at the noise of the people putting his head out at the Window hâ—miscall'd the publick Devotion by thâ— names of Silliness and Foppery afteâ— which he set him again to gaming Buâ— his impiety did not long remain unpunish'd and the Predictions of the man 〈◊〉 God made haste to justify their truth The Viceroy of the Indies upon thâ— Complaints which were brought again Don Alvarez for his tyrannical proceeâ—ings depriv'd him of the Government 〈◊〉 Malacca and causing him to be brougâ—â— to Goa as a Prisoner of State sent hâ—â— to Portugal under a sufficient guard There all his Goods were confiscated to the Kings Exchequer and for himself he was condemn'd to perpetual Imprisonment Before his departure from the Indies he had gotten an obscene disease which increas'd to that degree in Europe that he dy'd of it at last in a shameful manner no Remedy availing to his cure The stench of his polluted Body having first made him insupportable to all the World. As for Pereyra who had sacrific'd his whole Estate for the benefit of Souls and propagation of the Faith though the Governour had so unjustly made a seisure of his Fortunes yet King Iohn the Third restor'd him all with Interest and heap'd his Royal Favours on him in succeeding years according to the Prediction of the Father But the Devotion of the people sail'd not of an immediate reward The Pestilence which for some weeks had laid waste the Town as the Saint had foretold not long before his death in his Letter to Father Francis Perez on the sudden ceas'd insomuch that no infection was from thence forward caught and they who had been infected were cur'd without taking any remedy Besides this contagious disease the Famine rag'd to that degree that multitudes of people daily dy'd of hunger This second Judgment was likewise diverted at the same time for together with the Vessel which bore the sacred Body there came in a Fleet of Ships which were laden with all manner of provisions to supply the necessities of the Town These so considerable favours ought to have oblig'd the Inhabitants to have honour'd the Body of their Benefactour with a Sepulcher which was worthy of him In the mean time whether the
of Xavier But no one in process of time sollicited with more splendour than the King of Bungâ— This Prince who was upon the point of being converted when Xavier left Iapan had no sooner lost the holy man but he was regain'd by the Bonza's and fell into all the disorders of which a Pagan can be capable He confess'd the Christian Law to be the better but said it was too rigorous and that a young Prince as he was born in the midst of pleasures cou'd not brook it His Luxury hinder'd him not from the love of Arms nor from being very brave and he was so fortunate in War that he reduc'd four or five Kingdoms under his Obedience In the course of all his Victories the last words which Father Francis had said to him concerning the vanity of the World and the necessity of Baptism came into his remembrance he made serious reflections on them and was so deeply mov'd by them that one day he appear'd in publick with a Chaplet about his neck as it were to make an open profession of Christianity The effects were correspondent to the appearances he had tow Idols in his Palace of great value which he worshipped every day prostrating himself before them with his forehead touching the ground these Images he commanded to be thrown into the Sea. After this applying himself to the exercises of Piety and Penitence he totally renounc'd his sensual pleasures and was finally Baptis'd by Father Cabira of the Society of Iesus At his Baptism he took the name of Francis in memory of the holy Apostle Francis Xavier whom he acknowledg'd for the Father of his Soul and whom he call'd by that title during the remainder of his life The King of Bungo had hitherto been so fortunate that his Prosperity pass'd into a Proverb But God was pleas'd to try him Two Months after his Baptism the most considerable of his Subjects entring into a. Solemn League and Covenant against him out of hatred to Christianity and joyning with his neighbouring Princes defeated him in a pitch'd Battle and despoyl'd him of all his Estates He endur'd his ill fortune with great constancy and when he was upbraided by the Gentiles that the change of his Religion had been the cause of his ruine he made a Vow at the foot of the Altar to live and dye a Christian adding by a holy transport of Zeal that if all Iapan and all Europe if the Fathers of the Society and the Pope himself shou'd renounce our Saviour Iesus Christ yet for his own particular he wou'd confess him to the last gasp and be always ready with God's assistance to shed his Blood in testimony of his Faith. As the Piety of this Prince diminish'd nothing of his Valour nor of his Conduct having gather'd up the remainder of his Troops he restor'd himself by degrees partly by force of Arms and partly by amicable ways of Treaty His principal care after his re-establishment was to banish Idolatry out of his Estates and to restore the Catholick Religion His Devotion led him to send a solemn Embassy to Pope Gregory the Thirteenth who at that time govern'd the Church Don Manciâ— his Embassadour being arriv'd at Rome with those of the King of Arima and the Prince of Omura was not satisfy'd with bringing the Obedience of the King his Master to the Vicar of Iesus Christ by presenting him the Letters of Don Francis full of submission and respect to the holy See but he also petition'd him in the name of his Sovereign to place the Apostle of Iapan amongst those Saints whom the Faithful honour and declar'd to his Holiness That he cou'd not do a greater favour to the King of Bungo In the mean time the Memory of Xavier was venerated more than ever through all Asia An Embassadour from the great Mogul being come to Goa to desire some Fathers of the Society might be sent to explain the Mysteries of Christianity to that Emperour ask'd permission to see the Body of Father Francis but he durst not approach it till first himself and all his train had taken off their Shoes after which Ceremony all of them having many times bow'd themselves to the very ground pay'd their respects to the Saint with as much devotion as if they had not been Mahometans The Ships which pass'd in sight of Sancian saluted the place of his death with all their Cannon sometimes they landed on the Island only to view the spot of Earth where he had been buried for two months and a half and to bear away a turff of that holy ground Insomuch that the Chineses entring into a belief that there was some hidden treasure in the place set guards of Souldiers round about it to hinder it from being taken thence One of the new Indian Converts and of the most devoted to the Man of God not content with seeing the place of his death had also the curiosity to view that of his Nativity Insomuch that travelling through a vast extent of Land and passing through immense Oceans he arriv'd at the Castle of Xavier Entring into the Chamber where the Saint was born he fell upon his Knees and with great devotion kiss'd the Floor which he water'd also with his tears After this without farther thought or desire of seeing any thing besides in Europe he took his way backwards to the Indies and counted for a mighty treasure a little piece of Stone which he had loosen'd from the Walls of the Chamber and carry'd away with him in the nature of a Relick For what remains a series of Miracles was blaz'd abroad in all places Five or six passengers who had set sail from Malacca towards China in the Ship of Benedict Coeglio fell sick even to the point of death So soon as they were set on shore at Sancian they caus'd themselves to be carried to the Meadow where Xavier had been first interr'd and there having cover'd their heads with that Earth which once had touch'd his holy Body they were perfectly cur'd upon the spot Xavier appear'd to divers people on the Coast of Travancor and that of Fishery sometimes to heal them or to comfort them in the agonies of death at other times to deliver the Prisoners and to reduce Sinners into the ways of Heaven His name was propitious on the Seas in the most evident dangers The Ship of Emanuel de Sylva going from Cochin and having taken the way of Bengala in the midst of the Gulph there arose so furious a Tempest that they were constrain'd to cut the Mast and throw all the Merchandises over-board when nothing less than Shipwrack was expected they all implor'd the aid of the Apostle of the Indies Francis Xavier At the same instant a Wave which was rolling on and ready to break over the Ship like some vast Mountain went backward on the sudden and dissipated into Foam The Seamen and Passengers at the sight of so manifest a Miracle invok'd the Saint with loud