now speake to wit Leo Henriquez is yet liuing in Portugall as a glorious witnes of Xauerius approued vertue The report whereof afterwards as soone as it was spread abroad caused many not only of the Society but euen strangers also to admire his power and reuerence his sanctity There was to say nothing of lesser matters still liuing in Paris euen when we write these thinges a certayne honest and deuout person venerable no lesse in respect of vertue then age This man was wont to make this relation to wit that when newes was first brought of Francis Xauerius death whome he had neuer knowne but by report and heare-say only he felt himselfe wonderfully stirred vp with reuerence veneration towards him Whereupon his wife being at the same tyme sicke and in danger of death by reason of her labour in child-birth yea giuen ouer by the Physitians he recounted to her certayne passages of Xauerius sanctity and vertue and withall persuaded her earnestly to implore that holy mans assistance and no doubt he would help cure her She gaue diligent eare vnto her husbands counsayle and forthwith hauing called vpon Xauerius for help she was easily and safe deliuered of her child And thus were both the mother the child by Xauerius merits freed from present danger of death Nor was Xauerius natiue soyle euen at this tyme without all knowledge of her Child 's great sanctity For it is euidently knowne that his death was by certaine prodigious signes foreshewed in the same place where he had receiued life There is in the Castle Xauerium being the mansion house wherin Xauerius was borne a Chappell wherin is to be seene a Crucifix of exceeding great deuotion and very much esteemed in those parts There hapned at this tyme a prodigious accident miraculous both for sight the euent therof For certaine it is that this Image or Crucifix of our Sauiour being made of wood did manifestly â—weate as often as Xauerius had any great suffrance in India which they of the Castle found out by the letters which he himselfe had sent from thence by calculation of the times But vpon the very yeare wherin Xauerius departed this life it sweat bloud euery friday after for a whole yeare togeather and made an end of sweating vpon a Friday also Which many so interpreted as if it had portended Francis his death after many long and painefull labours vndertaken for Christ his sake who had continually carryed in his body the mortification of the Crosse CHAP. V. Xauerius his feruent loue to Prayer THESE admirable things which as we haue before declared haue as well byn wrought by Xauerius diuine power as other wayes hapned vnto him miraculously were certaine signes and testimonies of the extraordinary vertues and guiftes which the diuine Goodnes had with a most liberall hand heaped vp togeather in his soule For he was not more glorious in miracles then in heauenly Vertues some wherof we will set forth to publicke view which although he vsed all art and diligence to conceale did notwithstanding discouer themselues of their owne accord And these I shall recount more willingly then the former in respect they are not bare tokens alone but liuely examples also of his rare sanctity And wheras those other serue only for admiratioÌ„ these are brought within the compasse of imitation Wherfore to begin with that vertue which is the source fountaine of the rest it is to be obserued that Xauerius was extraordinarily addicted vnto Prayer Meditation and Contemplation of heauenly things For although he had his mind perpetually fixed vpon God and diuine matters yet did he assigne vnto himselfe euery day a set and determinate time which by withdrawing himselfe from al exteriour affayres he imployed in meditating vpon celestiall things But the meditation wherin he chiefly exercised himselfe was vpon the life and death of our Sauiour knowing very well that he might there behould and imitate most excellent and exemplar patternes of all kind liuely represented in that noble maister-piece This most wholsome and fruitfull manner of meditation as being indeed the principall modell of a Christian life and a singular incitement to diuine Charity he most diligently obserued himselfe and commended the same also vnto others imploying all his faculties heerein with no lesse constancy of mind then feruour of spirit The which did neuer more discouer it selfe then whilst he laboured amongst the sick in the Hospitalls For when his other continuall labours would not affoard him any part of the day free for that purpose he hauing his mind more vpon prayer then vpon sleepe did alwayes vse to take some â—owers from his corporall rest that his soule might not be defrauded of her heauenly food and repast such possession had the sweetnes of his discoursing with the diuine Maiesty taken of his hart He ordinarily slept but two or at the most three houres of the night and that in such sort also as his very sleepe was not without prayer For oftentimes in his sleepe he brake forth into these words O good Iesu O my Creaâ—our other the like so as one would haue thought him to haue bin praying and not sleeping It is moreouer certainly knowne that he did not so much as breake off this custome of prayer euen in his greatest imployments in the Promontory of Comorinum for he held his meditation to be the most important affayre which he had in hand At Meliapora also when he lodged neere to S. Thomas his Church as we haue before declared rising in the night tyme he went often into the Church could not eyther by the speeches of men or strypes and other molestations of the Diuells be affrighted or debarred from discoursing with God with whome be often spent the whole night almost in prayer Lykewise at Malaca when he remayned there in a chamber made of Mattes certayne persons moued with the opinion of his sanctity did oftentymes by stealth as themselues did afterwards reporte looke through the chinckes and slifters of the Mattes to espy what Francis was a doing in the night tyme and they found him alwayes though he had byn but immediately before long kneeling at a Crucifix liuely perseuerant in prayer both in spirit and body vntill sleepe seizing vpon him constrayned him by force to yield a while vnto necessity of nature then laying himselfe downe vpon the ground and resting his head vpon a hard stone insteed of a pillow he in that maÌ„ner refreshed his body for a while eueÌ„ worne out with continuall toyle and labour day and night so as one would haue thought him to haue vsed sleepe as a medicine and whilst he tooke his rest to loue nothing lesse then rest But he well knowing that God giueth more fauourable audience to those who pray in places which be more religiously honoured whensoeuer he could find opportunity he alwayes vsed to make his prayer with much more feeling in the Church and therefore he
the Catechisme There was at the same time in that Towne a great mortality and sicknes among the people so as very many came daily vnto him froÌ„ all places requesting him to visit their houses say some prayers ouer the sicke And many also who had none to sollicite for them being extremely sick crept vnto him as well as they could for the same cause Xauerius being moued as well out of his owne compassionate nature as by that pittyful spectacle had a scruple to deny those poore soules so iust requests fearing lost if he should be â—lacke therin the Christian Religion might receiue some detriment therby Therfore he spent much time and tooke great paines in visiting them reading the holy Gospell ouer the sick not in vayne For it is well knowne that very many sick in that sea coast were by him cured many possessed persons deliuered And it is certainly reported that he there restored three dead men to life besides a yong maide of Cangoxima of whome I will speake in her proper place Pun call as we said is a towne of good note in the coast of Comorinum In this towne there dyed a certaine yong man of a good family who being by his frinds brought to Francis and layd at his feete with great lamentation the good Father tooke him by the hand and commanded him in the name of Christ to aryse wherupoÌ„ he presently rose vp aliue This act Xauerius out of his true humility suppressed as much as possibly he could by dissembling the matter but all in vaine For there wanted not witnesses therof nor men to spread it abroad although it were a matter of great moment wherof they were to be the authors And this miracle was afterward confirmed by another the like In the same towne a Christian woman went to Francis and with teares bewayling her misfortune of being left desolate most humbly besought him that he would be pleased to go to her little sonne who had bin lately drowned in a well He bad the woman be of good courage for her child was not dead and presently goeth along with her as she desired As soone as he came to the house he fell downe vpon his knees and hauing prayed a while he made the signe of the crosse vpon the dead body wherupon the child presently start vp from the beere wheron he lay not only aliue but also sound and in perfect health At which miraculous accident the Christians who stood about were all astonished and cryed out for ioy But Xauerius earnestly intreated them by al meanes possible to make no words therof so secretly retyred himselfe from thence They people could not ouercome theÌ„selues as he requested to keep silent so miraculous an euent and besides that Xauerius his dissembling the matter made his sanctity the more to appeare Moreouer to speake nothing of others Iohn Triaga a Portughese a deuout and graue man very familiar with Xauerius being demanded iuridically by the Bishop of Goa his Vicar after the Fathers death testified that himselfe was present at Punicall when Francis raysed to life a certaine boy and also a little girle And withall testified that he had vnderstood by many that Xauerius had restored another to life in â— village called Bembari wherof himselfe had sometymes asked Xauerius although out of humility he seemed so suppresse the matter yet he might easily perceaue it was true which he went about to coÌ„ceale And all this is very sufficiently testified vnder the deposition and seale of the Viceroy of India by the King of Portugals command Now whilest Xauerius thus laboureth about the sick and the dead there wanted not other many and dayly imployments to instruct children conuert the Ethnickes baptize those that were conuerted bury the dead and satisfy those who asked his aduice But the cumbersomnes of the sick by reason of their great â—umber and the bruit which was now spread abroad of those that were cured did so greatly increase daily that it was not possible for one to satisfy all Moreoâ—er as many times it hapneth there arose contentions among the people whilst euery one did striue to get Francis first to their house Therfore to condescend to their iust demaunds without any breach of peace he found out an inuention which was as profitable as necessary to send in his place certaine Christian childreÌ„ fit for that purpose These children by Xauiers appointment going about to the houses first called togeather those of the family and their neighbours then â—auing recited the Creed all togeather they exhorted the sick to haue an assured hope and confidence in God by whose help they were to recouer their health all last when they had stirred vp all that were present to deuotion then they added certaine pious and godly prayers This inuention of his was not in vayne For what by the fayth of the children of the standers by and the sicke and of Francis Author thereof it caused in the diseased health both of body and soule In so much that very many Neophites were therby confirmed in their beliefe many Ethnickes brought to the faith of Christ the force whereof they had experienced by the recouery of their health But if any of the said children could get Xauerius Beades he thought himselfe highly honoured for that infallibly they cured all the sick who were touched therwith wherfore as iewels famous for the wonders wrought by theÌ„ euery one did striue to get them so as being carryed about continually to the sicke they seldome brought them backe to Francis seruing rather to worke miracles theÌ„ to pray vpon And by the meanes of these children he did not only help those who were sicke but assisted also possessed and obsessed persons There was one who being possest was wonderfully tormented by the Deuill to whome Francis being requested to go but could not by reason of other employments sent in his place certayne Children who assisted him in teaching the Christian doctrine with a crosse and tould them what they should do The children went to the possest man and as Xauerius had instructed them gaue him the crosse to kisse and they themselues recited certayne prayers which they knew by hart Whereupon presently to the astonishment of all that were present the possest man was deliuered not so much by the fayth and sanctity of the children as of Francis himselfe The report heereof being spread far and neere with great applause to Xauerius his fame became more remarkable by his humility For these miracles which he wrought by diuine power by sending children vp downe he would not acknowledge as done by himselfe but ascribed them to the faith of the children of the sick persons so as endeauouring by all meanes to debase himselfe and to hide his owne vertue he made the splendour of his sanctity the more appeare Wherfore shining as he did not only with that eminency of
before they had with so great reuerence adored Which great iniury the Diuel certainly would not haue left vnreuenged if Francis had not had as great courage to withstand the danger as to offer him that affront For he stirred vp the Badages agayne of whome we spake before who are no lesse cruell enemies to Christian Religion then brutish sauage by nature against the flock of Christ which as yet was but yong and tender Wherfore a mighty army of these barbarians made a suddaine incursion vpon the borders of Trauancoris began to spoile the villages of the Christians The inhabitants making a dolefull outery togeather with the lamentation of women and children being all in vproue betooke themselues to flight yet with little hope to escape being round beset by their enemies Xauerius for it happened he was then present being stirred vp by the tumult wrought a memorable act For wholy forgetting himselfe by reason of the eminent danger he saw before his eyes he flyeth in amongst them like a Lion and with an vndaunted courage both of spirit and countenance rebuketh those barbarous people who were wonderfully amazed to behold his courage and boldnes since being slaues to the Deuill and forgetfull of their owne freedome and saluation they came so violently to offend others Then as a good Pastour he putteth himselfe into the formest presse of the Christians either to rule his flocke by authority or if he could not do that to dy togeather with them But the Badages although most barbarous cruell could not indure those fiery flames which seemed to shine forth of Francis his couÌ„tenance and face and so for feare and reuerence to his person they spared the rest Yet all this while he was not free from danger of death For the Ethnickes out of hatred to Christian Religion lay oftentimes in waite for him whome notwithstanding he defeated partly by his prudence and partly by diuine assistaÌ„ce as then it happened Vpon a tyme some of them seeking after him to kill him he ranne into a wood where climbing vp into a tree he sate there all night and so escaped their hands being sheltred more by Gods assistaÌ„ce then eyther by the tree or night And his enemies plots against him were so frequent that some of the Neophytes who were most pious and faithfull vnto him kept alwayes of their owne accord watch in the night before his lodging to defend him Notwithstanding the continuall treacheries of these barbarous people he omitted neyther his nightly prayer which scarcely permitted him two houres rest nor ceased from his dayly iourneys of the day eueÌ„ in the heat of the sunne for that going about the Townes he went barefoote in a ragged coate and with an ordinary Hat on his head Yet this carelesnes of his corporall habit did no way obscure the sanctity of his soule but made it more eminent He was now commonly called the Great Father and the King of Trauancoris commanded by publicke Edict throughout his whole kingdom that all should obey the Great Father no otherwise then himselfe The Christians had not at that tyme any Church in that Coast wherfore he was constrained to say masse either vnder some tree or some sayle of a shippe But now it is reported there be built aboue twenty Churches and Chappels in that Country And when he was to preach for want of a pulpit he would froÌ„ some commodious tree speake vnto the multitude which was somtimes infinite For when he went out into the fieldes to preach there followed him many times fiue or six thousand persons His care also was not lesse in augmenting the flocke of Christ then in maintaining what he had gotten That the Neophytes might also after his departure retaine what they had learned vpon his going away he did not only leaue a copy of the Christian doctrine in euery Towne but also taught them the manner how to exercyse it euery morning and euening and for that end appointed a Moderatout ouer them Yet all this time he refrained from too much dealing with those who dwelt vp higher in the hart of the couÌ„try knowing very well that the sea coasts where the Portugheses commaunded were farre more fit to receiue and maintaine the Christian faith then the vpland Country of India where the Brachmans deadly enemies to our Religion had the possession He therfore trauailed all ouer that country lying by the sea side going from village to village euery where baptizing instructing as many as he could in the Christian faith so as now almost all the townes of the Machoa's Paraua's had by Francis his meanes put themselues vnder the sweet yoke of Christ when the report therof comming to the bordering Ilands set on fire the Manarians a neighbouring people to emulate their piety CHAP. XII Neophytes slayne for Religion become an ornament to the Christian Fayth MAnaria is a litle Iland lying ouer against the coast of Pâ—scaria distant from the continent an 150. miles There was therein a village called Patinus at that tyme of litle note but now greatly enobled by the death of many Martyrs The inhabitants of this place had a great desire to receaue the Christian Religion wherof they had heard many notable things reported as well of Xauerius as of the Comorines Wherefore they earnestly inuited Francis to come thither and baptize them But he being imployed about other most important affaires coÌ„cerning Religion and not able to go himselfe sent a certayne Priest in his place to instruct them in the Catechisme and to baptize them Wherupon followed a great storme of persecution which notwithstanding proued very profitable vnto them For the King of Iafanapatana vnder whose dominion that Iland is out of a Barbarous cruelty being also incensed with the hatred he bare vnto Christians was so enraged that sending thither an army of men what by fyre sword destroyed and wasted the whole Towne There are sayd to haue byn slayne at that tyme for Religion more then 600. persons Thus that vast solitude brought forth fresh and fragrant flowers of Martyrs for heauens ornament Since which tyme that place hath reteyned the name of the Towne of Martyrs About the same tyme it fell out fortunately that the sayd King of Iafanapatana his owne brother and heire to the same kingdome fearing his brothers fury had fled to the Viceroy of India promising that if he could by the Portugheses forces be restored to his Fathers kingdome he with his nobles and greatest part of his subiects would become Christians The Viceroy greatly desirous as well to aduance Religion as to reuenge the slaughter of the Innocents was much incensed agaynst the Tyrant Whereupon he presently sendeth a very strong Nauy to Nagapatana which is a sea Towne scituated in the continent ouer against the Iland of Manaria about 200. miles from the Promontory of Comorinum and withal commandeth them to make warre vpon the King of Iafanapatana and
magistrates of whole power they stand in great feare by reason of their extraordinary seuerity There be indeed many other things and those not of common note recounted of the manners and customes of the Chineses which because they make nothing to our present purpose I willingly heere passe ouer Yet I can hardly say whether that custome of theirs be more inhumane or imprudent whereby contrary to other Nations which haue entercourse with one another they debarre all strangers from comming into theiâ— Country vnder payne of death There is adioyning to the sea coast of China an Iland called Sanciana a desert place and without any tillage lying about 70. miles from the Continent In this Iland the Portugheses and Chineses meeting togeather for traffique sake had sleightly built themselâ—â— certayne cottages of straw and boughes to serue them for their present vse Xauerius therfore tending â—o this place for his traffique also as they sayled along by the coast of the Iland the mayster began to doubt whether he were not already past the Port of CunianuÌ„ or no whither he had directed his course to land Yet thinking he was still short thereof sayled forward with good speed when as Francis seeing him in that doubt telleth him that he was already past the Port. Whereat not knowing what to thinke he presently stroke sayle for that Xauâ—rius had yet neuer deceyued him in any thing he affirmed so as deeming that he ought to giue more credit to â—auerius then to himself casteth ancker and causeth the Cock-boate to be let downe into the sea wherin he sent certaine marriners with all speed to make enquiry of the truth Within a few houres after they returned backe together with certain Portugeses in their boat who remained in the Iland certifying them that they were past the Port of Câ—nianuÌ„ as Xauerius had affirmed At which newes the marriners being all stroken into admiration cryed out and sayd that certaynly Xauerius had it reuealed to him from heauen Then weighing ancker and turning their course backe agayne they sayled towards the Port. As soone as it was bruited amongst the inhabitants of the Iland that Francis Xauerius for his name was also famous in those places was coÌ„ming thither presently all the Portugheses runne with ioy to the shore side to meete him When he was landed after they had courteously saluted ech other they contended amongst themselues who should haue so worthy a man for his guest But Xauerias soone decided the coÌ„trouersy without wrong to any and lodged with George Aluarez his ancient and deere friend Then he desired the Portugheses in generall that they would build him vp a litle Chappel of straw and boughes with the least expence they could wherin he might say Masse administer the Sacraments instruct children and seruants in their Catechisme according to his custome They condescended most willingly to what he required and very diligently set vpon the businesse so that within two dayes there was built a chappell for him vpon a hill which runneth downe with equall descent vnto the Port. Xauerius therefore as his ancient custome was began presently to exercise therin his sacred functions with all diligence by comforting sometymes those that were sicke in the ships and at other tymes relieuing the poore with almes which himselfe would beg of the richer sort Sometymes also would he dispute with the Chinese merchants concerning their owne the Christians Religion And in these labours exercises he spent two moneths a halfe with extraordinary feruour of spirit which made him also renowned euen amongst the Chineses themselues no lesse for wisedom then for sanctimony of lyfe In the meane tyme he inquired of the Portugheses Chineses if there could be any meanes possibly found to bring in the Ghospell into China They both answered that it was a very hard matter full of danger seeing that by special coÌ„mand of the King himself al entrances into 〈◊〉 Kingdome were kept with a most strict watch 〈◊〉 al strangers debarred froÌ„ accesse thither vnder paiâ—e of death no lesse to the commers themselues then 〈◊〉 the bringers of them in Moreouer it was not lawâ—ull for any forreyner to touch vpon the Continent â—ithout expresse command of some of the Gouerâ—ours neyther durst the Chinâ—ses aske leaue of them â—y reason of their rigorous gouernement nor were â—he Portugheses able to do it being excluded no lesse â—hen other strangers Wherefore there was neyther â—ortughese nor Chinese to be found who durst vnderâ—o so manifest a daÌ„ger as death or certayne captiuity But Francis as he was of an vndaunted courage eueÌ„ 〈◊〉 those attempts which ordinarily strike terrour into â—thers was notwithstaÌ„ding greatly inflamed through â—he continuall good successe of his indeauours to enâ—ounter with this danger Wherfore seing there was â—o other way to compasse the busines he resolued to â—duenture euen vpon the dangers themselues and to â—ontriue by one meanes or other to be conueyed seâ—retly into some Citty of China that so he might haue â—ccesse vnto the Gouernour deale his busines with â—im himselfe This deuise of Xauerius was generally â—iâ—liked of by all the Portugheses as ouer bold and teâ—erarious Wherfore there wanted not some who out of their friendship and familiarity with him endeauoured al they could to terrify him froÌ„ that desigâ—e dissuading him not to cast himself wilfully into so manifest a danger either of death or perpetuall seruitude For the Gouernours whome the Inhabitants call Lutij and the Portugheses Mandarino's were so seuere or rather harsh and cruell in keeping their Lawes that euen for the least fault they do without any difference of persons beate to death as well Inhabitants as Forreiners Of which cruelty they had lately had a domesticall example of certaine Portugheses who hauing the yeare before bin by a tempest driuen vpon the shore of China had found the Chineses dispositions farre more cruell then the waueâ— of the Ocean where they lay vntill that day in prison and misery cruelly rent and torne with stripes without any hope of deliuery What reason therfore could Xauerius haue to leaue of labouring amongst other nations with certaine and secure hope of great good which might be done to hazard his owne liberty only to intrude by force the Ghospell vpon a nation fierce cruel and this which the Portugeses said was also confirmed by the general consent of the Chinesâ—s But Francis being vndaunted at these things so much doth the force of diuine loue ouercome all humane feare replied That he desired nothing more from the bottome of his hart then euen with his owne death to bring the Chineses to euerlasting saluation For do you not know quoth he being euen taught by experience that feare giues way to hope where the rewards are greater then the dangers can you make any question but that the Citties of Chinâ— if they should once receiue the seed of the Ghospell would yield most plentifull fruit by
tractable nature if euill custome had not corrupted it Being therfore a yonge man of a great spirit with froward and ouer-thwaâ—â— answers oftentimes of set purpose carped at Ignatius and his words yea and sometimes also in very reproachful maÌ„ner scoffed at his excellent piety but he on the other side vsed al the sweet meanes he could to reclaime him from his insolency And not in vaine for Patience at last ouercame Pertinacy And Xauerius being by little and little made tractable by that so gentle courteous vsage began to beare some respect towards to him and at last touched by Gods diuine spirit left himselfe to be wholy ruled and guided by him But it is a great matter to go to God with a free mind wholy discharged of all other affections For Faber indeed contemning all things of this world and hauing now for the space of foure yeares frequented the holy Sacraments according to Ignatius his aduise it was easy to perswade him to cast off all other cares and make himselfe a souldiar in that battaile wherein Christ himselfe carrieth the prime Banner But Xauerius still feeding his mind with vaine hopes imaginations of Honours although he imbraced the same course of life yet stifly resisted the holy Ghost would not follow his Captaine Christ going forth vnto him out of the Campe carrying his reproach He was for other things pious and tractable but in this one thing hard to be dealt with all For which cause Ignatius begged him of God more earnestly with teares which were not lost For Francis his hart being thereby very much â—ollified commeth at last to bend and receauing a 〈◊〉 stroke from heauen concerning the saluation of his soule vpon a time entred into himselfe and began silently to thinke examine what Nature on the one side and what Vertue on the other could say for theÌ„selues Shall I saith he giue eare to God who cals â—akedly follow my naked Sauiour But then I must vndertake an hard and abiect course of life Shall I neglect Gods call and still retaine my Reputation manner of life which I haue begun But then I am in great danger that if I draw backe when God calleth he wil with indignation laugh at my destruction But how shall I be able to beare the bitternes ignominy of the crosse What then shall I rather choose to take part with the enemies of Christ his Crosse whose end is destruction and glory in their confusion with what face shall I looke vpon myne aquaintance How shal I endure to heare what my companions will say But to be drawen from a vertuous and blessed course of life by mens speaches is an argument not only of extreme lightnesse but of meere madnes also What exceeding great sorrow will this vnexpected newes bring to my friends and kinsfolke But shal the loue eyther of Parents or any mortall creature whatsoeuer touch me neerer then myne owne saluatioÌ„ neerer then the loue of God and Christ himselfe With these and such like contrary cares he stood wauering with a perplexed doubtfull mind and hauing spent some dayes in these kind of cogitations at last this coÌ„bat was ouercome he yielded himselfe to God who had vrged him so hard and vpon a suddain changed into another man he began to looke vpon the author and consummatour of Faith Christ Iesus who ioy being proposed vnto him susteined the Crosse contemning confusion And first as by Ignatius help he was raysed vp so by Ignatius help he remained constant in his resolution And from that time being as it were borne a new more ioyfully happily then before he yielded very rare and goodly fruit of Christian perfection being now more like Ignatius then himselfe CHAP. III. His Feruour in the mortification of his body and study of Perfection FOR within a little while he sought with greater desire after mortifications contempt of himselfe then he had before after dignities and honours such for the most part is the property of excellent dispositions to apply themselues wholly to whatsoeuer they take vpon them Francis therfore ayming at the highest toppe of Sanctity began first as the custome is to combat with his owne body For knowing the flesh â—o haue contrary desires to the spirit he resolued to â—ring it vnder that the vntamednes therof might be â—o hindrance to him in the way of Christian perfectiâ—n Wherfore both in his yonger dayes all his life after he did no lesse often theÌ„ zealously vse the ordiâ—ary austerity of fasting disciplines and hayrecloth as fit meanes to tame moderate disordinate affectiâ—ns and to make satisfaction for sinnes And euen at â—is very entrance into this new war-fare he gaue manifest tokens of his noble disposition and courage For being in his yonger yeares accustomed often â—o leap amongst his Equals companions in a field â—eere to the Citty that being then the only sport wherin he tooke delight vpon a certaine tyme he tooke ouermuch content in his owne agility of body wherin he far outweÌ„t all the rest in leaping wherfore as soone as he had altered his course of life although that offence had byn but light yet he mortifyed himselfe for it very seuerely For binding his body very hard with a small cord which caused him intollerable paine he went some dayes together in that manner and to purge his mynd of the pride he had taken therin he exercised himselfe all that while meditating vpon deuout matters that the greatnes of the paine might restraine both his mind and body from the like excesses heerafter And this hard hand he kept ouer his youthfull motions as well to excite and stirre vp his mynd as to make satisfaction for his sinnes As he was once imployed in those pious considerations which we call spirituall Exercises and therin endeauouring by abstinence to bring vnder make subiect the vnruly motions of his body out of a desire he had to obtaine a coÌ„plete victory ouer himself he was carryed something to farre abstayning foure whole dayes from eating any thing A rash attempt indeed but yet faultlesse being excused by the feruour of his new beginning and youthfull yeares For nothing is more hard or a greater step to vertue then the maâ—stry ouer ones selfe but for Nouices and new beginners neuer to exceed whilst they follow the battaile in their feruour is a thing rather to be wished then hoped for Wherfore Xauerius continually striuing with diligent care ouercomming himselfe became euery day to grow stronger therein That which most of all helped him was his often and deuout meditation vpoÌ„ the life and death of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and his vnspeakeable Charity the greatest incitements to the loue of God and christian perfection And the more those pious meditations increased in him the loue of God so the more his hart was set on fire with a desire of sauing soules and suffering of
able to guide his horse whereby he became inuolued in the turnings of the waters was by force thereof carryed away without any hope to escape drowning whereat when others were greatly affrighted Francis his vertue ouercame the daÌ„ger For encouraging others to pray with him to God he himselfe began with all attention And his prayers wanted not their desired effect for vpon a suddaine the page getting out of the maine streame with his horse to a shallow place where the water ranne with lesse force and so taking courage by Gods assistance and his companions who called out vpon him he got at last vnto the banke on the further side of the riuer being as all acknowledged by Francis his prayers deliuered from present death Afterwards as they trauayled ouer the Alpes where being not able to take sure footing by reason of the driuing of the snow and the craggy rockes paches their horses being tyred with no small daunger to their maisters the Embassadours Secretary fell by chance from his horse and was suddainly swallowed vp in a huge masse of snow The place was vpoÌ„ a slippery and steepy rocke vnder which ran a swift torrent The greatnes of the danger stroke all his companions into such a feare that none durst vndertake to assist him least he should rather pull them after him who should go to help him then himselfe be pulled vp agayne so they being all amazed stood still looking one vpon another As they thus stood on commeth Xauerius and regarding anothers life more then his owne leapt presently from his horse and by mayne strength drew him vp out of the snow deliuered him from manifest danger with no small perill of his owne life whereupon the Secretary being obliged to Francis for so great a fauour honoured him euer after as the author of his life and saluation The Embassadour also himselfe moued by these wonderfull acts and also by the sweetnes of his most holy behauiour bare great affection vnto him Francis moreouer did not content himselfe with helping his companions but besides he helped all he met in as much as he was able especially at the lodgings and Innes taking all occasions both by instruction and admonition to incite them to an honest Christian life From that tyme also his singular piety hath left behind it an example of Euangelicall perfection both for religious to imitate and others to admire Hauing past the Pyrenaean mountaynes they were come to the borders of Pamplona where his iorney lay not farre from his owne territory his mother kinsfolkes and friends were not farre out of the way if â—e should let slippe that occasion he knew wel inough that by reason of the great distance from India thither â—he should morally neuer after haue opportunity to see them He knew also that there could not come any hindrance of his iourney eyther by his mother she being a vertuous woman for his good Father was now dead or by his knisfolkes His companions importuned him the Embassadour himselfe vrged him to visit and salute them by the way But Xauerius fearing least some of the company through want of consideration might be afterwards deceiued by his example he could by no meanes be drawen thereunto Thus he shewing an holy hate to his friends both proued himselfe to be the true disciple of Christ and also gaue a document to Religious persons that they should with far greater reason hould their friends for enemies if they went about to hinder them in the seruice of God But least this vnusuall thing should offend eyther the Embassadour or any other of the company who were not acquainted with this kind of heauenly Philosophy he endeauoured by his mild speach and solid arguments to make good to them what he had done Hauing therfore passed Spaine with speed he made like hast with the Embassadour vnto Lisbone where the King of Portugall resided But the Embassadour throgh long and inward friendship and familiarity with Xauier had now gotteÌ„ such an opinion of his vertue that he could not withhould himself from sending an expresse messenger with letters before vnto the King to certify him of Francis his comming and prayse-worthy qualities which caused in the King a great desire to see and honour him which soone after he did ariuing at Lisbone where he was already knowne and much desired through report of his vertues CHAP. X. Beeing louingly entertayned by the King of Portugall he exciteth them of Lisbone to deuotion LISBONE is a Citty wherin the Court is kept not farre from the Ocean sea the greatest without comparison of all Portugall and by reason of an excellent Hauen in the mouth of the riuer Tagus which runneth by that Citty it is a place very populous for the comâ—ing thither of Indian merchandise As soone thereâ—re as he was come thither being glad of his ariuall 〈◊〉 the place from whence he was to embarke himselfe 〈◊〉 India he found Simon Rodriguez his companion who as we sayd was come thither before for this â—rney into India still sicke of a quartane ague and â—apned that that was his sick day A strang thing 〈◊〉 comming to him vpon a suddain imbracing the â—ke man caused in him such ioy that his ague neuer â—er came agayne and so whether through the greatâ—s of the ioy or rather by Xauiers vertue he was quite â—de of his sicknes When he had a litle rested himâ—fe after his trauaile being sent for to the Court he â—nt thither togeather with Simon who was now â—ouered offering both himselfe and all he was â—e to do for the help of the Indians The King haâ—g vnderstood much by his Embassadour of Francis 〈◊〉 great vertue after he had courteously receyued theÌ„ both in a great assembly of the Nobility spake vnto them in this manner Fathers quoth he I am very glad of your ariuall in Portugall for the good of India And I do not doubt but you are as glad of it as my selfe For there is opened vnto you to shew your vertue the great and vast Countries of India which as I hope being carefully and faythfully manured giueth great promises of a most plentifull haruest of soules so great an inclination the people euery where seeme to haue to the Christian fayth I for my part as long as I carry this Crowne will preferre Religion before my Kingdome and then shall I account myselfe King of those Nations when I shall heare thaâ— they are obedient to the King of Heauen Wherefore you cannot doe any thing which will be more gratefull to mee and to God also as I hope then to ioyne all your forces with me for reducing of the East to the faith of Christ our coÌ„mon Lord and Father If I were to deale with other kind of men then you I would exhort you not to feare the difficulties which nature may obiect or the threates of the raging Ocean or the miseries of so tedious yea almost infinite iorney or
the nature of the disease was he seemed to be out of his wits but in matters diuine and things belonging to the soule wherin phrensy vseth chiefly to shew it selfe he was to their great astonishment so well in his senses that he spake not one word which might seeme to swarue froÌ„ reason of such force is the vse and custome of vertue And in this sicknes Francis was not more obseruant of piety then of pouerty He lay in the publicke Hospitall amongst the rest hauing his bed all other things like vnto them There wanted not men of Nobility and Esteeme who wheÌ„ he fell first sick stroue to take him into their houses there to haue care of him and this as earnestly they intreated of him as possibly they could But all in vayne For being a true louer of holy Pouerty in few wordes he thanked them for their courtely but would not accept of their liberality As long as he was sicke he lay amongst the common multitude without any difference at all But the violence of his sicknes was more dangerous then long which being soone mitigated he began to be better This suddain chaÌ„ce did not any whit diminish his alacrity in his resolution but rather increased his diligence and no wonder for now he had learne by his own experience how much sicke meÌ„ stood in need of other mens help Therfore as soone as his feuer began to decline forgetting himself he would with neuer the lesse diligeÌ„ce goe about the Hospitall comfort the afflicted heare confessions endeauour what he could to help the sicke though himself were sick euen at that tyme. Neuer did Francis his benignity shew it selfe with more spleÌ„dour admiration then at this time For the Phisitian visiting as his custome was the sicke that kept their beds light by chance vpon Xauerius who hauing a great feuer vpon himselfe stood notwithstanding by them that lay sick and did his best indeaauour to serue them no otherwise then if he had byn perfectly well The PhisitiaÌ„ being amazed at that straÌ„g accident stood still a while then feeling his pulse and finding him certainly to haue more need of attendance then they whome he serued intreated and earnestly besought him to go to bed and rest himselfe at least vntill his feuer had remitted of its heate and then he might if he would rise agayne to help the sicke Whereupon Francis thinking he was bound to obey the Phisitian yet not to leaue those that were in danger answered That this next night he should haue some occasion with a certaine sicke person who was not well prepared for death and was in imminent danger and hauing secured his saluation then he would take his rest He whome he meant was one of the poorest marriners of the ship who falling mad through a burning feuer had not yet made his confession The next day therefore the Phisitian found Francis talking with the sayd marriner who lay in Xauerius bed and he sate by hearing his confession for hauing fouÌ„d him vpon a suddain lying on the hatches he was so moued with compassion towards him that he presently layd him in his owne bed And it seemeth this straÌ„ge charity of his was honoured with as strange a miracle For as soone as this frantick man was layd in Xauiers bed he returned agayne to his senses And Franâ—is prophecy of his death was not without ground For the very same day towards night he dyed after he had receyued the Sacraments full of great confidence in God And then it was manifestly seene that Xauerius tooke such paines with him because he forsaw him to be in imminent danger both of lyfe and saluation Now Francis being very glad for this marriners safety went presently to bed for his owne health obeying the Phisitian in al things leauing behind him an example of no lesse obedience then Christian charity but as soone as he was recouered of his feuer he againe with no lesse diligence then before set himselfe to his former labours of helping the sick And to perseuer constantly in that which he had begun well happily he still kept on the very same course of these his industrious exercises to the last day of his iourney And in this halfe yeares space for they wintred so loÌ„g at Mozambicum he gaue such proofs of his eminent sanctity that all both inhabitants and they of the nauy held him generally for a Saint Wherefore they doubted not to hold themselues bound to Xauerius for many things which succeeded with them prosperously at the same tyme ascribing alâ—o to his vertue and merits that in so great a sicknes amongst such a number of sick persons so few had dyed at Mozambicum that winter thinking for certayne that his diligent Care lightned their diseases and his Sanctity tooke them away Now the tyme was come that they were to depart and yet very many of the sicke were not recouered Moreouer the Viceâ—Roy himselfe began to feele some grudgings of an ague wherfore making all hast he thought it best to leaue them who for want of health cold not follow him which was almost the whole nauy in the wintering places vntill they hauing recouered their forces might be able to passe into India And so hauing easily persuaded Father Paul Fa. Mansilla to stay at Mozambicum with the sicke he determined to take Xauerius with him who might be to all both a comfort in this iourney and an assured help also if any thing should fall out amisse CHAP. XVI Hauing stayed a vvhile at Melinda and in the Iland of Socotora to the great benefit to the inhabitants he arriueth at length in India THE next yeare therfore in the month of April Sosa the Vice-Roy preparing a great Galeon for his Indian iourney putteth to sea with a strong band of Souldiars commanding the Nauy to follow him as soone as their health would permit With him Francis also departed both the Portugheses and the inhabitants bidding him farewell with many teares and great tokens of beneuolence Sosa hauing a prosperous gale had sailed in few dayes 700. miles or thereabout beyond Mâ—zambicum comming to Melinda a fayre towne of the Saracens yet friend to the Portugheses he staied there a while In this Citty there be very many Portughâ—se merchants of whome if any chance to dye there they are buryed with crosses vpon their graues Also neere vnto the Citty there is a goodly and fayre Crosse of marble guilded erected by the Portugheses which when Xauerius beheld he exceedingly reioyced and gaue thankes to God for that great vertue glory of the Crosse because like a conquerer it triumphed in the middest of the Saracens and in the Diuels Dominion This ioy of his was afterward increased by a memorable accident A principall Saracen of that Citty complayning to Francis that the Religion of the Saracens grew to decay demaÌ„ded of him whether it were so among Christians For of 17. Temples
signes of his propheticall spirit and charity AS soone as he found opportunity of passage whither he intended he put to sea at Malaca hauing Durus aforesaid for his companion vpon the 10. day of Ianuay in the yeare of our Lord 1546. hauing had a prosperous nauigation he arriued at last at his desired hauen but not without many incommodities For the maister of the ship casting about to come to the Iland of Amboynum and now thinking he had gone past the Hauen was exceedingly troubled being out of hope to get to his intended place because the wind was ful against him But Francis bad him be of good courage for the ship was not yet past the place as he imagined and that the next day in the morning he should arriue safe at the port which he desired And so it fell out although they had very ill weather At breake of day the next morning they were in sight of the Hauen But the wind was all that while so boysterous and great that it seemed vnpossible by any meanes to cast ancker therby to set Xauerius a land which was the only cause of their comming to that Iland As soone therfore as they were come to the mouth or entrance of the Hauen vpon a suddaine that blustring wind as though it obeyed Xauerius ceased in such sort that the ship came very commodiously into the hauen But now behould a second danger euen in the very Hauen it selfe Xauerius with a few others had gotten into a litle boate to row to land when as on a suddayne they fell vpon two Pyratical ships The Portugheses who were in the boate with Francis made away with al speed therby to auoyd meeting with the Pyrats And so putting suddainly into the mayne for feare they were carryed a great way from land But now hauing auoyded the danger making towards the land agayne they were put into a new feare least they might perchance meete with the same Pyrates againe Francis therfore fortelling what would happeÌ„ bad them be of good comfort row without feare to shore for by Gods goodnesse they should come safe to land And the euent proued true as he had prophecyed When Xauerius was landed he was very courteously receyued by the inhabitants being also before sufficiently recommended vnto them by fame of his sanctity Amboynum is about some 80. miles in compasse and is an Iland of speciall note vnder the Portugheses dominion much frequented both by merchants and the people of that country It is distant from Malaca aboue 900 miles There were then in this Iland besides the garrison of Portugheses seauen other townes of Christians without any one Priest among them all for he who only had bin there was lately dead Francis therfore going about to those desolate townes baptized many infants and children His manner of going was this Hauing a boy carrying a crosse before him he himselfe asked at euery dore if they had any sick any children to baptize or any dead to bury If he found any sick lifting vp his eyes and hands to heauen he receiâ—ed ouer them the Creed the Ghospell And oftentimes with one and the same labour he cured the sick both body and soule He also solemnly buried them that were dead saying first the vsuall funerall prayers afterwards masse for their soules so that a question might be made whether he more assisted the liuing or the dead But whilst he sought to deserue well of men God out of his prouidence gaue him a very speciall subiect to worke vpon About the same time Ferdinand Soza Captaine ouer certaine Spaniards comming from New Spaine which is a Country in the other world not further distant from Amboynum then from Spaine and going to the Moluca's arriued with his whole nauy at Amboynum There were many ships a very great number of marriners souldiers an incredible multitude of sick besides a cruell pestilence that had taken away many Spaniards whereupon it manifestly appeared that God out of his singular bounty had sent Xauerius before to be ready to assist help them For presently his inflamed charity began to set vpon the violence of that pestiferous disease assisting some by seruing theÌ„ and reconcyling others by the Sacrament of Confession One while he comforted the sick another while he assisted such as lay at the point of death and buried those that died with funerall obsequies Thus he being but one man performed the office of many But his greatest labour of al was to procure of those that had meanes things necessary for the poore and sicke and to seeke about with vnspeakable labour paynes medicines for their diseases whereof in that place there was great scarcity Therefore hauing oftentymes begged such thinges of one Iohn Arausius a Portughese merchant who had great store of such like wares he at last tooke it ill was very angry to see that he made no end of begging So as when vpon a tyme one asked him some such drugs in Francis his name he with much grudging gaue at length what he demaunded but tould him therewithall that he should aske him no more Which thing comming to Xauerius hearing presently by diuine instinct What quoth he doth Arausius thinke that he shall long inioy those things which he hath He is surely deceiued Go tell him from me that he need not be so sparing of his wares which death wil shortly take from him that he himselfe will dye ere it be long in this very Iland and that his goods will fall to the share of the poore therfore if he be wise let him largely bestow what he hath vpon the sicke poore people for Gods sake and make his benefit of that which may help him after he is dead The euent was answerable to what he foretould For not long after Arausius dyed in the same Iland leauing no heyre behind him his goods were distributed amongst the poore according as the custome is there when one dyeth without heyres and Arausius being stroken with the terrour of death which was declared to him to be at hand became more wary of his owne carriage and more liberall also of his drugs to the poore He spent three monthes for so long the Spanish nauy remayned at Amboynum in seruing the sicke to their exceeding great good both of body and soule Yet Xauerius his diligent endeauours were no lesse profitable to the whole then to the sicke For he neuer gaue ouer to drawe out the corruption of their minds both by the medicines of the Sacraments and by priuate and publike exhortations Which labour of his was not in vayne For he reaped indeed plentifull fruite of peace from those warlike people many priuate grudges were taken away many were reduced to see their owne errours to betake themselues to a vertuous life Amongst whome Cosmas Turrianus who came in the Spanish Nauy being moued by Francis his eminent sanctity resolued to
whose barke being finely combed spun and wouen after their fashion they commonly make themselues garments The people are altogether barbarous without any humanity for they haue no signe at all of learning among them But in cruelty they surpasse all other nations and so farre are their Natures made fierce by custome from sparing of strangers as they vse to murder and poyson euen one another after a most barbarous manner There was but one Priest among them who had care of their soules and him they had also killed so as they had bin long without a pastour The Country for the most part is often shaken with terrible earthquakes casting forth fyre ashes beaten vpon with huge waues of the raging sea so as you would thinke that God did punish theÌ„ heerby for their abominable sinnes Wherefore these manifold feares kept all strangers from coÌ„ming vnto them But Francis armed with an vndaunted courage against all dangers omitting as we haue sayd his iorney to Macazaria which was the cause of his comming thither resolued with himself to free them from eternall perdition although it were with euident hazard of his owne life Wherof writing to his friends in Portugall he sayth that to help these wretches with his owne manifest danger he was encouraged by those words of our Sauiour Qui voluâ—rit animan suam saluam facere pâ—rdet eam qui autem perdiderit propter me inueniet eam He that will saue his life shall loose it and he that shall loose it for me shall find it Which sentence he said seemeth very easy and playne in speculation but not in practice vnlesse God himselfe interprete in interiourly in our soule Neuer did his singular courage and confidence in God shew it selfe more then now For when newes was brought to Amboynum that Xauerius meant to go to Maurica the inhabitants were stroken into admiration as well at his vndaunted courage as also with commiseration by reason of the great dangers he was to vndergo And when they vnderstood that he was vpon the point to depart they presently flocke vnto him tell him that that place is rather a receptacle of wild beasts then of men That most of the Inhabitants haue their hands imbrued in the bloud of their Wiues Children Parents and Priests Therfore by Gods manifest wrath they are continually scourged with all kind of plagues both from the land sea and heauen it selfe and for this cause strangers are much more to be kept farre from their fury They moreouer declare vnto him that euery moment almost he was to be in euident danger of his life amongst those people who make but a pastime iest of murdring poysoning one another thirst after nothing more then humane bloud What prudence therfore could it be to preferre such dangerous places before those that were quiet What reason had he being a stranger to trust his life in their hands who as all wel knew tooke no other delight but in killing and murdering one another Whilest his friends stood beating these things into his head the dangers which they obiected touched no man lesse then himself who was to vndergo them But then they began with teares to intreate him not to make so litle esteeme of his owne life and seeming withall displeased they adde lamentations to their intreaties saying what Portughese is there in the world yea what stanger or Barbarian who knoweth Xauerius will endure that the instruction of a base Country should be bought with the hazard of his life Who can now hope that the chiefe stay of the East which ought to be perpetuall will continue long if so willingly he put his life into manifest danger forgetting that he draweth with him the soules of so many nations into the same ruine He should remember how the saluation of all India in numerable other Countries dependeth on his life If he out of incredible fortitude and courage of mind contemned all dangers yet at lest he should not draw with him the soules of so many people into hazard The desire of the common good should ouersway the particular especially seeing it is manifest that it was not worth the labour to instruct so sauage a Nation which had byn forsaken by their Priests not so much for feare of danger as out of despayre to do any good among them Wherfore they besought him for Christ IESVS sake the redeemer of mankind that he would not out of an vncertayne hope to saue a few cast both his owne life and the saluation of innumerable nations into certaine danger but would as well beseemed his prudence and vertue preserue himselfe for the Easterne Church or at least reserue himselfe for dangers answerable to the greatnes of his mind This piety of friends was more gratefull then pleasant vnto Xauerius Imbracing therfore ech of theÌ„ in a friendly manner bedewed with ech others teares he replyed almost to this effect Quid facitis flentes affligentes cor meum c. What do you weeping and afflicting my hart I acknowledge your fidelity and good will and thanke you because you haue omitted no signe of loue towards me But none of these dangers moue me considering what God commaundeth Let God prouide for these things who vndoubtedly is the author of this determination vnder the wings of whose protection I feare nothing at all For to whome may I better commit my person and life then to him who hath the disposing of the liues of all moralls A man that must once dye ought not to feare death which layeth hould on euery one though they feare neuer so much But a good death which is the entrance to immortality is to be desired And if I dye God certainly will not dye who hath both a farre greater desire of the saluation of Nations then I haue can also easily send labourers into his vineyard Neither is the fruite little which shall be reaped in Maurica for that is not to be estemed little where there is occasion of great merit I for my part if there be nothing else to hinder me refuse no perill or daÌ„ger for their saluation which being in hazard I am of duty bound to prouide for Vt fuerit voluntas in caelo sic fiat what is iudged fitting in heauen let that be done Then they out of the vehemency of their loue passing from intreaties to plaine force wonne the keeper of the Castle not to permit him to haue any ship to saile thence The keper therfore indeauouring although in vaine to draw Francis froÌ„ that enterprize aswell by alledging the same dangers as by the terrour also of present death when at last he saw he could not preuayle with him tould him flattly that he would suffer no ship to carry him thence To whome Xauerius replied that he feared neither dangers nor death where the honour of God saluation of soules was to be sought and that he esteemed none for
his dissembled all vntill he came to be throughly acquainted with the man and hauing found out his inclinatioÌ„ which of those Concubines he loued best when he saw a fit tyme for the purpose in a friendly manner as his custome was Why quoth he haue you so many maydes seeing you haue no men If you will follow my connsayle you shall do well to put away one or two of them And when condescending to Francis his gentle instance he had put away one Xaueriuâ— being by him inuited another day to supper by commending what he had done drew him without any great difficulty to put away another In the meane tyme he ceased not priuately to vse all the industrious meanes he could deuise to rid away his deerest minioÌ„ that so hauing weakened his loue to her he might the more easily batter the chiefe hould in which his Incontinency dominiered Some dayes after therfore being agayne inuited to supper he withdraweth from him the third and afterwards the fourth and by litle litle all the seauen one after another and finally bringeth the merchant himselfe being now moued thereto by diuine power to cleanse his soule of his sinnes by Confession and to prouide honest places for the forsayd women vsing heerein no lesse discretion in curing a disease of many kinds then in wholy taking away the causes and occasions thereof The same course he tooke also not only in the Citty but likewise in the ship with men who had no gouernment ouer their â—â—ngue For if at any tyme he heard any one cast forth base or contumelious words he dissembled for the present making no shew of being displeased thereat neyther would he straightwayes reprehend the same but expect alwayes a fit tyme occasion to admonish the offenders least his admonition might therby as oftentymes it hapneth rather increase the sores of festred wounds then cure them He being therefore a Phisitian very skillful in curing of such euils to the end that his patients might quietly abide the applying of his remedy he would first gently insinuate himselfe into his friendship who was to be thus cured then would he take him a side and all alone reprehend him in so sweet a manner as a friend once tould him that he wondred how such mild words proceeded froÌ„ his mouth And by this meanes he so brought the matter about that the offenders not only acknowledged their fault but did sincerely amend it CHAP. XVIII Being carryed in a Pirats barke he arriueth at last in Iaponia in despite both of the Pilot and the Deuill WHILEST he was thus imployed at Malaca in the exercises of Christian charity the tyme approached for his departure towards Iaponia Wherupon eyther through want of a greater Portughese ship or else to prouide for the more security of his Neophites who were to accompany him he ventured to go with a Barbarian Pyrate so secure he esteemed all things with those who rely wholy vpon God For he was afrayd least the three Iaponian Neophytes who went along with him in that iourney might be much scandalized at the Portugheses if they should perceiue them being Christians to offend in any thing Wherefore meeting with an Ethnicke Pirate of China who was not without cause surnamed the Robber he agreed with him that passing by China he should carry him and his companions directely into Iaponia And taking pledges for security yet trusting more vpon the diuine assistance then vpon the fidelity of that Barbaran he aduentureth himself and his company in a litle Barke which they call in their language Iuncus He departed from Malaca in the month of June â—pon the Natiuity of S. Iohn Baptist and had a reasoâ—able prosperous and commodious nauigation alâ—ough his Pilot were neyther industrious nor faythâ—â—ll towards him For he as Ethnickes make no great â—nscieÌ„ce of their promise hauing on a suddain chanâ—d his mind was not willing to go into Iaponia and â—erfore to trifle away the time he stayd at euery IlaÌ„d 〈◊〉 met withall without any reason or occasion Xaueâ—â—s therfore being sollicitous about his iorney when 〈◊〉 saw him of set purpose by making delayes loose 〈◊〉 tyme which was most conuenient for them beâ—â—n to be afrayd least the summer once past he might 〈◊〉 constrayned to stay all winter in some Hauen of â—â—ina Wherupon he earnestly expostulated with the â—â—ayster of the ship put him in mynd of his pledges 〈◊〉 lastly besought and intreated him that he would â—ot breake his promise made vnto the Portugeses But â—hen he could nothing preuayle with the Pyrate alâ—â—ough he was much grieued in mynd yet he suppresâ—d the same casting all vpon the diuine Prouidence which he had alwayes found to be fauourable vnto â—im notwithstanding the detestable Superstitiâ—â—n of the Pilot and marriners did mooue him much â—ore then their perfidiousnes had done For they had 〈◊〉 the ship an Idol to which they very often offred exeâ—rable sacrifices They also oftentymes by casting â—â—otts asked aduise of the Deuill and specially wheâ—â—her they should haue a prosperous iourney if they â—ayled into Iaponia Xauerius was indeed much incenâ—ed heerat could in no case brooke that they should thinke his voyage into Iaponia which he vndertooke for gods sake should depend vpon the Deuils lot pleasure yet relying wholy vpon the diuine Goodnes he contemned whatsoeuer the Deuill could act agaynst him and so by Gods all-ruling disposition they driect their course towards Iaponia By the way there hapned two things worthy of note The first was that Emanuel a Chinese one of Xauerius company being in a tempest cast downe by the extreme tossing of the ship fell headlong into the pumpe which was by chance open and the fall was not without great danger of his life for that he fell both very high and besides stucke fast in the pumpe with his head downeward Euery one therefore thinking him to be dead he was at last with much adoe drawen out and a litle after by Gods help and Francis his prayers came to life agayne In the fall he receyued a wound in his head but the feare therof was more then the daunger for within a few daies he was perfectly cured Not long after this there hapned another chance with the like danger but different in the effect Whilst Emanuel was in dressing his wound by the surgeoÌ„ the ship being suddaynly tossed cast the Pylots daughter ouer board into the sea and being driuen on with a violeÌ„t wind a cruel tempest that immediatly arose there was found no meanes possible to saue her crying out for help And so in sight of her Father and the rest of the marriners the vnfortunate mayde is swallowed vp by the raging billowes Vpon this mischance there ariseth a doleful cry intermingled with a certain howling out and lamentation of the Barbarians which â—ontinued all that day and the next night Now the â—euill who had bin long since spitefully bent against
be accounted a lyar or else that Francis disdayned to come vnto his house he departed in a chafe As he was in the way homeward one of his family meeteth him and bringeth him tydings that the mayd was aliue and in good health Wherupon the man feeling his sorrow in an instant turned into ioy hasteth home with great desire to see his daughter whome he so dearely loued When he entred into his house beheld her aliue and in health he could hardly belieue his owne eyes and with teares trickling downe for ioy asked her by what meanes she was restored againe to life As soone quoth she as I was dead there stood ready at hand certaine cruel executioners who snatching me vp went to cast me headlong into an horrible pit of fire but vpon the suddain there appeared two other singular men by whose meanes I was deliuered out of those executioners hands restored to life againe At this relation of the maid the father stood a while astonished through admiration Then perceiuing manifestly that it was done by Xauerius help he leadeth his daughter to him to giue him thankes Assoone as she saw Francis his companion she stood at first amazed then turning to her father she cryeth out Behould Father these be the two men that rescued me from Hell Then he with the mayd falling downe at Xauerius feete with aboundance of teares gaue him humble thanks who presently taking them vp with ioy of hart willeth them to giue thaÌ„kes to Christ the sonne of God and Author of mans saluation Neither was this great miracle done in vaine For this one mayds restoring to life caused the saluation of many others And the Father daughter and all the rest of that family presently became Christians Others also were by this example mooued to implore Xauerius ayde desired to receaue the faith of Christ Amongst whome there was a certaine Leaper borne of good parentage who had sent one to Francis reâ—uesting him to come cure him But he receiuing the â—â—essage excuseth himselfe in a courteous manner by â—â—eason of his so many other imployments yet sendeth â—ne of his companions to him with instructions what â—â—o do When he came thither he saluteth the sick man â—erylouingly asketh him three times as Xauerius had â—ppointed whether he would become a ChristiaÌ„ And â—â—uing a signe that he would the other presently maâ—â—eth vpon him the signe of the Holy Crosse A wonâ—erfull thing He had no sooner done but the Crosse â—â—stantly wiped cleane away the leaprosy Wherupon â—â—e man was instructed in the Christian faith a litâ—â—e after baptized These things being done in the view â—â—f the whole Citty of Cangoxima were straight carriâ—â—d into India and related to Francis his companions â—â—here not only by Vincent Pereira a Portughese merâ—hant and Xauerius familiar friend a man worthy of â—ll credit although in a matter of such importance â—â—ut by many others also CHAP. IIII. He receaueth nevves of the Martyrdome of Fa. Antony Criminalis NOW whilst Xauerius was reioycing at the happy successe of Christian affayres in Iaponia there came vnto him letters out of India that did somewhat afflict him by which he vnderstood of the death of Fa. Antony Criminalis This man as we said before was by Francis made superiour in the Promontory of Comorinum hauing for the space of foure yeares with great fruit of his labours managed the affayres of Christian Religion in that Coast in the yeare 1549. a little before Xauerius entred into Iaponia obteined the crowne of Martyrdome a reward due to his paynes For when a great band of the Badages inflamed with hatred against Christian Religion had from the bordring kingdome of Bisnaga broken into the coast of Comorinum spoiling destroying all before them the Christians in such a fearefull tumult presently forsooke their villages and houses and began to fly to the Portughese shippes which at that time lay there at anker Antony therfore being in a great throng of women and children and troubled with many cares incouraged those who were afraid to make hast away and withall affoarded his help and assistance to others that were weake and cold not fly so fast In the meane time the enemy approached he fearing least some of the Neophytes being intercepted by the Barbarians might through payne of torments be drawne from the faith of Christ resolued like a good Pastour there to spend his life for his sheep if need required The Portugheses inuited and intreated him to come into their shippes to auoid the preseÌ„t danger but he wholy forgetting himselfe prouided more for the safety of those that were with him then his owne by ridding out of the way those especially women children who by reason of their weakenesse were most in danger Now whilst he freeth others from the cruelty of the Barbarians being himselfe stopped from recouering the shippes for that the enemy had gotten betweene him the shore he fel into their hands Then all burning with the loue of God and hauing his cogitations fixed rather vpon Eternity then vpon this mortall life kneeling downe vpon the ground and lifting vp his hands to heauen offereth himselfe to death with incredible courage and constancy Nor was the Barbarians cruelty lesse then his valour For being thrust through the body with three launces he fell downe dead And it is reported that when they were stripping him as he lay thus grieuously wounded he helped those cruell robbers to draw off his owne cloathes that he might not seeme to hold his apparell faster then his life This newes which could not otherwise choose caused in Xauerius diuers affections For as it grieued him that he was depriued of so notable a subiect so was he greatly ioyed for the Fathers good fortune in receauing the reward of his labours by so noble a Crowne So as honouring the memorable death of this holy man both with teares and prayses he began to hope firmely that the sterility of that field being now watered with the bloud of this Martyr would dayly yield more plenty of fruite Neyther was his hope heerein frustrate For since that tyme the Ghospell hath no where yielded a more plentiful haruest then in the coast of Comorinum so abundant hath byn the increase of Neophytes in that coast no lesse eminent in piety that in sweetnesse of manners CHAP. V. The course of Christian affayres being hindred at Cangoxima he goeth to preach the Ghospell at Firandum Amangucium FRANCIS hauing the like occasion in the citty of Cangoxima met with a farre different condition For when he thirsting after Martyrdome had weakned beaten downe the authority of the Bonzies and that the forward spring of neophites begaÌ„ to make now a glorious shew behold vpon the suddaine a tempest was raysed by the Bonzies which brought great calamity to the Christian cause and which was more heauy to Xauerius then euen death it selfe Many were now by diuine instinct
become Christians and many also by seeing the truth were drawen to imbrace the fayth of Christ when as the Bonzies which thing Francis had long for seene hindred the course of the Ghospell For when they perceaued that by bringing in and increase of Christian Religion the respect both to their Gods and their owne authority came to be set at naught they began in good earnest to be all on fire with rage anger And so thrust forward as well with madnes as by the Deuill himselfe they come in great troopes to their king telling him very resolutely and plainly That he should looke very warily what he did and should prouide both for his owne safety and of the common good whilest it was in his power If he did permit his subiects to entertayne strange Religious their Countrey Gods would certaynly become a mocking stocke euery where and if they were once incensed what could he expect els but that Cangoxima and his whole kingdome would within a while be vtterly ouerthrowne Did not he see that the Christian Religion was wholy repugnaÌ„t to that of Iaponia how it lost euery day so much as the Christian Religion gayned Neyther could he be ignoraÌ„t that where strange ceremonies should be preferred before those of their owne couÌ„try there would be caused extreme sorrow to the country Gods And certaynely it was a lesse fault for the people to offend therein then for the King to winke at others offences The slower that Heauen was in punishing the more enraged would the wrath thereof be when it came For no doubt but the first founders of the Iaponian Religion would be reuenged of Cangoxima for so great a disgrace and that both he his kingdome would be vtterly destroyed for the impiety of a few Wherefore if he had any respect or reuerence of his Country ceremonies or Gods it were wisedome to looke eyther for their fauour or stand in feare of their anger The King being stroken with this speach of the Bonzies being also out of hope of commercement with the Portugheses published presently an Edict or Proclamation prohibiting vnder payne of imprisoment death that all men should keep their CouÌ„try Religion that heerafter none should become Christians But Xauerius hoping euery day that times might grow better calmer tooke great care in looking to his yong flocke And all the rest of his tyme which he did not imploy therin he was accustomed to bestow vpon God with whome he conuersed more then with men esteeming such diuine conferences to be not only an incouragement to vertue but a comfort also in the time of persecution and labour He therfore being a stranger in a Barbarous Citty and which was wholy bent against him endured with wonderfull quiet of mind many and grieuous miseries as well of hungar and cold as of other extreeme difficulties But hauing passed a whole yeare in these labours incommodities when he perceiued there was small or no hope left for increase of the Ghospell at Cangoxima he resolued to depart from thence to some other place Wherfore bidding farewell to his Neophytes he left the protection of them to Paul of the holy Faith togeather with Cosmas Turianus and Iohn Fernandez raysed vp with new hopes intended to passe into the kingdome of Figua whither now the Portugheses had resorted for traffique It is incredible to be spoken what aboundance of teares the new Christians shed vpon Francis his departure from them for al did beare him extraordinary affection as well for many other respects as chiefly for his singular sanctity of life Wherfore weeping in lamentable manner calling him Maister Guide and Father they tooke at last their leaues with infinite thankes for the great paynes he had taken in shewing them the way to eternall saluation There were well-â—eere 800. Neophytes so well instructed that though â—ey were within a few months after bereaued of Paulâ—eir â—eir maister yet they perseuered euery one of them 〈◊〉 the Christian faith seauen whole yeares without â—â—y other guide vntill some of the Society came thiâ—er againe The kingdome of Figua is in that Iland of Iaponiaâ—hich â—hich as we sayd is called Ximus In this Kingâ—ome there is a towne called Firandum about â—00 â—iles from Cangoxima whither he repayed and was â—ourteously entertayned by the Portugheses and by â—heir meanes also by the King himself with whome â—emayning for some dayes he brought well nigh an â—00 of the Cittizens to the faith of Christ And although he repented not himselfe of the paines which he had taken amongst the Portugheses and those of Firandum for he had in few dayes made more Christians in Firandum then he had done in Cangoxima in many monthes yet hauing greater matters in hand and committing the charge of the Neophytes to Cosmas Turianus and taking Iohn Fernandez with him he passeth ouer into the Iland of Iapon intending to go to Meaco But vnderstanding by those who were experienced in those parts that Amangucium a Towne of good note lay in his way he presently goeth thither to sound out and try the disposition and incâ—â—nation of the King of that Country Amangucium is a very ample and famous sea Towne scituated in that part of Iaponia which as we said is properly called Iapon For there the King of that Country hath his Royall seate who being very wealthy potent striueth for the Empire with the King of Meaco who is accounted the greatest King of all the rest That towne of Amangucium according to the fashion of that country is built of tymber conteyning in it to the number of 10000. families and is distant from Firandum almost 300. miles As soone therfore as Xauerius came thither he found very many of the Nobility and more of the vulgar sort desirous to know the Christian Religion wherof they had long since heard many things by report He therfore obserued this order that twice euery day at the corners of streetes and in crosse wayes before a great concourse of people he explicated the Ghospel of Christ out of a written paper for he had not yet gotten the Iaponian language perfectly yet all did not with the like prosperous successe giue eare vnto the word of God many did indeed hearken very willingly thereto but more contemned the same some also laughed thereat in skornefull manner In so much that when Xauerius went along in the steetes a great company of boyes and baser people followed and mocked him as though he had byn out of his wits repeating also in a scoffing manner many words of the sacred mysteryes and Christian lawes which he had read vnto him All which things he bare patiently ioyfully not considering so much the reproach as the cause thereof so as he did much more good by his patient suffering then by words For the wiser sort of his auditours seeing playnly that he was no foole admired at his singular patience and quietnesse of mynd in the
midst of such disgracefull reproaches and conâ—â—melious words especially when they heard that he â—as come out of Europe into Iaponia through such â—uge and vast seas for no other end but only out of â—â—ale to teach them a new Religion At last his strange vertue sanctity of lyfe began 〈◊〉 be held in great admiration and reuerence and to â—anifest it selfe not only by words but by deeds also â—hereupon many Noblemen desirous to know more â—rticularly what Religion that was which he had â—ought out of the other world sent for him home to â—eir houses promising of their owne accord that 〈◊〉 he could yield good reasons of those ceremonies â—hich he had introduced amongst them they would â—referre them before those of their owne Country â—ut this indeed was now a businesse not consisting 〈◊〉 the wil or any indeauour of ours but in the mercy â—f God There were diuers others also who heard these â—hings but most of them attended therto more with â—heir corporall eares then with any interiour desire â—hey had to imbrace them Xauerius hauing thus spent â—ome dayes in the streetes and in priuate houses not without fruit was at last sent for by the King himâ—elfe who demaunded of him his Country and the cause of his comming into Iaponia He answered that â—e was a Spaniard borne and came thither to preach â—nto them the law of God out of the care and zeale which he had of their saluation For that none could be saued who did not acknowledge God the Creatour of this vniuersall World and Iesus Christ his only Sonne the Sauiour of all Nations and moreouer keep his diuine lawes and Precepts Whereupon being commaÌ„ded by the King to declare what that law was he willingly obeyed began to recite the same out of the booke which he had written He was heard with great attention and admiration for the space of an hower or there about But the barbarous King being better disposed to heare then to performe those heauenly things was carelesse of what was sayd Xauerius then applying himselfe againe to his former function of preaching as custome doth by little and little qualify the most vnruly dispositions found the minds of the people more indifferently disposed and began to reape more fruit of his labours For that now very many gaue willing eare to the admirable passages of our Sauiours life which he recounted But when he came to relate his bitter torments and most vnworthy death they could not conteine themselues from weping the same seeming euen to the Barbarians harts so greatly to deserue compassion Thus Mercy it selfe opened the way vnto Religion some began already to be Christians But Francis thinking it not worth his labour to remaine any longer in that Citty determined to go vnto Meaco with intention to demand of that King who by reason of the amplitude of his Empire is called the great King permissioÌ„ to preach the Ghospell For he had vnderstood that Meaco was the noblest and chiefest Citty of all Iapon and very famous as wel for the greatnes therof as for the fame of the Colledges being also a prime Academy multitude of ConueÌ„ts therin in so much that at his first entrance into Iaponia he was in the mind to haue gone directly thither But God fauouring those of Cangoxima the ships as we said before arriued thither first where hopes of good successe for the Christian Cause had longer deteyned him then the fruit which he reaped therby Being resolued therfore to go vnto Meaco he tooke with him for his companions Iohn Fernandez of the Society and Bernard a Neophyte of Iaponia a sincere good man the first that became Christian at Cangoxima CHAP. VI. Of the great paynes vvhich he tooke in his iourney to Meaco THE Citty of Meaco standeth almost in the midst of the Iland as it were the Nauil of Iapon It is distant from Amungucium which is scituate in the first entraÌ„ce of the Iland not aboue 150. miles by a direct lyne But the way of passing thither is much longer by reason of the montaynes and the many turnings windings about those narrow armes of the sea Thither did Xauerius direct his iorney in the yeare 1550. and month of October at what tyme the weather is very could and bitter in Iapon The way was then not only rough and craggy but couered also with perpetuall snow which the hard frosty winter had congealed togeather Throughout the woods there hunge downe from the trees as it were certaine ysicles like beames of cogealed Snow and Ice threatning death and destruction to all passengers who trauayled that way Besides this there was no small daunger in respect of the continuall ciuill warres wherewith the whole Country was then exceedingly pestered as also of the great number of theeues wherewith those woods and wayes were ordinarily yea daily haunted and infested Notwithstanding all these many other vnspeakable miseries of the way Xauerius hauing his mynd wholy fixed vpon the Diuine Prouidence and Saluation of Soules vndertooke with incredible ioy and iubilation of hart that so long and daungerous a ioâ—ney entring into the same euen in the most vnseasonable tyme of the yeare And that he might the more freely passe through so Barbarous a Countrey and sauage a Nation and withall to enioy the company and commodity of a Guide in so tedious and vncouth a iourney he maketh himself a seruant and becommeth a Lacky to a certayne Iaponian Gentleman of that Countrey who by chance he met withall trauayling a horsebacke vpon businesse to Meaco accounting it an honourable thinge to serue a Barbarian or Infidell euen in the basest office for Christ his sake Francis therefore running a foote by his Maisters side ouer and aboue the burden of his owne furniture for saying of Masse and administring of other Sacraments he carryed at his backe his Maysters implements and baggage who rode on horsebacke and euen disdayned to carry his owne necessaries himself when he found commodity of another to do it for him Besides the Iaponian when he was to passe through any theeuish place for feare of â—obbing spurred on his horse more like one that were running a race then an ordinary trauayler by the way and this without any compassion at all of his Lacky whome he saw was not able to follow him keeping on that pace especially through such durty and vneuen way and with so heauy a burden on his backe Therefore for the most part he was forced to trauayle barefoote by reason of the many and often slowes and plashes of water he met withall and other little brookes that he was to passe ouer In so much that hauing his feete oftentymes greatly swollen with snow and cold weather he trauayled with exceeding great payne being also partly through running after his Mayster and partly through the weight of both his burdens that he carryed at his backe euen wholy spent and tyred out Besides being
wherwith the Name of the Bonzies was for euer branded droue them presently into a tumult and vprore Wherupon the dores of all the Temples in the Royall Citty were shut and an Interdict put vpon the people Nobility so as now the businesse was come vnto a commotion amongst the vulgar when as the King by his prudent dissembling the matter did easily allay both the tumult of the one and sedition of the other In this meane time the Portugeses partly fearing the vprore of the common people and partly the Bonzies rage had with-drawne themselues into the Hauen counsayling Xauerius also to giue way vnto the time quit himself of the present danger But he alleadging that the Cathecumens would be therby left succourlesse and desolate vtterly refused Wherupon the Portugheses being in great care and sollicitude least they should leaue so worthy a man in the hands of Barbarians thought it very expedient that Gama himself should go backe into the Citty to draw him thence before any mischance hapned vnto him and in the meane tyme they would expect him in the Road vntill he returned backe with Xauerius 〈◊〉 therfore hastning to the Citty in a little boate findeth Francis in a poore Cottage instructing one of that Country who was preparing himselfe for baptisme and sheweth him the charge which the Portugheses had giuen him to fetch him away sometimes alleadging reasons for the same then againe intreaâ—ing him that he would auoyd the present storme of persecution which was comming vpon him from the Bonzieâ— But Xauerius being endowed not only with an vndaunted courage against dangers out desirous also to encounter euen with death it selfe for Christ his sake O how fortunate quoth he would he be if any one of vs should chance to suffer that which you are so much afrayd of I for my part know well inough that I 〈◊〉 not worthy of so great an honour yet if the diuine bounty please to bestow such a fauour vpon me although not deseruing it God forbid I should refuse it Wherfore in that you aduise me so earnestly to prouide for my selfe by flying away I thanke you acknowledge my selfe much obliged to you for your great loue but I neither may nor can in conscience do as you counsaile me For what greater calamity caÌ„ befall those whome we haue lately begotten vnto Christ then being forsaken by their Father to be exposed to the rage and fury of the Bonzies And what can be more gratefull to the Bonzies then for him to giue backe to their threats who neuer shruncke at their arguments and by disgracefully flying away to loose the honour of the victory already gotten against them and to leaue the spoyle behind vs As for my selfe I will neuer by Gods grace suffer that my feare may be an incouragement to the wicked atteÌ„pts of Christ enemies For we haue to deale with those who be terrified by our confidence and confirmed in their presumption when they perceiue vs once to be afrayd G. e too therfore since now you know what my absolute determination resolution is returne backe to your Companions who expect you I see well how much you are bound to assist them in their merchandize but I know withall what obligation I haue to so bountiful and mercyfull a God who for my sake other mens saluation hath suffred death yea the death of the Crosse This he spake with weeping eyes and with such forcible words and so inward a feeling that Gama not daring to reply one word to the contrary like a man wholy amazed returned backe vnto the ships When therefore he had related to the Portugheses how all had passed betweene him and Francis he tould them plainely that since he was bound by the agreement he had made with them to carry their merchandize to Cantona an hauen towne of the Chineses he would there leaue them his ship to do with it as they pleased But for himselfe he was absolutely and fully resolued to come backe agayne to Bungo and eyther to defend Xauerius or els to dye with him This incomparable fidelity of the Gouernour wrought very affectually in the pious mynds of the Portugheses Whereupon when they had all togeather commended his resolution they also offer themselues to accompany him in so glorious an aduenture striuing withall who should be most forward therin so as presently they returned backe agayne with their ships into the hauen intending there expect the euent of the businesse This newes greatly comforted both Xauerius and the Cathecumens and withall tormented and euen brake the Bonzies harts being a people very audacious where they see others fearefull and very cowards when they perceyue them resolute CHAP. XV. â—auerius getteth a nevv victory ouer the Chiefe of the Bonzies THE Bonzies therefore falling from open violence to priuate plottes came togeather in great troupes to the King making earnest suite vnto him that he would coÌ„â— and the disputation betweene Ficarondono Francisâ—oncerning â—oncerning Religion which had byn broken of to be â—gaine renewed The King at first was no wayes incliâ—ed therto but yet vpon certaine conditions he at last â—ondescended To wit that the busines might be carâ—â—ed without clamours falling into chollar That â—or deciding of matters which might occurre in any â—oÌ„trouersy there should be appointed certaine arbitraâ—ours not any of the Bonzies but of other indifferent moderat men whose office should be to iudge what was granted and confirmed on eyther part and to see â—hat the arguments were made according to the rule â—f reason That the disputation ended the said arbitraâ—ours and the other Auditours should giue their senâ—ence of euery article of Religion disputed and that which was confirmed by the greater part of voyces â—hould be held for certaine ratified And lastly that the Bonzies should neyther by themselnes nor others hinder any froÌ„ being Christians that desired the same There conditioÌ„s were not so much approued as acceted off by the Bonzies because they could not indeed refuse them The next day therfore commeth Ficarondono to the Court with aboue 3000. other Bonzies in his company so as one would haue thought he had bin going into the field with an army But the King out of his prudence admitted only foure of al that nuÌ„ber alleaging the danger of a tumult and the disgrace also which might come therof vnto the Bonzies for whome it could not be any credit if it should be spread abroad that 3000. Bonzies had disputed with one only forreine Priest Neither were the Portugheses failing in their affections towards Francis For being aduertised of this his new combat with the Bonzies they came againe vnto the Citty in a brauer maÌ„ner theÌ„ before in so much that the pompe they came in and the singular reuerence which they vsed towards Xauerius did greatly amaze the Bonzies When the company was assembled the King first asketh of Ficarondono what reason he could alledge why a new
Religion brought out of another world might not be diuulged in that Royall Citty To whome the Bonzy being now taught by the late disgrace he had suffred to vse more temper answered calmely that the reason was easy to be giuen because there was nothing more hurtfull then that to their ancient Religion to the Common-wealth and to the whole order of the Bonzies who both had alwayes did serue the Gods after a holy pure maÌ„ner wherof there were extant most certayne approbations and testimonies of the Kings of Iaponia so that it were impiety in they Iaponeses to seeke to saue their â—oules by other meanes then had byn vsed by their â—orefathers predecessours for so many ages Then Francis being by the King willed to answere â—nto this desired that there might be some order â—ethod obserued in this disputation Wherfore he reâ—uested the King that seeing the Bonzies were come â—f their owne accord to oppugne him he would be â—leased to command Ficarondono to declare in particular whatsoeuer either he or the other Bonzies miâ—â—â—ked of that which he taught that so he might anâ—were vnto them all And moreouer he intreated for â—he auoiding of contention that that might be ratified and held for good which his Maiesty with the greater part of the arbitratours should agree vpon touching matters in the present coÌ„trouersy The King granted Francis his request and commanded that all matters should be so carryed To which the Bonzy also agreed Then Ficarondono demaundes of him why he being a Priest of a strange CouÌ„try inueighed against the Iaponians most sacred Gods Because quoth he I iudge them vnworthy of so glorious and diuine a Title which the rule of right reason hath made proper only to him who by nature is Eternall and Immortall and being the Author of all things made both heauen and earth wherof he is sole Lord and gouernour For such is the infinite power maiesty of God that hardly can the wit of man by imaginatioÌ„ or thought coÌ„prehend it Wherfore these few things which heere we see with our eyes the motions of the celestiall globes and starres the certaine and fixed courses of times corne fruite and other things proclaime him to be the only true and proper God who gouerneth ruleth this world which himself made As for Xacas Amidas Giron and others whome you hold for Gods looke but into your owne Chronicles and Monuments and you will find them to haue bin men very rich and potent indeed but yet mortall as we are This answere which Xauerius gaue caused in the Iudges a soft whispering among themselues wherby they declared that it pleased them well Wherupon when the Bonzy was ready to oppose him the King bad him go to something else for that was already iudged for good by the Arbitrators whose sentence they were to stand vnto He therfore demandeth of Francis Why he disallowed of the Bonzies bills of Exchange wherby the dead were prouided of mony in heauen specially seeing by that meanes they who departed out of this lyfe became rich in heauen on a suddaine who otherwise would haue remained poore and beggarly To this Xauerius replyed that their riches who went to heauen consisted not in the Bonzies Bils but in the Merit of good workes And those workes were good which proceeded from right reason and true Religion being without question gratefull and acceptable to that Eternall God who giueth rewards to euery one according to their merit As for Religion there was none true pure but that of the Christians whereby sincerely and piously the true God is worshipshed the which is also called Christian beâ—â—use Christ the sonne of God deliuered it vnto men â—or Christ quoth he being made Man for mans sake â—â—ought downe that excellent doctrine from heauen â—ho being also glorious in miracles replenished the â—rts of men with heauenly precepts and lastly for â—ans saluation suffred death washing away their sinâ—es with his owne bloud Whosoeuer therfore being â—aptized according to the Christian rites do truly â—â—ncerely obserue the coÌ„mandments of Christ in this â—ortal life shall at last be admitted into heauen to an â—uerlasting life abounding with all happines Neither is the Christian Religion so niggard and â—inching as the Bonzies is it shutting out neyther â—oore people nor women from heauen so that they â—iue and dye as Christians ought to do and yet the Bonzies either out of niggardnesse or superstitioÌ„ will not affoard them any entrance into blisse wherby it is easily seene that the Bonzies course of life aymeth rather at their owne profit and commodity then at truth of Religion and that they respect their owne â—gaine more then the honour of God or saluation of â—oules For seeing God who is Lord of Heauen and earth hath created women as well as men poore as well as rich he will without partiality haue them also to be saued and blessed if they leade a good and vertuous life Heere now the King and the other arbitratours approued the discourse of Francis for very good whereat the Bonzies were extremely grieued and ashamed it galling them to the hart to depart the field with the losse of the victory by the iudgement both of King and his Nobility For with this the disputation ended notwithstanding that their obstinacy in defending what they had once sayd was not yet ouercome After this other Bonzies gallant fellowes both for learning and eloquence that they might not seeme wholly vanquished set againe a fresh vpon Xauerius As he was therfore speaking to the people they beganne to presse him with very many and different questions This businesse lasted for aboue fiue dayes all which time the King was neuer absent either to benefit himselfe by the disputations or else by his authority to defend Francis of whome he had vndertaken the protection hauing not the patience to see the Bonzies with more obstinacy then truth impugne his answeres which were very cleare and according to reason so as when the Bonzies ran crying out and rushing togeather in throngs vpon Xauerius he caused them to be kept backe telling them aloud that if any one would try whether a Religion were according to reason he should not himselfe be void of reason as they all seemed to be And with this rising vp he tooke Francis by the hand and with his Nobles following him led him to his lodging which was not indeed more gracefull and glorious for Xauerius and the Christian Religion then disgracefull ignominious for the BoÌ„zies who vpon this their new ignominy heaped vp also new rage in their spitefull minds Wherfore like men out of their wits with fury they fell openly a roaring out and with lowd voices to wish that Thunder from heauen would consume 〈◊〉 King to ashes seeing he made lesse account of his â—ncestours Religion confirmed by authority of so â—any Kings then of a strange and infamous â—ect â—ad a more sleight esteeme of the
made those Decrees and Canons Wherfore you shall â—ntreate him in my behalfe by the death pretious wounds of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that he will not cast himselfe headlong into such grieuous Ecclesiastiâ—all censures For God will certainly lay farre greater â—unishments vpon him then he doth imagine Then I do beseech you to send me back this very â—â—pplicatioÌ„ togeather with the Gouernours answere â—o the end I may testify to the Bishop that my negliâ—ence hath not bin the cause why I haue not gone â—orwards on my iorney into China which I vnderâ—oke by his aduise and counsayle Also I most earâ—estly beseech you that you wil dispatch this with all â—eed that possibly may be for the fit season for naâ—gation into China passeth away If you do this you â—all at once do both God great seruice me a speâ—all fauour Neither can I be brought to belieue that he Gouernor is so obstinate or hard-harted but that â—e will dismisse vs presently as soone as he is made â—cquainted with his Holinesse decrees The Vicar therfore moued by this supplication â—treaties of Francis goeth to the Gouernour and deâ—areth vnto him plainly that he is forthwith excomâ—unicated by his Holines authority vnlesse he desist â—om hindring of Xauerius endeauours withal inâ—eateth him by the death and passion of our Blessed â—uiour not to commit any thing which might cause â—nto him so deadly a wound together with no small â—sgrace And withal that he would beware how he â—tangled himself in so heinous vnexpiable a crime â—or which certainly God would take a more seuere accoumpt of him then he could imagine But the poore Gouernour harbouring a world of disordinate affections within his brest could not be persuaded to heare what was sayd vnto him For neyther his Holinesse authority nor the threatning of excoÌ„munication could once induce the miserable man to giue ouer what his madnesse had begun so farre is Enuy from thinking any thing vnalwfull Wherby it manifestly appeared that it was not so much the obstinacy of the Gouernour as of the Diuell himselfe who was afrayd of the kingdome of China and his owne ample domination therein At last with much ado it was obtained of him to permit Francis to go forwards into China but for Perera the Embassadour he could by no meane be drawen vnto it Thus was the whole Embassage and Xauerius designe brought to nothing as afterward appeared by the effect through the default of one passionate man Then Francis being indeed greatly moued at such impudent audacity thought it high tyme to giue aâ— example of his seuerity that none might thence forward dare to attempt any such thing heerafter Wherfore he giueth order that the Gouernour with all hiâ— ministers and officers by name according to course 〈◊〉 should be declared excommunicated by Apostolical authority not that his intention was to inflict anâ— new wouÌ„d vpon them but that they might acknowledge the wound which they had before receyued Foâ— Xauerius himselfe is reported to haue sayd That he foâ— his part would neuer counsayle any one to lay so soâ— a wound as Excommunication is vpon another yâ— â—e would by all meanes cause their wounds to be laid open to the view of all who for their contumacy were wounded by Apostolicall Decrees to the end â—hat others might by their punishment be warned froÌ„â—he like folly and themselues at least through shame â—ight seeke a speedy remedy for so loathsome a sore But Xauerius receiued no small wound in this coÌ„â—at For it is certaine that of all the many vnspeaâ—able vexations and troubles which he suffered all â—is whole life after nothing euer hapned more bitter â—nto him then that so important a iourney should be â—indred by one who ought to haue bin a chiefe furâ—herer therof Wherfore being grieued not so much â—or himselfe as for the Gouernour who by his owne â—ault had cast himself into that danger he is said with 〈◊〉 sighing hart to haue cryed out in this manner Inâ—allibly that violatour both of humane and diuine law will ere long pay deerely for his vnsatiable desire of money honour not only in money and honour but in body if not which God forbid in soule also Then looking vpon the Church which stood ouer against him he cast himselfe downe vpon his knees and with his hands lifted vp to heauen began to pray to God for him with his eyes all gushing out with teares cryed out I therfore beseech and earnestly intreat thee O Iesu Christ God of my hart by those most bitter torments of thy death that thou wilt be hold those thy pretious wounds which continually thou she west vnto thy heauenly Father for vs and vouchsafe also to apply the benefit therof to this miserable wretch that being taught by his owne misery he may at last come to himselfe againe Neither were his prayers nor prophecy in vaine For not long after wheÌ„ he had against al iustice done many other things and with the same impudency and audaciousnesse contemned the Viceroyes command wherwith he had contemned Xauerius authority he by the watchfull wrath of Gods indignation was punished according to the height of his arrogancy So as by the Viceroyes order and command the obstinate wretch was cast into fetters being accused to haue gone about to reuolt from his King and forthwith bound as he was was carryed to Goa to the Viceroy from thence sent into Portugall to the King where being despoyled of all the goods which he had vniustly gotten branded with ignominy condemned to perpetuall imprisonement and his body couered all ouer with a most loathsome leaprousy he ended his dayes in such misery that the King seemed not so much to reuenge the transgression of his Command as God the violating of his diuine Maiesty At last this wretch being euen tyred out with calamities opened his eyes and by wholsome pennance washed away the staynes of his former sinfull life CHAP. VII The designe of going vvith the Embassadour into China being broken of Xauerius notvvithstanding setteth forvvard thither NOW although Xauerius his designe were broken of yet was he not a whit discouraged but knowing his combat was not so much with men as with the common Eneâ—y of mankind he thought he was bound to make â—ll resistance he could not to giue ground therby vnto â—he Diuell He was not ignorant that in the kingdome of China there were very many prisons full of prisoâ—ers and that all strangers who presumed to enter in â—hither without publicke warrant were coÌ„demned â—o perpetuall imprisonmeÌ„t These things which would â—aue bin a terror vnto others were an encouragement â—o him For that burning both with the loue of Christ â—nd men he bequeathed himselfe vnto perpetuall imâ—risonemnt that he might first preach the Ghospell â—nto those that were in captiuity and afterwards by â—hem to others And he conceyued such an hope withâ—n himselfe that if he could but once bring
any of the â—risoners to imbrace the fayth of Christ they would â—fterwards when they were set at liberty bring their owne family to the same fayth and might also if it were Gods blessed will procure his freedome also so to propagate the Christian Religion Now though Xauerius in respect of the peruersity of men found no humane assistance in so hard and difficult a businesse yet for all this placing a firme confidence in the diuine Goodnes he resolued to go forward into China and try what he could do alone hoping at least that if he could not himselfe enter into the kingdome he might yet open a way therinto for others of the Society and leaue an example to them that should come after him of what himselfe intended and desired to haue done He therefore sendeth three of his coÌ„panions to wit Baltazar Gage Edward Silua and Peter Alcaceua into Iaponia departeth himselfe from Malaca with one companion only a Chinese for his Interpreter And at the gate of the Towne shaking off the dust from his feete as Christ had commanded his Disciples to do he denounceth to that Citty wrath from heauen and many other miseries And as he had denounced so it fell out For shortly after the Citty was so wasted and exhausted with warre famine and plague that being before of great resort it was almost left vnpeopled Now Xauerius although he were not ignorant that Perera the Embassadour was much afflicted by reason his Embassage was thus hindred and for the great expences also which he had byn at in setting forth the same yet for al that he could not be induced to speak with him at his departure least by imbracing one another both their griefes might be increased as ordinarily it hapneth Wherefore hauing a greater feeling â—ng of Perera's griefe then his owne he writeth vnto â—im from out the ship a most friendly letter assuring â—im that the contumely togeather with the dommage â—hich he had incurred would one day turne both to â—is great gayne honour Which fel out accordingâ— For that by the King of Portugall to whome â—rancis had most earnestly commended him he was â—fterward raysed to great wealth and dignity Xauerius leauing Perera the Embassadour behind â—im imbarked himselfe for China in a ship of his by â—is permission whereby the very ship it selfe might â—ut him in mind both of the loue to his deerest friend â—nd of the benefit he had receyued from him Now a â—ttle before his going away the Vicar commeth to â—im aboard intreated him that he would salute the Gouernour before his departure from Malaca least â—e might giue occasion to the people to thinke he was â—ot in charity with him if he went away without due saluatations But Francis inflamed rather with the zeale of Gods honour then with any anger whereto notwithstaÌ„ding he was iustly prouoked Shal I quoth he go to salute one that is cast out of the Communion of the faythfull Assuredly I shall neuer heerafter either see him or he me in this life nor after death also but then when I shal accuse him in the valley of Iosaphat before the supreme Iudge for that being blinded by his most wicked and base couetousnes he hath hindred so great an haruest of soules As for the rumours speaches of meÌ„ I do not any whit feare them seing it is manifest that he is excommunicated therfore all men ought to fly his company and conuersation which I desire may be made knowne to all by my authority and example Nay rather quoth he it may be feared least by my saluting an Excommunicate person the Censure wherwith the Pope hath bound him and the paine of the excommunication should be extenuated and so I might perhaps because that others by my example would conuerse with him without any scruple Wherfore I pray yow let him alone with his owne busines for he shall certainly neuer haue me his friend as long as he hath God his enemy When he had dismissed the Vicar with this answere who was not able to make any reply therto he putteth to sea in the moneth of Iuly making all the hast he could from Malaca But comming to make some stay at the straits of Sincapura being not vnmindfull of his friends he againe comforted Iames Perera the Embassador who remained still at Malaca afflicted for this late accident with a letter full not only of affection but piety also earnestly beseeching him to cure the wound which he had receiued with discretion and prudence and from thenceforward by vniting his soule to God more feruently by the Sacraments of Confession and Communion to seeke thereby secure meanes of consolation and to conforme himselfe wholy to the diuine will For there was no doubt but that disgrace griefe would one day turne vnto his honour and comfort Then betaking himselfe againe to sea his two Companions fell into a long and dangerous sicknesse in the tending and curing wherof Francis his charity and patience was continually employed to the end that the Louer of the Crosse might neuer be without his Crosse And so hauing a prosperous nauigation he came to China the third moneth after his departure from Malaca CHAP. VIII He endeauoureth though all invaine to open a passage into China THE Country of China is the furthest part of Asia inferiour to no one RegioÌ„ therof in largenesse of extent nor number of citties and Townes For it is said to be in length â—boue 400. leagues and in breadth 300. And the Cityes therin are so fraught with inhabitants that the â—ultitude being more then they can hould the very â—uers themselues are couered ouer with ships and inâ—abited like Townes Towards the East South it 〈◊〉 compassed with the Ocean On the North side it is â—iuided from those Scythians of Asia whome we call â—artarians with a most vast and almost endlesse wall â—he West side therof lyeth towards the furthest part â—f India The Chineses themselues being a people more inâ—yned to peace then warre liue al vnder the obedieÌ„ce â—f one King There be no petty Kings nor Princes â—mong them as in other Kingdomes but one King only ruleth ouer them all He appointeth Gouernours ouer euery Prouince and is alwaies by them informed of the most important affayres of euery place These Gouernours are not brought vp in the Court but in Academyes For by their Lawes those that be of the Kings bloud and alliance haue neuer any thing to do with the gouernment of the Kingdome Out of these Academies are chosen men famous both for eloquence and knowledge in the Lawes and these are made Gouernours ouer Cittyes and Prouinces but yet neuer of their owne Prouince or Citty They ordinarily esteeme so basely of their Gods that when either their prayers do not take effect or any ill fortune befalleth them they whippe and beate their Houshold Gods like slaues One would thinke there were no Gods among them but their owne
another straÌ„ge â—ccident Peter Gerra a chiefe Maister of a ship was goâ—ng for Iaponia and now the Port which he meant to â—go vnto was in sight when as vpon a suddaine the â—wind wholy ceasing there followed such a calme that â—or two or three dayes the ship could make no way Wherfore being troubled and discontented in mind â—e thought to bend his course towards China when â—s he saw Xauerius comming from China towards him â—n a litle boat for the great ship seemed not to be farre of and saluting him in a friendly manner biddeth him be of good cheere speedily make ready his full â—ayle for that he should by Gods grace haue a prospeâ—ous wind This prediction fayled not For they had â—carce hoysed vp sayle when by a Westerne gale they were carryed into the hauen And to shew manifestly this was a miracle wrought by Xauerius from the hand of God they were no sooner come into the hauen but the wind turned againe Southwest which would certaynly haue driuen them into China had they not already gayned the Port. In the meane tyme whilst Francis expected thereturne of the merchant with whome he had agreed to carry him into China he wrote many letters as wel to those of the Society as to other friends And first he wrote to Fa. Gaspar Rector of the Colledge at Goa that he should with all speed procure the Bishop so far was he from assuming any thing to himselfe although he were Legate Apostolicall solemnely to declare all those of Malaca excommunicated by the Popes authority who had hindred his iourney into China to the end that the wound being agayne renewed might put those wretches in mind to seeke at last for some remedy He wrote also to Francis Perez Superiour at Malaca that seeing the Gouernour had hindred his voyage into China he should togeather with all the rest of the Society there depart from thence with the first occasion into India Neither did he forget his deere friend Iames Perera but eased his griefe now the third tyme by sending him consolatory letters wherof this one clause manifestly declared his notable coâ—rage I would to God quoth he we might one day meete one another in the K. of China's Court although I hope if I can get into China that you shall find mâ— there either made a slaue or else a prisoner in the goalâ— of Cantona or the Kings Castle CHAP. X. His transporting into China being differred he sortelleth his ovvne death BVT now Xauerius thinking vpon the conuersion of China and of obteyning there a crowne of Martyrdome behold new and greater difficultyes are still cast in his way â—or whilst with much ioy for the hope lately conceyâ—ed he prepareth himselfe to his iourney his new â—nterpreter eyther through the secret dealing vnder â—and of the Portugheses or else through feare of torments which he might likely vndergo on a suddaine â—hangeth his mynd so as regarding more the Feare which was represented vnto him then the faythfull promise he had made to Xauerius suddainly forsaketh him who had not the least feare of any such thing Yet Xauerius constaÌ„cy was no whit daunted with this vnâ—xpected disaster but determined notwithstanding â—o set forward with his old Interpreter although as we sayd he were nothing fit by reason of his disconâ—inuance from exercise of the Chinese language Presently therefore the Portughese Merchants not more sollicitous for Xauerius case then for their owne came all flocking vnto him of purpose and compassing him round about besought him most ernestly that now at last he would desist from that so desperate an enterprize if he had no feeling of his owne danger that yet at least he would take some coÌ„passion of his neyghbours for that theron depended not only his but also all the Portugheses liues Becâ—â—se the Gouernours of China if they were once exasperated by so bold an attempt would not perhaps rest coÌ„tent with the punishment of one but might also call all the other Portugheses to account for the same and therefore he ought not togeather with his owne draw the fortunes and liues of all his friends into the same danger But if he were absolutely determined and resolutely bent to try his fortune in this kind that yet at least he would expect a more coÌ„modious tyme and that the Portughese ships might first retyre from that place therby to free themselues from danger Vpon these their speaches Xauerius willeth them to be of good courage for if any daÌ„ger should happen vnto them himselfe being a base miserable wretch worth nothing would vndergo it alone wherfore he was willing to attempt nothing more vntill they had made themselues secure And so whilst the Portugheses hasten to be gone Francis also made himselfe ready for his iourney Yet certaynly it was not thâ— will of God that he should euer enter into China Anâ— that no difficulty heerein might be wanting the Chinese merchant aforesayd with whome he had contracted for his transport deceyued him also For whether by some accident that hapned in the meane time or out of feare of punishment or by the instinct oâ— the Diuell he wholy fayled in his promise So as FraÌ„â—cis hauing a long tyme expected him but all in vayne was at last forced to cast of al hope of being transporâ—â—d thither When therefore he found as little fideliâ—â— in his merchant as he had before done in his Interâ—eter not knowing what to resolue vpon and being â—â—stitute both of all hope and humane assistance he â—â—d recourse vnto the diuine and with his wonted â—â—d vndaunted courage he began to thinke of new â—eanes how to transport himselfe into China not iâ—â—agining that he was so soone to be transported into â—â—eauen Whilst things stood in this manner there happeâ—ed a new occasion which began to put him againe 〈◊〉 good hope but proued nothing to the purpose as 〈◊〉 afterward fell out For he vnderstood that the King 〈◊〉 Sion which is a Kingdome neere to Malaca had â—etermined to send an Embassage the next yeare vnto â—e King of China Wherefore being glad of this good â—ewes which he hoped would be for his purpose he â—esolued that if the Chinese merchant came not to him â—acke in tyme he would take ship for Sion and there â—ndeauour that he might be transported into Chinaâ—ith â—ith the said Kings Embassadour But now the tyme â—pproached when he was not as he thought to beâ—â— in his trauayles and labours but to make an end of â—â—em For whilst he sought for new helpes if his old â—â—ould fayle him and thought of his transport into â—he Kingdome of Sion he was vnexpectedly called â—o the celestiall Sion He had now earnestly commended his sicke comâ—anion that he might not be a burden or hindrance â—o him in his iourney into China to the Portugheses who were to returne into India to go along with them himselfe with Anthony of the holy Fayth and another seruant remayning still in Sanciana
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
Iland fit for a sick person except a few almonds which were sent vnto him by a Portughese Mayster of a ship and that also too late For he did now so much loath al kind of food that he could not take any thing at all In the meane time perceauing that his last day was neere at hand he caused all such things as he had brought with him vnto the cottage to be carryed backe agayne into the ship to the end they might noâ— be lost Hauing now passed two whole dayes without receauing any sustenance at all as his sicknesse morâ— and more increased so also did his patience vertue more and more shew it selfe He had now layne fifteene daies in that poore shelâ—â—er of Cottage exposed to the wind and weather and in the cold of winter not only destitute of all humane help and assistance but tormented also with the veâ—hemency of his burning and mortall feuer yet bare he all these discommodityes and the violence of his sicknesse also with such a quietnes of mynd and admirable patience as cannot be expressed He was neuer â—eard to speake so much as one word either by way of complaint for the payne of his infirmity or to aske â—ny thing of any that were about him as men are wont to do in tyme of great sicknesse Nay contraâ—â—wise all his speaches and gestures were such that 〈◊〉 sufficiently appeared he accounted his infirmity 〈◊〉 be a very great benefit bestowed vpon him from God as a subiect wherupon to exercise himself in solid â—ertue to deserue an euerlasting crowne of glory One thing only there was which did a litle grieue â—im to wit that he should dye a naturall and ordiâ—ary death in his bed and be depriued of the crowne â—f Martyrdome which he had so vehemently desired â—specially seeing that he was at that time as it were vâ—on the point to obtaine the same But being not ignoâ—nt that the Glory of Martyrdom was a free guift of God the which was oftentymes denyed to those who â—esired it giuen to others that thought least on it â—e conformed his will to the disposition of the diuine â—rouidence quietting his mind by thinking himselfe â—â—worthy of so great an honour Now the violence of his infirmity growing more 〈◊〉 more vehement fully declared the sanctity which was so deeply ingrafted in him For as we see most commonly in others when they are tormented with payne then their corrupt nature most of all manifesteth it selfe but in Francis contrarywise there appeared at this tyme a true and solid piety For that he vsed the selfe same actions almost when he lay euen a dying that he was wont to do wheÌ„ he was in health sometymes casting his eyes to heauen and speaking to Christ our Sauiour with a ioyfull cheerful countenance as though he had byn visibly present at other times reciting certaine Verses out of the Psalmes with great feeling of deuotion repeating very often these words the like Iesu Sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me And Thou O God take pitty on my sinnes Mary Mother of God remember me c. Wherein he spent two whole dayes The last houre of his lyfe was now come Wherfore holding a Crucifix in his hands and fixing hiâ— eyes stedfastly thereupon he fetcheth many a feeble sigh and often cryeth out O Iesu God of my hart perpetually mingling his prayers with his teares vntil both voice and lyfe did fayle him And thus combatting most valiantly both with his infirmity anâ— with death it selfe vntill the last gaspe vpon the second day of December being the Feast of S. Bibia the Virgin calling incessantly vpon the sweet Name of Iesus and Maria with all content and quietnes oâ— spirit he rested in our Lord and rendred vp his souâ— to heauen there to accompany those whome in hâ—â— life he alwayes bare in hart and at his death were nâ—uer absent from his mouth After he was departed there still appeared such â—heerfulnes sweetnes in his couÌ„tenance that the beâ—uty of his body was an euident demonstration of the â—eatitude of his soule He died about the 55. yeare of â—is age ten yeares after his arriuall in India in the â—eare of our Lord 1552. A man without all question â—dmirable both for true vertue incredible courage â—f mind and aboue all for the feruent desire he had â—o conuert Ethinckes to the Ghospell of Christ He â—euer refused any labour or danger whatsoeuer for Gods cause yea not contenting himself with the salâ—ation of all India other Nations bordering theron â—e comprehended the whole East within the bosome â—f that Charity which esteemed the whole world to â—tle for him to do good in Wherfore hauing planted â—he Ghospell of Christ and the Society also throughâ—ut the whole East almost at the very tyme when he â—as thinking how to get into the hauen of Cantona he â—anscended the waues of this mortality arriued at â—he hauen of eternal blisse there to set vpon the Chineâ—es by his forcible praiers in the sight of God And there â—s no doubt but that he who is now Blessed in heauen â—ath by his contiuual praiers vnto God opened a way â—nto China not only for the Society of IESVS but â—lso for the Portughese merchants and the Christian Religion For a litle after Francis his death there was generall leaue graunted to the Portugheses to resort â—nto the Port of Cantona and there to make their aâ—oad for traffique sake it being the generall opinion that Xauerius had by his prayers opened that way inâ—o China which was before so straitly barred vp on euery side And about 30. yeares after this agayne when as the Chineses kept not so narrow a watch vpon their coastes as before they were wont to do some Fathers of the Society of Iesus emulating therin Xauerius his vertue got entrance at last into China there by Gods fauourable assistance layd the foundations of Christian Religion CHAP. XII His body is buried in quicke Lime AS soone as it was knowen that Francis waâ— departed this lyfe for his feuer being morâ— dangerous then it seemed had deceyued aâ— men but himself the Portugeses that werâ— left in the IlaÌ„d being as it were strockeÌ„ dead with thâ— doleful newes came running presently to his Body aâ— if they had hastned to their Fathers funerall Al place about the cottage were filled with cryes lamentatâ—ons then followed a dismall silence with an earneâ— longing to see his body Which assoone as they beheâ—â— to be as it were the picture of his soule to represeâ— to them the eternal felicity which he inioyed they fâ— agayne vnto their former weeping since they couâ—â— neyther satisfy their harts nor eyes with so louiâ—â— and most amiable a spectacle Xauerius was of a well set and strong body tall 〈◊〉 stature though not much aboue the ordinary pitcâ— fayre of complexion and of a gracefull aspect Hâ— countenance was exceeding cheerfull and
thing as was related some of the company â—ho had bin either niggard in giuing to Xaueriusâ—ings â—ings necessary for his sustenance when he was liâ—ng or els had spoken som what disgracefully of him â—fter his death began to powreforth aboundance of â—ares to be â—t themselues vpon the face with their â—sts for shame and sorrow of their fault Others gaue â—rayse to God who tooke such care euen of his serâ—nts dead corps This done the Maister of the ship commanded â—he body to be presently carryed aboard as it lay in â—he Coffin intending to make more certaine try all thereof himselfe that so the miracle might be published to others And hauing throughly searched the body and found it sound and incorrupt with great reuerence he putteth in the lyme againe into the Coffin as before and hoysing vp sayle departed from Sanciana in the month of March with a very prosperous wynd towards Malaca where he soone arriued so as one would haue thought the winds themselues had obeyed Francis They sent their little boat before to Malaca to carry newes that Xauerias body was fouÌ„d intier and incorrupt was comming towards them At which tidings the Malacensians being stirred vp with deuotion and desirous to make satisfaction for their former iniury done vnto him resolued to receiue his dead corps with all the honour reuerence that they could whome whilst he liued they had cast out with no small disgrace Then they began to cal to mynd and seemed euen to behould with their eyes the feruour and countenance where with Xauerius was wont to preach vnto the people and wherwith he sought to draw men frâ— their euill life to seeke their saluation to cure their sick and possessed persons lastly to foretell thingâ— far absent and to come Wherfore turning their contumacy into reuerence towards him they all setleâ— themselues with greatioy to solemnize the funerallâ— of so worthy a man But Iames Perera who had alâ— that tyme remayned in Malaca out went all the resâ— in his loue to Francis and which he shewed also by hiâ— deeds For he mitigating the griefe which he had conceiued for his friends losse by the comming of his body presently prouideth with extraordinary diligence 〈◊〉 abouÌ„dance of torches all other things necessary â—r the funerall pompe In this meane tyme the shippe â—as come into the hauen and they had put the Coffin 〈◊〉 to a Church neere by there expecting vntill the â—itty came forth to meete them Now as soone as it was knowne in the Citty â—at Xauerius Body was landed all the people preâ—â—ntly thronged out of the gates to meete it partly to â—e and partly to touch the same with their beades â—he Vicar also of the Citty with his Clergy came thiâ—er in Procession who opening there the coffin beâ—re the people findeth the body entiere fresh withâ—ut any the least corruption whatsoeuer breathing â—ut a most sweet and pleasant sauour Heerupon the â—eople that were present with great admiration beâ—an to extoll Gods diuine power to kisse the sacred â—liques and touch them with their beades especiâ—ly Iames Perera who hauing heerby his long sorrow â—hanged into a suddayne excessiue ioy celebrated â—e arriuall of his dead friend with the greatest affeâ—ion of hart that possibly he could And that Gods â—probation might adde more credit to humane iudâ—ments a certaine sick man by touching of the body â—as instantly restored to his health The next day therfore in the morning the whole â—lergy of the Citty together with al the people come â—gaine in processioÌ„ to meet the body with burning taâ—ers torches in theirs hands as also with extraordiâ—ary feeling of ioy deuotion There was not at that â—ime any of the Society remayning in Malaca for they were all departed lately thence by Francis his expresse order Yet the Citty thought good to haue his body carryed into the Church which had formerly belonged to the Society wherby they might haue Xauerius in the meane tyme as a pledge of their returne Wherfore with a most solemne procession aboundance of lights the coffin was coÌ„ueyed to the Church aforsaid And there after they had with all solemnity sung masse the body being separated from the lyme was put into a new Coffin and buried in a most eminent place of the same Church causing all that were present to burst forth agayne into new teares partly through ioy of the late miracle partly also through the griefe which the want of such a man had caused in them and presently there followeth one miracle vpon another The shortnesse of the new Coffin had constrayned those who put him therinto so to bend strayten the Body as that there presently issued fresh bloud from out his shoulders breathing forth a most sweet odoriferous sauour Which the behoulders perceauing and attentiuely considering were driuen into admiration at the strangenesse of the miracle in thaâ— a body which had bin now fiue monthes without 〈◊〉 soule so rare perseuerant was the miracle shoulâ— still retayne not only the flesh moysture and colour but also euen bloud it selfe and that so sweet as it seemed to be the odour not of his bloud but of his sanctity Wherfore thinking good to keep it without a Coffin it was taken forth againe and by the Malacensians not only honourably interred but preserueâ— â—lso as a pledg of the diuine Clemency towards them Wherein they were not frustrate of their hope At the same time there was through God heauy wrath towards theÌ„ a most contagious sicknes spread â—uer all the Citty which hauing almost vnpeopled 〈◊〉 great part therof had put them all into a wonderful â—eare Wherfore being much perplexed and through â—emorse of conscience calling to mind the predictioÌ„ which Xauerius had pronounced agaynst them for the wronge they had done vnto him they verily thought there was no other cause of Gods indignation against â—hem but that But this pestilence wholy ceasing vpon the very day that his funerals were kept shewed sufficiently that God was now pacified agayne by the merits of Xauerius by whose intercession the sicknes was remitted CHAP. XIIII His Body is translated from Malaca into India AFTER this vpon the 13. of August Iohn Beira a Priest of the Society of Iesus going with some other Companions to Moluca tooke Malaca in his way He for the reuerence and deuotion which he bare vnto Xauerius hauing heard by report that his body was incorrupted greatly desired to visit behould the same Wherfore going priuatly into the Church with his companions in the night and opening the Sepulcher he findeth Francis like one aliue no lesse intier and incorrupt in the ground then he was before in the lime it being now nine monthes after his death Wherfore ioyntly giuing prayse to God who is admirable in his Saints with great veneration and many teares they kisse and adore his sacred body Neither was there wanting at the same
great Ordinance to be all couereâ— with silke As soone as the Body was brought aboâ— the hatches the Orphane Children that were coâ—froÌ„ Goa with garlands made of flowers on their head boughes in their hands began very deuoutly to siâ— the Canticle Benedictus Dominus Deus Israel c. whâ— at neyther themselues nor the rest that were preseâ— could abstayne from weeping Whilest they sungâ— that manner the Body was let downe into the Barkâ— gently placed in the poope presently the grâ— ship taking her leaue of Xauerius sent forth a migâ— â—eale of Ordinance which renewed againe the ioy â—ares of al that were preseÌ„t whilst they called to mind â—ow good God was who would euen in the midst of â—e sea honour his humble seruant with so great maâ—nificence Then the forsaid ship hauing deliuered vp â—e body being lightned also of all her merchaÌ„dize perform as it were her last duty to Xauerius in the veâ— same place and at a calme sea sinketh downe of her â—fe vnder the water and is drowned to shew therby â—at hitherto by his holy assistance she had passed safe â—rough both waues and rockes This done the Barke arriued in the â—ame euening 〈◊〉 a Church of our B. Lady called Rebandaria about mile and halfe from Goa seated in the mouth of â—e riuer which runneth along by the Iland of Goa â—here Fa. Melchior greatly desiring once more to â—hould and coÌ„template Xauerius Body at leasure did midnight all the doores being fast shut take vp the â—me in his Priestly ornaments as he lay from out â—e shrine it being then 16. monthes after his death 〈◊〉 findeth him to haue the very same face countenanâ—â— and feature of Body as he had whilst he liued toâ—â—her with his flesh full of moysture his skinne fresh â—d flexible and his colour so liuely that one would â—ue taken him to haue byn rather a sleepe then dead He had vpon his body a garment of fine linnen â—hich he had carryed with him in his iourney intenâ—ng to cloath himselfe therwith according to the â—ountry fashion when he came vnto the King of â—ina This because he had neuer vsed it in his life â—ey made to serue him for a shirt when he was dead the which notwithstanding that his dead Body was wrapped therein the space of so many moneths and also that it had byn often couered ouerwith lime and earth seemed so neat and cleane that one would haue thought it had bin newly put on preserued rather then any way impayred by the Body Hereupon Fa. Melchior after he had rendred due thankes prayses to the diuine maiesty remembring what an incitement to vertue S. Paul the Hermits coate of Palme-tree was vnto S. Anthony and how Elias his cloake had byn beneficiall to Elizeus felt in himselfe a vehement desire to be made possessour of Xauerius shirt Wherfore taking it of from his body he kept it most carefully either as a memory of Xauerius himselfe or as an ornament for his owne vse For that he going afterward into Iaponia carried the same with him thither intending to cloath himselfe therwith when he went to speake with any King or Nobleman of that Country to the end that by Francis hiâ— merits and intercession for them he might not only delight their eyes but also winne their harts to God And the euent proued afterward answerable to hiâ— desired deuotion CHAP. XV. His Funerall is kept at Goa vvith all solemnity IN the meane time the Viceroy who was then at Goa being certified ouer night of the coÌ„ming of Xauerius body for the great veneration which he bare vnto him was â—ceeding ioyfull presently commaÌ„ded a solemne â—ompe and preparation to me made ready against â—he next day But the Fathers of the Society whome Melchior had left at home against their wils were so â—uercome with ioy that hauing their harts wholy â—possessed with desire to see their deerest Father could â—ot sleepe nor take any rest all that night Neither â—as there any one among them either so could in spiâ—it or weake of body that did not watch the whole â—ight so great possession had the loue of Xaueriusâ—otten â—otten in all their harts Wherefore all that night â—hey busied themselues to adorne their Church with â—reene boughes Tapestryes Carpets and other orâ—aments intending to receiue their most desired Faâ—her with the best preparation they could deuise Now â—t chanced that this day fell out vpon the Fryday next before the Holy weeke yet they thought good to â—dorne the Church and Aultars in the most sumptuâ—us manner they could and with the rich ornaments which they commonly vsed vpon the greatest Feasts of the yeare For they deemed that this holy Man whose funerall God would haue celebrated with sollemne pompe ought to be receiued rather in ornaments of ioy then in dolefull and mourning blacke This funeral then was kept vpon the 15. of March in the yeare 1554. Vpon which day early in the morning Iames Perera who was come from Malaca thither embarketh himselfe with a traine of choice friends in a galley and all with white torches in their hands goe to meete his deerest Father and Friend Xauerius Presently after him there followed six little boates wherein there were to the number of fifty persons all ardent louers of Xauerius and admirers of his vertues Euery one had a great torch lighted in his hand and his page a lesser taper As soone as they were come to the Church where the holy body was kept they all togeather prostrate themselues vpon the ground and with teares adore the sacred reliques But yet Perera went beyond them all in piety who had alwayes borne so speciall an affection to Xauerius Then there followed other small vessels one after another to the number of twelue of Portugheseâ— Chineses and Malacensians all men of very good account and in equipage accordingly both for apparell and lights Who when they had with all the rest performed their deuotions vnto the Body retyred themselues ech one to his Boate. Now when it was well in the day the shrine adorned with cloath of Gold was placed in the Poope of a small Barke al beset with burning tapers of waxe the Fathers of the Society in their white surplisses â—â—e Orphane children with garlands on their heads â—ompassing the same round about singing of hymâ—es and psalmes and so conueyed it to Goa There folâ—wed this little Barke in a long row to the numâ—er of about twenty other little boates all beset with â—urning torches tapers likewise the more to grace â—e solemnity of the funerall pompe The Sea seemed 〈◊〉 on a fire with lightes the shores resounded with â—â—ch melodious musicke that it caused most that were â—â—esent through their great feeling of deuotion to â—ed aboundance of teares But when the Barke thus â—istering with the splendour of so many tapers appeâ—ed within sight of the Citty wherby they vnderâ—ood the Body was at hand the
people were so â—reatly moued thereat that they seemed to leape â—nd triumph for ioy For although the Fathers not â—nmindfull of their humble modesty had dealt alreaâ—y and that earnestly with the Viceroy and Bishop â—at Xauerius might not be receiued as a Saint but as â—he seruant of God vntill his Holinesse should otherâ—yse determine thereof yet by the Viceroyes order â—nd command the bells of all the Churches began to â—ing forth peales of ioy and melody At the hearing whereof the whole Citty began to runne forth to â—eete the Body so as the shores walls of the towne â—indowes Garrets toppes of houses from whence â—â—ey might discouer the comming of the Barke were â—ll beset and filled with people And the neerer the â—arke drew vnto them the more did the multitude â—â—eir desire to see it increase Yea many out of feruor â—nd zeale leapt one after another into the water striuing who should first touch the holy shrine In this meane tyme the Viceroy and all the Nobility with a great number of chiefe Cittizens stood expecting the Barke at the Hauen with burning tapers in their hands and the Chanons of the High Church with all the other Priests in white surplisses came with their Crosses in Procession wise to meet the same Thither also came the Sodality of Mercy with their banners and ensignes all glittering with gold and siluer After them followed a very sumptuous Beere couered ouer with cloth of Gold whereon those of the Sodality had determined to carry the Shrine aloft that so it might make the more glorious shew As soone therfore as the Shrine was brought aland by those of the Society the people made such a presse out of desire to touch and kisse the same that very many were thereby throwne downe one vpon another And because those who came last would not make way for the first to retyre they were so thronged vp together on a heape that many were in danger to haue bin pressed and stifled to death if great prudence had not byn vsed to auoyd the danger The Viceroy therefore was forced to send this Guard to put back the throng and to make way for the Procession that was ready to begin Now when the multitude with much adoe was forced backe the Procession set forward was performed with all the pompe that might be After which there followed the Shrine placed vpoÌ„ the Beerâ— most sumptuously adorned and carryed by certaynâ— Fathers on high vpon their shoulders togeather with two other empty Beeres borne on each side one and richly furnished like the other After the Body followed the Viceroy and his Court togeather with all the Nobility and whole Citty with such aboundance of torches and tapers that the streets seemed to be on fire and this with such applause of extraordinary ioy in all sorts that one would haue thought it had rather byn a triumph then a funerall The Shrine or Coffin glittered all with gold the way was al strowed with greene boughes and odoriferous flowers The windowes and walls of all the houses were adorned with costly hangings and tapestry besides the many sweet perfumes set euery where about on both sides There were moreouer hung about the Beere diuers Censars of siluer in which were cast continually many sweet and fragrant odours Francis therefore in this triumphall manner returning from his China-voiage was at last brought into the Church of the Society at Goa giuing vs therby to vnderstaÌ„d with what honour his soule no doubt is now glorified in heauen whose Body being dead through the sanctity of his soule did notwithstanding so triumph heere on earth CHAP. XVI The great Concourse of people to behould his Holy Body AS soone as they came to the Church of the Society a solemne Masse was sung And to auoyd the great presse of people the Beere was placed within the Cancells of the Altar It was told the people that when Masse was ended the Coffin should be opened and that all who would might see the Body Whereupon the multitude made so great a throng that they brake downe the rayles of the Cancells But the Coffin being shut was kept safe by nothing more then by the presse of people hindring one another Then the Rectour of the Colledge fearing the violence of the pious people earnestly intreated the Viceroy that he would be pleased to retyre vnto his house with the Nobility for that the people would then certaynly follow his exaÌ„ple and that when afterwards the chappell was voyded the presse of people gone they might themselues the more commodiously see the body The Viceroy therfore yelding to his request withdraweth himselfe and all the Nobility followeth him But the people remayned still immoueable vrging and requiring to haue the Body shewed vnto them for vnlesse they had their desire they sayd they would not stirre a foote And by standing out thus stifly they obteined at last their demand For when as no delay would serue the turne F. Melchior was forced at length to giue way vnto the tyme and putting the presse of people a litle backe vntill the Cancels were agayne set vp and fastned Xauerius body was shewed to them in his Priestly robes as he was brought thither Which when the multitude beheld they were so desirous to see it neerer hand that rushing on with great violence they agayne brake downe the Cancels Whereupon the Fathers through a suddayne feare presently shut the Coffin agayne that there might no violence be offered thereunto would by no meanes open it any more So as the people being out of hope to see it agayne and weary with expecting they that stood neerest had seene it though a far of at length retyred and told the rest what they had seene They being set on fire by what they sayd neuer left vrging vntill the Cancels were agayne set vp and the Body also shewed them The same day in the euening Anthony Perera a Portughese arriued at Goa with presents and letters froÌ„ the King of Bungo to the Viceroy of India He was sent thither by the King to procure Xauerius returne agayne into Iaponia although it were now too late The contents of the Kings letters were these That Francis Xauerius had oftentymes discoursed before him of God the Creatour and redeemer of the world and that his words had taken fast hold within his hart the in most bowels of his soule Wherefore he was now fully determined and resouled to be baptized by Francis his owne hands although it were with the hazard of loosing his kingdome Xauerius had indeed at his departure promised him that he would shortly returne vnto him if God spared his lyfe But because his returne was not so speedy as he had hoped he thought good to send one expressely vnto Goa who might certify him of the cause of his so long delay Wherefore he intreated the Viceroy to send Xauerius vnto him with the first opportunity whose comming would certaynely be
into India wheÌ„ he had vnderstood made tryall of his sanctity honoured him no lesse dead theÌ„ aliue For as soone as the newes of his death was brought vnto him moued as indeed he had reason for the losse of so worthy a man he was inwardly grieued at the blow which the whole East had receyued thereby then the which there could not perhaps an heauier haue byn giuen by the wrathfull hand of God When his griefe was something ouerpast as his owne singular piety and prudence admonished him he sought a remedy for the same from that source which had caused it For hauing vnderstood of the many miraculous thinges which had byn wrought by Francis as well aliue as dead and being inflamed with deuotion towards the blessed man out of his feruour to Religion he giueth order by Letters Patents vnto Francis Barret his Viceroy of India to make all diligent inquiry after his illustrious actes and miracles and to send them to him with expedition for that he determined to present the same to his Holinesse that he might according to the custome of Holy Church if he thought it expedient decree a publike honour and reuerence to be exhibited vnto him who was famous both for sanctity and miracles But to the end this Religious Kings opinion of Xauerius vertues may be knowne and testifyed to all the world we iudge it not amisse heere to set downe a Copy of his Letters Royall Friend Viceroy I the King send you harty greeting Francis Xauerius lyfe and labours haue byn so profitable by their exemplar edification that we iudge it will be most acceptable vnto God to haue them brought to light to the honour and glory of his Diuine Maiesty Wherefore being published abroad to the end they may receaue that full authority and credit as it is meet they should We giue you all charge and commission that whersoeuer throughout India it shall be thought that good and substantiall witnesses of these matters may be found I meane of such as haue liued and conuersed with him you will procure with the greatest diligence you can publicke instruments testimonialls to be iuridicially made thereof and vnder the witnesses oathes both of his life behauiour as well of all thinges which he hath worthily performed for the saluation example of mortall men as of those things also which he hath miraculously wrought either aliue or dead These instruments togeather 〈◊〉 all the testimonialls and authorities subscribed with your owne hand and signed with your seale you shal send ouer vnto vs three sundry wayes This if you carefully and speedily performe you shall receaue great thankes from vs. From Lisbone this 27. of March 1556. As soone therfore as the Viceroy had receaued these letters he by fit persons expressely ordained for that purpose presently commanded exact inquiry to be made of such things accordingly not only at Goa the Metropolitan Citty of India but in euery part of that Country and also at Malaca and in all places where it was knowne Xauerius had euer bin Wherupon very many things were found by the testimony of vndoubted witnesses which Francis had both in his life and after his death eyther performed with great profit or else wrought miraculously by diuine power Of which the Viceroy hauing caused publicke instruments to be made subscribed signed the same with his owne hand and seale and sent them speedily vnto the King his Lord and Mayster The matter now was come thus farre that the King had sent the Instruments aforesayd to Rome and dealt by his Embassadour with his Holinesse for the proceeding therein to his Canonization when as his vntimely death brake of that his pious determination An authenticall Copy of all which instruments iuridically sealed signed by the Viceroy we haue at this present in our hands from whence for the most part we haue taken those things which we haue hitherto mentioned and shall heerafter also recount And for that we haue in these our former Bookes comprized most of them already we will therefore in this last relate only those which we haue of set purpose reserued vnto this place as not seeming good for diuers reasons to haue put them downe before CHAP. II. Hovv Xauerius foretelleth things future and absent and seeth mens invvard Thoughts XAVERIVS was indeed remarkable for many worthy fauours which God Almighty had bestowed vpon him yet for nothing more then for his manifold guift of Prophecy Whereof many vndoubted signes are clerly to be seene throughout the whole passage of his lyfe But these which heere ensue are of most particular note One Cosmas Ioannes Procuratour of the King had bought in India a Diamond of extraordinary bignesse for 8000. crownes which would be worth foure times as much in Portugall This Iewell he had deliuered vnto one Ferdinand Aluarez at his departure for Portugall to be carryed vnto the King his Mayster At the same tyme Francis commeth to Goa and out of familiarity with Cosmas asked him how his trafficque went forward He recounteth all vnto him and in particuler concerning the said diamond which he had sent vnto the King hoping all things went very prosperously with him Then Xauerius asked him againe in what ship he had sent so precious a Iewell And when he had told him the name of the Ship I would to God quoth Francis you had not sent it in that ship Why quoth Cosmas is it because she was almost cast away this last yeare by a contrary tempest No quoth Francis for she is to vndergo a greater danger Vpon this speach he began to intreat Xauerius earnestly that he would not giue ouer praying to God for that ship seeâ—ing that he had vpon his owne hazard sent the Diamond vnto the King And being thus pensiue for his â—ewell newes was brought vnto him that the ship hauing one of her chiefe planckes rent away by the violence of a tempest was euen at the point to haue byn drowned but that by the prayers of Xauerius she miraculously escaped was safely arriued in Portugall The day also before Francis put to sea from Maâ—aca towards China as they of the Society who were then present haue recounted lying after an vnusual â—aÌ„ner vpon his bed all along vpon his belly like one betweene sleep and awake he continued a great whiâ— in the same posture without euer mouing wholy â—lienated from his senses Whereat those of the Sociâ—ty that were by chance present being astonished at â— strange a posture durst not for the great reuerence which they bare him eyther awake or speake vnto â—im Wherefore turning their admiration into care â—hey with solicitous and perplexed mynds expected the euent of the thing At last awaking as it were out of a deepe sleepe and like one that had escaped some great trouble called vpon a certaine person by name who was then in Portugall oftentimes cryed God pardon thee c. so as for the present except himselfe only
â—eginning with such feruour as if he had not byn inâ—errupted at all This singular deuotion of his in this kind was â—aused by the liberty of those times There had byn â—ately for the more ease and commodity of such men â—s had great imploiments a new Breuiary set forth of â—hree Lessons only called of the Holy Crosse the which â—as also granted vnto Francis at the first by reason â—f his weighty affayres Yet he although he were coÌ„â—nually imployed would notwithstanding neuer â—ake vse of that Grant but alwayes sayd the old Breâ—iary of nine Lessons although it were a great deale â—onger to the end he might haue therby more tyme to â—onferre with God in whose conuersation he tooke â—comparable content But aboue all his feruour of deuotion shewed 〈◊〉 selfe in celebrating the diuine mystery of the sacred Masse especially in the tyme of Consecration and Consummation of the Holy Eucharist For at those tymes he vsed so to weepe for ioy that his face bosome were all bedewed with teares There also appeared both in his pronunciation countenance and all the gestures of his body such a feeling of heauenly deuotion that it euen redounded to the standers by and strooke them into such a pious admiration that they oftentymes forgot themselues Moreouer there wanted not some who affirmed that whilest he was at Masse they saw him eleuated and lifted vp a little from the ground He had besides this a custome in his Masse before all other things to begge most earnestly of our Sauiour Christ the Conuersion of Ethnickes by that precious death which he had suffered on the Crosse for their sakes and for this end he oftentymes also added a prayer of his owne making which was this Eternal God maker of all things remember that the soules of Infidels were created by thee and man made to thine owne image and likenesse Behold O Lord how to thy disgrace Hell is filled with them Call to mind how Iesus thy blessed Sonne dyed a most bitter death for their saluation Doe not I beseech thee O Lord any more permit thy Sonne to be contemned by Infidels but being pacifyed by the praiers of Holy Men of the Church the most sacred spouse of thy Sonne remember thy mercy and forgetting their Idolatry and Infidelity make them also at last to acknowledge Iesus-Christ our Lord whome thou hast sent who is our Saluation and Resurrection by whome we are saued and deliuered and to whome be all honour and glory for euer Amen Now after Masse when he had giuen thankes to God he was alwayes accustomed to recite a certaine prayer for the Dead that euen then when he offered Sacrifice for the liuing he might also giue some refreshment to the soules departed His deuotion also â—n administring the most sacred Body of Christ was â—o lesse remarkeable then in the consecration thereof He had this custome peculiar to himselfe that where â—t could commodiously be done he would giue the â—oly Communion to the people vpon his knees The euent whereof declared how pleasing a thing it was â—o God For Cosmus Saraina the Physitian afore naâ—ed and many other persons of good account haue â—penly testifyed that they oftentymes saw Xauerius â—s he was in the Church at Goa communicating the people vpon his knees raysed vp miraculously more then a cubit aboue the ground so as one would haue â—hought that God had then exalted his Humility Moreouer he was extraordinarily deuout vnto the most B. Trinity For he vsed to adore and to name the â—ame with the greatest and religious respect that could â—e He bare likewise a most singular affectioÌ„ to Christ â—he worker of mans Saluation and was also specially â—euoted to the B. V. Mary the Mother of God the â—ost benigne Patronesse of mankind wherupon he â—ad gotten such an habituall deuotion by continuâ—ll practice therof that when he lay vpon his death â—ed he oftentimes implored the help of the most B. Trinity of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and of the B. V. Mary that so he might at his death call often vâ—on them to whome in his life he had alwayes carried such extraordinary deuotion Next vnto these he was singularly deuoted to S. Michael the Archangell Prince of the Court of Heauen and Patrone of the Holy Church Then hereuerenced the Congregation of all the Blessed Faithfull and of the Church the Spouse of Christ whose assistance he often implored Also in all his imployments iourneys miseries and dangers he very often implored the help and patronage of his Angell Guardian and of the Archangells and Patrones of those places where he made his abode or whither he went CHAP. VI. His purity of Hart and Chastity THIS excellent Deuotion which Francis had in Prayer was by the like Purity of his soule enflamed to behold God The which is not only manifested by the purity and innocency of his life but approued also by the assured testimonys of such as coÌ„uersed familiarly with him who haue solemnely auerred that they neuer obserued any thing in him which might be displeasing or giue the least offence to any This also is a further argument therof for that he did oftentimes euery day examine his Conscience with very great rigour and diligence seriously exhorted others also to doe the like a thing whereon he esteemed the perfection of lyfe chiefly to depend He vsed also to confesse euery day when he could haue a ghostly Father And this purity of his soule was much graced by the perpetuall sanctity of his body It is well knowne that he preserued the flower of Virgiginall Chastity euen till his dying day This the Vicar of Meliapora testifyed publikly that he found it to be certayne by the often conference he had with him in that place many others also who vsed to heare his Confession haue affirmed that they gathered no lesse from out of himselfe He bare indeed a most singular affection vnto Chastity as great was the hatred which he bare to the contrary vice in so much that hauing a detestation to the least staynes which might be in that kind he could not without horrour heare it once named as we may easily coniecture by that which now I am to recount Whilst he remained at Lisbone in Portugall expecting to go into India he lodged in the same chamber with Simon Rodriquez Being once vpon a suddayne in the dead of the night as he lay in his bed awaked out of his sleepe he became so vnsually moued that there gushed out a great deale of bloud from his nose Wherof when Simon ofteÌ„times asked him afterwards the cause he kept it close and would by no meanes speake of it as long as he was in Portugall Yet at last wheÌ„ he was vpon his departure ready to take shipping for India he tooke Rodriquez aside into a priuate place of the ship and said Now Simon quoth he it is time to declare
humane assistaÌ„ce For in his iorney to Trauancoris when he passed through the midst of his enemies he seemed to thrust himselfe into manifest danger But far morâ— euident was that perill when he attempted to instruct the inhabitants of Maurica a Nation extraordinary fierce and cruell hauing no other defence agaynst those barbarous and sauage people but his confidence in God He also aduentured to passe in a Pyrates ship into Iaponia the furthest part of the East without any feare of danger although his deerest friends and such as were most expert therein presented before his eyes how many extreme difficulties there were Concerning which thing he wrote himself vnto the Prouinciall of Portugall in these words All my well-willers and friends are amazed that I am not afrayd to vndertake so long and dangerous a iorney They lay before me many dangers of teÌ„pests quicksands and Pyrates But I am no lesse amazed at them that they haue so little confidence in God in whose hands and power all those things are placed I for my part knowing for certaine that al things are gouerned according to God Almighties beck and commandment do feare nothing else but God himselfe least he should punish me according to the deâ—erts of my negligence and sloth in his seruice and â—f the obseruance of my Religion But as for other â—errours dangers miseries and crosses I do not at â—ll weigh them For I feare only God the maker and â—oderatour of all things because other things how â—urtfull soeuer they be cannot annoy vs but on â—y so farre forth as God permits them It is wonderfull also what Confidence he repoâ—ed in the diuine assistance So as hauing only God for â—is guide through so many dangers both by sea and 〈◊〉 and through so many Nations different in language and manners he penetrated to the furthest parts of the East and by his often passing ouer the Ocean â—e instructed those sauadge and barbarous Nations in the mysteries of the Christian faith and brought them at last to a ciuill life And indeed his Confidence in God did neuer fayle but alwayes freed him from the dangers both of enemies tempests and other calamities For to pretermit with silence other things wherof we haue already spoken in their proper places in passing ouer the Iaponian seas when as the Barbarians bent all their fury agaynst him he by diuine Assistance escaped all their machinations without any hurt or danger at all He also in the sea of Moluca suffered ship wrack thrice and once also he miraculously escaped by lying vpon a plancke after shipwracke tossed vp downe the sea without any hurt at all for the space of two or three dayes Moreouer he auoyded the fury of the Saracens who were set in armes against him by lying secret for many dayes togeather in a wood hard by Also he did not only defeate the strategems which his enemies had plotted against him by the force of armes but discouered their secret inuentioÌ„s also when as they sought to poison him And besides all this he very often escaped the incursions of Pyrates by sea as likewise of theeues by land Agayne being wholy inflamed with the loue of God he did not only contemne difficultyes and dangers but seemed also to imbrace them willingly Wherfore as desirous to suffer in the very midst of incommodities dangers he earnestly besought God not to free him from them vnlesse it were to vndergo greater for the glory of his diuine Maiesty And the diuine Goodnes corresponding sweetly to the magnanimity of his mind heaped vpon him store of sufferings and merits with no lesse approbation in the sight of Heauen then ioy comfort to himselfe He likewise in that most hard and difficile expedition into China shewed no lesse courage For notwithstanding as we haue sayd before that no stranger could enter the bounds of that Countrey without certayne danger of his lyfe or liberty the same penalty being designed as well for the stranger that entreth in as for him that bringeth him yet hauing an admirable coÌ„fidence in God who had moued him to that resolutition and to the vndertaking of that iourney he determined to commit his lyfe to the trust of a Chinese merchant which was no lesse doubtfull and dangerous then the entrance itselfe into China Concerning which he wrote himself to Francis Peren at Malaca to this tenour In this busines my friends bring two daÌ„gers against me the one least the merchant hauing already receyued his money may breake his promise and eyther leaue me in some desert Iland or else cast me headlong into the sea that so his bargayne of passing me ouer may not come to light The other is supposing he stand to his promisse least the Gouernour of the Citty may make me being a stranger an example to others of comming into China agaynst the Kings Edict without publicke warrant eyther put me to death by torments or else cast me into perpetuall prison Against these dangers I obiect others farre greater which themselues do not perceyue And the first is least we distrust the diuine Goodnes and Prouidence For we come hither for Gods only Cause to preach to these Countryes his sacred Law and his sonne Christ Iesus the Redeemer of mankind whereof God himselfe who gaue me this mind is my witnesse So as now to cast off our hope and confidence in his Diuine Prouidence and power for the dangers we are said to be subiect vnto in labouring for his cause ought certaynly to be esteemed a far greater danger then whatsoeuer the enemyes of God and Men are euerable to bring vpon me Especially seeing that neither the Diuels themselues nor their ministers can hurt vs at all but only by the permission and will of God What can we say to this That if God do approue and further our endeauours we shall by his fauour not only be deliuered from dangers but also follow the admonition of our Sauiour Christ who sayeth He that shall looâ—se his lyfe in this world for me shall find it Wherefore for as much as we hould these dangers of the soule farre greater theÌ„ those of the body we esteeme it far better and more secure to breake through those of this lyfe rather then to hazard the saluation of our soule I am fully resolued God willing to go into China in despite of all his enemies For if God be with vs who shal be against vs We do without all doubt go vpon great danger although there were nothing else but perpetuall seruitude But this consideration comforteth me that it is much better to serue in captiuity for Gods cause then to enioy liberty by running away froÌ„ the Crosse c. In which words he doth indeed sufficiently shew an vndaunted courage against all dangers And how much Xauerius contemned all the miseries of this world appeared also by another letter of his to Iames Perera whereof we haue inserted a clause in its
the liberality of the King of Portugall Loue of pouerty in his iourney Wayes into India A league of Portugall Prince Henry openeth a new way into India The Gardens of the Hesperides He instructeth the marriners the Soldiars in the ship He winneth by his sociable behauiour great sinners The difficulties of the Indian nauigation His incredible courage of mind In the ship he liueth by begging His constancy in keeping of pouerty His enduring of labour The discommodities of the torrid Zone The Promontory of Good Hope The IlaÌ„d Mozambicum His strength of body mind New labour in the wintering places His care of soules He falleth sick He refusâ—th to be carried out of the hospitall in to priuat houses 〈◊〉 sick he â—â—lpeth the sick A marriner being mad seemeth to be restored to his sensâ—s by F. his bed The opinion of Francis his sanctity The Citty Mâ—â—inda The Crosse in honour amongst the Saraâ—ens Mahomets Religion going to dâ—cay He lends his chamber and bed to the sick A cable rope is his bed The IlaÌ„d Socotora Gacizes like Curates Cacizes famous for abstinence The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Socotoreans He endeauours to instruct the Socotoreans by signes He baptizeth a great nuÌ„ber of children He desires to stay in Socotora Francis his letter to the King of Portugal They Socotoreans at Francis his intreaty are deliuered from the Saracens tyranny The description of India Goa the chiefe Citty of India The FraÌ„ciscans zeale of Religion The beginning of a Colledge in Goa The miserable conditioÌ„ of the Neophites The loose behauiour of the Portugheses in India He goeth to the Bisshop of India By great humility he wynneth the Bishop of Goas good will Francis lyeth hard by theÌ„ that are dangerously sicke His loue of pouerty in his apparell He vseth a coate of black linnen without either girdle or cloake He refuseth to change his old and ill-fauoured shoos for new He refuseth to change his torne ill fauoured shoos for new He helpeth prisoners with almes He serueth leapers He preacheth His priuate conferences The fruite of his sermons He causeth som to marry their concubines others to put them away He 〈…〉 to marry il fauoured wiues thereby to keep them froÌ„ adultery and concubines He calleth children and seruants together with a litle bell and teacheth them the ChristiaÌ„ doctrine He speaketh homely of set purpose The fruit of Catechizing Flying of honour He is called the Apostle in India He refuseth the gouernement of the Seminary Piscaria A deadly warre vpon a slight occasion Iohn de Cruz. CocinuÌ„ The Comorines are baptized The Comorines are forsaken by the Priests The Bishops loue to Xauerius The Viceroyes respect to him His loue of pouerty The Comorine PromoÌ„tory Intollerable heate of the sun Xauiers labours He dresseth rice for himselfe The Comorensians ignorance Their forwardnes in learning He vseth children for the instruction of their Parents and others The ChristiaÌ„ law in the iudgmeÌ„t of the very Ethnikes theÌ„ selues is conformable to reason He baptizeth whole villages His vertue ouer come by labour His teaching of yong children A womaÌ„ is by baptisme deliuered from the danger in child-birth He bapzeth a whole village He healeth the sicke dliuereth possessed persons A youth is raysed from death He suppresseth his miracles A boy drowned in a well is raysed agayne to lyfe Two restored to life He cureth the sicke by children He deliuereth a possessed person by the children Xauiers humility He is called Holy Father He taketh children to teach the catechisme with him His letter to the Queene of Portugall The liberality piety of the Queene of Portugall The Brachmans their religion The Brachmans wickednes and lewdnesse The Brachmans desire Francis his frieÌ„dship Pagods Francis his conference with the Brachmans The Brachmans approue of the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ The ridiculous questioÌ„s of the Brachmans The Brachmans thinke God to be black Marc. 16. Math. A Brachman baptized teacheth children the Catechisme An iniury done to Francis is reuenged by God Aboundance of heauenly ioyes The multitude of those that were baptized Paul Camerts the first Rectour of the Colledge of Goa His notable shamefastnes at his owne prayses His concealing of miracles He bringeth some to help him in the coast of Piscaria He teacheth meÌ„ and womeÌ„ their Catecchisme apart What a care he had of baptizing infantes The Badages a sauage nation The calamity of the Comorinensians Francis his succour to relieue the neophyts in their misery The cost Trauancoris His notable courage of mind Gods prouidence The nuÌ„ber of those he baptized His maÌ„ner of baptizing He ouer throweth the temples Idols Atumult amongst the TrauancoreÌ„sians A memorable deed of his By the goodnes of God he escapeth death He is called great Father The multitude of those who followed him wheÌ„ he preached The vpland couÌ„try of India not fit to receiue the fayth of Christ The towne of Nagapatana The IlaÌ„d of Macazaria The Kings sonne with 600 more are slaine for Religion Prodigious signes of the Crosse They Iland Ceilanus Iob. 5. PrudeÌ„ce in taking away horrour in Confession He passeth 7. dayes without eating any thing He fortelleth the marriners a tempest neere at hand Meliapora the towne of S. Thomas The body of S. Thomas the Apostle Ananiuersary miracle A manner how to gayne help friends Xauiers Virginal chastity By diuine instinct he determineth to go to the furthest part of the East His confidence in God His constancy whilest the Deuils whip him He is sicke of the stripes His patience in suffering scoffes from those of the house His courage in combating with the Deuill The Deuills make a noise in tyme of Xauiers prayer He deliuered a possessed man by a child He hardly admitteth Iohn Durus into the Soety Luc. 9. His determination of flying away secretly is opened to Xauerius from heauen Malaca Conuersation of Ethnickes pernicious to Christians A wonderfull art to gaine lost soules His Prophecyes A possessed sick-man is freed froÌ„ the Deuill and cured of his diseases A Prophesy He commeÌ„deth in the night tyme to the peoples prayers the soules in Purgatory and men in deadly sinne The preparation of the Macazarians to receiue the Ghospel A Prophesy The wind obeyeth Xauerius Another Prophesy Amboynum Of his manner of going about FerdinaÌ„d Soza a Captaine of the Spaniards He relieueth the calamity of the Spanish nouy He foretels that Arausius will shortly dye The fruite which the Spanish nauy yielded Moluca Ilands Ternate the chiefe of the Moluca Ilands Prudence in recalling wicked men The barbarousnes of the Mauri The incommodities of the couÌ„try of Maurica Zeale soules Matt. 10. They go aboue to terrify him froÌ„ his resolution of going to that barbarous nation The intreaties of his friends Act. 21. Machab. lib. 1. He protesteth that if he caÌ„not get a ship he will swimme ouer He giueth to his friâ—ds backe agayne their me dicines against poyson Maurica Burning rockes Ashes are cast out of the rockes
The Noblemens children make reuerence to Xauerius What kind of eloquence the Japonians haue The King of Bungo standing vp expecteth Francis his comming Xauerius maiesticall couÌ„tenance The King of Bungo his testimony of the Christian fayth A Bonzies arrogancy The Bonzies fooleries The Kings temper The pride inteÌ„perate tongue of a Bongy The King inuiteth Xauerius to dinner The King giueth to Xauerius from his owne table The King by Xauerius persuasion reformeth both his owne his subiects maÌ„ners Not minding his meate he attends to the sauing of soules A noble Bonzie being conuinced and conuerted to Christ professeth his fayth in in the market place 500. Iaponians wonne to Christ in one day Xauerius prudence Pouerty a disgrace amoÌ„g the Iaponians A crafty deuise of the Bonzies The pride of a Bonzy The Bongies PythagoreaÌ„ fooleries concerning the transmigration of soules He conuinceth the Pythagoricall fables The peeuish pertinacy of a Bonzie The King of Bungo his prudeÌ„ce Xauerius couragious spirit By the Gouernours meanes the Portugheses vndergo the danger with Xauerius The CoÌ„ditions of the disputation The Portugheses new affections to Xauerius The Bonzies bills of Exchange The Bonzies shut out of heauen poore people and women New disputation with other Bonzies The King leadeth Xauerius to his lodging The Bonzies rage The King of Bungo giueth an house to the Society of IESVS The King weeping at Xauerius departure Francis his exhortatioÌ„ to the King The King of Bungo his desire to protect and propagate the ChristiaÌ„ ReligioÌ„ When the King of Bungy was baptised he would be called Francis Why he determined to go into China The descripâ—ion manners of the Chineses The couÌ„try of China shut vp against Christs Ghospel His care of the Society Francis imployeth himselfe to help the ship being in danger He deliuereth out of danger the ship almost cast away A prediction of the boates returne to the ship The boate of her selfe cometh to the ship side Francis being in the ship was seene at the same time also in the boate He foretels a calme sea Iames Pererias notable bounty Peter Vellius his great liberality A notable Prophecy A double Prophecy The Hauen Sincapura A Prophecy At Malaca he is receiued with great ioy gratulation of all As soone as he came to Goa he visiteth the sicke He recouers one of the Society ready to dye The FraÌ„ciscans Dominicans industry The King of Tanoris baptized In the PromoÌ„tory of ComorinuÌ„ there are numbred 400000 ChristiaÌ„s A memorable fact of Father Gaspar Barzaeus The force of the Crosse The Dominicans commended Cyprians notable vertue An IndiaÌ„ like another Simeon dyeth after he had imbraced Christ The piety and liberality of James Perera Gaspar the low countryman FraÌ„cis his vicar The Towne Diu. The summe of Francis his letters to the King of Portugall An exaÌ„ple of ChristiaÌ„ humility A triple Prophecy A teÌ„pest by Xauerius is calmed through Gods helpâ— Francis notable moderatioÌ„ when he was iniured His moderation in excoÌ„municating He dealeth with the Gouernour by a third per son as the Iapouians vse to do The Embassage into China hindred Xauerius opinion of excoÌ„municated persons A grieuous prophecy He by his prayers obteyneth of God paÌ„nance for the Gouernour of Malaca His desire to propagate the faith He shaketh of the dust of his shooes A denouncing of calamities He auoideth by all meanes speaking with an excommunicated person CoÌ„forts in sadnes and miseries are to be obtained of God by the Sacraments The description of China The customes of the Chineses The IlaÌ„d SaÌ„ciana The Chineses exclude strangers Francis his inuincible courage in time of daÌ„ger The Magistrates of China's cruelty towards strangers His zeale of soules The loue of the Crosse Math. 10. Xauerius humanity towards the Portugheses Francis being left by his host falleth sicke A double Propheâ—ey Xauerius liues by begging He agayne falleth into his former sicknes He is entertained by a Portughese in a cottage He promptyly obeyeth the Physitian The grieuous paines of his sicknes His Ioathing of his meate His excellent patience He departteh this lyfe When he was dead he opened away into China The Portugheses feeling of Xauerius death He is pur into the ornameÌ„ts of a Priest vnsleâ—kt Lime is put into the Coffin Francis his body is found entier 4. monthes after The Malacensians zeale in receauing Xauerius body Xauerius funerals at Malaca A sick-man is healed by touching his body Bloud floweth out of Xauerius dead body the 5. month after Francis his body intier the 9 month after his death The veile died with fresh bloud The zeale which the Cocinensians shewed in going to visit Xauerius body Honour giuen to Xauerius by the mariners others Francis his body is intier 16. monthes after his death Francis his shirt also nothing the worse after so many monthes buriall His funerall at sea A great concourse to Xauerius body His land funerall An incredible coÌ„course to Xauerius body By order from the Viceroy a Physitian examineth the integrity of his body The Bishops Vicar againe examineth the matter The King of Portugall maketh meanes to haue Francis Canonized The King of Portugal letters to the Viceroy of India The Viceroyes Inquisition after Xauerius acts He being at Malaca foreseeth a danger which the Society vnderwent in Portugall A Prophecy of fayre weather in the feare of shipwracke He foretels the speedy death of theÌ„ that were in good health A prophecy of a ship to perish in the haueÌ„ By diuine light he seeth his frieÌ„ds sinnes how loÌ„g he had abstained from coÌ„fession He seeth that his friend was in his hart plotting a great sinne He being ready to dy foretelleth destruction of one that accompanied him He miraculously cureth the stone By miraculously repreheding a very wicked man he makes him become a Francisciscan He with one answere satisfyeth many of the Iaponian questions He giueth gould which he had miraculously receiued to one that had suffered shipwracke He vseth strange meanes to make a gamester at dice detest that play The oyle vessell which was emptyed was miraculously filled agayne He by his prayers curreth a childfull of vlcers The Inquisitors and Vicars testimony of Xauerius sanctity His testimony also of them tegrity of his body An excellent PhisitiaÌ„s testimony of the integrity of his body A sick woman by doing reuereÌ„ce to FraÌ„cis his body is cured Xaâ—erius girdle cureth many great diseases A GeÌ„tle man recouereth his sight by applying Francis his haÌ„ds to his eyes The key of his shrine driueth away the rheume A principal woman desiring to visit Xauerius is recouered of a great sicknes Francis his discipline restoreth many to their health Two Fathers in Europe recouer their health by calling vpon Francis Being called vpon at Paris he obteineth an easy deliuery for a woman in child-birth His night prayer As often as opportunity serued he prayed in the Church He goeth into solitary places to pray His prayer in the ship His feruour in prayer
both a great incitement to the Christian Religion also a pledge of the Portugheses friendship vnto his person When the Viceroy had perused the Kings letters he easily persuaded Fa. Melchior Nunius who was one of the chiefe Fathers of the Society in India to go himselfe with all speed vnto the King of Bungo In this meane tyme Xauerius Body was exposed at Goa not only to the view but also to the admiration of all the behoulders But the great desire of the people was not satisfied by seing him but rather more inflamed Yea the selfe same persons did oftentymes returne agayne to looke vpon him others came flocking almost euery moment to behould him The Fathers therefore through necessity were constrayned to change their determination And so to satisfy the longing desire of such an infinite multitude the body was exposed three dayes in a Chappell well fenced with strong Cancells to the full view of all and euery one that would might looke vpon it at their leasure So as there came from all parts an infinity of people to behold touch the same with their beades which they performed with aboundance of teares and much inward feeling of deuotion Now whilst some became doubtful of the incorruption of his body the same was made therby not only more certayne but more glorious also For seeing the miracle did surpasse all humane beliefe there were not wanting some yea Religious persons men of good authority who gaue out that Francis his body being bowelled was by art certayne precious embalmings kept thus liuely The Viceroy therefore to examine the truth of the thing commaunded Cosâ—as Saraina a Physitian of great fame and experience to try and looke into the Body But he beginning to launce the belly with an instrument when he perceyued fresh bloud to issue thence being astonished â—t the miracle gaue ouer his designe Then putting his finger into the hole he had made he findeth his bowels intiere sound without any signe of balme or other preseruatiue applied which he coÌ„firmed by publicke testimony vpon his oath Wherfore the matter being throughly examined and diuulged abroad Xauerius Body began to be greatly honoured reuerenced not more by others then by those who had byn authours of the false rumour aforesayd euery one kissing his feete and hands and touching them with their beades And so great was the opinion of Xaueuerius sanctity that euery one did striue to get yea purloyne some small particle of his body or garments in so much that all the care and vigilancy the Fathers could vse to looke vnto it did hardly hinder the violence of the deuout pepole In the meane tyme Xauerius prayses were spread all abroad his worthy actes prophecyes and miracles were blazed far and neere not only by those who had themselues byn eye-witnesses thereof but by others also who had heard the same from credible authours so as all India sounded forth his sanctity as it were with one mouth And likewise for the confirmatioÌ„ of the former miracles there were many others added anew For that many who went to behould that sacred spectacle affirmed vpon their oath that there came thither many persons who hauing eyther lost the vse of some of their lymmes or otherwise sick of some disease were by touching Francis his body healed returned home sound and in perfect health Now when these three dayes were past although the people had not yet their fill of behoulding contemplating the sacred Body the shrine was for a time placed in a Sepulcher which they had prepared for the purpose vpon the right hand of the high Aultar vntil a fayrer monument were erected and adorned fitting the dignity of so worthy a man according to the Fathers desires and deuotion of the Cittizens of Goa if the King of Portugall as they hoped would procure his Canonization from the Pope About the tenth day after his buriall Doctour Antony Ribera the Bishops Vicar and Inquisitour Generall determined in respect of his charge and office to examine the matter with his owne eyes and see whether those things were true which had byn diuulged abroad of Francis his incorruption Wherefore opening the Sepulcher about Midday himselfe with many lighted torches attending throughly felt and viewed the whole body all ouer And finding nothing which was not entiere he gaue testimony therof vnder his hand and seale to all posterity This caused the reuerence and deuotion to Xauerius dayly to increase There were all most none who came not with veneration to his sepulcher many brought thither flowers and garlands and the number of white wax tapers to burne continually before it were exceeding great And this deuotion of the people towards his seruant was by God himselfe approued also For there is euident proofe that a wax Candle of a â—ubit long only being lighted before the Sepulcher â—id burne perpetually for the space of 18. whole daies â—nd nights togeather The King of Portugall being moued by these reâ—tions gaue order presently to the Viceroy of India 〈◊〉 make exact inquiry of Xauerius worthy facts and â—iracles to set them carefully downe in writing â—e which he afterward sent to Rome to his Embassaâ—our that he might deale with his Holines about his Canonization But this most Excellent Kings pious â—deauours were hindred by his vntimely death The â—thers therefore hauing finished their new Church â— Goa and dissolued the old remoued Xauerius Body â— to a priuate Chappell within their house where 〈◊〉 this day his memory and name is honoured vntill 〈◊〉 Holinesse shall graunt if it please God that soâ—mne Honour and Veneration may be publikly exâ—â—bited vnto him OF THE LIFE OF S. FRANCIS XAVIER THE VI. BOOKE By the King of Portugall his command Francis his deeds and miracles are committed to vvriting CHAP. I. ALTHOVGH the guifts and fauours which the Goodnes of God had already heaped vpon Francis shined forth at sundry times in al thâ—â— parts of his life as we haue demonstrated before yet will it not be amisse heere to propound those things to be maturely coÌ„sidered which haue byn touched by the way and as it were in an obscure manner that so by vnfoulding the chiefe heads of matters we may at once behould all whatsoeuer appertaineth thereunto And to the end we may first of all speake of such passages which ordinarily cause most admiration and are essteemed both by good and bad-willers many things not only through the whole course of his lyfe but much more at the very tyme of his funeralls haue by diuine power happened vnto Xauerius which no natural cause can any way excuse froÌ„ being miraculous Wherefore we will heere in a more exact manner treate of these signes and testimonies of his sanctity will cite for euery thing such authors witnesses whose authority and fidelity cannot iustly be called into question Iohn the third King of Portugall by whome as we haue sayd before Xauerius was sent